Ray is back! And he's ready to head to head with Dave!

A Christmas Carol: Dave Rossi Style

Dave took a deep breath. Then he turned around slowly.

"Arctangent," he replied automatically.

"You remembered," Ray said with a smirk. "I thought maybe you would have forgotten. Maybe have to call that brainiac of yours."

"You know I didn't forget. Our last conversation weighs on my mind all the time," Dave stated simply. His lips twitched. He could handle Emma…what they had had was simple - tragic but simple. Ray, on the other hand…

"I can't imagine why."

"You know damn well why it does, Ray. It was my fault that you were there that night without adequate security."

"It was my choice. I knew what I was dealing with, and I knew the risks. I was the one who put my back to the door." Ray walked over to the fireplace and looked at the pictures on the mantle. "You would think that after all of the years I had spent in that line of work, I would have known better." His eyes settled on one photo in particular. Picking it up, he turned toward Dave.

"But…some things are meant to be. Like this." He held up the frame. "Remember when this was taken?"

"Christmas Day 1969."

"We were quite the team," Ray gave a short laugh at the memory. "The Four Musketeers."

"Don't remind me."

"Remember the time we toilet papered the principal's home because he put Jimmy in detention?"

"Jimmy was always looking up the girls' skirts; he deserved detention."

Ray cocked his head. "Maybe. But it was still fun."

"My dad let me know otherwise the next day." Dave winced at the memory.

"He always was a stickler for the rules." Ray looked at the photo. "So, why do you keep this around?"

"It fills the empty space on the mantle," Dave remarked wryly.

Ray raised his eyebrow in question. "Are you sure it's not to torture yourself?"

Dave poured a drink but realized the bottle was empty. "Damn it!" he cursed. He searched for another bottle. Popping the cap off, he poured hastily causing some of the liquid to slosh over the side.

"Well…?"

"No. It's not to torture myself."

"Are you sure? Because I think it's to remind yourself that you failed to protect the ones you love."

Dave raised the glass to his lips and cocked his eyebrow. "I never loved you."

"You loved me like a brother."

"Cain and Able come to mind and you know how well that turned out," Dave said.

"Cain killed Able. You didn't kill me."

"Yes, I did!" Dave slammed the glass down hard.

"How do you figure?" Ray challenged. "Did you hire the hit man? Did you bring up the RICO charges against me?"

"I sent you to Emma's funeral!" Dave raged. "I was a coward who wouldn't go and so I sent you instead."

"I would have gone any way. I just wanted to go with you."

"Bullshit. Don't try to lessen this sin, Ray! You know damn well that I sent you into the lion's den."

"Unless you were the one to tell the bastard Emma was married to that I was the one who hit her in the face with the snowball when she was six, I'm sure his hatred stemmed from something else. Besides, I had to settle my peace with Emma. I never told her that I was sorry."

"She forgave you. She forgave everyone."

"So, why can't you follow her lead and forgive yourself?"

"The things I've done…I failed my ex wives…I failed Emma." Dave turned around. "I failed you."

"So, you think that because you failed all of the above, you are going to fail Emily?"

"I already have."

Ray nodded. "I saw the replay of the night at the rehearsal dinner…I can't disagree that you failed her. I am surprised that the team let you walk out of the banquet hall alive."

"None of them wanted me to marry Emily, so they were probably relieved."

"After what you did? I can't say that I blame them. You've been a lot of things, but I never took you for an asshole."

"I stood up your cousin Moira who was visiting from Boston, remember?"

"That was because you were a jerk. But this was totally different."

"So, can we let it go?" Dave asked.

"Just like that? You think it's that easy?"

Dave shrugged in reply.

"What you did affected everyone on your team! You devastated everyone."

"How?" Dave asked. "I'm retiring. I'm going to be out of their lives and they won't have to worry about me any more."

"What about Jack and Henry? Weren't you going to be Santa Claus at the BAU party?"

Dave snorted. "Santa Claus! They don't need to believe in him!"

"Because you don't? What about miracles, Dave? Do you still believe in miracles?"

"Not any more."

"And that's the thanks I get." Ray threw up his hands and walked over to the bar. He poured himself a drink.

"I thought angels couldn't drink," Dave chided.

"I never stated that I was an angel." Ray savoured the scotch as thought it were gold. "This is heavenly."

"You're not an angel?" Dave sputtered.

"You mean with wings and halos and playing harps on clouds?" Ray asked. Dave nodded. "Pfft! Maybe for some one who led a good, decent life, but that wasn't for me. Honestly, could you see this physique in a gown?"

"No."

"Besides, there are different levels of angels." Ray let out his breath and took a sip. "I just happened to occupy the bottom rung."

"And now you're here guarding me."

"Guarding you? That's what you think? I guess maybe you could say that I am. The team wants to kick your ass and I want to earn my wings."

"Gee, thanks."

Ray grinned broadly. "Wings go a long way in heaven. I've been told they are a real chick magnet."

"So, you're telling me that you're wingless and helping me will get them? Like Clarence in 'It's A Wonderful Life'? If a bell rings, will you get your wings and then leave?"

"Yes."

Dave rang the bell on the shelf behind the bar. He waited for something…anything to happen. "You're still here."

"Good try, but that's the other Christmas story, knucklehead. I have to do a good deed in order to get my wings."

"So do it already."

"My good deed ought to be restraining myself from kicking your ass," Ray muttered under his breath. "But, I think I'll do one better." He nodded his head. "I know why you hate Christmas, but what you did the other night caused other people to hate the day too. That was too low even for you."

Dave paused. "What do you mean?"

"Jack and Henry are expecting a Santa to show up. How well do you think that's going to go over? And Derek asked you for one simple favour and you kicked him to the curb. Accusing him of cheating on Pen - who happens to be one of the sweetest women walking the earth."

"So, I went a little overboard."

"And Emily…?"

"Ray, I'm not going to tell you again; please leave before I throw you out!" Dave growled. He turned to leave. Ray grabbed his arm and spun him around.

"I can't leave before I complete my mission."

"What would that be? Driving me crazy?"

Ray considered the statement. "Now that would be a short journey. Actually, I want you to look at something…how your actions affected your friends."

"Let me go…"

"Not yet. Now hold on tight."

Dave closed his eyes. "Aw shit," he muttered as the pair was enveloped in bright lights.