Dave was frustrated. This case was taking too long; too damn long. He and Emily had never been a way from the kids for work more than two or three nights. This was turning into a week long trip and they hadn't solved anything. Emily was feeling it too. He could tell and that frustrated him even more. Consequently he was pacing the hallway of the police station, trying to get a handle on his frustration.

One of the female detectives walked out of one of the rooms toward him. She was the brunette that had been in the front row of room for the profile. Watching her, Dave was amused by her obvious attraction to him and her antics to get his attention. He'd felt her watching him when they presented the profile but not wanting to encourage her, he had ignored her. But she'd approached him as they were breaking up and bubbled about his books and how excited she was to meet him. Everything about her said she was a new detective and he'd briefly wondered how she'd gotten in on this investigation. He tried to be polite but he really wasn't interested in the hero worship or anything else she might have in mind and had stepped away, joining Hotch and Morgan in a discussion with the lead detective on the case.

"Agent Rossi," she smiled as she stopped in front of him now. "I was wondering… I mean, do you ever take a break?"

"Occasionally, for sleep," he admitted.

"Oh well… I thought maybe when you took your next break, we could get a coffee … or something," she suggested. The predatory look in her eyes both entertained him and frightened him.

"Thanks," he said. "But I'd better pass. The team would have my head."

"I don't see why. It really isn't even any of their business."

"Maybe," he replied, stringing her along for the sake of some fun. "But Agent Prentiss in particular would skin me alive."

She snickered. "Agent Prentiss?" she drawled. "What? You're afraid of her?"

Dave chuckled. "I am. And you should be too," he added.

"There you are," said the agent in question as she walked out into the hall. "I've been looking for you," Emily smiled at Dave.

"What, is there a break in the case" the young detective asked.

"Uh…no," Emily said, barely noticing the other woman. "But it is time to make the call," she said as she looked at Dave.

"Call?" the nameless detective asked.

"Yeah," Dave answered as he stepped towards Emily. "Time for a bedtime story," he informed her as he looked at his wife.

The young woman stood, watching the two FBI agents walk down the hall. Just as they reached the doors that led outside, Emily called back to the woman. "You haven't read his last book, have you?" she asked.

"No," I haven't had a chance, the woman replied.

"You really should read it," Dave suggested. "Then you'll understand." He said, just before stepping out into the night behind his wife, leaving a confused detective behind.

"I'm going to have to tighten the leash on you," Emily teased as they walked to his SUV.

Dave stopped and reaching for her, turned her to look at him. "No you don't, Babe. I was just having a little fun but there was nothing there that interests me."

Emily smiled at him. "No?'

"No."

"Not even her obvious admiration of your … abilities?"

"She has no idea of what my abilities are," he answered cheekily. "There's only one person who knows about those abilities.

"Yeah? Glad to hear it," she smirked.

Standing in the parking lot, the street lamps lighting the side of her face, she looked up at him, her eyes glistening with love for him. His breath caught in his chest as he was stuck again at how damned lucky he was. This beautiful woman loved him. "Emily," he started, wanting to be sure she knew how he felt.

"Shhhh," she quieted him. "I know." Her expression changed to a lighter one. "So, you want to get some coffee…or something?"

"Or something? Oh yeah, Babe…I like the sound of that," he said as he took her hand in his and led her to the car.