A/N: Hello all! So, I've been having some major writer's block with my CM stories, except for this one. I feel like this story writes itself, it's nice. Anyways here's the next chapter! Hope you enjoy!

Disclaimer: I do not own Criminal Minds.

Chapter 10: Fight:

Rossi, his arms around Ariel as they swayed to the slow music together, had to chuckle at JJ and Hotch, who also happened to be dancing. They had fooled the team and good. And it served the team right. Ariel had been right with her misgivings about their plan. JJ and Hotch were adults and they obviously needed no help from their friends. He watched a little more as JJ tightened her arms around Hotch's neck and laughed at something the Unit Chief said.

"They do make a cute couple," Ariel commented.

"Hmm…" Rossi said distractedly.

"JJ and Hotch," Ariel clarified. "I like them, they seem nice."

"Yeah," Rossi said off-handed. He was still a little miffed at her for her earlier revelation that she'd researched some of Reid's articles.

"All of them seem pretty nice," Ariel continued, oblivious to his mood. "Especially, Dr. Reid. He seems sweet."

Alarm bells went off again. "You seem to have a big fascination with the kid…"

He pulled away from her a bit to gauge her reaction to his statement.

She laughed. "Oh Dave, don't worry, he's pretty and all, but so not my type. Besides, I think Layla's got him locked down."

She pulled him back close, dismissing his strangeness. She seemed genuine in her answer. She definitely wasn't lying. Maybe his instincts were going off for nothing. She sure was acting normally, happy, energetic. Maybe he was just making a big deal over nothing.

He let himself be pulled closed.

"Reid better not be your type, cause there's no way I can grow my hair out," he joked, easing his own tension.

She laughed. And they went back to silently enjoying the music, swaying together.

He spared a quick glance at his friends, hoping they'd finally decided to enjoy themselves instead of continuing to pout over JJ and Hotch's double crossing. And sure enough he saw Emily pull Derek towards the dance floor.

Good for you, Emily…

He continued to watch Emily put her arms around Derek's neck, while his went around her waist. They weren't too far away from him and Ariel. They seemed in the middle of a very romantic moment and he had to turn away.

Letting out a sigh, he supposed this was the moment they'd confess their love for each other.

"Everything ok, Dave?" Ariel suddenly asked him.

He gave her a small smile. "Perfect," he answered, managing to hold back the bitterness.

"I… I am just so glad…" he suddenly heard Emily's tentative voice. He looked up to see that the other couple, unbeknownst to them, had swayed dangerously close to them, "…that … that you pulled me onto that dance floor four months ago."

Morgan chuckled lightly. He placed a kiss on Emily's forehead. That was it for Rossi. It was more than enough to know that they loved each other. He did not need to hear them profess their undying love, too.

Yes, he was happy for them. But if he stayed there a second longer he would begin to gag and there would be no covering that up.

"Ariel," he said in a quiet, unobtrusive voice. "Let's get something to drink."

"Oh," Ariel said in surprise. "Ok."

They left the happy couples to their happiness and headed straight for the bar. Rossi needed something strong and fast.

The night was winding down when Rossi, Reid and Morgan cornered Hotch at the refreshment table. He seemed to be in a hurry, probably didn't want to leave JJ alone for too long. He didn't have to worry, they'd sent Emily and Penelope to keep her company and get some info.

"Man Hotch, you played us, and good," Morgan said, a little in awe, a little in disbelief.

"Even had Reid fooled until the last second," Rossi said, fresh off his glass of vodka.

"Not fair," Reid protested. "I was distracted."

The three men watched as he turned to smile shyly at Layla, nearby chatting with Ariel.

"Sorry guys, like we said before we couldn't resist," Hotch explained.

Morgan patted Hotch on the shoulder. "We don't care about that anymore. We're just happy you two are finally together."

"Oh, we're not," Hotch surprised them by saying.

"What do you mean?" Rossi asked his friend incredulously. "Did you not ask her to the party? Did she not say yes? And is she not here with you right now?"

"Ok, Dave, one too many questions… Yes, I asked her and she's here. But it was partly out of the plan and partly because we're good friends."

They all looked at Hotch incredulously.

"Are you kidding me?" Morgan exclaimed.

Hotch shook his head in answer.

"Hotch," Reid implored. "You know how good I am with the ladies and even I can see you're missing the ball on this one."

"I don't know what to tell you guys," Hotch said, clearly uncomfortable.

Rossi, clearly peeved by Hotch's nonchalance, demanded, "Tell us you have feelings for her. And don't lie; we're profilers, we'll know."

"This isn't about me guys," he paused to let out a sigh. "This is about JJ. Something bad happened to her. The guy she loved died and now she has to raise her son by herself. I don't want to complicate things further for her."

"Ok, we'll take that as a yes," Rossi stated

"Hotch, I'm pretty sure JJ would welcome your kind of complication," Morgan assured.

"We can tell," Reid added with certainty.

"Thanks guys, really," Hotch said sarcastically, "For your input, but JJ's waiting for me so I've got to go."

They stood there watching him hurry just as much to get away from them as to get back to JJ.

"You think he got the message?" Morgan questioned.

"Depends," Rossi said wryly. "Did anyone smack him upside the head while I wasn't looking?"

