Just as she promised, Penelope had completed Morgan's search request without the help of Kevin Lynch. She'd overheard two other techs talking in the hallway that he'd called in sick; her body relaxed at the news as she filled her coffee cup and headed back to her office. She hadn't heard from Derek since their earlier conversation and that also had brought her some relief. All she wanted to do was get through the day and go home and hide from everyone- Kevin, the team and even Derek.

Perris, CA – Police Department - Afternoon –

Morgan wanted to go home more than anything. He needed to see Garcia something was wrong he could hear it in her voice and she was avoiding him; all signs that he needed answers and she needed his help even though she was too hard headed to ask for it. Now that results from one of Garcia's searches had led them to a break in the case, he was eager to wrap things up and head back to Quantico to see his Baby Girl.

Roscoe James was a forty-five year old man who'd been born and raised in Perris by his single mother Janice. She'd been quite active in their church and he'd spent more time there than he did in his own home. In fact, most of his free time was spent helping his mother around the church. She'd often assign her son odd jobs to keep him busy and out of trouble.

When young James was twelve he and his mother were asked to leave the church when it was discovered that his mother was having an affair with the senior pastor. Shortly after that James began setting fires at some of the local churches in retaliation for how he and his mother had been treated.

"His mother's fatal heart attack six months ago was his stressor." Reid began.

"She literally died of a broken heart." Rossi added.

Hotch, Rossi and Reid stood on the other side of the glass watching as Morgan and JJ listened to James' confession to the murders of eight local unsuspecting men and women who'd been at church at the wrong time none of them he knew but they simply represented those who'd cast him and his mother out of the church that had become their second home and family for most of his life.

BAU Headquarters – Quantico, VA

Garcia was relieved that the team had managed to wrap up the case so quickly. She'd finally answered Morgan's call and she was thankful that he did not press her for answers but she knew that once he got back he would be relentless until she talked to him. She couldn't tell him about Kevin and what he'd done earlier. Derek would kill Kevin and if he didn't the rest of the team surely would and she couldn't risk any of them getting into trouble because of her. Besides, she'd handled Kevin and she was hoping he'd gotten the message that he'd ruined any chance of them ever being together. Still she was a wreck and every time she looked down at her wrist and saw the horrible bruises her mind would replay the events over and over again. All she wanted now was to see Derek and have him wrap his arms around her and pull her close and whisper in her ear that everything was going to be all right. For now, she still had a few hours of work and so she stood and stretched and then headed towards the break room for a fresh cup of coffee. Once her work was done she would head home to a nice hot bubble bath and a glass of champagne and wait for Derek's call letting her know that he'd made it back safely.

Late Evening…

Derek wasn't surprised that Garcia had already left for the day. It was nearly midnight and she had to be exhausted. They needed to talk she hadn't been the same since the team had left for California and she'd been avoiding him for most of the case. She was hiding something and he swore he could hear tears in her voice whenever he had managed to actually get her on the phone. He still couldn't get the uneasy feeling to subside in the pit of his stomach and he vowed to let her off the hook for the evening but first thing tomorrow he'd call her and demand some answers.

Home of Penelope Garcia –

Kevin checked his watch again as he made himself comfortable. He'd rummaged through her refrigerator pulling out leftover Kung Pao chicken and fried rice. He knew how it irritated Penelope when he made a mess and so the trail of soy sauce on her nice clean counter and the crumbs from the extra fortune cookies now on her table made him giggle as he tossed his plate and fork into her sink.

"Ten-thirty! So dedicated to that friggin' job…that friggin' team and that friggin' Derek Morgan! If she spent half as much time on us then maybe I wouldn't have to do this!"

He noticed the homemade brownies under the crystal cake holder and grabbed two shoving them into his mouth like a five-year old as he paced the floor again checking his watch.

"Milk, that's what I need! Some nice cold milk!"

Jerking the refrigerator door nearly off its hinges he grabbed the carton of milk and began drinking from it leaving a large white mustache on his face. Then letting out a loud disgusting burp, he headed toward her bedroom.

