This is a story that has been floating around in my head. Although my usual pairing is Dave/Em, it doesn't hurt to venture outside of the comfort zone. Because this is the first chapter, I am not sure which direction it's going to head in, but I'm game if you are.

For Tracia. I have some BIG shoes to fill. I hope I don't disappoint.

Song prompt: "Look What Love's Revealing" by Vince Gill

Look What Love's Revealing

The phone was ringing. Dave Rossi fumbled for his keys while shifting the grocery bag to his other arm. Twice he inserted the wrong key in and it didn't help his frustration that Mudgie was whining on the other side.

"It's okay Mudgie; I'm unlocking the door right now," he assured as the key slipped in the lock and turned. The phone was still ringing, but he knew the answering machine would be switching over any second. Stepping inside, he tried to calm the huge black Lab down when a familiar voice filled the air.

"Hello? David, are you home? I guess I missed you. I don't think I need to tell you that it's me, Brenda Well, I'm passing thru town on Thursday and I would like to get together with you for dinner…if that's alright."

Mudgie chose that moment to jump on Dave and knock the bag to the ground. The eggs! Dave thought as he rushed to pick up the phone. Mudgie started barking frantically.

"Hello? Brenda? It's Dave."

"Hi. Is this a bad time?" she asked as Mudgie kept barking in the background.

"It's okay. I just got in." He turned to the dog. "Mudgie! That's enough!"

"I didn't mean to bother you," Brenda apologized.

"That's alright. You said you wanted to get together."

"I'm passing thru town tomorrow. I have a meeting in Arlington and I thought maybe we could get together for dinner. If you're not busy."

Dave translated that as: If you're not involved or married. He felt his cheeks burn. "I'm not busy."

"So, you're not seeing anyone?" Her question contained an interest that did not get past Dave.

"I'm seeing someone at work, but it's nothing serious."

"Well, bring her. I'd like to get to meet her. What's her name?"

Dave's mind inventoried all the women at work. "Jennifer," he responded before thinking.

Brenda paused for a moment. "How about meeting this Friday at seven at the restaurant on Fillmore? You know the one with the Greek bar?"

"I remember," Dave replied tightly. He and Brenda had celebrated their second anniversary there. It was the last good time they had had before filing for divorce less than a year later.

"Bring your lady friend. See you then." She hung up.

Dave stood in shock with the receiver still in his hand. What the hell had just happened? He thought as he tried to gather his thoughts together. Of all the times for Brenda to call…Why now? What could she want?

Mudgie's whining filled the room and brought Dave out of his stupor. Looking at the mess on the floor, Dave sighed. Bending over, he gathered up the broken eggs and tried to put the mess back in the carton. Silently he gave thanks for hardwood floors.

With his tail between his legs and head down low, Mudgie followed his master to the kitchen. Tossing the carton in the trash, Dave set the remaining groceries on the counter, and then retrieved the cleaning supplies.

Minutes later the mess was cleaned and dinner was in the microwave and Dave tried to relax. Letting out his breath, he tried to figure out the last half hour from the moment he opened the door. But none of it made sense. Brenda hadn't contacted him in nearly eight years, and though they had parted on semi-amicable terms, they weren't what he would have called "friends".

He knew that she was receiving her monthly alimony payment, so it couldn't be about money. And last he heard, she was seeing a Wall Street executive, so he doubted that she was hoping for a reunion. He gave up racking his brain for an answer because it dawned on him that he had just set JJ up for a date to meet the third ex Mrs. Rossi.

Groaning, he let Mudgie out into the backyard and then poured himself a glass of red wine. There was no way he could talk his way out of this mess.

As the timer went off, hee grabbed a plate and silverware. Taking the meal to the kitchen table, he sat down. Saying a quick blessing for the food and to find the courage to approach JJ in the morning. Then he began eating.
****

JJ was furiously trying to catch up on reports when a knock on the door startled her. Looking up from the mess on her desk, she tried to smile at Dave who was leaning in the doorway.

"Hi, Rossi. Come on in. I'd offer a seat, but I don't have one available," she apologized and grabbed the stack of manila folders. Turning to the large gray steel cabinet, she pulled open a drawer and inserted the folders.

"I didn't mean to bother you." Dave looked around at the mess. Letting out a breath, he made a mental not to not let JJ anywhere near his office.

"It's not a bother; end of the quarter reports. Strauss is a little more demanding this week since we are case free. I'm not sure what warranted it, but she wanted a list of every serial killer for the past two years. Something about IA wanting to review our procedure and technique."

