Chapter 4 – She's Different
Episode – About Face
Bren's apartment – the next morning
Dave lifts his head from between Bren's legs and glares at the cell phone ringing on the bedside table. 'Who the hell would be calling at this time of the morning,' he thought.
"Ignore it," he tells Bren as she stretches her arm out towards the phone.
He dives back between her soft thighs, his tongue accurately finding her clit once more. He feels her shift.
"It's someone named Jack Fickler," she tells him. "You want me to ignore it?"
"Fuck," he swears as he swiftly moves up her body and grabs the phone. "It's my boss."
He slides to the side of her and answers the phone.
"Jack! How are you?" he says into the phone.
Jack chuckles. "I'm good, Agent Rossi. Did I wake you?"
A tremor of excitement runs through his body at the word "agent", it's been a long time since he was last called that.
"No," Dave answers casually. "I was already awake. What can I do for you?"
"Get dressed and meet me for breakfast," Jack orders. "We need to get you sworn in before you start your first day. It is your first day, correct?"
"It is," Dave nods. He rolls over and stands up. "Give me an hour. Where would you like to meet?"
Jack laughs again. "Where do you think?"
Dave hangs up the phone and tosses it on the bedside table. "Sorry sweetheart, I have to go."
"I heard," she pouts.
He watches as she licks a finger and slowly trails that hand down her body and between her legs. His cock twitches as he watches her masturbate.
"I'll just be here, all lonely and horny."
He leans over, hands resting, next to her body, on the mattress.
"I'll make it up to you," he grins. "I promise."
He kisses her hard, tongues playing a dangerous game. He feels himself being drawn into her and breaks the kiss suddenly. "You're a minx," he growls.
"I'm your minx," she purrs. Her body arches as she begins to orgasm. The smell of her sex is strong in the air. It takes every bit of his willpower to pull himself off the mattress and walk to the bathroom. The water in the shower was going to be ice cold, otherwise he won't be getting out of there in time.
Cathy's Café
Dave parks his SUV in the half-full lot. He spots Jack's dark green 1963 Jaguar XK-E parked near the front door. Hurriedly, he gets out of his car and hustles across the parking lot. Jack sits in his usual space at the far end of the room, he waves at Dave.
"Good morning, Jack. Sorry I'm late," Dave says in greeting as he settles into the booth.
Jack smiles. "Only a couple of minutes, not bad considering I called you last minute."
The server comes over, coffee pot in hand. Dave smiles as she pours him a cup.
"You need a menu?" she asks.
Dave shakes his head. "I'll have bacon, eggs over easy, wheat toast, and hashbrowns."
"Coming right up," she smiles. She tops off Jack's cup. "I'll put your order in now too."
"Thank you," Jack smiles back at her. He turns to Dave as the waitress walks away. "So, how are you? I heard you've already stirred up Erin."
Dave laughs. "Have I?"
"She's already been grumbling that you're going to make a mess of the BAU," Jack admits. "She doesn't think you'll be a good fit for the team."
"Speaking of team," Dave cuts in. "I don't understand… what team?"
Jack raises an eyebrow. "The BAU team."
Dave looks at him inquisitively.
Jack chuckles. "That doesn't help you at all, does it?"
"No," Dave growls. "Last night, Strauss said she was going to introduce me to the team – I have no idea what this team is. Care to enlighten me?"
Jack takes a sip of his coffee and nods. "I'm sorry. I forgot how much has changed since you last worked at the Bureau. It's different now. We no longer send a singular agent into the field to figure out the profile of a suspect. We have several teams of profilers who work together to assess the information and create a profile."
"I see," Dave says slowly. "And I'm going to be part of one of these teams or can I work alone like I'm used to?"
Jack eyes him carefully. "Part of the reason I said yes to you coming back is that the BAU needs guidance, Dave. I know you said this was going to be short-term, so I really want to get the most out of you while you are here. It's still going to be short-term, yes?"
"That's my plan," Dave acknowledges. "I still don't get why it's now a team thing."
"Because you're a lone wolf, I know," Jack sighs. "Listen, these teams are carefully curated. We have agents with different backgrounds who have different specialties. It helps to have people with expert knowledge on specific crimes and then to have people who have general knowledge who can pull all the information together. You're used to doing everything yourself, these days, you don't have to. I really think that once you get used to this method, you're going to love it."
Dave gives him a baleful eye and sits back as the waitress arrives with their food. He waits until she has left again. "You're still going to be looking for a full-time replacement, yes?"
"Of course," Jack replies as he shakes pepper onto his eggs. "You just let me know if you decide that you want to stay."
