To My Readers: This is the continuation of "A Shot at Love", the story of Derek and Caroline. A good friend of mine rightfully pointed out that there seemed to be a plot ending after we last heard from our heroes. Also, I wasn't fond of where the story was going. So, I removed the last part and set my mind on redeveloping the plot. The first few chapters of this story are still the same as they were when they were posted under "A Shot at Love", but the outcome of this plotline is much different than how I had it and the outcome may surprise you.

The disclaimers are the same, only the tune has changed to keep things interesting. I do not own "Criminal Minds" or "Derek Morgan" (very unfortunately). All of the CM characters belong to Ed Bernero and the rest of the fantastic writers, actors, directors, and other crew members. The story is rated M because, well, let's face it, when you are playing with Derek Morgan and Shemar Moore, who can keep it T? Seriously. OK, so it's probably because I have a very warped mind and no life, but digress. On to the story…

Life Happens

"Are you here just to hold down my linoleum or are you here for an actual purpose?" Caroline removed her ear protection with a smirk two months later.

"How did you know I was here?" Derek grinned back at her from his place in the doorway of the range.

"I asked first."

"I'm here for a reason, but I want you to answer my question first."

"I'm a Marine sniper. Not knowing that there is someone behind me could lead to my untimely demise. Now," she turned to face him after holstering her weapon, "what do you want?"

"I can't just come and watch my girl looking absolutely beautiful and scary at the same time?"

"When have you ever just come by to watch me work? And, for that matter, when did I become scary?"

"You scare me with the way you are able to handle that gun sometimes. You get so focused and end up looking incredibly sexy and frightening at the same time." He laughed. "But you're right, I did come down here with an ulterior motive."

"You always do. Hit me with it."

He pulled an evidence bag out of his pocket and held it out for her. "Hotch sent this from the most recent scene."

"How soon do you need the analysis?"

"I'll wait."

"You're close to an arrest?"

"We have an unsub in mind."

She went back into her office and smiled as she felt Derek's eyes undressing her as she worked. "I can tell you this is from a nine millimeter Smith and Wesson. There is nothing special about it, except that it is pristine. Where was this extracted from?"

"A mattress."

"Well, the owner of the gun prides himself on keeping his weapon meticulous and has very good aim. If this went through a body and into a mattress, it certainly didn't hit anything on its journey. Bring me a weapon and I can match it."

Producing his left hand from behind his back, he grinned as he handed her the box with the unsub's weapon. "Tell me this matches."

Opening the box after giving him a sly grin, she shook her head. "I can't."

"You haven't even fired it."

"I don't have to fire it to tell you that it won't match. This gun is a Glock and your bullet came from a Smith and Wesson. I'll do a test fire, but this barrel doesn't appear new, so I'm not expecting much." He followed her into her lab, his eyes now showing his intellect attempting to process how they could have been wrong about the unsub they had in custody instead of attempting to envision her in the throws of passion. "I am actually one of the few people I know who isn't afraid to admit when she's wrong. Put your nose down the scope."

"They match." Derek smiled. "Thanks, Baby Girl." He kissed her cheek and turned to leave. "Hi John."

"SSA Morgan, that wasn't appropriate behavior for the workplace. You have been asked not to flaunt your relationship with SSA James. The next time, I won't be asking when I pull your creds and send you back to training."

"Sorry, Sir, it won't happen again." He rolled his eyes as he walked past.

"Is there something I can do for you, John?" Caroline removed her lab coat and went into her office.

"Actually, it's something I can do for you."

"What's it going to cost me?"

"Nothing, but time. We're thinking of adding a new sniper unit and we're going to need someone to run selection and operation. I instantly thought of you."

"You want me to select trained snipers and organize them into a unit? That's not going to happen, John. Snipers are notoriously independent and work because they work alone."

"You can make it work."

"Or I can resign?" She looked her superior in the eye as he stood up.

'I didn't say that, Agent James."

"You didn't have to. I've heard the mumbling, the rumors that I'm unstable, since I had to put two rounds into my father. The brass thinks that I'm going to snap and start picking off my co-workers from a grassy knoll somewhere, right?" John remained silent, but looked away. "If you want to really control me, reassign me as the weapons specialist to the BAU, put me back under Agent Hotchner."

"That's not going to happen, Caroline, and you know why."

"Yeah, because I choose to make a home with Agent Morgan. He wouldn't be my superior so there would be no violation of policy."

"Maybe not, but then your relationship would be brought to light and we can't have that."

She rolled her eyes and stood up, using the fact that they were the same height to her advantage, before glaring at him and growling. "What bothers you more, the fact that I turned you down or the fact that SSA Morgan is black and I'm white?"

John walked to the door. "You're taking this assignment, Agent James, or your resignation better typed and on my desk by Monday."

"You never were very good at playing politics." Hotch cracked a smile when she told him the story an hour later. "Caroline, I wish I could say that I can help, but I'm no longer a golden child myself, and with Gideon's sudden disappearance, I'm not going to be able to get paper clips much less another agent who isn't a profiler. I'm sorry."

"Well, it was worth a try." She smiled and crossed her legs.

"I will be happy to take your case for sexual harassment."

She laughed. "If you want to commit suicide, it might be less painful if you just stick your sidearm in your mouth and pull the trigger." He actually laughed with her. "Besides, Deputy Director John Shepard is no one I can't handle. Thanks, Aaron."

"Sorry I couldn't help." Hotch stood up as she did. "I will keep putting in my request for you whenever possible."

"Thanks." She smiled and shook his hand.

"Were you looking for me?" Derek smirked as he stepped off the elevator and found the love of his life on his floor.

"No, I wasn't, but I'll pretend that I was if it will make you feel better."

He laughed. "No need for that, CJ."

She smirked as she stepped into the elevator, catching the doors before they could close. "You're dying to ask me why I was here and it wasn't for you, aren't you?"

"I am, but I don't want to get accused of profiling my girl." He smiled as she laughed.

"It's a long story I'll tell you over the drinks you're buying tonight." She waved as the doors closed, leaving him with a smirk on his face as he shook his head.

"OK, Baby Girl," Derek handed her a beer at a local bar that night, "what is the long story that you couldn't tell me about before?"