It was midday and the bullpen was a hive of activity. Hotch tried his best to ignore the buzz of conversations as he searched through the evidence activity logs for some clue that would lead to a break in his personal investigation. Feeling yet another dead end approaching, he leaned back in his chair and groaned as he rubbed his tired eyes. He had given it his all, but he already knew that there was no way he was going to be able to recover that video in time to meet Agent Rossi's deadline. He didn't want to lose this job. That was a given, but if he couldn't come up with the missing tape that was exactly what would transpire.

"I'm doomed," he muttered to himself while closing his eyes and fervently wishing for a miracle.

"Why would you say something like that?"

At the sound of the soft gruff voice, the new recruit startled and sat upright in his seat, his eyes glued on the man standing beside him.

"Agent Rossi, I was just ..." Aaron's voiced faded, and he gave a quiet sigh. "I was just realizing that I'm running out of time and options. I'm not going to have that tape for you by this evening. I've tried to locate it, but ... I don't know what else I can do."

"Hmm," Dave murmured as he thoughtfully rubbed his chin while casually glancing around the room. "Let's you and I go someplace a little quieter to discuss this."

The younger man's stomach knotted at Rossi's statement, and he caught himself swallowing hard to relieve the sudden constriction in his throat. He felt a wave of nausea sweep over him, but forced it down as he gazed up at his superior.

"I'm fired," he stated with certainly and acceptance.

"I didn't say that," the supervisory agent countered as he tipped his head towards the hall that would led to his office and the demise of Hotch's budding career at the FBI. "I just need to talk to you, and I would prefer that our conversation be held in private, so please come with me."

The rookie inhaled deeply then nodded as he rose from his chair and obediently followed his would be partner out of the communal room and away from the meager security it offered. It was a small comfort that Rossi wasn't planning on terminating him in front of the entire room. After that first encounter, he wouldn't have put it past him, but at least the older man possessed a level of professionalism that prevented that much of a scene. Aaron sighed inwardly with relief, knowing that the senior agent was willing to spare his ego the stunning blow of professional humiliation.

"Grab a seat."

Silently, Aaron settled into the chair while Rossi shut the door behind them.

"Jesus, kid. I've interviewed men on death row who looked better than you. You slept at all?"

"No, sir," Hotch admitted while shifting uncomfortably under the man's gaze. "Not really. I've been too focused on solving this problem. That hasn't left me much time for anything else."

"Well that foolishness ends now. You have to take care of yourself. Your safety and well being come before anything else. You hear me? When we're done here, I want you to take the rest of the day off. You're no good to me if you burn yourself out."

"Does it really matter?"

"Hell yes it matters. We're talking about your health, and that always matters."

The younger man exhaled in a harsh huff.

"I meant with this being my last day, I don't see how it matters. It's not as though it's going to be an issue any longer. It may not mean much to you, but I would like to work my full shift before turning in my resignation. It's always been my policy to see a task through to the end. I hate leaving loose ends when it can be avoided."

Pulling a second chair up near the kid, David sat and leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees while clasping his hands together.

"I'm not letting you go that easily, Aaron."

The rookie's shoulders rose and fell with a silent sigh.

"I understand that I failed to fulfill my duties in a timely manner, and agree that I deserve to be terminated. I was just hoping..."

"Hold up. You miss understand. I'm not firing you, and I won't accept your resignation unless you really want to leave the job. And just for the record, that would be a terrible waste of your talent, in my opinion."

Hotch's brow furrowed as he stared at the profiler.

"But our agreement."

"Our agreement was that I have the evidence back in my hands by today. That's been handled. I have the video tape."

The recruit's frown deepened.

"But how? Where did it come from?"

"It was misfiled with evidence from another case. Which brings me to our first order of business. You lied to me. You accepted the blame for something you didn't do. I won't tolerate lying, Aaron. Not under any circumstance."

"I told you the truth. I told you that I didn't have anything to do with the missing evidence, but you refused to believe me."

