Penelope slowly and hesitantly stepped into the room, Derek was waiting for her. He hadn't called her name for a while now. It worried Penelope, but she needed another few seconds to calm herself down.

Squeezing her eyes shut, Penelope just stood there for a moment, one hand on the doorframe, the other one clenched to a fist.

She didn't know how to do this.

Derek was hurting.

He could die.

How could she hide her emotions as soon as she would see him?

How to comfort him, when all Penelope wanted was to hide in a corner and cry?

How to stay strong when she sure as hell wasn't?

She honestly didn't know.

Penelope had to remind herself that this was Derek. That he needed her a lot. That the only person he asked for was her.

He would do the same thing for her.

And that was, what finally made her move.

She took a few deep, shuddering breaths, and hesitantly opened her brown eyes that were stinging with tears. She stepped a little more into the room to take a closer look at her Hot Stuff.

Penelope had seen a lot since she'd joined the BAU.

She'd thought there wasn't anything that could shock her now.

That she'd become tough.

But seeing Derek now was the worst thing, Penelope had ever seen in all those years she'd been working for the FBI.

All the cute cat videos in the world wouldn't be able to make it up for the sight in front of her.

Every word, JJ had used to describe Derek's condition felt like it hadn't been enough for what Penelope saw. If she didn't know for sure that this was him, Penelope wouldn't have recognized Derek.

He was chained to the wall with both hands and feet, forced to stand all the way. His shoulders must hurt so much, was one of the first thoughts, Penelope had.

They'd let his hair grown. Also, his beard. Grey wisps were to be seen in between his black, filthy hair.

Once he had been muscular, his perfect body well-toned.

Her chocolate-colored adonis.

Now, all Penelope could see was skin and bones. She could see every rip on his torso.

His hip bones stood out.

No six-pack was to be seen anymore.

Derek's once beautiful chocolate-colored skin was covered in newer and older bruises. He must have had his left leg broken, the way he was standing on it made it evident, even to her.

He appeared to be so fragile, Penelope almost couldn't stand it.

It felt so unreal. Like the worst movie, Penelope had ever seen.

More tears stung in her eyes as she looked him up and down.

"Oh, Derek," Penelope whispered tearfully as she took a hesitant step closer, not wanting to scare the man she still loved so much. Her heart clenched painfully.

She didn't want to imagine the pain he must've been in for the last years.

"P...Penelope?"

His head all so slowly moved into the direction he'd heard her voice coming from. Derek fought to open his eyes, but failed. His head sank back onto his chest. He was breathing heavily as he tried to lift his head for a second time.

"Baby..."

"I'm here, Hot Stuff." Penelope was fast to answer, not wanting him to move much more. JJ had told her that Derek shouldn't get more upset than he already was. Penelope had to remind herself that she was here to comfort him so that the doctors could take care of Derek as fast as possible.

"Can I come closer?" Penelope fought hard to keep her voice calm, but couldn't stop her tears from falling as she saw Derek nodding weakly.

"Please...Baby Girl..." Derek murmured hoarsely.

His breathing was shallow, and despite his dark skin, Derek was unhealthy pale.

It worried Penelope endlessly.

She slowly walked closer, being mindful of making enough noise for Derek to follow. She didn't want him to get more scared because of her. It would kill her.

"I...I'm touching you, okay, Handsome?" Penelope asked, her voice was shaking as she did so. She couldn't stop it, though. Seeing Derek like this? It hurt so goddamn much. Penelope couldn't cope with it.

"Please...Penelope," Derek's voice, as hoarse as it was, almost broke at those words. Penelope recognized the tears that streamed down his face as well.

He still couldn't open his eyes, but he'd bent his head in her direction, following every sound Penelope was doing.

"I'm here now...it's okay, Derek. I've got you," Penelope whispered as she hesitantly reached out her hand and cupped Derek's cheek tenderly.

At first, Derek flinched at the contact, wincing as he apparently awaited pain.

Her heart broke at that sound.

Never, not once since she knew him, Derek had made such a fear-stricken sound. But yet, Penelope let her hand there, letting Derek get used to her touch. She had to force herself to do so, but somehow, Penelope knew the right thing to do. She knew Derek better than anyone. And even if they'd spent so many years apart, Penelope still could sense what Derek needed.

"No one's going to hurt you now, Hot Stuff. Not anymore," Penelope murmured, not able anymore to hide a silent sob. "God, I'm so sorry for what happened to you. But I'm here now. I'm here, and you're safe, okay? I will fight anyone who tries to hurt you. No one will ever do this to you again...I promise, Hot Stuff," she added, the need to comfort Derek stronger than anything she'd felt before entering the room. Nothing was more important than Derek.

