AN:
Hello again! As I've said before, I've decided to use my vacation time to write for you guys, considering you deserve it for having waited so long for the updates! This chapter is mainly from the point-of-view from the rest of the team, thought I'd bring them in.
I'll be honest, I actually have no idea where this story is going. I had started to write the story when I was starting a burnout and since the beginning of this story and now, I've been getting better and so my 'I'm-feeling-like-crap-and-I-hate-the-world-and-myself' part that had helped me write isn't present anymore so it's hard to get back in touch with my original idea since I don't have anymore ideas for it. Honestly, I've thought about deleting this story but I thought that it wouldn't be fair to all of you so I'm continuing with it even if I'm not enjoying it all that much anymore - it's just not the ''darkness'' I was trying to go out for. Anyhow, for the sake of you guys, and for the simple fact that I've put a lot of energy into it, I'm gonna continue and do my best to make this story as good as possible! :)
So here is the next chapter and I hope you enjoy it! As usual, hope you can leave some feedback, I love to know what you guys think, criticism is a great way to make progress and I want to please you guys (for those that'll write asking for Hotch and Garcia to get together, I'm sorry but it won't be this story. Perhaps another one but not this one!). So write something in that big box at the end of the chapter, let me know what you think! :)
David Rossi arrived at his home and stopped the car. His heart beat frantically in his chest and he seemed to be unable to breathe. He hadn't been home since his wife died and didn't know if he'd be able to survive being in the same home. Perhaps he could sell it and find something else. Then again, he remembered living through his 3 first marriages and divorces in this house, and decided to take it one day at a time.
He slowly got out of the car and went inside, stopping dead in his tracks. He could smell her perfume and sense her presence, almost as if she was still there. He let a few tears roll down his face as he continued his way through the house. After arriving at his bedroom, he needed to take a few deep breaths to be able to enter the room, where the scent of her was strongest.
Nothing had changed, nothing was out of place. It was as if it had frozen into place and the only missing piece was her. He walked to his bed and found a note on the bedside table;
Dave, I got called into work early this morning. I'll see you tonight when you get home. Love you, Erin.
He held the piece of paper tightly and clutched it to his chest as he started to sob. He missed her greatly.
After crying for a good half hour, Rossi sighed and wiped his face. He needed to be strong now, for everyone and himself. He undid the bed, bringing everything to the laundry room and started a washing. He then took out a few boxes and started to put some of her things, like clothes and other of her things away. He would bring her things to her children when he'd finish packing.
A few hours later, he called his friend who had Mudgie and waited for his dog to arrive. It was a happy reunion for both. Poor Mudgie knew something had changed and kept looking for Erin, until he figured out she wasn't there and his masters pain was explained. He remained next to Rossi for the duration of the night.
He called Garcia and then headed to bed, suddenly feeling lonelier than ever. He never had a problem with loneliness, not after his job with the BAU and his book tours and his divorces, but suddenly, it became a slight problem. He was always with Erin when they started to date, and after that, he spent a good month with Garcia. Either way, he knew he would have to get used to it. He couldn't continue using people as a crutch.
His heart hurt as he missed his wife. For the hundreth time that night, he wondered if this is what Aaron had felt after Hailey died. He wondered how he had gotten over it. Of course he had Jack but those nights where he lay in his bed, how did he not think about her? He cried himself to sleep that night, hoping that the pain would eventually lessen.
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Aaron Hotchner stood by the sink and looked out the window. He knew how Dave was doing but at this precise moment he was more concerned about his former sparkly tech. He knew that she had taken on the task of helping Dave, that he was living with her. He wondered if she was alright, if it was too much for her.
He picked up his phone and started to dial her number before closing it again. He'd been doing that for the past week. What would he tell her? 'Please don't get too involved in this so you're forced to leave again?'. Their relationship had improved over the past few months since her return, becoming close friends and confidants. He'd often go over following a case, or take her out to lunch on her breaks when he was in town. He cared for her and didn't want to lose her again and often thought of trying to protect her in some way or another.
'No' he told himself. 'She is a grown woman, she knows what she is doing' he told himself. Perhaps he could call her in the morning, to check up on her, make sure she's alright. Perhaps he could just go over with Jack and make sure both Dave AND Penelope were alright.
In the end, he decided to call first and ask if they could have supper, the four of them. Or perhaps even include the whole team. Dave needed to know that everyone was there for him, and would help him through this ordeal, just like everyone had been there for him after Hailey's death. 'Yes' he thought, as he settled himself on the couch with a beer, 'I'll call and offer supper. Invite the team and show Dave that he's not alone'.
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JJ stared at Will as he slept for the thousandth time in the past month, sleep eluded her once more. She still couldn't grasp what had happened to Strauss. One minute she was there and the next she was gone. Just like that. In less than a minute. And poor Rossi, who has to suffer through the grief. They hadn't even been married that long, which also made it worse.
She couldn't imagine what he was going through, and prayed constantly since the accident that she never has to go through that, or that Will never has to go through that.
