Savior

Chapter 71

-xx-

"Cate," Derek sighed as he dropped to his knees next to the brunette. He put a hand to her cheek and slowly turned her head towards him. "Baby, I'm here."

She tried her best to crack one eye open, and it took everything in her power to not let her head slump back down. "D," she muttered softly before releasing another moan.

"I've got you, babe," he said as he placed a soft kiss to her forehead. The action caused her to wince. He situated himself on the ground so he could grab his cell phone to call Emily. "I've got her, Em," he mumbled into the phone. "Back door of the bar."

He disconnected the phone as he could hear Emily running down the alley way. "Oh god," Emily stammered as she turned the corner to see Derek cradling Cate. "I'm calling a bus, Derek."

He nodded before returning his complete attention to the brunette in his arms. "Hang on, baby," he whispered softly in her ear. Derek felt her go limp against his chest. "I'm right here, Catie. You just need to hold on for me."

Emily bit her lip as she disconnected with the dispatch. "They're on their way. What can I do, Derek?"

He shrugged; when he turned to Emily she noticed his eyes were brimming with tears. In all of the time she had known him, with all of the cases they had experienced together, she had never seen Derek overcome with emotion like this. "Where's Jade?" he asked softly.

The two noticed Cate slowly perk up at the name. She attempted to lift her head from Derek's chest. "She," Cate began, but found herself fumbling with the words.

"She's with an agent out front, Derek. Don't worry about her right now." Emily pulled her cell phone out and turned on her flashlight to help the EMTs find their way when they arrived.

Derek found himself counting Cate's breaths, relishing the fact that she was in his arms. Even with all the harm he was in while in the field, he had never been as scared as he had been this evening. The one thing he loved more than anything else in the world was cradled in his arms.

When Derek and Emily could see the flashing red lights round the corner, Derek released a deep breath.

-xx-

Emily looked up from her spot on the couch to watch Derek pace back and forth in the waiting room. Penelope had stopped by after Prentiss called her to let her know they found Cate; she was currently in the cafeteria getting coffee for them.

"Derek," he turned to the front doors of the ER waiting room and let out a deep breath as JJ stepped through. She pulled her best friend into a tight hug. "What happened?"

"Hanson," he said softly. "He will get his, Jayje."

The blonde nodded. "How's Cate?" She purposefully used her name to bring him back to the moment. "What did the doctor say?"

He shrugged. "The nurse came out a few minutes ago," he stopped mid-sentence. "She was drugged."

JJ covered her mouth as her jaw dropped. "Derek," she began, but found herself lost with how to word her thoughts. "Otherwise? Is she okay?"

"Cut to the back of her head, so they're thinking she may have a concussion," Emily added as she watched Derek slump into the closest chair. "And they're testing," she continued; she knew JJ would know what she was talking about without having to make Morgan hear the words.

He ran a hand over his head. "He will pay," he muttered.

JJ took a seat next to him and placed her hand on his arm. He looked up at her; his face wore a mix of emotions. "He's not the concern right now, Derek. You need to keep it together for Cate."

He nodded before throwing his head back against the cushioned chair. "Coffee," the three turned in the direction of the voice belonging to Penelope Garcia. "Ah, JJ, I thought you were going to Quantico."

"I thought I'd be better off coming here instead. Rossi, Hotch and Spencer are taking over from the office," she said quietly. JJ pursed her lips as she turned to her best friend.

Four sets of eyes lifted to the double doors leading in to the emergency department. Derek sighed as Savannah stepped through them. "Fuck," he muttered softly, barely loud enough for JJ to hear him. She patted his arm before retracting her hand.

The black woman stopped just outside of the doors. "Derek," she began.

He sighed and stood from his seat. Every step he took towards her was a struggle – what was waiting for him behind those doors? "How is she?" he asked. "Can I see her?"

Savannah nodded. "Of course," she replied as she used her badge to gain entry through the doors. Derek turned one last time to see his three co-workers sitting together on the couch; Penelope was doing her best to keep her emotions in check while Derek was in the room.

"So," Derek asked abruptly as the doors closed behind them. He shoved a hand in his pocket and sighed.

"The test came back negative."

Derek let out a deep breath at those five words. "And everything else?"

Savannah motioned towards the room Cate was in. "We're letting the drugs wear off before we initiate the testing for a concussion. Rohypnol starts to leave the system between eight to twelve hours after ingestion."

"Thank you," Derek replied gently as he stood in the doorway of Cate's room. Savannah offered a tight lipped smile before stepping towards another patient's room.

It was not the first time he had stepped foot inside a victim's hospital room; several times he was known to stay with them for as long as he could. But this was different.

It was Cate. It was his Catie.

He noticed the paper bag sitting on the chair in the corner of the room; he knew it was an evidence bag. Her ripped tank top and her favorite pair of jeans were now evidence. He could breathe a sigh of relief knowing that no one touched her.

Derek pulled a chair over to the bed; she was curled into a ball and he noticed the lights were dimmer than usual. He placed a hand gently to her cheek and ran his thumb over her busted lip. Derek closed his eyes, trying to let the anger building up in him subside; Cate needed him in a good place, and the rest of the team was putting together the pieces.

He watched her face, just praying for those beautiful blues to open up. He knew she needed to sleep off the drugs, but he needed to see her awake.

The black man took her hands in his. He sighed when he noticed her broken fingernails and bruises growing on her knuckles. She put up a hell of a fight, he thought to himself.

It wasn't until Derek wrapped both of her hands in his that he noticed something was missing.

Her engagement ring was no longer on her finger.

-xx-