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While back at Quantico, Erin was anything but sleepy. She was angry beyond belief. "I cannot believe this. He threatened her and her

unborn child and we have to wait to release him from the FBI and to press assault charges on him." She was dumbfounded as she talked to

Agent Michaels' boss.

"Erin, we are in no way condoning what he did, but you have to understand how much work he has done on this case. I cannot replace him

right now. As soon as the case is over, I will terminate him."

"This case may take months to wrap up. In the meantime, what is she supposed to do? Hope he doesn't make good on his threats?"

"We can assign her a protective detail, transfer her to another office, or even offer her paid leave. We just got a big break in the case so it

really won't be long," one of the directors said.

"If anything happens to her, I am holding everyone in this room accountable." Erin stood and stared them all down before storming out.

The sun was beginning to peak by the time Erin arrived home. The night's events had taken quite some time. She toyed with just staying at

work, but wanted to check on Penelope and at least change her clothes. She found Penelope sound asleep in the bed they had prepared before they left for the

hospital. She could tell Penelope's wrist was hurting by the way she was holding it even in her sleep. Erin shook her head in anger. She would've really liked to

strangle that Agent Michaels and his boss right now. Erin then began to worry about Derek; would he be able to restrain himself and not want to end Agent Michaels

when he was brought up to speed? Erin closed the blinds in the room to keep the room dark and left to get ready. She wanted to talk with Hotch before talking to

Penelope about what happened after she had been taken home. She decided to call him from her office so Penelope couldn't hear. She really didn't want to tell the

younger woman too much until they had a solid plan for her safety in mind.

"She's OK?" was Hotch's first question after Erin brought him up to speed on the prior evening's events.

"Her wrist will be sore for a good while but otherwise, she is fine." Strauss could hear Aaron's audible sigh of relief.

"We can't make sure she is safe if we transfer her and she's not likely to take leave," he said, more thinking aloud than actually speaking

with Strauss. His thoughts were interrupted when he noticed JJ looking at him curiously. He had forgotten JJ had stayed behind with him at

their make shift command central, while the rest of the team had gone out to interview witnesses. "We should be wrapping this case up

soon. We'll discuss this further when I get back and Erin? Thank you."

Before Aaron could even return his phone to his pocket, JJ pounced. "Keep who safe?" JJ asked, curiosity killing her.

"I'll fill you and the rest of the team in after the case, JJ," Hotch told her in a tone that kept her from pressing him for further details. JJ had a

feeling it was about Penelope; she knew her friend had seemed out of sorts lately and she wanted to talk to her, but a case always pulled

them away before she got the chance. JJ promised herself to rectify that as soon as they got back.

Penelope spent the next few days at Erin's house as Erin had insisted Penelope take a few days off. At first, Penelope fought her on it, but

then she gave in and had taken the rest of the week off. Erin left work pretty early and arrived home pretty late, leaving Penelope home

alone most of the day with an agent always standing guard. They had settled into a comfortable routine when Erin was home with Penelope

usually cooking a meal and Erin cleaning up afterwards. Their conversations were pretty casual and somewhat informative; Penelope got to

see a whole different side to Strauss. She could tell how happy the woman was when she talked about her children. Penelope had really been

missing her mother since she learned she was pregnant and seeing Strauss's motherly side had Penelope really enjoying their time together.

There was never any mention of Agent Michaels and although Penelope really wanted to know what had become of James she was afraid to

ask, as she had an unsettling feeling about it.

Saturday morning Penelope found Erin making breakfast. "You beat me to it. I overslept, sorry."

"Sleeping in on a Saturday is a good thing sometimes. Besides I don't mind at all. Breakfast is one of my favorite meals to prepare. How

are you feeling?" Erin had heard Penelope dealing with a little morning sickness earlier.

"Much better, I'm hoping it won't last the whole pregnancy. It's cutting into my makeup and hair time." Penelope pointed to her bare face

and messy hair causing Erin to laugh.

"You look fine, now eat before it gets cold." Erin pointed to a chair.

"Yes…. Ma'am," Penelope had to stop herself as she had almost called Erin Mom.

If Erin had noticed, she didn't say anything. They ate in silence, Erin reading the papers while Penelope fiddled on her phone. Both

women's phones sounded at the same time and both women knew what it meant before they even read the message. "They're back," Erin

said, never even reaching for her phone.

"Yep," Penelope confirmed after reading Hotch's text.

"When is the meeting?"

"In an hour."

"Guess our lazy Saturday is cancelled."

The women drove to Quantico in an SVU driven by one of Penelope's temporary guards. They both sat in the back, Erin watching as

Penelope fidgeted and shifted anxiously, adjusting her clothes over and over.

"Everything will be fine. Don't be so nervous," Erin said as she grabbed ahold of Penelope's hand stopping her fidgeting.

"I just didn't tell any of them anything. I think they are going to be mad at me."

"I think you are worrying too much."

"Especially Derek. He's going to hate me."

"I highly doubt that."

