“Hey, this is great!” He said when she handed him the ‘get well soon’ teddy bear. “It couldn’t have been easy to find a ‘Cubs’ bear around here." He noted as Garcia just shrugged her shoulders. He had expected her to go into a detailed, self complementary, explanation on how easy it was for someone with her talents to get anything whenever she needed it. Instead, PG stayed quiet. Gave a little, unconvincing smile. A too subdued smile for his liking. She seemed troubled. Rossi took in her downcast demeanor. Tried to start a conversation in a different way. “I didn’t know you were here.” Dave mentioned. Referring to the fact that Alvez had been in and out of his room for the previous hour, but had obviously failed to mention she was at the hospital, too. The way things had been going of late, he seriously doubted they had arrived separately.
Rossi had taken the opportunity to have Luke smuggle in a few basic comforts. Whisky, cigars, the necessities . Granted, Dave hadn’t given him a chance to speak much, sending him off, putting him to work even before the younger Agent had a chance to greet him. Dave was in a rush, wanting to fly under the nurses’ radar. Especially Matron Jenny- more like ‘Drill Sergeant’ Jenny. One of the few hospital employees on the floor that hadn’t succumbed to Rossi’s charms nor bribes. However, Dave wondered why Luke hadn’t even hinted at PG’s presence.
Oh.
“You went to see Green?” Rossi startled her out of her silence.
“Yeah-” She admitted bashfully. She knew Tyler was still a sore subject for the whole Team.
“Mmm-” Dave paused, Pen’s eyes never making contact with his. “You broke up with him.” He ventured.
“I-” She wavered. Unsure how to phrase her thoughts. “Yes.” She finally acknowledged looking at him. She sighed. Was that disappointment in his eyes? “You think I’m a monster. Of all the worst places, times to choose. In a hospital. Post surgery. Probably still high on his pain meds- I’m not even sure he was fully cogent. I mean, he engaged in the conversation, he wasn’t best pleased- I- Frack, maybe I should check in-”
“Garcia!” Missing all the soft Penelopes and PGs, she finally heard Dave firmly call out her surname after he had tried to get her attention a few times. He reached out for her hand, caressing it in a soothing motion. Once she settled, he continued. “You didn’t do anything wrong-” At her eye roll, he simply chuckled. There was no reason to dredge up her misstep. (Getting involved with the guy in the first place.) Dave had a chance to think about the events that had led them to be patients at that hospital. The pursuit and eventual capture of one of the most prolific serial killers and masterminds (nay, master puppeteer) they had ever dealt with during their tenure at the BAU. That wasn’t the conversation he wanted to have. Not right then. “You did what you had to, when you had to. Same as I need to, right now.”
Penelope was taken aback by his demeanor. Calm, supportive. No swearing. She pondered whether Rossi was still under the influence of some mellowing drugs affecting his mood. She had missed this version of her Papà. The one that Krystall always brought out. A bittersweet smile graced her lips remembering the woman that had been taken from them way too soon. She shook out of her recollections. “Do you want to go and speak to Tyler?” She posed.
“No!” Dave laughed off the notion. “You, I need to speak to you, apologise to you, really.”
“ Whatever for? ” She asked, baffled by his words.
“For the part I played in this. In a way pushing Green in your direction-”
“You didn't.” Garcia was truly lost. Were they actually having that conversation!?!
“I kinda did. Remember the kitten?” The older man shook his head in self reproach. “I knew Green was bad news. That he’s totally wrong for you. That he’s someone that couldn’t- shouldn’t be trusted and yet…” Garcia squeezed his hand lightly when he seemed lost in his recollections. She was very intrigued to know where this was headed.
Rossi sighed, resuming his speech. “But it’s not my place to make choices for you. We dragged you back into this mess. I wasn’t the most pleasant. Yet, you helped me get my bearings. Get out of my head. Of course I was saddened to see you were not interested in the man we all thought you’d end up with. The one I always thought was perfect for you-” He paused to smile at her. “Anyhoo- when I saw you were intrigued by this guy- I don’t know- I guess my instincts went out the window-”
“Not just yours.” She interjected in a disillusioned sigh.
He nodded his understanding as he resumed. “In the hope that at least you could be happy, I brushed my reservations aside. That’s why I gave Green some pointers. Told him how to get on your good side. I just didn’t realize how bad that would turn out for you. And for that I’m truly sorry.”
“I did know Tyler was wrong for me, that something didn’t add up- it’s probably why I got involved with him in the first place-” She confessed bashfully. “After the solitude during the Covid shut down, coming back to the BAU, certain physiological urges-” She blushed, biting her tongue to halt herself. She wasn’t gonna discuss those with her father figure. “I believe some would say that ‘ I was thinking with the wrong organ ’.” Garcia concluded, eliciting a brief chuckle from Rossi at her assertion.
A sorrowful look still marred his face. “I am sorry.” He repeated.
