Thank you to everyone who nominated me in the 2012 Profiles Choice Criminal Minds Awards as "Best New Author" found on the "Chit Chat on Authors Corner" forum.

I was so shocked to have received the PM I told everyone in my office who would listen, and now everyone is sure I'm a Criminal Minds freak, which of course I am.

If you would like to vote, simply send your ballot as a PM to "2012 Profilers Choice Awards" page. (Again found on the CCOAC forum) =D

Thank you again for voting!

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David's head was reeling as he led Penelope to a large and comfortable guest room. She was quietly hugging herself, padding bare foot on his wood floors.

How could you be so stupid?! You just attacked her with a kiss in her most vulnerable state… her home just burned down, for gods sake, Rossi, you idiot!

Opening the door and walking through it before her, he quickly located the linen closet, and pulled out an oversized feather-down comforter to lay across the king sized bed.

Refusing to speak to him again, Penelope kept her thoughts to herself. This "Guest room" was bigger than the largest hotel suite she'd ever been in. Peaking to the left she confirmed her suspicions that it had it's own boudoir and large bathroom, complete with a spa-tub.

After spreading the blanket on the bed, he faced her, a sort of sadness etched in his face. "Penelope I'm sorry for that back there, it was inappropriate. I…" He looked down at his hands. This was a mess… he always made a mess of things. His once chance to express how he felt to her and he'd ruined it.

Anger boiled to the surface again as she looked at him. How dare he act all sorry and sad… "Just because I don't walk around the BAU in a tight, size-double-zero skirt doesn't mean I'm some easy woman who likes to be kissed by anyone whose horny enough to have me, Sir. I appreciate the room. I will call Emily in the morning."

Dawning came over Rossi as he met her hurt eyes, and he knew in that moment that she had misunderstood him. Oh, you silly perfect woman. Is that what you think of yourself?

"Penelope you completely misunderstand me." He had a million things running through his head that he would like to say to her, but none of them seemed to be able to dissolve this situation at the moment, by the look of her pertinently crossed arms.

"I think I understand you perfectly. You have quite a reputation around the office and in the field, Agent Rossi. I'm not such a lonely case I'm desperate to be another notch on your bedpost. Please leave." The words hurt even as she said them, tears threatening to overwhelm her again as she looked down at her glaringly bare feet. They were getting cold, and she missed the fleece left on the couch. In fact, she missed how warm she had felt when he had pulled her to him. And she hated herself for missing that.

"I'm not that man anymore, I haven't been for nearly ten years, Pen. Good night." He walked past her and gently shut the door behind him, and the pain in his words were so evident it reminded her of his breaking voice just moments before she had heard the tears during his confession to Adams.

It made her feel terrible. Hadn't she just been wishing she could make sure she never heard that pain in his voice ever again? Though here she was, having heard the pain again, this time in person, not over a conference line that kept her connected to the team. And suddenly she felt awful. Had she judged his intentions so harshly? Without giving him time to explain the truth? Guilt overwhelmed her and instead of climbing into the warm feather bed she stood debating whether or not she should go to him and apologize for all but calling him a low-down dirty dog.

Groaning, she pulled apart the drawers in the dresser, hoping against odds she might find some socks. This room wasn't as warm as the living room with a fire place. Finding none, she couldn't shake the feeling that she owed Rossi an apology for biting his head off. Quietly pulling the door open she looked both ways down the long dark hallway.

Now which gosh darn way is his bedroom? Roaming around the enormous house was not at all her idea of fun, in fact, she was increasingly becoming creeped out by the profound silence and black dark.

Finding double French doors, she pulled them open, fully expecting this to be his larger-than-life master bedroom. Instead, she found the study, ceiling to floor bookshelves lit by the moonlight from equally an equally as impressive glass window pane covering an entire wall. Somewhat entranced, she stepped in, and looked out the window. It overlooked a large, well manicured lawn. Sighing and thinking of how romantic a balcony lit by moonlight would be to share with someone and a nice glass of wine, she turned to walk out, but ran smack into a firm, solid hair mass. Screaming at the top of her lungs and instinctually smacking at anything she could touch on the intruder, Rossi couldn't help but chuckle. "it's just me, Pen, stop.. oofh…" she had landed a clawed finger on his bare chest and gouged roughly near a very sensitive and peaked nipple.

"What are you doing creeping around like a creeper?! You scared me half to death!" Penelope smacked his chest again, noticing with labored breathing that he had shucked his night shirt.

"What am I doing creeping around? In my own home you mean?" He chuckled again and rubbed the spot he was sure was trickling blood now from her talons. "Damn woman, get those things trimmed…" He walked to his desk and turned on a low-lit lamp, examining his wound carefully.

Seeing the small bit of blood she gasped. "Oh… sorry… but you deserved it! You scared me!" She defended stubbornly.

"My deepest apologies. I just came down here for a drink…" He held up an expensive looking decanter with amber liquid in it. "Care for a nightcap?" He offered casually, trying with all his might to forget the embarrassment of earlier.

"You need to put some Neosporin on that…" she couln't tear her eyes away from the firm bare chest of David Rossi. Carmelized skin covered in dark black curls… She wanted to touch him again. She refrained from running her fingers down his surprising abs as he handed her a tumbler full of aged whiskey. "Thank you…" She whispered, embarrassed as he caught her looking at more than the scratch she had marred him with.

Having her eyes on him sparked his earlier desire so strongly he had to turn away for fear he might be getting a hard on again. Looking down quickly and praying to whatever saints may be to make the thing stay down in his pants, he grabbed a tissue to busy his hands and blotted the bloodied scratch.

"What were you doing in here?" He asked carefully.

"Looking for you." She wrinkled her nose as the first sip burned down her throat. It was quite a welcome feeling, and she eagerly took another sip.

"Oh?" He faced her now, curiosity growing. Had she changed her mind? He could only hope…

"I…" She couldn't bring herself to apologize now it came to it. "I want to ask you about some things…" Tentatively looking into his burning gaze she knew with a little help from the whiskey she might finally be able to ask him about his incredible past with the Marine Corps.

"Ask me anything, Penelope." He motioned for her to take a seat across from him on the chaise lounge as he himself took a seat in his favorite leather back chair.

She looked into the dark liquid in front of her, she was scared he'd be angry she was asking. "I… Well. I did some research. I'm curious about… about Snakepit."

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