Full Twist

Disclaimer: As usual I don't own Criminal Minds however anything you don't recognize is mine…

Pairings: Rossi/Strauss with mentions of JJ/Will, Hotch/Beth and Morgan/Garcia

Note: The title is a gymnastics term referring to a 360* turn...I meant it metaphorically to refer to big change. You'll see why the term as you read.

Summary: When a girl witnesses the murder of her family in a series of home invasions, the BAU investigates. Rossi finds the daughter he never knew he had.

Chapter One

David Rossi groaned when he heard his phone ring. "Damn" he muttered to himself as he fished for the offending object while trying not to wake the sleeping Erin Strauss until he absolutely had to. "Rossi" he said answering' "ok I'll be there." He got up out of bed the movement slightly waking Erin, "another case?" she asked. "Yeah sorry babe" he said giving her a kiss before leaving. "Keep me posted" she said rolling over to catch a couple of more hours before she too needed to wake up, It was only 5:00 and her first meeting was at 8:00.

Dave walked into the FBI building and headed for the coffee machine and poured himself some. Reid was already there putting his usual insane amount of sugar in his cup. Rossi never understood how the young genius could stand that much sugar being more of a black coffee man himself. "I don't know about you, Rossi, but I could've used more sleep." Reid said. "Agreed but let's go see what this case is."

They made their way up to the conference room. "Alright my lovely profilers," Garcia began "we have a series of murders in California –all families killed in their homes in the evening. The first family, the Jacksons, Philip and Amy along with their two children, Caitlyn and Jake were found two days ago along with another family, the Smiths, just two blocks away. Just yesterday the police found another family, the Taylors same MO: Garcia finished.

"This unsub is quick not a lot of time between kills" Alex Blake observed. "Which means we need to get there as soon as possible—wheels up in 20" Hotch said. Everyone made their way to the jet.

When they arrived in Los Angeles at the police department a man approached them :hi I'm Detective Sanchez" he said shaking JJ's hand "I'm Agent Jareau and these are agents Hotchner, Rossi, Morgan, Blake and Dr. Reid" she said motioning to each one as she named them. He shook hands with each one. "Rossi you and Blake go to the ME's office, Morgan you and JJ go to the crime scenes, Reid and I will set up here and start a preliminary profile" Hotch ordered. "It's getting toward evening and the unsub could strike again, get as much as you can." They all dispersed to their assigned tasks.

Meanwhile, Alexandria Rosu mounted the balance beam to practice her routine. She began her series of tumbling passes, leaps, and turns. "Good job, Ria" her coach said as she landed one of her passes perfectly. Ria dismounted the beam falling as she did. She got up and tied again this time landing on her feet. After practice was over she headed home. "Hey mom" she said getting in the car. "Hey sweetheart how was practice?" her mom answered. "It was good but my ankle's feeling it today." Alexandria answered. "Yeah you should put some ice on it at home." They pulled into the driveway and went into the house. "Hey Dad" Ria said. "Hey Lexia, how was practice?" her dad asked. "Good but I'm going to take a hot/ice bath and then put my foot up with some ice" she answered. "Sounds like a good idea" he said.

Alexandria filled the ziploc bag in her hand with ice and headed upstairs. She entered her room dropping her school and gym bags on the floor and headed to the en suite bathroom. She started the water in the tub. Downstairs her mom was making dinner, her dad turned on the TV to the evening news and her 8 year old brother Josh was playing on the living room floor. "Honey did you hear that noise—it sounded like someone's in the garage" Natalie said. "I'll go check wait here" he said.

He opened the door to the laundry room and came face to face with a man aiming a gun at him. "Get back into the living room or I'll shoot" the man ordered. "No I won't let you hurt my family" Michael firmly stated. "Ok then so be it" the man said and fired the gun. Alexandria turned off the water and was about to take off her leotard and shorts when she heard the gun shot. She quietly moved to the top of the stairs and saw her dad go down and her mom scream "NO." Ria covered her mouth with her hand as silent tears escaped her eyes. Next her mom was shot, then her brother. Alexandria quickly hid in the hall closet in case he came upstairs. She heard him moving around downstairs. Then his footsteps seemed closer and she moved further into the closet. Soon after she heard him leave. She dialed 911 on her phone.

"We have another murder, this time he left a witness" Detective Sanchez said to Hotchner and Reid. "Ok we're coming. Reid, tell Rossi, Blake, JJ and Morgan to meet us there" Hotch said. Reid pressed the number 7 on his speed dial and Blake answered. "We're only a few minutes away, we'll be there" she said, "OK" Reid said and then dialed Morgan. A few minutes later they all got there. Alexandria heard the door open and people talking dispersing through the house shouting "clear."

A minute or so later someone opened the closet door. Alexandria moved back slightly startled. "It's ok I'm with the FBI" the brunette woman said gently showing Alexandria her badge. She saw that it said Alex Blake on it. "Can you tell me your name?" Blake asked. "Alexandria" she answered slightly moving toward Alex. Next thing she knew Alex was guiding her outside. Ria shivered when the cold air hit her and Blake slipped off her jacket wrapping it around the girl as they walked to the bureau suv. "Can you tell me what happened?" Alex asked her gently sitting down next to her.

Alexandria took a deep breath, "I can try." "Whenever I try to remember important details I find it helps if I close my eyes and try to relax" Alex said. Ria closed her eyes. "Ok that's good" Alex encouraged, "What's the first thing you remember?" I had just come home from practice. My dad was in the living room reading the paper, my mom went to the kitchen. I grabbed some ice and went upstairs to take an ice/hot bath. I turned on the water then off again."

Ria's breathing grew quicker as her anxiety increased. "Slow down, let's try again" Alex said gently. Ria took a few deep breaths and continued, "I was about to get into the tub when I heard a loud noise like a gunshot...I came to the top of the stairs…my…my dad was shot…my mom screamed…then she was shot too…my little brother is crying…then he was too just like my parents." She took a few more calming breaths. "Do you remember what he looked like?" Blake asked. "I only had a quick glance..tall, dark hair, I think he had a scar on his hand…that's all I remember" she said. "It's ok that was really helpful, Alexandria" Blake said.

Hope you like it so far...more to come tomorrow (Sunday) or Monday...let me know what you think. Also I'm debating whether or not to pretend Strauss never died and give them a happy ending or go with the finale and deal with it in my little universe here...any opinions welcome...but that won't be until later...