Penelope ran her free hand over her stomach. "I'm starting to show."

"That was inevitable." Erin gave Penelope's hand a comforting squeeze. "They are your family and they love you. They are going to be

mad, but believe me it will not be at you. So try not to worry so much, please."

Penelope nodded. "Let's hope you're right."

"I'm always right," Erin said with a smile.

Hotch had gathered the rest of the team in the conference room. They knew that they were waiting on Penelope to start the meeting, but

really had no idea what the meeting was about. JJ had some inkling but wasn't really positive of anything herself. They were all little surprised when Strauss walked in

first followed by Penelope. They were even more surprised when they witnessed Strauss pull a chair out for Penelope and place a hand on her shoulder. Derek and

Emily looked at each other confused and then shrugged.

"Thank you all for waiting, I know you are all tired and looking forward to going home and resting, but while you were gone, we had a very

serious incident happen here at Quantico. Penelope." Strauss turned the room over to Penelope.

Penelope looked around the room, at all of their concerned faces, and just couldn't bring herself to speak. She looked to Hotch then Strauss,

hoping one of them would bail her out. When neither of them spoke up, she decided to go with the fast, very abridged version.

"Agent James Michaels from Cyber Crimes and I went on a few dates, it ended, I'm pregnant, he's the father, he's not happy, and has told

me to get rid of it, or he will take care of things for me."

"He threatened you?" Derek asked, enraged. "Did he put his hands on you?"

The look on Penelope's face answered Derek's question for him. "I'll kill him."

"I'll help you," Rossi added.

Strauss raised her hand to get everyone's attention. She explained how while she understood their desire to hurt the man in question, they

would have to refrain for now, as he was on an important case.

"That's a bunch of crap," Derek lamented when she finished.

"It is, but there is nothing we can do about it. Right now, our main concern is keeping Penelope safe," Hotch told the room.

The team brainstormed about what they felt would be the best to ensure Penelope's safety. They bounced ideas off of each other; no one

liked the temporary transfer idea. Penelope was beginning to become annoyed with the meeting of the minds that was going on as nobody

was even bothering to ask her how she felt. A lot of the ideas she thought were good got shot down before she could weigh in and ideas that

made her nervous seemed to stay on the table. Especially the one where she traveled with the team on every case. She really didn't like that

one. She wanted to do what was safest for her baby and all that travel didn't seem like a good idea to her. The meeting continued on like she

wasn't there. Finally, having had enough, she spoke up.

"Excuse me," she shouted, causing all conversation to cease and everyone to look at her.

"While I appreciate what you are all doing here, this meeting is about my safety and I haven't been allowed to speak once."

"Sorry, baby girl," said Derek, "What do you think is best?"

"I certainly do not want to travel with you guys; my pregnancy hasn't exactly been easy thus far, and I'm afraid all that travel will be taxing.

Perhaps just a little extra security when you guys are away, and when you are here, I know I'm in the best hands."

"Ok, and what about at home? Do you want me to move in for a while?" Derek offered.

"Actually, I have been staying at Erin's house. I feel quite safe there. "

Derek and Emily looked at each other stunned "Erin?" Emily mouthed to him.

"Agent Michaels knows all about all of you, but I don't think he would look for me at her house."

"That's for sure," Emily said a little too loud, drawing an annoyed stare from Strauss.

"If I can still stay."

"Of course you can," Strauss answered, glaring at Derek and Emily who still couldn't hide their surprise at the housing situation.

"Thank you, Ma'am."

"OK, looks like we have a plan of sorts. Hopefully Cyber Crimes closes the case soon and Agent Michaels is out of all of our lives," Strauss

said.

"Amen to that," Rossi added.

"I thank you all for your time." Strauss gathered her belongings and turned to Penelope. "I know you all have a lot to talk about."

Before Strauss was even out the door, the questions flew. JJ wanted to know when she would be a fairy godmother, Rossi and Emily wanted

to know if she knew what she was having, Reid and Hotch how she was feeling, and Derek wanted to know why he didn't know. Especially

about Agent Michaels' threats.

"You guys were away on a case. I didn't want you to worry."

"Next time, I want to worry. Understand?" Derek said as he put his hand over hers. She flinched when he touched her still sore wrist. He

looked at her hurt, not sure why she pulled away from his touch.

Penelope noticed his hurt expression and explained. "My wrist is sore, sorry."

Derek pushed her sleeve up to expose her wrist, revealing very deep purple bruising. He took a deep breath before asking, "Is this

the only one?"

"Pretty much." Penelope had a few very light bruises on her stomach, but there was no way she was lifting her shirt and showing anyone.

"Can we help them solve the case this jackass is working on? So I can kill him sooner?" Derek asked rhetorically trying to control his rage.

He calmed down when he saw a tear slide down Penelope's cheek. "I didn't mean to upset you. I'm sorry, baby girl."

"It's fine, it's been a long night."

"No doubt, we all need some rest. I'll see you all Monday," Hotch said effectively ending the meeting.