Dave yanked the front door open, with the laptop still under his arm. "Kevin?" He asked, What did he do to deserve this? He groaned internally. Watching Kevin stagger up the driveway with a computer monitor blocking his vision.
"Oh, what fresh hell is this?" Dave asked himself. Wait a second, he scanned the driveway. Who rang the bell?
"Kevin-" a familiar voice rang out across the lawn, "I told you not to bring that behemoth! We don't need 55 inches of screen to look at bank statements!"
"But," Kevin paused, "It's 4K. When am I allowed to use it?" He Whined.
"Literally, any other time." Penelope huffed, They'd spent less than an hour together and he was already on her nerves.
Suddenly, Dave felt like he was flying. "Penelope!" He said, warmly as she closed the trunk on Kevin's car.
"Agent Rossi!" Penelope smiled and pulled a hard topped suitcase up the driveway.
"Let me take that," he offered, crossing the lawn in his bare feet. He reached for her case with Erin's laptop under his other arm.
"Such a gentleman." She grinned, "we miss you." she said quietly and touched the top of his arm.
"Me too." He said, leading her up the driveway and into the house. Glancing back, he noticed Kevin, still staggering. "Should we-" he jabbed a thumb in Kevin's general direction. "Is he okay?"
Penelope shook her head, "he'll be fine," she whispered. "This is payback for not listening to me."
"Ookay…" Dave said, leaving the door open, he dragged her suitcase into the house and lifted it onto the kitchen table.
"This is Erin's computer," he said and sat the laptop on the table.
Suddenly nervous, Penelope bit her lip, "Where is Strauss?"
"Erin," Dave corrected, raising his eyebrow,"is resting." If he ever hoped to mesh the two sides of his family together, he had to get the team to start seeing his lady love as Erin and not Strauss when they were not on duty.
"How's she doing?" Penelope asked, unpacking her case, "I haven't seen her since-well," Penelope swallowed- thinking back to the night that the team rushed to Rossi's house and Erin spent the night in the hospital. "I haven't seen her in awhile."
"She's fine." Dave said.
"Fine?" Penelope pressed, "Fine is NOT the same as good. But-how can she be good? With the Feds searching the house. I'm here to go through her computer, looking for evidence that the United States Government can use against her in a court of law, of course she's not fine!" Penelope blurted, her brain running 300 miles per minute.
"Shh!" Dave hissed, "Can we dial it back?" He put his hand on Penelope's shoulder. "She's fine." He shrugged, "She's resting. We had a lot to think about last night."
"I don't want to go through her computer, Rossi." Penelope admitted, chewing her bottom lip. "This whole thing feels wrong."
"You're not-" Kevin chimed in and sat the monitor on the floor, his face red with exertion he slipped off his glasses and ran his hand down his face. "I'm in charge of the technical side of the investigation."
"You're in charge?" Dave repeated, Kevin couldn't lead the kindergarten lunch line.
"Well…" Penelope paused, "that's technically true. The Department thought I would be a conflict of interest."
"You should know," Kevin held up one hand, "I" he pointed to himself, "didn't want to do this either. We think Strauss is innocent."
A light bulb went off in Dave's head,"Who else knows about this?"
"I'm pretty sure Hotch knows." Penelope said, "the director told him that you resigned and he told the team."
"So...the whole team knows."
"Yes, Sir." Penelope said softly. "Pretty much, Sir."
"Gather the team," Dave commanded and disappeared into the bedroom.
"Yes, Sir." Penelope said at his back.
"Erin," He said in the dark room. "Wake up and talk to me."
"Don't turn on the lights," she warned.
"Listen-"
The urgency in his tone made her sit up. "What's wrong?" She asked, ignoring her headache.
"The Department put Penelope and Kevin on your investigation."
"They can't do that." She said, "Why didn't they hire an independent third party?"
"I don't know." He admitted, "There's something hinkey going on here and I don't like it. "What exactly are they trying to charge you with?" He asked, he was on the chase now.
Erin flipped on the bedside lamp. "Misappropriation of government funds."
"Andy accused you of favoritism," Dave said, "Which means-" he paused, letting the dots connect in his head. "Someone on my team was overpaid."
"But they weren't-" Erin protested. "I have records-The Bureau has records."
"I know that-" he held up his hand, "Assuming the Bureau's records are false-"
"Why would someone do that?" Erin asked, cutting off his train of thought. "How could someone do that?"
"That's the part I can't figure out." He reached for his phone, "I think we need more eyes on this."
"Do you plan to solve the case in your pajamas?" She asked, gesturing to his sweat pants and T-shirt.
"Eh, I thought about getting my cape from the closet." He said, pulling on a pair of jeans.
Erin rolled her eyes and said, "remember, the cape is dry-clean-only."
"You're coming, right? Penelope asked about you."
"I thought we agreed I could sit this one out," Erin said watching Dave blow through their impromptu bedroom like the Kool-aid man. He grabbed his tablet and charger cord, a notebook and 3 different pens out of the desk.
"You can." He nodded, "but don't be surprised when you find my team in your living room."
"Do what you need to do," she said, getting out of bed. "I'll be there in 20 minutes."
"I figured," he grinned. "Let's get the band back together."
She could almost see him rubbing his hands together like a villain on vaudeville.
Dave couldn't help it, he was elated. The hunt was on and he couldn't wait to get back in the game. He might have turned in his badge, but being a profiler was in his blood, at this point, his entire being depended on it.
"I'm glad you're excited, but I wish I wasn't being raked over the coals." She said, but he didn't hear. His phone was pressed against his ear. His pile of stuff sat on the edge of the bed.
"Hey Hotch," He said, "I had Penelope call the team. Get to my house as soon as you can. Bring your bank statements."
