Here's chapter 22! Enjoy!

Emily glanced outside for what felt like the millionth time. Dave was supposed to come over with Mudgie and it looked like he was running late. She felt like a teenager with how nervous she was. As she glanced outside the front window for the million and first time, Dave pulled up in his truck. He got out and let Mudgie out; the dog instantly went sniffing around the small community yard then went back to Dave as he got the pizzas out.

"Do you need a hand?" Emily asked from her small porch.

"Yeah, I can't get the breadsticks and the soda if I've got Mudgie," Dave explained.

"Okay." Emily came out to the other side of the truck and after grabbing the bags with the soda and breadsticks in them they both went into the brownstone.

"Hello Agent Rossi," Nicole called from the kitchen.

"Hi Nicole," Dave greeted the teenager.

"What's for dinner?" Nicole stuck her head out of the kitchen as Emily and Dave walked into the room.

"Pizza," Dave said as he set the pizzas on the counter, "Extra cheese and meat lovers."

"Awesome." She grabbed one of the plates and eagerly loaded a couple of slices onto it.

"How did your day go?" Emily asked Dave.

"We interrogated a couple of people," Dave glanced at Nicole, not wanting to specify that it was Helen and Jared who had been interrogated, so he changed the subject. "New York needed our help on a case, but we were able to give the profile over the phone." He took a bite and spoke again, "What did you girls do today?"

"We went to the Air and Space museum before we went shopping."

"Did you have fun, Nicole?" Dave inquired.

The teen nodded quietly. "Yeah the exhibits were really cool," she replied hesitantly.

"Which one was your favorite?" He asked, trying to draw Nicole out of her shell.

"The Wright Brothers plane," Nicole said shyly.

Dave kept probing gently, by the end of the meal, Nicole was telling them a story about something that had happened in the choir she'd been in the year before. "…and then Dr. Carp," she spoke of the choir director, "opened up the pizza boxes, expecting to see a pizza but all she saw were the words 'April Fools'; it was really funny."

Emily and Dave shared a look; Nicole was a really good storyteller.

Nicole jumped up. "Emily, is it okay if I watch the Castle marathon on ABC? It starts in ten minutes."

"Sure. I've got to talk to Agent Rossi about something, but you know how to work the remote."

Nicole grinned and, after doing her dishes quickly bounded out to the TV room with Mudgie on her heels. "Is it okay if Mudgie is on the furniture?"

"It's fine with me," Emily said, "…if Dave doesn't mind having Mudgie on furniture."

"As long as he doesn't start scratching, I'm fine if he's on the couch."

Emily started cleaning up and Dave helped with the dishes. "JJ and Pen weren't too tired today were they?" Emily wondered. "We were up pretty late doing each others hair and nails."

"They were fine," he assured as he helped load the dishes and start the dishwasher. After they were done in the kitchen, they made their way to the living room in the front of the brownstone.

Emily looked at Dave expectantly. "How'd the interrogation go?" she asked as they sat on the couch.

"How the hell Helen knew about the abuse and didn't do anything I'll never know," Dave growled angrily.

Emily shook her head. "How could anyone know that a child was being hurt and not do anything? I'll never understand."

"Agreed," Dave said. "Helen did know about the abuse, she didn't care. As long as Jared was raping Nicole, he wasn't raping or abusing Helen. Nicole was Helen's scapegoat. She's never seen Nicole as more then somebody who could take the abuse away from her." Dave sighed. "She never wanted Nicole; she wanted her own biological child."

Emily shook her head, disgusted. "How in the hell…." Her words trailed off as she became angrier with each second.

Dave gently pressed a finger to Emily's lips and nodded toward the staircase. "I can hear Nicole upstairs," he whispered leaning in so she could hear him. "This is hard enough on her."

Emily nodded. Dave moved his hand so he was cupping her cheek. "Did you and Nicole go get your hair done?" he asked, looking into her eyes.

"Yeah," she whispered, locking eyes with his.

"Your hair looks pretty."

"You're not looking at it," her mouth quirked up in a wry smile.

"I saw it earlier." He slowly leaned in closer to meld his body to hers.

"If you saw it earlier, why did you ask me if I'd gotten it done?" she asked saucily.

"I'm trying to make conversation so I don't kiss you."

"Why would kissing me be so terrible?" she breathed.

"Because I wouldn't be able to stop kissing you, and Nicole would see." Dave played with her hair, tucking it behind one of her ears.

"I thought we decided that we'd give the rules the finger," Emily reminded in a breathless whisper.

Dave groaned and quickly pulled Emily to him, claiming her lips with his. He cupped her face and deepened the kiss, outlining her lips with his tongue. She willingly let him in, wrapping an arm around his waist as she moved to get better access.

They parted, both breathing heavily, Dave could feel Emily's hot breath on his face and he buried one hand in her hair. The silky feel of the strands against his hand made his blood boil hot.

"Emily?" Nicole's voice in the kitchen made them move to opposite ends of the couch. Emily quickly tried to tame her hair.

"Can I have some ice cream?" the girl asked. "The strawberry cheesecake stuff that Garcia brought over was really good."

"Sure."

"Do you want any?" Nicole asked as she popped her head into the living room.

"I'm fine, but thanks."

"What about you Agent Rossi?" Nicole asked.

"I'm fine," he said, "and please call me Dave."

"Okay…" Nicole hesitated, "…Dave." The teen went back into the kitchen.

When Nicole was in the kitchen, Dave ran one of his hands through Emily's hair.

"You like playing with my hair don't you?" she asked, and moved in closer.

"I can't help it," he said with a casual smile, "I'm a hair guy."

Emily quirked an eyebrow up "You like hair, huh?" her murmured tone seductive.

"Yeah." He swallowed hard. "And eyes…and you happen to have an incredible set of each one."

"So you think I have a good head of hair?"

"You have a fantastic head of hair." Dave toyed with a lock.

"And my eyes?"

"You have the most beautiful pair of eyes I've ever seen," Dave stated and gently kissed her again, letting her take the lead. All he had to do was wrap his arms around her and pull her closer…

"Hey, Agent Dave..." Nicole's voice was in the doorway of the living room, Dave and Emily parted quickly. "Sorry!" the teen squeaked. "I didn't mean to interrupt. I am so sorry!"

"It's okay Nicole," Dave said. "What did you want?"

"Could I give Mudgie some ice cream? He's giving me puppy dog eyes." They could all hear Mudgie whine from the kitchen. "I won't give him that much Agent Dave, promise." She said.

"Sure, but don't give him more then a scoopful."

"Okay," Nicole turned to go back into the kitchen. "Sorry again, for interrupting!" she called as she walked out.

"Told you she'd see," Dave's tone was smug.

Emily blushed deep red. "Oh my god," she whispered, horrified.

"Kids have the worst timing," Dave tried to soothe.

"No!" Emily whispered, frantic. "Nicole had a rape kit done yesterday! Her rape is fresh in her mind!"

Dave's eyes widened as he realized what this could mean to Nicole. "I should probably leave. We weren't planning on me staying very long after dinner anyway." He leaned forward and pressed a chaste kiss to one of Emily's cheeks.

They said their goodbyes and once Dave had left, Emily turned to the kitchen. It was time to talk to Nicole.

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