"Penelope," Derek brokenly murmured, finally relaxing a little bit into her touch. He once more tried to open his bruised eyes.

Penelope could feel his need to see her in person.

And when he finally was successful and met her eyes through half-lidded ones, the relief she felt was overwhelming to say at least.

"Hey, Baby Boy," Penelope whispered, forcing a smile though she honestly felt like crying. But Derek relaxed a little more, even if a few more tears slid down his face, wettening Penelope's hand.

"You're...here," he murmured weakly, obviously not really trusting his eyes.

"We're all here, Derek," Penelope whispered, stepping as close as possible to him as she talked. He felt so cold, it made Penelope shiver, even through her clothes.

God, how much she wanted to hug him, to warm him.

"Spencer, JJ, Emily, Rossi, and Hotch. We're going to get you out of here, okay? I need you to see a doctor," she murmured slowly, not wanting to overwhelm him with emotions.

Hearing a sob from Derek, Penelope's heart clenched once more.

"You found me. Is that true?" She almost didn't understand him as he slurred his words out slowly and silently.

"Yes...you're safe now, Derek. We got you." Penelope smiled a little at these words, tenderly caressing his cheek with her thumb. Another hoarse sob escaped Derek's throat, and he closed his eyes again.

"I wanna get out of here...wanna go home," Derek murmured weakly, leaning into her touch as much as he was able to.

"That's what we're going to do, Handsome. But we need to loose these bonds first, okay? Can the other's come inside?"

"Stay...just...stay with me." Derek murmured but agreed to her question with a hesitant nod.

"I'm not going anywhere, Derek. Not now that I finally got you back. I'll be at your side all the way, I promise. I just can't help you all alone."

"Okay."

Penelope was fast to call the others inside then. Still, she remained at Derek's side, cupping his cheek, stroking his cheekbone tenderly with her thumb. Derek had to feel her presence, she knew that. More now, as the other's entered the room, joining Penelope and Derek in his former cell.

"JJ and Rossi will loose the chains that are holding your arms, okay? Emily and Hotch your legs. Spencer is here to help me catching and steadying you. I don't want you to fall and get hurt more than you already are," Penelope explained slowly, so Derek was able to follow her words.

"Is that okay?"

It took him a while to process the pieces of information, Penelope had given him. But after a while, Derek nodded in agreement. He was obviously getting weaker with every passing moment they spent talking. It exhausted him too much, and Penelope wanted nothing more than to see him in medical care.

The others who'd been listening all along got into their positions. Spencer murmured something to Derek before he touched him. Derek tensed anyway, but only for a moment before he recognized the touch as a gentle and caring one.

"Okay, Derek. Are you ready?" Penelope whispered, watching the love of her life patiently. Tears still streamed down her face, she couldn't help it, couldn't stop them. But she remained stable for her Hot Stuff. He needed her calm.

There would be time for an emotional breakdown.

Later.

The whole team gently and carefully brought Derek out of the chains as soon as he nodded. He winced in pain, tensed at the contact of too many hands on him, but remained as calm as possible. Penelope talked to him all the time until Derek was brought out of the room.

They had to carry him.

Derek wasn't able to take one step.

He just was too weak to help them in any way.

He fainted halfway, and they had to stop for to Spencer check Derek's pulse. It was a shallow pulse, and Spencer had trouble finding it.

But luckily, the ambulance, as well as an emergency doctor, was already waiting for them.

As carefully, yet as fast as possible, they laid Derek down onto the stretcher. Penelope immediately took her place at Derek's side while the doctors started to give first aid. It shattered her to watch this, but Penelope wouldn't leave his side. There was no way for her to leave him alone.

It took the emergency doctor a while to steady Derek enough for the transport to the hospital.

"You can join us in the ambulance," he told Penelope, who nodded. She would've joined them anyway, but was glad that they offered it before Penelope had to ask.

There was no time for her to hug her teammates before they drove to the nearest hospital. But Penelope knew they would follow the ambulance. She would need a big hug from her teammates. God, Penelope desperately needed someone to lean on for at least a moment.

But it wasn't over yet.

Derek's heart stopped beating at least twice during the short drive to the hospital.

Watching him almost dying was the worst thing Penelope had ever experienced.

She once more felt stuck in a bad movie when the emergency doctor started his attempts at resuscitation for the second time. Her view became blurry from all the tears that spilled out of her eyes without control.

Penelope couldn't lose him.

Not now that she had him back. That he got his second chance.

"Please, God, don't do this to me," she whispered, clutching her dress with both her hands. "Don't let him die...please."

Penelope had never been one to believe in God.

However, right now, she couldn't help but beg to him.

To pray for Derek to be alive.

