Disclaimer: I do not own Criminal Minds and intend no copyright infringement.

"You don't look like you're celebrating", Rossi observed as he met Ishika Kapoor in her hotel's bar. "A provisional BAU report on the Edward Gordon case", he said and handed her a file. "We'll e-mail the final one." He couldn't help but notice how wonderfully her black hair shimmered in the dim bar light.

"Thank you for taking the trouble to bring it to me in person", she replied, smiling a sad smile.

"Considering the fact that you successfully closed your investigation you didn't appear terribly happy back at the hospital."

"You noticed?" Ishika locked her green-brown eyes with him. "Everyone was overflowing with joy because Agent Morgan was finally safe and you took the time to think about a wise-ass Brit?"

Rossi's eyes glinted as she threw his own words back at him. "You were right, my ego got damaged last time we met. Everything was perfect and then you came along… Your stubbornness almost destroyed all my plans… but, I've got to admit, you were a worthy opponent. Under different circumstances I would have enjoyed battling with you."

"How are the circumstances tonight, Agent Rossi?", she asked.

"How many drinks did you have?"

"Only this one."

"Let's go upstairs."

They made their way to Ishika's hotel room in silence, like starved wolves heading for the feed lot. On the doorstep he kissed her hungrily. Full of dark energy, she grabbed his shirt and pulled him into the room. With one swift motion, Rossi swept her off her feet and pinned her to the ground. Breathing heavily, not willing to let him take control just yet, she was preparing to roll him over when her cell phone started to ring. Cursing under her breath, she fished it out of her purse and switched it off.

"4" means "I love you", doesn't it?", Rossi said, referring to the prank he'd played on her on their way to Gordon's apartment. "I gave your caller three options, but he made up another one, which I hadn't given. "4" is supposed to mean that he loves you and doesn't expect you to change… Why are you so afraid of getting married?"

"Since you've been married thrice, you should know", she replied tersely.

"I ruined three marriages because at the bottom of my heart I'm a self-centered bastard. You are not."

She didn't answer immediately. When she finally spoke up, her voice was hoarse. "Every time someone asks me, I've got the feeling of suffocating, of drowning. As if I'm making the biggest mistake of my life." She bend down to kiss Rossi again, but he turned away.

"No", he said, rearranging his shirt. "This would be the biggest mistake of your life. Call him, whatever his name is, and say yes. He's madly in love with you and he understands you. Someone is offering you a precious gift. Take it."

Ishika sat down and looked Rossi straight in the face for a moment. Then she nodded. He got up and headed for the door.

"Are you going to get a shower?", she asked.

"Oh yes", the profiler said.

"A cold one?", she smiled, a slightly playful note reentering her voice.

"Icy cold", he replied.

Later, back in his own bedroom, he couldn't sleep for a long time. Finally, after listening to the clock strike three, he took his phone and dialed a familiar number. It didn't take her long to answer. No surprise there. He knew her well enough by now to be sure she hadn't been sleeping. The day had been way too eventful. "Garcia", he said, sighing. "When did I get so altruistic?"

Penelope Garcia didn't need to ask what he was talking about. She had noticed the way he had looked at DI Kapoor. "What do you think?", she replied.

"It's from being around all of you all the time. You're contagious in your conscious, always responsible and caring-for-each-other manner. They should put up a hazard warning sign in front of the BAU's offices."

Garcia laughed heartily. "Welcome to the team, Agent Rossi!", she said.

author's note: DI Kapoor made her first appearance in "hemlock". I like her a lot, but do you, too? Would you like to read another story with her?