Chapter 3: Trust, Fear, Love
"You gain strength, courage, and confidence by every experience in which you really stop to look fear in the face. You must do the thing which you think you cannot do." Eleanor Roosevelt
Derek cursed silently. This was not good. He glanced at the metallic walkway with the exposed rail. He needed to get to the other side, but to make the run he also ran the risk of the Unsub getting a clear shot of him.
"Going for it in three, two, one..." he shouted into his phone. Hoping that the reception was clear enough for his team to have picked him up, he made his move. He shot in the direction of the Unsub and was relieved that other shots echoed in the huge factory.
It was not enough.
Whether by luck or by skill, one shot scraped across his arm, the other hit metal at head-level sending a sharp shard into his eye. It was more than enough to blind Derek and he hit the rail. With a cry he plummeted over the rail and down. As he landed on something unexpectedly soft, the breath whooshed from his body, a new pain seared through his leg and his world went black.
"Sometimes it's the smallest decisions that can change your life forever." Keri Russell
****
"The greatest healing therapy is friendship and love." Hubert Humphrey.
Derek opened one eye slowly, giving a soft groan.
"I'm here, love. What do you need?"
The whispered words were like sunshine after rain and he turned towards the speaker, trying to smile.
Spencer's anxious face swam into view.
"Just you, Pretty Baby," he replied. "Although a drink would be good?" he asked hopefully.
A small cup was moved so he could take the straw into his mouth. Derek sipped, knowing not to take too much too quickly. He let the younger man replace the cup and then his hands were enfolded in a tight grip.
"I saw you fall," Spencer whispered. "I thought I'd lost you."
Derek could feel the tremors in Spencer's hands and see the misty look in the expressive eyes.
"It takes a lot more than that to get rid of me, Spence," he said. "I'm here, I've got you."
"Your tibia is fractured and they had to remove a metallic splinter from your eye. They said there'd be no permanent damage, but you'll probably need dark glasses when they remove the dressing," Spencer provided. "You'll need to be off your feet for a few days. Rossi says you can still direct things from home. The team will keep you updated of everything. There's no need to worry about the job. We've got it covered."
Derek gave a murmur as his mind whirled. He had not long been temporarily promoted. Being in anyway incapacitated could not have come at a worse time.
"Anything else?"
"You can have a nurse at home if you really need one, but I can take care of you until you're mobile and I can help with work," Spencer said firmly. "I will be spending time with a trained nurse to learn exactly what I need to know to care for you properly." His protective instincts had kicked in hard from the moment he had seen his lover fall from the walkway. There was no way he was going to let the injured man overdo things at home. Promotion or no, Derek's health came first and Spencer had every intention of following medical advice to the letter. More importantly, Spencer intended to ensure his lover did the same and told Derek so in no uncertain terms.
Derek could not help but stare at the younger man. Spencer was talking to him as if he were a child. He did not think he had heard his lover sound quite so assertive...so dominant. Part of him, to his shock, was aroused. However, another part of him was apprehensive. He was not sure how comfortable he was with the helplessness of his condition, or how he felt about Spencer's forcefulness.
"We're never so vulnerable than when we trust someone -- but paradoxically, if we cannot trust, neither can we find love or joy." Walter Anderson.
****
"The course of true love never did run smooth." Shakespeare
Derek could not help but be both relieved to be home and unhappy about the arrangements. Their bed had a metal contraption attached to ensure his leg could receive traction, his eye was still bandaged and he needed to be working on the case that had resulted in his precarious position. Spencer, however, had other ideas. He gave a discontented growl as files were finally placed out of his reach.
"Spencer, I need those," he grumbled.
"You've only just been released to come home. You need to rest," he younger man replied. Spencer had known it would not be easy. He had been repeatedly encouraged to accept the services of a full-time nurse from a private company that his team had investigated inside out. But he wanted to care for his lover himself. He had spent several hours in the company of the trained nurse until certain he could provide Derek's care. He wanted to indulge his mate. An idea slithered sensually into his mind and he licked his suddenly dry lips.
"I can't just lie here," Derek muttered sulkily.
"How about this then?" the younger man asked. Slowly he began to peel off his shirt, flicking open the buttons and sliding the garment to the floor. He smiled shyly at Derek. Exhibitionism was not one of his kinks, but Derek loved to see him strip and he could now disrobe slowly without becoming crimson by the time he was naked. His hands hesitated at his waistband, fingers skimming his belt, but not undoing it. The display was having the desired effect on Derek and Spencer was aching to be held in his lover's arms.
"Yes," Derek husked. "Take them off."
The older man stared as long fingers worked the belt to undo it. Then they moved to the button and slowly pushed it through the hole. Tantalisingly they ran over the zipper before lowering it slowly. Derek gave a husky sound of want. His erection was hard against his abdomen and he could feel the pre-come, wet and slick on his skin. He slid a hand to circle the damp flesh and stroked slowly as his lover continued to tease him. The jeans were pushed down over slender hips to the floor before Spencer stepped free. Derek's eyes devoured the sight of the straining shaft held back only by the baby-blue briefs. An enticing dampness told him just how aroused his mate was.
"Those, too and then come here," Derek rasped. He spread his legs as Spencer obeyed him and then kneeling in the space he had created.
"Love you, Derek," Spencer whispered as a strong hand slid to the nape of his neck.
"Love you, Pretty Boy," Derek replied. He pulled Spencer down for a long kiss. His tongue surged into the sweetness of his mate's mouth, reacquainting itself with his lover's taste. His agile muscle stroked along Spencer's before sucking it into the furnace of his own mouth. He felt the fire of desire alight in his veins.
He ran his free hand down Spencer's lean frame, cupping a taut cheek before sliding around over a slim hip and between his lover's slender legs. He fondled the younger man's sac, relishing the moan that fell from Spencer's lips. He pumped his lover's erect flesh before taking both shafts into his hand; light and dark, slender and thick, similar and yet unique. He felt Spencer's hips move with his rhythm. It was not going to take long for either man.
