Rossi's Return chapter 4
AN:: sorry for the delay in posting and not replying to your reviews life has being a bit of a b #*h.
Hopefully she will go annoy someone else for a bit and let me get this tale told...But I am not holding my breathe on that hope.
Anyhoo as per normal I forgot the legal hogwash..I don't own Criminal Minds or any of their characters. Which should be pretty obvious to anyone ..,,done and done.
I did go back and tweak the summary, but was being awkward and wouldnt let me in for the past two days Will try again later.
It should read slightly AU, because although I am using cannon cases Reid's back story is a little different as will soon become apparent...promise.
So without further ado...
Chapter four.
Dr Spencer Reid was true to his word.
He was professional in the Bullpen, in the Conference room, at the various Police Stations, at the dump sites and murder scenes they visited.
And it was driving David Rossi loopy
Even when they where alone in the big Black SUV's, the boys mask didn't fall one millimetre
If Rossi asked a question. He got an answer.
A polite, concise, professional answer.
He didn't get the joyful, excited, babbling cacophony of facts that the others got. And it burned.
Reid would and could quote sections from his books verbatim if they had any relevance to a case. As he had done on the plane going to their last case. Which had turned out to be a seriously weird one. Satanic Cannibalistic serial killers definitely rated high on his weird meter.
But he knew if he offered to discuss anything other than the ongoing case with the young Doctor he would get shut down.
"Sorry Agent Rossi I'm rather busy."
"Sorry Agent Rossi. I'm sure that Morgan would be more insightful on this subject."
In otherwards...Leave Me Alone.
He had never believed that Dr Spencer Reid would be able to bottle up his feelings toward him; hidden out of sight and just continue on. His initial actions had shown everyone how intense and passionate those feelings were.
No one was that compartmentalised.
But he had been proven wrong, he mused as he stroked his Labrador dark head.
"Stubborn cuss! His second name should have been Rossi. Eh! Mudgie?" Rossi cursed out loud as he relaxed on his leather couch after their long walk.
Mudgie just pushed his solid head against his humans hand and kept his own counsel.
Mudgie wasn't a stupid dog.
Spencer Reid wasn't the type of person to laugh at another's downfall.
But he would admit to mentally giggling at the utter stupidity of his friend, Derek Morgan.
While they had been away on their last case, Ladies Man Extrordinaire Derek Morgan totally goofed when dealing with their wonderful Technical wizard, Penelope Garcia.
Garcia had met a 'Smokin' hot' man who had invited her out. But she was a bit unsure whether to go. Upon Morgan's not so subtle advice, when the man phoned she put him off to another time with a 'got a bug' ruse.
In his relief that HIS BabyGirl wasn't going anywhere with some unknown male. Morgan basically told her that 'Smoking Hot' was out of her league.
Or at least that was what Garcia screamed over the airwaves to him when he called to check on her...for Morgan.
Sometimes he wanted to lock the two of them in a very small cupboard until they sorted their feelings out. It was exhausting listening to Morgan wax lyrical [seriously up chuck sugary stuff]
about his Babygirl, then have to listen to Pen go on and on and on and on about her Dark Adonis.
Seriously he had enough on his plate with David Rossi, without dealing with the two of them.
But he had to admit seeing Morgan grovel at Pen's lair was highly amusing.
"What are you smirking at?"
"Jeez! Hotch!" Reid squealed in fright at the voice in his ear. "Get a bell please. Before you give me heart failure."
Reid's heart was thumping pretty fast, but he knew that wasn't the fright's fault. That was just normal for it when Aaron Hotchner focused that dark stare on him. He knew that Hotch still wanted to know about Rossi, and had been keeping a close eye on the situation...and on him.
But so far he had let things lie. Reid wasn't fool enough to think this was a permanent solution, but
he would take the respite for now.
Aaron Hotchner couldn't repress the warm chuckle that escaped.
He hadn't meant to scare the young man, but the flushed face just made him so adorable.
ADORABLE!? Where the hell did that come from? His psyche blustered.
Handsome, Brilliant, Sneaky, Innocent, Card-shark,Unique. Any of those would have described him. But no you went with freeking Adorable. What's wrong with Sexy or Hot or...
"So what were you smirking at?" Hotchner asked, trying to ignore the psychotic ramblings of his ego.
"Oh..well actually the torture of Morgan's ego...He;s trying to get Pen to forgive him and go out tonight with him." Spencer answered softly. He knew he was going to wind Morgan up about this incident. Didn't mean he was going to spread it through the BAU.
