Rossi woke up the next morning with a slight hang over. He knew he drank to much but after awaking up in the middle of the night, over the dream about Aaron, he had down a couple more unnecessary but necessary shots.
When he walked back into work, Derek and Reid were at their desk, diligently working but Rossi caught them staring at each other when the other wasn't looking. The bright smile on the young genius face made Rossi feel a little better.
Garcia was running around her office talking in a different language on her phone and he looked over to see Emily waving her arms excitedly to JJ, who had a small smile on her face.
He knew that Aaron was in his office…he always was, and David glanced using his peripherals just in case.
He hoped today wasn't like another soap opera, he already had a headache. Four or five hours past with nothing out of the ordinary happening, all there was to do was mountains of paperwork, until he looked up when Reid knocked on the door.
"We are all going down to the pub and having lunch. You coming…Hotch is."
He had said the last part quietly, staring at the older man, "I have to finish up this report, and I'll meet you in a couple minutes."
Reid looked doubtful but then nodded walking away. Rossi watched as the entire team left with out him. He just didn't feel like having to put on a fake front…he just want to relax and not have to wonder if they saw through him.
It was beginning to get to the point were he put on faces. He knew Aaron did but that was more helpful for the team, and it wasn't faces it was layers…you just had to peel them away and look at all the different Aaron Hotchner's.
He jumped a little when his phone rang and he picked it up, "Hello?"
There was sniffling at the other end, "D-david?"
Rossi immediately noticed his most recent ex-wife's voice, "Linda? What's wrong?"
He listened to her and was glad to hear it was only over her recent wedding. Although he had many wives, he had loved them at one point in time. Even if it wasn't the same way or the right way…he loved them. He kept in contact with them, contrary to what everyone thought and they routinely called him to chat.
"I know I sound silly, but my mother is crazy!"
David chuckled, "I remember. Don't let her have this one, from what you've told me you love him deeply. Tell her that you love her but you want this to be special. And if that doesn't stop her, you can always have her call me."
He was only half kidding but the woman laughed, "Thanks David…I just got so stressed and the only person I wanted to call was you."
"Thanks Linda, I wish you all the best…and I'm sorry…for not doing right by you…."
He could just imagine her smile on the line, which was what he had fallen in love with first, "You did all right Dave. But now either you find someone or I'm setting you up on a blind date."
David smiled and politely declined. When he finally got off he looked at the clock and realized that he was way over due on the lunch invitation and decided to just grab a snack.
David continued his work, and looked up when Emily leaned in, "What happened to you?"
David smiled, "I had a phone call. It took me longer then expected to get off. Thanks for the invitation though."
She watched him for a second and he stared her down until she smiled and nodded. Emily Prentiss was almost as weird as Penelope Garcia, just in a more subtle way, "Thanks again for not telling…and for not telling on Reid and Morgan."
Rossi laughed, "No problem. Just keep it G rated and I won't ever say anything."
Rossi started back at his paper work and then tensed up at the knock on the door…he knew that knock, "David! Jack is sick and throwing up at school, can you make sure everyone leaves okay?"
Rossi nodded, carefully avoiding his eyes, the mention of Jack was again another reason that Rossi was stacking up, on the list of why NOT to tell Aaron Hotchner he loved him.
Again the day seemed to take forever, and he was just about to leave for the day when JJ ran to his door, "We have a case."
David sighed. They were all around the table and after a quick briefing Morgan left to tell the pilot that they would need the jet. David called Aaron and prayed for voicemail, the man needed time with his son.
He got what he was wishing for, "Hey Aaron. We have a case and Garcia is under strict instructions not to tell you were it is. When you get this call me and I will tell you, but please…I'm literally begging you, spend some time with Jack…relax, get a good night sleep and then come down."
He hung up and smiled over at Morgan and Reid arguing about Clooney, "I'm not saying you should get ride of him, I'm just saying maybe…you should find a better babysitter."
"Mrs. Johnson is fine, Spencer."
Reid gave him an annoyed look, "Derek the woman is eighty seven years old, Clooney is a big dog!"
