A/N: After my tough one I get to do an easy one.

And yes, that's exactly how I planned this story out. *cracks knuckles*

Please note: the story rating of "T" comes highly into play in this chapter. Rossi is Italian after all. ;)

Chapter 5

The BAU was quiet as the day shift was on their way home. The afternoon shift of agents in bullpen was considerably less. Dave walked across the tier to Hotch's office, smiling at those at their desks.

Getting to Hotch's door, he didn't bother to knock and entered. He looked to see Hotch pulling his scotch bottle out of his desk drawer, along with two glasses. Dave smiled, shutting the door. "I'll say it again Aaron; there are benefits to meeting after hours."

Hotch smirked. "If Jack wasn't spending the night with his new bud Logan, this wouldn't be happening." He handed Dave his glass of scotch and took a sip of his own as Dave sat down.

"Here's to Logan," Dave smiled raising his glass and taking a sip. "So what do you need to talk to me about?"

Hotch shook his head. "Not much; just the usual from the Bureau brass."

Dave looked at Hotch. "Please don't tell me Aaron you're getting more shit from them about my age."

Hotch looked at him, holding up a hand. "Dave please don't start chewing me a new ass about this. I've already got your assessment wrote for the brass."

"And you told the jack-offs what?"

"Honestly?" Dave nodded. Aaron pulled the file open. "SSA Rossi is no longer a speed demon in the physically fit department. But you do not need that to be the team's senior profiler. This team does not need his physical abilities; this team needs his experience. And the still guiding hand as one of the founders of this Unit. SSA Morgan, my team's tactical agent takes the lead in the physical duties."

"But god damnit Aaron, I've still got game. Am I the fastest and most athletic? Hell no; I've never been that." Hotch smiled. "But I'm sick and tired of Morgan keeping us both on the bench doing the doughnut and coffee run while the rest of the team takes down an unsub. I get why he does it for you. He wants you to get home to Jack."

Hotch looked at Dave, taking another sip. "Dave, you did pull the plow a bit running out of John Curtis' home that was lined with C4. I almost ran out to carry you to cover."

"Screw you Aaron," Dave snarled. Hotch laughed. Dave shook his head. "I had to work my ass off to be an athlete in school; unlike you and Morgan that just come by it naturally." Hotch looked at him. "I'm Italian," he smiled, taking his own sip. "I'm a lover not a fighter," he smugly grinned.

Hotch shook his head. "I told you I handled it for you with the Bureau brass so it's covered for another year."

Rossi eyed him. "And you told them what exactly?"

"Three things: one, I'm getting tired hearing about the issue. Which led me to point number two; my responsibility to my entire team means if I don't think you can handle being in the field and are a liability, I'll pull you out before the brass does."

"And number three?"

"Do you really want to mess with Rossi's army of lawyers if you tried to push him out the door with an age issue," Hotch smugly smiled back at him.

"You bet your ass I would," Dave said. He thought for a second. "Thanks Aaron," he sincerely smiled. "I know I can't go into a big situation. Honestly," he said. Hotch nodded at him to continue. "I'd rather be on the sidelines listening to you and Morgan on tactical, doing my job." Hotch arched an eyebrow in question. "Profiling the unsub, the situation and what the unsub's end game might be to support you two on tactical."

Dave smiled. "That's why I went after Curtis. I read him like a book and knew what his end game was going to be." He paused. "I enjoyed bushwhacking that SOB and sending him to the fiery grave he deserved."

Hotch looked at him. "Playing judge and jury to get revenge for Erin?"

"Hell no Aaron," Dave quickly said. "I figured out his final plan and acted on it. The plan was Curtis'; I just beat him at his own game; but the call was solely made by John Curtis when he lined that house of his with C4 thinking he trapped all of you and he could walk away."

Aaron looked at him. "Like Donnie Mallick?"

Dave shook his head. "Mallick was easy; I knew he wasn't going to go quietly. I gave him two options; he took one. I was prepared for it and he presented me with a the perfect tactical situation to handle it." He looked at Hotch. "I didn't need back-up."

"I remember your detailed shoot report," Hotch smiled. "It was clean; Mallick made the decision. And put his gun down on a barrel on his left side, away from his right shooting hand. You knew he'd make a dumb move like that." They both let the moment and memories linger for a bit, taking a sip of their drinks.

Dave put his scotch glass down on Hotch's desk and then stretched out his left leg, reaching into his jean's pocket. He pulled out something, looked at it with a small smile and then showed it to Hotch. "Do you remember this," he asked, holding up a gold medallion.

Hotch nodded. "That's Erin's one year sobriety coin."

Dave handed the medallion to Hotch across his desk. Hotch took it as Dave grabbed his glass and took another sip. "Take a good look at it Aaron."

Hotch looked at it, turning it over. "The scratches from when you put in into the lock so Curtis couldn't lock you into his wired dungeon." He looked at Dave. "I remember that on your report as well."

Dave smiled. "As I'm changing for bed, I put that medallion," he pointed, "on my dresser in my bedroom. It's the last thing I pull out of my pockets. Even after my wallet," Dave devilishly grinned.

He turned serious. "And it's the last thing I put in my pocket after I pull my sidearm out of my bedstand." He pointed at it. "Those scratches remind me what Erin once told me." Hotch looked at him. "You don't have to be able to out run the kids David. When they need you, just be able to out think the unsub and have their backs."

Hotch handed the medallion back to him, with his soft smile. "I know why you cherish it."

Dave took it back, sticking it back in his jeans pocket as Hotch leaned back in his chair, taking a sip of his scotch. "We good?"

Hotch nodded with a smile. "How's Joy, Rob and Kai?"

Dave proudly smiled. "They're doing great." He snapped his fingers. "Shit that reminds me; I need a huge favor from you and Jack Labor Day weekend."

"Dave?"

"Kai is starting soccer in the fall." Hotch eyed him. "I know; he's not three yet; but getting close. Those upscale west coasters like to push things." Hotch laughed. "But I promised my grandson I'd get him a soccer camp to get ready," he smiled at Hotch.

"Dave," Hotch said, shaking his head.

"What Aaron," he smiled. "I take you and Jack to Frisco for the holiday weekend. If I'm going to spoil my grandson, I might as well do the same for my nephew." Hotch shook his head again. "Come on Aaron; humor me," Dave smiled.

"I'll think about it," Aaron said. He deeply eyed Dave. "You show up for Jack's Little League game at nine tomorrow morning, which he would thoroughly love to see, I might think about it more."

"On a Saturday," Dave spat out. "That's blackmail!" Hotch smugly smiled, taking another sip of scotch.

Dave drained his glass and put it on Aaron's desk. "Deal," he smiled.

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A/N: Gee, can you tell who my two favorite CM characters are? Hehehehehehehe

Pulling the plow is a phrase from my softball playing days way back when. Our team used that term to tease our teammates that weren't the fastest runners.