Hotch's lips twitched. Morgan had been like a whipped puppy on the flight back. By his count he had phoned their flamboyant techie eight times. Each lasting long enough for Penelope to call him a name, then end it.
"For a renowned Ladies man he sure screwed that up."he muttered.
"Who told you?" Spencer enquired, knowing it wasn't Garcia.
"Oh Prentiss was trying to stop laughing about the calls on the plane. When I asked what was going on she explained." Hotch looked along the corridor to Garcia's lair. Morgan was standing close to the door talking.
"Do you think they'll be okay?"
"Oh yeah! Garcia is going on the date that started all this hullabaloo. Hopefully that will be enough to set a fire under Morgan. If not, well I am sure there are plenty of eligible men out there for the Amazing Ms P." Reid laughed as the elevator arrived at the sixth floor. "I will see you tomorrow Hotch. I'll have to hurry. Got a class at Georgetown."
"Did you take the VRE?" Hotch enquired as Reid stepped into the car.
"Yeah. My car has died for good this time. I'll see what I can pick up this weekend hopefully." Reid frowned as he held the door open.
"If you want I can drop you off?" Hotch wondered where the words had emanated from, because he was sure they bypassed his brain. Wasn't he supposed to be avoiding putting himself alone with Reid? Wasn't that what he planned earlier today?
"That would be awesome Hotch. I thank you...and so does my tummy." Reid smiled with his whole face even as his Brain was screaming...MORON.
"Your tummy?"
"If I don't have to use the VRE I have enough time to eat before the lecture." Reid explained with a bit of a sheepish look. He knew that ALL his team-mates frowned on his unhealthy eating habits.
"Maybe you should let Morgan and Prentiss do their own files. That way you could leave in time to eat before the class." Hotch frowned as he spoke. He was very aware that the young man couldn't afford to loose any weight. Too aware..
Reid didn't reply just smiled.
"Go on down. I'm in bay three on the East side I'll go get my coat n keys." Hotch stated turning away to go back into the BAU bullpen. And also to hide the smile that broke out at the thought of having the young man's attention all to himself.
Maybe, if we get there early. We could have dinner together, he mused as he violently shoved papers into his attaché case. He checked his pockets for his car key, house keys, credentials and wallet then strode quickly out pulling the door closed behind him.
23.00hrs same night
The last place David Rossi expected to be tonight was in an Hospital elevator with a silent Emily Prentiss .
He had been in bed when Aaron had called him from the office to inform him that Garcia had been shot ,and was in surgery. It took a minute for it to sink in, then he was throwing on clothes and running for his vehicle.
He arrived at the hospital the same time as Prentiss. So they rode up together to the surgical waiting area. Where they found Hotch, JJ and Reid waiting for word on their friend.
"Hotch?" Rossi demanded news of their stony faced leader, as they reached their group.
"She's still in surgery." Hotch replied just as Prentiss demanded, "Where is Morgan?"
Before anyone could reply Reid jumped to his feet.
"I,ll go try his cell again." he offered moving away from the group and round the corner.
"What aren't you saying Aaron?" Rossi muttered, standing close to his friend.
Hotch pulled his gaze away from watching Reid's departure, and with a deep sigh replied.
"I spoke to the paramedics that brought her in Dave. They..they had to resuscitate her on route. It was a single GSW to the chest."
"Christ!"
"The cops are working on the premise it was a robbery..." Hotch began quietly, not wanting the others to have to deal with the details yet.
"Morgan's cell keeps going to voice mail" Reid announced throwing himself into one of the uncomfortable chairs in frustration. His pale face and red rimmed eyes told their own story.
Morgan was Garcia's Hunk of burning love, and she would do the impossible just for him.
But Spencer Reid was her Junior G-man, her BabyGenius, her little brother who she loved dearly. And who loved her back just as deeply.
They knew things about each other that no one else ever would. She knew why he was terrified of the dark. And if she ever tracked down the Jock who was responsible she would turn his pants into burning hot lava.
And he knew all about her biological father, and her love for a certain Profiler.
They were the odd bods of the FBI. They didn't fit the proscribed criteria for the FBI never mind the BAU. They had supported each other through the proverbial thick and thin...
And the thought that she could be dying ...she just couldn't be. That was all there was to it. She couldn't leave him. She was his Beautiful Diva and he needed her brightness to do what he had to do. 'She wouldn't leave him or Morgan.' he mentally chanted over and over, lost in his own thoughts.
JJ sat down beside Reid, but said nothing. She could see that his emotions were on a tight leash right now. So she let him be. With anyone else a hug would have been appropriate, but not with Spence. It had taken her a while to realise that he really only tolerated touch from anyone, except Garcia. And maybe Hotch...
