Disclaimer: I do not own any rights to the TV series, Criminal Minds.

Keys

By
N. J. Borba

"This is embarrassing," Derek complained as he shuffled slowly around the nurse's station.

Emily walked beside him, one arm linked with his as she helped stabilize his slightly wobbly legs. His other hand held the wide wall railing. "You got the bare ass part right," she laughed even though that comment earned her a glare from him. She didn't mind. Emily watched as he shifted his free hand to hold the hospital gown closed a little tighter in the back. "You know…" another smile came to her. "This kind of makes me think about the two of us in our golden years, doing a slow shuffle through the park."

"You with a lot of gray hair," he joined in.

Her eyes rolled. "Not as long as there's hair dye left in the world."

Morgan paused his step long enough to kiss the side of her head. "You'd be cute with gray hair."

"Please…" she groaned in disagreed. "At least we already know you're pretty sexy with a bald head," Emily grinned.

He chuckled at her. "Where's mama this morning?"

"She'll be here a little later. I drove your SUV so Fran could have my car," she explained, knowing she hadn't really responded with the full truth. "Your mother wanted to stay and clean our house," Emily revealed. She held a hand up before he could say anything in protest. "Trust me, I argued against it as adamantly as I could. She's very persistent," Emily sighed. "I don't think the place is even that dirty, but I do think it helps her relax. Or maybe it helps her de-stress," she shrugged.

Morgan nodded, having experienced his cleaning tornado mother several times over the years. "How are the two of you getting along at home? Everything okay?"

"We haven't spent much time at home because we're usually here," Emily reminded him. "But, yeah, things are good. I like talking to your mother. She's not preachy or judgmental like my parents, she just listens. It's nice. We've had some good chats, even laughed quite a bit last night. Although we had a few glasses of wine that might've contributed."

"Just tell me you haven't talked to her about…" he trailed off for a moment, concentrating on turning the corner. "You know, battery powered things."

"Okay, I won't tell you," she replied.

He easily noticed the veiled grin on her face that was always a good indication she wasn't revealing the whole truth. "I don't want to know," he maintained.

Emily chuckled. "Like guys don't talk about sex," she scoffed.

His change of topic was a not-so-subtle transition, "What lap are we on?" Derek asked as they passed by his room, which had been their starting point. He'd been up walking three times in the last forty-eight hours, each time doing a few more laps. His legs still felt a bit stiff and sore, but he was determined to regain his strength as quickly as possible, even though the doctor, Emily and his mother warned him not to overdo things. He was a bit too obstinate to listen to reason. "Maybe we could add a few more this time?" he suggested.

She'd known that was coming. He did it each time they walked, and she'd been there from the start. Always right beside him. "This is lap number twelve, an even dozen. Your highest count yet. But we can do a few more this time," Emily gave in, knowing how much he wanted to get out of the hospital. She didn't blame him. Between the two of them the past year they'd logged a lot of hours in hospitals. And she really wanted him home as well. "But then I need a break."

He kissed her temple again. "Never could thank you for all your support," Derek whispered.

A quick shrug was her response. "This is what people do for the ones they love. No thanks needed," Emily insisted. She glanced up at him with a smile. "I brought you some clothes, sweats and a t-shirt. Nurse Heidi said you could take a real shower today."

"Oh, yeah?" he liked the sound of that. "Will you help me?"

"Sure," Emily nodded. "But doc Landon said no strenuous exercise for several weeks. That includes sex," she reminded him.

"I knew I didn't like doctors for a reason," Derek sulked for a second, but he finished his last few laps with renewed energy.

Emily guided him back to the room, helped him strip down and then wash up in the shower. The incision from his surgery didn't look too bad, but she knew he'd have a scar. That seemed to be something they had in common, scars. Both internal and external. Emily tried not to dwell on that matter too much as she helped him pull on clean boxer-briefs and the rest of the outfit she'd brought for him. When they emerged from the small corner bathroom they found a visitor waiting. It wasn't Fran.

"Zach?" Emily helped Derek to the bed even as she eyed the twelve year old boy who was seated on a plastic chair near the door. "What are you… how did you get here?"

"Took a bus," the boy's blond hair was a mess. His eyes looked bloodshot and droopy from lack of sleep.

Morgan regarded Emily as she approached the child. "You get permission to leave from your aunt?" Derek asked the kid, knowing the boy had been sent to stay with family after his ordeal. Both his parents were gone in a matter of days, his mother dying by the hand of his father. Derek could see the toll that had taken on his young life.

