*Hey everyone! I am so sorry for getting this up so late! I just moved into a new house for school and it's been a busy week with moving and finishing up spirit week and getting started with classes. Crazy! I promise the next chapter will not take as long. Hope you all enjoy! So sorry again!
Chapter 11
Cat's POV
"Well, why don't we get some food? Whatever is cooking in there smells delicious," Cat put on her best smile and hoped her years of practice hiding emotions were enough to cover her fear of whatever Rossi might actually know.
"Of course it is, I'm an Italian cooking guru," Rossi gave a slight nod and led the two into the kitchen to join the rest of his team. He went straight over to the oven where a savory aroma was wafting. He glanced over to Cat with concern in his eyes; she did not like that look at all. After so many years, she had hoped he would understand she did not need someone worrying about her. She had managed just fine on her own.
"Dr. Grant! It is so good to see you!" JJ pulled Cat out of her head when she wrapped her arms around her in a big hug. The blonde agent had a huge grin that was reflected in her eyes. "I don't think I will ever be able to express my gratitude to you. You saved our family. I'm sure you remember Henry here."
"Of course!" A little boy whose hair matched his mother came up to Cat. He stuck close to his mother's side but once he saw Spencer his face lit up.
"Uncle Spencer!"
"Hi Henry, how are you doing buddy?" Spencer bent down to hug the boy. Cat couldn't help but smile at the joy that was clearly written all over the genius' face.
"How are you doing Dr. Grant?" Will walked up next to JJ and put his arm around her waist.
"I'm doing well, Detective LaMontagne. Very happy to see how much better you are doing. It's nice to see patients out of the hospital and doing normal things," she smiled, it really was rewarding to see how her job affected others. It assured her that there was some good among all the bad things that came through the hospital.
"And it's nice to see someone making our Pretty Boy here so happy," a very handsome African American man came up beside Cat. He was a little shorter than Spencer but still towered over Cat. She looked up at him trying to recall his name. Derek? That sounded right. He looked down and met her eyes, giving her one of the warmest smiles she'd seen. "Looks like Boy Genius has found a Girl Genius. What's up Dr. G?"
"Just waiting for some food. This is a dinner party, right?" The others all laughed at her small joke.
"Doc's right, Rossi. What's taking so long?" Derek glanced over the counter where Rossi was checking on whatever concoction he had in the oven.
"You cannot rush perfection!" The older agent shot back.
Cat missed whatever comeback Derek had because right then Henry ran over and grabbed her hand, pulling her over to stand with him and Spencer. "Come watch Uncle Spencer's magic trick."
"Okay Henry," she sat down next to the boy on the floor, facing Spencer as he pulled out his cards and began to shuffle them.
"You're the doctor who saved Daddy?" Henry kept his eyes glued to Spencer's cards but they both knew the question was for Cat. Spencer quickly glanced at her to see her reaction.
"I am, buddy."
Henry didn't respond, he just kept watching Spencer shuffle and then fan the cards out in his hands.
"Pick a card, Henry," and he did. "Now, look very closely at your card before putting them back. Good, very good." He shuffled them some more, Henry completely entranced by the movement of the cards. Cat looked between the young boy and Spencer, wondering what was going through Henry's mind about her.
"Okay Henry, is this your card?" Henry shook his head. "What about this one?" Another shake. "What? Impossible! Hm, maybe is back here?" He reached behind Henry's ear and pulled out a quarter. "Ah!" He reached behind his other ear and pulled out another quarter, then behind both of Cat's ears. "Oh my gosh Henry, your rich!" He put all the quarters in front of the smiling Henry, who was blown away by his uncle's magic tricks.
Henry looked at Spencer and then gave him a hug before he stood up. But instead of going over to his parents he held out his hand to Cat. She took it and he tugged on her arm, telling her he wanted her to stand as well. When she did, Henry plowed into her and wrapped his arms around her. The young boy held her as tight as he could. She stood there in shock for a moment before wrapping her arms around him too.
"Thank you," he murmured.
"You are very welcome, Henry," she responded, giving him a small squeeze before he let go and went over to his parents. She looked back at them and they gave her reassuring smiles. An arm wrapped around her shoulders as Spencer came up next to her.
"Is that a tear I see running down your face?" Spencer asked.
"Yes, your magic trick was so cheesy it's making me cry."
"Yep, that's totally why you're crying."
"It just took me by surprise. Some kids will say thank you, others will be focused on their parents they kind of forget you are there. There are even some who forget who you are so when you see them later they're scared of you. That…that was just so forward, and had so much raw emotion I just…I just did not expect that," she wiped the tear from her cheek and looked up at Spencer. He was still staring at Henry, JJ, and Will, deep in thought. After a moment he looked down at her and smiled, pulling her closer to him. "He's a good kid."
"Yeah, yeah he is."
"Dinner is served you impatient wolves," Rossi called over to them as he carried some of the food outside. Cat hadn't noticed but a big table had been set up in his backyard.
"Oh good, we are right on time then," a voice called from the front door. The man she recalled as Aaron Hotchner was holding the door open for the boy who must be his son. "Sorry everyone, I told Jack we couldn't leave until he had finished all of his homework. Math took a bit longer than expected."
