Chapter 13

Arriving back at the hospital, Rossi took one last deep breath before he knocked on JJ's door. He was certain that the rest of the team were still there, making sure that JJ was okay, and he hoped they would let him speak with her.

Slowly opening the door, he was immediately greeted by the dirty looks of his colleagues. Mirroring in their eyes was not only anger, but also, and even more, overwhelming disappointment in him. He wanted to explain himself to all of them, but he knew had to take one step at a time. And right now, his main priority were Jennifer and the baby. And Henry, he added in his mind, as the little boy began to squeal for him again the moment he saw him.

"Jennifer," he said softly. "Can I talk to you?"

JJ closed her eyes for a moment, wondering if she was already strong enough to face him.

"What could you possibly have to say, Rossi?" Prentiss hissed, and also Morgan was about to make a remark, when JJ finally spoke, her voice sounding more firm than she actually felt. "Okay."

"Fine, but we're not leaving this room," Morgan threw in.

"Derek, please. I told you this was between me and him, and no one else," JJ reasoned, squeezing her friend's hand. As much as she loved all of them, she knew that she and Rossi would be able to talk a lot more freely with none of them monitoring every single word.

There was also something she felt deep down inside that she couldn't quite determine. Hope maybe, that there was a future waiting for her and Dave together.

"No," she scolded herself. "Don't even think about it. Too much has occurred between us to make it go away with a few words." But if they could come out of it with some amicable agreement, it would lift a heavy burden off her shoulders.

"JJ, are you sure you're up for this?" Garcia asked.

"I am," JJ answered. "Please give us a few minutes, guys," she went on.

"Okay, but you call us in if anything goes wrong!" Garcia insisted, bending over to take Henry out of JJ's arms. When the boy realized that he was being carried out of the room again, he began to cry, reaching out his hands to Dave, who wanted nothing more than to take him into his arms, but didn't dare do so, as he wasn't sure how JJ would react.

"It's okay, Pen, he can stay with me." JJ took him back, and Henry calmed down a bit, though he was still clearly trying to get a hold of Rossi.

"Sure?" Garcia said with a suspicious glance at Rossi.

JJ nodded.

"Fine, we'll be waiting outside then," Hotch concluded, leading the others toward the door. Leaning down on Rossi, he whispered in passing. "Don't push it, Dave! You're skating on thin ice here!" Rossi nodded and was relieved when the door finally closed behind them.

He had watched the byplay between Morgan, Prentiss, Garcia, and JJ with interest, but also with the urge to intervene, but for once he knew when to keep his mouth shut. He knew it was good for her that their friends were having her back unconditionally, even though it was on his expense, but he didn't care, he didn't have the right to complain about that. What made him kind of happy as well was the fact that she had obviously defended him against them. It only added to the high opinion he already had of her, and he felt quite ashamed again that he had shown her pretty much the opposite with his behavior. Why she would defend him after everything he had done, was something he would never understand, if he didn't know that it was just her wonderful and generous character that couldn't help but do so.

"May I sit?" He asked politely, pointing at a chair next to JJ's bed.

"Sure."

As soon as he sat down, Henry held his hands out again, squirming in his mother's grip, wanting to be on Rossi's lap. Rossi looked at JJ and saw her reluctance, which he could very much understand. Before he could think about it, however, he asked. "Can I hold him for a moment, please?"

JJ's heart clenched when she saw how desperate her son wanted to be with the one man that had hurt her more than anyone before. It was amazing how Henry reacted to Rossi despite the fact that he hadn't seen him for six months. The time Rossi had spent with him before was obviously deeply engraved in the little boy's heart, and JJ realized again how wonderful and gentle the older man had been with him. If there was one thing she was sure about at the moment then it was knowing that Rossi would never deliberately hurt her son.

"Only for a minute, Rossi," she whispered eventually, letting Henry crawl over her legs toward Rossi.

Scooping him up, Rossi felt Henry's little arms around his neck momentarily. He held him close, happy to have him in his arms after such a long time, but when he saw the tears in JJ's eyes, he realized how hard it had to be for her, seeing her son unconsciously betraying her in his innocent moves.

