Two updates in one week? What is the world coming to? Okay, folks, with the exception of two or three Christmas scenes, it's going to focus on events leading up to and including the custody battle. Come along and enjoy the ride.
Dave looked at the woman sitting behind the desk and sighed. "Let me get this straight," he said. "Aside from the fact that she doesn't speak, my daughter is fine."
"For the most part, yes," she said. Her name was Dr. Garber and she was the therapist Skylar had been seeing for the past six months. "Don't get me wrong. She does have some things she'll need to deal with, her fear of abandonment for one, but from what I'm seeing, she's doing remarkably well. Her pictures are quite normal for a child her age. They show you, her, your dog, your housekeeper, your house, all in bright colors, no disturbing imagery. She drew one that has a lot of people in it but I'm not sure who they are."
"May I see it?" he asked.
"Of course," she said and handed it to him. Once he saw it, he knew who the people were and he chuckled. "These are the people I work with. They are her adopted aunts and uncles and she is their princess." He handed it back to her.
"Ah," she said. "I can continue seeing her but, quite frankly, it would be a waste of your time and money."
"And there's something I never thought I would hear a doctor say."
"I'm sure."
"Is there anything I can do about her not talking?" he asked.
"There's nothing physically wrong with her," she said. "In my opinion, from what you've told me about her mother and what her mother thought about her, she was probably told to stop talking on more than just a few occasions. She took it to heart and stopped talking all together. When she feels secure enough, comfortable enough or, god help us, the need arises, she'll talk."
"You're the doc," he said, standing and she did the same.
"Should the need arise, we can always restart the sessions," she assured him, "but, hopefully, that won't happen."
When Dave walked out of the office, Skylar was sitting at the table coloring. She looked up and smiled. "How about we go get some ice cream," he suggested. Her smile got bigger and she nodded.
Thanksgiving was spent with Dave's family in upstate New York. This was the first time some of them had met Skyler. It wasn't for lack of trying, though. Sometimes, schedules just don't work. Besides her nonna, she had two uncles and two aunts and their spouses and kids and, in a couple of cases, grandkids. Skylar wasn't the youngest child there but there was more than a few teens in attendance.
Christmas would be spent with the team. For one reason or another, none of them would be able to make home for the holiday so they decided to spend it together. Dave had sighed and offered his house for the gathering since it was the only one that would hold everyone comfortably. Mrs. Nichols smiled to herself when he told her about it and assured her the group would take care of everything.
The first Saturday in December found the ladies of the BAU pulling into Dave's driveway at nine o'clock in the morning. "Why are we doing this again?" Emily asked.
"Because I refuse to let Super Agent shop for Skylar's holiday outfits," Pen said. "God knows what that man would pick out."
"Add to that, she needs time with more females," JJ added. "Don't get me wrong, Mrs. Nichols is wonderful, but she needs some variety."
"So it's spa time, lunch then shopping," Emily said.
"And it's on someone else's dime," Pen pointed out. The car stopped and the ladies got out, heading for the door. "That's always a plus."
After they knocked and Dave let them in, they walked into the living room. Skylar was standing in the middle of the room. She was so excited, she was practically vibrating and she was wearing a huge smile.
"I can't believe you're taking my eight year old daughter to a spa," Dave said, shaking his head.
"It is never too early to learn the wonders of manis and pedis," Pen said with a superior air.
"Especially when I'm paying for it," Dave added with a smirk.
"There is that," Emily chuckled. "Besides, we've earned it."
"How so?" Dave asked.
"After watching you guys on this last case, we need something to make up for putting up with the men on our team," JJ said.
"Hey," Dave protested. "We were the picture of professionalism."
"Right," Emily drawled. "That's why you, Morgan and Reid decided that you needed to be the ones that interviewed the," she glanced at Skylar. "dancers at their workplace."
"Skylar, they're picking on your dad," he said, turning and appealing to his daughter. She just raised her eyebrows.
