Penelope's POV
I took a few deep breaths as we all boarded our jet back to Quantico. I couldn't wait to be home, on familiar grounds.
I took a seat on the couch in the back and Derek plopped down next to me.
"Next stop, home." He said I gave him a grim smile and laid my head on his shoulder. It wasn't long before I felt myself dozing off. All I seen was darkness and it all came flooding back. The alley. The mattress.
I was running. So fast. Barefoot. The dim lights of the Chicago street. I turned down an alleyway. No. Not again. My breathing increased.
In and Out. I tried to regulate my breathing. I heard their voices. Screaming. Shouting after me. I kept running. My legs couldn't take much more.
I gasped. I couldn't breathe.
"Help!" I screamed but nobody came.
"Penelope?" I heard a familiar voice say.
Derek.
i jolted awake.
"Penelope are you okay?" He asked. I looked around, everybody's eyes were on me and my face flushed red.
"I-I'm sorry. Just a nightmare." I replied.
"You know studies say.." Spencer started to say.
"Spence." JJ interrupted. "Not now."
Spencer gave me a sad smile and I gave one back.
"It's okay. They're bound to happen."
The jet finally descended to Quantico and as we gathered our things and stepped off I took a nice deep breath of the Virginia air.
"You want to come home with me baby?" I heard Derek ask.
"Oh, uh, I have things to handle and home first." I said.
"I'll drive?" He asked. I nodded my head and climbed into the passenger seat.
We arrived at my apartment complex and I took a breath. I seen Esther sitting out front in her assigned parking spot.
"Give me some time and I'll call you?" I questioned him. He looked very hesitant.
"Pen." He started.
"I'll be fine. You only live 2 miles away. I'll call you." I said stepping out of the SUV. I walked up the stairs to my apartment. I felt on edge. I heard voices coming up the stairs. I felt like I couldn't breathe. I froze. My key was stuck. I felt trapped. The voices got closer and then it finally opened. I ran inside, slammed the door and fell up against it. I was panting.
it was dark, I flicked the lamps on and I turned the tv on and I still felt eerie.
I couldn't stay here.
I grabbed my bedazzled phone out of my pocket and dialed Derek's number.
"Penelope?" He answered.
"I'm scared." I said, my voice cracking.
"What happened?" He asked frazzled.
"I'm so scared. I can't stay here alone." I said.
"I'm on my way baby girl." He replied before I hung up.
I collected some of my everyday things and threw them in my bags. I shut off the tv and the lights as I drug out my bags into the hallway.
"Here let me get that for you." I heard Derek say as he came up the stairs. I wiped my tears and walked beside him as we headed down the stairs.
He opened the car door for me and I climbed in. He both were silent as he drove to his house. We arrived at the big, two story house and he helped me inside.
"I'm sorry." I apologized.
"Baby, don't be sorry. I love you and I will always be here for you." He replied and tears came to my eyes. He dropped my bags and cupped my face. He wiped my tears away.
"Baby girl don't cry."
I looked up into his big brown eyes. I felt so dirty. So disgusting. So used.
"I'll run you a bath." He said dropping his hands.