Savior

Chapter 15

-xx-

Cate danced around her kitchen with her cell phone hooked up to the Bluetooth speaker. Country echoed throughout her home as she carelessly paraded around in a simple black tank top and multicolored leggings.

Unbeknownst to her, Derek had slipped through the front door and was currently standing in the doorway watching his girlfriend with a smirk on his face. Her hair was tucked in a messy bun on the top of her head, and bopped back and forth with each movement.

When she turned away from the dinner on the stove to grab her glass of wine on the center island, she let out a soft scream when she saw Derek in the threshold. "How long have you been standing there?!" she asked, trying to catch her breath.

"Long enough to admire those leggings," he replied, the smile never leaving his face.

He took a few steps into the kitchen and placed his briefcase on a stool at the island. In seconds, he had his arms wrapped around the petite brunette, with his lips on hers.

"Something smells good" he mentioned as she squirmed out of his grasp to continue working on dinner. "I thought you couldn't cook?" he emphasized the last part of the question with air quotes.

Cate laughed. "I don't bake," she reminded him. "I can cook, but I don't like to cook for only myself." She reached onto the counter for her glass and took a sip of her wine. "My Yia Yia left quite a few recipes to my mom, and this is one of my favorites," she pointed in the direction of the stove. "It's a simple chicken and penne, but packed with flavor."

Her smile was infectious as she took off back to the stove. She turned the music down just enough to hear him if he spoke, but continued to dance around as she put the finishing touches on their meal. She placed two plates on the island and took a seat next to Derek as the two began to dig into the food. "This is delicious, Cate."

She beamed her thank you and continued eating. "I'm glad you like it. It's nice having someone to cook for, too."

"You're always full of surprises." The brunette laughed.

-xx-

Derek shuffled through his briefcase and haphazardly placed paperwork and folders on the island as his cell phone rang in the bag. He excused himself to the front porch to talk to Hotch on the phone regarding a possible case that came into his boss's office that afternoon.

Cate walked out of her office and headed into the kitchen for a refill of her wine. She placed her glass on the counter and walked to the refrigerator to grab the bottle.

The brunette poured herself a second glass and put the bottle back into the fridge. Before returning to her office, she noticed Derek's paperwork spread out of the island. She took it upon herself to straighten up the papers, but stopped when a name caught her eye. Hanson.

She checked over her shoulder to see if she could see Derek, but could hear him through the half open front door. Her curiosity got the best of her and she peeked into the folder quickly.

-xx-

"What the fuck is this?" The brunette stood with her hand on one hip and the folder in her other. He had just walked back into the living room from the front porch.

Derek slid his cell phone into his pocket and saw what folder his girlfriend had clasped in her hand. "Let me explain, Cate."

She laughed and shook her head. "Is it me or Cole that you're looking into?"

His shoulders sagged as he took a step towards her. "It's not what it looks like, Catie."

"What do you think it looks like?" she replied harshly.

Derek let out a sigh and ushered to the couch. "Can we sit and talk this out, please?"

He took a few steps and sat on the couch. Cate only turned on her heel watching him. "So what is it?"

Derek patted the seat next to him on the couch, but retracted his hand when she glared in his direction. "I'm overprotective," he admitted with a deep breath. She rolled her eyes and threw the folder in his direction, papers flying across the living room. "What would you do if your girlfriend told you that her ex was a creep and sent her flowers after they broke up?"

Cate's eyebrow rose at the question. "How do you know it was him?" Her shoulders sagged in resignation. "No, don't answer that," she said as the realization crossed her mind. "Is this what dating a Federal Agent entails?"

"No," he replied. He stood from the couch and cautiously took a step towards the brunette. "I overstepped my boundaries."

She cocked her head to the side and bit her lip, knowing full well the affect that had on the man in front of her. "Oh, you think?" she replied sarcastically.

"Catie," he said softly, "I'm sorry." He pinched the bridge of his nose. "I should not have looked into him," she gave him a sarcastic look, "but I can't stand back and let someone potentially hurt you." Cate averted her gaze from Derek. "This is all I know, baby. I know how to get rid of a threat." He cleared his suddenly dry throat. "A threat that could hurt something," he reached for her arm, "or some one that I love."

Cate licked her lips and slowly raised her eyes to meet Derek's. "I'm sorry," she mumbled.

Derek took one more step towards her and slid his hand down her arm to take her hand in his. "You have nothing to be sorry for." His other hand rested under her chin and slowly lifted her face to meet him. "I should have told you." He scoffed. "Hell, I probably shouldn't have had Garcia look into his record."

Again, her eyebrow rose. "You roped Penelope into doing this?"

He laughed. "I sure as hell can't."

She grinned. "Too busy busting down doors, huh?" Derek chuckled. "I do wish you had told me," she admitted.

"I agree," he replied. "I should have." Derek's hands slid down to her waist. "It's in my nature to keep the ladies in my life protected." Cate's eyebrow rose. "My mother and sisters," he assured her. "And most importantly, you."

The brunette could feel the blush rising in her cheeks. She bowed her head away from Derek for a moment, slightly embarrassed at her reaction to finding the file. She could not hold back the smile that crossed her lips when Derek kissed her forehead.

She uncrossed her arms and slid her fingers through his belt loops. "You mean too much to me, Cate." The sincerity in his voice made her heart race. "I'm not letting you go, and definitely not letting anything happen to you."

"So," she started, her voice cracking, "what do I do now? About Cole?"

Derek pursed his lips. "There's nothing we really can do right now." She sighed. "He technically hasn't done anything to you." Derek placed his hand to her cheek when he felt her take a sharp inhale of breath. "He won't do anything, either," he reinforced.

"I know you think I'm crazy," blue eyes turned to brown, "but my gut says he won't do anything." Cate licked her lips. "I see that his drinking is out of control, and that scares me. I won't deny that." She furrowed her eyebrows. "But he's not malicious, Derek," she admitted. "Honestly, I think he's jealous."

She fought to concentrate on the conversation at hand as the pad of his thumb rubbed circles on her cheek. "If he sends anything else here, I will find him, Cate," he warned, all the while not taking his eyes off of the woman in front of him.

She smirked. "Hopefully he took a hint the other night." Cate pulled tighter on his belt loop. "I have never been as happy as I am when I'm with you." Derek beamed at her admission.

-xx-