Scorned Pt. 5

Chapter 8

Potomac General – Afternoon –

Dave was relieved that Fran had managed to fall asleep in the recliner that the nursing staff had graciously brought into the room. He promised her that he would stand watch over Derek while she rested. Hotch had agreed that he stay, and the director had begrudgingly allowed the team to take only local cases for the time being. Sarah and Desire had not returned, nor had they called. Penelope was a wreck when she left; wanting to stay but not sure she should. She was terrified that Derek would not want her here when he woke up.

“...don’t shoot...don’t noo...”

Dave jumped to his feet. Derek moved slightly and began moaning. Hopeful that this was a good sign he called out to Fran to wake her.

“Bella! I think he’s waking up!”

Dave pressed the call button while keeping his eyes on Derek.

“Derek, it’s okay, it’s okay...open your eyes...come on...open your eyes.”

Fran pulled herself to her feet and half-awake she moved to the bed next to Dave.

“Oh, my god! Did you call for the nurse?”

“Yes, yes...it’s okay Derek. You’re safe now.”

“Baby Boy open your eyes for me okay?”

Doctors and nurses quickly rushed through the door shooing them both out of the room. Anxiously, Fran and Dave watched from the hall through the large window. Dave quickly sent a message to the others while the medical staff did their jobs.

Home of Penelope Garcia –

Sarah and Desiree waited in the front room while Penelope disappeared to get dressed. They hoped that their words had gotten through to her. Both Derek and Penelope had let too many years go wasted because of their individual fears and insecurities. This latest incident was the last thing the couple needed.

“Do you we think we got through to her?” Des asked.

“We? Girl, I thought you had lost your mind for a minute; going after the poor woman like a rabid dog!”

“Oh, come on, I wasn’t that bad!”

“Yeah you were, little sister!”

“I had to get my point across.”

“You definitely did that.”

Penelope fumbled through her closet looking for something to wear. Her nerves were getting the best of her at the thought of seeing Derek. She needed him to wake up and forgive her. Sam had never been a choice over Derek, and she needed to convince him of that.

Sarah’s phone buzzed; it was Dave. She looked wide-eyed at her sister waiting to announce the news that Derek was awake.

Penelope’s phone lit up and vibrated on the bed. Her heart stopped as she read the text from Dave...Derek was awake...it was now or never.

“PENELOPE!”

Potomac General Hospital –

Fran held onto Dave’s arm as the doctor approached them. It was hard to read his expression.

“How is he, doctor?” Fran asked.

“He’s awake and breathing on his own. We’ve taken him off the ventilator and all of his vitals are stable.”

“Thank you!”

“He’s still not out of the woods, but it’s definitely a positive sign for him to be awake. I want him to get as much rest as possible and to stay as calm as possible so that his body can heal.”

“We understand.” Dave assured. “What’s next?”

“Just keep him calm.”

“Does he know...” Fran began.

“About the spinal injury?”

“No not yet. I was just in the middle of taking another look at his tests when I got the call that he was awake. Let me go and finish and I’ll be back to talk to you all.”

“Thank you, doctor.” Said Fran.

Fran and Dave quietly walked into the room. Derek was happy to see them; he noticed the tears streaming down his mother’s face.

“No tears, Ma.”

“I’m just happy to see you...happy tears, happy tears.”

“Hey, son...”

“What’s up, old man?”

Dave smiled relieved that Derek still had his sense of humor.

“How are you feeling baby boy?”

“Like I’ve just been run over by a freight train.”

“You feel like telling us what happened?” Dave asked.

“Sam shot me.”

“We know; we figured it out.”

“You did?”

“Yeah, we do this for a living, remember?”

Forgetting that he was seriously injured Derek tried to laugh causing the pain in his chest to remind him where he was.

“Oooohhh.”

“Take it easy.” Fran pleaded.

Derek closed his eyes tightly to ride out the pain before speaking again.

“I hope you caught that son-of-a-bitch!” He moaned.

“Derek, Sam is dead.” Dave began.

“What?”

“He came to the hospital to finish what he started but we stopped him.”

Derek closed his eyes still fighting a losing battle with the pain. He wasn’t sure if he was mad because he’d been shot or that he wasn’t the one who brought Sam down.

“Damn, I didn’t see it coming; none of it! This shouldn’t have happened; not to me!”

“None of this is your fault, Derek.” Fran insisted.

“Ma, I let my guard down, with everything and I should know better!”

“Listen to me and listen good; both you and Penelope are both blaming yourselves for something that neither of you could have prevented.” Fran continued.

“Penelope...”

“We made her go home to get some rest. She hasn’t left your side since all of this happened.” Dave answered.

“Yeah, I bet.”

“What’s going on in that head of yours?” Dave asked noticing a sudden mood change at the mention of Penelope’s name.

FLASHBACK...

The sight of Sam and Penelope kissing kept playing over and over in his head as he drove aimlessly around the city. After an hour or so, Derek found his way back home numb and broken-hearted. After placing his gun and badge in his bedroom safe, he headed toward the kitchen for a drink. He wanted to forget the sight of the former couple rekindling what Derek had believed was in the past.

