𝐁𝐞𝐠𝐢𝐧 𝐀𝐠𝐚𝐢𝐧 ~ Derek Morgan

𝟭. 𝗧𝗮𝗹𝗹, 𝗗𝗮𝗿𝗸, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗦𝘂𝗽𝗲𝗿𝗺𝗮𝗻

I scan my eyes across the room full of people, desperately looking for someone to help me out of the situation I had found myself in. It was just my luck that I would find myself being perused by a guy that was drunk off his ass after an already stressful and shitty day. I start moving through the bodies between me and the bar making a bee line for a man I've seen dancing with various men and women all night. He seemed nice enough, and the muscles he was sporting would definently help. Quickly pulling out the seat next to him I sit, gently tugging on his shirt, as I look over my shoulder seeing the man staggering towards me pushing people out of his way.

"Can I help you?" the man asks causing me to turn my attention back towards him. I jump straight into the problem hoping that he could see my frazzled state and it would make him want to help.

"can you pretend to be my boyfriend? there's this guy-" I state, but before I could finish I feel a hand on my waist making me jump. Almost immediately the man next to me stood up, removing the unwanted hands from my waist, and moved to stand on my other side acting as a sturdy barrier between me and the drunken male.

"Hey, come on man get out of my way," the drunk says attempting to get past the more muscular man.

"I don't think so buddy, I'm pretty sure she doesn't want your hands all over her," was his reply remaining unmoving.

"And who the fuck are you to know what she wants?" he asks pushing against him a little harder.

"Her fucking boyfriend now back the fuck off before you do something you regret," the muscular man says taking a step closer to the drunk. The drunk however did not back off, instead opting to shove the muscular man into the bar. I jump up in shock taking a step back as to not get into the middle of the situation. Before I could move to get someone to help the muscular man sent his fist in the drunk's direction, before I knew it, he was out cold on the floor. The man turned around to face the me.

"Are you ok?" he asks genuine concern on his face. I was still standing in slight shock, emmensly glad that he was the one I asked for help. Soemthing about his just radiated a presence, an aura of gentleness and protectiveness that made me truely beleive he'd be safe to approach for help. Thankfully the feeling wasn't wrong.

"Y-yeah I'm fine, I'm fine, I'm cool, I'm really sorry though I didn't know he would try to do that, I mean you are bigger than him, I didn't mean for anyone to get hurt, really,"

"Hey, it's ok," he says carefully taking a step towards me. "I've dealt with a lot of people worse than him. I'm glad you asked me for help," he says gently taking my hand. I finally got the moment to really look at him as the aura of gentleness swept over me again. He was tall and muscular, like really muscular, a very fit individual. His brown eyes were hard to see in the shitty bar lighting but i could tell that they matched his chocolate skin. I continued to stare as his gaze shifted over my face. I couldn't decipher the way that he was looking at me, but I didn't mind it was like he was staring into my soul, noticing all of me, not just what was on the outside. It was shocking considering that he didn't even know my name.

"whats your name? if you don't mind me asking?" he asks as if reading my mind.

"Ivy," I say tucking a strand of hair behind my ear. "what's yours, Clark Kent?" I smile slightly as he laughs at my joke showing off his sparkling white teeth.

"Derek, and I am no ones superhero sweetheart,"

"Well Derek, you just became mine," I say small smile still on my face. Before Derek could respond a bouncer came up to the two of us. I was confused at first, before remebering that Derek had just knocked a man out.

"Look, I'm going to have to ask you two to leave," He says looking between me and Derek. "We can't have all this shit popping off in here," he says waving a hand in the direction of the man still passed out on the floor. I went to explain what happened, dropping Dereks hand and turning towards the bouncer but Derek beat me to it. Pulling out some sort of credentials he flashed it at the bouncer causing his eyes to widen.

"This man was actually harassing her," he said with a slight gesture in my direction. "And was very clearly beyond any and every legal limit, so unless you want a bigger problem, you'll get him out of here and have a little chit chat with your bartenders about overserving,"

The man didn't reply simply moving to pick the drunk man off the floor in order to drag him out. My eyes widen slightly as the bouncer mutters an apology as he passed.

"what the fuck did you show him," I say with a slight laugh. "He freaked out like you were FBI," I say taking a seat in the chair he was originally sat in. He flashes me the same credentials.

Federal Bureau of Investigation

Supervisory Special Agent Derek Morgan

Behavioral Analysis Unit

The smile vanishes from my face and my jaw drops. I hear Derek chuckle as he put the badge away.

"That was quite the guess there gorgeous," he says looking down at me slightly as he leans against the bar.

"And to think I was nervous to approach you in the first place," I say with the shake of my head. "Now I'm thinking it's the best decision I've made all day," I let out a sigh looking down at the wood grain of the counter.

"Rough day?" He asks sliding into the seat next to me. Strong, handsome, and wants to talk to me? Could this situation get any better?

"You don't even know the half of it,"

"Another beer," he says flagging down the bartender. "And what ever she wants just add it to my tab," I flush slightly before ordering another of the fruity cocktails I had been frequenting tonight.

"Wait wait wait, you got into a fight because of me, almost got kicked out of the bar, and you saved my ass both times, isn't it me who would be buying you a drink? " I say turning to face Derek with my whole body.

"Sweetheart I told you, I do this almost everyday, I spend my weeks tracking down serial killers, a drunk in a bar doesn't scare me the slightest," he replies turning to mirror me. "Besides the drink has nothing to do with that, now I'm just flirting," he said sending me a wink.

Wow, this situation could (and did) in fact get better.