The morning light, brought a hazy glow, to Adriana's apartment. And the inhabitants in it. Derek and Penelope were cuddled sleeping on the couch, Hotch was strewn out on a comfortable chair. JJ and Reid were huddled together on a stack of pillows on the floor. Prentiss, was flopped over an ottoman. And back, in her bedroom, were Rossi and Adriana, cuddled together so tight the only way they could get closer was if they melded into the same person. Adriana was the first to stir. She lifted her sleepy head and took stock of her surroundings. Her leg, was sandwiched between his thighs, arms securely around his stomach. Her head, resting on his now bare chest, apparently one of them, during the night, unbuttoned and shoved open his dress shirt. The blanket, wrapped it's way around them, cocooning them both. She smiled and slowly worked her way into a sitting position. Much to the protest of the still sleeping man.
"No preziosa... Stay.."
He muttered eyes still closed.
"Dave, I got to make coffee."
Dave moaned finally opening his eyes.
"Fine. But your coming back to snuggle."
She smirked as she made her way to her door.
"David Rossi likes to snuggle?"
He had the good grace to blush.
"Shut up."
She giggled and made her way out to the kitchen.
She sleepily made a pot of coffee for 12, rubbing her eyes as she did. There was still a sense of foreboding in the air, but somehow, she felt better, lighter. The guilt was still there, but she didn't have any trouble pushing it to the back of her mind now. A presence behind her alerted itself as a mumbling sleepy Hotch.
"Adriana... please tell me you're making strong coffee."
She smiled softly.
"Mhmm."
Hotch smiled leaning against the counter.
"You're a saint."
Adriana smirked.
"You're sleepy. Don't talk 'til you get some coffee in you."
Soon the smell of coffee had the others sailing into the kitchen to grab their cups. She got a kiss from Morgan a happy cheer from the others. But Reid asked.
"Where's Rossi?"
Adriana was just pouring Dave's cup when he asked.
"Oh he's still in bed."
She didn't catch the weird looks they gave her. She turned and stared at them.
"Oh god no! Not like that. We just fell asleep like that, nothing happened I swear."
Morgan smirked nudging her.
"Who you trying to convince? You or us?"
Adriana blushed and grabbed Dave's cup.
"You guys suck."
The others chuckled and let her retreat back to her room. Where Dave was sitting up and stretching as she set his cup down. He moaned as he took a drink.
"Read my mind preziosa."
RRRRRRRRRR
The afternoon was awkward. Adriana had known the team for a while. Sure. But there was still a hesitance about her. Finally Rossi had enough.
"Kitten,"
he addressed Garcia.
"You have your laptop with you?"
Garcia smiled.
"Always my fine Italian stallion."
JJ gave him a weird look. He sighed smiling a little. "I'll explain later JJ. Would you get it Penelope?"
She nodded and wandered off to get it while Rossi called Adriana and the others into the living room. Hotch looked at Rossi and quirked an eyebrow. "Something wrong Dave?"
Rossi shook his head.
"Adriana... I think they should know."
She blanched.
"I-I can't Dave.."
She began to back up. Only to hit Hotch, who gently put a reassuring hand on her shoulder. Hear him out, the touch seemed to say. Dave gently took her hands in his staring intently into her eyes.
"You don't have to say anything preziosa... Just give Garcia the password to your encrypted file.. We can fill in the blanks."
She stared at Rossi. Then she looked at each one on the team in turn. Her eyes returned to Rossi. She gave a slight nod. Garcia walked up and touched her hand.
"What's the password..."
Closing her eyes tightly, Adriana said in a small voice.
"Goheno nin..." (Go-HAY-no neen)
Derek cocked a brow.
"Arabic? Why?"
Adriana, Garcia and Reid all smiled. Adriana coughed.
"I know I'm pegging myself here but.. Sindarin... Elvish."
Everyone stared at her.
"From lord of the rings?"
Hotch let a smirk play across his lips.
"Good.. Never would've guessed, what does it mean?"
Adriana cast a glance at the floor.
"Forgive me."
RRRRRRRRR
Adriana paced the floor as everyone crowded around Penelope to get a peek at what was in her now unencrypted file. The first thing the others saw was a case report, on what happened. Garcia gasped and covered her mouth as they all read in tandem what happened. Hotch winced and looked up to meet Adriana's eyes. She avoided his gaze and kept pacing, a slump in her shoulders.
"Keep going. It just keeps getting better and better." One by one Garcia flitted through various headlines of papers and case reports.
"Local kids up in arms over firing of beloved group leader. Former group leader ridiculed. One kid shouts for leader louder than others. Group said to be near collapse with no leadership. Shaky new start after old leader leaves for Ohio. Annual trip faces cancellation."
By now Adriana knew every headline by heart. And with every gasp, wince, and sympathetic look cast her way, she winced. Then the files shifted, focusing in on what happened to her after the fact.
"Local police officer fired on the spot for past transgressions. Local police officer seems to be blackballed from police departments. Locals family near disowns her claiming she's caused too much trouble."
Rossi jerked his head to see her. Adriana had left that part out. Over and over more headlines and case files and even court files appeared, each one worse than the last. By the time they were done, Penelope was crying, tears silently falling down her face. Adriana hung her head low.
"You see why... Why I tried to hide this?"
RRRRRRRR
One of Strauss's cronies, monitoring the files activity called her.
"MA'AM! They've accessed the file! We got her!"
Strauss grinned.
"Fantastic. Put in a warrant for her arrest. We got her. And don't let the agents know yet."
RRRRRRRR
One of her cronies. His name was Joel. He was not a willing participant in this woman hunt for Adriana. He was her only friend at the Bureau. He also wasn't enjoying the sounds of happiness tumbling out of Strauss's mouth at the idea of having his best friend in her slimy claws. And he couldn't help Adriana, it would end badly for both of them. And she understood that better than anybody. So he did the only thing he could. He called SSA David Rossi. Who answered quickly. Joel wasted no time, no pleasantries.
"If Adriana is near you. Get to the other room. And bring the other agents. This is bad so bad."
Dave quickly did as he was told, Adriana was out of the room, so he brought the team with him to another, just in case.
"I'm putting you on speaker agent."
Joel sighed rubbing his face.
"Ok so Strauss had the file under surveillance, the second someone touched it we found out. She got to see what was in that file... Oh god addy.."
He cleared his throat.
"She's coming to arrest Adriana."
Everyone stilled. Rossi nodded.
"Thanks agent."
He hung up, and everyone scrambled to get things ready. And Derek went to find Adriana and came back panting. Rossi grabbed his shoulders. Catching the attention of everyone.
"What's wrong Derek?!"
Derek groaned.
"Adriana's gone!"
Rossi dropped Derek's shoulders and ran back to her room and froze. There was an open window, curtains billowing out. And a note saying 'I'm sorry.' She was really gone.
A/N: Reviews always welcome!
