Watching
Chapter 1: Watching the man.
She stood off to the side where she couldn't be seen watching them, watching him. This was the first time in weeks they didn't have a case they had to rush too. For the past couple months, it was get off the plane just to re-board 30 minutes later for the next case. They were enjoying hanging out in the bullpen talking and laughing together.
Derek Morgan and Spencer Reid were playing nerf basketball with the goal that hung over the door. Alex Blake was working on a crossword puzzle and watching the boys play ball. Jennifer "JJ" Jareau and Aaron Hotchner were comparing notes on Jack and Henry. Both boys were growing up so fast. Penelope Garcia was picking David Rossi's brain on Italian cooking. They seemed relaxed and genuinely happy just to be in each other's company and doing nothing. It was the end of the day, end of a very trying week, trying month.
She had welcomed the team home a couple hours ago, told them they had the weekend off and went to her office. Now she was back on floor 6 hoping it wouldn't be long before he was ready to go. She really wanted to talk to him, and touch him; she hoped he felt the same. She tried to concentrate on the whole team, taking pleasure in watching them so relaxed, but she kept going to him. He sat in Reid's chair talking to Garcia, he looked tired. He looked like he needed a good stiff drink, a hot shower and a good night's sleep. His hair was messed up from where he kept running his hands through it. A sure sign he needed a break from all the stress.
She watched him as he laughed at Morgan and Reid, when one of them yelled "Foul". She saw him get a look of pride on his face when Hotch handed him a picture of Jack, that the little boy made his dad promise to give to "Uncle Dave". She smiled to herself when she noticed him writing the information he had just given Garcia down on a pad and tell her, "Why don't you come over on Sunday afternoon and we'll cook this together."
She giggled to herself when she heard Morgan say, "Another cooking lesson at Rossi's? I'll be there."
Dave smiled, because he knew he'd just been suckered. "Sure why not, everyone's invited for a cooking lesson and family time. Sunday afternoon, three o'clock. When I say family time, I mean everyone, kids, spouses and all. If we are going to do this let's do it right, like a family." She knew he thought of this group as his family, more so than his biological family.
She observed him as he sat back in the chair, stretched his legs out in front of him and closed his eyes. He was so sexy, at least to her. He wasn't the tallest, but his legs looked long extended out in front of him, those jeans, they weren't tight but fit nicely in all the right places. His stomach wasn't washboard flat, but he was in great shape for his age. His face was handsome, with a few lines from age and stress. She knew some of those lines would be gone in a day or two when he had time to de-stress. He had a smile on his lips, oh his lips. His lips could do things to her that no one else in her 50 years could do. She loved kissing those lips, and if kissing him was all she was ever able to do, she would die a happy woman. She knew she shouldn't go any farther with thoughts of what other parts of his body did to her. This was work and work was kept separate from their personal relationship.
She smiled as she realized he knew she was there and watching them. Slowly he got up from the desk and headed towards his office.
"Hey, Rossi?" Morgan asked, "Where you going?"
Calling over his shoulder, "I don't know about all of you, but I'm ready to blow this pop stand, get some dinner and enjoy the company of a beautiful younger woman."
Everyone laughed at that comment, they all knew who he meant, Hotch piped up, "I'm out of here too. Beth and Jack are waiting." The others started gathering their belongings, each ready to start their weekend.
David Rossi walked into his office, and began putting folders in his briefcase, when he felt the familiar arms of the woman he knew had been watching them for the last half hour, snake their way around his waist. "Hello, Sexy." He said not turning around just yet. She laid her head against his back, hugging him tightly.
"People are going to talk." He teased, he knew the team knew about their relationship and a few others, but they tried not to show too much PDA at the office.
"I don't care, David. It's been almost 2 months since we've been able to have any physical contact more than a quick kiss or hug." She tightened her grip on him as he turned in her arms so he could hug her back. "The kids are with either their father or friends this weekend and I plan on touching you in one way or another all weekend." She moved to her tiptoes so she could kiss him.
