- It's been a while. Figure I may try my hand at this again. –

Savior

Chapter 1

-xx-

As her blue eyes glanced across the bar, Catherine picked up on a familiar laugh.

Agent Morgan?

Her eyes darted throughout the dimly lit hole-in-the-wall until she spotted him. He was leaning against a barstool, delivering a joke to a woman who was most definitely a few drinks deep. She giggled when he delivered the punch line.

Cate stifled a laugh herself as the blonde on the stool lost her balance and slid off. Derek caught her effortlessly. Through laughs, the blonde excused herself to the restroom.

Derek sighed and rested his arm on the bar top.

He was about to get the bartender's attention when he spotted her. Derek knew she was familiar but couldn't pinpoint from where.

In his line of work, he had met so many people that it was tough to keep track.

But there was something about her. And by the way she averted his gaze he knew they had met before.

Cate busied herself with the drink in her hand. She swirled the straw around the melting ice and hoped to God that he didn't see her.

Her breath caught in her throat as the goose bumps rose on her arms. She could feel him standing behind her.

Swallowing the lump that had formed in her throat, she tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. She peeked over her shoulder and saw Derek make his way towards her.

Catherine turned herself around just as Derek approached her. "Agent Morgan," she greeted.

"My apologies if I can't remember your name," he replied.

She smirked. "Catherine Johnson," she offered, and extended her hand. Derek took her delicate hand in both of his. "We met about two years ago."

Morgan nodded. "We did," he agreed.

He watched a cloudy expression take over her features, when it finally came to mind. Her eyes became a steely gray, and her hand gripped the glass a little tighter.

She could have sworn her scar was burning at the mere thought of it.

-xx-

It won't ever happen to me. Damn, was she wrong. Her mother had called her every morning with the news reports. Three real-estate agents had been slain at their showings.

Multiple knife wounds led to blood loss. One suspect was on the loose. The FBI was on the case.

Her senses heightened as the last couple walked out of the two bedroom condo she had been showing today. The words of her mother rang in her ear as she remembered there was a single man walking around the home.

She had turned to blow out the candle that was placed on the kitchen island when she heard the front door close and lock.

Catherine glanced around the bare kitchen. There was nothing here to help her in the event she needed it.

It all flew by in what felt like moments. This predator was in the condo with her, inching closer and closer to her. She could see the knife in his hand, and sobbed when he stroked her cheek with it.

As his hands felt up under her blouse, the door flew open, seeming to have been kicked in. An arm wrapped around her neck and the cold blade was placed against her back.

Four agents swarmed into the building, guns aimed at the man behind her. She could feel blood begin to trickle down her back as he would jab the knife every time he yelled back at the agents.

Cate had lost track of what was being shouted around her. The one time she looked up, she caught the gaze of a darker skinned agent. He was asking Dennis Stone to put down the knife and "release the woman."

Tears continued to rush down her cheeks, but she kept her eyes locked on his. "I will kill her," she heard from behind her. Swallowing the lump in her throat, she pursed her lips together.

Blue eyes locked on dark brown, "And I will kill you," the agent replied.

Her knees buckled when the knife entered her body. As she collapsed to the ground – a beautiful tile job that she had boasted about just an hour before – she watched bullets hit the man who had been holding her.

A blonde woman donning an FBI vest rushed to the offender's side and checked his pulse. "He's gone," she said.

Cate slowly turned her head to stare at the ceiling. The same agent she had locked eyes with was kneeling next to her; his hands were clasped over her wound. "Stay with me, Catherine. I need you to keep your eyes open."

The softness in his voice brought her back. "I can't," she mumbled.

She caught his eyes once more, as tears trailed down her cheeks to the cold tile beneath her. "Where's the medic?" he yelled as her eyes closed.

-xx-

She watched Derek hand money to the bartender for their two drinks. The pair walked away from the bar to an open table in the back.

Cate focused on squeezing the lime into her drink as Derek glanced her way. "So, Miss Johnson, how have you been?"

She smirked, "as well as can be expected, I guess." Her reply brought a soft expression to Derek's face. "Some days are easy, some are hell. I think that's to be expected."

"I apologize that I did not check in with you after the debriefing," Derek offered.

Cate shook her head, "No need. We need more people like you out saving the world." The compliment brought a shy smile to his face.

It wasn't a buzz of alcohol that she was feeling, but there was something about the man sitting across from her. There were butterflies in her stomach, and she fought to keep her composure, all while feeling so at ease next to him.

He was a real life superhero.

"What brought you here tonight, Catherine?" he asked as he took a sip of his beer.

She shrugged. "I needed to get out," Cate scanned the floor. "Somewhere where no one knows me. So I can at least pretend to be normal."

The brunette placed her straw to her lips and took a sip. Derek watched her every move.

There was something about this woman. Why were they brought back together? He fought to forget her name when the case was over. He was not supposed to keep in touch with victims, but there was something keeping him interested.

When she walked out of the bureau office after the debriefing, he knew he wouldn't see her again. And it was probably for the best.

But here he was, sitting across from the brunette with the most amazing eyes he had ever seen. Her hair was much longer than it was two years ago. Derek could have sworn it was a different shade of brown now too.

She was sparse of any jewelry, with the exception of one bracelet adorning her left wrist. "I Love You" in multicolored beads, with a heart attached to it.

He fought to remember her file. No children. Maybe he had missed the chance by letting her walk out of the office.

Cate noticed his eyes on her wrist. "Ah, my niece made this for me," she smiled. "She's 6. My princess."

He smiled at how her face lit up. "It's cute," he replied.

"She's been my motivation for the past two years," again her eyes went steely. He could see her bite the inside of her lip as she decided how to go into detail. "The countless surgeries and blood transfusions have not been easy. But seeing Madison – that makes everything so worth it."

Derek fought with himself after he left her hospital room for the first time. Why could they have not pinned down where Dennis Stone would be going that day? Catherine would have never been hurt.

But he never would have known her.

It was such a terrible situation that brought the two into each other's lives. Derek knew he wasn't going to screw up this second chance. She walked into this bar tonight for a reason.

Maybe the reason was to have Derek walk away from the blonde at the bar. Or maybe there was something better out there for him.

-xx-