"I know, and I apologize for that. The evidence pointed to you and I made an assumption based it, and possibly also a little to do with my experience with lawyers. That won't happen again, but let me remind you that you also told me that you don't lie, which had proven to be false. What happened there?"

Aaron's jaw tightened as his body language radiated intense frustration.

"You didn't give me a choice. My job was on the line. I did what I had to do to save it."

"Perjuring yourself still doesn't fly with me. That's no damn way to save your job."

"It did this time, and it bought me some time to at least try to clear myself."

"And how did that work out for you? Manged to exonerate yourself?"

Hotch exhaled explosively as he averted his gaze, a murderous expression on his face.

"No," he finally answered in a deadly calm voice. "You didn't give me enough time."

"Pretty bad gamble to be taking with your integrity, don't you think?"

"You left me with no other option," he growled as his hardened gaze focused on the source of his frustration.

"Kid, there are always options."

"Like what? What could I have possibly done to convince you that I was telling the truth? You had my back up against a wall, and you damn well know it."

"I don't know. Maybe given me proof that you hadn't been downstairs. There's a central log that has to be signed just to be in that locker. Maybe you could have requested a copy of the paper trail. That's what I did. That's how I chased down the truth about what happened. And let me tell you something. Once I did that, I had half a mind to come back up here and haul you across my knee, history or not. And, trust me, kiddo, if this happens again that's exactly what I will do. You DO NOT lie to me, ever. Nor will you take any other boneheaded risk that could jeopardize your career. Get that through your head right now, because this is your final warning. Cross that line again, and you won't sit for a week."

The young agent's jaw dropped and he blink at his boss, aghast by the threat.

"You wouldn't."

"Oh, I believe you already know that I will, which leads us to point number two."

Slowly releasing his breath, Rossi glanced down at his interlocked fingers. With his previous indignation rapidly evaporating, the senior agent deflated slightly in front of his protege while gathering his thoughts. Swallowing back his own pride, David looked up and met the youth's curious gaze.

"Aaron, I really can't begin to tell you how sorry I am. I wish there was someway to undo what happened, but I can't. I unjustly punished you because I didn't take the time to get my facts straight. You're new here. I'm just getting to know what sort of man you are. You deserved to be given the benefit of the doubt, but I was too fixated on the case to think clearly. I can't change the past, but I can, and will, handle incidences like this better in the future. You have my word that I'll hear you out, no matter what I think or how upset I might become. There's no excuse for what I did, but I hope you'll eventually find it in your heart to forgive me."

A heavy silence hung over the two men as they stared at each other — one seeking absolution, the other succumb by utter astonishment.

The stillness of the youth began to become a concern for Rossi. He had never seen this sort of response to an apology, and wondered what was going on in his protege's head. Unable to take the lack of feedback any longer, he softly call the kid's name.

"I...I heard you. I just... Well, frankly, I don't know what to say."

A slight smile tugged at Dave's lips.

"I imagine that might just be a first, huh, counselor? Gotta write this one down. The day David Stephen Rossi made an attorney speechless is certainly one for the record books."

Hotch returned the smile and shook his head slightly while lowering his gaze.

"This has never happened."

"Obviously. I know I've never seen a mute lawyer."

"Not that. It's ... No one has ever taken the time to ..." Slowly processing the swirl of emotions, Aaron stumbled over his words as he glanced back up at Rossi with a slight glistening of tears in his eyes. "I have always been told that even if I didn't do what I was accused of, I must have done something at some point to deserve it." Blinking back the tears, he shook his head again. "No one has ever apologized. That isn't something I thought was done."

"Well, if we're going to be partners, you better get used to it, because I'm sure as hell not infallible. I try to be, don't get me wrong, but I can still fuck up with the best of them. My ex-wife can attest to that."

The rookie bowed his head and chuckled softly to himself, only looking back up when he heard his name quietly called again.

"Aaron, can you forgive me? I know it's asking a lot, but I'd like another shot at starting this partnership off on the right foot. What do you say?"