"Dave- you know the team can't take this case." Hotch said, seated at the counter in his apartment, as usual, Jessica had Jack. They were spending the week with Hayley's father. He took a sip of his coffee and waited for the backlash.
"I'm not asking 'officially'" Dave snapped, "but there's no crime in having the team over for lunch. If we happen to pass ideas back and forth, so be it."
Hotch could almost see his friend's offhanded shrug. "Ideas and case-files." Hotch said, with thinly veiled sarcasm.
"So what!" Dave huffed.
"Did you run this by Erin?"
"Didn't need to." Dave moved into the bathroom and closed the door. He sat down on the closed toilet and whispered so Erin couldn't hear. "Hotch, I can't let it go."
"I think you should," Hotch said, terse and unyielding. "Let the department investigate. You're not an active agent anymore."
"Why can't the team work it, Hotch?" Dave bit out, annoyed. "And give me a straight answer."
Hotch took a breath and released it slowly. Sometimes, being Unit Chief sucked, "I think the DOJ is still watching us. After our last unofficial investigation..."
"Some thanks we got for that," Dave bit out. "Prentiss was on the first plane out of here as soon as we brought her back."
"Dave," Hotch said, suddenly anxious, "I'm worried they'll close the unit if they think they're undermined. They're looking for a reason to shut us down, I think they're baiting us by putting Penelope and Kevin on the investigation."
Dave blew out a breath, was it worth the risk? Could he ask his team to put their livelihood on the line? Would they do it for Erin? A woman who sought to destroy the unit, in the not so distant past.
"Hotch," Dave said sharply, "What if we're wrong and they still shut us down? What if they are just using this as an excuse to justify breaking the team apart? Let me remind you they are investigating me as well as Erin. Any mud they manage to make stick to us, will muddy up the team as well. What then?" Dave fired back, "It's not worth it to me, to sit by and gamble with the life of the woman I love. You should know better than anyone what it's like to have your family on the line."
Dave knew using Hayley as a bargaining chip was a low blow and he didn't care. When Aaron didn't respond, Dave continued. "I can't let Erin go to jail."
"If she's innocent, she won't." Hotch said sharply. "Get her a good lawyer. I know a few," he offered. It was the only thing he could do to help his friend. "I'll send you some contacts."
"I don't need your damn contacts!" Dave growled, "I need your help." He shot back and hung up the call. Furious, he flung his phone, it slid across the tile floor and stopped in the corner behind the door.
Rossi sat there fuming that his best friend didn't have their backs. He knew Hotch was a by the book kind of guy, but this was different. Erin's freedom was on the line. How could Hotch expect him to just sit on his hands and allow the mother of his unborn kids to be railroaded for something she didn't do? With or without the BAU, she was: his family, his home, his true North and all that other crap he didn't believe in until her. He couldn't lose her now.
Dave sat there, defeated. He held his face between his hands, his heartbeat pulsed in his ears. His foot tapped against the cold tile floor. What could he do?
A soft voice interrupted his thoughts. "Can I come in?"
She didn't wait for his answer. Instead, she came in, picked up his phone and put it on the counter. "Are you okay?" She asked, it was a stupid question, but she had to start the conversation, somewhere. Watching him, she knew that 'okay' was somewhere in another zip code.
"Not really," he said, staring at the floor. This was his last shot at a solution and it was gone.
She rubbed his back in circles, "Aaron won't back you up?" she asked.
"He's worried we'll lose the unit if the team gets involved." Dave said, "he's right-"
"But this sucks," she finished his thought.
"I'm so sorry, Erin." He hung his head briefly. David Rossi fixed things. He was a professional problem solver, but he couldn't fix this. His supporters, his team, his pseudo-family-wouldn't help him fix this.
"You're blood pressure's up," she said, feeling his pulse beat in the hand she was holding.
"No, it's not." He argued.
She pulled him close, his head rested against her side, "this isn't your fault, you know." She tried to comfort him, letting her hand run through his hair. "We'll figure something out."
He leaned into her touch, there was nothing they could say or do to salvage the situation. He let the sound of her heartbeat calm him.
"I asked too much of my team," He said, his voice hollow. "Hotch is afraid the DOJ is setting us up."
"Everyone has their limits," She reminded him. "Your team's been through a lot this year."
"I know." He said, leaning against her. "What if Aaron's right and we're being baited?"
"If you believe that, don't work the case."
"Why are you saying that?" He looked up to meet her eyes. "How can you expect me to sit back and watch you go to prison?"
"Do you believe in the justice system?"
"I used to."
"But you don't anymore?" Suddenly Dave felt like he was being interrogated.
"I don't know what to believe anymore," he answered honestly. "I know you're innocent."
"Then let The System work for us." She said, he felt stupid.
He groaned and dropped his head in his hands. "I lied, Erin."
"When?"
"When I said I was okay with retiring. The truth is; I was ready to get back in the field."
"I think that's why you're so sad," Erin said, without judgement. "The chase is part of who you are."
"I'm sorry." He let out a breath and relaxed as she ran her hand across his shoulders. "You're not mad?" He pulled back, surprised. "I just told you that I lied to you and you're not angry."
She grinned, "It's not a lie if I already know the truth. If you weren't ready to get back in the field, I'd question who I was marrying. Now, give me a kiss and get out of here."
"Are you trying to get rid of me?" He joked.
"Listen," she threatened, with her hand on her bump."I have two babies dancing on my bladder and you've been taking up the toilet for the last ten minutes."
"Oops," he grinned, bowed deeply and said, "Your throne awaits, my Queen." He pecked her on the lips and left the bathroom with his morale restored.
The doorbell rang and he rushed to answer it.
"A real friend is one who walks in when the rest of the world walks out."
– Walter Winchell