Kevin was confused, humiliated but most of all he was angry. He'd never seen Penelope so out of control and seeing her with a gun in her hand willing to shoot him was beyond his comprehension. She'd forced him from her apartment butt-naked waving a gun in his face like a mad woman. Here he sat shivering and soaking wet and hiding behind a clump of bushes in the courtyard below her window. He had no idea what to do and that made him even angrier. If it was the last thing he did, Penelope Garcia would pay and there would be nothing her Chocolate Adonis, could do to stop him.

She felt numb as she dressed and put the final touches on her makeup. Her heart was still beating rapidly as the scene earlier played continually in her head as if it were on a loop. As she grabbed her purse the pile of clothes that belonged to Kevin still lay in a heap on the floor near her bedroom door where she'd dropped them. Bending down to grab them, she felt the pain in her shoulder where he had pinned her against the shower earlier and the bruises on her wrist were starting to turn an ugly shade of purple. She felt the tears again running down her cheeks; she couldn't seem to stop crying and again, Derek's face came rushing to her mind. She'd almost called him at least ten times in the last hour but just before pressing send, she'd stopped herself. She knew what his reaction would be and she knew that he'd drop everything to get back to her. He'd also feel guilty that he wasn't here to stop Kevin from assaulting her.

This was something she couldn't tell him, she hoped the bruises and the pain in her body would be gone before they got home from California. She didn't want to have to explain what happened. She was ashamed and felt like a fool for thinking she could make a life with Kevin. She loved him but she wasn't in love with him and now as she took one final look around her apartment, she realized that she'd wasted a lot time trying to pretend that Kevin made her happy. She'd led him on, made him believe that she was his and for that somewhere deep inside she felt that she deserved what had happened. No, she couldn't tell the others especially Derek she loved him too much to risk his reaction. So, with her mind made up she pulled the sleeves of her sweater down to hide the bruises on her wrists, tucked Kevin's clothes under her arms and left her apartment.

He watched her as she left the building, something tucked under arm, which later he realized were his clothes after she angrily threw them into the courtyard fountain on her way out to her car. He wanted to strangle her as he watched her rush to her car. Quickly looking around he made a mad dash to the fountain fishing his clothes from the large basin and scampering back to the safety of the bushes. His face where she'd left her mark and his privates still ached throbbing in a syncopated rhythm that fueled his anger and determination to pay her back. He could only imagine what he would do when he saw Penelope Garcia again.

Perris, CA. Police Department –

Hotch's phone call had summoned Morgan and JJ back interrupting her interrogation and for that he was grateful. He wasn't quite ready to share what he and his best friend had done a couple of nights ago nor their conversation the day before. Still, it didn't keep his mind off of Penelope nor did it keep his heart for aching knowing that he'd never know the joy of having her in his life as more than a friend. As he pulled into the small parking lot he could feel JJ's eyes on him and he knew she wouldn't rest until she had at least another chance at breaking him and forcing him to talk.

"JJ I'll be right in I just want to check in with Garcia."

"Fine."

JJ watched as he moved near the entrance of the driveway creating space between them. She shook her head at how obvious he was leaving him to make his phone call.

The phone rang as she entered onto the freeway her heart leaped; it was Derek's ringtone and she felt the tears welling in her eyes. She desperately needed to hear his voice but she was in no condition to speak; he knew her too well and he'd know in an instant that something was wrong so she let it ring and ring eventually going to voicemail.

It was odd and suddenly he felt uneasy as he heard her recorded message in his ear. They always answered each other's calls. He knew she'd been on her way to the BAU or already there. In his logical mind he knew there were a hundred perfectly good reasons why she hadn't answered but today, this morning, none of them worked to ease the feeling in the pit of his stomach. He'd try her later he thought and pocketed his phone.

BAU Headquarters, Quantico, VA -

Penelope's hand shook nervously as she keyed in her code and entered her office. She knew the team would be calling in soon for help and she had to focus. So, exhaling a jittering breath she began turning on her babies and fought back the new tears that began to well up in her eyes.

"Derek, I need you so, so much right now."

The phone rang and she jumped nearly out of her seat and reluctantly she answered but not before inhaling and exhaling.

"Good morning, Mama."

"Hey, you."

He heard something that made the uneasy feeling in his stomach return. She sounded far away and sad. He wanted to brush it off especially after their conversation yesterday but somehow he couldn't.

"What, no 'I'll show you a good morning, Hotstuff'?

"Not this morning, Handsome, sorry."

"Baby Girl, what's wrong?"

"I'm…I'm fine…just…"

"Penelope, talk to me."

"I can't not right now."

"Penelope?"

"Derek, please…I'm fine just…I just didn't get a lot of sleep last night and I was running late this morning I didn't have time to stop and get my morning jolt of caffeine and now you're calling and grilling me like the uber concerned best friend you are and I-I just…"

"Wow, wow, breathe Baby! I'm sorry for stressing you out. I love you and you don't sound like yourself, my bad."

She wanted to kick her self as she hit her temples with her fist and gritted her teeth in frustration. She knew he'd want to know what was wrong with her and she knew she wouldn't be able to hide her feelings he knew her too well for that.

"No, no, it's me, you're not stressing me out. I guess I just miss my best friend, that's all."

"Is that all I am to you just your best friend?"

"Derek…"

"Okay, now I'm stressing you out. I'm sorry; forget I asked."

"Don't be sorry just hurry home…"

"Hey, are you sure you're okay?"

"Yeah, yeah…so what can I do for my gorgeous crime fighter?"

"Hotch wants you to search for anything our victims may have had in common. Obviously this unsub wasn't choosey about race or gender so there must be something that caused him to commit these murders in churches. Oh and see if there are any other similar crimes; go back five years."

"Got it! I'll call you back if…"

"I know that may be a lot so you might want to ask Kevin to give you a hand…"

"NO!"

"Garcia?"

"I'm sorry, I just…I don't need his help that's all. I can handle this on my own. Just relax and let me do my job!"

Before he could respond she ended the call. She hated herself for hanging up on him but the mention of Kevin's name sent her over the edge. Now he was surely going to insist on answers when he returned.

Morgan stood stunned looking at his phone as if it had offended him and not the caller on the other end. If he thought something was wrong before it had just been confirmed.

Home of Kevin Lynch – Afternoon

He'd decided to call in sick better than having to explain the scratches on the right side of his face…and the limp. He still didn't understand how his plan had gone so terribly wrong as he drug his drenched body inside and lowered his bottom down on the sofa which proved to be a mistake. His body yelped in pain and he cursed the woman he'd lovingly called, Plum Sauce. She'd pay for putting his future spawn in jeopardy and pointing a gun within inches of his face. He leaned his head against the back of the sofa and closed his eyes; a lone tear fell down his face as he grimaced.

Dozens of scenarios of torturous revenge ran through his mind as he thought about getting up and getting some aspirin and an ice pack. No doubt his bubbly girl friend was giving her super hero best friend Derek Morgan all the details of their failed early morning romp and he was probably outlining to her in great detail what he was going to do to him when he got back to town. He smiled which sent another arrow of pain through his groin as he swore a promise to himself that it would be much too late for him to save her this time. Then he made another attempt to smile, this time he didn't gave a damn about the pain for he remembered that he still had a key to her apartment.

"Tonight, my dear Penelope! I'll finish what I started this morning and I'll hurt you far worse than you hurt me! That I promise…and your precious Noir Hero won't be able to save you! Tonight! Tonight sweet precious Penelope, you'll wish you'd never told me, no!"