AN: Another update for you guys. Hope you like it. PLZ R&R!

Disclaimer: See first chapter.


Chapter 4: Bonding With Ryan

Derek and Ryan stayed at Fran and Dave's for several more hours. Fran kept trying to get them to stay longer by bringing out more and more sweets, which Ryan took willingly. It was starting to get dark out when Derek finally forced his way out the door with Ryan. Derek held the back car door open for Clooney and Ryan to climb in and he pulled out of the driveway.

A few minutes later, Derek pulled up his driveway and turned off the car. He got out and opened the back door for Ryan and Clooney and they headed into the house.

"I'll give you the tour tomorrow," Derek told Ryan as he slowly followed him in and Ryan nodded. "We should get ready for bed."

Derek grabbed Ryan's overnight bag and led him up the stairs and into a bathroom that connected to a bedroom.

"This is the guest bathroom and bedroom," Derek told him. "For now anyway."

"What do you mean?" Ryan looked up at him.

"Later," Derek told him. "You go ahead and take a shower. There's shampoo and soap that you can use and some towels hanging up for when you're done. Mark packed up some pajamas for you. And don't forget to brush your teeth."

"Ok," Ryan said softly.

"I'll be in the living room when you're done," Ryan nodded and Derek walked out to give him some privacy.

A half hour later, Derek decided to go check on Ryan when he didn't come down to him. He approached the bathroom and knocked softly.

"Hey kid, are you ok in there?"

"Yeah,"

"Can you let me in?" the door opened and Ryan stood there in a pair of sweat pants and a white t-shirt.

His hair was still damp and he was putting everything back in his bag.

"Are you ready for bed?"

"I guess," he shrugged.

Derek led him through the connecting door and flipped on the light. There was a bed in the middle of the room with dark blue sheets and comforter spread out over it. There was a small table next to the bed with a small lamp on it. There was a dresser across the room and a few simple pictures hanging up on the walls.

"It's not much, but it's all yours tonight." Derek helped him cover after he had climbed up. "My room is right across the hall. You can come get me if you need anything no matter how late it is."

"Ok," Ryan said softly as he lay down.

"And I'll leave the hallway light on."

"I'm not scared of the dark." Ryan grumbled.

"I know. It's mostly for me. Sometimes I get up to use the bathroom in the middle of the night. I leave the light on so I don't run into anything."

"Oh," they both looked over as the door slowly opened and watched as Clooney pushed it open enough for him to fit through and came into them.

"Looks like someone wants to stay in here," Derek smiled as the pug jumped onto the bed beside Ryan and lay down. "Is that ok?"

"Yeah," Ryan smiled.

"Ok. Good night, kid. I'll see you in the morning." Derek got up off the bed.

"Good night," Ryan turned over onto his side.

Derek glanced back one more time before turning out the light and shutting the door, leaving it open just a crack. He went downstairs to lock up and make sure everything was off and headed back upstairs.

He walked into his bedroom to start getting ready to turn in for the night. He felt really content having Ryan across the hall; maybe he should start making the appropriate steps to make Ryan a permanent part of his life.


"Derek," he heard a whispered voice near him. "Derek."

He slowly opened his eyes and saw Ryan standing in the middle of his room. He sat up and rubbed his eyes as Ryan came closer.

"What's the matter, buddy?"

"I can't sleep," Ryan said softly.

"Climb up," Derek told him and he climbed up on the other side of Derek. "So why can't you sleep?"

"I don't know,"

"Maybe it's because it's a new place," Derek told him as they both lay back down.

"Maybe," Ryan said sleepily.

"Try to get some sleep," Derek gave up most of his covers. "But I'll be right beside you the whole time."

"Ok," Ryan mumbled as they both eventually drifted off to sleep.


"Ooh, that's a good one." Derek slowly drifted out of his dream state at the familiar voice as he saw a flash of light.

He opened his eyes and saw Penelope standing in the doorway of his bedroom with her phone out pointing it at him. He glanced next to him and saw Ryan curled up next to him fast asleep with Clooney stretched out on the other side of Ryan in a protective gesture.

"Good morning, Hot Stuff." Penelope chirped.

"What are you doing here so early, Baby Girl?" he slowly sat up, rubbing his eyes.

"I got up this morning and discovered a picture text from Dave," she smiled. "So I texted him and he told me that you had your first overnight with Ryan."

