When you cried, I'd wipe away all of your tears
When you'd scream, I'd fight away all of your fears
And I held your hand through all of these years
But you still have all of me

My Immortal – Evanessence

He always sought out Solace in her, he needed her, especially when the cases were exceptionally hard. He hated seeing kids hurt. It had always made his old wounds hurt, brought back old memories and feelings that were better off buried.

She never judged him, not once. He would show up on her doorstep, middle of the night and she would invite him in and ask no questions. She would just wipe away the tears he was crying, tell him things would be alright and lull him to sleep. When he would scream in his sleep and wake up, she would fight away his fears and sit with him until he could sleep again. This had been going on for years.

Once Kevin Lynch came into the picture, he felt guilty asking that much of her, she was the one in a relationship, even though she assured him if he needed her, all he had to do was call. He tried to handle it on his own, but she could tell when he wasn't sleeping and call him on it and chastize him for not calling her.

She had held his hand through the hard times for so long, without it, it just seemed unnatural. When he didn't need her, she felt unwanted, even with Kevin in her life, it was never about him, it had always been about Derek, he would always have her, whenever he needed her.

Derek looked down at his phone, he had it opened it and her number dialled, he wanted to call, but didn't want to bother her either, he was torn. The last case was still playing on his mind and he knew that many a number of sleepless nights without question. He gave in and pushed the call button.

"Hey handsome, what's up?" He sweet voice chimed into the phone.

"Are you busy, babygirl?" He asked.

"Never too busy for you, what do you need?"

"I can't sleep." He admitted.

"Give me 20 and I will be over."

"Thanks." And he hung up, he felt guilty because Lynch was probably there, he wondered if he should call her back and tell her to never mind, it was a Saturday night after all. By the time he had made the decision, there was a knock at his door,

He answered it and let her in. "Have you slept at all since you got back?" She asked.

He shook his head and she took his hand and led him to his bedroom, something she had done countless times before. She pulled down the sheets and tucked him in and crawled in behind him and held him tight.

"It's ok, baby, I'll chase away the badness, just go to sleep, sugar." she said, slightly rocking him to sleep. She soon drifted off too.

In the morning they awoke in the opposite position that they went to sleep. They were facing each other. He opened his eyes to watch her sleep. Why was he such a coward? Why couldn't he admit his feelings? He was so scared to put himself out there, to be hurt more than he already had been hurt, but he knew she was the only one who would ever understand him.