Rossi continued on and smiled as Emily squeezed JJ's hand as they grabbed their 'Go' bags. He told Garcia her role and promised her that she would not get fired and then they headed to the plane, he just hoped Aaron took his advice.
&&&&&&
Rossi was surprised when a day later Aaron arrived. Emily cheered, "You took our advice!! You look much better Hotch!"
The man rolled his eyes but smiled slightly, "So what do we have so far?"
Morgan started, "A man, thirty to fifty, size of a body builder. He is kidnapping woman and after raping and torturing them throws them away."
Reid stepped up, "But we don't think it's about sexual release, not with the amount of violence he uses on women. We think he loves the violence and just uses them for sex."
"So he's just a violent murderer? What is his motive?"
Emily pointed to a sketch, "To get away with kidnapping someone, and being that huge, he had to be attractive. JJ and I volunteered to go to the gym that everyone says they saw the Unsub last and be the bait."
They saw Hotch's look of disapproval but Reid cut back in, "The dump sight and the gym all narrow down him living in this area, he puts the body outside of his living space and the gym is inside of it. They don't have a lot of evidence, this is the only way we can catch him."
After Hotch reluctantly agreed, they all left to get ready. Rossi was upset, he had tried to get Reid to switch him jobs but the boy had tried to act all innocent and said that he was going to be in the van listening in, since he was okay with electronics and Morgan was going to be lifting weights near them.
So now he was stuck with Hotch at the front of the building…in a cramped car. He almost groaned out loud put sighed. He saw JJ and Emily dressed in office clothes with their gym bags behind them.
Their IPod's would be rigged for sound, and Morgan would lift weights watching them, while Garcia used the video system to keep an eye on them.
They met up and the plan was a go, there were two undercover police officers inside with Morgan and two undercover cop cars out side, one driving around and the other parked in back.
Rossi watched the video camera from his laptop, thanking heavens for having an analyst like Garcia. He had his headset in, so did Aaron, waiting for anything to go wrong.
"Thanks David."
Rossi looked up from the laptop and straight into Hotch's eyes, before looking away, back at the computer, "for what?"
"For making me stay home…I wasn't going to…then I decided that I would follow your advice."
Rossi refused to look at him and just nodded, "David….are you going to tell me what I did…"
David looked up and smiled at him, not looking him in the eyes, "You didn't do anything, I promise. Wait I think this is him."
They watched as a burlier man, but obviously handsome walked up to Emily. She grinned at him, giggling and flirting back. Rossi was surprised by her acting and again smiled at the skill of his team.
He heard threw the IPod microphone, "you want to come back to my place…I know this is weird…I'm picking you up like we are at a bar but…."
Emily smiled warmly at him, "Hold on, I'll go get changed!"
They watched the man smiled and then pick up weights. Emily only took twenty minutes to walk out of the gym and Hotch and Rossi got out of the SUV and followed them quietly. They needed to get to Emily before he did anything.
They rounded the corner and saw him grab Emily punching her across the face. Rossi's blood boiled and the guy froze when he growled, "Freeze! FBI!"
Soon he was surrounded and in the police car, Rossi helped Emily to the ambulance and then left her with a very upset JJ. Morgan looked upset and a very worried but determined Reid was talking quickly and quietly to him. Rossi walked up, "It's not your fault Morgan…if your going to play the blame game then it should be on me, because I didn't get here fast enough. Now get back to the hotel, make love to your Pretty Boy and in the morning we are going home."
Reid was blushing but lightly touched Derek's hand and they walked away, but not before Derek smiled at Rossi and nodded his head, thanking the older man.
"You are good with this team…and I didn't know that they were together…"
David didn't turn around but laughed and looked over at JJ and Emily. JJ was rubbing her hand talking to the paramedics, "So are they. They didn't want to tell you, so they could protect you from Strauss."
This time he looked over at David surprised, "How did you know I was thinking that?"
David smiled slightly, "You care about this team, we are like a family. The fact that they hid this from you is a huge blow…I just wanted you to realize it was to protect you not to hurt you."
He watched as Hotch ran after Morgan and Reid and then did a beeline for JJ and Emily. Rossi checked with the local police and they said that the man's name was John Smith, and that he had already confessed to everything, and told them were more bodies were.