FBI Building Quantico, VA the next morning
Dave and Jack meander into the front door of the FBI building. Dave shows his credentials to the guard on duty and is waved through the security check point.
"So, now what? The swearing in?" Dave questions.
Jack glances at him as they make their way through the sea of people entering and exiting the building. "Do you promise to continue to uphold all the things you swore to uphold the first time you became an agent?"
Dave frowns. "Yes."
"There you go, you're sworn in. Look, Strauss is waiting by the elevators."
Dave looks in the direction the Director indicates and sees Strauss anxiously eyeing the crowd. She's wearing heels, a gray skirt, purple blouse and a long flowing dark blue sweater.
"What do you think she's waiting for?" Jack asks.
Dave chuckles. "Probably me."
They walk directly towards her. She sees them and momentarily relaxes then tenses up again.
"Good morning Director," she says with a smile. She looks at Dave and her smile fades. "Agent Rossi. I see you've found your way here on time."
Dave grins. "I followed the Director after we finished breakfast."
Her confidence falters for a moment. "Breakfast?"
"I took Dave out to celebrate his return," Jack explains. "I would have invited you, but I know you have kids and were probably spending time with them this morning."
She smiles again, the smile doesn't reach her eyes.
"You waiting for someone?" Dave asks.
"You," she says sharply. "Are you ready to meet your new team?"
"Lead the way," Dave says graciously.
The three of them step into an elevator. Jack presses the buttons for the sixth and fourteenth floors.
"You're not coming with us," Strauss observes.
Jack looks at her. "I trust that you can do the introductions without me."
"Yes, sir."
Jack eyes her for a moment before turning to Dave and holding out his hand. Dave takes it and they shake. "Welcome back, Agent Rossi. I'm glad that you're here."
"Thank you, sir," Dave says formally.
"We'll talk again soon," Jack says. The bell dings as the elevator comes to a stop. The doors open for the sixth floor. Jack holds the doors as Strauss steps out, Dave close behind her. "Have a good day."
Dave follows Strauss through the glass doors of the BAU. His eyes land on a lanky young man standing with a Frankenstein mask on the top of his head. He nods at the agents watching him traverse through the space. 'They all look so young,' he thinks.
Strauss leads him up the stairs and into a large, well-furnished office. She begins to re-introduce him to Aaron Hotchner. Dave ignores her and steps over to his old friend.
"How are you, Aaron," he asks as he pulls the younger man into a tight embrace.
Hotch returns the hug eagerly. "I'm good. You?"
"I'm great," Dave says in return.
"I would say so," Aaron says stepping back. "Saw you on tv last week. Can't believe you want to come back here."
They both turn awkwardly to Strauss who regards the men carefully. "Well, I'll let the two of you catch up. If you need anything, I'll be in my office."
Both men look at each other.
"Thanks," Hotch states diplomatically as she exits. "So, how long has it been?"
Dave pretends to think. "Dinner, almost two years ago. But the last time I was in the BAU, you were sharing a desk with two other agents in that God-awful bunker."
"I remember," Hotch nods.
"Congratulations," he says genuinely. Yesterday, Strauss had been surprised that he wanted to return in a subordinate position. But he knew that Aaron had worked hard to become the Unit Chief, he deserved it. Dave had had a taste of being an FBI Supervisor before he retired; the red tape and bureaucratic bullshit was too much for him. If he were to make it a week here, he needed to not be in charge.
"Thanks," Hotch smiles. "Well, there's one just like this next door if you're interested."
A beautiful, young blond-haired woman appears at the door.
Dave gives her a surreptitious look. 'Nice body,' he notes.
"I'm ready to do the briefing," she announces. She glances at Dave.
Hotch makes introductions. "Agent Jareau, this is SSA David Rossi."
"Hi." Dave shakes her hand. Out of the corner of his eye, he sees Hotch watching him. He stays professional.
"Everyone calls me JJ," she says with a smile. "It's such an honor to meet you, sir. I've heard a lot about you."
"Thank you," Dave replies not overwhelmed by the admiration. "And what's your function here?"
"I'm the Communications Coordinator and liaison," she announces proudly. "Pretty much the go-between for the team and the rest of the world."
She turns to Hotch and continues. "So, I'll gather everyone."
"We'll be right there," he says.
JJ looks at Dave again. "It is so nice to have you here, sir."
"Great," he smiles in return. His eyes follow JJ as she makes her way through the bullpen. "Wow. We didn't have that before."
Aaron glances at JJ before turning a cautious eye back to Dave.
"What do you mean?" Aaron asks.
"Communications coordinator," he says swiftly. He is about to be surrounded by people who could read him almost as well as he could read them, he needs to be careful with his words and actions.
