O, what a tangled web we weave; When first we practice to deceive!

Sir Walter Scott

"I like Amelia, for a girl," Erin said. Staring out the window of the passenger seat, it had been three weeks since her return from the DOJ and nobody had heard from Andy. He avoided Erin like the plague, at work and dodged her calls. Today, Dave was taking matters into his own hands. They needed to know if Dave's retirement was official or if he was rapidly approaching dereliction of duty.

"Only if we call her Mia," Dave countered, keeping a steady grip on the steering wheel. James Blunt played softly on the radio.

"You do know 'Mia is italian for 'Mine." Erin reminded him.

"Of course I know that." Dave said.

"I don't know how I feel about that possessive attitude towards our daughter," Erin said shrewdly.

He shot her a glare, "What are you trying to say, Erin? Mia was my aunt's name."

"Nothing, we can call her Mia, long as we're both clear on how weird that sounds…" Erin replied with a shrug.

"Clear as day, Sweetheart. Clear as day. Since you named our daughter, I get to name my son." Dave said, turning into the parking garage of the Hoover building. He parked in his usual spot, where he'd been parking for the last two weeks. So far, he hadn't been ticketed.

"Our son," Erin countered.

"Semantics." Dave took their briefcases from the back seat and they walked into the building together.

"Whatever," Erin threw back, scanning her badge to let them in.

It was still early and the bullpen was dark and empty. Erin flipped on the lights and Dave made his usual pot of coffee. They stood next to the coffee maker, listening to it brew. Erin helped herself to the BAU's stash of cereal. When the coffee was done, Dave poured them both a mug.

"What are your plans today?" He asked, leading them up to his office.

"I have meetings back to back," she said. Taking a sip of coffee. She grimaced, the BAU needed a new coffee maker. Bits of coffee grounds floated in her cup. She sat the mug down on his desk in disgust. "My paperwork is piling up and I plan to put a dent in it."

"Do you think you'll be late coming home?" He asked, looking over his agenda. "I could stay late or leave you the car..."

"I don't think that's necessary. What's your day look like?"

"I have a consultation in an hour…" his sentence trailed off while he pulled up his email "and..Director Robinson wants to see me."

"Good," Erin said, they needed clarity on their situation. "I'd hate to have to write you up for Dereliction of Duty."

"I think we're going the other way on that…" Technically, he didn't have his credentials, but he was still consulting on cases. "The visitor's pass is a thing of beauty."

"I hope you won't need it for much longer," Erin said and stood up.

"Can I walk you to your office?" Dave asked, closing his laptop. He pushed his chair back in place and picked up her briefcase. Clearly, the question was rhetorical.

She was glad to be back at the office, life was settling into a normal routine. Although, her return from the DOJ was less than welcome. She expected to hear the watercooler rumors any day now.

Three Weeks Prior

"We should have just taken the other elevator," Erin said. "We didn't have to come through here."

"Don't let them intimidate you," Dave said as they kept walking through the bullpen. "Look them in the eye. Show them you don't care what they think. That's your trademark."

Erin walked through the bullpen with her head held high. The hair on the back of her neck stood to attention, all eyes were on her.

"It's not as bad as you think," Dave whispered, looking around the occupants of the bullpen, there were some mixed emotions in the room. Aside from his team, most of the looks cast their way, was something akin to unbridled disgust. Dave kept his expression neutral, but his body language spoke volumes. Nobody with good sense would confront them.

She wasn't guilty, but the way her teams watched her, she might as well have been.. Aside from David's team, the rest of the bullpen stared holes in her back.

A low, insincere, "Welcome back," echoed through the bullpen.

Erin glanced up, "Agent Cooper," she said cooly.

"Chief Strauss" J.J. said warmly, squeezing her shoulder. "Good to see you, The greeting shouldn't have caught Erin by surprise

"Thank you, Agent Jareau," Erin said, tripping over her tongue. "It's good to be back."

J.J. nodded, "we're glad to have you." She said, with a smile. "Can I have a word in your office?" She asked, showing herself as an example for the rest of the BAU. The department didn't need anymore dissension. The other teams needed to see they could trust their Section Chief.

Erin nodded. "Of course."

Dave sat Erin's briefcase on her desk and kissed her on the cheek. "You'll keep me posted on your meeting with the Director."

"Of course," Dave responded.

"David, that wasn't a question." She said, stringent and uncompromising.

"As soon as I know something, I'll tell you," he promised, reaching for the doorknob. Erin watched him step out the door. They'd had too many fights to count, which ended in him storming out of her office.

