You never really know a man until you have divorced him.

Zsa Zsa Gabor

"I think," Deb Chambers said, setting down her martini, "That you're the first of David's women that I've actually liked."

"You've met the others?"

"I met his third wife," she allowed, "Didn't like that bitch."

"I didn't like her either," Lisa agreed. "Of course, she really didn't like me."

"Well, Darling, you were sleeping with her husband," she laughed.

"True, but hey, if she wasn't such a bitch, maybe he wouldn't have been sleeping with me."

"Good point," she agreed. "I told him from the moment I met her that she was trouble. Come on, she had no career, no life…" she shook her head. "I have no idea what he was thinking." Deb waved her hand, dismissing the thoughts of the third Mrs. Rossi, "Now, you on the other hand. I see what he likes in you."

With a grin, Lisa said, "The red hair?"

"We're the only two red heads who actually lasted more than a night or two," Deb said, holding her drink up in mock toast. "Any way, as I was saying. I do see what he likes in you. You stand up to him."

"This time, I do," she allowed.

"You're worried about him," she observed.

"Yeah, he was a wreck when he left for Indianapolis yesterday," Lisa explained. "But at least he's got most of the BAU out there with him now."

"I really hope he solves that case this time," was Deb knows reply. "It's been eating at him for years. It's time to put it to bed." With a shrug, she finished her martini and looked into the empty glass. Looking over, she noticed that Lisa's glass had but a mouthful left. "Finish that, let's get another round."

XXXXX

Two more rounds and a couple of plates of appetizers later, they were still talking and laughing.

"He's so going to hate me after tonight," Deb said, as the bartender brought them fresh drinks. "I'm giving away all of his secrets."

"I'm doing my share, too," Lisa admitted, "Although, I've yet to see him fall down a flight of stairs."

Deb let out a loud laugh, then, "I've got to admit, Lisa, from what you've told me, he really seems to be going all out for you. I mean, he treated me really well when we were dating, but not half as well as he seems to be treating you."

"I know. You've got to promise you won't repeat this, but I really feel guilty sometimes."

"Don't," Deb said, narrowing her eyes. "Do not feel guilty for one moment about making him spoil you rotten. That man has gone through more disposable women in his life, it's about time he steps up and actually puts forth some effort."

"I thought you said he worked at your marriage."

"He did, but I think it was more to preserve the friendship. Looking back at it, I think Dave would have made a better brother for me. But, we parted as peacefully as we could. I know he jokes around about his exes, but I really didn't ask for that much at the end. Just half of what we got together and what was mine to start."

"That's only fair," Lisa agreed, "That's the way my ex and I did it."

"Okay, so you've got to tell me," Deb said, with an impish smile, "Has he started making noises about you becoming the fourth Mrs. Rossi?"

"Honestly? We don't talk about it. I can't even think about marriage, Deb. That just never figured into our relationship before."

"Of course it didn't. You were both already married."

"Don't remind me," she sighed. "In some ways, it was easier back then. We didn't have to work at a relationship. We just got together when we could."

"Let me guess, adjoining hotel rooms and room service dinners while you were on a case?"

"You know his MO," Lisa laughed.

"Yeah, and I know him well enough to know that he has it bad for you," Deb fondly said. "I saw that look in his eyes when you were walking over. We met up about a month after he and Janelle divorced. He just looked pitiful. I thought he was all broken up about divorcing her. Turns out he was more broken up over losing you." Deb looked at her. "Don't look at me like you're shocked. Come on, Girl, you know he was head over heals for you."

"He was?" she asked, playing it cool.

"You didn't see it," she said, clearly surprised. "Tell me you thought it was just sex to him."

"Well, after not hearing from him for months, I figured that I was in it for love, but he was in it for sex. I guess I thought it didn't mean as much to him as it did to me."

"Boy, were you wrong," she sniffed. "Now, this one, you really cannot tell him I told you."

"Please, Deb," Lisa laughed, "If I told him half the stuff you told me tonight…"

"Okay, well, this one I really need you to keep to yourself," she prefaced, then, "The night we met up, after he and Janelle divorced. Well, he drank about half a bottle of Glenfidich and I ended up pouring him home. I was single at the time and never could resist him, so we ended up in bed," she paused, gauging Lisa's reaction. Seeing that she hadn't upset or offended the younger redhead, she went on. "Any way; afterwards, he totally lost it. He told me how he screwed up and let you walk out of his life. We sat up and talked all night. Real introspective stuff. He said he only had two regrets in his life. One of them was letting you slip away."

"What was the other?"

"This one shocked the hell outta me. He said he regretted that none of his marriages produced any children. Sure, he knew divorce could be hell on kids, but it would've been nice to have someone to carry on the family name."

Lisa nodded, a strange numbness settling in her heart.

"You didn't know that, did you?" Deb asked, her tone soft.

Lisa shook her head, "No. He never said anything."

Deb raised a brow, "I'm surprised he didn't."