"Right," Aaron replies. "A lot has changed. Come meet the team."
Dave follows his friend into the bullpen and greets the other agents. He smiles genuinely at Emily Prentiss and shakes the hand of Derek Morgan. His enthusiasm wanes when Dr. Reid starts rapidly talking about the Scarsdale Skinner.
While he is happy to be here in the BAU, he is not enamored with the idea of being a mentor and the enthusiasm of Doctor Reid is a bit overwhelming. Dave makes a mental note to look at the younger man's file.
Briefing Room
He files behind Aaron into another spacious room filled with computers and screens as well as a table surrounded by chairs. He grabs a seat near the door as the rest of the team comes in behind him. JJ begins to talk about the latest case. The door flies open.
Dave twists slowly to look at the woman standing in the doorway cringing behind a file. Pink streaks in her hair, tight flower print dress covering a very curvy body he watches as she waits for the all-clear before lowering the file and handing it to Hotch.
She speaks, but all he hears is the sound of his own heartbeat. Aaron says her name as he introduces her. Dave doesn't hear it. He struggles to breathe. She stumbles closer. Shakes his hand. Her touch is like lightening on his skin. His whole body tingles including his dick which starts to harden. She awkwardly leaves the room, returning briefly to shut the door.
He hasn't had a physical reaction like this since, well longer than he can remember. Once the door closes, he turns to Aaron and stammers, "She's different."
Aaron smirks. "You have no idea."
After the briefing, Aaron shows Dave the office he will be occupying during his stay in the BAU.
"You can set it up however you like," Aaron says. "Paint the walls, arrange some new furniture – whatever you want."
Dave takes in the room and nods slowly. "Definitely bigger than the space in the bunker."
Aaron chuckles. "The elevator is bigger than the space in the bunker."
"You're not lying." Dave states blandly. "Who do I talk to about this?"
Dave waves a hand, indicating he is talking about the room.
"Someone will stop by to see you later," Aaron tells him. "You can use the briefing room for now."
Aaron leaves for his own office. Dave continues to stare at the four blank walls surrounding him. Never had he imagined that he would be back in the FBI, nor that he would have his own office. He glances out the window, the team sits together each at their own desk but together.
He liked this. Having his own office gave him the separation he needed. He really doesn't intend to be "integrated" into this team or any other. He's going to finish the Galen case and get the hell out. That's all he wants. He doesn't want to be a glorified babysitter.
He laughs at himself and shakes his head. He imagined that he would be sharing a desk with one of them. This was so much better.
He pulls out his phone and punches in a number.
"Please tell me you changed your mind and decided to stay retired," Bren says in greeting.
He smirks and walks across the room to stare out the large window overlooking the front of the FBI academy.
"Sorry sweetheart," he replies. "I'm calling to brag about my new office. It's huge."
"Large enough to fit you and your ego?"
He chuckles. "Almost. Once it gets decorated and I get some furniture I'll show it to you."
"I look forward to it. Sounds like a photo opportunity."
"No," he says sharply. "We are not turning my return to the BAU into a press release. Besides, this is only temporary, remember?"
"Dave," she whines. "It's a great marketing device. Do you know how many people would rather read a book written by an actual working FBI agent rather than a retired FBI agent?"
"I don't care," he tells her. "This job requires privacy. You are not taking any pictures of me or my office in this building. Do you understand?"
"How about one in front of the building," she pouts.
He lets out a huff of air. "Fine. But it will have to wait, we got a case."
"Already?"
"Murder waits for no man or woman," he smiles grimly.
"So, I guess I'm sleeping alone tonight?"
"I'm afraid so," he tells her. "We're leaving early in the morning. I'm going to check into a hotel near here."
"Are you sure you don't want some company," she asks. "You can stay with me."
"I'll call you when I get back," he promises then hangs up the phone.
The Briefing Room – several hours later
Dave sits back in the chair and stretches; a large pile of files sits on the table in front of him. He grabs his empty coffee cup and heads for the breakroom.
The bullpen is empty as he walks through. In the breakroom, he notes that the coffee pot is empty. He sets down his coffee cup and begins to fix a new pot.
"Hey," Hotch says as he walks into the room. "We're out of coffee?"
"I'm making a fresh pot," Dave points out.
"Thanks. How's the day going?"
Dave glances over his shoulder at the younger man. "Fine. How's your day going?"
"Fine," Hotch replies. He watches Dave make the coffee. "They come see you about your office?"
"Yeah. I told them what I wanted. They said it would take a few days." He turns on the coffee pot and turns around to lean against the counter.
