By the time Dave started for home that evening, he still hadn't found an opportunity to talk to Aaron. Every time that he tried to catch his friend alone, it seemed as if he picked up on that intent, and was either on a call or meeting with someone, and it began to frustrate Dave to no end. At five, when he went to leave for the day, he looked into Aaron's office to find that the lights were off already. Shaking his head a little, Dave went out to the elevators and waited for it to come. Pulling out his phone, he checked to see if he had any messages, but there was nothing, and he knew that tomorrow would have to be the day that they talked.
Once he was in his car, Dave called Penelope, wanting to see how the day had gone. "Dave! I am so glad that you called. Have you left for home yet?"
"I was just pulling out of the parking lot. Why?"
"Good, I need you to pick up food for us tonight. We, well, we got to talking, and didn't make anything, and neither of us is really in the mood for soup, or sandwiches. Fish sounds really good to us both, if you would be so kind."
"Of course, I can do that. How did today go? Was she all right with dropping off the girls' belongings? I know that had to have been so difficult for her."
"It was hard, yes. But we got through it together. Being able to head to the grocery store right after helped, I think. It turned her focus away from letting go, and onto planning for the week ahead. How did your talk with Hotch go?"
He let out a deep breath as he turned onto the road leading towards home. "It hasn't gone yet, I'm afraid. He managed to avoid me every time I went to engage with him, so it will have to be tomorrow."
"I'll cross my fingers that he doesn't pull the same stunt tomorrow, then. Um…"
"Yes?" he asked as he headed towards his preferred fish joint. "What is it, Kitten?"
"We're heading in to the BAU for a little bit tomorrow. She's not ready to come back, but she also doesn't want to have Derek over to her house, as she thinks that that might send the wrong message."
"What does Derek have to do with this conversation, Penelope?"
She cleared her throat a little before speaking once more. "He sent her another flower arrangement today, Dave. It is gorgeous, but the card was what made it even more lovely. He wrote her this sweet message about how he couldn't wait to see her back in the office, that he was missing the way she commanded everyone's attention whenever she entered the bullpen. I don't know if you said anything to him, but he was just so kind that it made her heart happy. I saw the first real smile on her lips, well, other than the ones that we've teased out of her. I really hope that this means she's finding a way to start getting better."
"And she wants to head in tomorrow to show her appreciation in person?"
"Of course! Would you expect any less of our dear Lambie?" There was a noise in the background before he heard Penelope speak once more. "Yeah, I asked him to grab food for us, don't worry. Of course, here."
There was a moment of silence before he heard the familiar, comforting, sound of Erin's breathing come over the line. "I truly think that you and Penelope are miracle workers, of sorts. Did your day go well?"
"It went. Aaron is still refusing to speak to me, but I hope to change that tomorrow, even if that means I have to lock myself in his office until he breaks down and says something."
A sweet trill of laughter escaped Erin's lips, and he smiled to hear it. "I would pay good money to see that happen, David. Hopefully, it doesn't come to that, though. I know that your friendship with him means so much to you. He was just so let down by my behavior, and I really should have known better. And before you say that, I know that that does not excuse his anger towards us, but it does explain. And someday, I am going to make him see that I have changed."
"And maybe someday, he'll pull his head out of his ass. Now, let's talk about your workload a little, because my God, woman, I have no idea how you do this day in and day out." They began to talk about her job and he found the time passing easily as he drove, listening to her and chiming in when he thought he had a good point. "All right, I've arrived at the restaurant, and we both know that it's rude to be on the phone while in line, so I'll say goodbye for the moment, and see you both when I get home."
"Hurry back, dar..David."
Erin hung up before he could call her on her slip, and he smiled dazedly at the device as he turned the car off before making his way into the restaurant. It didn't take long to put their order in, and as he waited for the food to be ready, he scrolled through his email, deleting the ones that didn't need an answer, saving the rest for when he was back in the office.
While driving home, Dave ruminated on Erin's slip of the tongue. He had a feeling that Penelope would call him out on that, since she had her misgivings about how close Erin was growing to him. And that slip also concerned him a little, as well, because he knew that Erin had to heal before either of them thought about entering into a relationship. He had gotten no closer to thinking of a solution by the time he arrived home, and then Penelope was coming out into the garage to help him bring everything inside.
"The table is set, and all we need is you and the food." She pecked his cheek lightly as they went indoors, and he couldn't keep the smile off his face when he saw that someone had set out candles on the table that evening, the soft glow lending a tender feel to the room. "That didn't take too long."
"The line was shorter than expected," he said as he helped pass around what he had brought home, and then they were setting about eating. "I think that I'm going to turn in early and read for a little while," he said after finishing his meal, and he watched Erin's face fall a little before she plastered on a fake flat affect. "I'll see both of you in the morning?"
"Of course, David," Erin whispered as she looked away from him. Letting out a soft sigh, he pushed away from the table and made his way out of the room, rubbing Erin's shoulder as he left. After changing into pyjamas, he climbed into the bed and picked up the book he had lifted from the bookcase in the living room. Making himself comfortable in the bed, he began to read, quickly losing himself in the story. The next thing he knew, Dave felt the mattress dip and he blinked a few times as he tried to focus on who was in the room with him. "I wanted to check on you before I went to sleep," Erin said as she placed the bookmark where he was before setting the book on the nightstand. "You fell asleep reading, so you really must be tired."
"It was a long day," he murmured, keeping his eye on her. She gave him a small smiled as she nodded, and then he noticed that she was wearing pyjamas as well. "But you should get to bed, you look ready to sleep yourself."
A faint blush stole across her face as she looked down at the floor. "Penelope asked for an alone night, and I don't want to sleep alone. Would you mind if I spent the night in here?"
Dirty thoughts immediately came to the forefront of his mind, and he cleared his throat a little. Her son's bed was smaller than the one in the master bedroom, which meant that they would be that much closer, but from the way her face fell as the silence stretched out between them, he knew that he couldn't say no. "If you don't mind the close quarters, I suppose that there's room in here for you. Just be warned, I do snore."
"I slept through your snoring when you were sleeping on the floor in my room. I think that I'll live for another night." He chuckled as he scooted over to make room for her, trying not to stare at her body as she climbed in next to him. "I wish that I could find the strength to be alone, but after what happened in California, I can't trust myself yet. Do you know how stupid that makes me feel?"
"Oh, Erin, you're not stupid, you're just a little lost right now. I'm sorry that makes you feel stupid, but you have to know that we're supporting you through this, and that being lost isn't always a bad thing. Not when you find new friends along the way."
"I don't think that Agent Morgan is suddenly my friend."
"No, but Penelope is, and we've found a new balance in our relationship. Who knows, given time, Derek could be a friend, too. After all, Penelope is his best friend, and I have the feeling that she'll draw him into our orbit before too long."
She nodded before snuggling in a little closer to his side, reaching out to splay her hand on his chest, her fingers tapping against him as she took a few deep breaths. "That might be nice." She yawned a little before closing her eyes as she smiled at him. "Good night, David."
"Good night, Erin," he replied quietly as he pulled the covers up around them and then rested his arm around her waist as he allowed himself to fall back asleep once more, somehow more at peace now that Erin was there with him.
