This would have been up earlier but the site is giving me fits.
Chapter 13
It had been a long time since Dave had been in a grocery store as large as the one he was currently standing in front of but, with a kid now, he didn't figure the small store a couple of miles away was going to do it. He and Skylar walked in
"Okay," Dave said. "Remember what I told you. Stay with me while we're here." She nodded. They headed for the far end of the store.
It was an interesting shopping excursion. Aside from the staples (milk, bread, eggs, etc.), there was cereal (cheerios, rice krispies and cocoa puffs), sandwich makings (deli meats, three kinds of cheese, peanut butter and jelly). things for the grill (steaks, burgers, and hot dogs), juice (apple, orange and grape) and fresh fruits (oranges, grapes, bananas and apples) and vegetables ( lettuce, tomatoes, onions, bell peppers, etc.). Skylar made faces as Dave picked out the last group.
She tried to sneak in a bag of mini Reese's cups into the basket. As she did, she heard a throat clearing behind her. Turning around, she saw her father standing there with his arms crossed over his chest. She plastered an innocent expression in her face.
"You do remember that I confront people with innocent expressions on their faces for a living, right?' he said. She grabbed the bag and looked up at him with her version of puppy dog eyes. "Am I going to be seeing a lot of those expressions?" She smiled. "You're lucky I like you," he joked. Bigger smile. "Put 'em in the basket," he said. She put the bag in the basket.
Forty five minutes later, they walked out of the store. "I just remembered why I don't like grocery shopping," Dave said with a sigh.
Dave and Skylar spent the next week just getting to know each other. They looked at a few houses but none of them were what they wanted. They spent the evenings watching movies or reading, rather Dave reading. Skylar liked listening to her father read her different stories.
The Saturday after they got home, Dave was watching Skylar and Mudgie playing in the backyard . The sky was beginning to cloud up He was wondering if it was going to rain when his cell phone rang. Seeing it was Hotch, he answered it. "I know you're not calling about a case," he said.
"A case would be better," Hotch sighed.
"Ah, hell, it's Strauss," Dave sighed himself. "What is she bitching about now?"
"She wants you to come in and sign your leave paperwork," Hotch said. "I think she would have preferred you to have done it before you knew about Skylar but she's willing to settle for Monday."
"You know, I have the money and connections," Dave said. "I can have her taken out."
"I keep telling everyone the paperwork would be a bitch," Hotch said. "How's she doing?"
"She seems to be adjusting," Dave mused. "Of course, it's only been a week. We've been looking at houses but nothing so far. I'll have to bring her with me."
"Just as well," Hotch said. "The team knows you're not on another book tour and they're reasonably sure you're not working a case on your own since you would never do something like that." That got a chuckle. "They also know that Garcia knows something about it but she's not talking. Morgan is threatening to turn up the persuading and he knows just what buttons to push."
Suddenly, there was a loud clap of thunder and the sky opened up. In seconds, all Dave could see were two blurs that belonged to his daughter and his dog. "Damn," he said.
"What's wrong?" Hotch asked.
"It just started pouring here," Dave said. "Skylar and Mudgie are out in the backyard and I don't think they're planning on coming in any time soon."
"Ah, wet dog and wet daughter," Hotch smiled. "Welcome to parenthood."
Skylar was a little nervous. Her father had told her they had to go to the FBI in Quantico where he worked to see about some paperwork. Uncle Aaron and Aunt Pen would be there but so would a lot of other people, people she didn't know. She decided to just hold onto her teddy bear and her father's hand. She was given a visitor's badge when they arrived and father and daughter headed upstairs.
"Nervous?" Dave asked as they rode the elevator. Skylar nodded. "Don't be. They're very nice people. A little strange but nice." She just rolled her eyes. The elevator doors opened and they walked onto the sixth floor.
When Dave opened the glass doors to the BAU and they went inside, all eyes were on them. Skylar looked around with wide eyes. Hotch was standing next Morgan's desk as they walked up.
"I see you made it," he said. He looked at Skylar. "And she's dry."