Seeing the sincerity sparkling in his supervisor's eyes, Hotch quickly nodded.

"Of course I forgive you, Agent Rossi."

"It's Dave, kid. Just Dave."

"Yes, sir. And..." Aaron stopped a took a breath before clearing his throat to utter a soft, genuine, "Thank you."

"I think that was supposed to be my line," the Italian responded with a grin before turning serious. "Look, if there comes a point where you don't think I'm listening to you, I want you to speak up and let me know. Don't take that as a free pass to dance around the rules, but I know there's times when I can be a little myopic. If I'm missing the big picture, feel free to point it out so we can both know that I'm making an informed decision."

Hotch nodded, but remained silent as he suddenly shifted his focus to the floor.

Reaching out, Rossi patted the young man's shoulder.

"I really am sorry," he reaffirmed as the man met his eyes.

"I believe you. I was just wondering ... Do you know who caused all of this?"

Dave thought for a moment before nodding.

"I do, and it's been handled. That's all you need to know."

The scowl was back on the younger man's face before his partner could blink.

"I think I have a right to know who set me up, and why? I didn't realize that I had a gift for making enemies so quickly. I would like to know what I did to deserve to be the target of this level of malice."

"Trust me, this wasn't personal. It was a bit of blind stupidity on the part of the transgressor. Nothing more."

"They forged my name," he clearly stated, anger tinting his tone. "They set me up. I have a right to know..."

Rossi held a hand up, effectively stopping Hotch's rant before it could gain anymore steam.

"No. You have a right to know that you've been cleared of any wrong doing. I'll also agree that you have the right to know that justice has been served, and that those involved are never going to pull this sort of crap on you or anyone else ever again. That's as far as your rights reach in this incidence."

"That's not fair. I have a right to face my accusers."

"That would be me, son. I'm right here."

Hotch lowered his head into his hand and rubbed his forehead before letting that hand fall away as he straightened and crossed his arms.

"This is unacceptable. I demand to know who did this."

"You demand?" Dave asked with mildly amused astonishment. "Really, recruit?"

"Really," he answered, unfazed by the man's raised brow.

"Aaron, would you want me to disclose what happened between us the other night at the bar?"

"Of course not."

"Not even if someone had a reason to demand that information from me?"

"This is an entirely different issue."

"No. It really isn't. Someone stepped out of line and got yanked back onto the straight and narrow. While I now know that you didn't do anything wrong, you most certainly found yourself snapped into line. So, if you value your own anonymity, you're going to have to respect others."

"But, Agent Rossi..."

"Jesus, kid. Drop the agent, would you? And there are no buts here. This is how it's going to be. You don't have to like it. You just have to accept it."

"So you're not going to tell me."

"No," the man stated with clear exasperation.

Hotch eyed him for several seconds before huffing quietly to himself.

"Fine."

"Good. I'm glad that's settled."

"I'll just keep researching until I find out the identity for myself. You said a central log exposed the truth?"

The words were barely out of his mouth when a firm rap was briskly applied to the back of his head as Rossi got to his feet.

"Ow! What the hell?" Aaron exclaimed as he rubbed the affected area.

"This case is closed. I better not catch you working on it in whatever you think you have for spare time. There's no point in wasting time on closed cases when we have unsolved ones jockeying for position on our roster. You also need to realize that time away from the job is time to be spent with family. Priorities, kid. Get them straight. Learn from my mistake. Ex-wife. Remember? There's to be no more of these all nighters. The job doesn't go home with you. It's bad for your health, your marriage, your job performance, and it's a sure fire way to get your ass in a sling with me."

"I thought dedication to the job was considered a good thing."

"It is, but you have to know where to draw the line, and that's where rules come in."

"You may have missed this, but rule five in the general principles of ethical conduct states that employees shall put forth honest effort in the performance of their duties. It's right before not giving preferential treatment, making unauthorized commitments, or using public office for private gain."

