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

Thank you all for your kind responses to the last part, I really wasn't expecting that. I'll do my best to get back to the London series' I've got going, but all I have to offer at the moment is a little more of the Derek/Emily as foster parents series...

Storm

By
N. J. Borba

A flash of lightning filled the room, causing shadows to dance across their bed.

Emily turned and snuggled against the warm body beside her. Her arm flopped over his side, fingertips gently massaging his muscled chest. "You asleep?" she whispered as another bright flicker of lightning illuminated his face. It was silent for a moment before a downpour started almost instantly. Emily listened to the rain as it fell, fat wet drops pelting the roof above them. "Derek, you can't be sleeping through this."

"I was trying," he groaned, stretching his arms and legs before curling into Emily. His lips brushed the top of her head. "What's up? Don't like thunder storms?"

She smiled. "Nah, it's not the storm. I've just missed you."

Derek was touched. He moved his body so he could better kiss her. Their lips met softly, lovingly. "I spent all day with you today. You sure everything's okay?" he pulled back to regard her. The room was mostly dark aside from the occasional lighting flash, but he thought she looked a little paler than usual. And there were slightly dark circles under her eyes. "The kids haven't been too much trouble for you, have they?"

"No, they've been real good actually," Emily conveyed. "They do tire me out a bit, but I figure if I can chase down and subdue UnSubs then I can handle a few rugrats. Of course I'm out of practice with the bad guys. Speaking of which, you didn't mention much about this last case you were on."

He sighed, resting his head against hers. "I don't want to talk about work. I miss out on so much around here by being away at work," Morgan lamented. "Being able to spend some time with you and Zach and Carly today was such a luxury. The way Carly's eating so well and eating closer to the table, she's made a ton of progress in a week. And I missed all of it. No wonder she hasn't warmed much to me."

"You better learn how to get over it," Emily replied.

"Excuse me?" he was a little taken aback by her somewhat insensitive response.

Biting her lip, Emily genuinely felt bad for her flip comment. "I didn't mean that to sound cruel. I hope you know that. I understand you want to be a good foster parent to Zach and Carly. You shouldn't worry, because you already are. But the way things have worked out is that I gave up the BAU and you didn't. One of us has to work and for the time being that's going to be you, which unfortunately means you're going to miss out on stuff."

"So I have to be happy with the time I do get to spend with them and you, and learn not to regret the time I miss out on," Derek sighed is resignation.

"You got it, bub," Emily quipped before she gave him a long, appreciative kiss. "You know I love you for being the bread winner of this partnership, right?"

"That the only reason you love me?" he asked.

"Um…" she pretender to think about it for a moment.

Derek grabbed her under the arms and flipped her onto her back, tickling her at first until their lips met again. Their union quickly transitioned from playful to erotic in a manner of seconds. Another lightning flash made their room feel like mid-day. This time a clap of thunder sounded just a few seconds later, shaking the house. Three more lightning and thunder duets occurred in swift succession. And the rain continued to pelt the earth as Emily and Derek tore at each other's clothing.

Lightning struck again, filling the room. This time Emily nearly jumped out of her skin, unfortunately not due to Derek's ministrations, but rather to the fact that Carly had appeared in their doorway. When the thunder boomed overhead, the little girl moved from the doorway to the edge of the bed. Emily reluctantly pushed Derek aside, but he came back for her, not even seeing the child. "Hey, grabby hands… kiddo alert," Emily finally said with a last push to his shoulder.

She thought she heard a muffled "damn" before his body recoiled.

"Hey, Carly," Emily straightened her sleep attire and smiled at the girl. "Did the storm wake you?"

Carly nodded and stayed put next to the bed.

"You wanna climb in here between us, mouse?" Emily offered.

The girl aimed her eyes past Emily. She watched Derek with the same mixture of curiosity and wariness. "Come here," Morgan said to Emily as he gently pulled her next to him. "She can sleep on the outside of the bed next to you," he offered.

Clearly okay with that plan, Carly scrambled up into the big bed. She seemed to shed all of her inhibitions as she buried herself beneath the covers and pressed in close beside Emily. With a few strokes of the girl's hair, Emily sensed that Carly had fallen asleep almost immediately. Derek spooned up behind her, his chin resting against her shoulder. "She's grown to trust you a great deal," he whispered in Emily's ear while watching the girl sleep.

"I hope she'll trust us both soon," Emily murmured sleepily. She couldn't remember falling asleep, but she was woken awhile later. Not by the summer thunder storm that was still ragging outside. But by the panicky cries of the little girl tucked under her arm. "Carly?" she called softly to the child. The way Carly shuddered but didn't reply told Emily that she was trapped in a bad dream. "Hey, mouse… wake up now, sweetie," Emily gently prodded.

