"You're a very lucky man, Agent Morgan."

The tall dark haired man entered the room that had been overrun with the team and Derek's mother and sisters.

"One more centimeter to the left and I'm afraid you wouldn't be with us right now."

Penelope sighed in relief as she tightened her grip on his hand. His eyes glanced from the doctor to her as he waited for the rest of what the doctor had to say.

"If all goes well and your blood levels continue to improve I'll let you out of here in a day or so."

"Thanks Doc."

Morgan shifted in the bed as everyone smiled relieved that he was going to recover from his injuries. He knew it had been close and the pain was a small price to pay to be able to look into Penelope's eyes again. He'd almost lost her and even though he couldn't see any physical damage he knew that the internal scars for her perhaps would never heal and for that Kevin Lynch would have to die.

She noticed that he seemed preoccupied as if he were a thousand miles away. While everyone was chatting away giddy because of the good news, he seemed weighted down with a million thoughts. She would be foolish to think that he was satisfied with how things had ended and because she knew him better than he knew himself, this was far from over. As long as Kevin Lynch was breathing Derek would be haunted with his own anger and disappointment that none of them had taken the shot to end the little weasel's life.

"Hey, where did you go?" She whispered.

She bent down and planted a soft kiss on his lips capturing his attention again.

"I'm sorry, Baby Girl. I was just thinking…I don't know what I would have done if…"

"Stop it! No more of that. I'm here, you're going to be fine…we both are going to be fine."

"I guess I won't be satisfied until I know for sure he's going away for a long time."

"That's one thing you can be sure of." Hotch interrupted.

His bed was surrounded now with all the people who meant the world to him. His family had come to be with him and Penelope but that's what they did; they took care of each other.

"It's over Baby Boy. Now all that's important is that you get better and you and this beautiful lady start working on those grandbabies you promised me!"

"Ma!"

The room was filled with laughter and even Derek was able to laugh and enjoy the moment. After all, he had everything he needed in this room and Kevin Lynch was finally out of their lives.

Quantico, VA - Police Department – Central Lockup –

Everyone had let him down and he was sick and tired of coming out on the bottom. When he met Penelope and she'd agreed to date him he thought that finally things were turning around for him. All of his life he'd been the nerd, the geek who was taunted and bullied throughout his childhood. Socially awkward he'd hated guys like Derek Morgan; the jocks whom got all the girls and everything else they wanted. Even his parent's considerable wealth hadn't raised his standing among his peers and so he became an invisible loser until She walked into his life.

He never understood the friendship shared between them and he always believed that there was more. It was confirmed when he'd walked in on the two of them making love on the same bed that he'd shared with her for the last three years. He stood watching them for what seemed like an eternity but in reality it was only a few seconds before he quickly and quietly retreated. In those few seconds he'd seen and heard everything that he'd never seen and heard when she was with him. He didn't want to believe that a man like Derek Morgan could love someone like Penelope; in fact, he'd told her just that on several occasions when they would argue. But that night watching and listening as their two sweaty naked bodies moved so effortlessly together totally oblivious to his presence, he knew beyond a shadow of a doubt that Derek Morgan indeed loved her. If only he'd been able to plunge the knife deeper and twist it further, maybe then maybe he'd be able to get the image of them together out of his mind.

Potomac General Hospital –

Even though Morgan and Garcia had survived their ordeal with Lynch; Rossi knew that this was far from over. The Lynch family was a wealthy and powerful Virginia family with old money and long arms that reached beyond the sight of any law enforcement or Federal department. He'd suspected that this wasn't the young man's first scrape with the law; it seldom was. As he watched the others whom he'd claimed long ago as his family he wanted nothing more than to erase the problem of Kevin Lynch. He needed to pay for what he had done the system wasn't equipped to deal with a worm like him…but he was. Rossi had admitted his ties to some seedy dark characters in the past; people who still owed him favors and with just one phone call wouldn't hesitate to even the score and get out of Rossi's debt. So without being noticed Rossi pulled his phone from his pocket and quietly stepped out of the room into the hallway.

Shortly after Dave returned the team decided to leave and let Morgan and Garcia get some rest. The staff had already figured that she was not going to stay in the room that they'd assigned her so they made their final check of Derek's vitals for the evening and left the two curled up in each other's arms.

Home of David Rossi – Morning –

He couldn't sleep. Even though he was exhausted all he had done since getting home from the hospital was toss and turn. Quietly, he eased out of the redhead's embrace and headed downstairs to the kitchen. Maybe a cup of tea would help him to relax. His mind was haunted by the sight of Penelope strapped to the bed screaming and then Derek who was lying still in a pool of his own blood shook him to his core. It was too close way too close.

As he poured the steaming hot water into the mug he felt her arms wrap around his waist and he couldn't help the smile that spread across his face. Setting the kettle back on the stove he turned in her arms without breaking the connection of her embrace.

"Bella, I hope I didn't wake you."

He planted a soft kiss on her lips as she searched his face. He knew he wouldn't be able to fool her and he saw the questions in her eyes.

"No, my love you didn't wake me. I was having trouble sleeping myself."

"Join me in a cup of tea?"

"Yes, please."

She released him and took a seat at the island and waited for him to join her. Taking the stool next to her he felt a warmth overtake him as she laid her head on his shoulder. It had been a long time since he'd shared his life with a woman. He had never been successful in love but this time he believed he'd finally gotten it right.

"How are you holding up?"

"God Dave, I don't know what I would have done if he hadn't made it."

"But he did. Your son is strong as he is stubborn. He's not going anywhere without a fight."

She turned and kissed him she felt his smile as he deepened the kiss. They'd enjoyed their secret quiet times together but they both knew that eventually they'd have to tell the others especially Derek. She wasn't looking forward to that. Her son wouldn't understand the secrets and the not knowing every detail of her life and he knew Dave's reputation with the women rivaled his own. Fran and Dave feared the worst when they finally told him.

"I think it's time to tell him."

"I think you're right." He replied.

"He's going to be pretty upset."

"I think he'll surprise you, Bella. He wants you to be happy and I can't blame him."

"Still he's going to be upset that we took so long to tell him especially since his sisters have known all along."

"Yes, your son definitely doesn't like to be left out of the loop."

Suddenly, their conversation was interrupted by the ringing of Dave's cell phone. He felt her tense next to him.

"Rossi."

"Hey Dave, it's Aaron. Sorry to call so early."

"No worries. Is Morgan okay?"

"Yes, he's fine. It's Kevin Lynch."

"What about Lynch?"

"He was found dead in his cell about an hour ago."