A/N: I'm sorry for the delay, if anyone can give me the last two days back, I'd be eternally grateful ;-).

Anyway, I'm on my way out again, and this is all I have typed and edited so far, even though the next chapter is already written again. Will post that and the last chapter to "Dates And Other Difficulties" tomorrow.

I had originally written the girls night, but didn't really like how it came out. After rewriting the chapter, it still didn't work, I couldn't seem to get the tone right, so I decided to skip it and just move forward. Hope you don't mind.

Chapter 37

A couple of days later, JJ found herself back at the office after a short case in Oklahoma. The team had been called in on Sunday morning, much to JJ's, Garcia's and Emily's chagrin as they were fighting a hangover from their gathering the previous evening.

JJ had planned on talking with Dave right after her evening with the girls, which had turned out to be quite instructive, but since the case had screwed her plans, she didn't have a chance yet.

Now, she debated with herself if she should go and pay him a visit in his office, or if she should wait until they were at home. Neither of them had mentioned their kiss, and Dave had kept his distance in the past couple of days; it almost seemed as if he was withdrawing himself from her after she had rejected him again. JJ knew that what she wanted to talk to him about wouldn't make it easier for him, but it would hopefully help her find out what she really wanted. At least that was what Garcia and Prentiss had assured her.

JJ had explained everything to them, their situation, how Rossi felt about her, what he wanted from her, that he was the most wonderful father she could imagine having for her children. Everything. She had realized that it was her own feelings she wasn't sure about. She couldn't tell if she loved Dave for himself or just because he was such a wonderful father to Henry and Hannah. She was confused, because on the one hand she wanted nothing more than just give in to him, on the other hand she knew it wouldn't be fair to him if she wasn't in with her whole heart.

For Emily and Penelope it had been more than obvious that JJ was head over heels in love with Dave, her love for him shining in her eyes every time she mentioned his name, every time she told them little stories about Dave and the children, about how firmly he stood by her side and supported her, about what an incredible friend he was. They were surprised that JJ didn't realize it herself, but whatever they told her wasn't enough to convince her. For every argument they brought, JJ knew another one to rebut what they said.

"I like the status quo. I love our friendship, I love how wonderful he is with Hannah and Henry. This could all be gone if I pursue a relationship with him and it doesn't work out in the end," she argued. And then it was Garcia who had come up with the idea of seeing other men.

"Have you thought about going out on dates again, gumdrop?" She had asked, and JJ had to admit that Agent Anderson had already asked her out twice, but she had declined so far.

"And the thing is, I was actually interested. How can I think I love Dave, when at the same time I'm thinking about dating another man?"

In the end she couldn't argue with Garcia's logic. "Go out with Anderson. And with other guys if you need to. If you fall in love with someone else, you know Rossi's not the one. Either way, you'll find out what you want."

That was why she had taken up Anderson on his offer to take her to dinner Friday night. All that was left to do now was to tell Dave about it, and hope that he wouldn't freak out. Deciding that the sooner he learns about it, the better, she made her way through the bullpen up to his office.