Chapter Three

Love is just a word until it is proven to you.

-Unknown

Marriage, Erin scoffed as the office door closed behind him; that asinine suggestion made her heart speed in aggravation. Why couldn't he be like any other man in this situation? 'What situation?' A small part of her mind asked. She had to admit, two missed cycles and one cheap test didn't mean a lot.

And after three wives he should have known that. With a sigh, she pulled out her phone, there was only one way to be sure.

The two weeks after Erin told him to go to hell were spent in Los Angeles; that was close enough. He settled back in his seat, no one had gotten much rest while they were gone. The team was all in various stages of sleep, Reid's book covered his face, Morgan's eyes were shut with his headphones covering his ears in the middle section, Hotch sat towards the front near JJ and Dave sat on the side. His head was pounding and it didn't matter how much he tried to compartmentalize, his mind wouldn't shut down.

"I'm guessing Strauss hasn't called you," Hotch said, coming towards him. Wth two steamy mugs in his hand.
Dave accepted the cup of coffee. "And why would you say that?"
Hotch kept his voice low, "From the moment we touched down you've been checking your phone every half hour."
Dave arched an eyebrow, and said in mock sternness,"I thought I taught you how to turn that off. He wagged his finger towards Hotch "No Inter-team profiling, remember?"

Hotch grinned in apology, "Force of habit, do you want to talk about it?"
Dave sighed heavily, he kept his voice low, mindful of the other team members. "She doesn't want anything to do with me. Before we left I went to talk to her, she wouldn't even look at me."

"What did you say?"
Dave measured his words carefully, "I told her to marry me."
"You told Strauss to marry you?" Hotch asked, stifling a chuckle. Of all Dave's romantic mistakes This was one for the record books. No one could tell Erin anything and expect to get their way.
Dave slapped his hands against his knees in exasperation, "I'll admit, it wasn't the most romantic proposal, but it got the job done. The important thing is, that the baby gets my name."

"And what did she say?" Hotch said, inclining his head.
"She told me to go to hell and then, she sent me there," Dave let his gaze drift toward the mini-bar. His tone turned solemn, "Maybe it is for the best."
Hotch's head snapped up in alarm, he'd never heard Dave give up on anything. "Why would you say that?"

"What could I offer a child now, at this stage of life?"
"You're great with Jack," Hotch offered.
"Yeah, on weekends and during Soccer season, but I feel like I'm about to have a heart attack by the second half of the game." Dave rubbed his chest absently. His voice choked, "I'll be in a wheelchair by the time my kid graduates. What kind of life is that for them?"

"Do you know how many times I've considered taking myself out of the field since Haley died? Hotch's voice wavered, "Because I'm afraid if something happened to me, I would leave Jack with nothing more than memories of a happy childhood?"

Dave took a sip of coffee before answering."No, Aaron, I don't tell me."
"Once."
"Just once?" Dave asked, surprised.

"It was right after Erin gave me the option to retire, I thought if my own brother didn't bother to come to Haley's funeral I didn't have another choice. But then, Jessica offered to help, then JJ and Penelope stepped in. You coach soccer, and Morgan and Reid have helped with homework on more than one occasion." Hotch chuckled at the memory, "The point is, I know I'm not leaving him alone. And you won't have to either."

"This is different. It's not that simple." Dave protested.
"How?"
"Strauss is my superior, sleeping with her wasn't legal. I'm not saying I need my benefits but it goes against regulations."
"One of you will have to step down" Hotch said flatly, "that doesn't change anything. You told me if you'd had a reason to, you might have tried harder in your marriages. You have that reason now, Dave and it won't be around forever." Hotch said, turning back towards his seat.

Dave reached for his phone, "Hey Hotch?"
Hotch turned around.
"Thanks."
"Anytime."

The ringing of the phone barely registered in Erin's ears as she knelt in front of the toilet bowl; her world spun as she repeatedly lost the contents of her stomach. She was going to kill David, she was going to flay him alive as soon as she could move.
****

Dave parked his car in front of her split-level home, after five ignored calls it was time for him to take matters into his own hand. He didn't see her car it was probably still parked in the garage. She wouldn't be at work on a Saturday. He caught sight of the recycling bins on the curb; overflowing with plastic soda bottles and aluminum cans. His profiler instinct kicked into high gear, was that normal?

He wiped his feet on the welcome mat and rang the doorbell. Tracking mud on what was sure to be immaculate carpet, wouldn't do him any favors.

Erin opened the door slowly, stopping halfway when she saw who dared to darken her doorstep. "Get the hell off my porch!"

"Erin," Dave pleaded, "hear me out."
"Sending you to voice mail half a dozen times wasn't clear enough? I don't give a damn what you have to say."

She slammed the door but, it was met with his foot on the doorjamb.
Her eyes narrowed in slits,"I'm reaching for my service weapon-" she warned.
"Really Erin?" He arched an eyebrow, "You're threatening to shoot me; I've heard that one before."

"I know, three ex wives and countless lovers," she griped. "Let me think, there was, Carolyn, Angie, Karen, Janice – Donna and Tracy. Those are the ones I know about; not to mention, Jareau, Prentiss and Agent Seaver. Though, I have to admit, that last one surprised me."
Dave voice rose in his throat, his reputation was bad enough, without Erin adding fuel to the fire,"I've never slept with any member of my team and you know it."

She fixed him with a pointed look, "Oh you haven't have you?"
"What's your point?" Dave said forcefully, it was safer to let it go than to point out her hypocrisy. "What's the point in dragging up my past when you know that's not who I am now."

"That's not who you are, now." She scoffed, her tone laced in bitterness. "Sure you've changed. You've downgraded; from Love 'em and Leave 'em. To Love 'em and Leave 'em Knocked Up."

"We both know I'm terrible with relationships." It was a weak and selfish argument, but it was the truth, "But that doesn't mean that I don't want to try-"
"You don't know how to stop trying—" She cut in.

"You're right, I don't."
She blinked, baffled, had she heard him right? "What?"

"I'm trying to do the right thing, I'm bad with love, I'm bad with romance, but that doesn't mean I can't be a good father. Will you give me the chance to prove it?"