Chapter 19

When JJ and Rossi's mother were gone, the rest of the team still lingered in the breakroom for another few minutes.

"What is wrong with this man?" Morgan said, shaking his head at Rossi's behavior.

"I don't know," Prentiss sighed. "One minute you think things are finally going to be all right again, and the next, poof, he goes and blows it all up again."

"I should have eliminated him the moment JJ told me everything in the hospital," Garcia threw in.

"I don't think that this would have made things any better," Reid said. "JJ loves him too much" Garcia, Prentiss, and Morgan stared at him in disbelief.

"What? I mean it's obvious, isn't it?" Reid shrugged.

Prentiss and Garcia let out a giggle. "That's a first! Since when are you not totally oblivious of these things?" Prentiss chuckled.

"He's right, though," Hotch said matter-of-factly. "And Dave loves her too."

"Yeah, and what are we going to do about it?" Morgan wanted to know.

"What do you mean?" Hotch asked back.

"Come on, Hotch, they can't go on like that! I know we agreed to keep out of their business and let them work things out for themselves, but you have to admit that Rossi's about to screw things up for good, if he goes on like that and we don't interfere." Morgan's reply sounded quite agitated.

"I agree, but there's a new factor in our equation now. His mother." Hotch couldn't suppress a grin. "Believe me, if there's one person that can straighten him out, then it's this woman! I mean, you've seen her!"

They all nodded, recalling the events from just a few minutes ago.

"Man, this lady was pissed!" Morgan burst out. Hotch wanted to add something, but was interrupted by his cell phone ringing.

"Have we got a new case already?" Reid asked when the Unit Chief had ended the call.

"No, that was just a local detective asking for a consult. Which reminds me that we all still have work to do, don't we?" Rising from their seats, they all headed towards their respective offices and desks. "Oh, and one more thing," Hotch held them back before they parted. "This avoidance and turning-away from Rossi from the past weeks, I don't want to see that again."

*********

Hotch walked up the stairs, but instead of going into his own office, he went over and knocked on Rossi's door. Hearing no sound from inside, he simply entered. Rossi was standing at the window with a bottle of Scotch in his hand, his back to the door, staring out.

"What, now you're not even taking a glass anymore?" Hotch asked him teasingly.

"Get out of here, Hotch!" Rossi barked without bothering to turn around.

Instead of obliging Rossi's unfriendly uttered request, Hotch closed the door and walked over to his friend.

"You do realize that you're still on duty, right?" he asked Dave, eyeing him from the side.

"It's none of your business," Rossi answered roughly, taking a healthy mouthful from the bottle.

They stood in silence, shoulder to shoulder, for a few moments.

"Do you really think getting drunk will help you with your mother and JJ?" Hotch wanted to know.

Rossi didn't reply at first, but after long seconds he finally muttered: "What does it matter anymore?" He looked at Hotch for the first time since the younger man had entered the room, and went over to sit down on his couch. Not wanting to give up so fast, Hotch followed him and took a seat right next to him. They were silent again for a couple of minutes, when Dave suddenly whispered: "I don't know what I'm doing here. I don't even know myself anymore, Aaron. All I know is that my mother hates me, that I hate myself. Maybe I should make a clean cut. Maybe it's better if I left."

"What are you saying here, Dave?" Hotch questioned, not liking what he just heard.

"You saw it. I snapped when I saw her with that Anderson jerk, and I had no right at all to do so. Who's telling me that it won't happen again? All I'm obviously capable of is hurting Jennifer and everyone else around me." Rossi answered moodily.

"Tell me one thing, Dave. Do you love her?"

Rossi didn't have to think about the answer. "More than anything or anyone ever before," he said firmly. "I never thought it would be possible, but Jennifer, Henry, and the baby mean the world to me."

"And don't you think that's worth fighting for?"

Rossi's look was dark and clouded. "What if I screw up again? I don't think JJ could handle it another time, and I just don't want to hurt her anymore."

"If that happens, you can be sure that at least your mother and Garcia will make sure you'll never see the sunlight again," Hotch smirked, trying to loosen up the situation. "Seriously, Dave. You have to be patient. Things won't change over night, but JJ and the baby need you. And if I remember correctly, your mother's been trying to get a grandchild from you since forever. You don't really want to take that away from her, do you?"

Rossi let out a small laughter. "God, no! Though, she will probably just go and adopt JJ, regardless of what I do."

"Yeah, I'd say that's a fair assumption, they're both currently talking in JJ's office."

They sat next to each other for another few minutes until Hotch stood up.

"Well, I gotta go back to work. I'm pretty sure you do to." He walked over to the door and opened it. Before stepping outside, he turned around again and added: "You're not alone, Dave. The team and I will all be there for you and JJ. All you have to do is ask if you need our help." He didn't wait for an answer and closed the door behind him and went back into his own office.