Rossi groaned as he bit back the scathing comment he wanted to sling at his new partner, and instead settled for a more polite, "I'm not talking about the damn ethics handbook, counselor."

Hotch's expression turned darker as he glared at the wholly confusing older man.

"Then what are you talking about?"

"The Rossi handbook of how not to majorly fuck up. My rules don't come with a bunch of codes, bylaws, and regulations. Honestly, they're pretty simple, and as long as you follow them, you won't have to worry about trying to explain to your wife why you're not interested in sitting down for dinner."

Dave could see a muscle twitch in his protege's jaw as Aaron ground his teeth, but to his benefit, the younger man refrained from arguing further.

"Now, see. You're learning already. That's good. We're going to get along just fine."

Taking a deep breath, Hotch made a Herculean effort to calm himself before finally inquiring, "And just what are these Rules of Rossi?"

"Glad you asked," the man answered with an easy smile. "They're simple. You shouldn't have any problem remembering or implementing them. Don't lie to me, obviously. Don't put your life or the lives of others at unnecessary risk. The job is dangerous enough without you adding to it. I shouldn't have to point out that putting your general health at risk goes along with that, but since you've already proven that you'll push yourself too hard, I'll say it to avoid any misunderstanding. You make sure that you eat and get enough rest. When we get tired, we lose focus. Though it might seem counter intuitive, there are times that you have to step back from a case, get a good night's sleep, and start fresh in the morning. And finally, don't go off on your own without telling me what's going on. I don't need to be wasting time and energy chasing you down or worrying about you. Think you can handle all of that?"

"I'm not a child."

"That doesn't answer the question."

"Yes, I can handle it."

"Excellent! Then put her there partner," Dave said as he held out a hand for the scowling youth to shake.

Hotch looked begrudgingly at the offered hand before finally taking it in a firm grip as he rose from his seat.

"That a boy," Rossi praised as slapped the man fondly on the shoulder with his free hand. "It might not seem like it right now, but this partnership is going to be good for you. Just you wait and see."

Inwardly, the young agent sighed as he pulled his hand from the Italian's hold.

"May I go now?"

"As long as I have your word that you're dropping the investigation."

Aaron held his tongue and averted his gaze before drawing a soft breath.

"The truth, kid," Dave encouraged with a cocked brow.

"It goes against my better judgment, but I'll drop the case."

"Promise?"

"Yes, I promise, but if something of this nature happens again, all bets are off. I will chase down the guilty party and see to it that they face an official disciplinary hearing."

"That could put my ass on the line."

Hotch's expression was guarded and cool.

"It certainly could, and most likely would given that you have knowledge of this prior offense."

Rossi studied his protege for several long tense seconds before slowly nodding.

"I'll consider myself warned then. Good thing I have faith in my corrective measures, or I might be worried."

Aaron huffed and lowered his gaze.

"Alright, kid. I have an abduction case that I want you to take a look at first thing tomorrow. I don't have anything tangible, but I have a feeling that there's a correlation between that and a current incident in Boise. Pack a bag tonight, because you and I will be catching a flight to Idaho. I'd like to say that I'll have you back in time for lunch with your wife the following day, but that's going to depend on what we discover."

"I haven't been cleared to carry a weapon," he pointed out as he once again eyed his supervisor.

"You're not required to carry for this. You can get certified when we return."

"I could see if I can push the test up and possibly take it today."

"Nothing doing. I want you to go grab your things and get the hell out of here. Well rested eyes pick up on details better than tired ones, but if you want to get a preview of the case, I left it on your desk. You can take it on the way out."

Nodding, Hotch had just stepped through the door when Rossi called his name, effectively drawing him to a halt.

"Oh, and one more thing. Do yourself a favor. Don't threaten me again. I've never had a reason to make a rule to address that particular vice, but I'm willing to revise to accommodate your needs."

Aaron's expression was calm, but he felt his cheeks flush at the warning. Giving a nod of understanding, he quickly departed, anxious to put some distance between himself and the supervisory agent.

