David Rossi was the unofficial official BAU team dad and everyone accepted it. He was Uncle Dave to all the BAU kids and he was Dad to the team. Krystall, his wife, even knew the team were his kids in every way possible. She thought it was sweet and having them over was always a welcome affair. It wasn't hard to see how much he cared about everyone, always there for a joke or even as a shoulder to cry on. He had warded off nightmares, given advice, planned a wedding in a day, been the over protective dad when anyone started dating but always was happy for them. Oh yes, David Rossi was the team's dad and as such no one messed with his kids because papa bear was not a forgiving person.
When Spencer first realized Dave had become like a dad to him and the team it was after a rather bad case. They were on their way home and everyone was asleep on the jet or well almost everyone. Rossi sat in his chair reading a book with his reading glasses perched on the bridge of his nose. The older Italian was reading a book on the time a fellow Marine spent while fighting in Vietnam. He enjoyed a good non fiction book and had always been drawn to books on War. Spencer was sprawled out on the couch fidgeting in his sleep with a coming nightmare.
It was a small whimper that had Dave looking up to check on everyone. Morgan was fast asleep across from him with the music from his headphones quietly bleeding into the air around them. Emily was asleep in the chair behind Morgan with her head on J.J.'s shoulder. Hotch was across from Emily passed out with files still open in his lap. Not a minute later did another whimper escape Spencer and have Rossi on his feet. The older profiler immediately went over to the young genius and crouched down next to him.
"Reid," Rossi whispered, with a hand on his shoulder trying to wake him. The only response received was a distressed look and a few tears.
"Spencer wake up," Dave pleaded with him but to no avail. He looked like a small boy curled up on the couch shaking in fear. It broke Dave's heart to see the man he considered to be like his son scared.
"No, please I don't want it please," Spencer started to roll and Rossi had to hold him on the couch. The profiler flailed around in his sleep and fought Dave's gentle hands keeping him from falling off the couch.
"Spencer it's alright kid, wake up. Spencer wake up," Rossi said a bit louder and he shook him slightly. Brown eyes met him after a moment and Reid hesitantly pulled away.
"Sorry for waking you," he apologized as he sat up on the couch and avoided eye contact. He felt awkward but also slightly relieved that Rossi was the one to wake him. If it had been anyone else then they probably would have just got Rossi up anyway and then everyone would be up.
Rossi didn't say a word as he put a hand on Reid's knee and used it as leverage to pull himself to his feet. Dave sat down next to the young agent and sighed, "You didn't wake me, I was up reading...do you want to talk about it?"
"Not really."
"Spencer...come here," Dave told him as he opened his arms and leaned back against both the back of the couch and arm of it.
Reid looked at him for a moment wondering what he wanted.
"Come on," Rossi persuaded him gently.
Reid hesitantly leaned into the man and Dave wrapped him up in his arms and just held him and he started to cry. It was quiet sobs but it was enough, coupled with what had slipped out in his sleep, to tell Dave what was going on.
"Was it about Hankel?" Dave asked, no judgment in his voice as Spencer just nodded into his chest. If that bastard wasn't already dead Rossi would've hunted him down and killed him himself. It had been three years since Hankel had kidnapped Spencer and although Rossi hadn't been on the team at the time, it still pissed him off.
After a few minutes the sobs subsided into hiccups and a few stray tears and still Rossi held him close. As Spencer laid there he thought about how safe he felt, like a son being comforted by their father after a bad dream. That's exactly what was happening though wasn't it. Reid's own dad had never done this for him, just held him and let him get it out. No, his dad had told him to suck it up and said that men don't cry over stupid dreams. After a little longer Spencer relaxed and closed his eyes again but this time no nightmares came. And why would they? David Rossi could ward off even the worst dreams.
Dave sighed as Spencer relaxed and fell back to sleep and he grabbed the blanket off the couch draping it over the young man. Looked like Rossi wasn't going to be finishing that book any time soon. Oh well, one of his kids needed him and when duty called, he was always there.
Not too much later Emily woke in serious need of the head and so she hurried past everyone to the back of the jet. When she came out though is when she noticed Dave sitting up with his head back fast asleep on the couch with Spencer practically laying on him wrapped up in a blanket. She quickly snapped a picture of the father/son duo fast asleep and looking very sweet. Penelope was going to lose it when she saw the picture but before that happened Emily went in search of a second blanket for Dave and maybe even a pillow to keep his neck from killing him later. After shutting off the light over his previous seat, shutting and marking his place in his book, and locating the items needed she made her way back to the two men. Carefully she lifted David's head, the man slept like the dead, and placed the pillow under it to stop his neck from cramping before draping the blanket over him as well. She softly chuckled at the scene before her, any tough guy image Rossi had was completely gone now. She left for her own seat after taking another picture only looking back once to see Spencer curl up closer to Dave as the old Marine held his surrogate son in a protective embrace. It was a sweet moment that Emily would file away for later when she needed something to make her smile. No more nightmares would come for the team that night but everyone would wake to a wonderful sight when the plane landed.