Title – Hold me Tight. Never let me go.
Pairing – JJ/Rossi
Genre – Romance/Drama
Rating – T though some chapters may be M
Synopsis – Dave is there to help pick up the pieces when Will leaves but then faces heartbreak as a terrifying case unfolds.
A/N – Thanks to everyone who has read, alerted and reviewed this story it has been a while since I have written any fanfic so bear with me! This is the last update until after the weekend so please enjoy and let me know what you think...we begin just before season 7 starts...
Chapter 1 –
"Ooff!"
Dave instantly put his hands on his stomach and bent over in pain as the soccer ball dropped down at his feet.
"Sorry Dave!"
The blonde haired boy quickly ran over to Dave, pushing the stray hairs away from his eyes as he picked up the ball.
"That's ok kid, I take it you've been practising with your mom?"
A large grin appeared on Henry's face as he watched Dave stand upright once again, puffing his cheeks out as the pain of the ball hitting him in the stomach subsided slightly.
"Yes we go out every evening after tea, she's a really good teacher."
"I can see that Henry, come on why don't we head over to the play area?"
Henry nodded as he held up his hand which Dave instantly took a hold of, the two of them walking slowly over to the play area nearby. Dave couldn't help but smile as he walked, ever since Will had had the audacity to walk out on JJ and Henry he had been making a concerted effort to make sure that they were both ok, so hence he was at the park on a Saturday afternoon with Henry, allowing JJ to have a well deserved rest. Checking his watch as he helped Henry climb to the top of the slide he noted that he had twenty minutes before Jennifer expected them back.
"Three more goes Henry then we'd better get home, I'm sure you're mom will be anxious to see you."
"Awww."
Dave smiled as he saw the disappointment on the boy's face, luckily it wasn't the first time he had to deal with Henry's reluctance.
"Sorry buddy but I'm sure that your mom has got something nice for tea."
The smile grew on Henry's face as he raced down the slide, jumping in Dave's arms as he reached the bottom.
"Hot dogs Dave, are you staying?"
Hoisting the boy up onto his shoulders Dave kept his eyes focused ahead.
"Of course Henry, I heard that there was going to be chocolate ice cream and chocolate cookies for dessert!"
"Yes!"
Henry bounced up and down on Dave's shoulders, causing Dave to stumble slightly but he quickly jogged over to his car and drove the short distance to JJ's house.
JJ stood up and quickly wrapped the large towel around her body, things had not been easy since Will had left but Dave had certainly been the bright spot on the horizon, she was eternally grateful for the times he took Henry out on his own, allowing her some invaluable 'me' time. There was also no denying the fact that Henry was benefiting from spending time with Dave, her son absolutely adored the older man. JJ bit her bottom lip as he mind raced away to the man her son was spending quality time with but as she heard a car pull up outside she quickly snapped her mind away from her daydreams and thought about putting some clothes on.
"Mom? Momma?"
Henry's voice quickly hastened JJ's attempts to put some clothes on before she pulled her wet hair back, tying it up in a ponytail as her bedroom door burst open.
"Mom I'm home!"
"I can see that Henry."
JJ giggled as Henry ran over to her and wrapped his arms around her legs.
"Dave and I had fun mom, is he staying for dinner?"
"Yes if that's ok with you little man?"
Henry nodded as JJ bent down and picked her son up, laughing as he squiggled round so that she was forced to give him a piggy back down the stairs and the two of them soon found Dave sitting on the sofa with his eyes closed.
"Well it looks like you wore Dave out Henry."
Henry giggled as he peered over JJ's shoulder and Dave opened one eye and looked at the two of them.
"I was just resting my eyes, but we had fun today didn't we Henry, his soccer skills are really coming along Jen."
"Yeah mom I hit Dave in the tummy!"
JJ failed to suppress the laughter as Henry buried his head into her neck while Dave pointed his finger at him but the smile that was evident told her that Dave was just joking around.
"Oh dear did you say sorry Henry?"
Shyly Henry nodded as JJ manoeuvred him off her back and onto the floor where he wandered over and jumped onto Dave's lap.
"Ooommmppphh."
"Sorry Dave!"
"Henry be gentle!"
JJ shook her head as Dave started to wrestle her young son, knowing that he would easily give Dave a run for his money.
"Well I'll go and get some food ready for us then, can you just make sure that you don't break anything please."
JJ didn't wait for a reply, hearing the muffled noises from Dave and Henry as they continued their play fight on the sofa. Dinner wasn't going to be a labour intensive affair, that would defeat the whole object of Dave taking Henry out earlier, but as she placed the hot dogs and fries onto the plate the sound of Dave's voice sent her mind into a daydream once again. As she placed the plates on the table JJ allowed herself to stand still for a moment, listening to the happiness coming from the room next door, instantly it made her heart pang, she shouldn't be doing this, thinking like this, he was just being a good friend, helping her and Henry out, he couldn't want anything else, could he?
JJ crept down the stairs, it had been a battle getting Henry to settle down, an over-tired three year old who just wanted to go down and see Dave again, but eventually, as always, JJ won the battle. As she reached the bottom of the stairs she quickly saw Dave sitting on the sofa, a bottle of red wine and two glasses sitting on the coffee table, raising an eyebrow as she sat down next to Dave who just wore a broad grin on his face.
"This is definitely not one of my bottles."
JJ leant forward and looked at the label on the bottle, instantly recognising it as an expensive vintage, one which was the equivalent of her weekly shopping bill.
"Yes well you cooked dinner for me the least I could do was to provide the after dinner drinks."
JJ opened her mouth to protest but it had been a wonderfully relaxing day so far and she didn't want to spoil it, plus it was a very good bottle of wine. Seeing the hesitation Dave quickly took advantage and poured two glasses, passing one to JJ before he settled back onto the sofa.
"So did the little man go down ok?"
"Eventually, he was exhausted but wanted to come down and play with you again. Thank you so much for this afternoon, I haven't seen Henry that happy for a while."
"The pleasure was all mine Jen believe me, spending time with Henry it has given me a new lease of life."
JJ smiled as she took a sip of wine, swirling the liquid around her mouth as she felt her heart begin to beat just a little bit faster.
"I don't think that I could have coped these last few months without you Dave."
"Of course you would."
"No, Emily died, I had to come back to the BAU, Will left me, if you hadn't have helped me..."
"Sshhh Jen don't think like that, everything is going to be fine, you're doing great, Henry is well and a bundle of fun."
JJ felt a slight tear escape from the corner of her eye, she didn't know where the emotion had come from and it only got worse as she felt Dave's hand reach up and brush the tear away.
"I'm sorry cara, I didn't mean to upset you."
JJ swallowed hard, Dave rested his hand against her cheek as she moved slightly and allowed her body to touch his. Dave moved his hand away as JJ shuffled closer, resting her head on his shoulder as he wrapped his arm around her waist.
"I've got you cara, I'm not going anywhere."
