Hi! So I had this idea for a one shot a while ago and it took me a bit to get it all down on digital paper. I'm gonna throw it out there now that this definitely has the potential to become a short story but if that does happen the posting is gonna be super laid back. I really love writing but I realized that when I put pressure on myself to post new chapters and what not I start hating it. If you were reading my last big fic I'm really sorry I never finished it, I'm hoping to one day. With that being said I hope you enjoy this!

"Wheels up in thirty, Penelope we'll need you to come too." Aaron Hotchner said with his natural stoic expression.

"Yes, sir!" Penelope said as she gathered her things.

They just caught a case in New York City. Women were being abducted on their way out for the night, to a party or night out with friends. Not only that but there were strange messages being left on their computers from an outside source, hence Penelope's presence.

The flight was short and they went straight to the police station. Penelope set up and got right to work trying to find the source of the hacks on the computers while the rest of the team went to question family members and friends, so far there were three victims. At about ten the team decided to call it a night. Aside from the small break Penelope made, finding the possible source of the hacks, no head way was being made. They had all worked as hard as they could and needed to get some sleep before doing the same tomorrow.

They got to the hotel and went to the check in desk. Aaron gave them the reservation and after the desk clerk typed a few things into the computer she asked them to wait just a second. She walked away and a manager returned.

"I'm sorry sir, but somehow we have over booked. We only have three rooms available instead of the six that were requested. Again I'm very sorry for any inconvenience." She said with a sincerely apologetic look. After being told that there were no rooms available anywhere because of various conventions they just decided to take the three rooms.

"I call dibs on Chocolate Thunder." Penelope yawned, putting her hand on Derek's shoulder.

"Wouldn't have it any other way, mama!" Derek winked at her. It really wasn't fair that he could be charming while everyone else was half comatose.

"JJ and Kate why don't you take the other room. Rossi, Reid, and I will take the last one." Hotch said as he handed out keys.

"If I wasn't so tired I'd say we could stay up and share pregnancy tips!" JJ said to Kate as they all walked to the elevators.

"Statistically speaking you're not actually tired you're-"

"It's too late for statistics, Spence" JJ said.

"And he wonders why I don't want to share a room with him." Derek joked to Penelope as they got into the elevator.

"I heard that Morgan!" Spencer said from the back of the group.

"You know we love you boy genius!" Pen said smiling back at him.

The rooms were all on the same floor. Two were next to each other at the end of the hall and the other was a few doors down. Rossi, Reid, and Hotch took the suite and the rest of the group split up between the other two identical rooms. They all said a groggy goodnight and parted ways.

As soon as they got in the room and put their bags down Penelope went to the bathroom to change out of her snug dress and heels. Derek decided to do the same but out in the bedroom.

"Which bed do you want Baby Girl?" he called to her.

"I don't care, take your pick!" she said back. He decided to garb the one farther from the window; he put on some shorts, took off his shirt, and got under the covers. After she changed she took off her make up and threw her hair into a ponytail. She collected her stuff and went to leave the bathroom.

"Is safe to come out?" she asked before she stepped out of the bathroom.

"Yes, I won't bite." He chuckled.

"Damn." She said with a wink as she came out and put her things in her bag. All he could do was shake his head in amusement, only her. She flopped down on her bed and let out a huff. Then she yawned and stretched out, her yawn turning into grunts, almost moans, of contentment as she continued to stretch out and get comfy.

"You're like a cat." Derek commented as he looked over from the book he decided to read before actually going to sleep.

Penelope just looked over at him and giggled. "Cats are some pretty bad ass animals, I'll take it. Good night Hot Stuff." She said as she yawned once more then turned over and settled.

"Night Baby Girl." He read for about two minutes more before he felt his eyelids getting heavy. He put down his book and turned the light off. He was asleep within a matter of moments. Sometimes he had good dreams, thankfully, tonight was one of those nights. His dad was there but he wasn't a young boy. It was like he never died. They were at some big party with his mother and sisters. All of a sudden from the next room over they heard a scream and then some loud, rather distressed talking. Derek, being the real life hero he always was, went to go check it out. When he couldn't find out where it was coming from he got very confused. All of a sudden he woke up and realized it was coming from the bed next to him. He immediately turned the light on fearing that someone was in the room with them. When he looked over at Penelope, talking and tossing, he saw that she was still asleep and that they were alone. He got up and went over to her. Sitting on the edge of the bed he gently placed a hand on her shoulder but that seemed to make things worse as she recoiled and shouted a bit louder. Her breathing got faster and she looked very distressed. Not wanting to make things worse he got some water in a cup and flicked some on her face.

"Pen, wake up. Penelope!" he said in a calming but loud tone as he flicked just a bit more water.

