Alright I've finally decided on making a multi-chapter story. I've been wanting to do something like this for a while now. It will be slightly AU and will center on Derek.

A Lack of Color

Memories of our lives, of our works and our deeds will continue in others.

- Rosa Parks

Chapter 1: A Chance Reunion

Morgan stretched his sore muscles over his head and released a sigh of content. The sun had already set in Jacksonville, Florida and the moon was now hovering outside of the police station he was previously in. It was the middle of February so there was a nice cool breeze. It was refreshing for Morgan in contrast to the gust of snow awaiting him back in Virginia.

"Well someone's glad the case is over and done with."

Morgan smiled as Emily approached him. "Oh yeah, you're damn right I'm glad."

It had been an exhausting case like usual, but it had been a successful one. The team was able to save the last victim, a miracle considering the circumstances they had been confronted with.

"I'm also relieved that it's done, it sure was a long one." Emily said.

"Although, I'm not looking forward to our impending change of scenery." Morgan added with a sigh.

Emily chuckled. "Tell me about it."

The other members soon began departing the police station.

"Man I'm beat," JJ groaned as she mimicked Morgan and stretched her arms. "I'm crashing as soon as we get back to the hotel."

"Me too," Reid agreed. "What about you guys?"

"Well I for one am hungry," Rossi chimed in. "I plan on getting a good cuisine in before I call it a day. Anyone wanna come with?"

"You know on second thought I'd like to get a bite with you." JJ said. She gave a small nudge to Reid. "Spence, you wanna come?"

"Sure, why not." Reid conceded. He could never say no to JJ.

"I'll take a rain check on that." Morgan said. "I got a few plans of my own, which involve me getting a nice cold drink."

Emily perked up at that. "Ooh count me in!"

"What about you Aaron, wanna come?" Rossi asked even though he was pretty sure what the answer would be.

"No thanks, I'm heading to the hotel," Hotch said. "We are leaving in the morning so don't overdo it."

"I make no promises." Morgan joked.

... ... …. …. ... ... ... …. …. ... ... ... ….

"Cheers Prentiss," Morgan said as he held his beer up to her. "To a job well done."

Emily met his bottle with her own. "Cheers."

Morgan enjoyed spending time with Emily. It was always good to be with his partner outside of work. There was something about her that put him at ease. It was relaxing to just kick back like this.

"I'm glad we were able to rescue Samantha and reunite her with her family." Emily said.

Morgan thought back to the blond teenager embracing her parents and a small smiled played on his lips. "Me too, it's always nice to have days like these. Don't you agree?"

"Yeah I completely agree. If only they could always be like this, you know?" Emily lamented.

"Yeah... I know." Morgan murmured. He noticed her downcast look and lightly nudged her with his elbow. "But we're here to enjoy all the good, not wallow in the bad."

Emily chuckled lightly. "You're right."

The two were soon engulfed by amiable chatter and jokes. Not bothering to order too many drinks so as to not get drunk. The atmosphere of the bar was comfortable with not many people inside. A gentle tune of jazz echoed in the background.

"Hey Morgan, let's call it a night," Emily suggested after glancing at her phone for the time. "It's getting late."

"Yeah, wouldn't want daddy to scold us." Morgan joked referring to Hotch.

"Derek? Derek Morgan?" A voice called out.

Morgan and Emily turned their attention to the voice.

Morgan's eyes widened in shock at the sight. He couldn't believe his eyes. "Jacky? Is that you man?"

The man grinned and brought Morgan into a bear hug. "How long has it been man? It's great to see ya!"

"That's my line." Morgan replied with a grin. He then beckoned his partner. "Hey Jack, I'd like you to meet Emily Prentiss."

"Nice to meet you Emily, my name is Jack, Jack Cardoza." Jack said as he extended his hand out for a greeting.

Emily smiled and reciprocated his gesture. "It's nice to meet you Jack." She noted that the man was pretty handsome. He wasn't as built as Morgan was but was muscular. He had dark brown spiky hair and sported a small stubble.

Jack's gaze went from Emily's to Morgan's and he smirked. "So how long have the two of you been together?"

"I'm sorry what?" Emily answered, clueless to the implication.

"It's nothing like that." Morgan said, not being ignorant to the question. "We're just partners."

"Yeah just partners." Emily quickly added when she got the hint.

"You also work for the FBI?" Jack asked.

"Yeah I do." Emily confirmed with a nod. "So tell me, do you live around here Jack?"

"Nah I live in Miami, I was just..." he trailed off and hesitated momentarily before answering; his composure back to normal. "Checking some apartments out, I might move down here."

Morgan picked up on the slight change in behavior but shrugged it off and decided not to pry. "So you got any lucky honey waiting for you at home?"

Jack chuckled. "I wish, but you know how it is Derek, all work and no play."

"Oh right, I almost forgot you're a detective."

"Wow, a detective. Impressive." Emily said.

"Thanks." Jack replied. "So can I buy you two a drink?"

"As tempting and generous as that sounds I'm afraid we have to decline." Emily said with an apologetic tone. "The thing is that we're only here for tonight and our flight leaves early in the morning. All work and no play." She jokingly repeated his previous words.

"Yeah, sorry man." Morgan apologized.

"Oh I see, that's a shame." Jack replied as his shoulders slumped. "No worries though, my offer stands if you ever swing by Florida again."

