A/N: Homework is driving me crazy, so even though I still have things to do, I had to take a fanfiction break... because I made myself sick. As in, passed out on a couch while waiting for a class to start earlier this week. I'm not surprised at this, a couple profs of mine have been sick as well. I'm feeling better now, and I hope you guys enjoy this because writing in this fandom is quite a comfort for me considering the hectic chaos that is currently my life.
Chapter 6- Anything For Family
June 24th, 1997.
Chicago, IL.
Rossi ran towards the rubble. That was when someone grabbed him.
"Dave! You can't go in there!" said Hotch.
"My niece is trapped down there Aaron!" said Rossi. "I'm not going to just stand here and do nothing about it!"
"I called for backup when we were speeding down here, I told them to send everyone," said Bobby. "That means rescue crews are coming down here."
"I'm going down there now," said Rossi.
"That's not a good idea, you might get hurt," said Hotch. "None of us have the right gear to get down there."
"I don't care," said Rossi.
As he turned around Bobby took out his handcuffs and cuffed Rossi to the police car. Realizing that the situation was going to escalate due to Angie's predicament and Rossi's temper, Hotch made a phone call.
"This is Agent Hotchner, you need to get down to the South Side Mall and talk to Dave," said Hotch. "I can't say why over the phone, just drive down here as fast as you can."
CRIMINAL MINDS
"What the hell is wrong with you?" said Rossi. "Uncuff me now!"
"Both her parents are dead! It won't do her any good if you get yourself killed trying to play the hero!" said Bobby.
"That's real funny coming from you! If you hadn't let my brother get himself killed Katherine would still be alive and Angie would be safe at home!" Rossi yelled.
"For all either of us know it might already be too late," said Bobby.
Rossi was so upset the only response he had was to punch Bobby in the nose. It made a loud cracking sound as blood spurted out all over Bobby's shirt.
"Shit!" Bobby yelled.
"Tilt your head up and give me the keys to your handcuffs," said Hotch.
Bobby did as Hotch ordered. As Hotch uncuffed Rossi, backup began to arrive for the bombing and the backup he had personally called himself.
CRIMINAL MINDS
The first thing Gibbs saw was chaos. Police cars, fire trucks, ambulances, triage set-up.
What bothered him most were the bodies. They reminded him of the times he had fought for his country. Fallen soldiers, fallen civilians who hadn't wanted to die but had been caught in the crossfire anyway.
When he got to where Rossi was, he had no idea why his friend had that look on his face but he knew it had to be something major. The last time he had seen someone look so broken, that someone had been himself after the deaths of his wife and daughter.
CRIMINAL MINDS
When Rossi stood up and saw Gibbs he wondered how his friend had known to come here.
"What are you doing here?" said Rossi.
"Your probie called but didn't say anything over the phone," said Gibbs.
"Katherine is dead, Angie is trapped," said Rossi. "I don't… I don't know how or where she is."
Something then fell near the men. It was part of the mall and a body, which Hotch quickly determined was a construction worker.
"Where the hell is rescue? They should be down here!" said Rossi.
Hotch noticed a weird look on Bobby's face.
"What is it?" said Hotch.
Bobby walked away so Rossi couldn't hear what they had to say.
"He's right. They should be down here. I don't know why they aren't," said Bobby. "We should find out why. You think Gibbs can keep Rossi in line until we get back?"
"Yeah," said Hotch.
CRIMINAL MINDS
"I won't just stand here while you try telling me to wait for the rescue crews to descend down there," said Rossi.
"Wasn't going to, but we need the right equipment," said Gibbs.
Rossi nodded. At least Gibbs was on his side.
CRIMINAL MINDS
Hotch and Bobby went to the front of the mall and noticed people were running in through the front, but they weren't sending anyone to the side that had been under construction when the bomb exploded. Finding the man who appeared to be in charge, Hotch went over and explained the situation.
"We can't send anyone down there," said the man. "The entire structure is too unstable. If someone is trapped down there… they're probably dead."
Bobby cursed and took off.
"You can't at least try?" said Hotch.
The man shook his head. Hotch felt queasy at the prospect of telling Rossi this.
CRIMINAL MINDS
Bobby looked at the two sets of rescue gear.
He didn't need to think. He grabbed them and ran back to where Rossi and Gibbs were.
"Where the hell is the goddamn cavalry?" said Gibbs.
"They're chicken," said Bobby. "Angie told me a lot about the two of you. Said you both used to be in the marines."
He gave them each the rescue gear he nabbed from the site.
"You're not coming?" said Rossi.
"Someone has to distract Hotch," said Bobby. "Let me know how she is, in case I need to hunt down any paramedics."
Bobby watched Rossi and Gibbs descend down a gaping hole. Hotch returned a few moments later.
"Where are they?" said Hotch.
"Gibbs took Rossi to get coffee, they just left," said Bobby.
The two men sat down and waited for something to happen. Neither of them knew what would happen next.