She was worried about what would happen when David met with the Director, worse yet, what would happen when she was called for an audience with him. David had already turned in his badge, so he couldn't be fired, but with the way both she and Dave felt about The Bureau in general. They would have to tread lightly, not to end up in another interrogation room. This time, the charges would be legitimate. Inside, she was so mad at Andy, she wanted to knock him into the next millennium. She felt betrayed, by her boss, the FBI and the DOJ. It still stung, that all her years of loyalty didn't mean a hill of beans. She wasn't even given the benefit of the doubt before she was dragged into an inquest. What made it even worse is that Director Robinson had known her for over twenty years, even before they were a part of the FBI. He knew her character. As long as he had known her, as close as he had pretended to be to her, he should have never even dreamed of thinking she was capable of such actions. Erin sighed as she sat down in her office chair. She had to find a way to let this go, if she was going to remain at this job. There was no way she could continue to have a working relationship with the Director, if she couldn't trust him.

After he left Erin's office, David slowly made his way up to the top floor, where the Director's office was located. Just thinking about what his pregnant fiance had been through with this whole fiasco, had steam coming out of Rossi's ears. He wanted to grab Andy by the collar and shake some sense into him, before he pummeled him to within an inch of his life. This whole matter could have been handled differently and not cause all the unnecessary stress that he and Erin had gone through. Andy Robinson was well aware that Erin was going through an extremely difficult pregnancy and had just gotten out of the hospital, after suffering a medical condition that could have caused her to lose their babies. Even still, the caballos detrás still put her through hell, without giving her the courtesy to even try to explain or figure out what was going on with the budget. Dave knew he couldn't see the Director feeling this way, or he would be singing the song, 'Murder Was the Case They Gave Me' so he made a pit stop by the men's room to calm himself down. Ten minutes later and a few dented pieces of bathroom equipment later, Rossi was calm enough to have a rational, civilized conversation with the head of the FBI.

"Nice of you to join me," Andy Robinson said as Dave entered the room.

"It's nice to see you too," Dave bit out, his tone betrayed his words. Taking a seat in one of the visitor's chairs in front of the Director's desk. "Cut to the chase, Director."

"Well," Director Robinson folded his hands across the edge of the desk. "At this point, I'd like your input."

"My input?" Dave repeated evenly, raising his eyebrow at the most powerful man in the FBI.

"It's really simple, Rossi. Do you want to come back to the Bureau or not? If you say no, we can put together your benefit package tomorrow. If you say yes, you'll be out of the field. We want you to teach on a permanent basis."

Dave's stomach dropped to his feet, there was no way he could leave his team without good reason. "Out of the field?" He questioned, "why?"

"It wasn't a decision we made lightly," Andy said, "but with your bad heart and your age…" Andy let the sentence hang.

Dave said nothing, for a long moment. "My heart is fine," he said, "don't use an isolated incident against me."

"Trust me, this wasn't an easy decision." Andy said, placating. "In the long run, you have maybe 3 years before your mandatory retirement. If I were in your shoes, I would cut-bait while I can."

"My doctor cleared me for field work, so what is the real issue, Director? Why the urgency to push me out of the field all of a sudden?"

"Contrary to what you believe, Agent Rossi, I am not out to get you. It was brought to my attention, the information that was revealed in the investigation that was just concluded that the reason you were removed from the field, by Section Chief Strauss was due to your health. The agency doesn't want to be liable for you keeling over on the job. Neither of us are getting any younger and maybe you were right to turn in your badge. But I also know that you are a very active person and although you are no longer fit for field work, I thought you might like to continue in the capacity of Academy Instructor. Your ratings, as a teacher are off the charts. Your students love you-"

"You talk a good game but… I was only removed temporarily. My personal doctor and an Agency physician have both cleared me to return to full duty."

"I understand that," Andy said patiently, "the Bureau, however, is taking a different position. I'd like to see you spend more time in the classroom. More students enroll in your class than any other."

"That's flattering." Dave bit out, with thinly veiled sarcasm. " However, as much as I enjoy teaching, I think I'm better suited as an active agent." Dave said, folding his hands, "if that's all.." he had better things to do than pretend to negotiate. He wasn't about to be trapped in a classroom to rot, he needed to be in the field with his team and dammit he earned it.

"You know it's not like that-"

You know what, Director, you have my badge, gun and credentials already, so either let me come back full time as a field agent and do my job or you can keep them."

"The higher ups don't see that as an option," Andy said regretfully. "We can't let you return to the field."

"I enjoy teaching at the academy and wouldn't mind continuing to shape the minds of future agents on a part time basis, the BAU is in my blood, so it is either, I'm a field agent or I am fully retired again. I'm not so unhealthy, that I don't have a few offers." Dave said, standing up.