She woke up with a gasp and stared at him for a second looking worried and confused before actually coming to. "Derek, did we get called in?" she asked as she rubbed her eyes.

"No, pen are you alright? You were yelling pretty loud."

"Oh. umm, yeah." She said reluctantly as she looked away from him. "did I wake you up?" she now looked very apologetic as she sat up. "I'm so sorry!"

"Don't worry about that. How long have you been having nightmares?" he asked giving her one of his 'don't lie to me let's just get right to the point' looks.

"I have them every now and again, but the past few weeks they've been more now than they have again."

"You wanna talk about it?" He asked as she got up out of bed.

"Not really." She said as she put her shoes and robe on.

"Where are you going?"

"I'm gonna go for a walk." she sighed " There's no way I'll be able to sleep now."

"I'll come."

"I just wanna be alone for a bit, if that's okay?" She looked a bit worried, like he might insist on going because it was late and they were in an unfamiliar place.

"Of course. Just be careful."

"For you, always." She replied with a smirk as she left.

After she left he went and lay down. He tried to sleep but who was he kidding? There was no way he was going to get a wink of sleep until Penelope was back and safe in bed. He read for a while and then after about forty minutes he decided to go look for her. He doubted she would go out on the streets of New York in her pajamas and all alone. He walked around the floor they were on and when he didn't find her he decided to check out the roof, where the pool was. Sure enough he found her sitting with her feet in the hot tub.

"Hey, Pen." He said as he approached, not wanting to scare her.

She looked over and smiled but it wasn't a happy smile. It was a tired, sad smile. "Hey" She then went back to staring off into the city. He rolled up his pant legs, sat down next to her and lowered his feet into the hot tub as well.

"Was it about Battle?" he asked quietly.

She just shook her head still staring off into the distance.

"Greg Bailer?"

Again she just shook her head no.

"Baby girl you're never this quiet. You're starting to scare me."

She looked over at him with a few tears in her eyes beginning to spill over. "It was about my parents. Lately it's always about them. Sometimes they're about Battle or Bailer, very rarely though. But I don't know what's worse."

"What do you mean?"

She looked away again as she spoke, looking deflated. "I mean that when I have those other dreams they're always the same. Battle always shoots me or I always just sit there and watch Bailer die without being able to do anything. But when I dream about my parents things change. In some dreams I'm just getting that call again, the one where the cops told me there had been an accident and I needed to get to the hospital right away. In others I'm there, for some reason, seeing them get hit by that drunk driver. Things like that. Not always really bad but sometimes really bad."

Derek wrapped his arm around her and pulled her close to him. Resting his head on hers he said "Those are the worst ones, Pen. I have ones about my dad like that sometimes."

She sighed and wrapped her arms around his middle, leaning into his embrace. They sat in silence for a few minutes just looking over the city.

"Wanna try to go get some sleep?" Derek asked quietly.

"I don't think I can. I'm just gonna sit up here for a while." She said as she got up and went to go sit in one of the lounge chairs that was close by. When Derek got up she assumed he was going to go back down to their room. However, instead of leaving he pulled one of the other chairs closer to her's and sat, reclining a bit. "You don't have to do that, Morgan."

"I know I don't have to do anything." He said as he got comfortable.

She knew arguing would make no difference so she just gave him a look of thanks and got comfortable herself. Penelope could have sworn she only closed her eyes for a minute, not even. More like a second, but as soon as she opened them the sun was coming up over the buildings. She was thankful that she got a bit of rest without any bad dreams. She looked over at her friend, her best friend, as he slept peacefully. She contemplated waking him so that maybe he could sleep for at least a little while in a real bed, but she didn't want to disturb him. He looked so content. She sat and watched the city and the sun for a while. She absolutely hated these nightmares; she was scared to go to sleep most nights. What she saw in her job was terrible, unthinkable really, but what she saw in her dreams hit her in such a way that she felt even more helpless and fragile. She could leave her work at work, somewhat. She did her best every day, every case. She even helped outside of work and volunteered as a counselor. She tried her hardest to always remember that. These dreams though were just a constant loop of her worst thoughts and feelings. She never thought she would lose her parents and now it was like she was losing them over and over every night. She snapped herself out of her thoughts and looked at Derek once again. No one really understood just why her nightmares where so terrible, but he did. That brought her immense solace and a bit of peace. Just then her phone went off, it was her alarm notifying her to get ready to go into work.

"Derek," she said gently as she shook him "It's time to go get ready for work."

He slowly opened his eyes and squinted at the sun. "Morning Baby Girl, how are you doing?"

"Much better." She smiled as she took his hand and helped him up.

"Good." Was all he said. He wrapped his arm around her shoulders and groggily kissed the top of her head as they headed to the elevator to go catch yet another bad guy.