CRIMINAL MINDS
Once Gibbs and Rossi got to the bottom, they realized they were in the parking garage. They knew the damage had been severe, but they hadn't known it would be this bad. As they looked for Angie, they realized there was more space than they could cover if they stayed together.
"We should split up," said Rossi. "We'll cover more ground that way."
"Be careful," said Gibbs.
Both men took off in separate directions.
CRIMINAL MINDS
As Rossi climbed further down to look for any of the elevators, he remembered the day Angie was born.
FLASHBACK
July 25th, 1985.
Chicago, IL.
Rossi walked up to the door of the delivery room. To say he was angry would be an understatement. Michael walked out, laughing.
"Don't get angry at me too long, I don't wanna miss the birth," said Michael.
"I can't believe you think this is funny. You put eye drops in my drink so I would be stuck in the bathroom, hid my suitcase, and made me miss my flight. Is there a reason you're acting like a child when you're about to have one?" Rossi yelled.
"You're the profiler, you tell me," said Michael.
"Michael! You get back in here or I cut off your little friend!" Katherine yelled.
Michael laughed and turned to his brother.
"Coming?" said Michael.
"No, I'm going to the cafeteria to get some coffee," said Rossi. "Just let me know when the kid's out so I can get back to Washington."
"Asshole," said Michael.
Rossi rolled his eyes and went to buy coffee. He knew exactly what his younger brother had tried doing, and he refused to let it work.
Losing James had been too much. Even six years later the pain was still fresh and the thought of becoming attached only for tragedy to possibly strike again made the profiler sick.
10 Hours Later
Rossi was flirting with a nurse when Michael ran up. He was paler than Casper.
"We gotta talk," said Michael.
Not knowing what to think except that Katherine and the baby were dead, Rossi followed his brother.
"The baby is healthy," said Michael. "It's Katherine. She began bleeding out shortly after the delivery, and the doctors had to rush her to surgery. I… I don't know where I should be right now. I got paperwork to fill out, because the doctors said she might need a hysterectomy but I got a daughter in the nursery right now 'cuz I was an idiot and never called our parents to come down for the birth. I was more concerned with how you would bond with her… which was why I slipped eye drops into your coffee and all the other crap."
"It's alright. Just take me to the nursery and show me which baby it is," said Rossi. "Have you named her yet?"
They walked to the nursery. Rossi could see babies screaming and a few others sleeping through the noise.
"First name is Angela. Middle name Katherine and I haven't decided on yet," said Michael. "You got any ideas?"
"Dahlia," said Rossi.
"That's not funny," said Michael.
"I'm serious," said Rossi.
"It does sound good. Angela Dahlia Rossi it is," said Michael.
The brothers walked to the crib where Angela was. She looked like she was about to cry but calmed down when Michael picked her up.
"I gotta fill out some paperwork for your mom, Principessa," said Michael. "I'm gonna hand you to your uncle David for a little while until I get back."
Rossi was unable to say anything before his niece was handed to him and Michael left. He sat in a nearby rocking chair and talked to her, hoping she wouldn't start crying until Michael got back because Rossi had no idea what to do.
"Your father seems to think he's funny, Angela," said Rossi. "He loves pulling pranks on your uncle. We'll have to get back at him one day when you're older."
He couldn't help but notice she already had a full head of hair, a trait she had definitely gotten from the Rossi family.
He hadn't realized an hour had passed until Angela began to whimper because she was hungry, so he had to hunt down one of the nurses to get him a bottle. Angela greedily sucked down the baby formula.
"Slow down, Bambina. You're going to make yourself sick," said Rossi.
The nurse returned a few moments later and chuckled.
"You're very good at this," said the nurse. "How many others do you have?"
"I'm her uncle. My sister-in-law had some problems, so my brother is with her," said Rossi.
"Your voice appears to be keeping her calm," said the nurse.
The nurse went to tend to the other babies. Angela made a cooing sound.
"You talkin' to me? You talkin' to me?" said Rossi.
Angela cooed again and attempted to reach for the dog tags Rossi wore around his neck.
"I'll tell you about those when you're older," said Rossi.
That was when it hit him. For the first time in years, he felt happy.
END FLASHBACK
June 24th, 1997.
He aimed his flashlights at two of the defunct elevator shafts and saw nothing. When he aimed his flashlight into the third one, he noticed something was reflecting off the light. He aimed the flashlight at the spot where something had begun reflecting off the light.
"Is anyone down there?" Rossi yelled.
That was when he saw them. His dog tags.
"Angela?" said Rossi.
He heard a whimpering sound coming from the elevator. It was Angie's voice, Rossi was sure of it.
He immediately began to climb into the elevator as fast as he could. Once inside he waved his flashlight around, hoping to find her quickly.
He found her a few seconds later and ran over.
His heart sank when he saw her lying motionless on the floor and covered in blood. Her eyes were closed and one of her arms was bent at an odd angle.
"Angie, wake up," said Rossi. "I know that was you earlier… please, you have to wake up so I can stop worrying so much."
Nothing happened.
TBC...