Hi! here's chapter 4! This may be the last chapter until after the holidays. Thanks again to Flashpenguin for betaing again, she always does a really good job with my chapters.

"People think a soul mate is your perfect fit, and that's what everyone wants. But a true soul mate is a mirror, the person who shows you everything that is holding you back, the person who brings you to your own attention so you can change your life." Elizabeth Gilbert (Eat, Pray, Love)

David Rossi looked at himself in the hotel mirror. "This woman is going to be the death of me," he told his reflection. It was nine hours after he had first kissed Emily since then, the only two things he'd been able to think of was how it felt to finally hold Emily in his arms and kiss her and the look on her face when he'd silently declined her invitation. He knew that she deserved an explanation.

After finishing getting ready for the day, he packed up his go bag before leaving his room. As he waited for the elevator, Emily came up, her go bag in her hand, the go bag on her shoulder.

"Emily…" Dave paused as they got into the elevator. "I'd like to talk about last night."

"What's there to talk about?" Emily asked simply as the doors closed and the elevator began its descent.

Dave wasn't in the mood to play games so he didn't beat around the bush. "Last night, when we kissed. I'd at least like to explain why I didn't go with you into your room last night."

"Your reputation precedes you Agent Rossi, no explanation is necessary," Emily's response was cool.

Dave suddenly felt annoyed. "Please don't bring my past up; I've changed." He began to speak but the elevator doors opened. More people got in. Dave took in a breath. He needed to talk to Emily privately; that couldn't happen in an elevator. "I'll keep talking in the car," he said quietly. Emily nodded to show she'd heard as the elevator doors closed.

After grabbing some food from the continental breakfast buffet, they both checked out and went to the car. Dave was stopped by a fan, but after quickly explaining he was on duty for the FBI, he was able to follow Emily into the car. She had already gotten in and was eating her yogurt.

"I have a few things to say and I would appreciate not being interrupted until I'm finished." Dave said after he put his go bag in the back and sat in the driver's seat.

"I won't interrupt on one condition." Emily said. Dave motioned for her to continue with the trademark raised eyebrow. "Don't beat around the bush."

Dave nodded and started speaking. "The reason I didn't go into your room last night is because when I came back to the BAU, Erin Strauss told me that if she even thought I was romantically involved with any agents then the both of us would be fired so fast our heads would spin."

"You've broken rules before." She spooned another mouthful of yogurt and relished in the sweet, tangy, fruity taste.

"No I haven't. They weren't there when I first began at the FBI," Dave countered. "Once the rules were in place I followed them to the letter." Emily nodded and David kept talking. "I know what my reputation is Emily, hell I built it."

"There are a lot of rumors in the FBI about your past; it's hard to know which ones are true and which ones aren't," Emily said as Dave pulled out into traffic, they didn't have time to sit and talk, they were supposed to be in Central Boston in a few hours.

"As a general rule, the rumors about me cheating on any of my wives are false."

"As a general rule?"

Even though he wasn't facing her she could tell that he was rolling his eyes. "There was an unsub who was killing newly married couples, all four couples who had been killed were women with blonde hair, blue eyes and a white male. Agent Cook and I fit victimology. We had to go to a romantic dinner and back to a hotel. During the course of the two week case, I forgot that my second wife was visiting her mother in New York that weekend, she saw Agent Cook and I together and the rumor spread and divorce papers were started before I could stop it."

"She never asked for an explanation?"

"No. She knew my reputation before we married, she just assumed the worst," Dave groused as the memory came back. There was silence before he spoke again. "Anything else you want to talk about?"

"Not right now," Emily said and glanced at the GPS. "Looks like we've got a few hours until South Boston." She licked her spoon and tossed the empty container in the trash bag.

About half way to South Boston Dave had to pull off the highway to get more gas. Emily quickly went into the station to tell the attendant the pump Dave was at and give him the cash for the gas. While she was in there, she grabbed a few snacks to tide the two of them over until they could have a late lunch. They were supposed to interview two victims that day and their appointments were scheduled right around lunch time.