"That sounds like something Strauss would request." He reached down and picked up a stack of folders to move them to her desk.

"No!" JJ ordered. Startled, Dave looked at her. "Those are alphabetized and put in a certain category." Dave raised his eyebrow. JJ flushed. "That's your stack."

"Coincidence that I wanted to sit here?"

JJ took the folders. "So, what brought you to my office, Agent Rossi?"

"I need you," Dave replied simply and sat down.

"I'm sorry?"

"I need your assistance," he amended.

JJ pursed her lips in thought. "For what?"

"I got a call last night from the third Mrs. Rossi…the third ex-Mrs. Rossi." He waited for JJ to say something, but she remained silent. "Seems she wants to see me. Wouldn't get into it, so I have no idea what is up her sleeve. We agreed to meet for dinner. Tomorrow night."

"How am I a part of this?" she inquired.

Dave templed his fingers and flattened them. It was his trademark for trying to gather his thoughts together. "Brenda wanted to know if I was seeing someone. She caught me off guard. I didn't think she would be interested in my personal life." He paused for time. JJ waited. "I told her that I was seeing some one at work..." his voice trailed off. He gave her his trademark smile.

"Me?" JJ supplied as the unspoken meaning slowly dawned.

"Yes."

"Me?!" JJ repeated. "You told her that you were seeing me?! Why?"

"I don't know," he confessed. "Yours was the first name that came to my mind."

"You couldn't have said Emily or Penelope?" she asked in astonishment.

"I'm sorry," he apologized. "I could call her and tell her that something came up. But honestly, Jen, I don't want to face her alone. The divorce was painful enough without having to relive it again. I know she was seeing some executive on Wall Street; I don't know if he'll be there."

"I don't know, Rossi…I don't fit into that world. Emily would probably fit better in that setting."

"I can't ask Emily when I've promised to deliver you," Dave corrected.

"Rossi…"

"Look, JJ, I haven't seen the woman in nearly ten years. God only knows that she wants, but if she sees that I'm not seeing anyone…I don't want to open myself up to questions; I want to hear what she has to say, then make a clean get away."

JJ bit her lip. It was so tempting to accept Rossi's offer for a night out. Ever since Will left her and Henry, her days had been filled with work and her evenings spent trying to raise her son. She hadn't been anywhere in so long, she had forgotten what an intimate dinner at a five star restaurant - or any restaurant, for that matter - felt like.

Carefully she watched his facial expression. Not a full-fledged profiler, she had been at the bureau long enough to know when someone was bullshitting her. Rossi didn't appear that way, but it was definite he was hiding something.

"What if I said that I agree to go with you?" she asked carefully. Dave looked up, his thumbs stopped twiddling. "On one condition, that is."

"I would say: 'thank you', and 'what is your condition'?" Dave would have agreed to almost anything at this point…well short of armed robbery and living on a submarine for a year

"I need a baby sitter a week from Saturday."

Dave looked at her. Speechless was an understatement. On second thought, he would gladly commit armed robbery. "Babysitting? Henry?"

JJ nodded. "Yes. Henry. I have to go to a baby shower for a friend out of town, and I can't find a sitter. I figure I have something you need, and you have something I need. It works out for both of us."

"Why can't you take him with you?"

"Because we are going to be at the Hilton ballroom, and toddlers aren't exactly welcomed there. Besides, it's only for a few hours. I think the big, bad FBI profiler who can take down killers can corral a two year old." She wrinkled her nose at him.

"Serial killers don't scream, kick, and bite," Dave defended.

"That last one did."

"He was high on X."

"Morgan had to get a tetanus shot," Dave offered weakly, his thumbs began twiddling.

"I assure you Henry has had all of his shots. And as long as Telly Tubbies are playing, he'll be fine."

Dave weighed his options. He didn't have many. "Okay. If you come with me, I'll take care of Henry."

JJ smiled. "What should I wear?"

"Do you have a black cocktail dress or should I buy you one?"

"I think I can arrange something."

Dave got up from the chair. "Thank you, JJ."

"No, thank you, Rossi." Her smile was sweet…too sweet. She had won. "What time?"

"I'll pick you up at six-thirty."

"Okay." JJ agreed. She watched him leave her office. Setting the folders down on the chair, she picked up her desk phone and dialed.

"Hello, Pen? How would you like to babysit Henry tomorrow night?" she asked and then pulled the receiver away as a high pitched screech nearly shattered her eardrum. "I take that as a yes."