"What kind of decorations are you going to put up?"
"Are we really going to talk interior design," Dave counters.
Hotch shrugs. "I need more coffee."
"Same," Dave agrees. He looks out to the bullpen. "Where is everybody?"
Hotch looks out into the bullpen as well. "Garcia and JJ are in their offices; I think Emily went to lunch and Morgan and Reid are at the range."
Dave nods. Garcia? Who the hell is that, he wonders. His cell phone buzzes in his pocket. He pulls it out and smiles.
"Excuse me," he says to Hotch who waves him off.
"How's my favorite nipote," he says into the phone.
There's a short laugh on the line. "I'm fine, Zio Dave. What the hell did you do? Mom says she's never talking to you again."
Dave lets out a deep breath. "She didn't tell you?"
"No. She said I needed to come home to pick up Mudgie because she was never stepping foot on your property again," Rebecca says.
"So, she's never going over to see Nonna and Nonno again?"
"I think she's forgotten you own that place too," Rebecca points out. "Come on, what's going on?"
"I rejoined the Bureau," he says softly.
"You what?! Are you fucking crazy?"
"Hey, hey watch your language," he scolds.
She snorts. "You're the one who taught me this language. Are you serious?"
"Yeah," he says as he takes the full cup of coffee that Hotch hands him. He heads back to the briefing room. "They need the help. And I figured I could be the one to help them."
He listens as she groans through the phone.
"What," he asks.
"I'm torn between being proud and hating you," she admits. "Now I understand why Mom is so upset. What did Nonna have to say about it?"
"She didn't understand why I left in the first place," he tells her. He sets the coffee on the table and returns to close the door just as the team enters the bullpen. He sees them look in his direction as he closes the door.
"That place was killing you Zio Dave."
"I wouldn't say that," he counters.
"Really? What would you say?"
"The disappointments outweighed the victories."
She snorts. He can picture her head shake.
"You always looked dead when you came home. So distant… so not you."
He looks around the room at the gadgets and maps. "I guess I was at the time… but right now, I've never felt so alive in my life."
"Hmph," she replies. "When are you coming home?"
"I'm not sure. We got a case that we're heading out to in the morning."
"How is this going to work out? Are you going to be gone all the time? Are you coming home for the weekends," she persists.
"I really don't know, kiddo. I'll do my best. It's only an hour flight from here to there," he points out. "I can't come home every night, but I can try on the weekends."
"Where are you going to stay? Zia Sophia's?"
He shudders at the thought of living with his oldest sister and her husband, Gio. They were both retired and loved to spend their free time doing things that David absolutely abhorred, like gardening and home repairs. That is what you paid other people to do for you.
"No," he says shortly. "For now, I'll probably stay at a hotel, but I'm looking for a place to rent in the area."
"Rent? Aren't you the one who said renting is for fools and is the biggest waste of money?"
"Shut up. This is only temporary."
"The housing or the job?"
"Both," he admits.
"Okay. Well, stay safe. Come home soon."
"I will. Love you. Give those kids of yours a hug and let JD play baseball in the spring!"
"Uhhh," she mock screams. "I hate this family."
"Yeah, yeah, yeah. Join the club."
She laughs. "He wants you to help him practice over the winter so that when spring is here, he is ready to play."
"Tell JD, I'll see him when I get back. I gotta go."
"Bye Zio Dave. I love you!"
They hang up as Dave settles into his seat and picks up his coffee. He was giving up a lot in returning to this job. No more Sunday dinners at his parent's house. No more spur-of-the-moment fishing trips with kids.
There were too many "no mores" to think about. He stares at the file on the desk. There were too many unsolved cases to ignore. Too much to do and not enough time to do it in.
A hotel near Quantico – that night
Dave sits on the bed fully dressed including his shoes. He flips through the channels on the tv, pausing occasionally to watch a snippet of a show before moving on. His go-bag sits by the door, ready for him to pick up and head out first thing in the morning.
It's late but there is no way he is sleeping at the moment. He shuts off the tv and tosses the remote onto the table. He leaves his room and heads downstairs to the bar. There's a small crowd, what looks to be a mix of locals and hotel guests.
Dave slips onto a stool at the far end of the bar where he can watch the people and the door.
"Bourbon, neat," he orders from the barmaid. Mid-thirties, red hair and a bright smile – Dave watches her every movement. He sizes her up as she turns away. His dick twitches as he watches her ass.
She returns with his drink. "Six dollars."
He hands her a ten. "Keep the change."
She beams at him. "Thank you. Let me know if you need anything else."
He watches as she folds the dollars and slips them inside her blouse.
"Well, actually I do need something else."
