Chapter 3
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It has been a couple of days since Penelope and her father had their late-night talk, and ever since then JJ, Ried, Morgan, Emily, and Hotch have been watching the father and daughter carefully, all five of them doing their best to try and determine what state their relationship is in.
It is late afternoon and as they don't currently have a case Ried, Morgan, and Emily are in the bullpen talking.
"A popular theory among leading astrophysicists Estimates that the hyper matter reactor would need about ten thirty second jewels of energy to destroy a planet the size of earth." Ried says, "Now, Lucas said it took nineteen years to build the first death star, right? But if you look at the new essential chronology, There's a testbed prototype for a super laser that spans..." Ried starts to say, and as he does Morgan stands up.
"Where are you going?" Ried asks curious.
"Taking back the last five minutes of my life." Morgan reveals, as he heads to Rossi's office where painters just left.
"You can't go in there." Ried says, as he follows Morgan.
"Don't you want to know about this guy?" Morgan asks, as he certainly does.
"I do." Emily says, standing up, and follow.
"I already do. Got it all memorized, his books, his bio." Ried explains, though he has noticed that Rossi's public bio doesn't mention Penelope anywhere, and he assumes there is a reason for that, though he has noticed that one of Rossi's books is dedicated to Penelope, but it is done in a way so that if you didn't know about Penelope you wouldn't be able to tell.
"Yeah, books that have sold over a million copies." Morgan explains.
"So?" Ried asks.
"That's a million reasons not to come back, if you know what I'm saying." Morgan says, making a hand signal for cash.
"You could just ask Garcia, she'd know anything you want to know." Ried comments, as he really wants to talk to Penelope about her father, but even he knows that it wouldn't be a good idea right now, but he is also sure that Morgan could get away with it.
"I'm pretty sure that her father is the last thing Garcia wants to talk about." Morgan admits.
"How's she doing with everything?" Emily asks as the trio walk into Rossi's office, Ried purposely hanging by the door, it being clear that she is worried about her friend and she figures that Morgan will know.
"I don't know." Morgan admits, "She's keeping her feelings close to the vest, which says a lot."
"These walls say a lot too." Emily reveals, "They're Taupe. It's a negative colour." Emily reveals, "Cold, distant. You know, emotionally, Taupe is linked to loneliness and the desire to escape from the world."
"Considering the little Garcia has said that makes sense." Morgan admits, "But you know I just figured the guy's walls would be covered with plaques and commendations."
"Huh. Maybe he doesn't want to be reminded of past victories. It's a new chapter for him." Emily suggests.
"What happened to the moratorium on inter-team profiling, guys?" Ried asks.
"Come on, Ried, team? I don't think this guy knows the meaning of the word." Morgan admits, as he moves some covers to reveal a piece of art, "Oh, I found something. Looks like some type of religious arts. Original, maybe." Morgan guesses, "Definitely expensive."
"It's renaissance art." Ried, who has come over to talk says, "If that's original…."
"Is it?" Emily asks curious.
"I don't know, it's kind of hard to tell." Ried admits, looking at the picture carefully, "Means he's into the classics."
"What else?" Emily asks.
"Um, Italian, strict Catholic upbringing." Reid reveals, causing Emily and Morgan to exchange looks, as they are both sure that even if Rossi was raised like that he didn't raise Penelope in the same way, "Probably believes in redemption."
"Well, I believe in a lot of things." Rossi says, walking into his office, and making Emily, Morgan and Ried feel like they have been caught doing something they should be doing, "Catholic, yes. Italian-American, fifty-two years. Strict upbringing, not so much." Rossi admits, "Now, the artwork, that's fifteenth century original, costs more than my first house." Rossi reveals, telling the truth, "And as for the wall colour, it's just a base coat. Painters will come in and finish tomorrow." He explains, "Now, if you're rall finished, I think JJ and Hotch are ready for us. Isn't that how a team works?" Rossi asks and Emily, Ried and Morgan quickly head out of the office.
