Scorned Pt. 6

Chapter 9

Potomac General Hospital – Evening –

One thousand seven hundred twenty-three. That was the number of dots on the tile above his head before he’d lost count and had to begin again. He’d gotten used to the beeps and swishes from the monitors, and boredom had long set in. His friends and family had been there since he’d been brought in and now after hearing the doctors’ preliminary report, he’d shooed them all out refusing to see anyone. He felt like a child, a jerk but he didn’t care, he didn’t care...but he did.

Derek couldn’t bear to see the pity in their eyes, and he couldn’t stand to hear any words of encouragement spoken out of concern and not certainty. His stubborn pride insisted on wallowing and that was a task best done alone. He rummaged through his mind trying to make sense of what had happened; wondering if he had deserved this somehow. Before his mother left, she’d whispered in his ear; she was determined not to leave without parting words.

“Hope...don’t give up hope.”

Penelope had refused to leave the hospital with the others; instead she’d found a quiet corner in the ICU waiting room. She wasn’t leaving until she had a chance to speak to Derek. She’d make him listen no matter what he said, she would not leave until she had a chance to tell him how much she loved him.

“Coffee?”

Penelope was startled to see the outstretched hand; slowly her eyes looked up into the kind eyes of an older woman dressed in worn green scrubs. Reluctantly she nodded and took the cup of steaming coffee.

“Thank you.”

Without being invited the woman took the seat next to Penelope and took a sip from her own cup.

“Don’t be so hard on him; he doesn’t really mean it.”

“Excuse me?”

“Oh, I’m sorry; I’m Mamie I work the night shift.”

Quickly wiping her hand on her pant leg, she extended it toward Penelope.

“Penelope.” Shaking the woman’s hand. “Thanks for the coffee but I really just want to...”

“I know, I know you want to be alone. Don’t worry I’m not staying. I just want you to have a little patience, none of this is about you.”

“How do you know?” Penelope asked puzzled.

“I know a lot, but it’s not about me either.” Then the woman stood. “Trust your love for each other. Your fear will make you run...it’ll make him run too but you have to stand your ground!”

Penelope looked away as she wiped her eyes.

“But he doesn’t...”

Before Penelope turned back to face the woman, she was gone. Penelope looked over the entire room and except for a man sleeping in the far corner, she was alone. She didn’t know what to make of it; the woman was much too old to have left the room without Penelope seeing her.

“Where did she go?” She wondered to herself.

Home of David and Fran Rossi – Evening –

Fran had been home for two hours and she had already fixed enough food to last an army for a week. She couldn’t keep still her mind was occupied with worry for her son. Even though he was awake and off of the ventilator, he was nowhere out of the woods and his emotional state was the lowest she’d seen since his father’s death.

Dave was at a lost; he’d watched her from the doorway for the last fifteen minutes and she had no awareness that he was there. His heart was full, and he wanted to kill Sam all over again for what he had done. All he could do now was be available for Fran and the girls. They’d welcomed him into their lives even though they didn’t have to, and they were his family; he’d do whatever needed to be done to protect them.

“Bella, if you don’t stop, we’ll be making deliveries to the shelter for months.”

Fran felt his arms snake around her waist and she relaxed as he pulled her against his body. He always knew how to make an entrance. She never expected to find love again not like she had with Hank, but God had been kind and without warning, David Rossi had walked into her life. His love had rescued her five years ago and again now as she battled her grief over Derek’s near-death incident.

“I know, but I have to do something, or I’ll lose my mind.”

“He’s going to come through this.”

“You don’t know that; you heard the doctors. Even the specialists didn’t seem hopeful.”

“But this is Derek we’re talking about. We all know how stubborn he is.”

“Did you see his face.” She began again turning to face him. “He’s already given up. He doesn’t want to talk or see anyone...”

“Shh...we need to give him time to let this all sink in. In a few days, the doctors will run tests again and then we’ll know more.”

Fran laid her head against his chest. She knew he was right, and she knew how things could turn around; she’d been a nurse for thirty years, but this was her son and now she had to have faith, the same faith she’d encouraged others to have over the years.

Potomac General Hospital –

Penelope inched her way to the nurses’ station. It was almost midnight and it was eerily quiet. The young nurse behind the desk looked up and smiled.

“My name is Penelope Garcia, I’m Derek Morgan’s girlfriend...”

“I’m sorry Ma’am but he left strict orders that he doesn’t want any visitors.”

“I know, I know; I just wanted to ask how he is doing?”

“Let me call his nurse.”

“Mamie?”

“Excuse me?”

“There was this nurse...she said her name was Mamie, I just assumed she was his nurse tonight.”

“I’m sorry, there’s no one named Mamie on duty tonight.”

“Are you sure?”

“I’m positive. Give me a moment and I’ll have Mr. Morgan’s nurse meet you in the waiting room.”

“Thank you; thank you very much.”

Penelope didn’t want to wait; she was tired of waiting and tired of being told that she had to wait. The nurse at the desk had suddenly become distracted by a doctor giving Penelope enough time to slip into Derek’s room. He was asleep, so she quietly pulled a chair next to his bed, sat down and waited.

Derek slowly opened his eyes. He wasn’t sure if he should be happy or upset to see her sitting next to his bed. He tried to move but the pain in his chest kept him still as he grimaced and closed his eyes.

“Penelope, what are you doing here?”

“I had to see you, Derek.”

“I told the nurses that I didn’t want any visitors!” He moaned.

“I know what you told the nurses, but I’m not leaving, do you hear me, Derek? I’m not leaving.”

He watched her; he knew that she had been crying. Her tears were for him, for them and it was the reason he couldn’t face her, not now.

“Penelope, please just leave.”

“I love you Derek. What you saw...I didn’t want Sam... I didn’t know he was going...”

“I know, Penelope...I know it wasn’t your fault, that...”

“Then why won’t you see me?”

“Because!”

“Talk to me Handsome.”

“Don’t call me that!”

“What?”

“I’m not...handsome...not any more...I’m just a broken...cripple...”

“Stop it! Right now, just stop it!”

“You deserve better...I may never...”

“Why are you pushing me...everyone away? We’re your family!”

“I can’t ask you, any of you to stop your lives for me.”

Derek grimaced in pain and closed his eyes momentarily. Penelope stood watching the agony on his face. She quickly pressed the call button then headed toward the door.

“I’ll get the nurse, hold on!”

The nurse came in quickly with pain medication. Derek was thankful that it didn’t take long to begin taking affect. Now he was struggling to stay awake while Penelope sat by his side.

“Penelope, please, you don’t need to stay.”

“Derek, do you love me?” She asked calmly. “If you can look at me and tell me that you don’t love me after all, then I’ll leave and never come back.”

Derek couldn’t tell her that it would be a lie. She meant everything to him.

“Answer me.”

“I love you.” He slurred.

“Derek, I know things look grim but I’m here and I’m not going anywhere. I’m right here, okay? I’m right here.”

Derek nodded. He suddenly realized that he didn’t want her to leave. He felt like a fool banishing her from the room. He needed her more than anything in the world and he wasn’t sure how he would get through this without her.

...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.