Hi Darlings,
I just want to take a minute to say a humongous THANK YOU to everyone who brought The Power of Love to 100 reviews! Thank you all for your continued support through this story! I love you all!
Xx,Aleize
We're born alone, we live alone, we die alone. Only through our love and friendship can we create the illusion for the moment that we're not alone.
-Orson Welles-
Erin paced through the waiting room. Her heart beat an anxious tattoo against her breastbone. "Are you okay?" Derek asked and she knew he meant it. "Not really."
The anxiety in the room could be cut with a knife. Everyone was worried about Dave and the two hour delay between visitors wasn't helping.
She glanced at her watch and nodded, "I just don't like waiting. "
"I know, " J.J. sympathized. "He's going to be okay. "
"See," Penelope waved indicating the room around them. "This is something I never thought I would have to worry about. Bullets and bombs-"
"Are just part of the job description," Erin said dryly.
"That sounds like what Rossi would say." Penelope said softly.
"A heart attack never entered my mind," Erin admitted. "We've known each other over twenty years. I never thought I would see him like this. "
Aaron's words resounded in her mind, "he wanted the body of a 40 year old but his heart was pushing 60."
"He was doing this for me." The words passed through numb lips and her cheeks drained of color.
"Hey, talk to us." She heard Derek's command but she couldn't respond as she felt her chest constrict, robbing her of air and coherent thought. She felt Hotch's grip on her arm and someone pushed a chair underneath her.
"He'll be fine. " It was J.J.'s calm assurance that broke through her wall. "Take a breath."
"It's alright. Look at me."
Another wave of dizziness passed over her and Erin forced her eyes open.
J.J. was knelt in front of her. " You're having a panic attack."
"I know. " Erin responded, she shook her head slowly to clear it. "Sorry."
"Stress." J.J. said and smiled gently she squeezed Erin's hand. Something in her eyes said that she knew Erin's secret. "You're safe here." Penelope said from her spot at Erin's shoulder with her hand on her back.
"We need a distraction, I wonder if the gift shop is still open." Penelope said, eyes gleaming with mischief behind studded glasses. The plastic Visa called out to her from her wallet, the swipe of the card would bring an instant distraction and she would be a few reward miles closer to a vacation in Aruba.
"You haven't had enough fun in there?" J.J. asked flashing her a pointed look.
"Never. " Penelope said, unfazed.
"You can go, I'd like to stay close to Dave," Erin said.
"Same here." Hotch said and drained his coffee cup.
Morgan let out a deep yawn, "remember that time in Miami? "
"That sucked, " J.J. said, "it must have been at least 90 degrees in that hotel room."
"For you." Hotch deadpanned, "I was tossed outside on my ass."
"Whoa, back up a minute, " Penelope said, "who in their right mind would make their boss and our fearless leader, sleep outside? "
"Rossi. " Morgan said and grinned, "apparently Hotch snores like a bear."
J.J. jumped to his defense, "only when he's sick."
"It must have been bad if Dave could hear you over his own snoring. That man could wake the dead."
"Tell me about it, " Reid scoffed, "I could hear him through the walls."
"But I can't imagine him making you sleep outside, " Erin said. Shaking her head. "Especially if you were ill." She glared at the seat next to Hotch, "now, Morgan, he might. " She teased.
"Hey now." Morgan held up both hands in surrender, " don't give him any ideas! But I hope I'd get more than Hotch did."
Reid laughed until his gut hurt, "he left you with a handheld fan and a pillow!"
"I had sand in my shorts for a week," Hotch grouched.
Erin laughed, "why didn't I hear about this?"
"Snitch, " J.J. grumbled to Morgan and turned to Erin, "we were sworn to secrecy."
"You got him back pretty good, didn't you, Hotch?" Morgan asked.
All eyes landed on the boss. The stoic, serious leader wasn't capable of participating in an all out prank-war.
"What?" He asked in feigned innocence, "so what if I sent him an email from ex - wife number three pretending to have his son. "
"Asshole." Erin grumbled.
"Ow!" Hotch rubbed his stinging arm where she slapped him.
"Coming from an adoptive family, I don't think that's...at all funny," Penelope said, "Sir." The exchange between Erin and Hotch left her confused and more than a little dumbfounded. When did they get so close?
"Actually, it is." Reid said, in full Genius- Mode, "given Rossi's reputation for women and his three ex wives, it wouldn't be a shock if he did have a kid that he didn't know about. "
"We know, Reid, " Derek reminded him.
"Wait a minute, " J.J. cut in, turning an accusing look on Morgan. "How do you know about this and we don't?"
"He was waiting for me," Garcia gushed squeezing Derek's bicep. "Everyone else had gone home."
"Alright," Erin turned a hard glare on Hotch. "Give it up."
" I sent an email. " He confessed, "one email." He clarified, lest she get the wrong idea. From a similar address-"
"Oh sneaky." Penelope rubbed her hands together gleefully.
"This isn't funny, " Erin said.
"But I didn't want him getting tangled up with her again so I left my cell phone number at the bottom. When he called and I didn't pick up, he called the woman directly. "
"And?" J.J. asked, perched on the edge of her seat, "how did he find out it was you?"
Hotch shrugged, leaned back in his seat and propped his feet up on the table. Drawing out the suspense; a self satisfied look creeping onto his face. "It turns out, she had two daughters, four years after the divorce and no son named Aaron. "
" Damn. " J.J. whistled lowly, "that's not a prank, that's a death wish. "
" I'd never seen you run so fast, Hotch." Morgan said, he was the only one in the room who cracked a smile. "But right now, Erin looks like she could kill you, so..."
Reid picked up where Morgan trailed off, "start running. "
Before anyone could respond, a nurse entered the room and the whole room tensed, "David Rossi?"
"Right here." Hotch and Morgan stood and moved to Erin's side with J.J. and Penelope bringing up the rear.
"He's being moved to a regular room. He is still unconscious but his prognosis is very good."
"Oh thank God." Erin let out a breath she didn't know she'd been holding.
"Can we see him?" Hotch asked.
"Of course. Two at a time until he wakes up. Follow me. "
"Erin first. " Penelope said softly, urging her forward.
J.J. nodded, Erin bolted after the nurse and out of earshot. J.J.'s eyes met his she snagged his wrist as he turned to join them in the waiting room.
"Hotch, please go with her."
Erin bent over Dave's bed and kissed his cheek. He needed a shave, she ran her hand through his hair, still thick and only graying at the temples despite his age. "Please wake up. " She begged, allowing his scent to encapsulate her; "we need to talk."