The State Verses Derek Morgan-Ch 55

Derek froze stock still as he watched her running up the aisle to get to him. He met her in the middle as she threw herself into his arms and said, "I love you Derek, I love you", he said, "I love you too baby girl, always have and always will". Derek then pulled back slightly and said, "I'm not taking any more chances", she looked at him and said, "wh" as his lips descended down onto hers in a passionate yet demanding kiss.

Cindy said, "order in this court, order in this court", everybody finally turned to face her and she said, "would somebody please tell me what's going on?", Penelope smiled and said, "I can mam" as Derek led her to a seat to sit down. Penelope took a deep breath and smiled at her family who was now surrounding her as she opened her mouth and got ready to tell everybody what had happened from the night of her supposed death.

Everybody in the courtroom listened as she said, "when I woke up I was in a dark place, like a basement or cellar, something like that, I tried to get up but it was like I was paralyzed, I only found out later that's because I was drugged". Derek intertwined fingers with her, it was like he was afraid that if he let go of her she'd disappear again and that he wouldn't survive, he wanted to die when he thought she was dead but now that she was back with him again, he was never letting her go".

Penelope said, "I have been at the house of Robert and Robin Blakely's cousin Charles and his wife Olivia", she then looked around and motioned for Olivia to come sit down beside her, which she nervously did. Penelope said, "she saved me, they only wanted to give me food once a day and that was early in the morning and water in the middle of the day but she snuck me in more food and water, she protected me, she was there when I was so weak that I couldn't stand, she was there to feed me and give me water".

Derek looked at Olivia as Penelope said, "we had to be careful because of the video cameras so she would sneak extra water under my pillow while she was feeding me and she would also sneak me extra food, she would hide it under the tray and before she would sit it down she managed to hide me long enough to hand it to me so I could hide it under my pillow".

Penelope looked up at the judge again and said, "she's willing to give states evidence against all of them your honor, she's willing to risk her life again in order to bring them down, she tried to tell them over and over that what they were doing was wrong and several times she got hurt, she got hurt trying to protect me".

Cindy said, "how did you manage to survive Ms. Garcia?", Penelope said, "the cab driver was paid off to take me after Derek had been drugged and was unconscious", Derek looked at her, she was so beautiful, even after everything she'd been through. Penelope said, "I was in and out of consciousness and that's how I saw somebody that looked like me, she was alive and well so after I was carried out and put into a coroners van and driven to the place that would become my home for over a month".

Penelope then said, "they told me what was going on, that everybody thought I was dead and that Derek did it", she looked at Derek and said, "I'm so sorry that you were put through that angelfish". Derek brought her hand up to his lips and kissed it and said, "the only thing that matters is that you're alive, the rest, well we won't worry about anymore", she smiled at him and nodded her head yes.

Cindy then asked, "do you have any idea what happened to your lookalike?", she said, "no mam, they would never tell me any of that, even Olivia doesn't know", everybody looked at Olivia and she shook her head no that she didn't know what had happened to her. Cindy then looked at the prosecutor and said, "considering that Ms. Garcia is alive and well isn't there something that you would like to say?", he said, "yes, mam, the state drops all charges against Derek Morgan".

Cindy said, "good answer, good answer", she then looked at Penelope and said, "I'm sure that the state would like to have a word with you, not today but soon", Penelope said, "yes mam". Derek said, "come on sweetness, let's get you to the hospital and get you checked out", she said, "I'm fine, I promise", he said, "ohhhh but no little missy, you've been kidnapped for over a month and I thought you were dead sooooo you're going to the hospital".

Penelope looked at the judge and said, "what's going to happen to Olivia?", Cindy said, "for now we'll take her into protective custody so that she'll be safe and then after she talks to the prosecutor we'll see about maybe getting her into witness protection". Olivia smiled and said, "thank you", the guards then stepped forward to take her into protective custody and she said, "thank you again Penelope" and reached out and hugged her new friend.

Penelope said, "I'll come by and visit you okay?", she nodded her head and said, "is that allowed?", Cindy said, "I'll make sure that the two of you can see each other", Penelope grinned and said, "thank you your honor". She said, "you are very welcome", she then looked at Derek and said, "alright Mr. Morgan, get your girl and take her to be checked out", Derek said, "yes mam" as they stood up and walked hand in hand up the aisle with their family right behind them.

When they got out into the hall Derek hugged James and Connor and invited them to come over to his house, both men accepted and gave Derek they new numbers and told Derek to call when he was ready for company. Derek smiled and said, "thank you both for everything you did for me", James said, "it's the least I could do considering everything that you did for me".

Connor high fived Derek and said, "hey man, we're family and family sticks together", Fran said, "amen Connor, amen" as James and Connor stood watching Derek and his baby girl walk hand in hand out of the courthouse with the rest of their family behind them.