JJ thoughts fell away with a start, as Emily who had taken the seat next to her took her hand.
Unlike Spence, to her the human contact was appreciated.
She squeezed back a silent Thank you.
No one spoke they were all lost in their own memories of Penelope Garcia.
Forty minutes later a frantic Derek Morgan flew out of the elevator towards his colleagues.
By habit he observed and analysed their posture.- Hotch stood isolated from the rest. Probably preparing himself to be the Rock of the team if the worst happened. The girls were holding onto each other in an effort to stay calm. With Rossi standing guard near them.
Then there was Spencer. How could such a lanky being look so small? He thought to himself taking in the long legs pulled up to his chest, and the shaggy hair covering his face as he rested his forehead on his knees.
"My phone was off. I was in church." Morgan blurted out before anyone could react.
For some reason it was really important to him at that moment that they knew he wasn't out on the prowl.
"Its okay Derek. She's in surgery." JJ informed him gently as she stretched up to hug him. She knew this would hit him real hard, especially with the falling out earlier.
Derek looked totally confused, knowing there were questions he needed to ask. But not knowing what they were.
Reid had uncurled himself and now stood beside his friend.
"There is nothing you could have been doing here anyway Derek." he told the older man while gripping his friends arm in support. "Breathe..before you keel over."
Morgan looked into the innocent but wise eyes, and did as he was told.
He took one deep breathe...then another...then another.
"Thanks Pretty Boy" he whispered as his heart rate, and panic rate fell.
Reid just nodded, his heart felt to heavy to smile.
"Penelope Garcia." an unfamiliar voice called from behind them.
CHAPTER FIVE
six days after Garcia's shooting. 2100Hrs
The mood within the speeding SUV was somber. Six days had passed since Garcia had been shot and they had nothing on the scumbag. And now said scumbag had made another attempt to finish the job...in her own home.
In doing so he had shot and killed the Officer stationed outside her building.
JJ, Hotch and Rossi got out of the SUV and took in the organised chaos surrounding the scene. The dark courtyard was now illuminated by the various flashing lights from the local police, CSI and coronor vehicles. Intersprust with flashes from press cameras and ghoulish passersby.
"Shes gonna want to move after all this." JJ muttered mostly to herself.
"Most likely." Rossi agreed sadly, then stiffened. "Crap! Here we go!"
JJ turned from the scene to see what had caused Rossi's exclamation. She spotted a very tired looking detective approaching them.
"Detective Walker. I am so sorry about your officer." Hotchner said offering the man his hand.
"Thank you. Im supposed to inform you that we have juristicition here..." Walker began rubbing his hand against his neck.
"We're just here to support our friend." Hotch assured him. Even though he knew his team wasnt about to let go of this case.
"Hmm. Well Im about to go tell a good friend's family that he wont be coming home. So no matter what the brass says..well any help is appreciated."
"Thank you Detective Walker. Please pass on our condolences to Officer Fleming's family." JJ said sofltly as she handed over her card to the exhausted man. " if I can help in any way please get in touch."
Walker looked at the embossed card in his hand, rather shocked at the attitude of these agents. More than a few fed's had tried to run over his people in his time in law enforcement. But he wasnt gonna look a gift horse in the mouth.
"Thank you Agent Jareau. I will pass that on to Mike's family." he replied gruffly then turned away. The heavy resposibility weighing him down with each step.
Rossi watched him for a moment. The anger at the futility of this act fizzing through him.
"Im sick of being behind this guy. We gotta end this now!"
At same time in Garcia's apartment.
Emily and Penelope are sitting talking quietly, unaware of Morgan silently watching them from the kitchen. Reid is making a fresh pot of coffee, that he knows they will all need. From the side of his eye he catches the emotions running throught the dark eyes of his best friend.
"I dont get it.." he finally hisses.
"What? What dont you get?" Morgan demands shaken from his own thoughts.
"What I dont get, Mr LadiesMan is what the hell is stopping you two from telling each other the truth...Dont even think about it Morgan..I am to tired and pissed off to listen to outright lies or even half baked fibs." Reid glared at his shocked friend. "I have listened to both of you...Deal with it Derek Befor you loose her."
"Reid..I..she.." Morgan stuttered. Had Prettyboy just given him relationship advice. He took a deep breath ready to laugh it off.
Reid didnt give him a chance.
"She died on that table...that is how close you came to loosing everything man. Dont be an ass about this..Just sort it." He stated firmly, not even looking at Morgan as he made up the ladies cups.
