"I didn't lie to her, not exactly," he said, trying to weasel his way out of having a very uncomfortable conversation with someone who didn't know everything that was going on. In fact, he was banking on Erin's private nature to have kept the revelations of the last few days under wraps. From the fury that was shining in Penelope's eyes, he sort of knew that was a wrong assumption on his part. "I needed a few days to sort things out in my head. It's not every day that…"

"That what? Your partner's grandchild is in the hospital, potentially dying? That you fucked off on a case that didn't really need your attention because you couldn't cope with her needing you? That you betrayed her trust in one of the worst ways imaginable, and she felt like she couldn't even confide in me because she was being loyal to you and didn't want to burden me with information that might color how I treat you on the job. That just meant I had to do a little digging and find out what was troubling her so. This was a total bitch move, Rossi, and you know it!"

It seemed that they had attracted a number of eyes, and he shook his head a little at her, trying to get her to realise that she was causing a scene. That just seemed to further anger her, since she rolled her eyes and stepped in closer once more, stabbing her finger against his sternum a number of times as she took a few deep breaths. "Kitten…"

"No, David, you don't get to try and soften me up here. You are being a great pillock, and she deserves so much better than you."

"I hardly think that's a fair assessment here, Penelope."

They both quickly turned their heads to look at Blake. The woman appeared to be calm and in control of her emotions, but Dave wondered how long that would last, since it was clear that her interruption was the last thing that Penelope wanted. "And just who asked you for your opinion, Blake? For all I know, you're also partially to blame here."

"Blame? For what? Defending someone from getting screwed over due to his unfortunate choice in partners?" Blake raised her eyebrow before looking between the two of them. "I know that Erin has been trying to convince you that she's changed, that she's been trying to make amends for the wreckage left in the wake of her drinking problem, but there are some things that are too broken to ever make right."

"There's only an issue if you can't look past your own nose to see how much she's hurting and how hard it was for her to reach out to you. Even though I don't know her all that well, yet, I can see that she respects you and maybe even loves you the way I love Jayje and Emily. You are a complete fool if you don't at least acknowledge that," Penelope hissed before turning her attention onto Dave once more. "And you! You will turn your tight little tush right around, go in that office, and talk to her, or I will make your life a living hell. And you know that I will make good on my threats, I always have."

"What is your problem, Garcia? Why are you going after Dave?"

Penelope took a deep breath, refusing to turn her gaze away from him. "Because if he had bothered to answer his damn phone one of the times that Erin had called him during the case, he would have known that he needed to get home as soon as possible."

He felt the blood drain from his face at Penelope's words, knowing exactly what her next words would be, no matter which of them she would be directing them to. "He was needed on the case, Garcia. It's not like he can come running home at Erin's every beck and call."

"He can when he is the perfect match for Helena, and she's getting sicker by the second without having that transplant." Penelope leaned in closely, so that their faces were millimeters apart. "And you will be getting that surgery, Rossi, even if I have to drag you ass to the hospital myself! I looked up what the surgery will entail, and I've already booked your time off with the Director. All that's missing is your liver."

He swallowed thickly as he glanced over at Blake, trying to assess what she would do with that little tidbit. "He doesn't have to do anything he doesn't want to, Penelope."

"And normally, I'd agree with you, Blake. But there's this pesky little detail – you despise Erin, and that is coloring your view of the situation. Dave, on the other hand, loves his partner, and would do anything to ensure that her granddaughter doesn't die."

Alex went to say something in return, but Dave found his attention drawn away by a small noise to his right. Glancing over, he saw that Erin was approaching them, a tired expression on her face, her hair mussed and curly. A wave of love washed over him as he beckoned her over to them, and she shook her head a little as she instead made room for herself between Alex and Penelope. "Please, do not fight over me. I cannot take any more stress in my life right now, even if you are trying to defend my honor, Ms Garcia."

"But Erin!"

"No buts, Ms Garcia."

It was unusual for Erin to not call Penelope out on the slight insubordination she committed by using her first name, and that clued Dave into the fact that something was seriously wrong with his lover. "I'm surprised you're not letting others fight your battles for you any longer, Erin. Wasn't that your modus operandi during Amerithrax?"

Erin seemed to shrink beneath the weight of Alex's words, and Dave licked his lips as he tried to think of a rebuttal for the cold, cruel, words. Erin beat him to the punch, however, as she fixed her gaze on the woman and shook her head. "There were issues going on behind the scenes that you weren't privy to, Alexandra. But I hope that you know that I never meant to hurt you so badly. And I truly wish that at some point we can put the acrimony behind us. Life is too short to carry it around like a millstone."

Erin looked over at him, and it was in that moment that Dave knew that Alan's words were true. All the voices and noises of the bullpen seemed to blur into a loud, dull, hum as he felt himself rock on his feet a little, wondering how he would deal with the knowledge that Erin had just confirmed with a simple, sad, glance.