"I—" Reid started.

"Rhetorical question, Reid," Rossi cut him off.

"I guess we'll just have to wait and see what happens," Morgan commented.

"I guess so," Rossi agreed. "I hate waiting."

Rossi was tuckered out. It had been a long and eventful night. And if next years Bureau Christmas party promised to be this good he'd definitely be partaking in the festivities.

He glanced around for Ariel. He'd just finished saying good night to JJ and Hotch—they seemed closer than ever before—and really wanted to be the next to go.

Walking around, he still could not spot her. He did see Garcia, Kevin and Layla huddled together talking, thought, so he decided to join them mid-conversation.

"Oh and he likes Beethoven," Garcia exclaimed happily. "Doesn't listen to anything else."

Layla nodded taking it in.

"And," Kevin took over. "His favourite show is Doctor Who."

"Really?" Layla exclaimed. "Mine too."

"Eww… I can't stand watching those surgery shows," Garcia protested.

Layla and Kevin shared a laugh at the expense of a confused Penelope. Even Rossi knew about the time and space travelling alien who called himself the Doctor, he used to watch it when he was a kid.

"Agent Rossi," Kevin said in sudden recognition.

"Hi Kevin," Rossi briefly greeted the man who once came to speak to him about Penelope's honour. "Have you guys seen Ariel? I'd like to get going."

"She's around here somewhere," Layla offered. "She asked if Spencer had a few minutes to talk."

"Oh," Rossi said in surprise. He hadn't really thought she was serious about that. "Ok, thanks."

He left them and they resumed their previous conversation.

He continued to look around when he finally spotted her, once again, at Erin's side. He started to make his way over to them when he suddenly got blocked off.

"Reid," he said in some surprise.

"Hey Rossi," Reid greeted. "I just had an interesting conversation with Ariel."

He'd been ready to brush him off, he was that tired, but now he clung to his every word.

"Yeah," Rossi stated, neutrally. "Ariel's an interesting lady."

Reid nodded. "When you introduced us, you didn't tell us she was in publishing…"

The alarm bells were now that of a 4-alarm house fire.

"Uh yeah… she is; she's an editor," Rossi said tentatively.

"And an aspiring author," Reid added.

"What?" Rossi exclaimed loudly. This was news to him.

Reid gave him a strange look, not sure what he said that earned him that loud outburst. He continued on, anyways. "She wants to write a book… about me. Well, not really about me, but about people like me… I said I wasn't sure. You know with my mom's health and all, that's no one's business but mine. But she says she wants to focus it on what it was like growing up with my IQ."

Rossi was seeing red. She wanted to write a book about one of his team members! Was that all their relationship was about, having a chance at a grown up, child-prodigy?

"I don't know… I kind of like her ideas…" Reid continued, oblivious. "Maybe my story can help other kids like me?"

Rossi couldn't hear anymore. One more second and he would let out his fury. And Reid did not deserve to be on the receiving end. The kid was too innocent to realize he was being played.

"That's good," he said dismissively. "If you'll excuse me, I've got to have a word with my date."

Dave watched Ariel open the door and step inside her apartment. He followed her inside, letting the door slam shut behind him.

She whirled around on him, looking angry. That was ok; he could match her anger, for sure.

"Now," she started tersely. "Are you going to tell me why you made us leave suddenly like that? I thought for a minute you were going to pick me up and throw me over your shoulder, caveman style."

He paced a bit, silently fuming, trying to get a hold of his anger.

"Erin thought—" Ariel attempted.

"Screw Erin!" Rossi shouted. Ariel visibly flinched, so he shut his mouth quickly.

"Dave," Ariel said, voice seething with anger. "What the hell?"

He stopped pacing to face her. "I could ask you the same question, Ariel," Rossi demanded.

She shook her head. "I honestly don't know what you mean, Dave. And frankly you're scaring me a bit."

"I'm scaring you?" he shouted. "You're the one who scares me with your two-facedness. Seriously, Ariel, dating me just so you can get close enough to Reid and write a story on him?"

Ariel's face visibly paled. But he didn't care, as far as he was concerned Ariel was the exact same bitch from years ago. No, she hadn't really changed. She'd just gotten sneakier.

"Dave, it's not how you think—"

"Save it," Rossi said hostilely. "I don't want to hear it. I couldn't trust you five years ago. And I'm a moron for trusting you now."

"Dave, please let me explain," Ariel pleaded.

"Answer me this, first. Did you or did you not plan on writing a book about Reid?"

"I did, but—"

"No," he said with finality. He had to turn away from her teary face. It was all an act anyways. "I can't believe I fell for you again! And again you betray me. I'm the idiot here, though. You can't help yourself; you'll always be a two-faced, sorry excuse for a woman. But I've got no excuse for my idiocy."

"Dave—"

"We're through, Ariel," Rossi finished. He stormed for the door and turned back to see she'd lowered herself to the couch, sobbing. "Have a nice life."

Well that's if for now. Is this the end of Ariel? We'll see. More fun to come soon!

Thanks to my two reviewers: canny-bairn and p95000.

Oh and just a little extra note. Some of us fanfiction authors are now of facebook. So, if you ever feel like talking about fanfiction or anything else you can find me under the name of Rania Flames.