Penelope pulled into her designated parking space and felt her body shiver. She couldn't move from her spot behind the wheel of her orange caddy. Gripping the steering wheel until her knuckles were white, she fought to catch her breath. Visions of Kevin pinning her against her shower wall played in her head. His tongue running up and down her neck as his hand roamed her naked body made her wretch. He'd stripped her of the things that made her small apartment home and she no longer felt peaceful or safe there; all that remained was the stain of his blood on her carpet and the memory of his utter betrayal.

She couldn't stay there not tonight maybe never again. It was too soon and already as she sat terrified in her car she felt as if she were suffocating and so without a thought of where she'd spend the night she backed out of the space and sped away from the building.

Home of Derek Morgan –

He was surprised by the sight of her car in his driveway as he pulled in next to it and got out of his car. Grabbing his go-bag he rushed to the front door of his home. He'd given her a key years ago and she knew that she was always welcomed to use it. His heart rate increased as he unlocked the door; she'd left a light on for him next to the front window and the dim light gave him enough visibility to notice her curled up asleep on the couch. As he quietly closed and locked the door she began to stir. He slowly approached her and lowered himself on the floor next to her. Her eyes flitted open and stared at his questioning eyes. She'd been crying he could tell by the red puffiness of her eyes.

"Penelope?"

"I-I- didn't know where else to go…so I came here…"

He rose and sat next to her as she pulled herself to a sitting position. He stared intently at her as she refused to meet his gaze.

"You're always welcome here you know that."

He pulled her close to him waiting for her to speak again. She began to cry instead.

"Penelope, talk to me. I know something's wrong."

"Derek, I broke up with Kevin."

"Good."

She pulled away from him finally looking at him.

"What?"

"Good. You deserve better."

"Oh, Derek."

He pulled her to him again. He knew there was more she seemed broken to the core and even though she'd been with Kevin Lynch for a while, breaking up with him wouldn't leave her in such a state of almost devastation.

"Talk to me, Baby Girl."

"We had a big fight and he…"

"He what?"

"He said some things, some really nasty things…I should have never gotten involved with him. I just thought…"

"Thought what?"

"Never mind. I don't want to talk about Kevin, not now. I'm really tired."

She quickly jumped up and just as she began to walk away he grabbed her wrist. She couldn't mask the grimace as she jerked away from his grasp. His jaw dropped at the sight of her wrist and anger filled him immediately as he stood and moved toward her. Then his heart broke as she flinched and moved away from him.

"Penelope! What happen?"

"Nothing, Derek…just forget about it."

"No way! What happened to your wrist?

He gently pulled her sleeve up on one arm and then the other. He could barely contain himself and all he could see was red as her tears returned and her body began to shake. Her lips moved but no words came out as he pulled her against his body.

"Did Kevin do this?"

She held her tongue crying hysterically now.

"Baby Girl, answer me. Did Kevin do this?"

"Derek, please! It was my fault I just want to forget about it!"

"Hell no! If Kevin hurt you, I'll kill him! Now tell me right now, did Kevin do this?"

"Derek! I won't have you going after Kevin and getting in trouble! I handled it already and it's done!"

"No! No it's not done! Look at your wrists! You need to see a doctor! What else did he do?"

He felt her stiffen in his arms…he already knew the answer. This was the woman he loved more than life itself and he'd never understood what she'd seen in Kevin; he wasn't worthy of her and now that little twerp had hurt her and worse. The thought of what may have happened to her at the hands of Kevin Lynch made him too angry to speak. To think that she blamed herself pushed Derek over the edge.

He walked them back to the couch and pulled her down with him carefully. For the next several minutes he held her and rocked her. He'd take care of her first and even though she'd fight him on it he'd insist that she go to the hospital.

The team needed to be notified and the police and then once he knew she was safe he'd find Kevin Lynch… and only a miracle would keep him from taking his life.