Okay, here's the chapter everyone has been asking about. I hope you like it and Skylar. It's 19 degrees outside and I haven't been out of my apartment since monday. Been doing a lot of writing to pass the time. I also started watch CM from episode one. I've got them all on DVD so I'm surviving.

Chapter 6

The room was made up of windows on three sides, filling the room room with sunlight. Benches, tables and chairs were scattered around the room along with a number of plants. Sitting on the far side of the room was a little girl. She appeared to be coloring, her long, dark hair obscuring her face. She didn't seem to notice that they had entered. The quartet crossed the room, making just enough noise to let her know they were there.

"Skylar, you have a visitor," Marilyn said. The little girl looked up and Dave found himself looking into a pair of jade green eyes. The social worker motioned Dave to stand beside her. "Skylar, this is your father."

Skylar put her crayon down. She leaned back in her chair and crossed her arms over her chest, a skeptical look on her face. Hotch almost snorted. He'd seen that same look more than a few times on Dave's face.

"It's true. We checked," Dr. Holden assured her. "I wouldn't have brought him to see you if it wasn't." Skylar gave a small nod. She pointed to the chair next to her. "Have a seat, Agent Rossi." Dave sat down. "We'll give you some privacy," the doctor said. "Come by my office before you leave." He patted Dave's shoulder. He turned and headed for the door.

"We'll be just over there," Marilyn said. She motioned to Hotch and they walked a few feet away to sit at another table.

"My name's David," he said. "I'm sorry I didn't come sooner but I just found out about you from your grandmother." She gave him another small nod.

"I brought you a present," he said. He pulled a teddy bear out of the bag he had brought with him and set it in front of her. "It is my firm belief that every father should give his daughter a teddy bear. It's a law. I should know." She raised her eyebrows and shook her head. "It's true," he swore.

She picked up the teddy bear and examined it for a minute. Seemingly satisfied, she put it on her lap. Dave leaned back and watched her. When he did, his jacket moved and his empty holster was visible. Skylar pointed at it. He looked down.

"Yes, I carry a gun," he said. "It's part of my job. I'm with the FBI." She made a gimme motion with her right hand. He pulled out his ID, opened it and handed it to her. "It's real," he said as she looked at it. That got him a look that clearly said 'duh'. "No insult was intended, I assure you," he said. She closed it and handed it back to him.

"Skylar, if I can arrange it, I'd like to take you out of here and have you come live with me," he told her. "Would you like that?" She gave him a small smile and a nod. "A judge has to say if it's okay, but if he does, I'll take you home with me." He leaned on the table as he continued to talk.

"I'm getting a new house and you'll have your own room," he said. "You can decorate it any way you want. I have a dog, too. His name is Mudgy." Skylar turned the pages in her coloring book. She stopped and pointed to a picture of a dog. "Oh, Mudgy's bigger than that," he said. "He's full grown but he thinks he's still a puppy." She held up a brown crayon. He knew what she was asking. With a smile, he picked up the black crayon. She took it and quickly colored the dog.

"Very nice," he said as he watched. "You color very well." She just shrugged. He changed topics. "Have you ever seen snow? Not on TV but outside on the ground?" She shook her head. "Where I live, in Virginia, we get a lot of snow in the winter. It makes for good snowball fights."

She grabbed his left hand and pointed at his ring finger. "I'm not married," he said, "not any more." That little tidbit could wait to be told at a later date. "No other children, either, although I do have several nieces and nephews, which means that you have aunts, uncles and cousins as well as another grandmother."

They spent a few more minutes talking when Hotch and Marilyn walked up to them. "Skylar, this is a friend of mine," Dave said. "His name is Aaron Hotchner and he also works for the FBI." She made the gimme motion again. "She wants to see your ID," he told Hotch.

"Okay," Hotch said. He pulled out the identification, opened it and handed to her. She studied it for a couple of minutes then handed it back.

"Skylar, would you like to show your father and Agent Hotchner your room?" Marilyn asked. The little girl nodded and stood up. She looked at Dave for a few moments then held out her hand. Giving her a small smile, he took her hand and stood up as well. She began pulling him toward the door, holding her bear in the other hand. Marilyn gathered her crayons and coloring books.

"Care to join us?" Dave asked the other two.

"Right behind you," Hotch said as they began walking.

They passed the elevators and took the stairs to the second floor. Skylar led them down the hall to the right, stopping at a door about halfway down the hall. She opened the door, walking in with Dave while Hotch and Marilyn stood at the door.

Several of Skylar's pictures were hanging on the wall. A small stereo was sitting on the dresser by the window with several CD's next to it. A green blanket covered the twin bed and a low shelf held several dolls, stuffed animals and a few other toys. The room was clean, neat... and really held very little that would indicate the personality of the person that lived there.

Skylar placed the bear on her bed by her pillow then sat down next to it. She patted the space next to her and Dave sat down as well. "This is a very nice room," he said, looking around. Skylar just shrugged. "You're a very good artist." They continued to talk for a few minutes before Marilyn interrupted them.

"Skylar, it's time for your father to go," she said quietly. The little girl just sighed and nodded, lowering her head.

"Skylar, look at me," Dave said, turning to face her. It took a minute for her to look up. There were tears in her eyes. "I am going to do my very best to get you out of here, I promise," he said. "I am not going to abandon you." She made an X over her heart. "Cross my heart," he said, making his own X.

She got up and walked over to one of her pictures. Taking it off the wall, she took it to Dave and handed it to him. "Is this for me?" he asked as he took it. It was a drawing of a little girl standing in front of a house. She nodded. "Thank you," he said, his voice barely above a whisper.

Suddenly, she threw her arms around his neck and held on. He hugged her back as tightly as he dared. He finally kissed her forehead and let her go. "I'll see you again tomorrow," he said then stood up. She sat down on the bed, picking up the bear and holding it close.

"Get me out of here," Dave growled quietly as he passed Hotch and headed out of the room.

TBC

So there you have it. Too corny?