1987

'She can kill with a smile, she can wound with her eyes. She can ruin your faith with her casual lies. And she only reveals what she wants you to see. She hides like a child but she's always a woman to me.'

David Rossi walked through the Grand Offices of the FBI in Quantico, Virginia with a smile on his face. He had divorced his second wife and he was a free agent again, doing what he loved best, putting evil men behind bars. He had just been phoned by Jason Gideon saying that they were needed in the Unit Head's office as they were due to meet the new Head of the BAU. Agent Thorpe had retired three weeks earlier.

"About time too!" Gideon had said to Rossi when the news had made its way down to the Bunker. "Any longer and he would have been the fossilized head of the BAU!"

Rossi had laughed and replied, "I wonder who they will give us this time?"

"I head Agent Childs was up for promotion." Gideon had remarked. "Although…"

"What?"

"It could be you…" Gideon had looked over at Rossi and smiled.

"Me?" Rossi was taken aback for a moment and then he laughed, "Gideon, I'm touched that you think that highly of me, but I hate the paperwork. And a desk job would take me out of the field!"

Gideon laughed, "I hadn't thought of that. Maybe that wouldn't be the best idea!"

"You think?" Rossi had replied, smiling.

Rossi smiled as he remembered the conversation he had had with his partner. Gideon was doing much better in life than he was. He had a young son, Stephen, who was just coming up for 8 years old. He was happy, settled, grounded, whereas he was a wandering spirit, just trying to figure out what he wanted.

He made his way across to the office in question and pushed the door open. Gideon had made himself comfy on the sofa that rested against one of the walls. The room still smelled of old cigars and bourbon whiskey, just as it had while Thorpe was still in charge. Rossi crossed the room in two strides and flopped into the space next to Gideon.

"Hey." Said Gideon, "You look a mess!"

"Thanks!" Rossi replied, "A rushed divorce and an eight hour flight will do that to a person."

"So, you ended it with Hayden then?" asked Gideon sympathetically.

Rossi nodded, "It wasn't working. I wanted to continue my work in the BAU and Hayden didn't want to give up her career in Paris. I couldn't ask her to either, she loves that job and she's very good at it, so we ended things on mutual terms, but it was the best summer of my life."

Gideon smiled, "Maybe you shouldn't get married again. I mean, it obviously doesn't suit you!"

Rossi laughed, "You may be right there, my friend!" He looked around the room, "Where's the rest of the team?"

Gideon sighed, "Agent Thirsk is consulting on a case in Georgetown, Maldez is on vacation, golfing in Florida I believe and Agent Smith's wife had their baby earlier this morning."

Rossi sighed as well, "So we are the representatives of the BAU to meet our new section Chief?"

"That's about the sum of the matter." Gideon replied.

The two men sat and chatted for another few minutes until the door to the office opened again. In walked the Director of the FBI. Both Gideon and Rossi immediately got to their feet. The Director was accompanied by a young woman, possibly in her mid thirties. She had blonde hair and a round, gentle face but her eyes were set like steel. This was a woman not to be messed with.

"Agent's Rossi and Gideon, I would like you to meet SSA Erin Strauss, your new Section Chief." The Director stepped aside so that Erin could meet the two agents.

Rossi and Gideon looked at each other quickly. This had been far from what they had been expecting.

"Pleasure to meet you, ma'am." Gideon said politely, "I'm SSA Jason Gideon. I'm the unit chief of the BAU."

"Pleasure to meet you too, Agent Gideon," Erin replied, shaking his hand, "I've read your file. You have a pretty impressive record, Agent."

Gideon bowed his head, "Thank you, ma'am, but I'm here to do the job."

She nodded and then turned her attention to Rossi, "And that must make you, SSA David Rossi, am I right?"

Rossi nodded and offered his hand. She shook it, "Yes, ma'am, that's me."

"Pleasure to meet you. Like your co-worker, you have an impressive record and somewhat of a reputation about you." She smiled slightly, and her eyes sparkled for just a moment. It was a fraction of a second, but Rossi spotted it. He smiled back at her.

"Well, someone has to be the Agent with the reputation in this place."

The Director coughed, and Rossi looked up, unabashed. "If everything is ok here, Agent Strauss, I will leave you to get settled in. I have a meeting with the Presidential office in an hour that I cannot afford to be late for."

"Of course, sir." She shook his hand, "Thank you, once again, for this opportunity. It means a lot."

He nodded curtly and then left the room.

"Geez," said Gideon, "Would it kill him to smile?"

Erin laughed. It was like music to David's ears. He looked over at her again and their eyes met again. There was the sparkle and this time, they didn't break the connection.