For him to get to know his daughter. Oh, how much Penelope wanted him to get to meet Sofie.

To see his momma and sisters again.

Penelope had never prayed, but today, while she watched the doctor's fight for Derek's life, she couldn't stop it.

And when his heart finally started to beat again for the second time, the pulse remained low, but steady until they arrived at the hospital.

Penelope couldn't help to send a silent thank you to whoever had heard her prayer.

It all went fast then.

He was brought to the ER in no time, and all, Penelope could do was to wait for any news the nurses or a doctor would bring her.

Fran jumped awake in the middle of the night when her cellphone started ringing loudly. She'd always took it with her when Penelope was away - just in case.

Penelope hadn't called her before at night, but when she read her name on display, Fran instantly had a bad feeling in her gut.

"Hey Penelope," Fran greeted her curiously. "What makes you call at that ungodly hour?" She tried to joke, even though Fran didn't feel like it. And when she heard Penelope's voice, Fran's heart sank.

"It's Derek," Penelope quavered, trying and failing to hide a sob. It was evident that Penelope was crying.

Fran remained silent for a while.

Did she want to know what happened?

Was she ready to face the news that Penelope had for her?

Taking a deep breath, Fran cleared her voice.

She had to know.

Whatever it was.

Fran needed to know what happened to her Baby Boy.

Even if it would break her.

"What happened...Penelope...please tell me everything."

To her surprise, Fran's voice appeared clear and calm as she spoke to Penelope.

"We found him."

Once more, Fran didn't say a word as she listened to the sobs that escaped Penelope's throat at the other end of the phone.

"What...what did you just say?"

Fran couldn't believe it. Was he alive? After all those years?

"He...he's at the hospital. He's in a very critical condition. They don't know if he makes it through the night, Fran. But he's...he's alive. We found him, and he's alive," Penelope all but stuttered under tears, repeating herself constantly. But Fran couldn't care less. All she wanted to hear were those words. He's alive. "Hotch...he somehow made it possible to get a jet for you and Sofie. You have to come to Sacramento."

"Penelope."

Fran was in shock. Her Baby Boy was alive.

The BAU had somehow made it possible and found him.

"I know...I...I really need you here, Fran. I...Derek needs you here as well...he...he's been asking for you," Penelope answered, but was unable to say one more word before she started sobbing once more.

"I'm sorry, Fran...I," she tried once more, but Fran stopped her. It was evident that Penelope was totally overwhelmed with emotions.

"Oh, sweetheart...Penelope," Fran started. Tears started to stream down her face as well as the realization sunk in that Derek was alive. That he still could live.

"I'll pack a bag for Sophie and me. Tell me everything, please," Fran told Penelope hoarsely as she brought her legs out of bed and rose to her feet.

Fran was fast to pack a few things she would need while Penelope told her what had happened to Derek.

That it broke Fran's heart was an understatement.

It wrecked her.

Derek had gone through so much in his life before he'd joined the BAU. He'd been kidnapped for the last ten years and gotten hurt so much. Fran wasn't sure if she could bear the view of her son. But she had to remain strong for Penelope, and Sofie. And for Derek. She knew that her son would need her at his side.

They ended the call a few minutes later.

It was just then that Fran gave in to her feelings for a moment. She cried until she felt like no tear was left. When Fran finally had calmed down, she checked the clock. Ten minutes had passed.

Deciding that they needed to hurry, Fran quickly got dressed and went to her grandchild's room. Trying to wake her gently, Fran tenderly caressed Sofie's cheek, until the little girl opened her eyes.

"Grandma?" Sofie asked in confusion. "Is it morning already?"

"No sweetheart, it's two in the morning. But you need to get up. We have to catch a flight."

And suddenly, Sofie was wide awake.

"A flight?"

"Yes...we're flying to Sacramento. Your mom and her teammates found your daddy, Baby Girl," Fran explained, feeling fresh tears welling up in her eyes.

Sofie's eyes were wide as she watched her grandma, not really knowing how to cope with this piece of information. She slowly sat up in her bed, brows furrowed. God, how much she reminded Fran of Derek at that very moment.

"Is that true?"

Fran only nodded and brought her in for a big bear hug.

Sofie brought her arms around Fran's torso and snuggled close to her grandma. They sat there for a moment, both trying to fight against the tears that dared to come out.

"We have to hurry, Sofie. I'll get you a bag ready, go, get dressed, okay? We have to be at the BAU in half an hour," Fran explained gently, feeling Sofie nodding her head in agreement.

Her grandchild hadn't been this fast in forever.

She was ready even before Frand had packed her bag.

Only minutes later, they were seated in Fran's car and on their way to the BAU, where their jet was already waiting for them.