"People find it far easier to forgive others for being wrong than for being right" – Albus Dumbledore


"Hey Baby Girl" Derek Morgan answered his phone. The team had just finished a case in Kentucky and he was exhausted. Pursuing a family annihilator they had tracked him through several towns. The case had ended with a tally of six families wiped out, one dead serial killer, too much casework and a multitude of bruises on Derek Morgan's abdomen.

After being dropped off at his house by Hotch Morgan wanted nothing else than to sleep. The flight had be turbulent and no one had gotten any shuteye. Tanked up on the remaining painkillers in his blood since before the flight and sporting a patchwork of colouring bruises he had fumbled with his keys, almost dropping them before he unlocked the house. Stumbling into the lounge he had just sunk painfully into his favourite armchair when his phone had rung.

"Derek Morgan, you better have a dam good reason for not returning to the office so I could make sure you're okay" Garcia scolded gently.

"Penelope, I am about to pass out from lack of sleep so please, for the love of god, say what you have to say but do not say there's another case" Morgan pleaded.

"I'm sorry Sugar, it just popped up and it's urgent. Hotch is on his way to pick you up now. You'll be briefed on the plane"

"Thanks Garcia"

"Hey, you know I love you"

"Love you too. See you when we get back" Morgan grimaced as he hung up.

Groaning he heaved himself out of his chair and into his bedroom, upending his go bag upside with one hand before filling it with clean clothes from his chest of drawers. Sorting through the dirty clothes now spread on the floor he repacked everything else.

"Come in Hotch" he yelled as he heard a series of raps on the front door.

Hotch walked through the house, coming to a stop in the doorway of Morgan's bedroom.

"You ready?"

Without zipping up his go bag Morgan picked up the strap. "Two seconds".

He sidled past Hotch, pulling his gear without lifting it, into the kitchen and grabbed a box of muesli bars, chucking them into the open bag.

"Now I'm good".

Hotch kept a blank face, watching as Morgan bent over to zip up his bag. As Morgan did so his face contorted.

"Morgan" he said quietly.

"I'm good" Morgan muttered, straightening up with the bag hanging on his shoulder.

Patting his pockets for the keys his face mirrored the confusion he felt. Where had he last put them again?

Hotch answered this internal question by holding up the key ring.

"Where did I leave those?"

"In the door". Hotch motioned for Morgan to leave, already following the tall African American out of the house before locking it securely and dropping the keys into Morgan's palm.

"What's the case Hotch?" Morgan queried, dumping his bag on the back seat.

"Not sure. I didn't even make it into my office before Garcia intercepted me and sent me back to get you"

"Serial Killers don't stop for anybody" Morgan replied thoughtfully, getting into the car and buckling up with a slight wince.

Hotch didn't reply. "When did you last take painkillers?" he asked, Morgan more on his mind than the case they were heading to.

"Before we left Kentucky"

"What was it?"

"Ibuprofen" he admitted sheepishly.

"Morgan, I can't have you performing below your usual standards. I need you at your peak".

"Look Hotch. We just got off the plane. I was going to have a shower and get into bed and sleep, preferably until lunch tomorrow, but my plans were cut short. What do you want me to do about it man?" Morgan fired back, the lack of sleep and increasing pain getting to him.

Hotch nodded. "Take some more once we board" he directed, and said no more.

Morgan nodded, leaning back in his seat ad shutting his eyes, hoping for ten minutes rest.


He must have nodded off because when he next opened his eyes the car had stopped and they were parked on the tarmac. Hotch was talking JJ, but Morgan was relieved to see that Emily and Reid had not yet made it.

Morgan pushed open his door and stiffly made his way over to the team leader and liaison. He stumbled slightly, alerting the other two to his presence.

"Nice of you to join us" JJ teased with a bit of a grin. "Sleeping on the job might get you fired"

"If I'm being honest I could have done with a bit more" Morgan confessed, leaning slightly against JJ's car.

"You can sleep on the plane" Hotch said as the Prentiss and Reid turned up in the last SUV.

"Sorry we're late" Reid apologized as they boarded the plane.

"We're all a little disorganized tonight" Hotch excused them. Morgan headed to the nearest seat.

"Hotch, can we wait to do the briefing man?" I'm sure wherever we're going…"

"San Diego" JJ cut across. "The case is in San Diego. It's about 5 hours flying time so I'm sure we'll have time to brief after we all get some much needed sleep".

"Thanks JJ" Morgan murmured, his eyes already sliding shut again.

"Morgan" Hotch shook him. "Don't go to sleep just yet".

"Why?"

"Take these" Hotch popped two prescription painkillers into Morgan's palm. A drink bottle was passed to Hotch and in turn to Morgan who downed the meds.

"You know, the average human sleeps around 9 hours a day" Reid said, looking at his watch. "Looking at the last time you slept, I would estimate that in the past 4 days you have had a total of 16 hours".

"Thanks kid" Morgan mumbled, already drifting off with the help of the painkillers. Prentiss shook her head and clipped Morgan's belt in as the pilot made the usual announcement about buckling in for the take-off.

"Hey Hotch" she pondered quietly as they all did up their belts at the next table. "Does anything seem off about Morgan to you?"

"You mean the lack of energy and the fact he hasn't once put up a fight?"

Prentiss nodded. "He just seems so un-Morgan".

"I think the fatigue is just catching up to him" Hotch speculated. "It's been a long week and we all have those times when we are physically and mentally so exhausted. He'll be fine, just give him some time. I'm going to put him on desk duty. I wouldn't have brought him but this case is in his area of expertise".

JJ nodded. "It happens to the best of us".


The plane levelled after take-off and the team all dispersed to their favourite seats.

Morgan sat with his head on his arms at one of the tables.

"JJ" Reid whispered.

"What?"

"Go wake Morgan up"

"Why?" she hissed.

"Because being hunched over isn't good for his chest"

"Why can't you do it?" she objected.

"Because he's less likely to get angry if you wake him up".

"He had a fair point" Prentiss pointed out.

JJ glared at the two of them before putting down her book and getting out of her seat.

"Morgan" she whispered softly. Morgan stirred but didn't move.

She called his name a little louder. "Derek!"

"What?" he slurred.

"Go lie down on the couch"

"M'fine"

"Derek. Just do it for me, please?"

Morgan tried to rise but found a belt across his lap. Fumbling for the release button his movements were clumsy, sleep filled. JJ quietly pressed the release button.

"Thanks JJ" he said sleepily.

She moved out of the way as Morgan stumbled towards the couch with his eyes half shut. JJ smiled. Morgan could never handle prescription painkillers well.

He sunk onto the recommended seat, groaning as he moved to try and get comfortable. Lying down Morgan attempted to swing his legs up but his abdomen was having none of it.

"Shit!" he hissed between clenched teeth, his jaw tight.

"I've got it Derek" JJ soothed, swinging the older man's legs up onto the couch. Removing his shoes she frowned as his eyes slid shut once more. Morgan was never like this.

"Try not to move too much" she advised, draping one of the blankets kept in the lockers above over him.

Morgan mumbled something incomprehensible before falling asleep once again.