"And what would that be," she asks carefully.
He leans closer. "Your name."
She sizes him up for a moment. "Doris," she says finally. "Not Dory."
He reaches out his right hand. She grasps it lightly in her own.
"David. I prefer Dave."
They shake hands for a moment before he lets her hand slide out of his.
"How long are you staying," she asks.
He shrugs. "Just tonight, for now, but I'll be back."
"Business or pleasure?"
He smiles tightly. "Business, unfortunately."
She grabs a bar towel and wipes down the bar near him.
"Married?"
He shakes his head. "You?"
"Not anymore," she tells him. She shows him her left hand where the indent of a ring sits on her third finger. "Divorce was finalized last week. Though we've been apart for almost year. His fiancée just gave birth."
"Ah," Dave says. He takes a sip of his drink.
"I'll be back," she says as she eyes a waitress headed towards the bar. Dave watches her ass again as she hustles down the bar.
He briefly wonders if any of the team gets laid when they were out in the field. He made a mental list. Hotch definitely wasn't getting any on the road or at home. He was wound up tighter than a Las Vegas slot machine. Morgan most likely got his dick wet regularly. Reid? Not likely, he was more cerebral and seems less likely to give in to the desires of the flesh.
Prentiss was a fifty-fifty shot. He probably could bed her if he wanted. She seemed to have a little rebellious streak in her. That left JJ. She was a hottie and he was interested. But she was the kind of girl you took home to Momma and he was not interested in taking any more women home.
The tech girl, whose name he couldn't remember, flashed in his mind. For some reason, she had captured his attention. Not his usual type but damn, he wanted her. Nice big tits, thick ass. Yeah, he could fuck that girl for hours. His dick hardens. There was something special about her. Something he couldn't put his finger on, but he was drawn to her by more than her physical appearance.
Doris finishes pouring out drinks and sashays her way back to his end of the bar. She smiles at him and put an extra wiggle in her walk causing her tits to bounce. Yeah, he was getting laid tonight. He was horny as hell and this woman was sending signals.
"So, I uh, actually get out of here at midnight. Do you, um, want to hang out?"
Dave pretended to think about it. "Maybe we could have a drink, or talk, or something in my room," he suggested. "I'd like to at least take my shoes off."
"Hmm, something in your room sounds fun. Can I take my shoes off too?"
"You can take off anything you want," Dave tells her.
Doris left at five thirty the next morning, so as not to raise the suspicions of the hotel staff. She had told him that the night desk was usually in the back office watching porn at this time of the morning and wouldn't notice her slipping out the door.
Dave went back to sleep for another hour before rising and getting ready for the day.
The BAU Jet
Dave sits at the back of the jet, away from the team. More used to doing these things alone, it made him uncomfortable being around the younger agents. He feels an internal pressure whenever they are nearby to do or say something prolific. He's not used to teaching, not anymore. Back in the day, he and Jason had given lectures about profiling and when he was a member of the hostage negotiation team he had trained other agents in the field. But this felt different. He was the founder of the BAU, and he felt like he should have all the answers if asked, but deep inside, he knew that he didn't.
He sits with a folder in one hand and the bracelet on the other. 'This is it,' he thinks. He was taking the first of the last steps to find a murderer that had been haunting him for twenty years. There was a sense of excitement and dread that sat in the pit of his stomach.
"Let's go over victimology," Aaron states loudly. "Would you like to join us, Dave?"
He startles at his name and quickly recovers. He slides the bracelet into his pocket, puts down the file and rises. He pulls his pen and notebook out of his pocket as he crosses the plane and sits on the sofa.
The team begins to breakdown Michelle Colucci's life. Dave makes a few notes in his notebook. He frowns as the group continues to talk about different aspects and theories.
"Interesting," he murmurs not entirely to himself.
"What's that," Reid asks. The team stops talking and looks at him.
"Oh, I'm just thinking out loud," he says quickly.
"Something to add," Hotch presses eagerly. Dave feels that pressure to perform rise inside him. He tamps it back.
"No," he denies. "Sorry to interrupt."
The team resumes their overview. Dave makes several notes from their discussion adding a few of his own thoughts as well.
"Hey guys," the technical analyst says from the computer screen. Dave looks up, completely mesmerized by her appearance on the screen. 'What the hell,' he thinks as he half-listens to what she is saying. 'What is it about this woman that draws him to her?' Her input is short and sweet.
Dave frowns as he hears Morgan call her Baby Girl, before terminating the call. Was Morgan dating this woman? He sizes up the younger agent, who looks at him and frowns in return. Dave lowers his gaze.
End Chapter 4