Chapter Nine
Rebecca knew she was caught in that moment between sleep and waking. She wanted to wake up. She didn't want to be here, in this world of darkness, but she couldn't force herself to wake up.
She was running, stumbling down a long tunnel. The walls of earth boarded up routinely by huge rafters, it was a mining shaft. She stopped, resting against a wooden beam, her breathing hard and labored, her gun at the ready. The bulletproof vest, marked with the letters FBI, weighed a ton.
Something moved up ahead, she tried to see, but could only make out shadows.
Rebecca eased forward, a flash, then something was rolled in front of her, another flash, she felt the bullet graze her left thigh and she staggered, tripping over whatever had been rolled in front of her. She screamed, and screamed again. Something was wrong.
From somewhere down the tunnel she could hear David calling to her. "Rebecca!"
She tried to get up, but something in the dirt kept pulling her down. Then a light clicked on and Rebecca began to scream, louder and longer, each scream followed by a maniacal laugh.
"Bec...Bec...wake up."
It was David.
Rebecca opened her eyes, and looked into the concerned brown eyes of David Rossi.
"I was dreaming." She managed.
Just then Aaron and Morgan came in, guns drawn.
David turned and glanced at Aaron. Although she didn't see it, she could feel the concerned look the two men shared.
"It's okay," he told them. "I got this."
Aaron holstered his gun and walked over to Rebecca. Her plan had been to catch up on some paperwork tonight, but the trip and the case had taken its toll and she'd fallen asleep in her office chair.
"Perhaps you should step away from this." Aaron offered.
Rebecca shook her head, "No, Aaron. I'm okay."
"You might be too close to the case. We all need a break, Rebecca."
Rebecca shot out of her chair, "I've had a break, Aaron – a ten year break!"
"Hotch," David grabbed his friends arm and pulled him towards the door, "I got this."
"Are you sure? If she can't handle this, I need to know David."
Rebecca sighed, and sank back into her chair, as the three men stepped into the hall.
Aaron was right. She was letting herself get too involved in this case. She couldn't be objective if she allowed old memories to get in the way.
The door opened and David stepped in. He went to the small bar by the fireplace and poured two drinks. She kept her office informal, and more than once she'd been told it looked more like a study than an office.
"How often do you have those," David asked handing her a drink.
Rebecca took a long sip, allowing the warmth from the whiskey to soothe her jangled nerves. "Not very often," she pulled at neck, trying to relax the tension.
She looked up as David walked around her desk and leaned against it, his legs so close to her own.
"I'm right here," he told her.
"Trust me, David. I know where you are."
He laughed and gave her a lopsided smile. "I meant, whenever you decide to tell me the truth..." he shrugged, "well, I'm right here."
She didn't know if it were the intensity of the dream, the new cases, the whiskey or just being this damn close to David Rossi. But her reserve left her, and she stood and moved closer to him.
She kissed his neck, and felt him inhale sharply. She whispered in his ear, "I'm glad you came back to Magnolia Ridge."
Any man who knew David, knew he excelled in everything he did.
Any woman, lucky enough to find herself in his arms, knew how wonderful his kiss was. A woman could find rational thought disappearing afterward a David Rossi kiss.
He pulled her closer, and began a trail of kisses from her mouth to her jaw, and Rebecca turned her head allowing him access to her throat.
"Damn I've missed you." She managed to whisper.
David pulled away, grabbing her hand, he led her into the hall. Seeing no one, he lifted her in his arms and made his way to the stairs.
"Second door on the left," she said and kissed him again.