Once they leave Rossi does too, after he looks at the picture, and within an hour the team are on their way to Montana for their latest case.
A couple of days later the case in Montana is over and because it brought up more than a few less than pleasant memories for David he is glad that it is over, glad to be home. After dropping his go-bag in his office Rossi heads straight down to his daughter office where he walks over to where she is on her computers and once he is close enough he puts the only object he is holding, a single post card, down on Penelope's desk.
"Greetings from Great Falls, Montana." Penelope reads, "Thanks Dad." Penelope says, as she turns to look at him.
"You're welcome." Rossi tells his daughter, "It's still early, how would you feel about coming over for dinner? I could make the foods you used to love, are you still a vegetarian?" Rossi asks his daughter curious, as he realises he doesn't know.
"Yeah, I am." Penelope confirms, "But I also have dinner plans for tonight, with Stephen Gideon." Penelope reveals.
"Oh." Rossi says, feeling disappointment about not being able to spend more time with his daughter, "Tell him I said hello." Rossi requests.
"I will." Penelope says, standing up, "See you tomorrow, Dad." Penelope says, standing up and carefully picking up the post card, which she carefully puts in her bag.
"I'll see you tomorrow, Penelope." Rossi assures his daughter, as Penelope leaves.
After leaving her office Penelope pulls out her phone as she heads towards the elevators and sends a message, saying,
'Just leaving work now. I'll see you soon.' And about a minute later she gets a message back saying, 'Cool. I'll get the food, you get the wine.' And reading that Penelope can't help but smile.
"Hey Baby Girl!" A voice calls as Penelope almost gets to the elevators and she turns around to see Morgan, Emily, JJ, and Ried, "We were just going to get you. We're going to get drinks; do you want to join us?"
"Can't, I have plans." Penelope reveals.
"With your Dad?" JJ asks curious, asking what they are all thinking.
"No, a friend." Penelope answers.
"Guy friend?" Emily asks curious, with a teasing smile, as she presses the elevator button.
"Does it matter?" Penelope asks curious, not raising to Emily's teasing.
"You're being evasive." Morgan notes, being surprised by that.
"Morgan's right, you are." Ried realises, wondering what is going on.
"I'm having dinner and drinks with my oldest friend." Penelope reveals, "Steven Gideon." She says, as the elevator doors open and the five of them walk in.
"You know Gideon's son?" Ried asks, being surprised by that, and as he speaks he realises that he shouldn't be as considering Gideon and Rossi started the BAU together it would make sense for their children to know each other.
"Yeah, really well." Penelope admits.
"Gideon knew about you, didn't he?" Morgan asks.
"Yes." Penelope confirms, "I asked him not to tell my father that I was working for the FBI, I guess he decided not to tell anyone."
"That sounds like Gideon." JJ admits, and everyone else agrees with her, as the elevator doors open, and they all work out.
"Garcia." Ried says, stopping Penelope from following behind everyone else, "Can you ask Stephen to tell his father that I got his letter, that I miss him." Ried requests.
"Sure Kid." Penelope says, before heading out of the elevator, Ried right behind her.
Forty minutes later Penelope has brought more than a few bottles of wine and is arriving at Stephen's apartment. Knocking on the door it opens a few seconds later revealing Stephen.
"Rossi." Stephen greats.
"Gideon." Penelope responds, "I've got the wine." She says, showing the bag that has several bottles inside.
"I've got the food." Stephen reveals, letting Penelope in and the two of them exchange brief hugs as she walks in.
A couple of minutes later Penelope and Stephen are sitting on the floor in Stephen's living room, the two of them sitting around the coffee table where the food is and their drinks are being poured.
"Red wine, our tradition." Stephen comments, with an amused look, as he finishes pouring glasses for him and Penelope.
