Savior

Chapter 9

-xx-

"Girlfriend, huh?" Cate joked from the passenger seat.

Derek glanced at her while keeping an eye on the road. He had one hand on the steering wheel and the other between Cate's two hands. "What?"

She laughed, "No warning, that's how you introduce me?"

Derek scoffed. "Was I supposed to ask you first? Or say something different." The brunette rolled her eyes. "Hey guys, this is Cate, the woman I am head over heels for?" She giggled. "This is Cate, the most amazing woman I have ever laid my eyes on, who I'll do anything for."

Her nails raked over his hand and wrist. "Keep going," she goaded.

"Cate, the greatest thing that has ever happened to me." Derek tried his best to focus on the road in front of them and not the mere touch that was enough to drive him over the edge. "Catherine Johnson, the woman I hope to be lucky enough to spend the rest of my life with."

Her breath caught in her throat at his proclamation. "Derek," she started, but lost her words.

"I'm not lying, Cate." Derek pulled into the parking garage to his apartment building. After their shopping trip the day before, Cate had stopped to grab her truck on the way back to Derek's, just in case she needed to run out to meet clients. He parked next to her SUV.

The pair walked hand in hand into the apartment building. As they waited for the elevator, Derek wrapped her up in his arms.

"I don't know what you do to me, Catie, but I really like it."

She grinned. "No one has called me that since I was a kid." He smirked. "But I like when you say it."

He planted a soft kiss to her lips as the elevator bell dinged before the doors opened.

-xx-

Derek had provided Cate with her own key to his apartment and to the building in the event she wanted to crash there after work.

He had been out of the state at a Profiling Symposium with Emily for the past 48 hours, and Derek could not wait to get into his own bed. When he parked in the garage and saw Cate's white SUV parked in his second spot, he couldn't contain his smile.

She had mentioned a few errands she had to run before the Gala tomorrow evening, and then said she would be meeting her parents for dinner. Cate had never told him that she planned to stay at his place, though he wasn't complaining.

He placed his keys down on the table next to his front door, trying to make the least amount of noise that he could as he noticed all of the lights were off in the kitchen and living room. Derek started towards the bedroom, his go-bag thrown over his shoulder.

"No, get off of me!"

Derek became alarmed as he heard Cate call out from the bedroom.

"Don't touch me!"

He placed his duffle bag down in the hallway and took off towards the room.

"Please. Don't leave me," he could hear her cry.

Derek opened the door to the bedroom and saw Cate hunched over on the bed. He rushed to her, wrapped her up in his arms, checking her over for injuries.

"Don't touch me!" She wailed again, flailing her body out of Derek's grasp. The brunette curled up into the pillow, sobbing. "Don't."

It was only then that Derek noticed that she had broken out into a sweat, though the air conditioner was on in the bedroom. Her eyes seemed to be barely open, and tears were streaming down her face. "Baby," he started, reaching a hand to her shoulder.

Cate's body eased into the delicate touch as a whimper escaped her mouth. "Derek?" she mumbled, as she slowly moved her face away from the pillow.

"I'm here, baby." He helped the brunette sit up, and wrapped her in his arms. "I'm here," he repeated, brushing her hair from her sweaty face.

Cate slowly opened her eyes, noting that she was in Derek's bedroom instead of her own. She slowly leaned out of his grasp, her own body heat making his touch unbearable. "I'm sorry," she murmured. Her breathing was heavy as the sobbing began again.

She hunched herself over on the bed again, letting the tears continue down her face. "You have nothing to be sorry for," Derek started as he rubbed her back. His cool touch brought goose bumps to her skin.

She let out a few deep breaths, trying to fully wake herself up. Cate pushed her hair into a messy bun on the top of her head. "I hate this," she cried, as she dared to look at Derek. "I'm sorry," she repeated.

Derek kicked his boots off and laid on the bed next to her. "There is absolutely nothing you need to be sorry for." She relaxed into the rubbing motion he created on her back. "Is there any thing I can do for you?"

He understood that everyone handled their PTSD led nightmares differently, and he would absolutely not push her.

She shook her head. "You're everything I need." Cate curled against his body. She could feel the cold radiate off of him from the air conditioner. Even in a tank top and pajama shorts, she was overheating and a sweaty mess. "This is probably not what you wanted to come home to."

"You, in my bed, is exactly what I wanted to come home to." Derek placed a kiss to the back of her head and snuggled her closer.

The glimmer of a smile crossed her lips. "Hopefully future nights that I surprise you by being here won't be so exciting."

Cate stifled a yawn. "Let's get you back to sleep, baby," she rolled towards him. Derek placed a soft kiss to her lips. "You have a big day tomorrow."

The brunette nodded. Derek caressed her cheek, watching her closely. "I'm very happy you're home." The black man smiled.

"There is no place I'd rather be," he began, "than right here with you." Derek kissed her with a ferocity she had never felt before from him.

He would admit he was scared when he walked into the apartment and heard her yelling. He panicked upon seeing her in distress, caught up in her nightmares.

Cate had mentioned to him how bad her nightmares could be, but seeing it first hand tore him up. She was a remarkably strong woman, and seeing the one thing that could destroy her first hand broke his heart.

He felt a shiver take over her body as he pulled her closer to his body. She wrapped herself up in the blanket she had brought over to his place as a sense of security washed over her.

Derek was home, and she was where she felt the safest – in his arms. It was one night away from him, though she spent it in his bed, hoping her surroundings would keep her nightmares at bay.

As comfortable as she felt at the moment, she was equal parts embarrassed. Cate never wanted Derek to see her when her nightmares took over, but the way he stepped right in to care for her warmed her heart.

She remembered how busy her day would be later on. "I'm okay," she mumbled to Derek.

Derek grunted in agreement. "I'm still not going anywhere." She smiled through the darkness. "I can shower in the morning. I'm way too comfortable right now."

Cate giggled. "You're still dressed," she pointed out, her fingers finding the belt loop on his jeans.

He shrugged. "Not the first time I've slept fully dressed."

She rolled her eyes. "Too many layers on," she mused, her fingers finding the hem of his shirt. Even with the haze of the street lights, she couldn't fight the smile at the sight of the man in front of her. He was dressed in a Henley and dark jeans; simple for some, but just enough to make Cate swoon.

"You are too much, Catie," he replied, planting a soft kiss to her lips.

Derek stood from the bed to undress. Cate pushed herself onto the pillows and watched in the man in front of her. When he returned moments later in only sweatpants, she sighed in contentment.

He lay back on the bed next to the brunette and pulled her to his side. Cate lazily drew across his abs as his fingers ran through her hair. Derek looked down a few minutes later when her fingers stopped to see her fast asleep. "Goodnight, beautiful," he whispered before placing a kiss to her forehead.

-xx-