Dave checked his watch for the second time in five minutes. The team was gathered around the table at Max's, the private room was filled with laughter and good natured ribbing, as were most team centered dinners. If it was any other night, he might have enjoyed himself. Instead he kept his eyes bouncing between his watch and the front door.

"You okay, Man?" Morgan asked from his seat at Dave's left elbow.

"I'm fine,"he mumbled. The waiter passed and Dave hesitated to order a scotch. He hadn't touched the stuff since his heart attack. "I'll have a scotch," He growled, pushing his glass of lemonade away.

"She'll be here,"J.J. encouraged from across the table.

"Right." He grabbed his phone and stood from his chair. Dialing Erin's number as he walked from the banquet hall and down the hallway towards the kitchen. A multitude of curses ran through his head as he paced the hallway. He cursed Director Robinson for ruining the night and calling Erin away, he cursed Erin for answering the call in the first place. The line rang and twice and went to voicemail.

"Either I'm seeing things or I ruined your evening,"Andy Robinson quipped.

"Duty calls,"she said with a shrug.

"Walk with me?"

"Fine."She glanced around the empty halls of the Hoover building. Did she have a choice? Probably not but she could make the most of it. She kicked off her pumps and passed them to him. "Lead on. Can we make this quick?"

He laughed quietly, "How many people can say they made the director of the FBI carry their shoes."

"Just your wife, probably; but as you said, you ruined my evening."

"I suppose this could wait until daylight hours-" he pretended to think it over, then grabbed the shoes.

"I'll cut right through the mustard, Erin. I want you to replace me." he said as they walked down the hall towards his office.

"We've worked together long enough that I think you can handle it, he continued. "I need to resign and I've already talked it over with the White House. They like you as much as I do."

"What if I said no?"

"I'm not here to mince words with you, Erin. I have a stack of files on my desk, they're all good qualified men who would love to be having this conversation with me right now."

"What would you say to them?"

"Well I wouldn't be carrying their shoes, for one."

"No," she corrected, "just polishing their cufflinks."

"Smartass."

"That's why you hired me."

A beat of silence passed and for a moment they were just old friends, taking a walk.

"I don't believe in nepotism," she finally said. "Just because you play golf with Dave-"

He held up his hand, palm up stopping her tirade, mid sentence. "This is not about Agent Rossi, I don't agree with the way the two of you handled things but that doesn't lessen your ability to lead the department.

" Excuse me, Sir, but handled things?"She echoed.

"Who the two of you choose to sleep around with is your business and in my opinion shouldn't have jack to do with the FBI. No matter how you slice it he's a valuable asset to the BAU and I think having him stuffed in a classroom is a shame to the department. But this isn't about me, it's for the wellbeing of the unit."

"I agree and the unit will not be and has never been, compromised. I asked Agent Rossi to fill in but it was his idea to teach permanently."

He nodded once, "That's fair enough, I suppose. Inter-team fraternization is highly frowned up I'm glad you got ahead of it before it turned into something nasty."

"It's what needed to be done."

"I've always liked your attitude I can't wait to see what you do to this place once I'm gone."

"I didn't say yes,"She protested.

"You didn't say 'no' either," he countered.

"Andy you've known me for fifteen years, I was running drills with you through Hogan's Alley when you could barely keep up. You can't corner me like this."

He ran his hand through his sandy gray hair. "Thanks for that reminder. Now would you please stop putting me through the wringer and just say yes.

His question was met with well-placed silence.

" I can give you six months to find a replacement for Section Chief and another six after your pregnancy. After that, the job is yours and I'll be on a yacht in the Caribbean on permanent vacation."

"How long do I have to think it over?"

"How does seventy two hours sound?"

Think fast Strauss, the rest of your life depends on it.

Dave ran his hand through his hair, the table was covered in salad plates and appetizers. Wait staff rotated in and out, keeping a constant supply of bread baskets and cold drinks, Dave just nursed his scotch in apathy. At this point, he just wanted to go home. The team had a good night and a free meal, they would forgive him if he didn't make a toast and stay for dessert.

Pushing his chair back, he got to his feet, pulled two bills from his wallet and laid them on the table. "I'm going home."

Erin pulled her phone from her purse as she boarded the elevator to the parking garage she was met with a black screen. Stabbing the phone with her thumb, her phone was dead. Totally dead. There was no point in going to the restaurant the team was probably long gone. She got in her car and began the long drive home.

The house was pitch black and Dave used the backlight on his phone to guide him up the steps of the front porch. He turned the doorknob and let himself in. The only sound he could hear was echo of Mudgie's snoring from the master bedroom. A stab of fear shot through him as he fumbled to find the light switch, why was it so dark? With a flip of his hand, light filled the room. The smell of pepperoni pizza permeated the air. Following his nose to the kitchen he found the boxes on the counter and helped himself to a slice. 'The kids must be asleep', he reasoned and headed toward the den. Maybe a crappy movie on TV would chase away his foul mood. He grabbed a paper towel from the roll and held it under his pizza, Erin would kill him if he left grease stains on her counters and floor.

The velvet darkness in the house reminded him of the late hour. He wondered where Erin was and what Andy Robinson wanted from her. She was always wanted for something, she walked through life believing she was at the mercy of other people, maybe it was her kind heart but Erin could never refuse Andy Robinson. No matter the time or circumstances. Maybe he was a little jealous of the FBI Director. Andy didn't had to leave the FBI compound to earn his paycheck and he had Erin at his beck and call. At least his golf game sucked.

Dave entered the den; his heart stalled in his chest at the sight in front of him. Paul was reclined back on the couch with Erin, still in her party clothes, on her knees in front of the couch. Supporting Paul's weight. A rubber tube ran from a nebulizer on the side table to a mask on his face. "Deep breaths," she coached running her hand through his hair. She didn't notice Dave standing in the doorway, she was too engrossed in mothering.

"What happened?" Dave stepped into the room and waited for someone to notice him.

"His asthma kicked in," Paige offered from her seat next to Erin."Tag me in, Kid." Dave said as he knelt next to Erin. "Go get a pillow from the closet."

"Sure thing," Paige got to her feet and Dave's knees crackled as he took her place on the floor.

"Don't get too low, Old Man" Paul mumbled from behind the mask, "Otherwise Mom will send us both to the ER."

"Your boy's got jokes, Erin."

She grinned, "for someone who couldn't breathe five minutes ago he thinks he's funny."

"On a serious note, I'm fine." Paul said. "You can both go to bed."His hand trembled as he reached over and flipped the switch on the nebulizer, 'I'll go upstairs in a few minutes."

"You want some help upstairs Kid?" Dave asked as he grabbed the arm of the couch and hauled himself up.

"Nope, I'm good." Paul pulled a throw blanket off the back of the couch, "I'll be up in a minute."

"Let us know if you need anything," Erin said as she pulled the blanket to Paul's chin.

She turned towards Dave, "Help me up."

"Absolutely," he grabbed her elbow and pulled her up.

"Thanks," Her legs felt like wet noodles from kneeling for too long. Dave kept his grip on her arm as they walked toward the stairs.

"Are you okay?" He asked.

She nodded, "I'm sorry about missing our date night."

"You didn't miss much, Erin I love my team but I see them all the I missed was them seeing you."

"Dave, I need them to fear me."

"No you don't, fear doesn't generate respect."

TBC