"Well, I'm sure you have plenty to be getting on with, agents. I have a meeting with some of the other officials in the building in a half hour. Got to show the top boys who's in charge now!"

"We will let you get on, ma'am." Gideon said, heading towards the door. Rossi followed, "Welcome to the BAU, SSA Strauss!" And with that, the two men left the office.

Strauss smiled to herself. There was something about that Agent Rossi that sent her head spinning. Maybe it was the rugged American-Italian look he had going on, or maybe it was because she knew he was a player, the bad boy of the BAU. All she knew was, David Rossi was definitely on her mind.

Out in the corridor, Gideon looked at his partner and smiled, "Could you be any less obvious?"

"What?" asked Rossi innocently.

Gideon shook his head, "Nothing. But if we get a new Section Chief before the year is out, I know who to blame!"

The two men laughed and headed towards the bunker.

A few months later, David was having lunch in the garden behind the office compound. He liked to come here. It was quiet and peaceful there and he had even talked Thorpe into letting him plant a garden in the memory of his son. So, whenever he could, he would come and sit in the garden and think. The memories of his son were painful, but they also formed some of the best years of his life, when he was married to Carolyn. There was just something about her that he could never recreate if that was the right word. She was his first wife and they had truly loved each other but, like with all things, his job had got in the way. There had been times when he considered packing it all in and going after her again, but every time he came to thinking about it, he would think of some excuse and change his mind. Rossi was so lost in his own memories that he didn't hear the voice behind him say, "Excuse me, can I join you?" In fact, he didn't even know that he had company until the same voice shouted, "Look sharp, Agent!"

Rossi jumped out of his skin and turned around to see who had shouted. Standing above him, holding two cups of coffee was Erin Strauss and she was laughing. He had to see the funny side and so he joined in the laughter.

"You were pretty lost there, Agent." She said, smiling at him.

"Yeah. I was." He replied, "What are you doing out here?"

"Gideon told me where you liked to come for lunch and so I thought I would bring you a cup of coffee."

David smiled and took the drink. He patted the bench next to him, inviting her to sit down. "I'll have a word with Gideon about sharing my private spots with newbie Agents!"

She swatted his shoulder playfully, "I'll remind you that I am your boss, Agent Rossi!"

"Well then, Agent Strauss, I suppose I can share my spot with you."

"Please, call me Erin." She smiled.

"Dave." And they shook hands, again. He smiled, "So, tell me all about this reputation I am so famous for."

Erin smiled, and blushed slightly, "Well, you are noted to be a bit of a player. There's a rumor or belief that you might sleep your way to the top of the FBI!"

David laughed, "I think that's a bit ambitious even for me."

"Really?" she asked, smiling coyly at him, "You mean, you wouldn't sleep with me, just to have a shot at being Section Chief?"

Dave smiled at her, "No, I would sleep with you, because I think you're hot but not to get your job. Haven't you heard, I'm allergic to paperwork!"

Erin blushed at his words, but carried on with her conversation, "You married, Dave?"

"Recently divorced, second time. Why? You interested?"

Erin laughed again, and David felt his heart flutter, "No! I mean, I'm married, and I have a son and a baby daughter."

"Congratulations." He replied, smiling, even though he felt his heart sinking. "Married life and I are not deemed to be friends."

Erin smiled, "You never know, you might find her one day."

"I'll hold you to that!" he smiled.

Erin smiled back, "I look forward to it, Dave."

Then silence fell between them. They looked at each other. Rossi gazed into her eyes and he noticed that they were an amazing chocolate brown. He could have looked into them all day. He noticed that Erin was moving closer to him and he smiled. She smiled back. Rossi leaned in to close the gap and their lips met. It was like an explosion of fireworks and chemicals. Rossi deepened the kiss and the coffee cups fell to the ground as their hands rushed to touch the other and explore the new canvas before them. Erin's hands moved to his hair and she was surprised at how soft it was. Dave's found his way to her sides and he smiled as he felt her body tremble at his touch. After what seemed like forever, they broke apart.

"Wow, Agent Strauss, I thought you were married."

She shrugged her shoulders, "Things with Jason haven't been good for a while now," she bit her lip seductively, "and you've made me feel things that Jason never did."

He smiled. "I'm glad." And he pecked her on the lips.

She smiled, "I know a good hotel, not too far from here. Meet me there in an hour?"

Dave grinned, "Why, I never thought you'd ask!"

The two embraced for another passion filled kiss and Erin thought to herself, 'This could be the start of something amazing!'