"There is no need to be like this, Dave. We aren't trying to force you to retire but, being in the field... well," Andy paused to think about his words. Obviously, fieldwork is too much for a man your age."

"My age? What exactly is that supposed to mean?"

"Look Rossi, your knowledge and years of experience can still be valuable assets to the agency, just not in the capacity that you previously enjoyed." Andy settled back in his chair, like a fat cat who caught the canary. "Leave the chasing unsubs, to the younger guys. Take the bone we're throwing you and rest on your laurels."

"The last time someone took a 'rest' around here, they died." Dave said, with fire in his veins. "Look at what retirement did for Jason Gideon, he went loony all alone in his cabin. That's not about to happen to me. Either put me in the field with the rest of my team or retire me so I can be with my family. There is no in-between."

"Rossi, you know you're stronger than Gideon-but face facts, you're a liability and The Bureau can't take the risk."

"Strength has nothing to do with it. Gideon was a good agent who had nothing better to do than quietly lose his mind because The Bureau forced him out."

"Strauss, forced him out," Andy said, putting emphasis on her name.

An angry mask fell over Dave's face, "she wasn't working alone. Everyone knew he wasn't right after Adrian Bale," Dave threw up his hands, exasperated. "You put him in the field anyway-"

"Forgive me if I don't want a repeat of that mistake," Andy said.

"It won't be a repeat of that mistake," Dave said, "I'm stronger than Jason was and I have something Gideon didn't have-"

"And what would that be?" Andy challenged.

Pride filled his chest, "I have my family. Let me know when you have made your decision. You know, I thought that you'd sunk as low as possible with how you tried to railroad Erin and I with that investigation, but this is scraping the barrel. You know the only reason, I even considered leaving my job was because of those trumped up allegations. Since my employment wasn't terminated, I thought, it meant that the agency knew that I still added value to my position."

"And you do, but I listened to the recordings from Erin's interrogation," Andy lied. If Erin stayed with Rossi, she could live the high-life with Rossi and wouldn't take the promotion. Andy would lose what little time he had left with Harriett. He steeled his spine and did what any desperate man would do. "Dave, as your friend, I think you deserve to know…"

"What?" Dave asked, from the edge of his seat. "What did she say?"

"Erin was going to fire you. She told the DOJ that you were too sick for duty."

"No." Dave denied, with a belly full of lead and disbelief. "Erin would have said something...we talked about it. She wanted me to go back to work."

"That's not what she told us. Your section chief wants you out, if I were you I would take what I could get."

Erin paced her office wondering what was going on in the meeting between David and the Director. She really should have been hard at work, her budget reports were due. However, she couldn't concentrate, not when she could get a call at any moment, that Rossi was being held in a holding cell, for punching Andy's lights out. Maybe this was all her fault. If she had set up a meeting with the Director when they had first returned to work, instead of waiting for him to request an audience with her, the situation could have been ironed out and she wouldn't have to worry about David, getting in trouble for giving free rein to his temper. Although as angry as she had been with her former friend, she might have found herself back in detention for knocking the hell out of Andy. The more she thought about how he had set her up, acting like he had no knowledge behind what was driving the charges, the more pissed off she became. Maybe Rossi was right and it was time to consider, walking away and concentrating on their family, until after she had the babies. After that, she could take another position either with another agency or in the private sector. Strauss was strung tight as a bow and so the knock on her door startled her.

"Agent Hotchner," Erin said as Hotch let himself into her office. "Do you have your list?"

Hotch nodded and handed over the piece of paper. "I don't think the budget committee is going to be willing to hire two new agents."

Erin looked over Hotch's list, "I don't think they have a choice."

"So, you're prepared to back me up on this?" Hotch asked, brow raised in surprise.

Erin nodded, "you need a full team and I need help." She looked around at the stacks of reports on her desk. They mocked her, the next time she left on medical leave, she better die. Otherwise, she would never catch up on the paperwork. "If you're still not cleared to travel I don't see why we can't work together to keep the department running."

"What about Dave?" Hotch asked. "He could help-"

"No." Erin protested, shaking her head. "He needs to be with the team." She dropped her head in concentration, "he's meeting with the Director now, but I don't know how that's going to turn out."

"Well, I have his badge in my desk."

"I hope he keeps it. The team needs him." Erin admitted, "He'll go crazy at home and he needs the team. Besides, we would kill each other if we were both here all the time."

Barely knocking, Dave plowed into Erin's office, interrupting the meeting between Hotch and Strauss. He could tell by the guilty look on both of their faces, that they were discussing something he wouldn't like.

"What did I walk into?" Dave asked. Studying Hotch and Erin, both of them looked like they'd been caught. "What were you two talking about?"