"Right Ladies Coffee is made." he announced carring the cups in and putting them down on the coffee table between them. Morgan came in at his back, and placed Reid's cup on the same side as Prentiss'. Spencer shoved the urge to chuckle down hard as Morgan pulled over a tiny stool and sat next to his BabyGirl.
"Did you get a Good look at him Morgan?"
And there goes the neighbourhood, Reid thought upon hearing Rossi's voice. He must have pulled a face, cause Emily elbowed him hard in the ribs.
"Sorry." he whispered. "Must be gas."
"Nothing solid." Morgan replied, his disappointment and fury clearly stamped on his handsome features.
Hotch stood silently observing the mood of the room and his agents. But when his gaze fell on the obvious pain and sickly palour of Garcia, he went into mother hen mode. Which he would deny with his dying breath.
"Okay. First thing. We need to get Garcia back into hospital."
"Oh no! Hotch please!" Garcia whined looking around the group for support.
"You know what, You should still be in there Penelope." JJ announced backing up Hotch. " We need to get you someplace safe. Which isnt here." She stated taking a hold of her friends hand and squeezing it.
Garicia understood what JJ and Hotch meant but she really didnt want to be back in that sterile room wondering if her babies were okay.
"But I feel safe with all of you." she protested firmly.
Hotch thought for a moment...
"Well we could take you to the BAU." he suggested understanding just what was cascading through their colourful tech's mind at that moment.
"But you will rest in my office, you will not be surfing the web. Understood?"
Garcia nodded her blonde head. She was so happy she wasnt going back to that white room with four empty corners.
[[CORNERS?! CORNERS?! GET IN THE CORNER GARCIA- no that was Morgan. CORNERS? CORNERS, CORNERS IN THE RESTAURANT]]
"Garcia? Garcia whats wrong?" Morgan demanded slightly freaked by the vacant stare.
"At the restaurant the waiter was going to sit us at a nice table by the window. But "Baylor" insisted on being sat at the worst table in the place. It was near the kitchen, stuck in this little corner and he sat in the corner, back to the wall" Garcia spewed out this memory, terrified that if she breathed she would forget some important detail.
Before anyone had a chance to comment Detective Walker and another man entered the room.
While Hotch went off to talk to them Rossi took his first real look around the room. It was as individual as its owner with vibrant purple walls, eclectic collections of dolls and figuerines...and was that MickeyD's happy meal toys.
Being Garcia the high tech TV and printer were to be expected, but the super8 projector came as a surprise. And ...crap!
He hadnt seen that icy look for a good while, but it was definetly back. Obviously Reid disapproved of him 'Profiling' Garcia's home.
"Right. Detective Walker has given us some time." Hotch announced as he came round to stand beside Reid. And just like magic the ice was gone.
"Garcia, tell me about the car?" Reid asked his voice soft and caring.
"I dont understand Reid. It was just a car." she whined, totally sick to death of the whole thing.
"Just go with it Mama." Morgan advised, holding onto her hand.
"You told me earlier that it was an American, white, four door sedan. What else." Reid reiterated what they knew hoping to trigger more recall.
"Im sorry Reid. But thats it." she cried. She really wanted to help. But a car was just a car to her.
"Babygirl, you were in that car for 20-30 mins. Close your eyes and just think about your journey. Anything, anything at all" Morgan encouraged squeezing her hand.
Garcia closed her eyes, doing as Derek asked. Everything seemed normal until...
"Oh! When we reached the restaurant. He got out first and his seatbelt was buckled behind him...~What? Whats with the looks?...Morgan?..Reid?"
Morgan swallowed hard. "It wasnt a rental car Babygirl. It was one used for Surveillance."
"What? Why?" screeched Garcia.
"Agents may need to get out of the car fast...so no seatbelt." Prentiss clarified looking nauseous at the possibility that it was an agent who had shot her friend. But why would anyone be after Pen?
Silence fell. No one wanted to take that final step. Ask that final question.
"F##k it!" Rossi cursed moving to sit on the coffee table, directly in front of a shaken Garcia.
"We need to cut through the crap! You need to be straight with us Garcia. Right now!" Rossi barked, his face scowling.
"Look at me. Not them." he ordered harshly when Garcia looked toward Morgan for support.
"Im not hiding anything." Garcia cried out, her eyes watering with pain and shock at Rossi's attitude.
"YOU GOT SHOT!" rossi stated loudly. His eyes never leaving Garcia's
He heard JJ and Prentiss gasp and the low growl from Morgan, but he ignored them.
"Most people get shot for a reason...dont look at Morgan. He didnt get shot YOU did."
"Ease up Rossi." Morgan finally snapped, glaring at the older man.