It took him and Hotch another hour at the police station to close the case and interview the Unsub, but finally they were able to leave.
The ride over was silent, "Reid said you helped him and Morgan get together. The conversation in my office was about their love life."
David nodded his head, watching the dark roll by, wanting to just close his eyes and pretends to sleep. He didn't want to be here, not in this little space with Aaron talking about love and relationships…it was too much.
Mercifully, Aaron didn't say anything else and they slowly made their way into the hotel. Rossi opted to check on everyone, but didn't even knock when he heard muffled noises coming from each room.
He walked into his room and froze when an almost naked Aaron Hotchner walked out of the bathroom. Rossi snapped back and walked slowly to his bag, grabbing random close not thinking about anything except for the wet, tan body that was a few feet away.
He gulped and the realized Aaron was talking to him, "I'm sorry, what did you say?"
Aaron gave him a worried look, "I asked if the team was okay."
Rossi nodded quickly and tried smiling as he made his way to the bathroom, trying hard to act normal and not let his eyes trace the wet body near him "Yea they…they are fine."
He practically ran into the bathroom and slamming the door shut. He needed to calm down before he did something he would regret. A naked Aaron Hotchner was on his list of marvelous things that he could look but not touch.
He jumped in the shower and started to recite in his head the reasons for not going after the very single, sexy Unit Chief.
Aaron was straight
Aaron was still heart broken over Haley
Aaron had a child
Aaron had a child that would be hard to explain to why a man was sleeping in his daddy's bed
Aaron would be disgusted
Rossi would rather have Aaron as a friend then have Aaron hate him
Rossi loved his job……
The list went on and on and he only had two reason's to tell the man… the first because he was desperately in love with him and the second because it hurt not being able to tell him
Rossi loved lists, he had been making them ever since he was a child and his second wife had said it was his list making that drove her away.
But for him it was a form of therapy and it helped him make decisions…even if that made him a shut in or someone that wasn't able to live freely, it helped keep him safe and sane and that was all he asked for.
He made his way out of the shower, feeling a little better. He changed quickly, with a silent prayer that Aaron was already sleeping. He didn't get his wish, when he opened the door and saw the man sitting up in bed typing on his laptop.
Rossi made his way over to the bed and climbed in. He reached over to shut of the light but tensed when Aaron touched his hand, yanking it away like it burned.
"David, you've been my friend for a long time… you are who I go to when I need advice on anything. I didn't come down right away because you begged me to stay home; can't you at least tell me what's wrong?"
David slowly sat up immediately tense but he smiled over at Hotch, not meeting his eyes, "Nothing, I'm just tired…and my ex wife is getting married soon…I'm just stressed."
Aaron looked unconvinced, "Then why have you been ignoring me. Don't deny it, David. You have been helping the entire team, but as soon as I walk in the room you are distant and you get out as soon as possible…I want to know what I did…I don't want to lose out friendship."
The word sliced into Rossi and he hardened his mask, "For the last time, I'm not mad at you."
He got up to make his way to the door but Aaron got up and grabbed his shoulder, angry. David pushed him off but Aaron gripped tighter spinning David around, "Then tell me what you have against me David!"
David could feel Hotch inches from him and his body was going into overdrive. If he didn't get out now…
He pushed Aaron away from him and reached for the handle on the door, but Aaron was angry and slammed the door. David glared and he felt the tears. David Rossi did NOT cry!
He was frustrated and he just wanted out. His mind was screaming to run but his body wanted nothing more then to yank Aaron to him and kiss that angry mouth, "You want to know what's wrong with me Aaron!"
The Unit Chief looked surprised but nodded and Rossi let out a tortured growl, "Fine, but you fucking asked for it."
Rossi grabbed the back of his neck and yanked Aaron's mouth to his, kissing him. It felt so good but Rossi felt his heart clench when Hotch let out a surprised yelp and his entire body tensed.
David saw the confused expression and didn't wait for it to turn to hurt, anger, or disgust. He bolted out the door, running through the lobby and into one of the cars. He didn't know what he was doing but he took off, heading to the only place he knew to go…home.