He returned the kiss hard, like a man who hadn't been with a woman in years. Breaking the kiss he reached to the opposite side of his desk and turned the radio on. "Dance with me, Erin."
"David!" She protested.
"Dance with me." He said again.
She watched his eyes and took his offered hand and let him lead her slowly around his office. He loved to dance with her. She wasn't sure how many songs they had danced too, she cherished the feel of being in his arms. She knew it was getting later, it was dark outside and he didn't have many lights on in his office. As the song ended, he dipped her, kissing her on the way down. When he righted her, she heard cheering. Standing in the doorway was the rest of the alpha team, they had started to leave, but someone noticed the duo dancing and they all stopped to watch.
Rossi blushed a little, "I thought you guys already left."
JJ was the one to answer, "We started, but then we saw you dancing and you move so well together, we stopped to watch."
Dave, reached for his briefcase with one hand, flipped off the light and radio with the other. "Show's over. I'm taking this beautiful lady to dinner and then home for some much needed Erin/Dave time." He put his hand on the small of Strauss' back and gently led her out the door and down the steps to the elevator.
As they headed out the door, it dawned on Dave that his car wasn't here. Erin had used it when hers was in the shop while he was away on one of their cases. As if she was reading his mind, she reached in her pocket and handed him the keys to her car. He opened the passenger door for her, helped her in and kissed her lightly before closing the door and moving to the driver's side.
"Where would you like to go for dinner?" He asked her pulling out of the parking lot.
She was quiet for a couple minutes, making him glance over to see if she was thinking or what she was doing. He saw the gleam in her eyes as she turned a bit to face him. "Why don't we just grab a pizza or something and take it home."
He was good with that; he wanted nothing more than to be home, in his sweats relaxing with her in his arms. "Are you sure, I'll take you were ever you want to go, nothings to good for my lady."
"I'm sure." She said watching him, she knew he really didn't want to go out; he would go because he thought she wanted too. She knew he wanted to just be home and she was as eager as he to be someplace comfortable wrapped in his warmth.
She watched him as he dialed their favorite pizza joint, and ordered what he knew she liked. She watched him as he got out of the car, ducked into the small pizzeria and returned a few minutes later with their dinner. She watched as he drove to his house and pulled in the garage. She watched him as he got out, took both their briefcase, and the pizza, moving to her side of the car. She watched him as he sat the box, on top of the car to open the door for her, help her out and close the door. No matter where they were or how full his hands were, he always opened the door for her, helping her in and out of the car. It's just the way he was, it wasn't because he thought she was weak, it was a sign of respect to him, it was one of the little ways he showed her how much she meant to him.
She watched him as he put the attaché cases on the chair by the door, and pizza on the island in the kitchen. She smiled as he gathered her in his arms, kissing her. Braking the kiss, "If you don't mind, I'm going to take a quick shower and get into some sweats before we eat."
"I don't mind at all. I'll get plates, and glasses and when you get back down we can eat and just relax." She said watching him head up the back stairs.
Erin, changed her own clothes while he was in the shower, he noticed her work clothes laid neatly over the chair in his, in their bedroom. He knew she had clothes at his house, she had begun to spend more time here then at her own house, even on weeks when she had her children. Drying off he pulled on his FBI sweatpants and a dark blue t-shirt.
As he entered the kitchen from his shower she watched the expression on his face when she handed him a scotch. He knew she couldn't drink and he tried not to drink when she was with him. As if she knew what he was thinking, "It's okay David, you've had some rough cases and you're entitled to have a drink. Just because I don't want to have a drink doesn't mean you shouldn't. I'm having club soda."
"Thank you." He downed the scotch, rinsed the glass out and put it in the sink. He got a fresh glass, poured some soda into it. "Now we'll both have club soda. You ready to eat?" He asked opening the pizza box.
She watched him as he ate; first he picked at the sausage and pepperoni, and then ate the rest. She smiled to herself, he reminded her of her son Daniel, that's how he ate his pizza, but then she remembered that's how she had seen Jack and Henry eat, maybe it was the way all boys ate their pizza and right now he reminded her of a little boy. She smiled as she watched him.