Chapter Two

May 2010

"You know," Penelope Garcia said as she sat cramped into the back of float plane "I always say I want to go out into the field with my furry crime fighters but more often than not I end up regretting it. And that feeling is already starting to set in. Is anyone else having trouble breathing in this uber giant plane?"

A rueful chuckle was let out by the other team members who were just as uncomfortable in the small aircraft. JJ was the worst off. Sitting next to Penelope in the very back she was white knuckling the back of the seat in front of them.

Seeing how uncomfortable she was Penelope gave her a sympathetic look. On the other side of JJ was Reid. JJ looked like she would love to close her eyes and bury her face against his chest for the remainder of their ride but she was way too strong and proud to show that kind of weakness. Instead she sat there, looking sort of pale, and eagerly waited for the short ride to be over.

Penelope touched her arm. "Jayje, take comfort, sweetie, you fly all the time. You know how safe it is. This is just as safe as the jet."

JJ said, through clenched teeth, "The jet isn't the size of a tuna can and we don't have to balance our weight so we don't fall out of the sky into a fiery heap. Its not the same."

Reid started in on a spiel about how float planes are very safe in comparison to other modes of transportation. Though JJ rolled her eyes she did visibly relax. Twelve minutes later the boat had landed in the waters off the coast of Franklin, Alaska.

Once the plane was tethered to the dock by dockhands the door was opened. Sitting nearest to it Dave squeezed out first and down the short gangplank, then Hotch and then Derek. When it was finally Penelope's turn to exit she found Derek waiting there, hand outstretched, to help her to solid ground.

On the dock she patted his chest, gave him a tender smile, and said "Thanks, handsome."

Soon the dockhands had all their luggage out of the cargo hold of the plane. Derek grabbed her laptop bag, his suitcase, and her suitcase, leaving her with just her small, pink and tan, carry on bag. The whole team loped their way down the docks and up the ramp to meet with the town sheriff and deputies.

After they were all introduced he led them to a pair of older SUV type vehicles that he was loaning the team. The small town had no rental car agency. He told them they would have to work out of Carol's Tavern and Inn because the police station was also the post office and there was no room for them there.

Penelope quipped "Now that is what I call a small town. Okay, crime fighters, I need to get to hotel so I can get set up so pray that the GPS in that baby works-"

The sheriff said "It doesn't have GPS but there's a map in the glove box."

Penelope amended "Pray I remember how to read a map since I haven't done it since GPS was invented and that no bear decides to come out of the woods and make a meal out of my sweet self. I shall catch up with you all later. Be safe, my lovelies."

They loaded her SUV down with their luggage.

Derek pulled aside the sheriff and asked him to drive Penelope back, just to be safe. When the sheriff said "Ma'am, I'd be happy to take you to the inn. I can meet up with the rest of your team later," Penelope gave Derek a tender look.

He really was overprotective and she wanted to tell him to stop but it felt good to be cared about. Derek and Emily went with the sheriff's deputy to walk the latest crime scene while Hotch, JJ, Rossi and Reid got in the other vehicle to head into town to see the coroner and the case files at the police station.

Traveling down the country roads in Alaska Penelope couldn't help but lose her breath at the beauty that surrounded her. The last few months of her life had been a very crazy time. There were ups and downs that made her feel like she was a never ending roller coaster. But she had to admit she felt better than she had felt in years lately. She made it through the hard times and came out stronger for the struggle.

Here in Alaska the vastness of the world, nature and life was apparent just by glancing out the window. It made it easy to think about her past and her future, her place in the universe.

She let out a happy sigh. She had to admit that lately life totally rocked and she was glad for everywhere she had been because it made everywhere she was going that much more exciting, her story that much more richer, and her soul that much more full.

Penelope didn't regret the years that came before when she was making mistakes and finding herself. She felt centered now. Like things were all falling into place. She was getting to the good point of her life, she could feel that in every breath she took in.

Gone was all the fear that used to hold her hostage. She had broken free and broken through. And, here in this beautiful place, she felt more sure of herself and that she was on the right path in life than ever.

XXXXXXXXXXX

"We should get some sleep. Hit this fresh in the morning when we're re-charged," Hotch told his team as they sat in the lobby of the inn.

Their luggage was still behind the desk. The inn's only bell boy, the owner's son, had taken all the bags from the SUV and placed them there for safe keeping while the team was out working and Penelope was typing away on her laptop.

Emily said "I know my battery could use eight hours of recharging."

Hotch said "It will have to get by with six."

The team groaned. It was already one am. That meant they would wake up again at seven and be working by eight. After the long flight and day out in the field all of them were weary and ready to lay down and rest. But Penelope had to work through the night because she needed to vet all the townspeople, and the sooner the better.

Carol, the innkeeper, said "I have four rooms available for y'all."

"Four?" asked Reid, obviously not liking the sound of that math since there are seven team members.

Hotch said "We'll have to double up."

Shaking his head at that idea Derek announced, very quickly, "I am not sharing with Reid this time. Its not my turn."

Rossi said "Not it!"

Hotch agreed "Me either."

Reid looked offended and confused. "What? Why not? We always double up-"

Derek told him "I told you months ago, kid, that you started talking in your sleep and keeping me up. Not tonight. I'm wiped out."

Hotch said "All right. JJ and Emily can pair up, like usual, and Reid can have a single. That leaves Dave, myself, Garcia and Morgan to split up in the other two. Garcia, you said you're pulling an all nighter, right?"

"Yes, sir, you'll find me right here on this trusty couch under the uber creepy moose and deer heads working my magic till dawn. I can crash when you all get up."

Hotch said "That will work. Whose room would you like to use? The girls? We'll take your luggage up when we go now."

Penelope shot Derek a very sexy look, grabbed his hand, and said "Dibs."

The whole team smiled knowingly at the connection that existed between Morgan and Garcia. Of course she would take the opportunity to cuddle away in sheets previously warmed by her chocolate God of thunder. Duh. As a profiler Hotch should have known that much already.

He probably had asked just to be polite.

XXXXXXXXX

There was no way Derek was letting Penelope stay in the lobby all night long. Not in this little backwoods town with an unsub on the loose.

After the rest of the team headed upstairs he sat down next to her on the couch. "Lets get you moved into our room. Come on, girl, my six hours are ticking away. Get a move on it."

She was back to typing. "Huh, baby?" Her eyes never let the screen. "Mama is flattered that you want play snuggle bunny with me- after all it has been way too long since we have gotten the chance- but sad to say I wasn't exaggerating when I told Hotch this is gonna take me all night."

Waggling his head at her he said "I ain't leaving you down here so forget about it. Now get that cute behind up and get moving. You can work in our room. Its not up for debate."

Giving him a tender look, because of his overprotectiveness, she said "Okay."