"So you rushed right over?" he followed her out of the room.

"Not right over," she told him as they reached downstairs. "I decided to get some of those pastries you like from the bakery by my apartment. Hopefully Ryan will like them."

"I'm going to let Ryan sleep," he poured himself a cup of coffee that Penelope had already brewed for him. "I don't think he got a lot of sleep last night. New place."

"Understandable," she smiled. "So how was it?"

"We spent most of yesterday at mom and Dave's. We got home and went right to bed."

"So what time are you taking him back?"

"Mark told me to have him back by eight."

"Great, so what are we showing him today?"

"Baby Girl,"

"What? He's important to you, so he's important to me. I want to get to know him better. What does he like?"

"He just joined soccer."

"And?"

"And I know his favorite subject is art."

"Well that's a start. I can work with that."

"He doesn't talk much." Derek told her.

"We even each other out since I know I talk way too much."

"Not as much as Reid does,"

"I can't argue with that." She smiled at him.

"Derek?" they turned as they heard a voice call down to them.

"Down here buddy." He watched as Ryan slowly came down to them followed by Clooney. "Are you ok?"

Ryan shook his head as Derek noticed his pale complexion. Ryan went to him and Derek picked him up and placed him on the counter in front of him.

"What's the matter?"

"My stomach hurts," he mumbled as Penelope came over and felt his forehead.

"He doesn't have a fever," she looked at Derek.

"It's probably just a stomach ache from all those sweets that my mom kept giving you yesterday," Derek told Ryan.

"You're probably right about that," Penelope smiled as Derek set him down on the floor again.

"Why don't you go lay down on the couch and I'll find something to help settle your stomach," Ryan slowly shuffled out of the room and Derek opened his refrigerator to try to find something for him. "Oh great. I don't even have anything for him. Not even a sports drink."

"Calm down," Penelope smiled as he became frantic. "Just give him some water and those crackers for now, and I'll run out and get him something."

"You don't have to-"

"I want to," she grabbed her purse. "You stay here and let him binge watch whatever he wants on TV."

"Got it," he went into the living room and saw Ryan laying across the couch. "Hey buddy, Penelope's gone up to the store to get something for your stomach."

"Ok," he said softly.

"Is it ok if she hangs out with us today?"

"Yeah, she seems nice."

"Yes, she is." Derek sat beside him. "What do you want to watch?"

"Don't know," Ryan mumbled as Derek turned on the TV and started flipping through the channels.

"Just tell me if you see anything that you like."

An hour later, the door opened and Penelope came into them with a couple bags in her arms. She walked into the living room and saw Ryan curled up against Derek as an episode of Ninja Turtles played on TV.

"How are we doing?" she sat beside them.

"He says he's hungry, but I don't think he can handle anything just yet." Derek told her.

"Well I have clear broth that I can heat up. Does that sound good, Ryan?" she looked at him.

"Yeah," he said softly.

"In the meantime, you can drink this to try to settle your stomach." Penelope opened a bottle of ginger ale and he took it from her.

"What else did you get?" Derek saw the smaller bag that she had with her.

"Oh yes," she picked it up and placed it in front of Ryan. "This is all for you."

"What is it?" Ryan slowly sat up and opened the bag.

"I remember when I was younger and I was sick, my parents would often bring me back something from the store to make me feel better and to keep me entertained."

"You got me something?"

"Derek told me your favorite school subject was Art, so I thought…." Penelope watched as Ryan pulled out all the items.

"This is all for me?" Ryan saw the sketchbook, superhero coloring book, and the packages of markers, crayons and colored pencils.

"Of course it is,"

"Th-Thanks," Ryan mumbled.

"You enjoy those while I go heat up some broth,"

"Thank you, Baby Girl." Derek smiled at her as she took the other bag with her into the kitchen. "What's the matter kid? Don't you like them?"

"No, they're great. It's just-"

"What?" Derek looked down at him. "You can tell me."

"Is this what it's supposed to be like?"

"Is what supposed to be like?"

"Is this what it's supposed to be like with parents when you're sick? They actually care for you and get you things to make you feel better?"

"They're supposed to," Derek pulled him to him. "Didn't you have that before?"

"No," Ryan said softly. "I was always forced off to school. Not that I minded. I preferred to be there. It was safer."

