Disclaimer: I don't own Criminal Minds or the City of Norfolk, Virginia. haha. :)
Chapter Two
"Unfortunately, the balance of nature decrees that a super-abundance of dreams is paid for by a growing potential for nightmares." -Peter Ustinov
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Dave sighed as he slid down the wall outside his bedroom at his cabin where JJ was sleeping. He finally let his silent tears fall down his face as he cried for the woman he'd secretly come to love and the things that had happened to her in the last twenty four hours. He almost felt responsible for what happened to her, maybe if he'd only been man enough to tell her how he felt she wouldn't have gone out with "Steve" and maybe this wouldn't have happened to her. If he was honest with himself though he'd have to say he was worried about her. She hadn't let go of him once since they'd left her burning apartment around four that morning and it was now almost 9am. She'd refused to try on anything in the Walmart dressing rooms without him so they just purchased what size she would've normally worn in most of the items and the rest they'd just simply guessed with the help of a sweet older woman who worked in the Women's department. He'd gotten her plenty of socks and a few pairs of cheap tennis shoes that would last her until her new clothes arrived, that she would order as soon as she woke up because he knew she had to be freezing in the cold December air in her flip flops.
Shirley had come over around 6am to take the pictures of her bruises and the only way they were able to get her to have the pictures taken without him being in the room was by having Shirley show JJ her hosptial ID card over and over and have Dave promise to just be right outside the door. By the time the pictures were taken, she was examined for internal bleeding and broken bones, and her cuts were all bandaged it was nearly an hour since Shirley had arrived and Dave knew JJ had to be getting antsy, and to be honest he almost needed to see her, check on her to make sure she was okay, but just as he was about to knock on the door and check on them she and Shirley came out and he felt relief wash over him as he gave her a once over with his eyes, checking for himself that she was really okay. Shirley had given JJ a prescription for medication to help her with the pain and to help her sleep, but for the most part JJ was doing very well, medically speaking. She had no internal bleeding and no broken bones, just a few shallow cuts, a pretty deep gash on the back of her head, and the bruises. By the time Shirley left it was well past seven thirty in the morning, but not until she'd explained to both JJ and Dave how JJ was supposed to take her medication, bandage her cuts and gashes, and to call her if anything went wrong.
He'd gotten her to take another shower to get the ash and soot out of her hair and the little bit that was on her skin off. He'd cut up plastic sandwhich bags and used medical tape to place them over her fresh bandages so she wouldn't get them wet while she was showering. The one in her hair caused a small problem and he'd ended up washing her hair for her in the kitchen sink because she couldn't see to wash around the bandage on the back of her head that was near her hairline. Once she was clean and dressed in a pair of her new pajama's and socks, they'd made breakfast together because she needed to eat with her pain medication, and then he could tell she was fading. She had to be tired, hell he was, and all this stuff had happened to her. He'd only been an observer.
He'd laid down with her for a good twenty minutes until she fell asleep and then he'd jumped in the shower himself and started quietly putting away most of her new things and the large amount of groceries they'd bought because his cabinets had been close to empty the last time he'd been up to the cabin. He hadn't even realized that he was hurridly putting the things away until he finished and realizied that it had only taken him a little over thirty minutes to shower and get everything up in the drawers and cabinets, and get the dishwasher running. It was only after he checked on her again that he let himself finally relax a bit, seeing that she was still sleeping somewhat peacefully after almost an hour, and that's how he'd now found himself silently crying on the floor outside his bedroom.
Wiping his eyes and getting up he prepared to head over to the couch, which was directly visible from the bedroom so JJ could see him if she woke up, he heard her begin tossing and turning a little like she was in the beginnings of a nightmare. He knew the nightmares were inevitable, but for some reason he found himself hoping that she wouldn't be plauged with them. Sitting on the bed and gently touching her shoulder so not to frieghten her or irritate her deep purple bruises he noticed her still when she felt his touch before her eyes shot open and began to dart around the room.
