San Diego, CA – Late Evening –

It was nearly eleven when the team arrived in San Diego. Hotch decided that they'd head to the hotel and begin the case in the morning. As everyone began loading into two large SUV's Morgan dialed Garcia's number. He was still worried, and he needed to hear her voice. No matter what Dave had said earlier he couldn't push away the feelings that his future wife had finally come to her senses.

The phone rang three times before going to voicemail. His heart sped up with all sorts of scenarios running through his profiler's overactive imagination. Realistically, she'd probably fallen asleep after all it had been a long day, but his gut was telling him that something was wrong.

"Hey."

Morgan turned toward the familiar voice.

"Hey, JJ."

"Everything okay?"

"Yeah, just trying to reach Garcia…she's probably already asleep."

JJ noticed that look. It was the look he'd get when he was trying to convince himself of something he didn't really believe to be true.

"I know that look. What's going on in that head of yours?"

"Did Pen seem okay when you saw her earlier?"

"Yeah, why?"

"I don't know she didn't seem herself when we got back from lunch. She was trying to hide it, but I know her, JJ."

"With the wedding and her family coming to town and wanting to make sure everything is perfect, she's a little nervous. Actually, she's a lot nervous."

"Hmm, maybe…I just don't think that's it."

"Talk to her. Let her know that no matter what, your wedding will be the best day ever!"

"I'm nervous too. Maybe I'm over reacting."

"Derek."

"Yeah JJ?"

There it was, the same look that he'd seen earlier in Garcia's eyes.

"Whatever happens, just remember that Garcia loves you more than anything in this world, okay?"

"O-Okay, I love her too."

Then without another word Morgan watched as JJ turned and headed toward the second SUV and quickly got inside. Pocketing his phone, he climbed behind the wheel of the first SUV and started the engine.

Jake's Steakhouse

Sam checked his watch shocked at how late it had gotten. The waitress had slid the bill next to him almost thirty minutes ago while he'd occupied himself with the nearly finished bloody steak on his plate. Penelope watched in disgust as he dabbed the corner of his mouth with his linen napkin.

"I can't believe you ate all of that meat."

Fishing his wallet from his back pocket, Sam snickered as he shot a quick look her way.

"Unlike you who has barely touched your salad."

"I lost my appetite."

"So wasteful."

Sam slid several bills toward the edge of the table and signaled for the waitress.

"I really have to go. With this new case the team will need me bright and early in the morning."

"Fine. I have an early start in the morning myself."

Penelope began to slide out of the booth but was stopped suddenly when Sam grabbed her firmly around her wrist. Another bruise, she thought as she tried unsuccessfully to pull away.

"Where are you going?"

"Home."

"Our home. The one that I've been working on for the last month?"

"Sam."

"No Penelope. Enough is enough! Now, when the waitress comes to pick up the check then the two of us will be heading back to my apartment."

"No, we won't!"

"My beautiful Penelope, still stubborn, still believing that you're the one calling the shots in this relationship."

"There is no relationship, Sam!"

Penelope made one more attempt to pull away from Sam. It only caused him to renew his grip as he pulled a small spray bottle from his jacket pocket. It looked like a perfume bottle but before she could question it he pushed the atomizer and sprayed a light mist in her face.

Sam smiled as her eyes glassed over and she relaxed against the booth. He was confident now that he could let her go she would no longer struggle or try to leave unless he instructed her to do so. Even though she was now powerless to resist him her eyes were still filled with fire and anger and that stirred his excitement and his desire to take her body against her will intensified.

"Now, no more fighting Penelope. You belong to me now and forever. There will be no wedding, no marriage to Derek, do you understand?"

Just as Sam was about to plant a kiss on her cheek the waitress arrived for the bill.

"I hope everything was to your satisfaction this evening."

"Why of course, everything was simply divine."

Pleased with his answer the woman nodded and smiled proudly.

"Well, thank you for coming in and I hope you both enjoy the rest of your evening."

"Oh, trust me we will, we will indeed."

Without another word the woman made a hasty retreat and Sam returned his attention to Penelope.

"Now, let's go home. I want you out of those clothes and into my bed, Penelope."

"P-Please Sam…"

"Ah…you want me too, don't you darling."

"N-No…I want to go…"

He watched her bottom lip tremble as he ran his hand up her thigh between her legs. She needed to learn who she belonged to and tonight would be the first of many long, hard lessons.

Sheraton Hotel San Diego, CA –

Morgan and Reid were roommates and for a change, Derek welcomed the young doctor's incessant chatter. His thoughts of Penelope and the fact that he'd tried calling her twice since landing were driving him crazy. She was fine he was sure, but the fact that she'd not been herself made it hard for him to believe that she was home, their home fast asleep.

Reid noticed the far away look on Morgan's face. His friend sat on the far bed thumbing through case files in a feeble attempt to keep from being asked about his somber mood. Reid already knew what was going on with Derek and he also knew that he'd have to find a way to settle him down or neither of them would get any rest tonight.

"So, are you going to tell me why you turned down the best burgers and fries in town?"

Morgan continued to stare at the crime scene photos. He hadn't heard a word Reid had said.

"I know it's late, but a juicy cheeseburger and a beer would be great after that long bumpy flight."

Still nothing.

"Morgan…Morgan…MORGAN!"

Startled, Derek looked up puzzled.

"Dang, Reid what's going on?"

"You tell me. I've been standing here calling you for the last five minutes."

"What? I'm sorry. It's just these photos…the faces of these women…"

"We've seen worse. Now you want to tell me what's really got your mind out in space?"

Derek closed the file and leaned against the headboard.

"It's Baby Girl. Something's wrong."

"Why do you say that?"

"She was acting strange when we came back from lunch and now I can't get her on the phone."

"Derek it's almost midnight she's probably at home sound asleep."

"Yeah I know it's just…"

"Look Derek, it's a week away from your wedding, she's fine trust me."

"I hope so."

"If you ask me, you both have been acting strange lately."

Without missing a beat, Derek sent his pillow flying across the room barely missing his friend's head. The two laughed and Reid felt hopeful as Derek appeared to relax a little.

Home of Sam Colter –

Penelope couldn't move. It didn't matter Sam seemed to take great pleasure in her helplessness, as he positioned her in the middle of the bed. She wanted to fight, to run but her body was like a heavy weight against the cold white sheets.

"So beautiful, Penelope. So incredibly beautiful. This is where you belong, right here with me."

She couldn't speak. If she could what was there for her to say that would convince him to stop and to rethink what he was about to do. It was so cold as she lay naked and unable to move on his bed watching him smiling down on her as he slowly undressed.

"One day you'll beg me to make love to you. I know it seems hard to believe, but you will, trust me you will."

She shook her head from side to side, still trying to force the words of protest from her lips. A single tear escaped down her face as Sam approached the bed and sat next to her.

"Tears, no tears. I forgive you."

He chuckled at the question in her eyes.

"Why? I forgive you for losing your way. I know you didn't mean to leave me for Derek. You got lost that's all. But you're home now…here with me…and I'll never let you leave me again."

She watched his fingers trail up her body. It seemed to freeze her skin as his fingers brushed against her lingering on her stomach for a few seconds then continuing up…up…capturing a breast in each of his palms.

"You know what I long for?"

The question appeared again in her eyes.

"I long for the day that I get to watch our babies nursing from your breasts. But for now…"

Penelope closed her eyes as his mouth sunk down on her while his hands began their descent back down her body.

He could hear the slight whimper it was all she could manage to get out and for a moment he regretted the fact that she would not remember anything in the morning. It didn't matter she'd live it now and even for a few hours, she'd know every detail of what he was going to do to her.