September 23, 2010 11:58 P.M.

By 9:50 Penelope was escorted from the Security Office into another small room. By 11:00 she began to get nervous and as the last minutes of the day begin to wan down she was slowly losing her mind.

Derek on the other hand wasn't fairing any better. He figured that his nose was broken, but he didn't take Alberto's pistol whipping for long. He couldn't allow himself to do it. However, what he didn't count on was another gunman, this time a woman. The gun was pressed firmly to back of his head as she directed him to move off of Alberto.

He stood slowly and turned to face her .He stared at her and knew immediately that she was Siobhan and Noelle's mother. She looked back at him and told him in a crisp calculating voice.

"I just want to go home and get my girls back. Don't you want to go home to your children and your wife, Agent Morgan.

"Natalia and Maria, are my children, now ma'am."

Her gaze hardened, "You think you're better than me?"

Derek glanced down at the gun that was now positioned above his chest, "No, I just love them and I am willing to die to protect them."

She lowered her gun briefly as she read the truth in his eyes. "Well if they aren't here by Midnight, that must be what you're going to do."

As the clock rolled to 11:58 she handed him the cell phone that they had forced him to start making calls on after the video incident. He had called Penelope twice to assure her that he was still alive. And as he called her now, he was calling her to be absolutely honest with her He had no idea if there was a plan or not, but at this point in time he didn't care. He picked up the phone and called. She answered after the third ring.

"Hello."

"Hey, Mama," His sexy baritone came in on the other line.

Penelope took a deep breath before responding, "Hey, Papa Bear.

He was silent for a moment before he sighed, "Know that I love you."

"I love you, too."

"And know that I am so grateful that you are my wife. I love you with everything that is in me and I thank God every day for you and for us."

"Derek-"

"Hold on, Mama. I gotta say this," Derek said softly, "I am sorry, Penelope. I am so sorry."

Derek never got the chance to hear Penelope's response when he heard the gunshot. He instantly dropped to the ground and rolled to protect himself, but not before being hit. He murmured a short "I love you" before he dropped the phone.

Derek had no idea where he had been hit, but the searing pain in his stomach would not go away. He tried not to think about the pain, but to focus on the pleasant things in his life. He imagined Penelope laughing at something Kadina said. He saw his kids in their large backyard having a water balloon fight. He saw Noelle and her drawings on the brightly colored paper. He saw his kids opening up gifts around the Christmas tree. He remembered the many morning hugs and kisses and the genuine love that he felt.

As the tears slid down his cheeks, Derek knew that he may never make it home again. He knew that it was a possibility that he would never hold his kids again, that he will never see the joy in Angel's eyes after a soccer game; he would never see the excitement in Etienne when she finished another art project; he would never sing Noelle another lullaby; he would never watch another episode of Glee with Avery; he would never watch Kadina dance another ballet solo; he would never color with Siobhan again and he would never see Mateo graduate.

Derek gasped for air; this was not the way that he wanted to go. And yet as the pain seemed to intensify, Derek couldn't help but to think that this was over. That he was done. His eyes glazed over and Derek shut his eyes to ease the pain.

I've got a tight grip on reality

But I can't let go of what's in front of me here

I know you're leaving in the morning when you wake up

Leave me some kind of proof it's not a dream, oh

You are the only exception

You are the only exception

You are the only exception

You are the only exception

You are the only exception

You are the only exception

You are the only exception

You are the only exception

And I'm on my way to believing

Oh, And I'm on my way to believing.