"My aunt doesn't want me around," Zach's voice was small. "She's got three kids of her own, and she thinks I'll turn out like my dad. Aunt Kim always hated him, told my mom that all the time. Now she hates me too, because of what dad did to mom."

With a heavy sigh, Emily reached for one of the boy's hands. She was glad that he didn't flinch or pull away. "Buddy, you can't run away to solve things."

"I should've known you'd say that," Zach shot to his feet and edged closer toward the door. "I thought maybe I could talk to you, thought you'd listen. You were nice the other day. You listened then," he shook his head. "Doesn't matter. Aunt Kim was going to send me to foster care, but I won't go. I'll just disappear," he vowed. "No one will miss me."

"Hey, that's not true, Zach," Emily replied with gentle force. But the boy was already out of the room before she could continue.

She stuck her head out the door but didn't catch any sign of him. "Damn," Emily turned back to Derek. "He really did disappear."

"How long do you suppose he was in here?" Morgan asked. He pointed to her purse. "Check it."

Emily understood his reasoning as she searched through her bag. "All my cash is gone," she reported. "It was only about fifty dollars, but…" Emily trailed off when she realized something else. She checked several other compartments and pockets before drawing the only conclusion possible. "My keys are missing, too. Actually, your keys," she leveled her gaze on Morgan. "Can a twelve year old drive?" Emily questioned.

With a quick nod, Derek responded, "If he thinks he's got no other choice, yeah." He barely hesitated before speaking again. "Go."

There was no time wasted as Emily dashed out of the room and headed for the stairs. They were usually quicker than the elevator, but the four flights down to the parking garage seemed to take forever as Emily prayed she wouldn't be too late to stop the boy from leaving. Thankfully, even with his head start, she had a few factors in her favor. One being that he'd have to roam the garage searching for Derek's vehicle by randomly pressing the unlock button on the key fob.

She knew exactly where she'd parked. And found Zachary already behind the wheel.

"Zach!" she shouted through the glass window, slapping her open palm against it. "Come on, buddy. Let's talk about this. You don't want to do this," she argued.

"Yes, I do!" he yelled back, fiddling with the keys to get the SUV started.

Emily could tell he'd never driven before, probably only watched his parents do it a million times. "If you drive away now you could be hurt, or hurt someone else," she warned. "Do you want that to happen?" Emily did her best to reason with him.

"No, but…" his tone was clearly filled with frustration as he managed to start the vehicle. "No one wants me," Zach lamented.

"That's not true," Emily maintained a calm tone as much as possible.

"It is!" he screamed.

The roar of the engine let her know he'd probably stomped down on the gas pedal. But the SUV didn't budge. Emily guessed it was because he didn't have the vehicle in gear, and most likely still had the parking break set as well. "Come on, Zach," she pleaded. "Just unlock the door and let me help you. I promise we can work something out."

"I don't want to live with my aunt, or some strangers in foster care," he shook his head, actually figuring out how to put the vehicle in gear. "Just leave me alone," Zach concluded as the vehicle speedily backed out of the spot.

"Zach, be careful!" Emily stepped aside, barely avoiding her feet from being run over. "Stop this, now!" she grew frustrated.

"Emily?" it was Fran's voice that broke through the chaos.

Emily spun around to find Derek's mother standing directly in the twelve year old driver's path. The boy was gazing down at the wheel, not out the window as he sped through the parking garage. "Fran!" Emily shouted, running at top speed toward the woman. "Zach!" she tried gaining the boy's attention. "Zachary, use the brakes!" Emily ran faster than she thought possible and managed to push Fran aside. "Zach, stop!" she yelled one last time, staring directly into the headlights as they barreled toward her.

The SUV's brakes screeched as the vehicle skidded several more feet before it finally stopped inches from Emily's waist.

She hustled around to the driver's side door, adrenaline propelling her forward. "Keep your foot on the brake, Zach, and unlock the door," Emily calmly, yet forcefully, instructed. She watched as he carefully concentrated on the tasks. When the door flung open, she put a gentle hand to the boy's shoulder. "Just keep your hold on the brake," she repeated, leaning across his lap. Emily put the vehicle in park and reset the brake for good measure. Then she guided Zach out of the SUV.

"I'm sorry," his voice was barely a whisper.