"I guess that can be forgiven. How ya doin' Jack?" Derek laughed and held up his hand to give Jack a high-five before heading outside with him.
"Ah, Doctor Grant, what a pleasant surprise," Aaron Hotchner said as he came into the kitchen area.
"I keep forgetting you met everyone at the hospital already," Spencer said, trying to hide his moment of confusion.
"So am I to understand you brought a date, Reid?" Hotch finally noticed Spencer's arm still around Cat's shoulders. He quickly dropped it, but he couldn't shake the red forming on his cheeks.
"Our Junior G-Man is growing up," Penelope interrupted, taking Cat's hand. "Now come on, I wanted to learn all there is about Girl Genius while we eat."
Rossi's POV
While Rossi felt a little bad throwing a dinner party to confirm his own suspicions about Cat Grant without hunting her down at the hospital, he had to admit the evening was very fun. The team was finally able to enjoy themselves and let off steam after a tough case down in Texas. And they also could be happy despite having Alex leave them.
It was also entertaining to see Penelope interrogate Cat with all sorts of random questions. The poor girl looked terribly uncomfortable next to the eccentric technical analysist. And poor Hotch had to explain to Reid that he could not come back to work tomorrow. After Reid asked what sort of paperwork he needed to fill out tomorrow, Hotch tried to explain that a bullet to the neck required a much longer recovery time than a single day off. Reid just did not seem to understand that at all.
When dinner was finished Hotch, Will, and Derek helped Rossi clean up the dishes and the counters. Derek grabbed another bottle of wine and took it out to the others with Will and Hotch following behind. Rossi did a quick sweep of the kitchen before heading out as well. He stood at the doorway and looked around. Penelope and the kids were mesmerized as Spencer did another magic trick. Derek and JJ were watching them while Hotch and Will were deep in conversation at the table.
Rossi head over to the table where Cat sat observing the others. He sat down next to her and said, "How was dinner?"
She jumped at the sound of his voice, clearly having zoned out while watching everyone. "Oh, Rossi. Um, it was delicious. You were not lying when you said you were a cooking guru."
"I am hurt that you would question my abilities. But I am very glad you enjoyed your first meal at Casa di Rossi." She gave a small giggle. "So, how have you been, Abigail?"
Cat's giggling stopped and she looked over at him with wide eyes. "Excuse me?"
"How are you doing after all these years, Abigail?"
"I'm sorry, I don't know who you're talking about. My name is not Abigail. It's Cat," she turned away from him but Rossi put persisted.
"Cat, I know who you are. Your name is Abigail Warner. You are the daughter of Agent Terrance Warner. He was brutally murdered when you were nine years old," he kept talking hoping she would confirm his suspicions. He needed to know he was right and he was not going crazy. The flashback and the picture were clues but she was the proof he needed. The proof that that poor, terrified little girl had turned out okay after everything she had been through.
I'm scared. I have no one.
"Stop. Just, please, stop. I haven't heard those names in a long time," she turned back to face him. The look on her face one Rossi had never seen on a victim before. He felt bad for this girl, he was digging up memories she had probably buried and kept hidden for years.
"I was right."
"Yes. You were right. I'm sorry I did not want to confirm whatever obsession you have with my history. Why did you want to know that so badly? Is it not acceptable for me to want to forget that day?"
"I'm sorry. I thought I was going crazy that day in the hospital. I've been doing this for so long, I was afraid all the people I have met over the years were blending together but I knew there was something different about you. I needed to confirm I was not making it up."
"You weren't."
Cat looked away again, her gaze focusing on Spencer as he pulled a rainbow sash out of his hand and threw it to Jack. Rossi followed her gaze, now feeling guilty for his determination to uncover the secret this girl had. Of course he wanted to confirm his own sanity, a job like this could drive any normal person crazy. But it would do just as much damage to the victims who dealt with the psychos Rossi and his team spent their lives trying to catch.
"I am sorry Abigail…"
"Don't call me that. I haven't heard that name in 16 years; that is not who I am anymore."
"Of course. Cat, I am sorry. Your case is one I will never forget, but I lost track of you. You and your aunt…you stopped writing. Without the updates, I wasn't reminded of you or Rosie and it fell to the back of my mind. But seeing you, your eyes, your father's eyes, jogged something in my head and I needed to solve the puzzle."
"I guess that makes sense."
"Why did you stop writing?"
"We're in Witness Protection, writing people from our past is dangerous enough. But since we had Michael and you work for the FBI, they figured it would be okay. But seven years ago, a family was found by the man hunting them and one of them got killed after someone from their past contacted them."
"Haley…"
"Yeah, I think that was her name. So after that incident, the program had us stop all communication with you and Gideon. They said it would be safer. I'm sorry about that."
"It's okay, I understand. I'm just happy to know that you turned out okay. You have grown into a wonderful woman. Your father would be very proud of you."
"Thank you Rossi," Cat met his eyes and smiled. Rossi returned it, glad he had the closure on the case that had been haunting him the past few months. "Well, I am getting a little tired. Thank you for the wonderful meal. This has been a very fun night."
"Good night, Cat. I'm glad you and Spencer were able to come together," joined her as she got up and held out his hand to her.
"Good night, Rossi." She shook his hand before heading over to Spencer. Rossi watched as the two said goodbye to everyone and headed out.