"You," Erin said, smiling at him. "I was telling Aaron that I want you to stay in the field."

"Then tell that to the Director." Dave said, "he's trying to force me out because someone," He threw a nasty glare at Strauss, "told the Ethics Committee that I was too sick to work in the field!" Dave exploded. All of the anger he felt for Andy Robinson, spewed out of him like molten lava. Anger rolled off of him in rage, when he stalked towards her desk. "Whatever bullshit you told the DOJ to cover your own ass, just tanked my career!" He said, rounding on Erin. "I gave my whole life to the BAU and they handed me my walking papers after one statement from you."

"It wasn't like that-" Erin said, but David wasn't listening to her. "I told the truth!" She slammed her palms against the desk and shot to her feet. She gripped the edge of the desk to keep her balance. Leaning across the desk, she lit into him."I went over Aaron's head to keep you here."

He stalked over to her desk, waving his finger in her direction. "You destroy everything in your path, you cantankerous b-"

"DAVE!" Hotch thundered. He couldn't watch his friend sink his own ship by saying something he would regret. "Back off!"

"Is everything okay in here?" Derek asked, standing in the doorway of Erin's office, with a stack of manila folders tucked under his arm. Everything about the situation screamed volatile.

"What the hell do you want?" Dave turned his fury on Derek, " Don't worry, I'm not gonna hit her."

"Oh, I know you won't," Morgan said, stepping further into the room. "Rossi, what the hell is going on?"

"She screwed me!" Dave said, stabbing an accusing finger towards Erin. "None of you had my back-when I told you that I was fine-"

"You're not acting fine." Hotch glared at him.

Derek put himself between Dave and the desk, "Take a walk, Man."

"No! How the hell do you expect me to act? My whole life was flushed down the drain."

Erin shook her head, that hurt. His whole life? The BAU was the only thing he had to live for? From underneath her desk, she touched her belly. Their twins wiggled under her hand. Inside, she knew he didn't mean what he was saying, but it hurt anyway. She crossed her arms across her chest and waited for the storm to pass.

"If you remember, I'm the one who wanted you to take a break. Erin went over my head to secure that teaching position for you," Hotch said.

"Did you forget that you had a heart-attack, not long after you left the field? What do you think would have happened if you'd keeled over chasing an UNSUB?" Derek said.

"You're all working against me-"

"David, I promise you neither Aaron or I would ever hurt you like that." Erin said. She wanted to circle the desk and touch him, but self preservation prevailed. He was too volatile, if he were anyone else she would have been afraid of him.

"We'll see," Dave bit out. "I thought you had changed, but-" He shook his head in denial. "Maybe you are still the same selfish, conniving-"

Erin's voice cut into his tirade. "You have every right to be angry, but you don't have the right to take it out on me. Not here. Not anywhere. David Rossi." She rose to her full height, he needed to remember who he was talking to. "I love you, and I am doing my level best to not lose my temper right now, because I know you are upset, but I am not your verbal punching bag. I didn't put up with that crap from my ex husband, a man I was married to for almost two decades and had three children with and I am certainly not going to put up with it from you. Now, I suggest you leave my office now before I throw you out." She commanded and pointed to the door.

Dave turned on his heel and stormed out, slamming the door behind him. A beat of silence passed, residual tension hung in the air.

"Are you okay?" Hotch asked.

"Fine." Erin said sharply. She took a deep breath and let it out as her abdomen tightened underneath her hand.

'Deep breaths,'Erin mentally reminded herself, as she closed her eyes trying to calm herself down and ease the tension she felt, it was affecting the babies and she didn't need something else to worry about. After a few minutes, she felt more on an even keel. She opened her eyes and realized that Hotch and Derek were still staring at her with concern and she gave a slight smile that they cared, "seriously, I'm fine."

"Dave needs time to get his head together, don't take it personally," Hotch said.

"Time is something I'm short on." Erin said, gathering the files she needed for the meeting, "I can't let him talk to me like that. Not when I don't deserve it."

"You're right." Derek said, "I only saw part of that…"

Erin shook her head, dismissing him. "David will be fine, thank you for your reports, Agent Morgan." She dismissed Derek with a nod towards the door. "Aaron, we have a meeting to get to." She glanced at her watch, the engagement ring on her hand caught the light. How long until she had to give it back? She brushed that thought away and blinked back the tears in her eyes. "We're going to be late."

"Don't you think we should talk about this?" Hotch asked, "we need to help Dave."

"And we will," Erin nodded, resolutely "but after the meeting. The BAU needs a new coffee maker and new agents I'm determined to see that you get both."

Hotch smiled slightly, "Yes, Ma'am."