Disclaimer: I own nothing.

So CeeCee333 sent me some photos of "The Company" and it made me wanna do a short little drabble. And honestly this should have happened 2 seasons ago.

"There's my hero."

Penelope's eyes were closed as she leaned her head against Derek's shoulder, her fingers still tracing patterns on the back of his neck. This was an emotional case for him, anyone could tell. But when Penelope looked at him, she saw more than just an emotional reaction to the case involving his cousin. She was probably the only one who could see what was going on beneath the surface for him. The weight of a million stones was wearing down his shoulders, dragging him down and sagging his usually straight back. She knew it just by hearing his voice on the phone. Before the case was even over, she got herself to the airport and on the first available flight.

They were completely still, silence covering the space around them like a blanket. Derek once told her she was his "God Give Solace" and that she should never stop talking to him. Words didn't seem necessary here. He needed quiet, so she was going to be here for him.

Moments passed, feeling like eons, before he shifted his position. Her eyes opened. She looked up at Derek again and smiled softly with compassion. "You wanna get going?" she asked, her voice soft and wispy. He still hadn't spoken. Looking down at her, his eyes were gentle and the expression on his face was exhausted. But through it all, there was a bright glimmer of…well, she couldn't quite tell what the glimmer was.

She laughed slightly. "You're awfully quiet," she commented, arching a brow. "What's on your —"

Penelope wasn't given the opportunity to finish. With one swoop, Derek's lips descended on hers. At first she was so taken back that she froze. His lips were coaxing hers to open, but she didn't know what to do. What was going on? Why was he kissing her? Derek didn't feel this way about her…did he?

But eventually the movement of his lips against hers pushed her doubts and questions from her mind. Once every trace of confusion was dissolved from her mind, her own lips responded and her hand rested against his cheek. They traded kisses back and forth, their tongues meeting seconds after she began responding to his lips. Her lungs were burning for air, but she couldn't get enough of him. She wanted nothing more than to drink him in and merge their bodies together.

The questions once racing through her mind when he first kissed her disappeared in a flash. They were stupid. Every meeting of their tongues or increased pressure of his kiss proved one thing: he loved her.

After several more kisses, their lips broke apart and Penelope gasped for air. Their foreheads were resting against one another and their eyes were locked onto one another's. Derek's onyx eyes were burning with a fierce desire for her, and she felt the same fire raging in her body right then. Her arms wrapped around his waist as he kissed her forehead.

"You're my hero," he whispered against her hair. "I love you."

She looked up and pecked his lips. "I know," she murmured, tracing the hairs of his goatee with a feather light touch. "I love you, too." Releasing his body, Penelope entwined their fingers and jerked her head in the direction of the door. "Let's go home, Baby."