AN: Sorry that this took so long. I've been working on a few other things, but mostly it's the cardinal sin of writers – starting something without knowing how it's going to finish. So, I'm wandering along.
Derek knew that everyone thought that all he had to do was snap his fingers and Penelope would do what he wanted. They were wrong, it was exactly the opposite. He loved taking care of Penelope. All she had to do is mention a burned out light bulb or a leaky faucet and he and his toolbox were on their way. He considered it his duty to look out for his baby girl.
He wouldn't admit it to anyone, but he loved the time after she was shot. Even after she was safe from Battle, he continued to make her couch his best friend. He reveled in their pseudo domestic life, even calling "Honey, I'm home!" every time that he walked in the door. He loved cooking simple meals for her and even doing her grocery shopping. He was amused to no end when a cute girl at Safeway started to flirt, glanced at his cart and saw the tampons there, then turned and walked away.
He was nervous the first day that she went back to work. He carried her bag in, putting on a brave face and joking all the while. He wanted to turn around and take her home when he saw the look on her face at the mess in her office. He tried to act casual as he offered to clean up, but he didn't want her to be upset, and was ready to do whatever she needed to be happy. When she kicked him out of her office to take care of it herself, the feigned hurt wasn't all an act.
When the team had to go out that day, he was terrified. He usually called her at least once a day when they were on the road, but this trip he called her several times. It got so bad that their last phone call began with "Derek Morgan, if you call 'just to check in' one more time, I will give your personal cell number to that girl in the mail room that they almost had to fire for stalking Agent Anderson!" He laughed sheepishly and promised to be less overprotective. Or at least act like it.
He had seldom been so relieved when he could legitimately call her to tell her that they were coming home. And he was beyond pleased that she needed help with her chair, and yelled at her to make sure that she waited for him to take care of her. After all, that was his job.