It wasn’t until he had settled himself on the couch with the remote dancing between channels that he heard footsteps. Before he could react, Sam appeared in front of him with a gun that he was obviously not use to having in his hands. Derek jumped to his feet.

“Sam, what are you doing in my house?”

“Of all the women, why Penelope? Why my Penelope?”

“Sam, listen to me; put the gun down.”

“You can have any woman you want!”

“Sam don’t do this!”

“I thought if I could just change her mind, you know? Then maybe she would see you for the lowlife player that you are.”

Derek took a step toward Sam.

“DON’T...YOU...MOVE!”

Derek stopped in his tracks.

“I love Penelope and I know she loves me...but she’s just confused.”

“She’s not confused, Sam.”

“SHUT UP!”

“I came to see her today...I needed just one more chance...to change her mind...I know you saw us, right?”

“Yes, I saw you.”

Sam rubbed his face before lightly touching his lips, remembering the kiss from earlier that day.

“I caught her by surprise.” He chuckled. “She didn’t see that coming!” He chuckled again. “I think I made her mad, especially after you...”

“Sam, please just put the gun down and we can get you some help.”

“Do you know what would help me, Derek?”

“No, what would help you?”

“I need you out of my way, Derek, okay? I need you to stop coming in between me and my girl!”

“Okay, Okay Sam. I’ll get out of your way, just put the gun down.”

Derek noticed a sick blank smile appear on Sam’s face as he renewed his grip on the gun aiming it steady at Derek.

“You think just because you’re some hotshot agent that you’re smarter than me...”

“No...no, that’s not true, Sam.”

“You think you can have anybody you want, even if they don’t belong to you!”

“No... Sam, you really need to put...”

One...then another...and a third shot rang out piercing the thick tense air. Derek fell like a feather to the ground. With his eyes fighting to stay open he watched as Sam stood over him with the gun at his side. Derek wanted to speak but his voice was trapped within his bullet riddled body.

“Goodbye Derek. I’ll take care of Penelope...she’ll need a friend after you’re gone.”

End of flashback...

“Oh, my poor baby! I’m so sorry this happened to you.”

“It’s okay, Ma...It’s okay...” He moaned in pain and exhaustion.

Dave was furious; he wished that he had taken the kill shot instead of JJ. It would be a long time before any of them would heal from this. The door opened drawing their attention to two men; one was Derek’s surgeon, Dr. Franklin and the other was a stranger.

“Sorry to disturb you all.” Dr. Franklin began.

“Hey doc.” Derek answered.

“How’s our patient doing?”

“I’ve been better.”

“I told your family that I would be back to talk to you. Is now a good time?”

Fran and Dave shot a look at Derek who nodded affirmatively.

“This is Dr. Salas, he’s an orthopedic and neurologic specialist who I’ve asked to join me on your case.”

Dr. Salas nodded a greeting to each of them.

“How am I doing doc? If you’re bringing in a specialist that can’t be good.”

“I won’t sugar-coat it for you agent. You were shot three times and one of the bullets nicked your spine.”

“What are you telling me?”

“It’s a good chance that you may never walk again.”

Derek looked at the doctor in shock; it sounded like he said he may never walk again. There was no way, no way he said that.

“No...”

“I’m sorry; we’ll know more when the swelling goes down in a few days.”

“I don’t believe you! How can this be happening? Are you sure?”

“Spinal cord injuries still pose mysteries to us. We‘ve seen patients with injuries like yours walk unassisted after a year or so of therapy...some may just need the aide of a walker or crutches...” Dr. Salas interjected.

“Hell no! No... I can’t accept this!”

“Let’s just wait until the swelling goes down and then we’ll run some tests. It’s possible that the swelling we’re seeing is obscuring our tests...”

Fran watched her son; he was no longer listening to the doctors instead he had retreated into his head, to the same place that had saved his life shortly after witnessing his father’s murder and no doubt the same place he’d go during the times Carl Buford forced him to comply to his sick desires.

Penelope, Sarah and Desiree stepped off the elevator and headed toward the ICU. Just before reaching the nurses’ station Dave, Fran and two doctors stepped out of the room. Dave shook the two men’s hands and met the girls just before they reached Derek’s room.

“How’s Derek?” Penelope asked desperately.

Sarah noticed the look on her mother’s face...and Dave’s.

“Ma, Dave, what’s wrong?”

“The doctor just gave Derek some bad news.” Fran answered.

“I need to see him!”

“Penelope...”

“No Fran, I need to explain to him about Sam...”

“Penelope...”

“I can’t have him thinking that I changed my mind about us; that I wanted Sam to...”

“Kitten...Derek doesn’t want to see anyone right now.”

“Dave, I need to tell him the truth, especially now.”

“Penelope, he knows the truth...” Fran began.

“He does?”

“Yes sweetheart, he does. My son doesn’t want to see anyone right now, especially you. "

...to be continued

*Disclaimer: The Derek Morgan Chronicles is fan fiction based on the CBS Crime drama, Criminal Minds. We do not own Criminal Minds or its characters.