See Patch. See Patch Fic. Fic Patch, Fic!
Title: Reading
Rating: G
Summary: After the events of Profiler, Profiled, Derek pays Penelope a visit.
Feedback: Would cause me to dance. Probably not well, but dance, nonetheless.
Archive: Please do, just holla at me y'all!
Disclaimer: I just borrowed them, I promise I was careful and I put them back where I found them.
Warnings: No spoilers - for CM, anyway. There's some Harry Potter ones though, so if you've not read HBP yet, beware.
Author's Notes: Written for
2dozenowies, cross-posted liek whoa.
Knocking on her front door was the hardest part. He'd thought about calling, considered sending her a text message, but somehow it wouldn't have been enough. Derek needed to see Penelope.
"It's open!" she called. She was on the couch, a book in her lap, and a large mauve shawl around her shoulders. "Just one second. . . " she said, eyes racing down the page. "Nearly finished the chapter. . . done!" she looked up at him, and Derek knew a text message couldn't have helped him tonight. No phone call was a match for the kindness in her eyes.
"I didn't mean to interrupt you, Sweetness," he said. "You look pretty involved in that book."
She grinned and held it up, the tiny orange beads of her bracelet tinkling brightly. "Sixth Harry Potter book. The new one'll be released soon, so I'm reminding myself what happened in this one."
Derek sat on the other end of the couch. "You up to a good part?"
"Yeah, kinda. Harry just used the Felix Felicis to convince Slughorn to tell him what he told Voldemort about Horcruxes."
Derek couldn't help a smile. "Honey, I have no idea what you just said."
"It's a long story. Six volumes worth, in fact." She put the book down. "But like I said, I'm re-reading. I can put it down if you wanna talk. . . ?" She reached out and took his hand, squeezing gently.
Derek shook his head and stroked the back of her hand with his thumb. "Thanks baby, but I. . . I don't think I'd be great conversation right now." He looked up to meet her eyes. "I just need to be with you."
Penelope smiled and patted her lap. "Come here," she said softly. Derek stretched out across the couch and lay his head on her lap, sighing with relief. He closed his eyes and tried to breathe evenly, to think of nothing but her soft, warm hand gently stroking his back. His heartbeat slowed with the soothing motions; he could feel the heat of her palm through his t-shirt. Penelope had picked up her book again, and stopped rubbing his back only for the brief seconds it took to turn a page.
When Derek opened his eyes the sky outside was a dark indigo; the digital display on the VCR said 8:53. He'd fallen asleep. He heard a soft gasp and rolled onto his back to look up at Penelope. She was still reading the book, but her eyes were red and her cheeks were shining with tears.
"Baby," Derek said quietly, caressing her cheek with his fingertips. He sat up and moved so he could put an arm around her shoulders. "Hey, what's wrong?" he asked, his voice filled with concern.
Penelope wiped her eyes roughly and gave him a sheepish look. "It's nothing, just - " she gestured to the book. "Dumbledore just died."
Derek stifled a grin. "I thought you said you'd read it before?"
"I have. It still makes me sad though," she admitted, allowing Derek to plant a kiss on her temple. She took a steadying breath and placed the book firmly on the table. "Okay. That's enough Harry for tonight," she decided. She turned to face Derek. "What about you, are you okay?"
"Well, you know, I didn't read it, but -" Derek started to joke, and Penelope grabbed his hands again.
"I mean it," she said softly. "Are you sure you don't want to talk?"
She was asking, he knew, because she wanted to do what was right for him. But what was right for him just then was her.
"Can we just cuddle instead?" he asked, pulling her to his chest. He felt her nod as she snuggled against him. Another wave of relief washed over him as she replied.
"Yeah. That sounds perfect."