They Get Through

Dave and Penelope deal with the fallout from their surprise guest.

Cara - Dear

Bella - Beautiful

I own no characters or canon of Criminal Minds. Many thanks and blessings to those who created them.

Thanks to my sweet, beautiful beta Sunny. In short order she's become my confidant, brainstorm partner and sister. I am the luckiest girl alive!

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Penelope stood in the dining room. She watched David leave with his guest. It seemed to take forever. Her co-worker did not like her… who knows what Gideon was saying to David. When David didn't return, she folded herself back into her chair. How did she let this happen? she asked herself. Damn the day she accepts another date without doing a full background check. Then at least she would've known her world and David's were so closely tied.

The front door opened and shut. She sat up straighter. David walked back in, hands in his pockets, head dipped lower than usual.

They both let out a sigh and found each other's gaze.

"So…" Penelope sniffled. "'Rossi', huh?"

"Yep," he admitted.

"The *other* godfather of the BAU…"

David chuckled. "They're not still using that old trope, are they?"

"Ooohh yes, yes they are," Penelope actually allowed herself to giggle at his silly sensitivity.

Dave crossed the distance between them, offering her a hand. Despite whatever questions he had swimming around in his head, he was drawn to her. He couldn't help but go to her side. The questions needled at him and he had to try and explore at least one.

"You didn't know who I was?"

"No, I didn't."

"Really," he questioned.

"No!" Penelope's voice rose, feeling indignant. "Did you know who I was?"

"No," he admitted. David's shoulders fell again. He felt almost-ashamed at even accusing her of such. In his heart, he knew he knew her better than that.

She stood.

He was compelled to embrace her and hold her close. He carefully wrapped his arms around her and held her close. After several minutes, her shoulders relaxed.

She leaned into him and returned his affection. She felt his mouth open and shut several times.

"Come. Let's sit down," David finally hummed in a low voice. They held hands while they walked to the sofa in the living room. They cuddled up against each other, David's arms protectively around her. Time passed.

Penelope's body finally felt more like jelly than sheetrock, and she almost shut her eyes. It had been an emotional evening and she really just wanted to block it all out. Then Gideon's face appeared behind her mind's eye as she went over the evening, panic surged and she was wide awake again. "David, what does this mean? What are we even doing?" Her breathing became erratic.

He kept his arm around her - shushing and whispering to her, in Italian no less. She only recognized a couple of words.

"Shhhh, Cara," he murmured and ran a hand through her blonde locks while he kept her close. He waited for her to settle a bit. In a faint whisper he asked, "What do you mean 'what are we even doing'?"

She threw her hands up in the air half-heartedly. "I didn't even know your last name! That's kind of stupid of me! I didn't recognize you!" She laid her head on his shoulder and tried to relax again. She pouted, arms crossed around her middle. "So clearly I haven't read your books…" rolling her eyes. "Sorry," she whispered, eyes downcast. She picked invisible lint off her dress.

Dave's eyes focused and he laughed.

"Well if you not reading my books and me still being called 'godfather' of the BAU are the worst things to come out of this evening… I think we'll be okay." He laughed again, sharing a look with her that screamed of the ridiculous situation. It became contagious and she was gracious enough to give him a few chuckles. The moment of levity passed. Their animation eventually died down and stillness swept over them again.

Dave liked Penelope. He liked her a lot. And enjoyed the time they spent together and he wanted more of it. Right now, he just wanted to stay in that space. The space where he got to hold her. The space where there were possibilities.

"Cara. Sweet Penelope. This was not the evening I had planned. Not in the least." He took a beat, hoping a re-iteration of his invitation would be welcome. "You brought a bag. You were going to stay the night?" He felt her nod against his chest.

"I wasn't expecting the evening to include SSA Gideon," she pouted.

"I know, I know. …Believe me," he sighed deeply. "I know." Dave did his best to calm himself and not get worked up.

He spoke slowly. "I get the feeling we're both a little spent right at the moment." He waited another couple of beats before bringing his idea forward. "How about we go upstairs and lay down - just let me hold you tonight," he held her through another brief stiffness. "We'll get some rest…" he sighed. "Then we can start fresh in the morning."

