Chapter 12

AN: Thanks for the reviews, folks. Working our way towards HEA... but first, a few catalysts besides Emily and her big mouth...

Penelope was sitting in her apartment, waiting for the phone to ring. In particular, waiting for the words Morgan, Derek to flash on her caller ID. He always called her when he arrived back home from a case because he knew she worried about him. He was the bodyguard of their relationship, the muscle of the operation, but she was still a protector in her own right, too.

Derek had called Thursday morning, then she heard again from Reid in the afternoon. The case took a horrible turn. There were more bodies found in the area they first went to. What looked like a cut and dry, be home in ten hours, sort of case changed to a never-ending one. Finally, late Friday, around midnight, she got a call from Hotch to do some research on a sleazeball suspect they already had in custody.

It was Saturday, three in the afternoon. She knew they had made the arrests and were wrapping up. She just needed to hear-

Her phone rang and she dashed to answer it. "Hello?"

"Hey, baby."

She let out the breath she didn't even realize she was holding. "Derek... how are you doing?"

"I'm okay." She heard him chuckle softly on the other line. "That was a lie, and I don't ever lie to you, baby. I'm barely standing, I'm so damn tired."

"You should be. It was a horrible case."

"Yeah," he muttered, his voice low and gravelly from too much use. "It was tough on all of us."

"Poor baby," she murmured. "Want some soup and sandwiches, then I'll tuck you in?"

"No soup and sandwiches; too tired to eat," he said, and she heard the sound of a car door shutting.

"Where are you right now, Hot Stuff?" she questioned.

"Agent Graves just gave me a ride home. He was at headquarters when we landed. Took me and Rossi home. Damn Rossi; he snored in the car the entire way to my place." He laughed again, but sounded so tired. In fact, he yawned immediately afterward. "Sorry, sugar."

She sighed, her heart aching for him. "Angelfish, I should let you go, so you can get some sleep."

"You're right," he answered. "But I don't want you to go."

"Oh, Derek," she whispered, and again her heart panged. "You sound so tired."

"I really want to see you, P."

The sound of his voice, so soft and pleading, did her in. She knew the case was terrible, she knew he was exhausted, and she knew he just needed to sleep. But she didn't care. She wanted to see him, too, as badly as he sounded like he needed to see her.

"I'll be there soon."

When she arrived at Derek's house, his front door was unlocked. She took off her shoes and put them next to the door, and took her little overnight bag she had packed with her as she headed up the stairs. She didn't even bother blushing; she knew she was spending the night, and she was tired of heading home in day old panties!

Creeping her way up the stairs, she heard the sound of the shower running. She made her way into his room, tossed her bag on the chair in the corner, then knocked on the bathroom door and announced herself.

"Hot Stuff, I'm here."

"Come on in," he called.

She walked in and the warm steam and scent of Derek's soap wafted to her nostrils. She could see him, but barely, through the glass shower doors.

He slid the door open and popped his head out. "Come closer."

She did, and he leaned out just enough to kiss her, getting her a little wet in the process. She stepped back, and murmured, "Welcome home."

"That's my perfect kind of welcome." He grinned brightly at her, but the dark circles under his eyes took away some of that brilliance.

"Get out of there before you collapse," she said with a giggle.

He held his bar of soap out to her. "Wash my back?"

Shaking her head, she took it. He turned, and she washed the long expanse of his back, his broad shoulders. Slapping his cute, muscular butt, she said, "All done."

"Thanks, honey," he said, reaching for her again.

She dodged him and put the soap away. "Hurry, mister."

"Yes, ma'am," he said, as she shut the glass door again.

Penelope turned down the sheets on his bed, fluffed his pillow, and shut his curtains so it was dark in the room. She stripped out of her clothes and opened her bag, taking out a light pink, long satin nightgown she had packed. It took her the longest to decide on which nightgown to bring with. She didn't want Derek to think she was going to devour him, she wanted him to sleep, so she didn't pack her black lace babydoll she'd recently bought. She didn't want him to think she didn't care about what she looked like, so she didn't pack her tee shirt nighties she usually wore. Sliding on the form fitting, spaghetti strapped nightgown, she felt she made a good choice.

She undid her hair, letting it flow down her back and over her shoulders. She was finishing brushing it when Derek walked out of the shower. He was naked, which was no big surprise to her, except for the towel around his shoulders.

He stopped and looked at her, then let out a low whistle. "Damn, woman..."

She pointed to the bed sternly. "Derek, get in bed, and no funny business."

Tossing his towel aside, he repeated what he said in the shower, "Yes, ma'am."

Laying her brush back in her bag, she climbed in next to him, laying on his arm. A moment later, he wrapped his other arm around her, pulling her close. He ran his hand over the satin, laying on her hip, up to the curve of her breast, then back down. Then he yawned hugely, his eyes watering a bit with the effort.

She leaned up to kiss his lips, but lightly. "You know, I don't go to bed at four in the afternoon for just anyone."

"That's my girl," he murmured. She could feel his muscles relaxing, and his eyes grew even heavier lidded. A moment later, his breathing turned regular, and his eyes closed completely.

Snuggling in closer to his chest, she yawned herself. She hadn't slept the best while he was gone either. She gave him a kiss on the underside of his chin, and whispered, "Yep... your girl."

It was dark when Penelope opened her eyes. There was no other sound than Derek's even breathing and the warmth of his arm. The urgency to use the bathroom came full force; she slid out carefully from under his arm and headed towards the bathroom.

After washing her hands and taking a sip of water, she headed back towards the bed. It was half past nine; she should probably get up and make something for Derek to eat when he got up in the morning. She wasn't as sleep deprived as he was. Then she'd head back to bed at about midnight.

She noticed Derek had kicked off all the covers and was laying there, sprawled out on his back. The room was chilly and he was naked. She decided to pull at least the sheet up, since she wasn't there to warm him anymore.

Wandering over to his side of the bed, she bent to reach for the sheet...

Before she touched the fabric, Derek's long arm wrapped around her and pulled her into bed on top of him.

They made love.

A moment later, he looked down at her. His eyes were warm, tender. She looked up at him, her heart beating expectantly as he spoke.

"Thank you."

And the warm beating of her heart chilled, despite his scorching heat next to her.

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