He had been humiliated by Rossi's correction, but the man's unprecedented apology had shaken him more. For the moment, he wasn't sure what to think of the profiler. There was something in the man's manner that made him want to like him, even trust him, but dominant males had always spelled trouble for Aaron. Still, the new recruit decided that he would give the man a second chance. After all, Rossi had the connections it took to make or break a career. Having the Italian on his side would be beneficial, of that he was certain. Another thing that he was also sure of — he would never put himself in a position that brought him into conflict with the man's 'rules'. One woodshed experience at his age was one too many. He was an adult, and by God he would make sure David Rossi came to realize that.

Feeling the blood rush back into his cheeks, he slipped the file that he had somehow managed to overlook earlier into his briefcase before shrugging into his sports coat.

"Going somewhere, junior?" Wachowski asked while looking up from his keyboard.

"Agent Rossi is going to be doing some field work, and he asked for my assistance."

Hank noted a tone of pride in the rookie's voice and smiled. Rossi did it again.

"Good for you, Hotchner. I knew Rossi had you pegged right. Now get out there and show him up. That son of a bitch needs to be put in his place," the big man said with a grin. "It's been far too long, and I'm willing to put money on you being just the guy to do it."

Aaron glanced down to hide his embarrassment at the odd compliment as he turned to leave.

"Kid, hang on." Wachowski rifled through his desk draw and withdrew a handgun secured in an ankle holster. "Take this with you. You can never be too safe."

"I'm not authorized to carry."

"So don't carry it. Strap it around your ankle instead," he man replied with a wink. "No one needs to know."

"Thank you, Agent Wachowski, but I can't," Hotch said as he pushed the man's gun holding hand away. "I need to do things by the book."

The red headed man burst out in raucous laughter.

"By the book? And you're planning on working with Rossi? Oh this is rich." The man laughed harder while forcing the pistol into the rookie's hand. "You're going to need that. If you really want to play by the books, you might have to shoot Rossi to do it."

The burly man wiped a tear away as he brought his mirth back under control.

"You don't have to carry it until you're certified, but I'll feel better just knowing that you have it at your disposal. You know, just in case that damn dago gets out of line and needs you to protect him."

Hotch raised a disapproving brow at the use of the racial slur, causing the other man's grin to broaden.

"Sorry, kid. Your super and I go way back. I didn't mean anything by it."

"I'll ask you to refrain from using that term around me. Agent Rossi has obviously earn his position and the respect that comes with it. Please have the civility to act accordingly."

"Anything you say, junior. I never meant to put your nose out of joint," the agent replied as he raised his hands defensively.

Aaron's expression remained hard and cool as he assessed the man before finally breaking eye contact.

"Thank you for the gun. I'll be sure to return it as soon as we get back to Quantico."

"Eh. Keep it. She's a good little back up. I hope she serves you well."

Hotch's nod was faint, but the seasoned agent easily caught it as the young man turned on his heel and strode out of the bullpen.

"Keep him safe, kid," he called softly.

"I'll do my best," came the answer before the dark haired youth boarded the elevator and vanished from view.

"I know you will," Wachowski said to no one as the smile continued to play on his lips. "God only knows why, but I know you will."

FINI

AN: And that's that. Sorry for the OCs, but I needed some warm bodies to help me out with these two. ... Well three, since Erin decided to join in the fun. I wanted to end this with Hotch and Rossi's partnership solid and friendship building, but Hotch got a little too ticked off when Rossi wouldn't spill the beans about Strauss. *shrugs* They're on the right track anyway. It's just going to take a little more time for them to fully trust each other, but we know that they'll be just fine in the end.

Thanks so much for reading and reviewing. Y'all are wonderful, and quite inspiring. I have a request, so apparently the BAU will have to put up with me a little longer. Thanks again. Until next time...

Oh, and, ullswater, wait until you get to seasons 4 and 5. Omnivore is where my vision of Rossi was solidified. He offers Hotch a touch of tough love when he needed it most. ;-)