Savior

Chapter 53

-xx-

Cate released a sigh as she pulled into her parking space under their apartment building. She threw her head back against the headrest and closed her eyes for a moment. "If you keep that up, you'll be sleeping out here tonight," Derek warned jokingly.

"That doesn't sound horrible in comparison to having to walk upstairs." Due to Derek's seniority in the apartment complex, he was lucky enough to snag two front row parking spots. Cate looked towards the entranceway that led to the elevator and groaned. Her legs were aching from ten plus hours on the road.

"I'll carry you," Derek said with a laugh. "I can throw you over my good shoulder."

Cate's laughter brought a smile to Derek's face. "I think your doctor would frown upon that."

Derek shrugged. "To hell with them," he answered as he opened the passenger door and stepped out of the car.

Derek stepped into the parking spot where his SUV was normally parked and stretched. Cate's SUV was still parked at her sister's house and Derek's was in the parking lot at Quantico. He opened Cate's door and offered her his hand to help her out of the car.

"I hate little cars," she mumbled as she stood from her seat. Derek laughed as her back cracked when she stretched out. She grabbed the key, her cell phone and her wallet from the front seat before stepping to the back of the car to retrieve their bags. As soon as she opened the back, Derek grabbed both bags from her.

Cate smirked and rolled her eyes before closing the door and locking the car. The two stepped inside and Cate pushed open the door that led to the stairs. "So much for not wanting to walk," Derek said with a chuckle.

She shrugged. "It's one floor. That small elevator is useless."

Derek shook his head and smiled. With first floor and row parking, Derek never saw a point to the parking lot elevator. She was right; it was usually quicker to go up the one flight of stairs to the main entrance of the apartment complex rather than wait. Though he could argue that no one would be using it at 1am.

He grinned as he followed her up the flight of stairs. Derek took his time going up the stairs as he watched her start up them; her yoga pants fit just perfect for the movement. After the past two days, he wasn't going to give up that view so quickly. He always found Cate attractive, but the care she delivered over two days showed her true colors. She was more than just a pretty face.

As they reached the lobby, Cate heard her name called from the front desk. She waved to the man behind the desk. "Carl, hi," she offered as she stepped towards the desk.

"Miss Cate, a package came in for you. I knew you were away and I hadn't seen Derek," he stopped as he saw the black man start towards the elevator. The sling on his arm gave away his injury. "Is he okay?"

Cate smiled. "He'll be fine," she replied tiredly. "It's the downside of his line of work."

Carl nodded with a laugh. "I see. Well, this is for you," he said as he handed her the package.

In her tired state, Cate glanced down at it and shrugged. Derek would be the first to attest to her online shopping habits and her inability to remember what she ordered. "Thank you," she said as she turned to follow Derek's path.

-xx-

Derek readjusted the two duffle bags in his right hand as he waited for the elevator. With his good hand being tied up with the two bags, he shrugged the best he could to make the sling comfortable. This thing is going in the trash, he thought to himself. He turned back to look for Cate and noticed she was in conversation with Carl.

Derek smirked as he saw the box in her hand. Her desire to move into the apartment led her to donating a lot of her closet. She claimed most of it she didn't wear anymore, didn't fit, etc, and that she could always start over. The woman had at least two packages arrive at the complex every week. He grinned at the thought of her growing shoe collection.

The doors to the elevator opened and Derek stepped forward. He was stopped by Savannah stepping out of the car. "Derek," she began as she looked up from her cell phone. "What happened?" she asked, pointing to his sling.

He smirked. "I'm good," he replied. She was blocking him from the open elevator car and he watched as the doors closed. "I was hit during a shootout."

Savannah gasped and instinctively reached for the wound. She pulled her hand back when she saw Derek watching her every move. "I'm sorry," she offered. "I got called in for an emergency, but let me know if you need any help tomorrow. I can change the dressings for you if you need."

Cate turned the corner with her box and mail in hand. "Savannah," she started. "Crazy running into you at the hour? Are you off to work?"

The black woman looked back and forth between Cate and Derek as a frown grew on her face. She quickly replaced it with a polite smile. "I am. Three car pile up, so I'm off to the ER." She turned to Derek, "take care of yourself."

He nodded as she walked towards the elevator for the parking garage. Cate shrugged as she pressed the button for their elevator. The two stepped in; Cate juggled the box as she pressed the button for their floor.

"How do you know Savannah," Derek asked quietly from the corner of the elevator. He was using the railing to rest their bags on.

Cate shrugged. "I've only met her a few times around the building. We seem to ride the elevator together a lot." She noticed Derek tighten his jaw at her words. "Why? What's the matter?"

He shook his head, but could not shake the expression on his face. "It's a long story," he said as he relaxed his face. "We'll talk about it tomorrow."

Cate nodded as the doors opened. She stepped out into the hall and started towards their apartment. She would admit she wasn't in the state of mind to have what seemed to be a deep conversation.

The past forty-eight hours had been trying enough, she wasn't sure she could work through anything else at that moment. Her mind was already on overdrive due to lack of sleep and the need to stay awake on the drive home.

She unlocked their apartment door, slipped in and waited for Derek to walk through before closing the door and locking it behind him. She tossed the mail and the box on the dining table.

Cate watched Derek place their bags down on the couch and sigh as he stood back up. "Take your meds, please," Cate called from the kitchen. She grabbed two bottles of water from the fridge before meeting him in the living room. She handed one bottle to him and stood on her tip toes to kiss him softly. "I'm going to bed. I love you."

Derek smiled. "I love you, too, Catie," he replied as he kissed her forehead.

-xx-