Savior

Chapter 20

-xx-

Derek stood in the doorway watching Cate toss and turn in the bed. He mentally kicked himself for not remembering the date – the least he could have done was look it up at work.

She kept her composure so well at dinner with her family, but broke down when Derek cuddled her in bed when they got home. He rubbed her back as she cried herself to sleep, asking the one question that neither of them had the answer for, why me?

Derek struggled with that same question over the course of the night as he lay awake. The entire Dennis Stone case played over and over in his head. Three years ago at this time, they had finalized their profile, but prayed it was not going to be too late when they went door to door of all house showings the next day.

Their profile could only slim down their potential victim list so much. He had a specific type; white, brunette women, that looked like his ex-wife, and worked in the same field as her.

Cate's showing was the second stop for Derek, JJ and Rossi. Derek had kicked in the door when they spotted his truck parked around the corner from the condo.

Selfishly, he wondered what would have happened if they had arrived just a few minutes before. Would they have felt the universe pull them together had Cate never been hurt? Or would she thank him and his team for their work and slip out of his life.

His phone buzzed in his pocket and brought his back from his reverie. Derek pulled it out to check the text he had received. "Take the day. See you tomorrow. -Hotch"

Derek sighed; he was so grateful for having a very understanding boss in Aaron Hotchner. He sent an early morning text to him asking for a few hours this morning to be with Cate when she woke up.

As he took a few steps towards the bed, he noticed Cate had tucked herself further into the blankets. He heard soft sobbing as she buried her face into the pillow.

He placed his cell phone on the bedside table before climbing in bed next to his girlfriend. Derek slid under the blankets and wrapped his arms around her body. "Let me sleep," she whined from her blanket burrow.

The comfort she took from how perfectly his body lined hers was just what she needed. It was not overpowering, but just enough to let her know that he was there for her completely.

"Go to work," she sounded frustrated, "let me just sleep the day away."

"No," he replied as he kissed her shoulder. "You're stuck with me all day. If you want to stay in bed, we can do that. We can order takeout and watch Netflix until we fall back to sleep."

Cate rolled over in his embrace. "I just want to be left alone today."

Her eyes were red and puffy, and she seemed to wear a permanent frown. "That's not going to happen."

Derek placed his lips to hers. "I hate this day," she mumbled.

Cate closed her eyes again as he pulled her closer to him. She had never felt safer than she did right that second. "All I want you to see from now on is our future. This day showed you how strong you are, but there is more to you than this one day."

She shrugged, letting her shoulders sag into the mattress. "Sometimes I don't want to be so strong."

Derek pursed his lips. "You don't always have to be strong, baby." He rubbed his hand up and down her back as he kissed her forehead. "I'm here to pick up whatever pieces you need me to."

Cate nuzzled herself under Derek's chin as he held her tightly. "Let's stay in bed all day," she sighed in contentment as Derek readjusted to get comfortable next to her.

"Sounds like a plan," he replied.

Derek rested back on the mattress, while keeping an arm wrapped around Cate. She found herself focusing on his heartbeat. "Wait," she pushed up to look at the black man next to her. "Why aren't you at work?"

"I asked for the day off." He said it nonchalantly. "I wanted to be here for you." She pursed her lips into a tight smile. "The only issue is if we get called away for a case, and then I have to head off with the team."

Cate groaned. "Dear crazy serial killers, please take the day off. I need him home today," she called out into the room.

Derek laughed. "If only it was that easy," he replied.

She shrugged. "Put it out into the universe, and hope the universe listens."

-xx-

After binge watching their newest obsession on Netflix, Derek took off to pick up the take out Cate ordered for dinner. He was in awe as he watched the petite brunette on the couch tear into a box of chicken wings.

She kept telling him she was allowed to "cheat" on her diet for one day, to which he agreed to get her whatever she wanted.

He was caught up watching her lick the barbecue sauce from her fingers and didn't realize she was watching him. "See something you like?" she quipped.

"You are something else, Catie," he replied, earning a cheeky grin from his girlfriend. Derek did everything in his power to keep Cate's mind off of the anniversary of her attack, and for the most part, after a nap, she seemed in much better spirits than the night before.

As he was on his way to pick up food, he called her sister for advice. She reminisced about the first anniversary, when she arrived at Cate's condo with a bottle of wine to help her younger sister relax. They then had to call their sister-in-law to bring over more wine when the first bottle was emptied within an hour. "I suggest keeping her away from booze today," Jackie warned. "She was in bed at 4pm."

Cate could only grin as she watched Derek sit on the floor eating his dinner. She wasn't sure how she got lucky enough to have a man like him in her life, but she knew she wasn't letting him go. He took the day off of work to be there for her, and truly gave her a new perspective on their future.

She was bare of any make up and her hair sat in a messy bun on the top of her head, but Derek thought she was the most beautiful woman in the world.

Her words from earlier in the day hit him hard, but he wanted to prove that he would always hold her up when she needed to lean on him. It wasn't fair to expect her to be so strong every day after every thing she had experienced in three years. Her mental scars were worse than her physical, but he was going to try his best to get her through it all.

"You know I love you, right?" she asked from the couch. The take out container sat empty on the arm of the couch, and she smiled in his direction.

His grin only matched hers. "I do," he replied. Derek rested back against the couch and watched her move from her seat to his lap. She rested her head on his chest and sighed contently.

Derek kissed the top of her head and rested his chin next to her bun. "Some one somewhere knew how much I needed you in my life," she mused as she danced her fingertips against his forearm.

"That goes both ways, baby," he commented before kissing her temple. Truth be told, Derek was happy to finally settle down with someone. Being a playboy can be fun, but having a woman to come home to every night was Derek's version of perfection.

-xx-

Holy moly – I have never made it to 20 chapters! Thank you all for tuning in for new chapters! Summer is coming, and with two young babes, it gets busy – but I will always find time to update! I love Cate and Derek, and can't wait to see their future unfold.

As always, reach out with any requests, concerns, etc. I LOVE hearing your thoughts on my story and value every single review you leave!

-A