"Relax JJ. It's just me. You were starting to have a nightmare." Dave whispered softly as he pushed some of her hair out of her face. He knew she normally slept with it in a ponytail at night, but with the gash on the back of her head she wouldn't be doing that for a while.
She nodded and he saw her visibly relax when she realized where she was and that she was safe. When he saw her start to fade again he eased off the bed intent on making his way back towards the couch until he felt her small hand once again encase his larger one. "Stay with me. Please Dave?"
He didn't answer just motioned for her to scoot over and laid down beside her and pulled the covers up over them. He was just about asleep from exhaustion when he felt her turn on her side and pull his arm around her before snuggling into him as they both fell asleep with exhaustion overtaking them.
--
It was JJ who woke up first hours later to realize the sun was already going down and at some point while they were sleeping she'd rolled over to face Dave and her head was now resting comfortably just below his chin and his arms were wrapped around her, strong enough to make her feel comfortable and safe, but soft enough to keep from hurting her bruises. Sighing contendly she skillfully scooted herself up higher on the bed so she could be face to face with him, but not wake him up, and let her fingers play with his soft dark hair. If she were honest with him, and herself, she'd thought about waking up like this many times before, and the dreams often ended up with one of them getting up to take care of a baby who slept in the next room or being ambushed by a two year old jumping on the bed intent on tickling his mommy and daddy. But the best way the dreams ended up was when they ended up with them getting to know each and every inch of each other's body over and over again. Even after all that had happened to her in the past day or so she knew that when, or if, the time came for she and Dave to get together in that way she'd be okay with that because she trusted him completely and she knew he'd never hurt her. He'd taken such good care of her already and they had only been starting to become friends, hanging out once a week or so depending on cases and consults. If she were honest with herself she'd have to admit she liked David Rossi a lot, which suprised her and excited her at the same time.
Her hand stilled in his hair when she noticed his eyes begin to flutter open. "Hello sleepy head."
"Hi babe" Dave replied sleepily, the endearment slipping out with his still sleep filled mind getting closer to waking up, "What time is it?"
"I don't know, it's dark outside now though." JJ said smiling at their easy relationship and his use of a nickname for her.
"It's just after 7pm" Rossi said looking at his watch, "how did we sleep so long?"
"I don't know, but I'm starving." JJ answered and they both laughed when her stomach grumbled its agreement.
"Why don't you get cleaned up and I'll fix us something to eat okay?" JJ nodded and they both reluctanly got out of bed and to set about their desired tasks.
--
"So how come you've never cooked like this for me before David Matthew Rossi?" JJ said pretending to be stern as he sat a steaming plate of chicken alfredo in front of her before sitting down with his own plate across from her.
"I don't know" Dave sighed dramatically for her amusement relieved to finally be getting her to smile again "Maybe because you're too controlling in the kitchen. Every time we spend time together you're always the one who kicks me out of the kitchen because I'm 'in the way' " He said, finishing his statment by putting 'in the way' in air quotes.
"Yea, Yea" JJ said smiling as she dug into her food, she felt like she hadn't eaten in days, "just be quiet and eat mister."
Chuckling Dave added "Okay, but then I guess you don't wanna know where my laptop and my credit card are so you can order tons of new clothes then right?"
"Seriously?" JJ asked wide eyed like a kid in the candy store.
"Of course sweetheart. You can't wear sweats forever, besides I was thinking of having a Christmas party for some friends here at the cabin, and if you're going to be my date you're going to need something nice to wear."
"Ok but only on two conditions." JJ added with a michevious smirk.
"Give it to me straight JJ." Dave replied his tone all serious but his eyes matched hers in playfulness.
"If we're going have a Christmas party we have to go into Norfolk tomorrow and get a tree and some decorations and if I'm going to be your date to this party then you'll have to agree to be my date to the work party. Deal?" She finished by offering her hand up to shake.
"Well..." Dave started knowing that his being so indecisive would drive her crazy, "Okay deal."
"Well then Mr. Rossi it looks like you've got yourself a date."
"I guess it does." Rossi said smiling once again at the comfortable relationship between the two of them. It was almost as if they were just a happy couple enjoying dinner, almost.
