Mix & Match Challenge!
Assigned pairing is: David Rossi/Jennifer Jareau
Prompts are: Green Lantern, hockey, window shopping, candy
Disclaimer: Unfortunately, I do not own Criminal Minds or any of the characters
David Rossi, stood outside of the brownstone door on a quiet street in Upper Montclair. Taking a deep breath, he knocked quickly on the door, cocking his left ear to listen for the sounds of someone at home. It didn't take long before he could hear the soft footprints walking across the tiled floor towards the door.
Standing back, Dave waited until the door opened fully before he plastered a smile on his face and pleasantly greeted the occupant.
"Dave? What are you doing here?" the blond liaison asked, looking quite perplexed at finding her co-worker on her doorsteps on a Saturday morning. He sighed a little as he took her sloppy sweatshirt over an equally droopy pair of leggings.
Determined not to be sent away, Dave stepped into the doorway causing her to move back into the vestibule. He shut the door behind him and put his hands in his pockets. They stood looking at each other for a few moments until he finally said "Go get changed and grab your stuff Jennifer. You've got 10 minutes to get you and your son into my car before I put you in there myself."
"Wh…at are you talking about?"
"You know what I'm talking about."
"No Dave. I think I already told you that I'm fine and I'm asking you to leave it alone."
"Jenn, we've talked about this before and every time I bring it up you change the subject. And I let you. Because I knew you weren't ready. So I waited and gave you the time to grieve your relationship and get out of the funk you are in. But you kept pushing yourself further away. Now you're letting it affect your son. And I won't let you do it anymore. You won't take any of my suggestions….so now I'm giving you no choice."
"Dave…I..I can't" she pleaded.
Putting his hands on her shoulders, he turned her around towards the staircase. Whispering in her left ear, "Bella, please. It has been long enough. You are stronger than this. Please don't let him win. He isn't worth it. If you won't do it for me or yourself than do it for Henry."
The image of her beautiful baby boy jumped into her head. She had closed herself off from the world but in doing so, she also cut Henry out of chance for a normal life. She had done nothing since Will betrayed her and she kicked him out. She went to work and then straight home. In the last few months she didn't even take Henry to the park. All she did was stay home and watch computer clips of their family in happier times.
To be honest she didn't want to believe that she was hurting her son with her behaviour but looking at Dave's determined face, she knew she was kidding herself. She had isolated herself and Henry so that she didn't have to feel embarrassed around her neighbours and friends. If she let no one in, there no one who could ask a question or make a comment that would remind her of that awful time with Will.
But, Dave was right. She had made the wrong decision. She had to stop hiding her head in the sand. She owed it to herself, but more importantly, she owed it to her son. Sucking up the sob that gathered in throat, she took a deep breath and nodded. "Okay….. okay."
Dave watched as she trudged upstairs without a word. Hearing sounds coming from the living room, he entered the room to see Henry playing with his toys in the corner of the living room. Swatting down, he ruffled the child's hair. "Hi big boy."
Henry looked up and smiled to see who it was. "Unca Dabe!" he cried jumping into his arms. "I mished you."
Dave felt like his heart jumped into his throat when Henry said that. Winking at the blond boy, he replied, "I missed you too, buddy."
Putting him down, Henry eyed his uncle, before asking, "Watchca doin' Unca Dabe? You no come in here in a loooong time."
"I know, buddy. I was really busy but now I've come to take you and your mom out to have a special day. Would you like that?"
"Yah!" Henry cried running around the sofa with his arms in the air.
"Well then, I guess if you want to go, you need to go put your shoes and sweater on."
He started to run out of the room, but stopped at the doorway. "Is mommy gonna come?"
"Of course! Mommy needs a treat too."
"Okay, Unca Dabe." He responded as he ran to the hall closet.
They were standing at the door waiting for JJ when she finally came down the stairs. She had put a little lipstick on and changed into a pair of jeans and a sweater.
Henry ran behind JJ and pushed her towards Dave. "Come on Mommy, Unca Dabe is taking us somewhere special." Dave caught JJ just before she fell into him.
"Oh, I'm sorrwee Mommy."
Not wanting to spoil a moment of Henry's happiness, JJ just laughed and bent down to take his hand, "Well then, we had better go and have some fun."
Locking the door behind them, Dave handed JJ her keys and winked at her, "And that, my friends, is my only goal today."