Derek's POV

JJ and I got into our assigned SUV and began to head towards the first family's house. I looked through the windows and we drove down the somber street.

I'd never thought I'd come back to these trenches. I tried so hard to stay away and leave everything that happened here, in the past.

"Did you live around here?" JJ asked breaking the silence.

"Oh uh, yeah. A few blocks south." I responded.

"When's the last time you came up this way?" She asked.

"Last Christmas."

"I bet your mom and sisters would love to see you." JJ said.

"Yeah. I'll stop to see them after we're done for the day." I said hoping that the conversation ended there.

Thankfully nothing else was said and we finally pulled up to our first crime scene. JJ and I got out of the car and headed towards the two story house.

We took a minute to walk around and take everything in, the blood, and the placement of the bodies.

"What are you thinking?" JJ asked.

"This is too personal to be gangbangers." I said.

"This unsub killed the mom and daughter first, and then turned his rage on the boy and his father. Why?" She spoke out loud.

"The main focus of his rage was the father."

"Maybe the unsub didn't have a father. Or hates his own."

We continued to talk back and forth out loud. I closed my eyes for a second and all the bad memories started flooding back. The shooting that killed my dad. The youth center. Buford. The gangs. The guns. Rodney.

"Derek?" JJ snapped me out of my thoughts.

"You okay?" She asked.

I nodded my head. "Let's back to the station."

We pulled into the parking lot of the police station and headed inside with the rest of our team.

"Derek Morgan."

I turned around and there he was. Gordinski.

"Detective." I greeted.

"Actually I was promoted to Captain a few years back" He responded.

"Look, I want to apologize for my behavior back then. I was narrow minded detective. We need your help now." He said.

"That's why we're here." I said walking away and joining my team.

We began to debrief with each other and that's when I saw her.

Penelope Garcia.

She was rushing into the room in her sandals. Her blonde hair laid perfectly straight down to her shoulders. Her yellow sundress swaying with each step.

I had it bad for Penelope Garcia. She was and is my best friend. After she was shot, that's when I knew I loved her. I had almost lost her and I couldn't let that happen again. I was just too scared of being rejected.

If I was rejected by Penelope Garcia there would be no going back. Things would never be the same.

"I'm sorry to be the bearer of bad news crime fighters, but there's been another murder." Penelope said snapping me out of my thoughts.

The team gathered their coats and headed for the door. I was joining them when I felt a hand on my chest. I froze.

"Derek baby, you okay?" Penelope asked.

I tried to focus so my pants wouldn't start to tent.

"I'll be better when we're back home baby." I said back. She gave me a sad smile and dropped her hand.

"They need you." She replied.

I nodded my head and headed out the doors behind everyone else.

We investigated the third crime scene with a minimum of 3 calls to Penelope and then we were headed back to the station.

We worked as much as we could for the night before Hotch relieved us all.

"You guys head to the hotel. I'm going to head to my mamas house and spend my time there." I said.

"Oh oh baby boy, please bring me some of her famous mama Morgan apple pie. I'm begging you." Penelope said jogging up behind me.

"Of course I would sweet thang." I smiled and tapped her on the nose.

The team piled into two of the SUVs to head towards the hotels and I climbed into the other one and made my way to my mothers house.

I made my way up the sidewalk and tapped on the door. Sarah answered and gasped.

"Derek Morgan, why are you knocking on this door." She pulled me into a hug.

"Surprise." I said laughing.