"It took a half hour to get them inside," Dave as Skylar smiled.
"And who is this lovely young lady?" Derek asked.
"Skylar, this is Special Agent Derek Morgan, Special Agent Emily Prentiss, Special Agent Dr. Spencer Reid, Special Agent Jennifer Jareau and you remember Special Agent Hotchner," Dave said. He took a deep breath. "Guys, this is my daughter Skylar." There was silence.
Emily was the first to speak. "Your daughter," she said. "I thought you didn't have any kids,"
"Long story," Dave said. "Let's just say it was an old girlfriend who never told me she was pregnant. I just found out a couple of weeks ago."
"Your mysterious trip to Georgia," Derek said.
"I went down and took custody of her," Dave said.
Before anything else could be said, Skylar pulled free of Dave and took off. Before anyone could say something, the little girl was throwing her arms around Penelope.
"My little skylark," the woman said, giving her a hug. "What brings you to the BAU?" Skylar pointed to her father. "Hello, Agent Daddy," she said as they walked up. "What brings you here?"
"Strauss," Dave said. "She's griping about the paperwork for my leave."
"Speaking of," JJ said, looking at the door.
The door opened and Erin Strauss walked into the office. She spotted Dave and made a beeline for him. "Agent Rossi," she said.
"Chief Strauss," Dave said. "My daughter Skylar. Skylar, this is Section Chief Strauss."
Strauss glanced at the little girl and quickly dismissed her. "I always knew one of your indiscretions would come back to haunt you," she said.
"Excuse me?" Dave said. The others just stared at her.
"I'm surprised there aren't more like her out there," Strauss continued. "For all you know, she may have a lot of brothers and sisters. You really should check on that."
"And you really should mind your own business," Dave said. This was going to get very ugly very quickly.
"Watch your tone," Strauss said. A smirk formed on her face. "You have a tendency to abandon the females in your life. How long before you abandon her as well?" There was a stunned silence.
Suddenly, a sob broke the silence. Everyone looked at Skylar who had tears running down her face. Dave quickly picked her up and held her close to comfort her. He looked at Strauss.
"You need to leave now," he said, "before I break my promise about hitting a female."
"Are you threatening me?" she asked.
"I'm making you a promise," he said.
"We'll talk about this later," she said.
"Oh, you bet your sweet ass we will," he said. She turned and walked out of the BAU.
"I can't believe she said that to you," Emily said.
"One of these days, you're going to have to tell us why she hates you so much," Derek said.
"I wouldn't sleep with her," Dave said. "I have standards."
"She's going to make your life miserable," Hotch said with a sigh. He pinched the bridge of his nose. He knew he was going to have a headache soon.
"She can try," Dave said, "but I have more things than she can even dream of left in my little bag of tricks."
"I would prefer we didn't get caught in the crossfire," Hotch said.
"I'll make sure the fallout doesn't hit any of you," Dave said. Skylar had quieted down. "You okay?" he asked. She nodded.
"She looks a lot like you," Spencer said.
"Nah, she's prettier than that," JJ smiled.
"Very finny," Dave said.
"Not a big talker, huh?" Emily smiled. "A little on the shy side?"
Dave glanced at Hotch. "She doesn't talk," Dave said. "She hasn't since she was three."
"Okay, color me embarrassed," Emily cringed, turning pink.
"Don't worry about it," Dave said. "We communicate just fine, don't we?" Skylar nodded.
"Hey, my chocolate kiss," Penelope said. "Can you get my pink bag out of my lair?"
"Sure thing, Baby Girl," Derek said. He disappeared then returned a couple of minutes later. "Here you go," he said, handing her the bag.
Penelope dug through the bag. Finally, she pulled out a small plastic tiara. She placed it on Skylar's head. "There," she said. "Now we have the new BAU princess." That got a small smile out of Skylar. "We are your loyal subjects." Dave just shook his head.
TBC
Is Strauss a beotch or what? Next chapter - movong, shopping and an argument. Happy Mother's Day!