ROSSI'S RETURN by celtic lairdess
AN; to those who have waited on the beginning of this tale I apologise.
A certain character threw a fit when he realised that he wasn't paired with 'his' lover from another story. After listening to him while trying to write this story I finally had to give in and pair him up as he wished.
Which meant going back to the beginning and re writing it...
So at long last here is the beginning...
Disclaimer ; I don't own Criminal Minds or their characters. Yada yada yada
BTW HAPPY HOLIDAYS AND A PROSPEROUS NEW YEAR TO YOU ALL
PEACE.
CHAPTER ONE
"Agent Hotchner! I am sure that your remember..." Erin Strauss began, only to be pushed aside as her companion strode past her into the Unit Chief's office.
"How are you Aaron?" the older man asked with a brilliant smile on his weathered face. He was very happy to see Aaron Hotchner. Which was something he couldn't say about the blonde haired Section chief.
Had Erin Strauss always been such a cold hearted bitch and so annoying?
Oh well, he thought, that was water that had flowed under many, many bridges.
Aaron Hotchner had looked up from his paperwork when Strauss had barged into his office, but his warm smile had only lighted on his old mentor.
"Dave! ..I am good. I,m great" he replied going to embrace his friend enthusiastically.
"I'd say so." David Rossi stated upon releasing the younger man and glancing about the office. Oh yes, Rossi thought, Aaron had done well. But then it had always been on the cards. Even in the early days.
"I saw you on the television last week promoting your latest book...I cant believe you want to come back to this mad house." Hotchner laughed at the face the other man pulled. Until they both realised that Strauss was still standing there observing their interaction. Very much like the spectre at the feast...
Erin Strauss kept her face blank, but inside she grimaced at the camaraderie between the two men. She wasn't stupid enough to think David Rossi would support her against Hotchner. But she hadn't thought their friendship strong enough for him to side with the Unit chief. After all Rossi had been away from the BAU for over a decade. But it seemed she may have just added to her own problems. Damn!
"Well I will let you two catch up." she stated wanting out of the office before Rossi's smirk caused her to slap him hard across his still handsome face.
"Thank you Ma'am" Aaron offered, knowing instinctively that David had pissed off the Section chief in some way. The man had the tact of a tank at times.
Strauss scanned the features of the younger agent, looking for some sign of irony or facetiousness But found none in the carved façade
"I,ll be in my office if you need anything." she said as she turned to exit the office gladly.
Aaron said nothing for a moment, watching Rossi watching Strauss' exit.
They always did have a volatile relationship, he mused.
"So how long has it been Dave?" he asked breaking out of his own thoughts with a grin.
"Let me think...3 years ago for dinner. But the last time I was in the BAU, you were sharing a desk in that god awful bunker we were stuck in."
"I remember. It was Davis and Moore." Hotch reminded him with a reminiscent grin.
"Congratulations Aaron. You have done very well." Rossi stated feeling very proud of his young friend. It was never easy to survive the shark infested waters that was the FBI, Especially if you were as opinionated and straight laced as Aaron Hotchner.
"Thanks Dave." Hotch replied with a grin. "Well there's an office just like this one next door if your interested"
A soft knock at the door frame halted Rossi,s reply. He turned find a blonde angel with beautiful blue eyes standing there patiently.
"Sorry to interrupt Hotch. But I,m ready to present the case sir" she informed Hotch while flicking a smile at Rossi.
"Agent Jennifer Jareau , this is SSA David Rossi." Hotch introduced, while internally laughing. Like David Rossi needed an introduction, the man was as famous as Manson."
"Hi sir. Everyone calls me JJ." she said offering her small hand. "Its an honour to meet you Sir. I,ve heard a lot about you."
Rossi threw Hotch a 'what-the-hell-have-you-said" look as he shook the petite appendage.
Hotch shoved the urge to laugh out loud. A notion that became easier when he remembered the topic he had to discuss with him.
"Thank you And what is your function here?" Rossi questioned releasing her hand reluctantly.
"I am the Communications liaison and co-ordinator. Basically the go-between the team and the rest of the world." JJ informed him with a warm smile.
"So shall I gather the team?"
Hotch shook his dark head, his features turning stern at what was to come.
"No JJ. Just get everything ready in the round table room. I need a moment with Rossi."
JJ's smile dimmed. "Riiight...It's nice to have you here Sir." she reiterated as she left softly closing the door behind her.
Hotch grimaced. Of course, she of all the team would know the problem facing them with Rossi's return to the fold.
"Wow!" Rossi exclaimed watching JJ walking along the cat walk that surrounded one side of the bullpen. "We didn't have that 10 years ago..."
"What do you mean?" Hotch enquired tongue firmly in cheek.
