It's been a while but life has been busy. On a more positive note the next two chapters are ready to post.

For those that dislike the Rossi/Prentiss pairing it's probably time to stop reading.

Title: An Honourable Man

Pairing: Emily Prentiss/David Rossi

Rating: M for now, but not sure where it might end up.

Summary: It was just another case, just another broken resolution, that brought them to this.

Spoilers: I've only seen up to series four episode twenty-two so anything up to there is fair game.

Author's Notes: I've never written Criminal Minds Fan fiction before I have loved the show since the first episode. I've written 'Waking the Dead' and 'West Wing' fan fiction before so this seems like a natural progression. I tend to write a few chapters then post one so it may take time to update but it also means I can take on suggestions along the way.

Part Seven

The day had started as every other day had since they had touched down in Seattle three days ago. Rain had provided the early morning wake up call, echoing against the window panes like nails on a glass floor, looming dark clouds punctuating the sky as the team walked the short distance from the hotel to the small conference room that had become their work space. There had been a brief respite with bright sunlight streaming through the windows as they drank the freshly percolated coffee J.J. had pilfered from the hotel. Garcia's light-heartness lifting the mood as they indulged in a few minutes banter before returning to the grimness of the case. Despite her many talents, she had nothing new to share with them and the mood darkened once again. Hotch rubbed his face with his hands before once more looking up at his team and dispatching them again to follow up interviews and visit crime scenes for a third time. They had hoped that the unsubs would revisit the dump sites but that no longer seemed likely, instead they all knew what it would take to solve the case.

The rain had stayed at bay for the rest of the day as the team went about their work but by mid afternoon they had exhausted everything they had and were no closer to linking the profile to any viable suspects. Hotch had paced the small conference room, his frustration evident in his furrowed brow and heavy footfalls. As much as he wanted to keep working, and hated to declare defeat, it wasn't getting them anywhere and the team were as despondent as he was. After a brief discussion with Trooper Newstead, and assurances that they wouldn't give up, he had called the team and told them to call it a day. Few had protested. In his heart he knew that the only way they were going to get new leads was if another man went missing and in all likelihood someone would in the next few days. It was a sentiment shared by them all.

As soon as Dave had hung up on Hotch and passed on the news to Emily, they had headed back towards the hotel. The city seemed less depressing in the sunshine and they had opened the windows, enjoying the fresh air and clear skies. As they left the city, tall skyscrapers and concrete were replaced with the green spaces and family homes of the suburbs. It was an all too brief reminder that life went on as normal.

"Do you think we have time to stop?" Emily asked, sitting up straighter as her eyes caught sight of the small strip mall up ahead.

David turned in his seat to look at her, his voice laced with amusement. "You hungry?"

"No, I could just do with picking up a few things," Emily acknowledged hesitantly, never one to want to admit she wasn't perfect. She also wasn't quite as organised as she pertained to be, having run out of shampoo that morning and knowing in a few days that she would need Advil and a few more personal items. They were going to still be in Seattle, of that she was sure, but she wasn't sure she'd get another chance to do something as normal as shop.

"Okay." He indicated and pulled into the small parking area, finally parking a few feet from the stores and switching off the engine. "Here okay?"

As she started to climb out, she stopped and turned to look at him sincerely. "You need anything?"

"Like?" he asked, his tone revealing nothing but his grin widening as his mind flew to the long list of embarrassing products he could send her in for.

"Those, you can buy yourself," she retorted, pulling a face, "or borrow from Morgan." As much as she had come to appreciate her team, there were certain things she really didn't want to know about them, or at least areas that for the present moment could remain a mystery. "Shampoo? Toothpaste?"

David shook his head and watched as she disappeared into the drug store, wallet clutched against her chest. Grinning, he leaned back against the seat and closed his eyes, intending to rest for a few moments. It wasn't so much that he was tired, more exhausted and emotionally drained. Coming back to work had been the single best decision he could ever had made, but his body was starting to protest that he wasn't twenty-five anymore and that five hours a night wasn't nearly enough.

After a long day briefing fellow officers and conducting interviews, the team had shared a late dinner in the diner the previous evening, sharing a few beers and discussing serial killers. It wasn't the most suitable conversation over meatloaf and creamed potatoes but it was what they had become accustomed to, and enabled them to avoid more personal probing. Somehow he had drifted into the hotel bar, hoping and expecting company and when she had arrived they had sat up until 2am talking. He was starting to enjoy other people's company again but it had taken a while, and had not been without minor incidents, or moments of discomfort. Spending time with Emily was leading him to question himself and he wasn't entirely sure what it meant or if he was even comfortable spending so much time in the company of one woman. He was also starting to slip around her, resorting to Emily instead of Prentiss whenever they weren't in the company of others. As good a profiler he was, he wasn't willing to delve deeper into his own psyche for fear that the churning in his stomach, as they walked down the corridor to their rooms each night, could lead him to one night overstepping the mark.