"See, even she agrees with us," JJ smiled.
"No respect whatsoever," he muttered.
"Yeah, you're so put upon," Emily grinned.
"Changing the subject," Pen said. "How many events are we talking about?"
Dave thought for a moment. "Christmas orchestra concert, The Nutcracker Ballet, the FBI party, pictures and Christmas day," he said. "She doesn't have to have a separate outfit for each one." The women just looked at him. With a sigh, he pulled out his wallet. "Of course she does," he said. "What was I thinking?" He handed Pen two cards. "Be nice."
In actuality, Dave was more than happy for them to take Skylar shopping. He fully intended for her to have a wonderful Christmas, the first of many. This would also be the first time he'd really enjoy the holiday himself. His only regret was that he couldn't have done it sooner.
He had been Christmas shopping for Skylar since right after Halloween. The little girl was going to be the recipient of more gifts that she might know what to do with. He knew he was probably going overboard but he didn't really care. Besides, he was also buying for Jack, Henry and the rest of the team as well.
By the time the females made it back to Dave's place, they were exhausted, but in a good, I had fun spending someone else's money, kind of way. Dave watched them as they walked into the house and drop tiredly onto the couch, surrounded by their purchases.
"I thought you were buying dresses," he said, looking around.
"Dave, you can't just buy a dress," Emily explained. "You have to buy everything that goes with it."
"You know, like shoes and tights and undergarments and hair things," JJ chimed in. "We even got her a pretty coat to wear with them."
"She has a perfectly good coat," Dave said.
"One does not wear a yellow coat with a holiday dress when attending the ballet," Emily said. She narrowed her eyes. "People would talk."
"Well, we can't have that, can we?" he mocked. "However would we survive the shame."
"There is an art to shopping," Pen added, pretending not to hear him. "One must have a strategy, a plan, when on a quest for the right outfit and accessories."
"It's a female thing, right?"
"Says the man who has his tailor on retainer," JJ said.
"I do not," he protested. They just looked at him. "I just visit him almost every month."
"And they call us vain," Pen stage-whispered. Skylar started to giggle.
"You're as bad as they are," Dave told her and she nodded.
Mrs. Nichols walked into the room. "Dinner will be ready in about thirty minutes," she said.
"Would you ladies care to join us for dinner?" Dave asked.
"Did you cook?" JJ asked.
"Mrs. Nichols cooked."
"I'm in," Emily said quickly.
"Very funny," he said as the others laughed.
There was a knock at the door. "I'll get it," Mrs. Nichols said and headed that way.
"Why don't you get everything moved to your room," Dave said. "Then you can help get everything ready for dinner." Penelope and Skylar managed to get all the packages picked up and headed up the stairs. "Was she any trouble?" Dave asked.
"She never is," Emily said. "You have a wonderful daughter."
"I think so," Dave smiled.
Mrs. Nichols opened the door and saw a woman standing there. "May I help you?" she asked.
"I'm looking for David Rossi," the woman said. "Is he home?
"Yes, Agent Rossi is here," Mrs. Nichols said. "May I tell him who's here?"
"Just tell him it's an acquaintance," she said.
"Please come in," Mrs. Nichols said. The woman walked in and the housekeeper shut the door. "If you'll please wait here, I'll tell him you're here." She turned and walked into the living room.
Dave was sitting in a chair across from JJ and Emily when Mrs. Nichols walked back into the room. He looked up at her. "Who's at the door?" he asked.
"Sir, there's a woman who..." she began. She didn't have to finish because said woman walked into the room.
"What the hell!" he exclaimed, forcefully rising from the chair. "What are you doing here?"
"Hello, David," she said with a crocodile smile. "It's been a while."
"Dave?" JJ asked as she and Emily stood as well.
"Since David never had any manners, allow me to introduce myself," she said.
"Her name is Elizabeth Peterson," Dave interrupted. "She's Skylar's mother."
TBC...