Chapter 3: A Promise of Forever

Penelope Garcia sat at her desk, her eyes glued to the screen in front of her, but her mind was elsewhere. The soft clicks of her keyboard filled the room as she worked through the latest case files for the BAU. Her fingers moved like clockwork, processing the information, but her focus was fading. A soft, persistent ache had settled in her stomach since morning, and it hadn't relented. She had learned to live with the nausea, the dizziness, and the constant exhaustion, but today was different.

It felt heavier, somehow, like the weight of everything in her life was pulling her down. The pregnancy. The chemotherapy. The constant cycle of fighting for her health while carrying a baby, a baby that she wasn't sure she'd be able to protect. There was a gnawing fear inside of her, a fear that the toll the cancer was taking on her body would hurt the little one growing inside her. How could she fight for both?

"Hey, Penelope, you okay?"

Derek Morgan's voice snapped her back to reality, and she turned to see him standing at her desk, concern written all over his face. He had been watching her for the past few hours, and from the way she was holding her stomach, trying to steady her breath, he knew something wasn't right.

"Yeah, of course, hot stuff. Just a little tired," she replied quickly, trying to brush him off with a smile that didn't quite reach her eyes. She felt him studying her, and it made her heart flutter nervously in her chest.

Derek wasn't fooled. He knew her too well. The way she avoided eye contact, the way she clenched her jaw just a little tighter than normal, the way she kept rubbing her stomach—it was all a silent signal that something was wrong.

"Don't lie to me, baby girl. What's really going on?" His tone was gentle, but there was an underlying authority in it that she couldn't escape.

Penelope tried to hide her emotions, tried to keep it together, but the truth of it all was that she was struggling. The morning sickness hadn't gone away, and with each passing day, her energy was draining, not just from the pregnancy, but from the constant cycle of chemotherapy treatments. She was barely keeping her head above water.

"I don't know, Derek," she said, her voice wavering for the first time. "I don't feel like I'm in control anymore. The treatments... they make me sick, and the pregnancy makes everything worse. I'm scared I'm going to hurt the baby."

Derek's face softened as he sat down next to her, his hand resting gently on her shoulder. He didn't say anything right away; he simply let the weight of the moment settle between them.

"Hey, hey," he said, leaning closer. "You're not alone in this, Penelope. I'm here. We're in this together, every step of the way. Whatever comes, we'll face it together."

She swallowed hard, her throat tightening with emotion. She had always been the one to comfort others, to offer a shoulder to cry on, but now, when she needed someone the most, it was hard to accept. Hard to let him see her weak.

"I'm trying, Derek. I really am," she whispered, her voice breaking. "But I don't know how much more I can take."

He gave her a reassuring smile, brushing a lock of hair from her face. "You don't have to do it alone. You never have to do this alone."

As she looked into his eyes, Penelope could see the depth of his love and concern for her. He was going to help her through this, even if it meant carrying her when she couldn't stand on her own. She had always been the one to handle things, but maybe it was time to let someone else be strong for her.

Derek leaned forward and placed a soft kiss on her forehead, his voice low and soothing. "We'll figure this out together, I promise."

Later That Day – The Strain Intensifies

As the day went on, Penelope found herself growing more and more exhausted. It was the usual pattern now: feeling nauseous in the morning, battling through work, and then crashing in the late afternoon when the fatigue became unbearable. But today, something felt different. She had managed to keep the sickness at bay until now, but as the afternoon wore on, she felt her energy slip away, and her stomach churned more violently than before.

She leaned back in her chair, her head spinning, and closed her eyes for a moment. She just needed a minute.

But when she opened her eyes again, the world tilted. The room spun around her, and her stomach lurched in a way that sent her heart racing. She barely had time to reach for the trash can beside her desk before everything went dark.

"Penelope!" Derek's voice broke through the haze, sharp with panic.

He was there in an instant, kneeling beside her, his hand on her forehead as he gently lifted her into his arms. He could feel her body go limp against him, and his breath caught in his throat. This wasn't the first time she'd fainted, but this time it felt different. The weight of it all felt heavier.

"Penelope, come on, baby, wake up," he whispered, his voice breaking.

Her eyelids fluttered open, and she groggily focused on him. "Derek... I'm sorry. I didn't mean to..."

"Don't apologize," Derek said softly, brushing her hair away from her face. "I'm taking you home, right now. No more work today. You're done."

She tried to sit up, but the effort made her dizzy again. "I can't go home. I have to work. We have a case."

Derek shook his head firmly, his jaw tight with determination. "No. You're not working. You're going home, and I'm taking care of you. You've been pushing yourself too hard. You need rest."

Penelope opened her mouth to protest, but before she could say anything, she collapsed against him again. Derek scooped her into his arms, holding her close as he carried her out of the office. The team watched them leave, concern etched on their faces. They had seen the signs of Penelope's decline, but they knew she wouldn't admit it herself. Derek, however, wasn't about to let her continue to push herself into the ground.

Back at Penelope's Apartment

By the time they reached Penelope's apartment, she was still groggy, but Derek insisted on getting her settled. He helped her into bed, making sure she was comfortable and had everything she needed. He could see the exhaustion written all over her face, but she was reluctant to rest.

"I'm fine, Derek. You don't have to do all this," she protested weakly.

"I know you're fine," he said, his voice soft but firm. "But you don't have to do this alone, Penelope. Let me take care of you."

As he sat beside her, watching her, he felt his heart ache. He loved her. He had always loved her, but now, it was more than just love. It was a promise—a promise that no matter what, he would always be there to support her, to help her fight through whatever came their way.

And as the night wore on, he made a decision.

When Penelope was asleep, Derek left her side for a moment, moving to the drawer where he had hidden the small velvet box. Inside was a ring—a symbol of everything he wanted to give her: his heart, his promise, and his future.

He returned to her side and gently took her hand in his, feeling her fingers curl around his. As he gazed at her, lying there so vulnerable and beautiful, he knew what he had to do.

"Penelope," he whispered softly, his voice thick with emotion. "I've loved you for so long. And I'm not going anywhere. No matter what happens, I'm here. I promise you, I'm never leaving."

He reached into his pocket, pulling out the ring. "Will you marry me, Penelope? Will you let me be the one to stand by your side through everything? I want to spend the rest of my life with you."

Her eyelids fluttered as she stirred, and for a moment, he thought she might wake up, but she remained asleep, her hand still holding his tightly. Derek kissed her forehead, feeling the weight of the promise he had just made.

"I love you, Penelope Garcia. Always."