Emily said his name gently then more forcefully, startling him and breaking into his reverie.

David raised one eyebrow in question as he took the tray of coffee, and placed the two Styrofoam cups into the holders.

"I thought we might need it for the ride home." She opened the rear door and placed a sack on the back seat before climbing into the front.

"Got everything?"

"Yep, even picked up Garcia some kitsch pens and some candy for J.J.," she replied, pulling the seatbelt across her body. "Did I wake you?"

"Just resting my weary eyes."

"I can drive if you want to rest," Emily offered, with a shrug, moving to unbuckle her belt.

He rolled his eyes. "No, no way."

"It was once, Rossi, once," she grumbled, her tone laced with exasperation. Wishing that they would all just forget about it.

"Once is enough," he smirked, sipping his coffee, grimacing as it burned his lips.

"Yeah, so guys are telling me."

He allowed himself a small smile, choosing to return to their disagreement rather than making a comment that would undoubtedly lead to a silent ride home. "It was a ditch, Emily, and the tree, well it came pretty close to my window."

There were so many things she could have reminded him of, like the fact they made it back onto the dirt road, or that they had managed to avoid a head on collision by mere inches. Or that it wasn't her fault that the truck that neglected to remain in his own lane but she didn't because he wouldn't have cared anyway and it was kind of nice that they had something to tease her about. She muttered something under her breath. "Fine, but maybe you should take a nap before dinner, old man."

"Old Man, eh?" He glanced tentatively in her direction, relived she was gazing out the window.

She shrugged nonchalantly, oblivious to how her lips were quirking up into a smile.

David allowed himself a small smile. There were so many ways he could prove to her that he wasn't so old and past it, all of which inappropriate but any one of them providing definitive proof.

The sun was shining in the sky and the streets were relatively busy as Hotch and Morgan walked back to the hotel together. After checking in with each of his team member, he had effectively closed down the office for the day. Although for him, that didn't mean the working day was over, just that a change in location seemed appropriate.

The hotel lobby was practically empty when they walked through and it only took a few minutes for Hotch to check for messages and then they were riding up in the elevator. "You want to grab some dinner later?" Hotch asked, sifting through his messages with one hand and juggling papers and his briefcase with the other.

Morgan shook his head. "I'm going to head out for a run, see if there's a little more to this town." Whenever they were on a case they ate the wrong things, barely slept and spent far too much time together. It wasn't that he wouldn't lay down his life for anyone of them, it was just that at times it reminded him of rainy afternoons trapped indoors with his sisters. So once in a while he liked to disappear on his own, take a break and work out. Sometimes he did press ups or sit ups in his room, or used the gym in the hotel. For once the rain had stopped outside and he had decided to make the most of it and take a run.

"The town or the locals?" Hotch asked, looking up, his face revealing little of his tone.

Morgan grinned back, leaving the question unanswered.

"Later?"

"I'm going to get an early night, Hotch."

Hotch lips formed in a grim line. He hated the fact they weren't working but with no new leads and the witness list exhausted, they had decided to take a break and start afresh the next morning. "I might do the same. See you at seven." He stepped out of the elevator and made his way down the corridor to his room. Digging in his briefcase he pulled out his room key and clicked the lock just as the sound of voices floated down the hallway behind him.

"We're going to dinner, want to join us?" Rossi asked, one hand pressed on each of the young women's backs. "Chinese, tonight."

Despite the fact he had just made the same offer to Morgan, Aaron found himself refusing. "I think I'm going to make some calls. See what my son's been up to." His lips involuntarily quirked up into a smile at the thought of his son, faltering as he contemplated yet another missed weekend visit.

"Want us to bring you back something, boss?" J.J. asked, her own mood lifted by the few minutes she had spent listening to Henry's babbling. "A little Kung Po or some noodles."

"Anything is fine," he said, finally opening the door and stepping over the threshold. "Have a good time."

Dave's lips twitched up into a smile. "Do want me to go over the case. . .?" his voice trailed off as the vehement shaking of Hotch's head. "Okay." He gently guided his two companions forward. "We'll drop the food off in about an hour or so."