Chapter 2 I Did It My Way

Dave strolled through the bullpen taking in the flurry of activity going on around him. Emily and Morgan were on their respective phones while Reid was scribbling notes across the white board. He stopped and stared for a moment wondering if the young Doctor was working on a case he needed to be concerned about then realized that the scribbles looked like a mathematical formula and decided that he really didn't want to get involved. He would fake his own death if he had to just to not be involved.

He continued to his office intent on closing the door and having a bit of a rest in the relative quiet. He and Hotch had spent the better part of the day in budget meetings mostly listening to Erin Strauss drone on about things he really didn't care about. He hated all the paperwork and political b s that was part of the job. He just wanted to catch the bad guys.

Slumping into his chair he tossed his notebook on the desk and leaned back to catch his breath. Closing his eyes for a moment he realized that what he really wanted was a cup of coffee. For some reason, there had only been one pot of coffee in the conference room and that was gone in less than half an hour. He sat up and reached for his cup it was then that he caught sight of a small brown-paper wrapped package sitting discretely on his blotter.

He leaned closer to read the address label squinting instead of pulling out his glasses. It was addressed to him from a company he didn't recognize. Frowning, he tried to remember if he had ordered anything online recently. He still wasn't tech savvy but he was learning his way around the world wide web.

Garcia had given him an Internet for Dummies book for his birthday and he now cherished it like his bible though he wouldn't tell her that as she would probably try to upgrade his floppy disk or something. Through his new found knowledge he had discovered a few online companies that he deemed worthy of his time and money. His favorites included Amazon, Ebay and a placed called DaddyO's where he purchased a slew of new shirts. But this was too small to be a shirt and he never had anything sent to the office.

Curiosity got the better of him as he reached over and gently picked up the box. It was very light and evenly weighted. He knew that all packages entering the bureau were x-rayed and checked by dogs for explosives but that didn't stop him from being careful. He checked the paper for oily residue or powdery substances then skimmed his fingers across all of the surfaces feeling for wires or other oddities. Finding none he set the box down and stared at it.

Not being Superman he couldn't see into the box which meant he had to open it. By all rights, he thought, he should send it back unopened. Again curiosity got the better of him and he reached into his pant pocket to pull out his knife. A few deft moves later and the box was open.

He dumped the contents onto his desk. A piece of typewritten paper floated to the side and a DVD clattered to the desk facedown in front of him. He picked up the DVD and smiled; Frank Sinatra in concert. Definitely something he would enjoy but he still didn't remember ordering it. He glanced at the note sitting haphazardly on his desk. The answer was there, he just had to pick it up.

"Jennifer Jareau."

"You know the only thing you're getting is poorer, right?"

"Hello Dave." Her face lit up with a smile. Her heart pounded roughly in her chest while she willed herself to remain calm. She felt like a teenager again she was giddy because David Rossi had called her.

"Thank you for the DVD," he said softly. "How did you find it?"

She sighed. "I wish I could take the credit but Garcie found it for me."

"Maybe I should be calling her then," Dave teased.

"No," JJ cried. "I bought it."

Dave chuckled. "And I appreciate it."

"And…" JJ ventured holding her breath as she waited for him to say what she wanted to hear.

"Any luck with your date search?" he asked deflating her balloon.

"You tell me."

"Like I said at the beginning of this conversation the only thing you are getting is poorer," he explained.

"I can't understand your hesitancy," she blurted out in frustration. "You don't think I'm ugly do you?"

Dave's bark of laughter made her pause. "No," he said shortly. "I don't think you're ugly. In fact, I think you are a very beautiful, intelligent woman that has a lot to offer a man."

"Thank you," she said shyly thankful that he couldn't see the blush that adorned her cheeks.

"You should put that beauty and intelligence to work for you and find someone worthy of your attention," he continued.

"I have," she said in a low tone.

"JJ," he replied warningly.

"Dammit Rossi! Don't make me beg," she pleaded. "I'm practically guaranteeing you a night of free food, free drink and sex with me! How can you keep saying no?"

"Well when you put it that way it is a very tempting offer," he agreed.

"So you'll go?" she asked hopefully.

"You're not the kind of woman that a man wants as a one night stand," he explained carefully. JJ could barely hear a hint of frustration in his voice and decided to press the issue.

"Oh yeah," she breathed. "I'm open to a trial period. Is that such a bad prospect?"

"It is if your name is David Rossi."

"Are you scared," she teased keeping her voice light.

"Been there done that," he reminded her. "And I have the battle scars to prove it."

"Don't give up Dave," she said encouragingly. "The right woman could help heal those scars."

He snorted. "Some scars never heal, Jennifer. My third wife attacked me with a butcher knife. The doctor said the scars would be permanent."

"Oh my God," JJ replied in horror. "What happened?"

Dave drew a deep breath before answering. "She was upset with me being gone all of the time. She wanted to have a baby and we were trying. Honestly, it didn't matter to me so I didn't think about it except when she would tell me it was time. I had been gone on a case and when I came back it was a day after she had been ovulating so we missed another month."

He paused for a moment. "She was so wrapped up in getting pregnant and I was too nonchalant about it. We argued and I said it was no big deal that we could try again the next month she kind of lost it and attacked me with the knife. I ended up in the hospital and she ended up in jail."

"She could have killed you," JJ pointed out.

"She would have if I hadn't been trained to defend myself," Dave stated. "She got the first two blows in before I could react."

"Did you press charges?"

"How could I?" he asked in return. "I know it was a combination of things that set her off and I know that she really did love me. I loved her too just not as much as I should have. She's happy now that's all that matters."

"What happened to her?"

"After the divorce she moved to California. She met an accountant there a guy with a normal job she tells me. They got married and have three kids."

"You still talk to her?" JJ asked astounded.

"Yeah," Dave smiled. "She sends me Christmas and birthday cards. And I call her every once in a while. Her kids even call me Uncle Dave. I send them stuff for their birthdays."

"Do you regret it?"

"Which part?" he laughed. "She was a sweet woman and I still care for her. We just weren't in the same place mentally at the same time. My only regret is that we didn't figure it out sooner."

"What about not having kids of your own," JJ inquired.

"Not a necessity in my life," he replied airily.

"But you would be ok if they were around," she continued.

He sighed. "I know where you are going with this. I've dated women with children before and that is not why I'm saying no to you. Besides, I like Henry."

She smiled into the receiver. "He likes you too."

"How can you tell?" he frowned. "He's barely talking."

"He doesn't get shy when you're around," she explained. "He does with everyone else even Hotch."

"Smart kid," he cut in. "If I was half as smart I'd get shy around Hotch too."

"And if you remember," she continued ignoring his last remark. "He tries to share his toys with you."

"Huh," Dave snorted as he remembered a time when he found a sticky matchbox car in his coat pocket after Henry had visited the office. "So those are good things?"

"Yes. However, you won't need to worry about that as Henry will be with Will while we are out on our date. In fact they are spending the night together."

"We are not going out."

Frustrated and a bit pissed off JJ decided to make one last appeal. "I'm going to let you think about this Rossi. The party is over, we have had a wonderful time laughing, dancing, eating, and drinking and now we've gone home and I am lying naked on your bed or mine, and willing to do anything you want all night long. You think about that and call me back tomorrow."

She didn't wait for a response as she hung up the phone.