Disclaimer: I don't own criminal minds or anything to do with it.
Thank you to ArwenLalaith for being my beta reader and fixing my grammar and spelling mistakes, and improving my story.
"There is no greater reward in our profession then the knowledge that God has entrusted us with the physical care of his patients." - Dr. Elmer Hess
When they entered her clinic twenty minutes later, Olivia unlocked the doors and turned on the lights. Rossi could see they were standing in a large waiting room with a receptionist desk towards the back of the room with a door at the back leading into the main hospital. There was a small room to the right of the waiting room with a glass front and door containing a couch and book shelves, overflowing toy boxes. Beside it were the rest rooms and to his left was a hallway with three exam rooms on either side and a door at the end of the hallway leading into Olivia's office.
"This is a very nice clinic," he said sincerely.
"Thank you," she said smiling. "Monica should be here any minute," she added.
She had barely finished her sentence when the door opened and a woman in her late thirties wearing nurse's scrubs entered. She was average height with black hair that was twisted into a bun and bright green eyes. She looked very pale and was shaking slightly.
"Monica, what's wrong?" asked Olivia worriedly.
"Connor convinced me to let him drive to school this morning. I swear I don't know how that boy got his drivers' permit!" she said, collapsing into a waiting room chair.
"Just think, you still have Kelsey and Jake left to teach to drive…" joked Olivia sitting down beside her.
"Bite your tongue! They're a long way away from getting behind the wheel," she said, slapping Olivia's knee.
Suddenly remembering Rossi, she quickly introduced, "Oh, I'm sorry. Monica Grayson, this is Special Agent David Rossi."
"If only I wasn't married…" joked Monica under her breath. Olivia chuckled.
"Now, remember, today I'm an intern shadowing Dr. Prentiss," he said seriously.
"Absolutely," said Monica, "Do you really think you can find this sicko and keep Olivia safe?"
"It may take some time, but yes, we will find him and keep Olivia safe."
"Good," said Monica, satisfied with his answer. "Come on, honey," she said, turning toward Olivia, "We need to get ready for the morning rush."
***
"Now Paul, no matter what your big brother says, you can't grow watermelons if you stick their seeds up your nose," she said, ruffling the young boy's hair.
"But Josh said…" He stopped mid-sentence realizing that his brother had tricked him. "What about -" he began to ask.
Olivia cut him off, "You can't grow them in your belly button or your tummy either."
"Did you read my mind?" he asked, looking up at her in wonder.
"No, I just have a big sister," she answered, helping him hop down from the exam table. "If it's alright with your mom why don't you go pick out a lollipop." His mother barely had time to nod her consent before he skipped out to the receptionist desk to get one.
"I swear Olivia, I just turned my head for one second and then I looked back and he was shoving seeds up his nose! I panicked when I couldn't get them out," she said, slightly flustered.
"It's alright Susan," said Olivia smiling, opening the door for her. "I once had a kid stick pebbles in his ear because his older sister said it would give him magic flying powers.
"Whatever you do, don't tell Josh that story," she joked as she went to join her son.
"What do you think so far?" she asked turning to face Rossi.
"It's been pretty quiet," he said honestly.
"Don't say the 'Q' word, it's bad luck," she said seriously.
"You don't believe that, do you?" he asked skeptically.
"I-"
"Dr. Prentiss, Rossi there's been a six car collision," said Monica jogging over to them. "All hands ER."
"Told you so," said Olivia smugly before running to the ER doors.
***
"What a day," said Olivia wearily as she flopped into her desk chair. "Are you really just going to sit there and watch me go over charts and fill out paper work?" she asked Rossi who sat across from her.
"Yes," he answered simply, leaning back in his chair.
"Knock, knock," said a man as he poked his head around the door.
"Nolan, hi," greeted Olivia warmly as she stood, crossing to greet him. "Dr. Dave Rossi, this is Dr. Nolan James, one of our surgeons. Dr. Rossi is one of my rotating interns this week. I was showing him how to chart properly," she lied quickly.
"Very sorry Dr. Prentiss, I'll do better next time," he said, rising as well. "Very nice to meet you Dr. James," said Rossi extending a hand which Nolan hesitantly shook.
Rossi gave Nolan the once over; he was in his mid-thirties and very handsome. He was tall with blond hair and blue eyes and Rossi could already tell he was arrogant. "Please, call me Nolan," he said, gripping his hand tightly. "It might be rude of me to ask, but aren't you a little, um, advanced to be a medical student?"
"Nolan!" scolded Olivia.
"It's alright Dr. Prentiss," said Rossi with a fake smile. "It's always been a dream of mine to be a doctor and I finally decided to follow up on it, especially with surgeons like you to look up to and guide us," he lied, playing to his ego to see how he would react.
"Well, if that isn't the best compliment, thanks pal," he said, clapping him on the shoulder. "Anyway, great work today Olivia; seventeen victims, no fatalities," he said smiling.
"Thanks, but I didn't do it alone. I had a lot of help, especially from you."
"Too true," joked Nolan. Olivia gave him a small smile. "Well, I'll let you get back to your charts," he said with a smile as he left the office.
"Arrogant asshole," said Rossi under his breath once the door clicked shut.
"I know, but he is a hell of surgeon," said Olivia, sitting on the edge of her desk.
"I don't know if you realize it, but he fits most of the profile," he replied.
"The hooker, Jane Doe, she was killed six days ago, right?" she asked. Rossi nodded. "James just got back from a week-long medical conference in New York City three days ago, he couldn't have done it," she pointed out, going back to her chair.
"I'm still going to have Garcia check it out," he answered. "Too advanced to be a medical student… What a bastard. He has to be guilty of something," muttered Rossi angrily. Olivia just shook her head.
***
"Hey there, Liv," said Morgan as Rossi escorted her into her town house. He was sitting on her couch scratching Quincy's head, the dog wagging his tail happily.
"Traitor," muttered Olivia, smiling, as Quincy trotted over to meet her.
"You two have a good night, Reid will be here by eight," informed Rossi as he left.
Olivia collapsed into a chair tiredly. "How did you get in here?" she asked.
"Swiped the key from your sister," he answered simply. "Hope you're hungry," he said.
"Starving," she answered.
"Good, I'm making my specialty."
"And that would be?" she asked, a little worried.
"Mac-n-cheese," he answered, rummaging in the kitchen cupboard. Olivia just smiled and shook her head.
***
Olivia sat at the table, absent-mindedly stabbing her mac-n-cheese with her fork as Morgan scarfed his down. "Did Emily ever tell you about the time I was four?" she asked suddenly.
"No, why?" he asked looking up at her.
"She saved my life," answered Olivia, leaning back in her chair.
"How?" asked Morgan curious.
"We were at a family friend's house and they had a swimming pool. I got tired of waiting for mother to take me in and I wanted to prove I was a big girl and could swim on my own," she said, taking a breath. "I jumped in and panicked – or couldn't swim – I don't remember which, but I sunk. Emily came out and saw me floating face down in the pool, god she was only thirteen... She screamed for help, pulled me out, and gave me CPR. She was actually the only one who noticed I was missing that day; if it wasn't for her, I'd probably be dead now."
"Wow," replied Morgan. He was silent for a moment, Olivia assumed to process what he had just heard. "Wait, if Emily was 13 when you were 4, that means she's nine years older then you." He said, smiling.
"Yeah, so?" asked Olivia confused.
"Wait for it…" he repeated, holding up a hand. "If you're twenty-seven, that means she's thirty six." His face split into a wide, triumphant grin. "I knew I'd eventually figure how old she is!"
"Emily's going to kill me," groaned Olivia, burying her face in her hands.