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Chapter 9: Bad Profiler

It hit Aaron hard as they were exiting the plane that Derek thought he was involved-involved with Ashley. Then Aaron's brain clicked and he realized his agent was desperately in love with Ashley. It wasn't merely anger that Aaron had seen when Derek remarked snidely at him; it was betrayal and a desperate anguish that could only signal his love for the woman he thought Aaron was involved with.

As long as the problem didn't seem to affect how Derek worked, Aaron was going to leave it until they returned to Quantico. Derek's hostility was barely being subdued and it didn't go unacknowledged by Aaron when Dave had a private word with Derek. While it didn't quite eliminate the aggression, it was less obvious, especially to the locals.

When they disembarked the plane having finished the case successfully, Aaron approached Derek. Derek was weary, but Aaron could sense the wall Derek threw up when Aaron came close to him.

"Morgan, Ashley and I aren't seeing each other," Aaron snapped before Derek could turn away. Derek shook his head and Aaron continued, "The only reason we even remotely see each other is because Jack and Sophia are close. She's a good mother and Jack has really taken a liking to Ashley and Sophia. He told me the other day that she reminds him of Haley because she gives mommy-hugs. I want my son to have a motherly figure. I know his Aunt Jessica tries to do that for him, but she fills the aunt role and she always will. It's not the same as a mother though and while Ashley will never replace Haley for Jack; she can be there for him like I can't. Morgan, you have to understand it is only for my son and her daughter that we spend time together."

Derek grunted in response, "Morgan, I can see you care for her deeply and I would never try to stand in your way that is not why we spend time together. It's nice to know another parent at Jack's school. It's beneficial that I also enjoy her company, but there are no romantic feelings between us; we are friends because of our children."

"I think she loves you."

Aaron let out a bark of a laugh that took Derek back, "I would be worried about your profiling skills if it wasn't for the fact that I know personal involvement can cause people to be irrational. Morgan, she cares about you; you're very important to her and Sophia. I would venture to say she loves you, even if she tries desperately to hide it and/or deny it."

"You must be a bad profiler too then, because you're totally off. She doesn't love me."

"Don't be so sure, but at least remember they need you. You're important in their lives."

Derek was taken aback by Aaron's statements. He knew he couldn't turn away from them but he wasn't sure if he could be involved when it hurt so much to see Ashley and not be allowed to love her. However, he had been craving to see Sophia's smile. He was going to try to make this better, even if that meant only being a family friend.

BREAK

"So, you're my babysitter for the next four hours," Ashley said glancing at Derek and offering him a homemade cookie.

"Babysitter," Derek scoffed.

"Captain America thinks I'm going to go nuclear and so one of you must always sit with me. Dr. Reid seemed to have the hardest time. He doesn't really get Chicago sarcasm, does he?"

Derek snorted again.

"What happened to you?" Ashley asked softly. "Never mind, you don't have to answer that. I just want to think about something other than that my kids are gone and I'm completely useless to that."

Derek's expression was unguarded for a minute before he sighed, "What makes you think anything happened to me?"

"Well, first of all you can't do a job like yours and not have something that made you want to do it," his eyebrow quirked at her. "Secondly, when Jerry's father clapped you on the shoulder and called you son you flinched ever so slightly and I probably wouldn't have noticed it except that I make it a point to watch people's body language when I meet them. I teach and I look for these sorts of things to try to protect my students. I've seen it before, the flinching; boys are pretty good at covering it up but they can't help their basic instincts. It usually only lasts a second, but I make it a point to look for that instinct and I saw it in you. Really, though, you don't have to tell me."

"I'm glad somebody is looking out for kids like me," he responded.

"Couldn't look out for my own kids though," she said her eyes turning glassy.

"This isn't your fault."

"I keep trying to tell myself that, but I can't help it. I'm their mother; I'm supposed to protect them from bad things even their father."

At that moment the doorbell rang and Ashley jumped. Standing at the door was Jerry and she bit her cheek. Derek came up behind her and walked past her to open the door. He pushed Jerry outside and Ashley could tell they were having a terse conversation, but it didn't stop Jerry from pushing past Derek and into the house.

"The bastards won't let me help," Jerry hissed in Ashley's face. Her eyes narrowed at him and she stalked back into the kitchen.

"You can't do anything about it, Jerry." Jerry glared at her, "Jerry, you're a suspect."

Jerry sputtered and then he yelled, "Why aren't you a suspect, you didn't even want them."

She turned on her heels and she slapped him hard across the face with a loud crack. His head whipped to the right and then she was shoving him.

"How dare you? How fucking dare you?" She shrieked and her eyes gleamed with rage. Derek wrapped his arms around her shoulders and pulled her away from Jerry.

"Maybe, you should leave," Derek suggested. Ashley had stopped struggling, but Derek wasn't sure if he should let her go just yet.

"No let him stay," Ashley countered, "So I can tell him what a piece of shit, he really is."

"Looking back, I have this to regret, that too often when I loved, I did not say so." -David Grayson

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