"Oh I'll definitely take you up on that offer." Morgan said eagerly.

Emily's phone suddenly began vibrating in her pocket. She pulled it out and turned to Jack. "I gotta take this, it was nice meeting you Jack."

"Likewise." Jack replied.

"I'll be right with you Em." Morgan called out as Emily exited the bar. He turned to his friend and smiled weakly. "Hey Jacky, I'm sorry I haven't been able to catch up with you lately."

"Don't sweat it brother, I know you've been busy and I have my share of the blame too."

"Well when I come back to Florida some day we are gonna drink beer and chat up like a bunch of schoolgirls." Morgan jested.

"Alright it's a date." Jack continued the joke with a chuckle. "I'm holding your ass to that buddy. Oh and I still play basketball, we should have a game like we use to. I know you weren't really a fan but it'll be for old time's sake."

Morgan laughed and gave his friend a friendly pat on the shoulder. "Yeah man, sounds good. See you around." And as Morgan headed towards the exit he felt an eerie chill abruptly creep up on the back of his neck.

It felt ominous.

Against his better judgment he turned back, his friend was fine and ordering a drink. Shrugging it off he went outside to where Emily was waiting.

"Sorry, hope I didn't take too long."

"Nah it's alright." Emily replied with a tone of understanding. "He's a nice guy, and seems like a good friend."

"Yeah he is," Morgan began as they started the small trek to the hotel. "I've known the guy since I was a freshman in high school."

"Really? How come this is the first I've heard of him?"

Morgan sighed and pocketed his hands. "We haven't spoken in a long while."

Emily glanced at his slightly dejected face. "You don't have to."

"It's nothing," Morgan replied knowing that his partner wouldn't make him talk about something he wouldn't want to share. "We were so close back then, but afterwards we went off to different colleges. We tried our best to keep in touch and see each other and when we did it'd always be fun; nothing would change. We'd play a game or two of basketball."

Emily chuckled. "But I thought you didn't like basketball."

"Hehe, I didn't. Jacky, however, loved basketball. He was on his college's basketball team. He would always make me play him when we were in high school, I'd humor him and play him a couple of times." Morgan released a short laugh. "You know the funny thing is that although I didn't like it, every time I'd play I'd always have fun."

Emily smiled at his speech and how he was comfortable enough with her to speak about things of the past and confide in her.

The humor was soon gone on Morgan. "But slowly we drifted apart. The gaps of not speaking became bigger and the visits became even less frequent. I guess the jobs were way too demanding. Kinda sucks if you ask me."

"Hey," Emily soothed. "From what I saw you guys still looked as good as friends as ever."

"You think?" Morgan asked hopeful.

"I know it. Jack is a good guy like I said, he doesn't look like the type to hold any bitter resentments or grudges. Hell, he even invited you back again for a beer."

Emily inwardly smiled as Morgan's face regained its grin.

"Funny, he even invited me to another game. What would I do without you Emily?" Morgan said with a smile as he draped his arm around her shoulder.

"What are partners for, eh Derek?" Emily replied. "Thanks by the way, for telling me."

"Nah, it was nothing really." Morgan assured her with a smile.

But for Emily it wasn't nothing. He had no idea what it meant to her, for him to trust her; to open up to her; and to find comfort in her.

He had no idea what it meant for her.

The next morning had arrived and the team was already on the flight back home.

"Get ready for the cold once we head home." JJ groaned as she adjusted herself on her seat.

"And for paperwork." Emily added from the seat across from her.

"At least there'll be coffee." Reid said, being seated adjacent to JJ.

"We're already drinking coffee Spence." JJ replied as she gestured the cups.

"Right, I meant more coffee."

Morgan chuckled in his seat next to Emily. "I think its the coffee that binds us together."

The four shared a heartfelt laugh. Soon the team was back in their building finishing up the paperwork. A happy, energetic Garcia had greeted them warmly on their return. Hours later and the remaining agents were all ready to head home.

"I'll see you guys later." Reid said with a wave.

"See you tomorrow Reid." Emily waved back.

"Later kid." Morgan said as he began collecting his stuff together for his own departure.

Along with Hotch, they were the last few who hadn't gone home yet. Morgan and Emily walked together to the parking lot where they then bid each other farewell.

"See you tomorrow Prentiss."

"Later Morgan."

Naturally Morgan made sure Emily left safely before getting into his car. Once he was in the comforts of his home that previous feeling had reappeared. Something felt off, yet he couldn't pinpoint exactly what it was. Perhaps the case was still in his system? It wouldn't be the first time that had happened after all.

And again he shrugged it off and flipped his television on.

It was late in the night that he was rudely awakened by his cellphone ringing. With a groan Morgan reached for the phone. Seeing that it read 'Hotch' he prepared for the worst.

"Yeah Hotch, what is it?"

"Morgan there's been an emergency, we're being called to Florida?"

"What?" Morgan replied incredulously. "We were just there."

"Not like this, officials over there have found a note linked to a crime, a message was apparently left and it's directed to you."

Morgan froze. "Say what?"

"I'm as confused as you at this moment, get here as soon as possible. We'll discuss details once we're all here and accounted for."

"On my way." Morgan replied before hanging up. He immediately began getting dressed. What could this be about, and why him? So many unanswered questions ran through his head as he drove towards the BAU.

Author's Notes

And now we're getting somewhere, hope you are enjoying it so far.