Her next thought was of her best friend, Penelope. Things had become easier over the last few months, but they weren't as they were before. It wasn't a secret any longer that Garcia had fallen for Rossi and couldn't take the pain of losing him. She refused to talk about Rossi in anyway. In the end, JJ did all she could to be the bestest of friends and be there for her. They often went out to lunch and supper when JJ wasn't off on a case, and sometimes they'd have chick-flick night and watch all of the girliest movies they could find from any era.
Between her thoughts going from Will to Rossi to Garcia and back to Will, JJ decided she had enough and tried to get some sleep, snuggling up to Will in the process, wanting to be close to him. She eventually fell asleep with his scent surrounding her.
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Morgan sat on the couch watching TV while Nadia read a book in the bedroom. Things has been tense between the two since Garcia returned. They had fought the evening following his return and the wedding was almost called off.
''What do you mean she's back?'' she almost shrieked. Morgan sighed and sat at the table, ''I mean that she returned from wherever she was and now she's back in Virginia'' he answered. She huffed and slammed the refrigerator door. ''Look, Nadia. She's my best friend. Nothing has ever happened between us and nothing ever will. We are nothing more than best friends, nothing else'' he said, hoping that she would understand.
''Please. I am not blind. She's a woman and you are a man. If nothing has happened yet, it will eventually'' she yelled. He sighed and got up, ''I bet you love her''. He stopped and turned to look at her.
''Yes. I love her. As. A. Friend.'' he replied. ''She's probably head-over heels about you, it's always the case, even if she knows she never has a chance and isn't pretty, she's probably pining over you'' she said menacingly.
He shook his head and snorted. ''Nadia. I love you with all my heart but you are making it difficult for both of us. Garcia is nothing more than my friend. Please accept it'' he replied.
''Difficult for us? What exactly are you saying? Do you want to cancel our wedding? Is that it? Are you choosing her over me?'' she shrieked.
Morgan didn't know what to say. ''Is this a joke? Are you seriously going there? You know what? I'm not going to bother, say what you want. Think what you want. You are the one I love'' he replied after a few minutes and left her open mouthed in the kitchen. It took her a moment before she picked up a glass and threw it at his head. He didn't turn around and simply walked out.
Following that night, Nadia had apologized in every way she could think of. Surprise supper, shower sex, romantic evening, more sex, being a submissive partner, romantic evening at the nicest restaurant in town. After the second week of trying to have shower sex, he sat her down and tried once more to explain how there was absolutely no threat. She eventually accepted to try and understand and leave the issue alone. It was still a tense relationship but they were working to make it work.
He knew that Rossi was staying over at Garcia's, and wondered if she was alright, knowing that she had been in love with the guy for so long. He simply hoped she would be alright and that their friendship would return to its former self.
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Blake was driving back to Reid's place. They had went to a showing of Leo Tolstoy's Anna Karenina in the original Russian at the theater. Blake was having a hard time digesting Strauss's death, as they had known each other for many years, and to try and get her to feel better, Reid had gotten ticket to the showing of the play and invited her. It had actually helped her forget for a few hours the tragedy.
''Thanks Spencer. I really needed that. With my husband out of town and everything else going on, it felt good to forget things for a while and just enjoy a good play. Thank you'' she said after a good 20 minutes of silence.
Reid smiled and nodded, remaining silent. While his mind never shut up, he decided that at this moment it would perhaps be best if he didn't speak. Blake seemed to be stuck in her mind, somewhere in a memory.
With her marriage going down the drain due to her many hours with the BAU and her husband having decided it was time to get together again, she had decided to retire from the FBI and return to teaching. Her husband had been offered a full time job at Harvard but she had wanted to remain at Quantico and so they made an arrangement; 3 days at Harvard for both, 3 days at Quantico for Alex, and one day together doing nothing. It had worked so far and they both seemed happier.
''Have you spoken with Penelope recently?'' asked Blake suddenly. Reid hummed, ''actually yes. She's been keeping in touch with everyone, letting us know how Rossi was doing. He left to go home today, she sent us a text. Aside from that, she's fine from what I can tell. I don't think she has feelings for him anymore, she's just hoping to help a friend, which she has done'' he babbled.
Both remained quiet for the remaining of the way. They knew each other well enough that silence wasn't awkward between them, and they actually enjoyed the silence between each other. They had become best friends quickly, due to an understanding of each other on both sides.
As they both sat in the car, going through the roads of Virginia, they both thought of their eccentric friend and how far she had gotten; between the time off for herself and the weight loss, she had learned more about herself in the process and become a better and stronger person than before, which suited her quite well.
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After waking up from a nightmare and then tossing and turning for hours, Garcia decided to get up and look outside. From her apartment, she had a wonderful view of the city lights. Her favorite spot was the window seat she had created above the couch in the living room, and it was there that she was sitting at that very moment.
She sighed deeply and silently hoped for things to be clearer. She felt like she was stuck in a fog, unable to see the direction she was suppose to take. 'Everything happens for a reason' she thought once more to herself. It had become some sort of motto over the year. 'If I'm unable to see where I'm to go, it's because it's meant to be. My path will be clear when it's time for me to see it' she thought to herself.
Another deep sigh and she smiled, knowing that everything would become clear in the end, whether she was ready or not. She simply had to be patient, something she was already good at.