"Communication Liaison and co ordinator." Rossi dead panned
Yeah, thought Hotch. Horny old bastard. But instead said, "Oh! A lot of things have changed. But I will introduce you to the team in a moment. ..but first of all I need to ask you about something."
"Of course Aaron. I'm here to help anyway I can." Rossi replied immediately, not liking the worry he saw in his friends dark eyes.
"Good. Lets have a seat." Hotch stated moving them toward the small informal area, and sat on the small couch.
"I meant to ask how did Gideon's protégée take his abrupt departure?" Rossi asked as he settled on the dark blue couch.
Aaron tried not to tense knowing the other profiler would pick up on it. But he just couldn't stop himself , it was too important.
"He didn't take it at all well. But his relationships within the team have helped...up till now.."
"Relationships?" Rossi repeated confused. Was the boy related to someone on the team, or heaven forbid dating them.
"Derek Morgan, our expert on obsessional crime and bombs has taken Reid under his wing. In a kind of big brother fashion. While JJ and our technical analyst Penelope Garcia are like overprotective mother bears with only one cub." Hotch explained to the increasingly bemused man. "Agent Prentiss...yes Emily Prentiss, Ambassador Prentiss's daughter...hasn't been here long enough to find her feet within the family. But she's doing well so far..."
"Aaron this is Work, not a family..." Rossi exclaimed loudly, shock vibrating in every syllable
"Dave! we spend the majority of working hours in each others pockets. We look out for each other not just physically, but mentally. We have too Dave. Spouses ,lovers,friends outside this world cant... visualize half of what we see and deal with daily. So its slowly evolved to this dysfunctional family."
"So where do I fit into the scheme of things?...Grandpa?" Rossi laughed at the thought. But upon glancing at his companions tense face stopped immediately. "Look Aaron whatever it is. Spit it out, so we can deal with it"
To Rossi's amazement Aaron Hotchner actually looked nervous.
"tell me Dave have you ever met Spencer Reid?"
"No. of course I have heard of his work through old acquaintances and have seen some of his articles in journals that he has written for. I was looking forward to meeting him. But I am guessing that this isn't the best way to do it...What?" Rossi demanded at the confusion on the other man's face. Not a problem the wily former- prosecutor dealt with often.
"For the most part Spencer Reid is a very private and shy individual. He is highly intelligent- 187 IQ, eidetic memory and reads 20 000 words per minute In four years that I have worked with him I have seen him truly pissed off three times. The worst incident of that ire was yesterday when I announced your return to the team,"
"What? Why would he care?" Rossi demanded blind sided by this situation.
"I wish I knew. Before I could finish he walked out. Ignored both Morgan and myself and left the building. Think Dave, there must be some connection, some contact to explain his actions." Hotch encouraged worriedly.
"Aaron! I don't know what to tell you. I have never met the kid...why didn't you just ask him?" Rossi asked puzzled why Hotch hadn't taken the simple route.
"I had planned to, but Garcia informed me that he had called in to say he'd be late. But gave no reason for his tardiness. It was left to Morgan to inform me of last night's escapades. Seems our genius got totally plastered at a dance club Morgan and Garcia frequent. One of the bar staff called Morgan in the early morning to come and get him, before she called the cops. Seriously Rossi the boy lives on coffee and sugar, the occasional soda and an even rarer brandy. Of the top shelf variety I may add"
"I cant think of anyone by the name of Reid that I have come into contact with, or connected to. So did Morgan phone you?" Rossi asked
"No Morgan is in the bullpen...It seems the good Doctor sneaked out before Morgan woke up. And his cell is going straight to voice mail..David ,this is so out of character for Re..." Hotch's tense reply was interrupted by a staccato knock at the office door. "Come In."
Derek Morgan entered, His handsome face devoid of his usual wide grin.
Hotchner got to his feet upon seeing the stone faced expression upon his subordinates face. Oh crap, he thought, taking a deep breathe before continuing.
"SSA Derek Morgan. This is SSA David Rossi."
"Sir" Morgan bit out through clenched teeth to Rossi.
"Morgan!" Hotch demanded an explanation in just his name.
"He is in." Morgan revealed, rubbing at the back of his neck. " but I haven't a clue what is going on with him Hotch."
"Is he still drunk?" Hotch barked out . But Rossi could see his friend was really worried about this situation. He 's not reacting like a boss, he profiled. He,s acting like..like a ..brother doesn't fit...but its close, he mused.
"No...He came in with coffee for everyone. Apologised to me for causing bother last night. Then dived into his files." Morgan reported.
"And?"
"And he refuses to discuss yesterday..at all. He just looks blankly through anyone bringing it up...and I do mean anyone. JJ and Garcia both tried, and he totally ignored them. Hotch .. you know Reid he adores JJ and my BabyGirl." Morgan cried out totally confused by his young friends actions. And just a little hurt that he wouldn't talk to them...him.
