Tony stood there looking at the place David Rossi called home and then at Penelope. "He calls this a log cabin?"
Penelope smiled. "Well it is his haven." "There is a Jacuzzi in the back as well."
He smiled. "You do know the way to my heart sunshine. I hope you will join me out there after we unpack first."
They opened the front door with the key Dave had given Penelope and went inside with their bags.
Tony said "That couch is bigger than Gibbs'. Stayed on it a few times to know."
Penelope nodded. "I'm sure you have. He seems like he would be protective of his team when they need it."
He replied "Yeah he can be. Has his papa bear side at times."
Tony said "Well this looks like a nice room. Gray and olive green, nice color combination. Someone decorates well."
Penelope smiled. "It has a comfy bed too, I used it once for a few nights. I was dealing with a breakup and Dave invited me out. Showed me how to drink 18 year old Scotch that weekend as well. I'm still a red wine girl at heart though."
Tony smiled. "Well then I hope you like sharing the room with me again. And that it has better memories this time."
She ran her hand over his arm. "It will angelfish because you are here."
He kissed her cheek. " How did I get so lucky?"
She smiled. "Same way I did."
Then he asked "Do you think I can fit with your team? Hotch seems like a good guy. I think it's time for me to move on and start fresh. I can't work with people who I can't trust."
Penelope said "Well when we get you healed, then you can make that decision. "
He said "Well thank you. I did tell Gibbs I would be cell phone free here and where I was. I didn't want anyone trying to talk to me just now from the team. I want my own time for a while and I am taking it."
She replied "Good, you are long overdue and you can get plenty of rest here. There are DVD's of all kinds of movies and a bunch of different books. Plus the Jacuzzi and outdoor shower in the back."
Then an aging chocolate Labrador retriever with some German shepherd in him came over and sniffed Tony's hand a little. "You must be Mudgie, I'm Tony."
The dog rubbed his head against Tony's hand a few times.
Tony smiled. "So you like your head and ears rubbed then, good to know puppy."
Penelope smiled. "He loves any love that he gets. Slept on the foot of the bed with me when I stayed here. He's a sweet dog. He could have gone to the kennel while we were here but I thought it would be ok."
Tony smiled. "It is, I can take him for walks and things or we can."
She was moving around connecting her laptop to Dave's Wi-Fi. "I have one of my babies in case the team needs help. There is another tech standing in for me but sometimes things happen on old cases that I found or know about. "
Tony smiled. "Well I wouldn't expect you to not be connected baby."
She said "This is your time."
He smiled. "I am going to change and head out back to the Jacuzzi for a bit. My back needs a soak, still isn't quite unkinked like I want it to be."
She touched his face. "I'll join you later with some nice wine."
He smiled. "Now that I like lucky penny."
Tony was out back in the aHH jacuzzi with his head leaned back and he had his eyes closed. He exhaled slowly and then heard footsteps approaching him .
Penelope said "Don't you look relaxed now ."
He smiled. "Working on it. I think my mind is made up about my future. I am going to talk to Hotch in a few days and see what I have to do to join your team as a profiler. Which means I also need to see Gibbs but that will wait until we are finished here."
Penelope touched his arm. "I know this hasn't been easy for you but just know that I have your back all the way in whatever choices you make."
He smiled "Thank you sunshine, that's all that matters to me right now not much more. I need to be with people that I can trust when I am out in the field to have my back , and not be looking over my shoulder wondering if someone will follow rules or not."
Penelope stepped into the jacuzzi after placing a bottle of red wine out on the marble ledge around it with two glasses. She sat down and exhaled. "This is so nice, we have total privacy out here and Mudgie walking the property in case we have visitors. Plus there is an alarm system too in the basement if someone were to come here uninvited."
Tony nodded. "Good but for now let's just enjoy each other." He kissed her gently. "I can make some pasta later for dinner, I know a meatless one or two that you might like. Say fettucini alfredo with some mushrooms in it."
She smiled. "That sounds very good angelfish. You are going to cook for me?"
He replied "I'm Italian that's what we do."
