Holding on to Forever

Disclaimer: I own nothing but the ideas

I cannot apologise enough but it's been a rough start the year for my Dad and I was just getting to the point where I could catch up with myself when we hit the first anniversary of losing my Mum. I'm not making any promises but I'm grateful for your patience.

As always I'm happy to have feedback on improvements I can make, especially any technical/medical differences between UK and USA.

This chapter skips forward a few weeks from the last one, its intentional but thought I'd note it incase anyone thought I'd missed a chapter or something.

. . .

Derek made himself comfortable as soon as he sat down. The flight home was not anywhere near as comfy as the BAU jet, even with business class flights. There was no way he could fly standard unless there was no choice now-a-days. It was the one thing he splashed out on. Through he wondered if he might have to reconsider now he was going to be flying home more frequently. Inwardly he groaned at the thought of the squashed up seats, nope he would find a way to remain in business class.

As he settled down, headphones ready, book out, Derek began to realise just how tired he was. The cases had been back to back the last couple of weeks. They had barely touched down before they were back in the air. In fact he had bought his go bag with him, ready to do some washing at his Mom's, as he had such a limited supply of clean clothes left. He smiled as he remembered how Garcia had agreed to head to his and get some stuff done while he was away. Giggling as she had let slip a selection of innuendo regarding finally getting her hands on his underwear. That woman sure made his day brighter.

He could do with her here now with him, not knowing how his Mom would be after the first round of chemo she had on Wednesday. Hotch had tired to send him home early off the last case as he had originally planned to fly out on the day but Derek couldn't leave the team at the point where they had seemed no further forward than the day they had arrived. Fortunately they had got a break later that day, unfortunately it was too late for them to save the young couple abducted by the unsub. They had to suffice with knowing that had stopped anyone else from getting hurt. The result had not sat easy with any of them, and the flight back to Quantico had been a solemn one.

Sarah had messaged him, saying that Mom seemed OK. Later Des had messaged to ask when he would be there as Sarah and Mom were arguing, again. Apparently it had started after her pre-chemo check the week before. Neither would tell Des what was going on, nor would they tell him when he'd rung. Rubbing his forehead in the hope to ward of the headache that threatened to take hold, Derek hoped whatever it was had passed over. Though he'd got the impression from his little sister that it wasn't the case.

Either way he decided that getting some sleep in the flight might be the best bet, so he tucked his book away once more, picked a playlist and closed his eyes.

. . .

Walking through arrivals he was pleased to see Des waiting for him, though he had expected Sarah who was the usual one to pick him up. As she turned towards him, Derek instantly registered the look on her face. It was moments like this he realised how unalike his chalk and cheese sisters were. Des wore her heart on her sleeve, while Sarah had a stoic look that once in place rarely slipped. Des tried to please everyone and keep the peace, where Sarah would tell it how it is regardless of who she offended. They may look similar but they tackled life on two seperate paths.

"What's up?" he said as he pulled his little sister into a hug.

"I'm glad your home," she murmured into his chest, "They won't tell me but they're hardly speaking. It's horrible."

Derek knew that she was referring to Sarah and their Mom. Obviously whatever was causing the arguments was still going.

"Other then that, how's Mom?" he asked.

Des pulled away and shrugged as she looked up at her big brother. "Ok I guess, she's still carrying on as if nothing happened. "She said the effects wouldn't be obvious immediately with the form she is having, but honestly you wouldn't know there was anything wrong with her. Other then she gets breathless if she takes the stairs up, but then so do I!"

"Well in that case you best get your butt to the gym Missy," Derek teased, "Mom can be forgiven but at your age you should be leaping up them two at a time."

Punching his arm, Des smiled "Alright tough guy, some of us have real jobs not jet set lifestyles with a basement gym open 24/7. The perks of the FBI."

Derek laughed, she made it sound so glamorous, he didn't have the heart to tell her what he'd been through in the last twenty four hours. That a good gym session would be amazing right now if he had the energy to lift more than his two feet off the ground. "It's a tough job, but somebody's gotta do it," he smirked, hiding the truth.

"It's alright D, I can't and don't want to image, what your job is like. Happy with my nine-to-five and weekends I can call my own. Besides did I tell you I've scored a promotion?"

As they walked to the car, they chatted casually, their minds off their warring sister and mother for a moment.

. . .

Derek heard the shouting before he opened the door, he would have stood and listened to try and gauge an idea of what it was about if Des hadn't of shot passed to find out what was going on.

"So this is what 'nothing' looks like is it? When are you going to let me know what the problem is? How about you tell Derek if you won't tell me!" she hollowered as she waded in between the two.

Derek stood in the room doorway and watched as both Sarah and his mother glared at each other before looking away.

"She's got a point," Derek finally voiced, once the atmosphere had become so stale it was hard to breath. "Either of you feel like filling us in just go for it."

"Baby," his Mom smiled as she stepped passed his sisters to hug him, "It's lovely to see you, but you can't be making this trip every few weeks."

"Mom! I'm not three and easily distracted by you changing the subject. I could hear you two outside, what on Earth is going on?" looking down at his mother he could see how tired she looked, and she seemed to have lost some weight, but that could have been his imagination, he didn't know for sure.

Fran closed her eyes and took a deep breath, "Your sister disagrees with the treatment I've chosen."

An audible huff came from Sarah's direction, but Derek shot her a glare that silenced any further comments.

"Sorry Mom, what choice in your treatment? I thought it was all decided."

"Go and sit down and I'll make a pot of coffee and we can try to discuss this like adults," everyone noticed the look Fran gave Sarah.

The three children took a seat as Fran disappeared off to the kitchen.