Author note: next part short again but it will pick up I promise. Thank you to all who have alerted, favorited and review this piece you have no idea how happy it makes me feel.

Disclaimer: I own nothing except me lol

Chapter two

Fathers Regret

Derek wiped at his eyes trying to figure out if he was truly seeing things cause he knew that his father couldn't possibly be standing before him, he was dead.

"You just going to goggle at me son or are you going to say hello at least," Jonathan Morgan said approaching his son.

"Dad," Derek said again not believing his eyes for a minute.

"We all ready established that one Derek give me something else will ya," Jon stated taking a seat in the chair across from his son.

He looked Derek over seeing the tension line's in his forehead, the slump in his shoulders and he shook his head.

For Derek this was unreal. To see his father sitting there dark brown eyes looking him over the same eyes that he had it was a little unnerving to say the least. He finally cleared the fog in his mind and really looked at the man sitting opposite him. Dark blue dress shirt, sleeves rolled up to his elbows, and black slacks close to the same clothes he wore everyday Derek had seen him. An older version if you will. But still his brain refused to come to terms with what his eyes were telling him was there.

"But how? Why?"

"Let's just say I'm here to slap some sense into the thick head of yours," Jon answered steepling his hands in front of him.

Derek shook his head not understand in the least, "What sense?" as an after thought, "I must have been poisoned or drunk that's the only explanation to it."

Jon shook his head, "Your neither Derek Michael Morgan. Just too damn stubborn headed for your own good is all."

"All right say I believe this for a moment how do I know you're real?"

"You my son are too suspicious for your own good," Jon said then "you had a brown bear you carried everywhere. Fran had to wash and repair the damn thing so many times I don't know what was holding it together in the end."

Derek cocked an eyebrow, but still wasn't convinced.

Seeing the doubt in his son's eyes, Jon offered, "You named him Mack after your Grandfather Fran's dad."

His eyes shocked wide at the information, "I… but how."

"Lord Boy we raised you better than that speak plainly," Jon gouged a smile forming on his lips. He enjoyed seeing his hot headed, smooth talking son at a loss for words.

"Why?" one word was all he could say.

Lowering his eyes Jon cleared his throat, "Because son you're heading down a road that will only lead to pain."

Confusion marred his features, "I don't understand."

Sighing Jon looked strait at his son, "Are you happy?"

"What kind of a…"

"Just answered the question Derek."

He hesitated for a minute, "Yea I guess I am."

"Then why you are still here at way passed midnight. You should be home relaxing or with friends having a good time."

"Because Dad work is important to me, it's the job I do I can't let anyone down," Derek answered thought the words felt and sounded hollow to his ears.

"You're not letting anyone down son. You can't keep going like this you'll forget to live like I did."

Derek's head whipped up to stare at his father, "You didn't forget to love Dad you were always there for us. You never let any of us down."

"You were too young to remember Derek, but there had been a time when the job was all I lived for before I almost lost you, Sarah and your mother."

"I don't understand," Derek said trying to recall his childhood.

"You were about two at the time; I'd been working a tough case not home much, just when I thought I caught a brake something else came up. I stayed got so long that by the time the case officially closed and went home Fran had packed up you kids and went to her mother's, leaving me with a note saying that she couldn't take not knowing any longer. Needless you say I went to her and apologized we worked through the hard times and I vowed to never let work consume me again."

"I'm different Dad I don't have a wife or children."

"Are you so different Derek? Have you noticed that the one person that has been in your life for a long is suspiciously missing now? Did you stop and wonder where she's gone, or did you just not care any more."

Derek knew who his father spoke of and he had missed her, he just couldn't work up enough courage to get her back. He stared at his hands ignoring his father for a moment. He didn't see the older man rise from the chair to come and stand beside him.

Jon opened the bottom desk draw and pulled out the picture of Penelope, he took a long look, before setting it on the desk in front of him. "You would throw away this beautiful, lively, smart woman for a job that in the end will only destroy you. For another woman who would never be able to understand your job or why you do it. She would have gladly giving her life for yours. Yet you squander the friendship you built for nothing. The love you have for a damn job. I really should kick your ass Derek."

"She, Penelope…"

"Will not wait forever son, even if she'll love you forever. Just don't waste the time you have on this earth live and live well. Remember I'm proud of you of who you've become and who you'll be. I love you son." And with that Jonathan Morgan faded from view.

Derek woke with a start and glanced around, "Only a dream and too much coffee," yet Penelope's picture sat in front of him. Her smiling face beckoning his wounded and dark soul.