"No, daddy…" Carly cried out. "Stop."

They were the first real words Emily had ever heard the girl speak, and they broke her heart. "Wake her up, Em," Derek spoke from behind her.

It was easy for Emily to detect the tremble of heartache in his voice as well. "Carly…"

"Stop it, daddy," the girl grew louder. "No hurt. No hurt!"

Emily hated to do it, but she resorted to physically shaking the girl to wake her up. And wake she did. Carly jolted, fists flying. Emily narrowly escaped a black eye as she gently clasped the girl's wrists. "It's okay, baby," she whispered. "You're okay now." Emily wasn't able to stop the tear that ran down her cheek as she cradled Carly in her arms. "I've got you, mouse," she continued to assure the child. "I've got you."

Derek kissed Emily's shoulder, doing his best not to jump up and hit the wall. Thankfully the thunder rolled on, allowing him to vicariously emit his anger with each loud crack of the storm. "She better?" he asked after a few quiet minutes had passed.

"A little," Emily whispered, still feeling the girl shake in her arms.

"That never happened before," Derek let out a shaky breath. He knew all too well what those nightmares were like.

"I'm guessing it's the storm," Emily placed a small reassuring kiss against Carly's cheek. She was grateful beyond words that the girl had grown comfortable enough with her to allow such closeness. It made her feel a little less helpless being able to calm and comfort the girl. "What if Carly's step-father used the cover of storms?"

Morgan frowned. "What do you mean?"

"To cover his really hard beatings and… and whatever else he did to her," Emily shuddered, but was warmed by Derek's body still pressed against hers. "What if he used the noise of a thunder storm to cover up the sounds of his abuse?"

His stomach tightened knowing it was possible, especially after what they'd just witnessed. "That was pretty horrible," Derek whispered against her neck. "But I think it might have helped her," he sighed, "To dream it and to wake from it knowing she was safe here with you."

"With us," Emily countered.

He nodded. "With us."

A loud crack sounded from across the room. But it wasn't from the thunder storm. Derek looked up to see their bedroom door slammed against the wall as Zach rushed full throttle toward the bed. "Hey, pal… slow down…"

"Derek, I need you!" the boy screeched.

"You have a bad dream, too?" Morgan sat up to greet the boy at the side of the bed.

"No, it's Clooney," Zach was nearly breathless as he reached Derek. "I think he's real sick," the boy gasped. "I'm not even sure if he's breathing. You have to come now," Zach tugged at his arm. "He's in my room, come on!"

Morgan was on his feet in an instant. He dashed out the door without a second thought.

Emily was left to comfort Carly, but not for long before Derek returned. "Zach's right," he wore a troubled look. "I can't find any kind of pulse on Clooney. There's, uh… an all-night vet clinic a few blocks from here. I think I should…"

"Take him," she insisted, hearing the sorrow beneath his tone.

"Pretty sure Zach will want to go with me," Derek said as he leaned down to kiss her. "I'll call you when I know something."

She nodded, watching him retreat as another low rumble of thunder boomed.

xxx

The digital clock glared at her as she lay there with Carly curled in her arms. Thankfully the girl had fallen asleep again. And the storm had all but died out. But it had been over two hours since Derek and Zach had left to take Clooney to the clinic, and there'd been no phone call. Emily was about to grab her cell off the nightstand when the bedroom door opened and Derek slipped inside. She watched him as he silently shed his wet shoes and sweatshirt.

Derek slid into bed and wrapped his arms about her waist.

"What happened?" she barely managed the whisper; already sure of what he was going to say.

"He didn't make it," Morgan confirmed. "Heart attack, massive," he did his best to keep his emotions in check. "He was dead long before we got him to the clinic," Derek concluded.

Her hand squeezed his. "I'm so sorry."

Even in the dark he could see the look of guilt flash in her eyes. Derek knew what she was feeling, the same as he was. Clooney had just been outside with them earlier in the day, basking in the sunshine. Neither of them had sensed anything wrong. "It was just his time, Em. I took him to the vet two weeks ago and, other than natural wear and tear, they gave him a good bill of health," Derek closed his eyes and pressed his forehead against her shoulder. "Zach is crushed, he really did love that old guy," his head shook sorrowfully.

"I should probably go check on him," Emily made a move to get up.

Morgan placed a firm but gentle hand against her shoulder, his other arm clutched slightly tighter about her waist. "Stay here with me, please," he insisted. "Zach fell asleep on the drive home. Cried his self to sleep. I carried him up to bed. Let him be for now. We should all get some sleep."

Emily nodded. "You okay?"

"I will be," Derek kissed her neck.

"Hell of a night," she breathed out, closed her eyes and tried to let sleep return.

"Understatement of the year, Em," he held her a little closer. "But no one ever promised this would be easy."

The End