As Emily got back out to the car, Dave slid in. Buckled in, Dave looked over to Emily. "I'm sorry."

"Sorry for what?" Emily asked as she stuck a water bottle into the cup holder closest to her.

"For last night." Emily paused and one of her eye brows arched so Dave quickly explained. "I should have given you an explanation last night. I'm sorry I didn't." Emily didn't say anything and Dave felt a need to explain further. "What I said last night was true, in any other universe I would have asked you out within a week of us meeting."

"I would have accepted." Emily said quietly as they pulled back onto the highway. The two of the lapsed into a semi- comfortable silence and they were able to get to South Boston. There, they interviewed the two victims and after finding out no new information about the case they were soon back on the road heading towards Halifax.

It took most of the afternoon but the two FBI agents were soon in Roanoke interviewing the three victims that lived there. The interviews were short and they were soon able to pack up in Roanoke.

"I am all set to go to Wytheville if you are. I know it's a bit of a drive, but I was thinking if we got there tonight we could get the interviews done in the morning."

Emily nodded. "That sounds good to me. I'm ready to go." Fastening the seatbelt, she put on her sunglasses. "So let's hit the road."

David nodded and started the engine. Less than two hours later, they were in Wytheville checking into their hotel rooms and trying to get their second wind.

"The only thing we have open is a two bedroom suite," she told them apologetically.

The agents shared a look. "You mean like 'one room'?" Emily sputtered.

"We'll take it," Dave said. "Unless you think you can't handle it, Agent Prentiss," he muttered under his breath. After paying for the room in advance, they went up to the suite.

"Why don't I get some take out while you freshen up?" Dave suggested.

"Sounds good to me," Emily agreed. Grabbing a few items from her go bag, she went into the bathroom and closed the door. The sound of running water came thru as Dave picked up his cell and left.

Picking up the Chinese food at the corner restaurant, he headed back to their room. Stepping inside, he heard Emily on the phone with Garcia and Hotch.

"What happened to Annalise?" Emily was asking the phone was on speaker so Dave could hear Hotch's answer clearly.

"She died less than an hour ago due to complications of the stabbing." Dave paused as he put the bags in the little kitchenette.

"Crap," Emily said. She turned and saw Dave. Motioning him over, she waited until he was standing beside her before speaking again.

"We've got two more victims to interview tomorrow and then we will be okay to go to Maryland to interview the victims there," she continued.

"Come back to base before you do though." Hotch said. "There's been an agent from Cold Cases asking about you Prentiss."

"Who?" Emily inquired.

"An Agent Jefferies."

"The name doesn't ring a bell." She searched her memory and came up with nothing.

"He needs to talk to you about a case you were involved in. I got the message from Reid so there may be more to it."

"Okay, I'll call Reid later," she said. "Anything else?"

"No."

After saying good-bye they hung up and Emily turned to David. "Thanks for getting dinner," she said.

"You're welcome," he replied. They ate with very little conversation. Emily finished first. She grabbed her go bag and began to make her way to the second bedroom.

"You can take the master bed," Dave spoke as he finished his dinner.

"No," Emily didn't take David's offer. "You're paying so you should have the bigger bedroom."

"Are you sure?" Dave asked. "I'll be glad to take the smaller room."

"Really," she stated, "its fine." She went into the second bedroom, quietly closing the door behind her.

Dave sighed as he cleaned up the kitchenette. He knew he'd insulted her the day before by not accepting her unspoken invitation, but he didn't want to get her fired. If he had been anyone other than David Rossi - renown Lothario of the FBI - he would have accepted the invitation, but he wasn't and his decisions affected her. He could weather the storm that would arise, but could she?

Now, he felt he had to make it up to her, but how?

"Behind every beautiful thing, there's some kind of pain." Bob Dylan

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