Derek remained silent as Ryan opened up the coloring book and took out one of the coloring pencils. He just got a little snippet of what Ryan's life was like before the orphanage; and he didn't like what he heard. What kind of kid would rather spend their days at school as opposed to having a couple of sick days stuck at home?

"Here we go," Penelope brought in a tray that had a bowl of steaming liquid on it with some crackers spread out.

"Thank you," Ryan smiled as Penelope placed the tray over his lap.

"So how do you like your gifts? You can be honest if you didn't like them."

"I like them," Ryan said. "It's just-"

"What?"

"You can tell her kid," Derek assured him.

"I don't really like using markers," he told her. "They're too messy and they bleed through the paper; they ruin the picture."

"Actually, you're right," Penelope smiled.

"My Art teacher at school makes us use them, but I like using crayons or colored pencils. Colored pencils are the best though."

"I think so too," Penelope got settled beside him. "So tell me some things."

"What things?" Ryan asked as he started eating the soup.

"I want to know all about you," she smiled at him. "Favorite music, books, TV shows, movies…."

"Just give in kid," Derek smiled at him. "It's easier that way."

"I like Green Day," he told her. "And I like reading fantasy books. It helps me escape from reality…."

They spent the next several hours talking with Ryan as he told them all about his favorite things. Ryan had two bowls of broth and it seemed to settle his stomach. By late afternoon, he was feeling so much better that he said he wanted to go outside. So Derek clipped a leash to Clooney's collar and they all-Penelope included-walked down the street to the park.

Ryan and Clooney ran around with Ryan throwing a frisbee for him to catch. Derek and Penelope sat on a bench under some shade and watched them.

"Talk to me," Penelope told him. "What's been going on since we had that conversation at my apartment?"

"I want to do it," he looked at her.

"I knew it was only a matter of time," she smiled at him. "So what finally convinced you?"

"I like spending all this time with him, but I think last night sealed the deal."

"What happened last night?"

"I had just got him settled into the guest room for the night and was starting to get ready for bed. I realized that I wanted that every night. I wanted him to be nearby. I want him living with me permanently. I want to get him up for school in the mornings, I want to go to his school activities, and I definitely want to get him back to feeling healthy again when he's sick."

"It's so great to see this side of you Sugar," Penelope told him. "You two are great for each other."

"He told me that he's never been cared for when he was sick," Derek watched her shocked expression. "He said that he was forced off to school, but that he actually preferred school because it was safer."

"He definitely needs a positive environment, and I don't think it's that orphanage."

"I'm going to talk to Mark when I drop Ryan off. I know that it's going to be a slow process."

"But it'll be worth it."

"And first thing tomorrow, I'll talk to Hotch about it."

"I don't think it will make a difference to him."


Later that night, Derek pulled his car up to the curb outside the orphanage. He got out and opened the back door for Ryan to climb out. Derek grabbed his bag of things and led him inside. Ryan walked slowly behind him as they walked to Mark's office.

"Hey Man," Derek spotted him working behind the computer at his desk.

"Hey," Mark smiled at the pair. "How was your night, Ryan?"

"Fun," he said softly. "When can I go back again?"

"When Derek has more free time."

"Soon," Derek smiled at him.

"Why don't you start getting ready for bed," Mark looked at Ryan. "Put your dirty clothes in the laundry before going to your room."

"Ok,"

"I'll see you soon, Ryan." Derek told him.

"When?" he asked him.

"When I don't have a case."

"You'll see him soon enough," Mark assured him.

"Ok," Ryan left the room and Mark smiled at Derek.

"So I brought him back safe and sound; for the most part." Derek told him.

"For the most part?" Mark questioned.

"Well my mom kept enticing him with sweets last night, none of which he refused. So when he woke up this morning, he had quite a stomach ache."

"We've seen this before. Most of the kids aren't used to having so much food. Their bodies aren't used to it. And they think they won't get the chance to have that much again, so they eat more than what their bodies can handle at one time."

"Well Penelope came over today and helped me. She made him up some broth and made sure he got ginger ale. He was fine by this afternoon."

"I'll still check on him tomorrow before school,"

"So I want to ask you," Derek started. "What do I have to do to start the process of fostering Ryan?"

Mark smiled at him as he opened his desk and pulled out a thick booklet with forms for him to fill out. He knew this day would come sooner rather than later.


AN: So what'd you all think? I hope you liked this. In the next couple of chapters, Ryan will be meeting the rest of the team. PLZ R&R!