Savior
Chapter 51
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"Catie," the brunette jolted in her sleep. The makeshift bed she made out of the chair and a few pillows and blankets was tucked next to Derek's bed. Her feet rested on the bed as she stretched out in the chair.
Cate's feet hit the ground as she forced herself to wake up to his voice. She turned to him to see him still fast asleep. Cate ran a hand over her face, wiping the sleep from her eyes.
A glance at the clock showed 8:35. Cate released a deep sigh as she shifted herself into a seated position and organized the blankets and pillows. She slowly stood from her seat to tuck the bedding on the counter space.
She released a yawn as she stretched her arms over her head and slid on her flip flops. Cate offered a smile to the nurses walking in the hallway as she continued stretching, trying her best to wake up after only four hours of sleep.
"Hey pretty girl," she turned quickly towards the voice. She offered a sleepy smile, "How'd you sleep?"
Cate shrugged as she started to walk to his bed. "As well as to be expected."
Derek frowned as he adjusted the pillow behind his shoulder. "I'm sorry. You should have gone back to the hotel."
The brunette pursed her lips into a soft smile. "I wasn't leaving you."
He nodded and sighed. "Thank you."
Her smile grew. "Always, my love."
Derek patted a spot on the bed next to him. Cate sat next to him on the bed as he took her hand in his. His fingers moved up her hand to play with the blue wristband she wore, labeling her Derek's 'Partner in Care.' Again, he sighed. "Did I tell you about the dream I had in the OR?"
She shook her head. She fought the laugh in her throat at how it sounded coming from Derek.
"It was so surreal," he continued.
Cate lifted an eyebrow. "That always sounds interesting."
"We were married," he began, a bright smile taking over his face. "You found us an amazing house." Cate grinned as her blue eyes locked on his brown. "Two babies ran through the back yard."
Cate's breath caught in her throat.
Derek sighed as he continued. "They were beautiful, Catie." He squeezed her hand. "Everything was just so," he winked at her, "perfect."
She nodded as she attempted to swallow the lump growing in her throat. She noticed her palms starting to get sweaty and the room became warmer. In just a tank top and yoga pants, she was thankful her hair was off of her neck as she could feel the sweat begin to form on her brow.
The black man noticed her become oddly quiet as her hands started to tremble. "What is it, baby?"
Cate shook her head as she stood from the bed. She ran her hands across the thighs of her pants as she started towards the door. "I need a minute," she offered.
He sighed. "What's going on, Cate?"
She feigned a smile as she reached for her wallet in her duffle bag. "I am in severe need of a coffee."
Cate turned to walk out of the room. She watched Derek from the corner of her eye as she stepped through the open doorway; he ran his hand over his head and sighed.
The brunette mentioned to one of the nurses in the hallway that she was headed to the main floor for coffee. Cate slid through the double doors and started towards the elevator. She stopped in her tracks as she watched Derek's team step off of the elevator. She quickly applied a smile to her face as they walked towards her.
"Good morning," she offered.
"Cate, hey," JJ replied. "I texted you but didn't hear back."
Cate shrugged. "I'm sorry. My phone's been on the charger on silent. I haven't even checked it yet."
JJ nodded and watched Cate's face. She turned to the rest of the team and smiled. "I'm going to treat Cate to a coffee. You guys head in. We'll be back up in a bit."
"You've already had a coffee," Reid began. Jennifer lifted an eyebrow in his direction. "But you need a second. Gotcha."
The blonde nodded as she placed a hand to Cate's back. The two women stepped back into the elevator. "You should go see him before the plane leaves," Cate began.
JJ watched her eyes dart around the elevator. She shrugged. "I wanted to join you for coffee," she stated. "I figured you could use some company."
Cate smiled as the elevator doors opened. After placing their orders at the Starbucks in the lobby, Cate took a seat on the couch in the entrance way as JJ waited for their order. She released her hair from the ponytail it was in and sighed as she ran her fingers through her hair.
JJ walked to her minutes later with two coffees in hand and took a seat next to her. "How was he last night?" the blonde asked as Cate took a sip.
She sighed as the warm liquid ran down her throat. "Besides me not getting any sleep?" she asked with a laugh. "He was fine all night. Well, morning, I guess."
Cate muffled a yawn with her hand as she stretched her legs out in front of her. "Are you okay?"
The brunette chuckled. "I hate profilers."
JJ smiled softly. "Sorry," she replied. "You just seemed like you were in a rush to get out of there. What's going on?"
"It's a lot, Jayje," she said with a sigh.
She nodded. "It's been an intense twelve hours," she agreed.
Cate nodded as she sipped her coffee. "He told me what he dreamt about in the operating room."
JJ let out a soft whistle. "Good or bad?"
The brunette laughed. "Good. But scary."
"How so?"
"He saw us married," she began and licked her lips. "With kids."
JJ opened her mouth to reply, and quickly shut it. "What did you say?"
Cate shook her head. "Nothing." She sighed. "He probably thinks I'm an asshole." She pinched the bridge of her nose and rested her head against the wall. "I said absolutely nothing. I freaked."
"Why would you freak?"
"What if I can't have kids?" The question came out harsh but JJ just nodded. "I don't want him to have his heart set on the family he thinks he saw while he was under the knife."
"Cate," the blonde began.
She shook her head. "I almost died in the OR in DC," she reminded the blonde. "And in saving my life, they had to do a lot of work to keep me from bleeding out. It left a potential of a kids, but nothing is guaranteed."
Cate placed her coffee cup to her lips again. "Cate," she began again and sighed. "Derek wants you. I know he'd be thrilled to have a baby, but that's not the only thing that matters to him. You matter to him."
Cate wiped at the tear in the corner of her eye and took a deep breath. "I hope so," she replied softly.
JJ gave her knee a squeeze. "Take my word for it, Cate. You are the best thing that could have ever happened to him."
The brunette offered the blonde a smile as she stood from the couch. "Let's head up?"
JJ nodded as she followed her to the elevator. "Rossi brought Derek's bag with him so that's one less trip for you to make."
"Thanks, Jayje." The blonde nodded. "And for the chat. I really appreciate it."
"Anytime, Cate." The elevator doors opened on Derek's floor. "It's what friends do for each other. And that guy in there," she motioned to Derek's room as they got buzzed in, "is like my brother."
Cate let out a deep breath as the two turned into Derek's room. The brunette took her spot back on the side of Derek's bed next to him. He offered her a quick smile as he wrapped his good arm around her.
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