For one media liason intent on keeping her new relationship quiet, and one profiler who agreed to keep their secret for now, they were doing a lousy job of it. Whether it was because JJ was secure in the knowledge that she was going to be going home with Rossi tonight, or whether it was because they couldn't keep from looking at each other over the course of the day, they were dropping hints left and right that something was up between the two of them.
The first thing that happened that morning occurred when they were both in the break room getting a cup of coffee. A mundane task, to be sure, but they stood close to one another while doing so, unconsciously perhaps, but close none the less. And when you worked with profilers, body language said a lot. So, when Dave left the room with his coffee, and JJ stood there stirring hers, she was smiling. Unfortunately for her, Emily Prentiss so happened to be in the room too. It wasn't that JJ and Dave didn't realize she was there, they had talked to her, but for a brief moment, JJ was caught up in thinking about Dave, she didn't realize she was being watched very closely. Standing up, Emily sidled over to JJ, intent on questioning her. Something was up, and she wanted to know.
"How was last night, JJ? I was going to come back, but Dave said he had everything under control. How was it having the Great David Rossi spend the night in your apartment?" she sweetly asked.
JJ, who had been taking a sip of coffee at the time, nearly choked on it. She managed to sputter out "Dave was a gentleman all night. He took care of Henry for me, putting him to bed. I felt bad he had to sleep on the couch, but it was a relief having someone there to look out for me." JJ felt a little bad that she wasn't letting Prentiss in on everything, but hey, she wasn't prepared to let everyone in on their little secret yet. What she didn't realize was she was slowly giving it away, in spite of herself.
Prentiss, putting JJ on the spot, merely said "I'd love for Mr. Legendary Profiler to look after me some time. Maybe I'd be in as good a mood as you are." chuckling, her game done for now, walked away, leaving an open-mouthed and staring JJ in her wake.
For his part, Dave wasn't doing that much better. However, since he wasn't the one who wanted to hide the relationship, maybe he wasn't trying too hard. But he'd promised JJ he'd try, and he intended to keep quiet. If the relationship was to be discovered, it would be on JJ's terms. He'd do as she wished. Saying that, he couldn't help himself at times. Standing with Morgan, discussing a case, JJ had dropped a file on her way by the two of them. When she'd bent over to pick it up, Dave couldn't help himself, he checked out her rear. It really was shapely, and he was thinking that it was all his. Morgan, however, picked up on that small thing, and what he said next snapped Dave out of his train of thought.
"Were you checking out Miss JJ's ass? Come on, Dave!" Morgan joked with him.
"Um, well, yeah, I did. It's a pretty sight, wouldn't you say?" Rossi couldn't believe he'd been caught. He wasn't nearly as smooth as he pictured himself. His reputation was going to be in the toilet if he didn't watch himself.
"Yeah, man, it's a nice sight, but it's JJ!" Morgan emphasized. He wasn't a profiler for nothing, and he'd learned from Garcia that it had been Rossi who had spent the night over at JJ's after she'd cried herself to sleep and no one had wanted to leave her alone. Deciding to play the big brother part, he thought he'd mess with Rossi. Opportunities like that didn't come very often. "Just remember, Dave, she just ended a relationship. She's vulnerable right now. Whatever you do, don't hurt her. She deserves better, and I thank god she figured out Will wasn't the one. She deserves much better than what she's been dealt so far."
Looking at Morgan, realizing he was being put on probation, Rossi agreed with Derek. "Yes, she deserves better than what she had. And if I ever do "go after" her, I will not hurt her. You have my word on that."
Leaving it at that, Rossi went to his office. How did things change so fast? And how the hell did Morgan read him like that? If JJ wanted to keep things secret, they were already failing, and they'd just barely gotten together. He needed to get out of the office for a little bit, and with lunch approaching, he decided to go. Debating whether to tell JJ or not, he thought better of it when he saw her standing with Morgan. He merely said goodbye to both of them, and hopped on the elevator. He turned around in time to see JJ's disappointed look as the doors closed.
Morgan, being nosy, also seen the disappointed look on JJ's face. Not knowing whether it was his place to say anything to the small blond, he spoke anyway. "He likes you, you know."
"Who? What are you talking about Derek?" JJ looked up at him surprised.
"Rossi. Don't give me that look, JJ. The man has liked you since he walked into this unit. Even you can't deny that." Derek spoke quietly.
"Well, that may be, Morgan, but nothing will ever come of it. I just ended things with Will. Rossi is a playboy. Whatever fascination he has with me is nothing." JJ desperately wanted to convince Derek of this. She wasn't prepared.
"Well, you should try telling him that. When he looks at you, I see something there. Maybe in time, you should check it out."
JJ stood stock still, blushing, before suddenly whirling around and heading to her office, leaving Morgan standing there smiling after her.
Once she got to her office, she was like a hummingbird, flitting around. Moving files around, flustered with herself, she didn't know quite what to think. Obviously, some of the team recognized the signs of something between Rossi and herself. She knew they were profilers, but come on! The relationship was so new between the two of them, she didn't want everyone in on it yet. Then a thought occurred to her, what if Prentiss and Morgan got together and compared notes? She'd already been caught out by Prentiss staring into a coffee cup smiling about Rossi, God knew what would happen if Morgan told Prentiss of some look apparently Dave gave her today? And yet another thought occurred to her, my god, the implosion of Garcia once she started to figure things out. Starting to panic, and needing to escape the BAU, she grabbed her purse and headed out. She realized she needed to get a grip on things, and decided to head for a little retail therapy over her lunch hour.
JJ took her car, heading towards a little shop that specialized in rare liquors. She wanted to get Dave a bottle of Scotch. Walking in, she was startled to see him standing in there, purchasing a bottle of scotch as it was. Smiling, she walked up beside him. Turning, he looked at her, pleased to see her.
"I couldn't take it anymore, JJ. I wanted to tell Morgan about us, god help me, I did."
"Give me a minute here, Dave, I just want to get something, and then we'll go to my car, I don't want to talk here anymore." JJ smiled at him, glad they were getting a chance to talk. He waited for her by the door, before they exited the shop together.
Getting into her car, JJ fiddled with the steering wheel. Then, seemingly making up her mind, she turned to Dave, and they pulled each other in for a kiss, not caring who might see them making out in her car. "I've wanted to do that for the better part of the morning, my dear." Dave let out.
"I never realized how hard this was going to be. It's worse because now it seems we are being watched. It feels like every little thing I do is being scrutinized. And I was warned by Morgan not to hurt you in any way, shape or form. I have the feeling my life was in jeopardy if I hurt you at all."
"Well, Prentiss wouldn't mind being taken care of by "Mr. Legendary Profiler" himself, much like I was last night. For the record, you slept on the couch and were a perfect gentleman, if anyone questions you." JJ laughed.
"Good to know, good to know. Are you ready for this afternoon? We have to keep things much better between us, I don't know how, but unless we want everybody in on us, we are going to have to learn to hide things better. And god help you once Garcia gets an inkling, and she will. Morgan can't keep anything to himself." Rossi chuckled.
"Don't I know it. Listen, I've got to pick up a few other things before I head back to work. I just had to get out of there for a few minutes. As far as I'm concerned, we never seen each other right now. I'll see you back there, and I can't wait to get to Little Creek tonight."
At that, Dave reached in for a final kiss, before getting out and heading to his own vehicle. The afternoon at work may be unbearable for the two of them, but he had the whole weekend to look forward to. And he didn't intend to waste a moment of their time together.