Clarion Hotel – Afternoon-
Fran pulled into the roundabout and waited for the valet to come around. The grand opulence made her sick to her stomach and she wondered what Charles and Lydia were thinking by keeping her energetic two-year old couped up in a place like this where everything was made of porcelain.
Fran needed to see Hank with her own eyes; she'd called to check on him, but the Hayes refused to answer her calls. So, here she was headed toward the elevator; just before the doors opened, Fran turned toward a familiar face.
"Derek, son what are you doing here?"
"I'm here to see my son! Why are you here, Ma?"
"Same."
Derek stepped toward the elevator door, but Fran stepped in front of him.
"Ma please..."
"...you know you can't be here! Charles and Lydia have a restraining order against you!"
"Hank is my son, my son!"
"Baby Boy don't play into their hands! You go up there and they'll have you arrested! It's what they expect you to do!"
"But Ma!"
"No! The police already suspect foul play! Let it play out the right way!"
"The right way? Even though the police may be able to clear my name I may not get Hank back. I could still lose him; I can't lose my son! He's all I have!"
"No Derek, he's not! You have us, your team, your family, and we promise you that none of us will rest until Hank is back in your arms!"
"What am I supposed to do until then?"
"You trust us; I know it's hard because you don't trust anybody..."
"...I trust..."
Fran placed her hands on each side of his face and looked motherly into his eyes. She saw the tears of the little boy that were still held firmly in place, and she saw the fear and the doubt in himself that he would never admit lived comfortably within him.
"...no baby you don't and it's okay; the world hasn't given you much reason to trust and it's okay for now, but sooner or later you're going to have to let down that wall and let the people who love you in."
Derek shook his head and allowed his mother to pull him against her. Fran felt the trembling and the struggle not to cry; it saddened her to admit that he still wasn't ready to give up his solitary fight, but she loved him, and she could be patient no matter how long it took.
"Now what?" He asked.
"Now you are going home and I'm going upstairs to see my grandson."
"What if they won't let you?"
"Let me? Then I'll sit outside the door until they do. Besides, they have to come out eventually."
Derek managed a half-hearted smile as he nodded. He hugged his mother before pulling out of her arms.
"Thank you, Ma."
BAU Headquarters –
Penelope had been flooded with pictures from Emily and Elle. The two friends had been thorough and busy gathering information as they kept close to Artemis Maker and his two associates.
Penelope found it hard not to think about Derek; he'd left the hospital hell-bent on seeing baby Hank even though she'd tried in vain to convince him not to. Emily being back was Hotch's call; Penelope wondered her boss would think if he knew that Elle was back too. The two agents had unfinished business and Penelope knew Hotch would not be satisfied until that business was settled.
Derek didn't go home; being in the apartment without Hank was unbearable. So, after leaving his mother at the hotel he headed towards the only place, the only person where he felt safe.
Penelope was surprised to see him standing in her office doorway. The two of them had left in separate directions after his discharge and her feelings were still hurt. She wanted to stay by his side; he wanted to be alone, but here he was waiting for permission to come in and for forgiveness.
Derek watched her for several minutes before she noticed he was there. He'd always loved watching her. She had been a constant in his life for the last twelve years. His mother wasn't quite right about him; he trusted Penelope with his life. He hadn't seen her coming but somehow, she had managed to do something that no one else had been able to do and that thing was the reason that his marriage to Savannah never had a chance.
"Handsome?"
She stood and pulled him into the office. He quickly wrapped her tightly in his arms and held her tightly against his chest.
"I'm sorry..."
"...shhh..."
Clarion Hotel –
Fran placed a sleeping Hank into the arms of Gertrude the nanny. She then watched as the young woman disappeared down the hallway. She was aware of Charles and Lydia watching her every move nearby. She stood and grabbed her jacket and purse.
"Thank you, both of you."
"Of course," Lydia began. "We'd never keep you from seeing your grandson."
"But you'd keep his father from seeing him?"
"Fran, that's not fair! Derek was found unconscious in an alley downtown with Hank defenseless in the back seat!" Charles insisted.
"Derek is a good father!"
"Derek has problems, Fran! No mother wants to admit that their son is less than they'd hoped."
"I know my son Charles and I've never claimed that he was perfect but what I do know is that he would never put Hank at risk, not like that!"
"Well, we'll leave that up to law enforcement to sort out," assured Lydia.
Fran turned and headed toward the door. Just before leaving she turned to face the couple.
"Yes, we will indeed."
"...and Fran," Lydia began, "no matter what happens you'll always be welcome to have a place in Hank's life."
"That's kind of you."
Without another word, Fran stepped into the hallway as the door closed behind her. She was surprised and grateful that Charles and Lydia had allowed her in to see her grandson, but she was suspicious of their confidence and arrogance; they'd been quick to judge Derek and quick to assume that things would be decided in their favor.
"This is far from over...far, far from over!"
BAU Headquarters –
Derek and Penelope's reunion was interrupted by the pinging of her computers. The monitors were lit up with the faces of the men that Emily and Elle had sent her earlier. Two of the men matched the description of Derek's nosy neighbor.
"Damn!"
Derek plopped down in the seat next to Pen as her fingers floated across the keys sorting the information.
"You're amazing, Baby Girl!"
"Of course, I am, Suge!"
"These men have a long history with Artemis Maker," Penelope began.
"A history that we would have never found if you hadn't dug deep into their financials. Like I said, you're amazing!"
Derek stood and kissed her on the cheek just before heading toward the door.
"Thanks, Handsome," then, "hey, where are you going?"
"I'm going to get my life back."
"Derek, no!"
"Why, we've got them; it's right there in black and white! This man and my ex-in-laws conspired against me to steal my son! I'm not letting them get away with it!"
"So, Fran was right, you don't trust anyone."
He couldn't ignore the disappointment in her eyes.
"Garcia, it's not about trust! It's about being tired of life running over me like a MAC truck!"
"Derek, it has everything to do with trust! I get it, life sucks and you've had your fair share of hard times, but Em and Elle...the team...me...we're working to bring Hank home and to clear your name!"
He shook his head; she was right, and he knew it.
"We love you; you do know that right, baby boy? We believe in you, and we love you. This isn't over okay Derek; no not by a long shot because we're just getting started."