Chap. 8 Lies and truths

Hotch felt panic when he entered his empty apartment.

Nonetheless he called for Penelope even if he knew she wasn't there. Gone were her clothes in the guest room. He called her on her cell that was still disconnected.

He decided to do the only thing he could think about.

"Derek, what's the matter with you?" Lynn asked while they were having dinner.

"Nothing, I'm just worried about Penelope."

"You're still thinking about her! Is there something I should know about you two?"

"She's my best friend. I have to worry about her."

"Doesn't she have a boyfriend?"

"Yes, but there are some different things that you share with your best friend."

"Listen, tonight is about us not about her…"

"I know sorry. Do you remember when she called that night?"

"Yeah;"

"Well, she promised to call the next morning, right? But she didn't call, and then she took some time off. I discovered that she was seeing my boss… whoa something isn't right here!" his mind was working.

"What did she tell you exactly that night? Did she sound ill or hurt?"

He felt Lynn tense up.

"Lynn?"

"I… know I shouldn't have done that."

"What did you do?" he asked alarmed.

"She called because she had an argument with her boyfriend and needed a place to stay. As I was the one who picked up the phone she didn't want to disturb you. She said that she would find another solution."

"Why didn't you tell me the truth?"

"She begged me not to. You forgive me?"

Derek nodded but wondered why he was with an empty-headed as Lynn.

He promised himself that he would find Penelope and talk to her. He also needed to apologize to Hotch and Emily as well. Surely Hotch was the one Penelope had turned to that day. He wished he had picked up his phone…

Penelope sighed when she heard the knock at her door. She knew exactly who it was.

"Good evening sir."

"Penelope! Why did you leave my place?"

"I… Kevin's no longer a threat so I thought that…"

"Are you sure?"

"Of course: you've done so much for me. I could have damaged your relationship with Emily."

"What are you talking about?"

"Emily knows, she came to your place today and thought we were together…as an item."

"Damn Morgan!"

"What Derek has to do with this?"

"He spread that rumour about us."

"What? Oh God!"

"I'm mad at him you know… he's imagining things because he's worried about you."

"Yeah sure."

"Penelope, Derek didn't know why you called. His girlfriend lied to him…"

"That's ok Hotch. I think Derek and I better stay apart. She certainly lied to him but he didn't have to spread such rumours knowing that it would hurt Emily."

"So Emily?"

"You know it Hotch; I just don't know why you don't act on your feelings."

"You read me like a book."

Penelope smiled.

"I do care for her; I'm still raw after Hayley… I don't want to hurt her; maybe she wants more than what I'm able to give."

"You have to take a chance for love. She imagines that you don't like her."

Hotch nodded.

"Thanks. Are you sure you don't want to go back home with me?"

"I'm sure. I was going to have dinner. Want to join me?"

"Sure."

The next morning Derek was determined to do the right things, he apologized to Emily first saying that she must be right.

Then he went to Hotch.

"Hotch; I'm sorry about my behaviour. I realized that you must be helping Penelope after this argument with lynch."

"Argument?" Hotch asked with disbelief."

"Yeah, Lynn told me why Penelope called and I wish I had been there but its ok that it's been you."

Hotch nodded uncertain about what to say; Derek surely didn't know the truth. His detachment was not normal.

"Do you know when Garcia come back?"

"She must be there right now."

"Good; thank you for taking care of her."

"Be careful with her Morgan."

"Sure."

Penelope was running some searches when someone tapped her shoulder startling her.

She cried from fear turning in her chair.

"Derek Morgan, don't ever do that again!"

"I'm sorry Penelope. I just wanted to say hello."

"Good morning to you too, Morgan."

He flinched at her cold tone.

Penelope turned back towards her computers.

"Are we okay, Pen?"

"Listen, Hotch told me about the sick rumours you spread so I'm at you right now."

"I'm sorry, I know I shouldn't… I was just worried. I wished I had been there for you."

"Morgan, I'm done with you… it's not that we've been the best of friends these past few months."

"Baby Girl…"

He began massaging her shoulders but stopped when he was her flinch.

"Even my touch disgust you now?" he asked hurt.

"Derek everything's not about you, you know. I'm trying to recover from…"

"What? Your little argument with Lynch?" he asked sarcastically.

"My LITTLE argument! Do you ever know what he did to me?"

"You had an argument, Lynn told me…"

"Yeah Lynn told you… I should have known…" she whispered.

She touched her forehead and Derek noticed the cut.

"What happened to you baby girl?" he asked with a sweet voice. He eyes were telling him that what happened was far from being an ordinary argument.

"Derek, that's ok. It's over now. You should get back to work."

"Penelope, please." He begged.

"I need to know. After that, I'll leave you alone."

"Promise me you won't do anything against yourself, Derek."

"I promise."

"Kevin broke up with me some times ago, then he came back but I wouldn't go back with him. That night, he came to my place, we had an argument and he…"

"He what?"

"He raped me.

"Oh god. Is it why you called me?"

Penelope nodded.

"I needed a lift from the hospital… I told your girlfriend it was urgent; that I needed you to come. She promised to tell you. I waited for you for two hours… then I called Hotch."

"Pen…"

"Let me finish. I don't blame you. I know that we haven't been very close. I didn't want to believe that you've chosen to stay with her…"

"I didn't know."

"Yeah. Hotch told me. I really don't blame you Derek but I prefer if we let some space between us for the moment. I'm still raw and strangely Hotch is the only male I feel comfortable with for the moment"

"He's the one who helped you. It should have been me." He said bitterly.

"Derek, I still don't understand why you have these crazy ideas in your head. My personal life is none of your business."

"Is there any chance that you forgive me one day?"

"There's always a chance."

Derek looked at her with tears in his eyes and quickly left her office.

A/N: well I'm done with this story. I'm a little annoyed of where my muse led me. there will certainly be a sequel.