Part of her wanted to yell at him, still so upset about what had just happened. But she knew yelling wasn't what he needed at the moment. With both arms wrapped about him, she held him close. "I know you didn't mean for this to happen," Emily said. "But someone was almost hurt."

His body shook, tears streaming down his ashen cheeks. "I'm sorry," Zach repeated. "I just want my mom," he sobbed.

Those words caused most of Emily's anger to drain.

Keeping him in close, Emily watched as Fran silently got into the SUV and parked it in the nearest available spot. A minute later she joined them, one hand against Emily's back in a motherly manner. "Is everything okay?" she quietly inquired.

Emily gave a small nod. "I think it will be." At least she was hopeful.

xxx

"Are you and mama all right? Jeez, what the hell was that kid thinking?" Derek was perched at the edge of his bed looking about ready to pounce. He'd just listened to Emily recount the details of her encounter with Zachary Hillman and his not-so-precise driving skills.

"Fran is fine, maybe a little shaken but she's okay," Emily reported, feeling a bit numb after the whole ordeal. "She took Zach to the cafeteria to get some water."

Morgan's eyes widened. "You left her with him?"

"She volunteered," Emily countered. "If anyone can keep him in line it'll be Fran," she reasoned.

"True," he relaxed a little. Derek didn't want to admit that his back was pretty sore at the moment. And he hated the fact Emily had gone after Zach and had to deal with the kid on her own. He knew the woman he loved was more than capable, though. "It sounds like you've done a pretty good job of that as well." Derek reached for her hand and kissed her palm. "You saved my mother's life. Can't thank you enough for that either."

Emily managed a weak smile. "Funny you should mention me handling things … because I was thinking…"

"You and thinking can be a dangerous combo," Derek braced himself for what was about to come.

She didn't dance around the issue. "Maybe he could live with us?" Emily could see the answer on his lips before he even spoke and she made a preemptive move. "Please don't dismiss the idea right away," she stopped him before he could respond. "We've been talking about fostering a kid or possibly more one than one kid, and specifically older kids. Also, we agreed to take on any child, no matter their issues," she reminded him.

"But we're too close to this case, don't you think?" Morgan's eyes narrowed. He glanced toward the door making sure Zach was nowhere near. "We tracked down and killed his father."

"Technically…" she held an index finger aloft. "It was a Fairfax County police officer who killed Hillman, not you or JJ," Emily pointed out. "And he wasn't going down without a fight, he probably wanted to die. It's why he ambushed you. Zach knows all of that, which is why he's so scattered right now. And living with an aunt who hates him, who actually came out and said that to his face, how's that going to help him stabilize?" she asked. "It's not," Emily quickly answered her own question.

Derek couldn't deny that. "Could we even…" he shrugged. "We're not official foster parents yet."

"I think I could work something out if I talk to Mrs. Dayton at Child Services," Emily felt she was close to wearing him down. "Should I call her?"

"What about our jobs?" he still wasn't completely sold on the idea.

"Well, you'll have medical leave for a while to get healed up," Emily quickly plotted a course, even though she was making it up on the fly. "You'll be there for him the first few weeks, be there when he comes home from school and all that. And when you go back to work…" she bit her lip a moment, thinking. "Then maybe I'll reduce my workload."

Those words surprised him a little. "What do you mean? Quit?"

"Not sure," her shoulders rose. "But we've been talking about the kid thing more and more. I figured that would mean a work reduction for one of us. And I'm willing to be the one," she offered. "On the plus side, it'll mean we don't have to talk to Strauss about our relationship status when she returns," Emily concluded.

An admiring smile formed on his lips as he squeezed her hand. "You seem sure about all this," Derek knew he was far from feeling the same.

"I'm not really sure about anything," Emily admitted. "Except that I love you, and that I think we could help Zach."

"Can I think about it?" Morgan asked, not wanting to say yes or no outright at the moment.

Emily nodded and gave him a quick kiss. "Sure," she agreed. "I'm going to check on Zach and your mom."

xxx

Derek knew the look on his mother's face.

She was seated in a chair beside him, eyes slightly clouded with thought. "Where's Emily?" he asked, delaying the inevitable.

"Zachary wanted to remain in the cafeteria and asked her to stay with him," Fran revealed. "I think he's anxious about facing you again," she added. "Emily's calling his aunt as a courtesy, to let her know where Zach is. After that she plans to talk to the Child Services woman."

"About what exactly?" Morgan inquired, sensing that his mother knew more than she was letting on.

Fran smiled, knowing she was readable to her son. "To figure out what sort of options you might have, whether the two of you may be able to take Zach in."

