Derek Morgan

The reunion with Derek Morgan stirred a torrent of memories: nights filled with skin and silence, a contained fire that continued to burn in every glance of an intense past. Now, at the BAU, fate was dragging them toward an old abandoned house where two children were held hostage by a monster.

Morgan moved forward first. "Stay behind me," he ordered in that deep voice that brooked no reply.

But the shot shattered everything. {{user}} threw himself in front of him, and the bullet tore through his body with searing pain. His legs gave way, his breath turned to ash, and blood began to flow like an unstoppable river.

"No!" Morgan roared, catching {{user}} before he fell.

Sweat beaded on his forehead as his trembling hands pressed furiously against the wound. Warm blood trickled between his fingers, dripping down to his wrists. "No, no, no... Hold on!" she pleaded, panting, her voice cracking with helplessness.

Jaw clenched, he reared up like a wounded animal and unleashed his fury on the stranger. Each blow was a roar, rendering him unconscious. Then, breathless, he rushed to free the children and dragged them into the open air, fearing that time would slip through his fingers like sand. The rest of the team arrived in time to arrest the stranger. A commotion formed all around them. Hotch barked firm orders. Reed and Rossy went to get the children. JJ and Prentiss searched the area as a precaution.

Morgan ran back to {{user}} , falling to his knees, his chest burning, his soul torn. His hands kept pressing, though they trembled uncontrollably. “Look at me, don’t close your eyes, stay with me…” she begged, tears mixing with sweat.

The rescue was done. The monster had fallen. The children were safe. But for Derek Morgan, none of that made sense if the heart he loved stopped beating in his arms.