"I arranged with Cruz for us to have a few days home, but he is really anxious to know when you and Blake are returning to work."
She looked over at the woman in question, watching her read through the latest journal in her particular field of linguistics, and smiled. "I think that we'll return when you go out in the field next. It all depends on how Rossi reacts to Erin. Because if he throws off her recovery, then that might take us a few more days to get everything on an even keel. There is so much more to this than I thought, Hotch."
"I can only begin to imagine, Penelope. You are doing a good work by being her friend at a time like this. And I appreciate you using some of your time to also run our searches."
"There's not much to that, really. I could do that anywhere! But I do miss seeing you glower at me when I'm running a little late, or am a little too boisterous before you've had your morning coffee."
He chuckled a little, and she grinned in return, knowing that she had made him happy. "There is that. So, I'm sending Dave your way today, he should be arriving in the next ten minutes. I hope to see you come Monday."
"I hope so, too. Have a good week."
After hanging up, Penelope got up off the sofa and looked at Erin. "Rossi will be here shortly. Would you like me to make a pot of tea or coffee? Plus, there are those scrumptious cookies that Alex made yesterday while we were at the store, and I could put some on a plate?"
"That sounds lovely, Penny, thank you." She nodded and started for the kitchen, smiling a little when she heard Alex following after her. Once she was in the kitchen, she came to a stop, chuckling a little when the woman ran into her. Turning quickly, she looked up into Alex's face, smiling before leaning in and kissing her quickly.
"Have you talked to James yet?" she asked breathlessly as she made her way over to the stove and turned on one of the burners, setting the kettle on it so that it could boil while she hunted for mugs and a plate. Once that was done, she turned to see that Alex had already pulled the cookies out of the fridge and set the cannister on the table along with the tea chest, so that Dave and Erin could choose their own flavor. "Grab me out an Earl Grey sachet, and answer my question please?" she asked as she brought the mugs and plate over to the table. Alex refused to meet her eyes, which told her all she needed to know, and she sat down heavily on the chair next to Alex, staring at the tabletop.
"I haven't found the right words to tell him. I know that things are rocky between us, that there's not much of our marriage left to salvage, but there's still something holding my tongue. I'm sorry, I'm making you feel like the other woman, and that's not fair to you." Alex reached out and caressed her cheek lightly as the doorbell rang. "Damn him for being early," she muttered as she gracefully rose to her feet before lifting Penelope's chin with her hand and then leaned down to brush her lips over Penelope's quickly before heading out to the foyer to answer the door.
Penelope could feel tears building in her eyes, and she tried to blink rapidly, willing them away as the whistle on the kettle went off. Shaking her head, she popped to her feet and turned the burner off, pouring water into each of the mugs before plating up some of the cookies and juggling the mugs, plate, and tea caddy in her hands, running them out to the living room. Erin looked at her nervously, and Penelope shrugged a little as she pulled out two sachets for her and Alex. "He's a little early, and you will be all right. Alexandra and I will be in the kitchen if you need anything."
"Thank you, darling. I shouldn't be this nervous, but it seems that I can't stop this feeling bubbling up within me."
"Do you want a hug?"
Erin nodded and quickly got to her feet, allowing Penelope to wrap her arms around her waist, holding her tightly for just a moment before letting her go. "All right, I think I'm ready." Penelope nodded and gave her a sweet smile before scurrying from the room, waving at Rossi as she passed him by. He waved back, an open yearning on his face that Penelope hoped spoke well for the coming reunion. Letting out a romantic sounding sigh, she went back into the kitchen and tossed Alex a sachet before taking her seat once more and dropping hers into her mug, letting it steep as she snagged a cookie.
"We can't go back from this point, you realise," Penelope said before taking a bite of the cookie. "Even though I've asked Erin to talk dirty to me, I can't help but think about your wicked tongue and how it might be to allow dirty words to fall from my tongue at what you might do to me. But those are dangerous thoughts at the moment. Aren't they?"
"They very much are, darling." Alex reached out and covered Penelope's hand, gripping it firmly as she squeezed, never taking her gaze off Penelope. "But dangerous thoughts don't have to lead to dangerous deeds. Kisses don't have to lead to sex."
"That is very true, but I want it to eventually lead there. I want so much that I'm not allowed, and I also don't want to upset Erin, because her recovery is first and foremost in my heart and mind. But oh, you have to know how much that I want."
Alex nodded and leaned in a little, stopping herself before she fully kissed Penelope. "I want very much as well." It looked like she was going to say more when they both heard a commotion in the living room. Sitting up straight, they both craned their heads towards the door, waiting to see what was going on. "This doesn't bode well," Alex whispered as they slowly got to their feet and crept towards the doorway.
Peeping out, the first thing Penelope noticed was how quiet it had gotten, and she frowned a little as she reached out for Alex's hand, knowing that things were about to get more tangled. Before either of them could say a word, the sound of feet rushing towards them filled Penelope's senses and she tightened her grip on Alex's hand as Erin ran out of the living room and up the stairs, sobbing wildly. It only took a few seconds to hear a door upstairs slam shut, and Penelope felt her shoulders sag as she realized that something had gone terribly wrong with the reunion.
"Do you want Rossi or Erin?" she finally murmured.
Alex cleared her throat. "I'll take Erin. You've known Dave longer than I have."
Nodding, Penelope made her way into the living room, finding Rossi still sitting on the sofa, crying quietly as he stared at the floor. "What happened?" she asked as gently as she could as she sat down next to him, wrapping an arm around his shoulders in an effort to soothe him.
"I said something stupid and she took it badly and I think that I just lost my best chance at welcoming her back into my life. I should go before things get worse." He made to stand up, but Penelope gently pressed him back down, knowing that he shouldn't drive in that moment. "Kitten…"
"Just because you made a small misstep, doesn't mean things are ruined between you. She's fragile, more than she cares to admit. I ask for permission before I even think to brush her shoulder, because of what she went through. Have patience and know that she loves you, more than words could express. Please? She's going to need her love in the days to come."
He raised his head to look at her, the saddest smile she had ever seen on his lips. "I'll try. For her and for you, Kitten. I, I'll see you Monday?"
"Of course," she replied before leaning in and kissing his cheek tenderly. "We're all rooting for you." He nodded as he breathed in deeply, turning so that he could hug her tightly, allowing himself to cry once more. Penelope just let him get his emotions out, knowing that it would be better for everyone in the long run.