My Baby

Story prompts: jealousy, a torrid kiss, and a confession of love.

Song prompt: "My Baby" by David Pack

For ilovetvalot. Love you, sister!

Dave Rossi sipped his beer and tried to block out the raucous music that filled the pub. It had been a long day and an even longer week out in the field, and all he wanted to do was kick his feet up. But no, Hotch had decided to pull him out of the office and into a place with loud voices and even louder music blaring from the speakers.

"Tell me again why I'm here!" Dave raised his voice so he could be heard.

"We need to talk," came Hotch's simple reply.

"And that is why you bought me a beer?" Dave took another sip and blanched. It wasn't that he didn't appreciate a good malt, but it wasn't exactly his drink of choice.

"I wanted you to have a clear head. Scotch tends to make you…"

"Relaxed?" Dave raised an eyebrow.

"Assholish," Hotch corrected. He took a long drink and waited for a reply that didn't come. Setting the mug down, he looked at his best friend. He knew that he was risking twenty years of friendship, but he didn't care.

"How long have you felt this way about her?" Hotch asked point blank.

Dave raised the mug to his lips. "Who?"

"Seaver. You've been walking around in a daze for a few weeks now." Dave kept silent, so Hotch continued. "I know you've been seeing each other since she left the BAU, and I thought it was getting serious." Hotch took a drink. "Maybe even Mrs. Rossi the Fourth serious."

"She broke up with me."

Hotch looked flummoxed. "When?"

Dave sighed. "A couple of weeks ago."

"That explains your mood."

"Hell, Hotch, you thought I was in love. Shows how well you can profile me," Dave snorted.

"I did profile you. You've been pining for her."

"Pining? What am I, fourteen?" Dave shook his head. "I haven't pined for a woman since…"

"Emma," Hotch finished quietly. "You didn't pine for any of your ex wives, but you've been doing it for Ashley. I see it, and the team sees it."

"Why didn't they say anything?" Dave asked.

"Because they don't know who the woman was, but I'm sure that if they did, they would agree that you've just let a good one go."

"I let a good one go? What makes you think it wasn't the other way around? I've been told that I'm quite the 'catch'."

It was Hotch's turn to snort. "We are talking about the infamous David Rossi who has three marriages and a string of lovers trailing behind him. And now it has Ashley Seaver." He held Dave's steel gaze until the older agent was forced to look away. "What happened?"

"She wanted me to tell her those three little words."

"Ah."

"I wasn't ready."

Hotch nodded.

"She pushed me and kept saying that she didn't think I loved her. So, she left. Didn't bother to hear my side of the story," Dave groused. His fingers fidgeted on the handle of the mug.

"Did you have a side?"

"She left me." Dave shrugged indifferently.

"Then get her back."

"She doesn't want me."

"When has that ever stopped you from getting what you want?" Hotch asked. "If I know anything, it's that sitting and waiting for the other person to wise up is only going to make you wish you had when you're sitting all alone in your house in the middle of the night." He waited for his words to sink in. "You're a logical man, and I know that it's killing you inside without Ashley in your life. Go after her. Tell her how you feel. Fight for her."

Dave shook his head. "Funny you should say that, Hotch, because she claimed one of the things I never got was jealous."

"That's not the Dave Rossi that I know."

"I was…I just…I didn't want to scare her off by being too possessive."

"Not you," Hotch's mouth twitched.

"Hotch…"

"Go after her, Dave. Tell her how you really feel and all the other things you're afraid to say out loud. Get her back before you turn into me," Hotch said.

Dave mulled over the advice. Taking a deep breath, he held it, then let it go. "Point made and taken. And let's say for the sake of argument that I decide to do what you suggest, how can I do that if I don't know where she is?" he pointed out matter of fact.

"Look behind you," Hotch suggested.

"What…?" Dave twisted around in his chair to look around the room. It took a few seconds, but his eyes focused on the cool blonde sitting in the corner of the pub. For a moment his heart jumped. But then it fell as he noticed that she wasn't alone. He turned back to look at Hotch. "You set me up?"

Hotch gave an affirmative nod. "I knew she was coming here after work, and I thought it would be convenient if you two just 'ran into each other'."

"I can't believe you did this."

"You did want to know where she was…I just made it easier for you to say what you need to say."

"You are a sadist, Aaron Hotchner."

"Call it righting the world for one lucky schmuck." Hotch jerked his head in Ashley's direction. "Now go get her and don't let her go again…or I'll be forced to use more drastic methods next time."

Dave hesitated. Then he pushed his chair back and stood up. With a purpose he had never felt before for any woman, he moved across the floor to where Ashley and her date sat. So deep in conversation, they didn't notice the man standing by their table.

Dave cleared his throat. "Hello, Ashley," he greeted.

Surprised, Ash turned her head to see who had said her name. Then she blinked. "Dave? What are you doing here?"

"We need to talk." Dave took her hand and pulled her up.

"I'm a little busy right now," she stated angrily. "Wait!"

"She'll call you," Dave called back over his shoulder as Ash reached for her purse at the last minute. Holding tight, he dragged her across the floor to the front door.

At the table on the other side of the pub, Hotch raised his beer mug in a toast. "Way to go, Dave." He took a large swallow, then he smiled.