Spencer wasn't sure exactly when it started, but he did remember when he first noticed it. Morgan was withdrawing from the team. He was as collected and professional as ever at the BAU, but he didn't go out with the team after work anymore. It wasn't until the third time that the genius began to wonder if something was wrong. The first two times Morgan had given acceptable excuses. This most recent time, however, he didn't.

CMCMCMCMCMCMCMCMCMCMCM

"Hey Morgan, you wanna come out with us?"Emily called to her friend.

"No, not this time, Em," he answered.

"Aww, but why not? We've even convinced 'Boy Wonder' to go with us," JJ teased.

"Yeah, c'mon, Morgan. You've got to come with us. Otherwise, it'll be just me against JJ, Emily, and Garcia. That's so not fair," Reid protested.

"Sorry, Reid, I'm just really tired," Morgan apologized.

"That's what you said last time we asked you to go with us," Garcia pointed out.

"Yeah," JJ chimed in.

"Look, I'll go with you guys next time, okay? I'm just really beat," Morgan responded defensively.

"Okay, chill, go home and get some sleep," Emily said holding her hands up in surrender. Nodding Morgan turned and stalked from the bullpen.

"That was really strange," Garcia murmured. The others nodded in agreement.

CMCMCMCMCMCMCMCMCMCMCMCMCMCM

It was now a couple hours later and the four of them were at one of their favorite bars.

"Did anyone else think Morgan's behavior was odd?" Reid questioned.

"Yeah it did. It's not the first time he's blown us off lately," Garcia commented.

"She's right it's not," Emily added.

"You guys haven't done your usual movie night lately, have you?" JJ asked turning to Garcia. The computer tech shook her head sadly.

"It's been two or three months. At first I didn't realize it had been so long, but now that you mention it," she trailed off.

"Maybe he's seeing someone?" Emily suggested. Spencer could feel his chest tighten at the thought. He knew he was in love with Morgan, but he didn't believe he had a chance.

"Why wouldn't he tell us, though?" he wondered.

"Think about it, Reid, we'd tease him endlessly," JJ answered.

"He's probably wanting to see if it's serious before he introduces him to us," Emily said.

"Hmm, maybe," Reid hummed.

"I guess we'll just have to wait and see," the media liaison replied sipping her drink. None of them liked that option, but they didn't have any other choice. As they left the bar, however, Spencer couldn't help feeling like something wasn't right.

CMCMCMCMCMCMCMCMCMCMCMCM

A couple weeks had gone by, and Derek's behavior continued to be abnormal. It was finally Friday and Reid decided to try one more time to get the other man to go out with him and the girls.

"Hey Morgan, wait up," he called as the man started to leave the bullpen.

"What's up, Pretty Boy?"

"Come out with the girls and I tonight. We all need it after this case, and you know it," the genius argued. The dark-skinned man opened his mouth looking like he was ready to make an excuse, but changed his mind at the last minute.

"Okay, fine, I'll come with," he agreed. A broad smile crossed Reid's face at Morgan's words.

"Glad to hear it," he said slapping Morgan's shoulder. He thought he saw Morgan flinch, but dismissed it. He was probably imagining things.

"Where are we meetting?" Derek asked.

"The usual place," Reid called back as he headed off to tell the girls about his success.

CMCMCMCMCMCMCMCMCMCMCMCMCMCM

The night was going well. The five agents were dancing, chatting and having a few drinks. Everyone could see that even though Derek was with them, he was more reserved than he heusually was. He was asked by both men and women to dance and he refused. Garcia and Morgan who she'd finally dragged on to the dance floor under protest walked back to the table and collapsed into their seats. Glancing down Derek noticed he'd managed to forget his watch at home.

"Does anyone know what time it is?" he asked.

"10:45," JJ answered looking at her watch. Gasping in shock he jumped to his feet.

"Is everything okay, hot stuff?" Garcia asked.

"I have to go, sorry, but I have to," he explained. Grabbing his jacket he ran from the bar. Just before he left his sight, Reid saw the barely suppressed fear and panic in his eyes. That bad feeling that he'd felt a couple weeks before was back and growing. Noticing the young geniuses frown Emily touched his hand.

