Strauss worked in her office, trying to find anything on Agent Jones. Get a warrant on her house, anything. She typed on her computer, looking for anything in her past. Then she came upon a file, an encrypted file. Slowly, the dragon lady smiled. Now this... she could work with. Immediately she got on the phone calling in a few favors. She finally had something to gnaw on.
RRRRRRR
Derek frantically called Hotch. He had overheard Strauss basically planning a raid on Adriana's house. Trying to keep it quiet, so as to surprise Rossi and Adriana. Hotch answered the phone.
"Warn Rossi they're gonna raid the house for information!"
Hotch stilled, almost dropping his phone.
"Get the others, we got to warn Dave!"
Derek and Hotch hung up, Derek getting JJ and Hotch getting Prentiss and Reid. Garcia on the other hand, told them she was coming the second she had heard. So the six of them poured into their FBI issued SUVs, and raced to Adriana's apartment. This was going to get messy.
RRRRRRR
David and Adriana were still tense with each other. Every time he brought up those notebooks or the encrypted file she would, a little gentler now, shut him down. She just said she had to protect them, even from him. He was nearing his wits end when he heard his cell going off. He glanced at Adriana and answered. It was Hotch.
"Listen Dave. Strauss is coming, she's gonna raid the apartment, we're on our way. But prepare her."
Without waiting for Dave's response Aaron hung up. Rossi stared into space for a moment before rushing down the hall. Once he returned, out of breath. He heard the screech of the SUVs as the rest of the team arrived. By now of course Adriana knew something was up.
"What's happening?"
Dave hesitated, bringing her fear up a level. She swatted his arm. "What's happening Rossi!?"
He sighed and rubbed his neck.
"Strauss is coming... to raid this place."
Her instant response was to turn and try to go to her room. He caught her by the waist, pulling her back to him.
"Listen Adriana your secrets are safe right now, you have to trust me. Do you?"
Before she could respond, the team walked into the apartment. They instantly stilled, not daring to interfere with this little play. Adriana stared into Rossi's eyes, at first hostile. But as she stared she melted under his intense but caring and concerned eyes. The soft dark browns undoing her fear, if only for a moment. Rossi issued a gentle shake to her.
"Do you trust me?"
Adriana stared at him, then nodded slowly.
"For now."
The team moved into the apartment. Hotch looking at the two in sympathy.
"Agent Jones… Strauss is coming."
She nodded.
"I know... And it's Adriana please."
Hotch nodded. This time Garcia spoke up, trying to lighten the mood.
"I like your apartment! I expected pink and frilly things, but this Agent chic thing is great too!"
The others risked smiles at the attempt at humor, even Rossi smiled a little at that. Derek, ever the protector, heard the SUVs of the searching agents pull up. He spoke brokenly.
"They're here kid."
Wanting to be strong, Adriana pulled away from Dave and Derek.
"I know, and I can handle it, just don't touch me. It'll be worse." Sympathetically the team nodded, Prentiss and JJ both clasping Adriana's hands, as Penelope pressed against her back, comforting her, and preparing her with their presence. The men of the team had just surrounded her, Dave at the center when Strauss and her team kicked in the door. Strike one, Adriana winced. Strauss looked curiously at the team, cocooning Agent Jones, before giving the order to search the house. Instinctively, Adriana tensed, and so did the others. Soon the sound of her apartment being ransacked filled the air. As she watched, agents tore into her notebooks. Searched through her books. Tearing sounds, from pages being ripped, filled the air. A sound of anguish tore itself from her throat. Dave winced, sparing a glance at her, tears were swimming in her eyes, a look of horror on her face. Horror at the one woman standing in the middle of the raid, Erin Strauss.
Adriana couldn't help the tears running down her face. Strauss was killing her. Her home was being torn apart, though the protective barrier of people were shielding her view, she could still hear the agents tearing through her things. Another cry tore itself from her throat when one of the agents tossed a notebook of hers across the room like it was trash. This earned another sympathetic look from Rossi. No words were said, but she gently shook free the hands of Emily and JJ. She wrapped her arms around Rossi's waist, pulling him directly in front of her in the process, and buried her face in his chest as she cried. Rossi cast a broken glance to the others and wrapped his arms around Adriana, pressing his face into her hair and whispering comforting Italian endearments in her ear.
"Piccolo… Everything will be fine, I'll protect you la mia dolcezza. Ah donna preziosa... Shh... It will all be over soon..."
Adriana still cried, but moved to press her face against his neck, to better listen to the sweet things he was whispering in her ear. But the sounds of the raid could still be heard. And damned if it wasn't going to be over soon.
The agents, and piercing sounds that followed, slowly finished their work, after what seemed like hours had passed. But in reality it was only about 20 minutes. If you asked them though, they wouldn't have agreed, saying that it did indeed take hours for Strauss to finally call off her dogs. Getting what little information if any that they found, Strauss didn't even say goodbye as she and her raiders left Adriana's now trashed apartment. The tears finally stopped, Rossi's neck and shirt were soaked, but he didn't even care. Not now, not while Adriana clung to him like a lifeline. Derek broke from the cocoon and found his way to Adriana's bedroom, clearing her a space, and finding a blanket. Meanwhile the others disentangled from the pair, now inseparable. Hotch took one look at Rossi and Adriana, and knew they would be of no help tonight, with the cleaning of her apartment now needing to be done. So Hotch touched Rossi's shoulder and murmured.
"We'll clean up out here."
At Adriana's weak protest he added,
"We won't throw anything away, we'll just clean and put everything back. Dave… take care of her."
At that moment, Derek returned with the blanket from her room and wrapped it around her shoulders. Rossi nodded to Hotch and wrapped Adriana firmly in the blanket, keeping her close, before wrapping one arm around her shoulders, the other under her knees, and picking her up, cradling her to his chest as he did so. "Thanks guys... We'll be in her room if you need us." They nodded and instantly began breaking off into teams. Reid saddled up with Derek and began cleaning the kitchen, while simultaneously making Adriana some tea. JJ and Prentiss took over the den. And Hotch and Garcia took command of the back hallway, and quickly cleaned up the bedroom before Rossi could even move to carry Adriana back there.
Smiling slightly at his team's thoughtfulness, Rossi again pressed his face against Adriana's hair and whispered.
"Donna preziosa... Let's get you in bed huh...?"
Adriana nodded and brokenly whispered.
"Yes please..."
As he walked, Rossi's heart lurched at the broken tone in her voice. He carried her inside her room, toeing the door closed behind him, quietly urging Adriana to hold onto him so she wouldn't fall. He used his now free arm to turn down the covers on her bed for her. Once done, he set her in the bed and pulled the covers over her, gently kissing her head as he did so. Finally Adriana found her voice again and quietly pleaded.
"Please don't leave me Dave... I can't be alone. Please, will you hold me?" Rossi stared down into her face a moment, seeing the tears swimming in her eyes, he couldn't say no.
"Of course I will donna preziosa..." He smiled softly wiping her tears before toeing his shoes off and climbing into bed with her, instantly he found her in his arms. She wrapped her arms and body around his, curling into him for what comfort he could bring. And David Rossi welcomed her into his embrace.
A/N: Piccolo- little one
La mia dolcezza- My sweetness
Donna preziosa- precious woman.
