Disclaimer: Isn't this getting a bit repetitive? We all know that I or, anyone else for that matter, doesn't own Criminal Minds, hence, wait for it...fanfiction.

"I don't mind spending everyday

Out on the corner in the pouring rain

Look for the girl with the broken smile

Ask her if she wants to stay for a while

And she will be loved

and she be loved"

-Maroon 5, She Will Be Loved

Derek silently walked Tamara back to her apartment while he tried to put his thoughts in order. Recently, chaos has become the norm and he knew it came with the job, but not like this. There were a lot of things going on at once and he wished it would slow down. How did things get so chaotic and unrecognizable? Where did it begin? Or, better yet, where does it end? Derek wished he knew, but if he did know, what would he do? The options were limitless and was there a right answer, or were they all wrong and you had to go with the lesser of the evils? Nothing ever stays the same and everyone around him is moving forth, except him. He still is where he was years ago as far as his personal life was concern. As for his professional life, he was progressing and becoming a more efficient agent. But, he wanted more and maybe even needed it.

"Derek," Tamara said while she stood in front of her door looking at him. He turned to her and raised an eyebrow. "Is something wrong?"

"No, why?" He answered automatically. If there was something wrong, which there was, he wouldn't tell her. It had everything to do with trust and, no, it wasn't personal, but he didn't know her that well.

"You just seemed to be spaced out." She observed. Normally Derek was very attentive when they spent time together, even when they weren't talking. Tamara then joked, "Luckily, I wasn't talking or I would have been talking to myself."

No truer statement has ever been uttered. Derek definitely wasn't paying enough attention to even know that she hadn't said a word. Penelope's accusation of him becoming personal with Tamara was initially false, but circumstances has changed since the discussion. Derek was unsure as to how he was feeling; should he really get personal with a victim's sister or stay away as Penelope warned? Tamara seemed like a good woman. A woman who knew how to tend to a man and Derek sure as hell needed to be attended to. But, was it a risk he was willing to take? And if they were to get close, would either or them be willing to pull away?

Tamara wasn't like any of the women Derek usually flirted or fooled around with: she was intelligent, aware, funny, and beautiful, not sexy, but beautiful. Beauty was natural, not forced and it's honest and she was it. He liked being around her. Usually, he would put on his playboy front, put the agent couldn't do it with Tamara; she understood him without him explaining himself. She didn't need to know details, she just understood the emotions and the intensity of it.

Just as much as Derek was unsure as to what he wanted, he knew Tamara was as well. He wasn't using his profiling skills, but his basic understanding of people. She wasn't sure if her attraction for him was because of him or if she was suffering from the hero syndrome. And even if she wasn't, she wasn't sure if she wanted to pursue those said feelings. Tamara most likely got asked out a lot, but she doesn't do well in relationships. They either don't last long or she stays in one because she feels obligated. Never has she fully enjoyed a relationship because it just worked and, the one time she did, she found out his feelings and outlook on their relationship weren't the same. Work was the only thing she could control and knew what to expect.

They were both misunderstood and put on facades to fit in.

Derek looked at the woman before him: a beautiful damaged woman who happened to be beautifully damaged. He wished he could change that. He didn't want to fix, but to mend her broken heart. It was a good thing she still believed in love, except, she didn't believe it would happen with her.

Derek Morgan was a man who took risks. Sometimes they paid off and sometimes they didn't, but he didn't live life by playing it safe. So, he cupped Tamara's face in his hands and passionately kissed her.

He could feel the initial resistance, and then the permission to continue as she melted into his arms. No man has ever kissed her the way that Derek was now. Not with such knowing and understanding. She hungrily responded trying to get as much out of him as she could.

And when they broke apart, they could hear their synchronized panting and shyly looked up at one another.

What happened next?

A week had passed without them uttering a word about the kiss. It was hard to acknowledge what had transgressed between the. Even though it was what they wanted, they still had their doubts and insecurities.

Derek had a long day at work and after he dropped his things off at home and check on Clooney, he went to the corner store to buy strong liquor. Although he wasn't much of a drinker, even during tough cases, there were those rare cases where he needed a strong substance in his system to get rid of the pain or the atrocities.

As he was walking home, it rained, but he could care less. When he got home he could simply take his clothes off and call it a day. As he approached his apartment, he saw a familiar car parked in front of it, Tamara's to be exact.

If one were to look into his eyes as Derek thought of what he should do next, they could see the inner conflict. He stood on the corner contemplating what the right answer might be. Should he tell her to go home or invite her in?

He quickly jogged over to Tamara's car and knocked on her window. She jumped before gathering herself, and then rolled down the window.

"Hey Derek," She said as she put her hand on her chest. "You kind of scared me; I thought you were in your apartment."

"No, I was up at the local grocery store." He told her while he stared at Tamara in a way that unnerved the woman. "Was there something you needed or did you just want to talk?"

"Uh...I was just driving through the neighborhood. I don't know why I stopped." She admitted while giving him a small smile. Derek could see she wanted to come in, but she wouldn't say it.

"How about you come in for a while," Derek nodded to his place. " Before it gets any worse out here? I would hate to think you are out in this storm all alone."

Tamara smiled before rolling up her window, killing the engine, and then opening her door. Derek used his coat as an umbrella for her as they tried to run as fast as they could to the door.

Nothing was ever going to be the same.

TBC...

AN: For those who are reading my story 'Midnight's Daydream', I haven't forgotten about it. I have had writer's block, but I plan to try to finish it soon. This story doesn't have an absolute directions, except, it will be Derek and Penelope.