Rossi ignored everyone else.
"You have a roomfull of people ready to believe that an agent of the FBI is trying to kill you. We need to know why...we need to know everything you do on company time that we dont know about. What?" he barked again seeing her twitch.
"Rossi for the last time ease up." Morgan hissed trying to hold onto his temper.
"Its nothing bad." Garcia sobbed, tears falling down her pale cheeks.
"For Gods sake woman spit it out" Rossi Growled.
And that was it. Game over. But not from the direction everyone had assumed it would come.
"La terrorizzante lei arrogante suina." Reid spat out as he dragged Rossi away from the now distaught Garcia.
"Lontano de lei voi bastardi" he screamed into the older mans face as he pinned him to the wall.
"Reid!" Hotch bellowed, hopefully halting any further actions from his subordanante.
"There was no need for that Hotch. Look at her.." He cried nodding toward the sobbing woman. " she is not an UnSub Rossi. She is a victim. The one's we are supposed to help. YOU do remember that?"
"Spencer! Dont! You promised" Garcia cried pulling out of Morgan's embrace.
Reid dropped his hold on Rossi and ignoring everyone else wrapped his long arms around his crying friend. "I know I did, but that was out of order."
"My knight in Converse high tops." she muttered into his bony shoulder.
The rest of the group were frozen. No one had ever seen the young doctor loose his temper. And there had been many occasions when he had been provocted to the Nth degree.
"Garcia, we need to know." Prentiss began gentily. While watching Reid with new eyes.
"I know.." Garcia sniffed, not moving from the safety of Reid's hug. "I counsel murder victims families, and they know where I work. So, sometimes they ask me to look into cases for them..."
"Penelope, what does that mean?" JJ asked softly hoping like hell that Garcia's big heart wasnt gonna get her into trouble...well more trouble.
Garcia took a deep breath and gave a long squeeze, then moved out of his arms to take her seat once again.
She knew Hotch was gonna be pissed and didnt want Reid caught in the fallout. Although from the thunderclouds in rossi's eyes he had his own problems
.
"it just means that the cases..the unsolved ones...Well I tag them, so that who ever is investigating them knows that the FBI considers them a priority."
"OH FOR ...Garcia you are not authorised to do that." Hotch exploded, his features even grimer than usual.
"Iknow, I know...im sorry Hotch . I just wanted to help them...to make sure the investigations wouldnt slide." Garcia explained through sniffles and blowing her nose.
Hotch shook his head and walked out to the small kitchen area and got himself a glass of water. Not that he needed, or even wanted one, but it distracted him from screaming at Rossi, Garcia and Reid. He shook his head, how the hell was he supposed to write this night up? He washed out his tumbler and returned it to the Daisy shaped drying mat.
"I was thinking," Prentiss began as he returned to the room. "Whom ever is on those cases must think that You are watching them."
"But Im not. I just wanted to keep the pressure on." Garcia declared emphatically.
"We know that BabyGirl. But they dont." Morgan explained from her side.
"How many cases are we talking about Garcia?" Hotch asked after a deep breath.
"About 7 or 8 no more than that. Id have to check my system to be sure." Garcia explained quickly. She really did hate upsetting her Bossman.
"You cant Garcia. Youre suspended."
"Wait a minite Hotch." Morgan said. "Garcia you told me and Reid that he was pressing to see if you were working murder cases."
"Yeah! He called them 'the big time" she replied quietly. All this stress and pain wasnt good for her positivity.
Reid moved over seeing her flagging and took her other hand.
"Hotch we need to see what is on those files man." Morgan pleaded getting to his feet.
Hotch rubbed the bridge of his beak like nose. Thinking over options. This could go majorly bad, or they could get this guy. What to do? He looked over to the unusally silent agent for his opinion.
"I told you Hotch I am sick of this jack-off being in front of us." Rossi spat out.
Rossi had to admit, even if only to himself, that he was in shock.
Scrawny Dr Spencer Reid had pulled him over a table and pinned him to a wall. And that didnt cover hearing him curse in Italian.
Was it just a few days ago he had been mentally screaming for some emotianal response from the young agent.
We he sure got it...even if Reid seemed to have gone back into 'standby mode' again.
"Fine. Prentiss, Morgan and Reid. ..You stay here with Garcia. Make sure to log out of the system. Garcia is not to have access. The rest of us will return to the BAU." Hotch commands then leaves before anyone can comment. The others following along behind.
"Understood" Morgan replies before pulling Garcia up into his arms.
Reid and Prentiss smiled at each other. Maybe something good would come out of all of this mess.