Penelope nodded ever-so-slightly again. Dave rose and helped her up, keeping her hand as he turned off lights, set the alarm, grabbed her bags and led her upstairs. "You packed light, yeah?" He chuckled. Once to the master, he set her bags on a chair and embraced her again. He had this feeling that he didn't want to let go of her for even one second.

Penelope gazed into her bag. She saw the beautifully soft negligee to wear, which wasn't going to work. Thank goodness she kept an old set of clean walking clothes in the bottom. She went to the ensuite bath, took off her make-up and washed her face. She returned to the bedroom in a t-shirt and underpants.

"The pajamas I brought weren't really 'just sleepover' pajamas." Dave did his best to hold back a smile. "So all I have is this t-shirt," she looked aside.

"Good thing all I have is this t-shirt, well, and boxers of course," he let himself grin at her. "Come to bed, Bella."

Opposite David, the comforter was turned down and his bedside lamp was on. He opened his arm to her, the invitation to hold her clear. She climbed in under the covers and stilled. She could feel how tight her face and shoulders were but still braved a look at David.

Dave knew he needed to listen more than he needed to talk right now. He couldn't assuage her fears without knowing exactly what they were.

And Penelope knew she had to download more before she'd find sleep. She tried her deep breathing exercises again.

"It seems I've woken up a bit, getting ready for bed," she started slowly.

David nodded his head in encouragement. A beat or three passed. "It was just really nice, enjoying a normal guy! Who's educated. And cultured. Is a fantastic cook and buys amazing wine. And kisses like a freaking champ!"

Dave sighed and squeezed her against him. "Bella. I'm still that man… I think?"

"You are…" she bit her lip. "But I don't know what Gideon said to you about me when he left."

He stared at her with a furrowed brow.

"Listen, David," Penelope decided disclosure was best. "Agent Gideon is not a fan of mine. He doesn't understand what I do, even though the rest of the team constantly thanks me for my work. He has no boundaries and he never smiles. Who could be expected to work with that!?"

"I know, because I've been there Kitten," Dave swayed the truth just a little and went for levity again. "Gideon said nothing untoward. And I talked to him about what happens within my walls, stays within my walls."

That made Penelope chuckle again lightly. "So kinda like Vegas."

"Kinda like Vegas," he smiled. "Now. I will talk about almost-anything you want to in bed… I promise. But I would really like Jason Gideon to be a topic of conversation for outside the bedroom," he smiled down at her, scooting her into his arms even further and holding her firmly. "Is that fair?"

"That's fair," Penelope answered. She closed her eyes and took a few more deep, cleansing breaths. She reached for his chest with a hand and a small smile graced her face.

"That's what I like to see," Dave whispered against her temple. He caressed her cheek with his finger and rolled to his side toward her, never breaking contact. He put his opposite arm across her body and she reached for his hand. She caressed his fingers, in an almost-rhythmic way. Dave thought it was probably as comforting to her as it was to him. He took a deep breath and reached forward to place a soft kiss where his cheek rested against the hair at the top of her head.

"Penelope. I think we can rest tonight. Nothing is happening today. Or tomorrow. …No one is going to bother you at work, I promise." He squeezed her hand again then used a finger under her chin to encourage her to look him in the eye.

"What I do know is these last couple of months have been life-giving to me," he smiled one of his radiantly-sincere smiles. "You are light and joy. You are breath and laughter. You are real. True." He saw her eyes become a tiny bit watery while he continued. "I know we've probably been taking it slow, but that's important to me. To show you I am growing to care for you in a way that isn't just a roll in the sack." He placed a soft kiss to her lips and looked at her, affection clear in his eyes.

"Whatever comes is something I'd like to think we'll figure out together," he scooted down the pillows, keeping his arm firmly around her. He felt the silky smooth texture of her skin against his own. They found a place where their legs were rested against one another.

"Goodnight, sweet girl," he tried to keep his voice even, even-as she closed her eyes and snuggled further into him. Her breath evened out and she fell asleep.

Dave shifted again. He imagined surrounding her with his protection and whatever this growing feeling was inside of him. It was familiar… but different. He took a deep breath and tried to follow her into rest.