"Ever since I was seventeen and you were fifteen." Penelope says, with an amused look on her face, as she and Stephen clink glasses and both drink.
"Did your Dad ever realise we replaced his expensive wine with grape juice?" Stephen asks curious.
"I really don't know." Penelope admits, "He never said anything." She reveals, "But he might have realised, just decided not to give us a hard time."
"That sounds like him." Stephen admits, "Your Dad would let it go. My Dad would be the one to make a big deal out of it."
"Yeah." Penelope says, and the two of them drift into silence, as they start to eat some of their food and drink.
"So, I'm always happy to see you, but we had lunch a few weeks ago. You never suggest having dinner again so soon, what's going on?" Stephen asks curious.
"I just…. Wanted to talk to someone who understands." Penelope admits.
"About?" Stephen asks, though he knows that the list of things Penelope would want to talk to him about because he would understand is short.
"My Dad." Penelope admits, "He's back at the BAU, taken over the position left by…."
"My Dad." Stephen finishes.
"Yeah." Penelope confirms, "He wants a second chance, wants to be an actual father again."
"And you being you are hesitant because you don't want to be hurt, or disappointed again." Stephen realises.
"Can you blame me?" Penelope asks, "You know better than anyone what I went through, what I'm feeling."
"Yeah, I do." Stephen admits, "But Rossi, there is one big difference between us." Stephen says, "I've figured, for a long time, that my Dad regretted having me, but it's always been more than clear how much your Dad loves you, how happy he is to have you in his life."
"Gideon….." Penelope starts to say.
"My point is, you and your Dad were always close, even when you were living on opposite sides of the country, even when the job kept him away, he always made it clear that he wasn't avoiding you." Stephen reveals, "He always, at least, tried to make you a priority." the truth being there were times where he was jealous of Penelope's and Dave's relationship because he wished his relationship with his dad was like that.
"He was my hero, I wanted to be just like him." Penelope admits.
"I know." Stephen says, giving Penelope a comforting look.
"When he wasn't there, it hurt, a lot, and I was so disappointed." Penelope reveals.
"Because you realised that the person you always saw as a hero was only human." Stephen tells his friend, "You kept that phone for a reason, Rossi. You brought his books, kept the postcards, I think you're closer to forgiveness than you want to admit."
"Maybe." Penelope says, taking a drink, "What about you Gideon? You close to forgiveness?"
"I don't know." Stephen admits, "He's called since leaving the BAU."
"And?" Penelope asks.
"We'll see." Stephen answers, and the two of them drift into silence as they continue to eat and drink.
For the next five or so minutes the two old friends eat and drink, not really talking, and when they finish eating both Penelope and Stephen lean back from the table, Penelope leaning against the couch while Stephen leans against an arm chair.
"Do you ever wonder what things would be like if your brother didn't die, if he got a chance to live?" Stephen asks curious.
"All the time." Penelope admits, "I never used to be able to understand how I could miss someone I never got a chance to know."
"And now?" Stephen asks curious.
"Now I know that's part of the reason why I miss James." Penelope admits, "I miss the fact that I never got to know him." She reveals, "I miss what could have been." She says, taking a drink, "I like to think I would have been a good big sister, but I just don't know."
"You would have been an awesome big sister." Stephen says, as he's always seen Penelope kind of like a big sister, so he completely believes that Penelope would have been an amazing big sister to James if she had gotten the chance.
"Thanks Gideon." Penelope says, with a grateful smile, "You know I wonder, if James lived longer than a day would things be different? I wonder if things would have ended differently between Dad and Carolyn, I even wonder if it would have effected Dad and Hayden."
"I don't know." Stephen answers.
"Me either." Penelope says, taking a drink, and once more the two of them drift into silence as they drink.
From the second she opens her eyes the next morning Penelope knows that the last few glasses of wine were a mistake, so she once again closes them pretty quickly.
