Sixth story: Run Away This Time Without You

"I have news," she practically chirped out the words but her eyes held the truth. She was worried about his reaction.

She should have known that he'd smile through the pain.

"Oh, yeah, baby girl? What's that?"

"I'm getting married on June 15th. I know that the whole June bride thing is lame and so not me but Kevin likes the idea." She held up her hand. "I'm engaged, handsome."

He forced a huge smile. "That's fantastic news, baby girl. Congratulations. He's one lucky man." And then Derek turned and walked away.

He didn't looked back at her again. He put in his transfer papers a few days later, avoiding her as best as he could until he was finally on the plane for Chicago. He didn't say good bye to her.

Saying good bye to his baby girl was more than he could handle.

Besides she had a fiancee now. She made her choice and so he did the only thing he could do....he got the hell out of her way before she drove him to any deeper into a depression.

But it didn't work. He was even more empty after he left. He did his job but his heart was in pieces.

One day she left a message on his phone. It was cold. "Morgan, if you're not at my wedding then forget you ever knew me."

If only it was that simple.

XXXXXXXXXX

The months drug by and he was a mess. He worried that he was becoming a person he didn't even know anymore. He felt so hollow.

Every Sunday he went to his Mom's house for dinner. One Sunday when he pulled up his heart jumped into his throat. Penelope was sitting on the stairs of his mother's home.

Derek jumped out of his truck and ran up to her. "Baby girl! What....what are you doing here?"

She stood up. "Why?" she hissed, near tears.

"Why what, baby?" he asked, distracted. "Why are you at my Mom's? Did you know I'd be here today?"

"She talks to me. Something you've forgotten how to do."

He looked down, guiltily. "I wanted to...let you get on with your life without me getting in the way. I know you're happy with Lynch but...sweetheart....it wasn't as easy for me to be happy for you as it should have been."

"I just don't understand! You left without telling me anything! You walked out on the team and you did it like a coward. The Derek Morgan I love isn't a coward so why did you sneak out that way? Why won't you call anyone back? Why are you shutting me out? Why can't you be happy for me? Why are you this selfish?"

"Selfish?" he asked, in a hoarse and angry voice. "There's nothing selfish about what I did. You want to see selfish, baby girl? Here's selfish."

He grabbed her and kissed her, as she tried to speak at first and then just gave in to the kiss and wrapped her arms around his neck. She broke the kiss, he could have gone on all day, and jerked her head back, as her arms still looped his neck, "That's a hell of a lot less selfish than leaving me behind like...like..." she started to cry "you never loved me at all!"

"Penelope, I left because if I stayed I would have done this...messed up your relationship with the man you picked over me."

"All you had to do was say you wanted me. You completely shut me out of your life."

"You're engaged to marry another man, baby. You shut me out first."

"I called the wedding off, Derek. Because of you," she glared at him. "You left and I couldn't cope. Why would you leave like that? If you had to go....at least say good bye."

"Then I never would have been able to leave. Don't you know....I love you."

"I didn't know.....I thought I meant nothing to you because you left me that way. I came here to make you tell me when you stopped caring if I lived or died."

"Don't say that! You're my number one priority in life."

"I almost married another man," she murmured.

"I know, baby. I know....but its over now."

She hugged him and laid her head against his chest. "I'm still mad at you."

"I'm mad at you too but I'm not gonna run away again. Never again. I'll only run to you from now on."

"You better! If you ever pull a stunt like this again that's it! You will force me to go to drastic measures to get you back on track again....because I won't live without you, Derek. I miss you and it all feels ugly and wrong when you aren't with me."

That was exactly how he felt when they were separated. He gave her a quick kiss.

His mother came outside and said "I see you two finally made up. About time."

Derek smiled. "Mom! You were talking to Penelope behind my back. I should be mad at you for that."

His mother said "Of course I was talking to her. Talking to you was doing no good at all."

Penelope smiled and told Derek "You ought to listen to your mother when she gives you good advice....like to come home to me right away, handsome."

"I'll never need that advice again cause I'll never leave you again. I'm sorry, baby girl. I just didn't think I could handle watching you marry anyone else."

Penelope put on a pout. "I'm still mad, you jerk! But...I love you...so I'll be mad and still take you home with me when I go back....right?"

"Just as fast as I can pack up my truck and tell the job we'll be on the road."

Penelope asked "What if they won't let you transfer back?"

Derek answered "Then hell with that job. I love it but I won't be separated from you for another day. No way, baby girl. I got to have you in my arms every day from now on."

His mother said "I hope that means you're marrying her, son."

Derek just grinned and kissed Penelope's cheek. All the darkness was gone now because she was there to whisk it away.

THE END

Inspired by Fine Without You. The song is Straightjacket Feeling by The All-American Rejects. The mvid is by Pavlowsdog.