Don't walk behind me; I may not lead. Don't walk in front of me; I may not follow. Just walk beside me and be my friend.

-Albert Camus-

"What do you know?" Erin asked, skidding to a halt when she caught sight of Hotch outside the waiting room.

"Nothing yet, I got here as soon as I heard."

"How long have you been here?"

"It took me an hour to get back, I was halfway to Pennsylvania when I heard."

"So, not long?" She asked wryly. Aaron didn't know anything, Morgan didn't say if he knew anything. Panic began to build in her chest, "where was Dave when he was found?"

"He was at the gym, with a personal trainer."

"Personal trainer?" Erin repeated in confusion. When did Dave hire a personal trainer and why didn't he tell her?

"When the hell did that happen?"

"I have no idea." Hotch said "I'm just glad he wasn't alone." shaking his head. He put his hand on her shoulder.

"Thank God." She didn't want to think about him being left alone. Nobody would have thought to look for him in the gym. Well they might have eventually, after following the trail of bacon bits and fried eggs. By then it would be too late. "Is that all you know?"

His gaze dropped to her stomach and his voice lowered. He gave her a little smile. "I know you're showing."

"What?" She gave him a blank look, "that's only because you know what to look for. Plus, the lighting's bad here." She argued, self-concisely pulling at her rain-soaked sweatshirt. It was a little loose, but not much.

At least it wasn't one of Dave's Marine's shirts. Thank God for small favors, that was hidden underneath.

Hotch glanced up and her gaze followed his as another clap of thunder rolled over the hospital. The florescent lights flickered and Hotch said, "You can't hide it forever and you know Rossi wants them to know."

"And I want to tell them, just not like this."

"if he were here he would say this was the perfect opportunity."

"That's below the belt and you know it." She said pointedly, 'if Dave were here' like he was going anywhere. He was just in the next room. Maybe he'd pulled a muscle in the gym? After all, he was pushing 60. But he was healthy overall, it couldn't be anything too serious. Could it?

"I think I'll hold off until Dave gets back." She bit her lip, "we'll have dinner like you said and I'll tell everyone."

"Look," Hotch fixed her with a look that was just barely below what he would give an unsub.

"You're about to be surrounded by profilers. They aren't stupid and I'm certain even Garcia sees what's going on between you and Dave."

"We've been careful," she argued, "how could they even suspect it?"

Hotch shrugged, "you left with Morgan to come here. You could have sat at home as the boss and waited on a phone call."

She let out a breath, knowing she was beat. "No I couldn't."

"Then accept it. Accept their hugs and answer their questions." He looked at her, and for a second she thought he could see straight through her. "And they will accept you."

"Okay." She relented, knowing he was right but she hated it all the same.

She didn't want to do this alone. Dave was supposed to be beside her, she wasn't supposed to be walking into a hospital waiting room; to tell a roomful of people that she barely knew that she, their boss, had successfully procreated with their friend.

She closed her eyes and took a breath before pushing the door open.

She was immediately almost bowled over by Penelope Garcia. "Ma'am, you came." Penelope squeezed her tight. "I knew you would. I knew he meant more to you than just a one night stand at a hotel."

Lucky for Erin, Hotch was right behind her to 'backstop' her from falling over from the force of Garcia.

"Easy Penelope," Hotch warned. She'll be here awhile."

"One night stand?" Taken aback Erin pulled back sharply. "What are you talking about?"

"Um..." Penelope swallowed, "that wasn't...supposed to come out." What was it about this woman that made her trip over her own tongue?

J.J. walked over shaking her head. "What she is trying to say, Chief Strauss, is that we're just glad you're here. You didn't let the fact that you were trying to keep your relationship to yourselves stop you from coming, when you realized we would be here."

Erin accepted J.J's light squeeze, careful not to club the other woman with her cast. She was surprised at how welcoming they were. Maybe Aaron was right she looked around. They were the only people in the room. Whether that was good or bad she didn't know but she didn't feel so alone.

"How did you know?" She asked, surprised that such a well kept secret had been so obvious.

"We saw you," Reid piped in. "The day of the Doctor Who convention."

"The hotel. " Erin said softly as realization dawned on her. "I see."

"Ma'am, the night of J.J.'s-"

"Please call me Erin." There wasn't a desk between them now and Dave needed all of them. She stole a glance at the clock on the wall. How long had they been here?

"Erin, " Reid corrected, "the night of J. J.'s wedding, it wasn't hard to miss. With the increase of pheromones and close contact of dancing, It's no surprise that people would start to pair off. Animals in the wild typically circle each other before mating." He rambled.

Morgan cut in, "that's enough, Pretty Boy." He gently admonished and pulled up a chair, "have a seat, we're going to be here awhile."

"Thanks." Sitting down Erin said, "how long have you been here?"

Their small group was circled around a table various purses and wet jackets surrounded the table legs. Erin sat between J.J. and Hotch.

"I can't tell," J.J. said. The alarm went off when I was putting Henry to bed. I called Reid, Hotch called Morgan."

"Morgan came to get me. Wait a second," Erin interjected, "what alarm?"

Penelope swallowed tightly, suddenly interested in the carpet the words tumbled from her lips.

"The one I programmed on all of our phones when one of us calls 911. I know it's against protocols I just wanted to protect us. I needed to know everyone was ok. After I got shot and with...Foyet. I needed to know. "

"Good." Erin nodded seriously, "I want in on that."

Penelope grinned and held out her hand, "consider it done."

"You should know that Dave wanted to tell you all before...this." Erin said, handing over her phone.

Penelope began tapping on the screen.

"David Rossi?"

Erin turned to face the man in a white coat.

"What happened, Doctor?"

The whole group seemed to stand as one.

"He had a mild heart attack. He's sedated right now."

Penelope jumped in, "can we see him?"

"We had to increase the sedative, he kept calling for someone named Erin."

Erin's heart picked up speed and she looked at Aaron.

"Well he's not calling for me." Hotch said.