"I know you're awake, Rossi." A voice says, and Penelope once more opens her eyes, realising that she was asleep on Stephen's couch, "I got your bag from your car, and breakfast is almost ready."
"Coffee?" Penelope asks.
"Of course." Stephen answers, walking over with a cup of coffee.
"Oh, I really, really, love you right now, Gideon." Penelope admits, as Stephen hands her the cup.
"I know." Stephen says, looking amused.
"Why are you not more hung over?" Penelope asks confused, after taking a drink.
"I stopped drinking well before you." Stephen reveals, "You seemed to go between talking about the good times with you've had with your dad, and saying how you're never going to forgive him, never want to see him again, and the more you drunk the more you talked."
"I don't remember." Penelope admits.
"I not surprised." Stephen admits, "Look Rossi, I'm not a profiler, but from what I can tell I was right last night, you are closer to forgiveness than you think. You do want a relationship with your Dad again, you're just scared." Stephen says, "And the Penelope I know has never let fear stop her from doing anything."
"Thanks Gideon." Penelope says, taking another drink and as she realises something, "What's the time?"
"Six thirty."
"I've got work." Penelope says, looking very much like she regrets the wine she drunk.
"You know where the shower is, I'll finish breakfast." Stephen says, getting up and heading to the kitchen, and while he does Penelope gets up to, and after picking up the bag she brought with her Penelope starts to head to the bathroom.
"Hey, Rossi." Stephen says, before she can head into the bathroom, and Penelope turns around, "For what it's worth, I think you should give your Dad a second chance. You know he's only human now, things will be different."
"Maybe." Penelope says, before heading into the bathroom, but then she pauses by the door, "Hey Gideon." She calls, causing him to look at her, "Maybe you should think about taking your own advice." She says, before heading into the bathroom.
A little over an hour later Penelope is sitting at her desk in her office drinking coffee and very much wishing that she stopped drinking when Stephen did.
"Mornin' Baby-Girl." Morgan says, walking into Penelope's office.
"Too loud." Penelope says, closing her eyes.
"Are you hung over?" Morgan asks amused, as he leans against the edge of Penelope's desk, right near Penelope.
"Unfortunately." Penelope answers.
"This the aftermath of your night with Gideon's son?" Morgan asks.
"There was wine, a lot of wine, too much wine." Penelope answers, "But there was also talking, and I needed that." Penelope admits.
"You could have talked to me, you always can." Morgan assures her.
"I know." Penelope assures him, "But I needed to talk about Dad with someone who understands, Gideon understands."
"Did talking help?" Morgan asks curious.
"I'll let you know."
"Okay. Silly girl." Morgan says, with a fond smile, "I leave you to your hangover."
"Thanks." Penelope says relieved and Morgan gives her a hug and places a kiss on her head, before heading out of Penelope's office.
Hours later Rossi has spent all day working so he hasn't had a chance to talk to Penelope, and so when he finishes the last of the paperwork, which he really hates doing once more, Rossi heads down to Penelope's office, wanting to ask his daughter again if she wants to have dinner together.
"Penelope?" Rossi asks, walking in the room.
"She left about ten minutes ago." A voice says and Rossi turns to see Morgan.
"Oh, okay." Rossi answers.
"Look Rossi, I admit, I don't know everything that happened, but I do know Penelope, and I know she doesn't deserve to be hurt again, especially not by her father." Morgan says, clearly giving a warning.
"I completely agree with you, Agent Morgan." Rossi says, before walking away.
When she arrives home, Penelope is very much looking forward to crawling into bed and sleeping for a while and so she heads straight to her bedroom. Once she is in her room Penelope opens her handbag and takes out the postcard her father gave her the day before.
Once she has the postcard Penelope walks over to the wall across from her bed and puts the postcard in one of the empty spaces that are on her wall. After she puts the postcard in position Penelope smiles slightly, and before heading to bed and just like most nights she falls asleep as she stares at her wall of postcards.
