Chapter Text
Bright lights blinded her and all she could feel was pain in her hand and feet. Burning pain that seared through her body and made her unable to think of anything else. Crying out she began to thrash on the hard mattress and tried to raise herself. Panic caused her heart to pound and she fought to get up and run. She heard voices calling to her, but the pain was too much and she could not understand the words she was hearing. After a time she felt herself slipping away and the pain faded. She opened her eyes and saw faces of people she somehow knew she should recognize. People that were somehow important to her, but the face she needed to see was not there. In confusion she asked for her baby and saw the looks of shock on the faces of the people in the room. When no one responded she began to fight again. Pulling at the wires and tubes attached to her body as she struggled to sit up. A tall dark skinned man came forward and tried to stop her by holding onto her hands. She focused on the words he was saying. "Baby girl you need to calm down. Your going to hurt your self. Please try to calm down and talk to us." Looking into his eyes she could see that he cared for her, but she needed to find her child. All she could focus on was finding her baby.
Penelope continued struggling with the tall dark man until she saw a woman standing in the doorway holding her child. The child had been bathed and her black curly hair was surrounding her head like a halo. Penelope let out an involuntary sob as she held her arms out. Relief surged over her and she felt tears running down her face as the woman carrying her daughter moved to her bedside. All she could focus on was that her child was safe.
The room had gone completely silent as the people surrounding her took in the fact that Penelope was alive and had a child. A child she gave birth to in captivity while undergoing unimaginable tourture. While they, the people she called family, the people she had done her best to care for everyday, had moved on with their lives believing she was dead. Dead by her own hand. Something they all should have known was impossable. They had failed her. Now she seemed to not even know them. She had not looked at any of them with a spark of recognition.
As the baby was lowered gently into Penelope's arms the child began to smile and giggle. Penelope's own smile was beaming and she whispered to her daughter "Ominira, we are safe now. No more bad men." She laid the child on her chest and noticed the dressing over her right hand. Looking up Penelope asked "What is wrong with my hand? My feet hurt too." Derek had to clear his throat before he could answer. "You burned your hand and the bottoms of your feet Baby Girl. The police report says you were found outside a buring warehouse where 12 other women were found. The burns will need skin grafts so you will be here awhile while you recover." Penelope looked up into the dark brown eyes as she tried to remember a name. She knew him and felt instinctively she could trust him, but his name just would not come. Finally she asked "what is your name? " She saw tears in his eyes and glanced around the room looking for anyone who's name she might remember. A tall thin brown haired man stood behind the dark skinned man. Near the door stood a woman with black hair and 2 men both with back hair and tanned skin. On the left side of the stretcher stood a blond woman with pale skin and a dark skinned woman with black hair. She looked at each of them trying to remeber names. Any names would be good, but she was drawing a total blank. Finally she rested her eyes on one of the men by the door and called out "Roxi! Who is Roxi? I remeber that name." The man by the door let out a sudden laugh and answered "Roxi is my dog. She is at the dog sitters right now. She's fine" After a few moments Penelope rested her head back and muttered "Names don't really matter. I need to leave here. They can find me here. We are not safe. I need a computer so I can wipe myself off the hospitals records. They can track me here." After a few moments of resting with her eyes closed Penelope raised her head and looked around. "So anyone got a laptop?" Derek closed his eyes and wiped away the tears he had shed when she asked his name before he began to speak. "I'm Derek Morgan. My son Hank is your godson and you are my best friend. My Baby Girl. The man behind me is Spencer Reid. The men over there (indicating toward the door) are Matt Simmons and Luke Alvez. The woman is Emily Prentiss. The ladies next to you are Jennifer Jareau and Tara Lewis." As Derek was speaking an older man walked in " and lastly that is David Rossi. We are your family." Derek's voice broke on the final word and Spencer placed a hand on his shoulder. Spencer spoke up in a clear voice "No one will hurt you here. Your listed as Jane Doe still. Derek's wife recognized you when the paramedics bought you in, but for safety we requested they leave you anonymous. We are here with you now Penelope and I will not let anyone hurt you again." A woman in scrubs walked in the already crowded room and Derek smiled at her. Penelope looked at her and then back at Derek. "She's your wife. Savannah. Your wife is Savannah. Right?" Derek looked back at Penelope and nodded. Savannah smiled at Penelope and announced Penelope's room was ready and she would be transferred to the burn unit. Penelope Pulled the little girl on her chest closer and looked at Savannah in fear. "Ominira has to stay with me. I can't let her go." Savannah spoke quietly answering "I'll carry her while we move you to your new room. She will be right here in my arms. She is safe with me. I swear it Penelope ." Reaching out her arms to take the baby Penelope hesitated looking around at the people in the room. Spencer stepped up beside the strecher and took Penelope's bandaged hand gently in his. He looked deeply into her eyes and in a quiet voice began to speak. "I know your scared. You have been through so much and your confused by everything. The medication they gave you is making it worse. You know us. Deep inside you know we are your family. We love you and we are all so happy to have you back. You are our sunshine and now we have gotten you back we will never let you go again. We will keep you both safe. One of us will be here all the time to guard you both." Penelope looked up at Spencer and knew he was telling her the truth. She slowly turned to Savannah and allowed the baby to be picked up. Savannah looked at the little girl who smiled at her with beautiful hazel eyes. Penelope said "This is my daughter Ominira. It is Yoruba for freedom. There was a nurse named Abiola who helped deliver her. She was so kind. She taught me Yoruba so we could talk in secret." JJ reached out a stroked the baby's curly black hair tenderly. "Hello Ominira. I'm your Aunt JJ. You are so beautiful. We are your family." Penelope looked around the room again. Her eyes were growing heavy and she felt herself unable to keep them open. Quietly before she fell completely asleep she muttered a quiet "thank you".