“Oh Papà-” Garcia reached over to hug the older man. “You don't need to apologize.” She reassured him.
“I would still like to do something to atone-” He told her, after their soothing embrace. “-please!?!”
PG gave it some thought. She smirked as she landed on a most excellent idea. “Mk- if you truly want to appease me-” She began in a teasing tone. “- you need to stop eating those awful microwave dinners and go back to proper cooking. Maybe come to my place for one of your marvellous cooking classes!?!”
Rossi’s contentment clearly displayed on his face, he nodded vehemently. “I can do that. We could start once a week and see where that goes?” He offered sincerely.
“I’d love that.” She confirmed eagerly.
They quietened when an announcement came over the PA.
“Attention all patients and guests- visiting hours will be over in 5 minutes. Please leave the hospital promptly and quietly.“
Garcia reached over to hug Dave again. Adding a parting kiss to his cheek. “I’ll see you tomorrow.” She promised.
“I’ll be here waiting.” He smiled back. Noticing her hesitation to leave. Standing by the room’s door, hand poised over the handle. Staring at him.
“Go on, ask.” He spurred her on.
“Ask what?”
Rossi smirked knowingly. “Not what- who. ” He corrected her.
She reddened, fully aware he had inferred what she was desperate to clarify.
Right then, Alvez walked in the room. “Ooops, sorry Chica,” He apologised, bumping into her. “I didn’t realize you were at the door.” He smiled softly at her (shy) “It’s ok”, walking next to Rossi, back from his latest errand. “I barely made it past Matron Jenny, so you better eat this whilst she’s busy ushering visitors out of the hospital.” Luke chuckled, taking the bag of contraband food out of the clothing he had wrapped it in.
“Speak of the devil, uh? ” Quipped Rossi, glancing at PG.
“Did I mess anything up?” Asked the younger man, looking at his colleagues. Wondering whether he had made any mistakes whilst fulfilling Rossi’s requests.
“You never seem to.” Added PG enigmatically.
“Impeccable timing for sure.” Noted Rossi, smiling at Luke’s confused face.
When his friends just stared at one another without offering any further information, Alvez spoke up. “Ready?” He asked Garcia. He didn’t want to get caught by the Nurse Manager lingering post visiting hours. They had been given a stern lecture the night before, when the whole Team stayed at his bedside later than allowed.
Pen took a moment to gaze in Luke’s eyes. She proceeded to take his hand, interlacing her fingers with his. “ I’m ready .” She proclaimed with a smile.
“Blooming finally!” Rossi commented at the sight. Mindful of his wording, not wanting to ruin the moment for his bambina.
“Papà!”
“See you tomorrow!” The older man grinned, referring to the pair pleased by that subtle, yet most significant development.
_______________
Firmly holding his hand in silence, Garcia led Alvez out of the hospital to the car park.
He guided her to the passenger side, using his free hand to open the door for her. Reluctant to let go of his Chica. He stared at her. If anyone would ask, he wouldn’t be able to quantify what he had seen. It wasn’t tangible, it was more of a weird (but definitely fantastic) feeling swathing him. Hope filled his whole being. “Are you ok?” He finally asked.
“Starting to be.” She replied, placing her free hand on his shoulder. Reaching up to place a quick, chaste peck on his lips.
“Glad to hear.” He simply stated. Before doing what felt most natural in that moment, lowering his head to kiss her back.
After helping Garcia to her seat, he quickly made his way to his. He started the engine, turning to face her. “Chinese or Pizza?” He enquired.
“Neither… I’m actually in the mood for Puerto Rican with a dash of Cuban .” She grinned mischievously.
Luke threw his head back in laughter at her bold proclamation. “Well-” He said, composing himself. Gazing at her intensely. “He’s always in the mood for you!” He declared sincerely. Reaching over the middle console to underline his comment with a passionate kiss.
He pulled back, pecking her lips a few times. Overjoyed to see her blissful smile. “Here we go.” He stated, putting the car in gear, driving off the parking lot, at long last, taking her home where they belonged.
Together .
Papà’s apology by LilP7
Story Note:
A fix-it of sorts set at the end of S16.
Would the OG Rossi have jumped the Garvez ship to support Tynelope!?! I don’t believe that for a minute. Here is my take on how DR could’ve reacted as a result of his captivity + hallucinations= realizations.
☄️Disclaimer/info/⚠️warnings☄️
–set in the hospital post DR’s rescue and TG’s surgery, but no gory deets nor the case are discussed;
–whenever in doubt/missing some character’s background, I throw in the relevant actor’s irl stats. i.e. here I’m using LPA’s actual ancestry (😏);
–re Garvez: the ‘Me & U’ convo did happen as per canon, at the beginning of this FF we find them still just friends;
∆∆∆∆∆∆∆
Endnotes: Thanks for reading. Comments and constructive feedback are always welcome.