"Everything okay, Reid?"

"No, it's not," he replied.

"What's wrong?" JJ asked grabbing his other hand.

"I'm not sure, it's just a feeling I have."

"About Derek?" Garcia guessed. Reid nodded silently.

"I can't help but think that somethings wrong and he's not telling us," the genius explained.

"I'm sure things are fine," Emily soothed.

"I hope so," Reid said softly.

"All we can do is be there for him if he comes to us. We just have to be patient," Garcia said.

"I know you're right, but it won't be easy to just be patient and wait for him to come to me," Reid reluctantly admitted.

"I know, but what choice do we have?" Emily asked.

"We don't, but what if…" Reid broke off.

"Spence, you can't go around playing the what if game. You know that won't do any good," JJ told him.

"I just hope I'm wrong and he's okay," the genius said. Maybe if he kept saying it enough, he'd be able to convince himself of it.

CMCMCMCMCMCMCMCMCMCMCMCM

"Where. Were. You!" yelled an extremely angry voice.

"I was out with my coworkers," Derek answered.

"You thought I'd be gone until tomorrow so you decided to go out with them even though I told you you're not allowed to do that anymore, didn't you?"

"No, Jonathon, I swear. I didn't do it because of that. They're starting to get suspicious. They're profilers for fuck sake. It's their job to study behavior," Derek argued.

"I don't believe you. Do we remember what happens when I think your lying to me?" Jonathon hissed as he got in his boyfriend's face. Derek nodded silently, his eyes wide. "You answer me when I ask you a question," the other man roared as his hand connected with Derek's face.

"Y-y-yes, sir," Derek stammered. The FBI agent bit his lip to keep from crying out.

"Maybe next time you'll remember what a bad idea it is to lie to me," Jonathon snarled. Every word was said with a kick, slap, or punch at the same time. Before he knew it, Derek was stripped of all his clothing and being held down on the floor while Jonathon violated him repeatedly. Even though this was nothing new, Morgan couldn't help but cry silent tears behind his tightly closed eyes. He was nearly unconscious from the pain when he heard a tiny meow and felt a paw gently tapping his face.

"N-n-no, Smokey go way," he rasped. The cat knew his human was in trouble and was determined to help him the only way he knew how. Hissing and snarling he launched himself at Jonathon and clawed and bit his arm.

"Son of a bitch! You dam cat!" he yelled viciously throwing the animal across the room. Smokey let out a tiny frightened cry before skuttling from the room and hiding in Derek's office. Finally Jonathon came and pulled out. Standing up he gave Derek one last vicious kick in the stomach before stalking off to their bedroom.

CMCMCMCMCMCMCMCMCM

Derek stayed huddled on the floor well after he heard the other man start to snore. He knew he should leave, but he was afraid to. This was becoming a familiar scenario. Jon would beat him and rape him then the next day he'd be remorseful and begging Derek for forgiveness. He'd swear it wouldn't happen again. Some part of him believed he deserved what was being done to him. A product of the abuse he'd suffered at the hands of Carl Buford. Someone please help me, he thought brokenly. Everything the team told abuse victims about needing to get out and make a fresh start was running through his head. He knew he needed to take the same advice, but he was too afraid of what would happen to him if he tried. The sound of clicking paws alerted him to Smokey walking timmidly into the living room.

"Here, kitty, kitty," Derek called softly. The cat made its way over to the man curled on the floor and whined as he licked the blood covering his human's face. Gently he pulled the cat to him before struggling into a standing position. Once he was on his feet he went to clean up the worst of his injuries and climb into the bed in the guest room. As he drifted off to sleep he knew Jonathon would be begging for forgiveness in the morning, and even though he knew he shouldn't, Derek would give it, for fear of being hurt worse if he didn't.

TBC?

A/n, I decided to do something different. Usually it's Reid who is in the abusive relationship, so I changed it and it's Derek. I know this may seem really out of character, but go with it. Most of you are probably wondering how a trained FBI agent would ever wind up in an abusive relationship. Here's how, he's human and subject to falling for someone who can abuse him just as easily as anyone else. No one is immune to manipulation and mind games. Please read and review.