Half of Her Heart ~ A Derek Morgan Fanfic

Mercedes "MJ" Johnson grew up unseen - the only white girl in a tough Chicago neighborhood, trapped in a violent home and carrying bruises no one asked about. But Derek Morgan saw her. Protected her. Fed her when her own house was empty. He was her best friend, her shelter, and the first boy to ever make her feel safe. Years later, they reunite at the FBI's Behavioral Analysis Unit. She's not the broken girl he once knew - she's quiet, brilliant, and tougher than she lets on. But Derek still looks at her like she's something worth protecting, and MJ still feels safest in his orbit. Their bond runs deep - forged in childhood, sharpened by time. But what once was innocent has turned into something slower, heavier, and harder to ignore. With every case, every look, every late-night conversation, their connection deepens into something they never dared to name. Because love like theirs doesn't burn fast - it lingers, waits, and grows quietly in the spaces between survival and healing. A Slow-burn Derek Morgan Fanfic This book does not follow the Criminal Minds' timeline #1 in morgan 07/29/25 - 08/07/25 #1 in bau 08/07/25, 12/1/25, 1/1/26 #1 in fbi 08/07/25, 08/16/25 - 08/17/25 #1 in derekmorgan 12/1/25