Morgan sighed. "And you think we should?"

"That's not for me to decide," Fran took the diplomatic road. She relaxed a little, letting her weight press fully against the chair. "I will tell you a few things I've observed lately, both through words and actions," she paused a moment. "Emily tells me she's a bit frustrated that the two of you can't seem to get on the same page when the issue of kids is brought up."

He sat forward a little. "I think we are now," he protested.

"So you're okay with Zach living with you?"

"Well, not that… I meant…"

His mother's brows arched. "You're hesitant about this boy," she stated the fact without any doubt. "Because you're still unsure about your role as a father. It's understandable. You lost your dad as a young boy, and then you were betrayed by a man you respected as a father figure," Fran wasn't afraid to lay it all out for him. "But you are a far better man than..." she couldn't even utter Buford's name. "I believe you have a great deal to offer any child, especially Zach. He needs you. He needs both of you."

"You make it sound so simple," Derek sighed.

"Oh, no, baby," her head shook with conviction. "Do not think for one minute that parenthood will be simple or easy," Fran warned. "It is a daunting task in many ways but it can be very rewarding as well," she grinned. "And Emily… she's a big part of the observing I've been doing these past few days. I can easily see how much she loves you, and I watched her dealing with that boy today. She remained cool under pressure. And when it was over she hugged him first before she scolded him."

Derek chuckled. "A true sign of parenthood," he agreed, having experienced that many times over with his mother.

"Zach could've gone anywhere today when he left his aunt's house," Fran added. "But he showed up here."

"He sought out the one person he felt he could trust the most, who he felt safe with," Morgan realized what his mother was saying. "Emily."

xxx

Zach stood close to the door, huddled next to Emily who had an arm about his shoulders.

She squeezed his shoulder in a reassuring gesture then dropped her arm and motioned toward one of the chairs in Derek's small hospital room. "Have a seat," she implored.

The boy sat facing Derek, but he kept his eyes aimed on the floor. "I'm sorry," Zach's tone was sullen and weary. "I know it was your SUV I tried to steal. And I know I could've hurt your mom or Emily… or someone else. I'm sorry," he concluded.

"You need to look a person in the eye when you apologize," Derek replied, having been taught that by his father at a young age.

Zach swallowed nervously and lifted his head. "I'm sorry," he repeated, blue eyes staring into Derek's dark ones.

Derek extended his hand to Zachary, seeing nothing of the boy's father in the child. Hillman had killed his wife and those other women for reasons the BAU team hadn't been able to pinpoint. Zach had simply reacted out of grief. To sit there and apologize now showed Derek that the young man had more guts and courage than his father ever could've hoped to possess. "Apology accepted," he told the boy.

The handshake caused Zach to sit up straighter. "I'm really sorry."

"I know you are, pal. You can stop apologizing," Morgan insisted. He took a quick glance at Emily before he continued. The hopeful look on her face was all he needed to proceed. "I hear Emily called your aunt?" he directed his words toward the boy.

"Yes, sir," Zach turned very serious. "She said my behavior confirmed her belief that I'm no good. I'm officially not welcome at her house any longer."

Morgan turned his eyes fully upon Emily. "And did you talk to Mrs. Dayton?"

"I did," Emily gnawed her bottom lip but quickly found the answer she'd been hoping for in Derek's silent nod of approval. "Zach's aunt already informed Child Services of her desire to sign away rights. Dayton said we could fulfill our foster parent training with a live-in child. We still need a background check and home inspection," she explained. "Background check is pretty much a formality given our status with the FBI. And she's willing to do the home inspection herself, tomorrow morning. Thankfully Fran already cleaned the place," she grinned.

"What does that mean?" Zach turned to Emily for clarification. "I'd live with you?"

Emily nodded. "I guess we haven't even asked you yet," she realized. "Would you like to stay with us, Zach?"

The boy instantly aimed his attention back toward Derek. "Do you want me to live with you?"

"Yes," Derek responded, feeling a bit bad that the boy was skeptical of his part in the plan. "Emily and I would like that, if you want."

He wore a somewhat apprehensive look at first, but his anxiety noticeably dissipated. "Okay," Zach agreed with a shy smile.

Derek placed one hand against Emily's, a show of mutual support. "Good," they spoke the word together, nervous and excited at the same time. Both of them knew their lives had just taken another drastic turn. They hoped it would be the right path for Zach and themselves.

The End