Hotchner rubbed the bridge of his hawk like nose, hoping to stave off the stress headache he could feel building.
Why wouldn't Reid talk to them? What did Rossi do that prompted this eruption? Why wouldn't he come to him? What the hell was going on?
Round and round the thoughts went. Only questions . No answers.
"I have spoken to Rossi about yesterday, but to his knowledge he has never met or had indirect dealings with Reid. So the only one who knows what this is all about. Is Reid himself." he told the tall African-American agent who just looked even angrier at his conclusion.
"Well then we are royally screwed. 'cause that clam has a deadbolt, 6 feet of chain and three padlocks on it" Morgan groused.
"Lets just get this case done. Then if his professional status is affected then he will have no choice but to talk to me, or Strauss." Hotch announced straitening his tie.
"At this moment, man. I wouldn't bet against the Genius talking to Strauss." Morgan huffed, before facing Rossi. "I apologise sir. I shouldn't have snapped at you."
"Forget it, and the name is Dave or Rossi. I,ll leave the Sir's for him" Rossi grinned pointing at Hotchner standing by the office door.
He pulled at his suit jacket and straitened his silk tie. "Shall we?"
"Lets get this over with." Hotch growled opening the door, and wondering just what they were walking into.
Hotch's dark eyes narrowed as they took in the bent chestnut head as they moved down the stairs into the bullpen proper.
Dr Reid it seemed was lost in the files he was perusing...but Hotchner doubted that was true. He really wished that Reid would talk to one of them, but had to admit in that regard they were very similar. Probably why he accepted Reid's presence better than than any of the others, after Hayley's murder.
Hotch moved to introduce Rossi to Emily Prentiss, while trying to stem the bad feeling in his stomach as Reid didn't even glance up from his page.
Rossi went through the motions. Keeping the small talk light, focusing on Prentiss, and ignoring the ever tightening knot in his gut.
It was absurd. He was David Rossi, one of the founding fathers of the BAU. So what if some snot-nosed genius didn't want him playing in his sandbox. What did it matter?
He was back for a specific reason. Not to hold some kids hand while he threw a temper tantrum.
But still the knot tightened.
Hotch and Morgan exchanged a worried 'what-the f##k?' looks.
Reid never acted like this. He was always the first with his questions and babble...never this thick silence.
Here goes nothing, Hotch thought as he moved to stand next to Reid's desk.
Still the head remained down, the finger moving quickly down each line of text.
"And this is SSA Dr Spencer Reid." Hotch calmly announced. Giving the young man his full title and hoping for the best.
Reid's tousled head came up slowly at Hotch's words.
But the expression on his young face was unlike anything the team had ever seen from the young doctor.
His face was devoid of any expression, but his amber eyes glowed with an icy fire and were fixed on Rossi.
Rossi actually had to force himself from taking a step back.
He had stood toe to toe with some of the sickest predators on the planet- and yet that cold fire made him want to run and never stop.
Nothing was said.
They were all in shock. Even Hotch the consummate negotiator found himself at a total loss.
What the f##k was going on with Reid?
Morgan finally broke the frozen tableau.
"Come on Genius. Grab your mug before JJ sends out search and Rescue for us."
And like magic, the eyes warmed to their normal amber and the wide mouth produced an innocent smile.
"sure Morgan. I got mine..coming Emily?" Reid asked softly , manoeuvring round Hotch without looking at the man.
"I will catch you up boys. I need a refill." Prentiss stated, hoping that she sounded normal.
"Okay princess. We will save you a front row seat." Morgan quipped as he herded the younger agent up to the conference room. He smiled back, but it didn't quite reach his worried eyes.
"What the hell was that?" Prentiss hissed when Reid and Morgan had disappeared into the room.
"I haven't a clue...and Rossi is in the dark too." Hotch replied quietly. Hoping that the surrounding agents had been to star struck on the famous David Rossi to notice Reid's behaviour. Jeez, that look was like something out of the Exorcist, he thought with a shiver.
"You know I would never have believed it if I hadn't seen it." Emily stated lifting up her mug from her strewn desk. "I really wouldn't have thought it possible."
"What?" Rossi demanded curiously. He had the feeling there was not much that shook this cookie.
"That a look from Spencer Reid could scare the hell outta me...excuse me I need some coffee." she explained before walking off in the direction of the coffee pot.
"Well this is turning into a most interesting day." Rossi quipped. More to give himself a breather, give himself time to put on his game-face.
Probably a waste of time with Aaron, he knew. But he wanted it soldered in place before he faced Reid again.
So What you think is bugging the good Dr?
I know this is really a slightly off re cap of the episode but it was necessary to begin at the beginning...so to speak.
Hope you are all enjoying the Holidays
Peace