"I'm sorry, Jennifer." His voice was breaking, when he started to speak.

"Dave-"

"No, wait, please!" He tried not to get too loud, clearing his throat before he continued. "I really am. I am so sorry for everything I've done. For everything I've put you through." He sounded quite desperate.

"Dave, do you really think you can come in here, say you're sorry, and assume that everything will be fine?"

"No, but Henry-"

"Don't you dare use Henry! Let me be very clear. The fact that Henry apparently loves to be with you does not automatically mean that I am going to do the same. And I would strongly advise you not to use my son, for anything. This has nothing to do with him, so keep him out of your argumentation!" She burst out louder and more forcefully than she had intended.

"I won't, I promise, but hear me out, okay?"

Seeing JJ nod, he went on.

"I'm only here to apologize. I know it takes more than that to make things right, but I hope that it's a start. I know I screwed up, and I don't think that there are words to describe how much I regret everything that's happened over the past months."

Noticing her flinch, he realized the mistake in his words, but before he could straighten it out, JJ already snapped against him. "Well, you've already made it very clear that you regret having this baby, haven't you. No need to say it again!"

"Jennifer, I'm sorry, that came out wrong. What I meant to say was that if I could go back to the moment you told me you were pregnant, and do things differently from then on, I'd do it in a heartbeat. I want you and this baby! And Henry!" Rossi pleaded.

JJ's eyes filled with even more tears. "I'm sorry, Dave, but after all you said and did I find that a bit hard to believe," she replied bitterly.

Rossi lowered his head, trying hard to find the right words that would make her see he was serious.

"I knew you would say this, and I know that I can't ask you to believe me, and take me back, but all I want is a chance. A chance to prove to you that I am serious. A chance to be a father."

This was what she wanted, wasn't it? That he would come around and accept his father-role. Looking into his eyes, she knew he was sincere. Nevertheless, there was a long silence before she continued to speak.

"David. I need time. I need time to think about everything," she said slowly.

"But you promise me, you'll give me a chance?" He asked hopefully.

"I can't promise you anything right now, David. I want to work things out with you. I really do. But I will need time."

Dave nodded. If this was all he could get for now, he'd take it.

"Can you promise me one thing, Jennifer?"

"Dave, I just said-"

"I know what you said. Just one thing. If you need any help, with anything and whatever it is, please let me help, okay?" Knowing that he wouldn't give up, she agreed, watching him again as he gently stroked over Henry's hair.

Dave was good for Henry, that much was clear. She had already known that, remembering all those nights that he was with her and her son when Will had left them and Henry couldn't seem to fall asleep without Dave around. It was also part of the reason why those last months were so hard on her, because it was becoming quite a task to put Henry down for the night, when he was screaming for Dave, and JJ realized that she didn't want to take him away again from her son.

At the same time she didn't want Henry to get hurt in the process, and while she knew that Dave would never deliberately do so, she still wasn't sure if she could risk Henry becoming a casualty if things didn't work out between her and Dave. The risk to let Dave in was extremely high, but keeping her son away from him wasn't fair to the boy either. Henry loved Dave too much, and looking into Dave's face, she saw that these feelings were returned.

"About Henry," JJ began again after a few minutes.

"I would never hurt Henry!" Dave threw in.

"I know that, Dave. I'm just not sure if I am comfortable with him calling you Dada."

"I didn't tell him to do so!" Dave's tone became a bit impatient.

"Again, Dave, I know that! Will you let me speak, please?"

"I'm sorry," Dave mumbled.

"I was just saying that I don't want you to encourage this." Seeing Dave's questioning eyes, she added. "I'm okay with you being Uncle Dave. If he wants to see you, I guess I'm fine with that, but I want you to make sure you're Uncle Dave, and not his father!"

"But JJ, if he wants-"

"That's my only offer, Dave. Take it or leave it."

This was definitely not what Rossi wanted, but he knew he shouldn't press his luck today. Nodding he said. "I accept that for now, but let me make one thing clear, Jennifer. I will never give up trying to convince you that I can and will be a good father to both Henry and our baby!"

A/N: Whoa, two chapters in one day, I'm quite content with myself now. Please let me know what you think, I really hope I'm still convincing with this.