'Tis done, the last one shot, the last addition to this story. Wow, I don't think I quite believe it myself. I dedicate this to all my wonderful reviewers, your words all made me smile. Thank you all. Also, the poll is up on my profile, I CAN'T accept votes through reviews. Sorry. You have to vote with the pole, or your vote will not be counted.
I apologise for the wait, real life took a hit, and I'm not going to go into details, just suffice to say that a very good friend of my is going for a hysterectomy sometime in the next two weeks.
And now, the final story.
Shot Nine, David Rossi
David Rossi was a man on a mission. He was leaving town in a few minutes to spend the long weekend at his hunting cabin, and his dog just took off with his knife. The dog in question was a gorgeous chocolate lab named Mudgie, he was six years old, and usually very well mannered. Yet now, he was making his master search the large house he owned for a hunting knife that he had hidden in the backyard, after taking full advantage of the doggy door installed in the back door. Mudgie now sat at his masters side watching as David was on his hands and knees looking under the bed in the guest room.
"Where did you put it Mudgie?" he sighed, "I should leave you here for this. I'm sure Morgan wouldn't mind coming over to fill your bowl." David sent a halfhearted glare at his pet before he stood. "I am getting to old for this." he murmured to himself.
David sighed again and made his way to the living room. Perhaps, he thought, Mudgie just nudged it under the sofa. Yet the Italian man knew that he would not find his knife in the house, and he was in no mood to go tramping across the back yard for the knife that was designed to blend in with nature. With a groan and a thump he lowered himself to peer under the couch, and as he predicted, the knife was no where in sight. This time, with more then a halfhearted glare, David scowled at his dog. For sure, this wasn't the first time something had gone missing, there had been shoes, socks, an ex wife's favourite lipstick tube, but nothing he had tried dissuaded Mudgie from sneaking off with pilfered items from around the house.
David only pulled himself up enough to slide his way onto the couch. He shook his head and picked up his phone. Dialling a number he had long since memorized, he waited for the other end to pick up.
"Hotchner." Was the response he received.
"Hey Aaron, we are going to have to make a stop before we head out to the cabin, Mudgie ran off with my hunting knife and I can't find it anywhere." He sighed and looked at the dog who was now stretched out across the floor in front of him.
"That's fine Dave, when are you heading my way?" David's boss and friend's voice floated from his phone.
David looked at his watch and did a bit of mental math before responding. "I should be there in about a half hour."
"Alright, see you then. Bye Dave." And the line went dead.
David stood from his place on the couch and made his way to his bedroom to finish the last bit of packing he had yet to finish. Tossing the last of his clothes into his overnight bag, he picked it up and left the room.
Once back on the main floor he set the bag down beside the front door just in time for the door bell to ring. Shaking himself from his stun from the loud chime right beside him, he opened the door. As he did he watched as what seemed to be a young teenage girl set a bundle down, and ran off his porch. Eyes wide, he looked down at the bundle and stooped to pick it up. Settling the bundle in his arms he stepped out of the door and looked down the street in the direction the girl had run. About half a block down the girl stood looking at him. She wiped her face and turned and ran down the road and around the corner.
David stood in shock, on his porch with his dog beside him, until the baby in his arms began to struggle in the confines of the blanket it was wrapped in. David slowly looked down at the child in his arms and stared.
Well shit, he thought, I guess I'm not going to the cabin this weekend. Shaking his head he went back inside his home to make another call to his friend, this one with bigger news then a stop along the way. He looked down at Mudgie along the way to the phone. "I guess I should thank you, you lug, if you hadn't taken that knife, we wouldn't be here."