"I'm not," she admitted, then seeing Deb's curious expression, she explained. "My ex and I had tried for a while to have a baby. When we didn't conceive, we went to the doctor. They tested us both. Turns out I was the problem. Something about a tipped uterus and some sort of blockage in the tubes. He just about said that there was no hope. Sure, I could go have the blockage removed and try again, but there was no guarantee that it would even work. Shortly after that, Dave and I started our affair and it didn't much matter any more."

Deb squeezed Lisa's hand. "I'm sorry, Lisa."

She shrugged. "I've made peace with it. Besides, for the past few years, I haven't exactly been in a monogamous relationship. So, not being able to get pregnant was probably a good thing."

"And now, you're sitting there wondering if he still wants kids, right?"

"Damn, did he teach you how to profile too?" Lisa laughed.

"I taught him a few things," she winked. "Don't worry about kids. I think he's gone past that stage in his life. I know right now, he's probably just happy as hell to have you back."

"You think so?"

Deb winked, "I know so. Now, come on, let's order desert."

"When one door closes, another opens; but we often look so long and so regretfully upon the closed door that we do not see the one which has opened for us."

Alexander Graham Bell

Solving the Galens' murder was a bittersweet triumph. Despite the raw deal that life had handed him, Joe Landon was going to be punished for his crimes and hopefully, the Galen children could get on with their lives.

When they walked back into the BAU, he had planned on finishing up the report and then heading home. Instead, he had to have a little man to man talk with Kevin Lynch. He'd nearly forgotten that he'd interrupted a night of romance between Lynch and Penelope Garcia prior to leaving for Indiana.

With Lynch reassured that Rossi wasn't overly concerned with his relationship with Garcia, Rossi finished his paperwork, handed it in to Hotch and said his goodnights to the rest of the group.

He walked out of the BAU office and made a path directly to the CASMIRC offices. With a purpose, he walked through their bullpen and upstairs to Lisa's office. Of course she was there, seated at her desk, typing furiously on the keyboard of her computer. He stopped, just out of her line of sight and watched her for a moment.

She was dressed in a black skirt and pale green blouse. Her black suit jacket draped over the back of her chair. He faintly remembered that she'd told him she was teaching a class at the Academy that morning. Having been out of the office all morning, he was sure she felt that she was behind and would probably stay late to catch up. That wasn't going to happen tonight, not if he had anything to say about it.

She spotted him as he walked into the office and graced him with a smile. She told him she was happy to see that he was back and got up from her desk and gave him a hug. To his surprise, when he asked her to leave with him, she didn't protest.

She drove, telling him he looked exhausted. Instead of taking him back to Little Creek, she took him to her place in Woodbridge. It was just as well, he didn't think he could stand the nearly two hour trip to his house. The hug in her office was just a tease and he needed much more than that.

Once they walked inside and closed the door, she offered him dinner or maybe a drink. He refused both offers, telling her what he really needed, as he pulled her close and kissed her.

She responded with a hungry kiss of her own, then led him back to her bedroom.

XXXXX

As they made love, Lisa was struck by his need for her. There was a passion and urgency to his love making that he'd never displayed before. It was raw and pure and when they lay back, finally satiated, she found herself drained, physically and emotionally.

He'd called her from Indianapolis, telling her that they'd solved the case. He'd given her all the details, so there was no need to rehash it. Instead, they just lay, wrapped in each other's arms.

"So," she said, her breathing finally returning to normal, "Should we get some dinner?"

He shook his head, "Not yet."

She kissed him softly, smoothing the hair at his temple. "How are ya?"

"I was numb," he said, with a soft smile.

"I'm glad you said was," she smartly said, "Because that was not the work of a numb man."

His smile grew a bit, "Are you complaining?"

"Hell, no."

"Good…" he said, kissing her. "I love you."

"I love you," she returned, with a smile of her own.

XXXXX

"It's over," she said, "And you can put it all past you."

He nodded, watching her neatly manicured nails trace a lazy pattern across his chest.

"Are you going to stay with the Bureau?" she asked.

Hotch had asked him the same question on the flight home and he gave her the same answer; "I have to. I'm not ready to give it all up again."

"Are you sure? You could write another book…"

"I can do that while I'm working," he countered, kissing her deeply. "I'm not ready to retire again."

"Deb said you wouldn't retire," she mused.

"And just how much time have you spent talking to her?"

"We had drinks and dinner last night," she dismissed.

"Why does that thought frighten me?"

"It shouldn't. For an ex-wife, she's your biggest fan."

"Deb's a good woman," he agreed. "If you've got to spend time with one of my exes, she'd be the best one. Of course, the stories she could tell you…" he watched as a devilish smile crossed her features. "Ah, I see, she did tell you those stories."

"You were a wild one," she used Deb's term for him.

"What do you mean, I was?" he winked, "I've still got it…" he said, stifling a yawn.

"Yes, you do," she said with a laugh, "Why don't you get some rest?"

"Will you stay with me?"

"Of course," she replied, holding him close.

For the first time in as long as he could remember, David Rossi felt truly relaxed. He felt himself drifting off to sleep, secure in the knowledge that tonight, the children wouldn't scream.