"I really hate when a team heads to Florida," Erin murmured as she took another look at the preliminary case file that Penelope had compiled before they headed south. There was just something inherently weird about this case, and she couldn't put her finger on why she was so bothered. She supposed that it was the element of male rape, which was uncommon and rarely discussed, but there seemed to be something tugging at the back of her brain, telling her that this would be a typical Florida case, and as such, she had to be prepared for bad news or a call from David about what was happening there. Letting out a deep sigh, Erin turned to her computer and tried to find her focus for the day.
By the time she was heading home, Erin found that she had a throbbing headache, and she hurriedly texted Karen, asking her to order pizza for them, knowing that it wouldn't hurt Elise for one meal. Trudging to the elevators, Erin rubbed at her temple and took a few deep breaths as she waited for the doors to open. Once in the car, she felt her phone rumble against her thigh, and she pulled the device from her pocket and brought it to her ear, a small smile on her lips to know that it was her David. "Hello, darling."
"Stellina, it is so good to hear your voice. I probably won't be able to talk to you tonight before you go to sleep, or to say goodnight to Elise, since we're going to hit up the local nightclubs in an effort to figure out how this unsub is choosing her victims. So I'm taking a moment while grabbing a bite to eat to talk to you."
"It is so good to hear your voice, I'll have you know. I just wish that I didn't have the start of a horrendous headache happening right now. I already had Karen order pizza for everyone, and I think that I'm going to curl up in my chair in the study while they eat before giving Elise her bath and cuddling with her in our bed. I don't think that she'll mind the extra time with Mommy."
"I wish that I could be there to curl up with you both. This case is going to be a long one, even if we solve it quickly."
"That is the exactly what I feel, too. Florida cases are always like that." Erin winced a little as she reached up to rub her temple with her free hand. "Do you have time to sing me home? I'm at the car, and I need something to keep my focus."
"I can certainly start that out with you on your journey home."
"That's all I ask," she replied as she unlocked her door and slipped behind the wheel of their car, starting it before turning the radio off and placing the phone in the middle console before plugging the charger into it, so that the device wouldn't die during the drive. David's voice filled her mind as she drove, and she felt herself relax and the headache starting to ease away a little at the sound of his singing.
"Dave, we have to get going."
Aaron's voice came over the line, and Erin let out a soft sigh as David replied. "All right, Hotch. Sorry, Erin, it's time to head out."
"I understand. Stay safe out there, both of you."
"We will, Erin. I'll make certain that Dave doesn't take any risky chances."
She smiled at that, thankful that things had started to ease between the three of them over the last few months. "As long as my David makes certain that you don't take an unnecessary risks, too. Elise and Jack need both of you. Thank you for letting him have this time with me while on the case, Aaron."
"You are most welcome, Erin. We'll see you when we get home."
"I will hold you to that, both of you. I love you, David."
"I love you, too, Erin." He ended the call, and Erin smiled as she disconnected the call and drove in silence the rest of the way home. The garage door was opening for her as she turned into the drive, and she gave Tabitha a little wave as she pulled into the garage and turned the car off, closing the door as she made her way into the house.
"Hey, Mom," Bruce said as she stepped into the kitchen, coming over to her side and giving her a tight hug. "Is your head feeling any better?"
"A little, yeah. David sang to me for much of the ride home, which helped relax me and made me feel good. Is the pizza here yet?"
"No, Karen said that there are probably five more minutes until it arrives, since it was busy at the shop. Tabitha made you some tea, since she looked up on the internet that that's supposed to be good for you, and Karen's playing with Elise in the living room."
"That's good. I'm going to head into the study and curl up in my chair there until the food is here."
"All right, I'll send Tabitha in with your tea in a few seconds." She nodded before kissing his cheek. He rolled his eyes affectionately at her before taking her purse from her hands and pushing her towards the doorway. Nodding, she made her way through the house until she reached the study and sank down into her chair, spreading her blanket out over her legs as she rested her head against the back of it.
She had almost fallen asleep when she heard the door to the study open, and then Tabitha's footsteps were headed in her direction. "Here, Mama. It's rose tea, that's your favorite, right?"
She nodded as she opened her eyes to look at her daughter. "Thank you, Tabby cat." Her daughter gave her a soft smile as she sank to the ground and rested her head against Erin's legs. "How was school today?"
"Good. I received top marks on my history essay, and my teacher wants me to consider going into AP History as a freshmen. Which I know is still three years away, but she thinks I'm smart, Mama, and…"
"I understand, baby. It makes you feel good to be recognized for your intelligence. And if you want to do that, you know that David and I will support you, one hundred percent. Your father, too, I just know it."
Tabitha look up at her, grinning widely as she nodded. "Do you think that you and Papa Dave could take a week off this summer and we could go to the shipwreck museum in Michigan? I think my teacher said that it's by Lake Superior, which is in the Upper Peninsula. I'll have to check, but it sounded so fascinating, Mama."
"We'll have to see, Tabitha. But even if only one of us can take a week off, I think that we might be able to make that work. I've always wanted to get to Michigan, anyway, so this will be the perfect reason to go." Reaching out with her free hand, Erin ruffled her daughter's hair before sipping at her tea, allowing the warmth to fill her body as she stared out the window. "But we'll have to find something for Karen and Bruce to do, too, so that they don't feel left out."
"I can totally do that, Mama." Tabitha let her head thump back down on Erin's legs, and she ran her fingers through her daughter's hair as she waited for Bruce to let them know that their food had arrived, her headache starting to fade away as she thought about the near future and the promise of a happy vacation with her family.