[Criminal Minds] years before love

After Gideon arrived at the BAU, he glanced at the lobby habitually, a little surprised that he didn't see Hotch.

Of course he wasn't surprised what Rossi was doing the day before, but he was also pretty sure that Hotch wasn't affected at all after those activities and didn't need to rest at all.

Especially when he found Rossi sitting in the office and seemed to have started working, the surprise was mixed with a hint of panic.

Rossi is obviously not the kind of person who likes to spend all his time here.

He knocked on the door, and walked in without waiting for a response.

"Are you... at work?" He observed for 2 minutes before confirming that Rossi was really screening cases.They had so many calls for help that sometimes he would just pass some of them directly to Rossi and the other senior agents and let them decide which ones to prioritize first.

Rossi lifted his head from the paper and nodded at him, "Yes."

"Where's Aaron?" Gideon looked back at his desk again.

"I think after such an intensive case, especially when some accidents occurred in one of them, he should have at least one day to rest." Rossi patted the things at his hand, "Also, I'm still choosing suitable cases for him. "

"You don't need it, I can arrange it directly." Gideon was a little stunned for a moment. Of course, as an instructor, he can hand over the cases he thinks are suitable to the students, and he is also obliged to guide and help, but Rossi never really regards Hotch as As his own student, recently his case has been assigned by Gideon to avoid unnecessary trouble, and Rossi has been acquiescing to this.

"This should be my job."

"What happened?" Gideon frowned, feeling increasingly uneasy.

"Nothing." Rossi tried to smile reluctantly.

"How are you all? David, if anything happens, I hope you'll at least give me time to get ready before someone comes after me."

"Really not." Rossi waved his hand a little resignedly, "I didn't imprison him in any cage, nor did I kill and abandon the corpse and come to work as if nothing happened—"

Gideon slapped his palm on the table and interrupted him, "David, this is the creepiest thing I've heard from you since I've known you. Did you fight?"

Rossi froze for a moment, then shook his head, "No, I'm sorry."

"If you've ever had that kind of thought, then you really need a therapist." Gideon stared at him, pulled his chair and sat down unceremoniously.

"It's just... I'm displeased with you getting too involved in our relationship." Rossi was embarrassed by him, but he quickly said seriously, "I swear I'll never do that."

"What's the matter?" Gideon asked again, making sure his eyes weren't joking or evasive.

Rossi finally sighed, "Sorry, I just..."

"What?" Gideon urged, the situation was too weird and he wasn't going to let it go.

"We just broke up." Rossi smiled wryly.

"Are you sure?" Gideon frowned. At least judging from the state of the two of them the night before, there was absolutely no reason to break up suddenly. "It's normal if you have some quarrels about the case or work. friction……"

"Jason, we don't usually talk about work when we get home." Rossi denies, pausing for a second, "We really just broke up, no arguments. Aaron had the same concerns as you, so—"

He spread his hands.

"I'm, uh, sorry." Gideon didn't know what to say for a moment, "If there's anything I can help you with, just say it."

"No need." Rossi looked at the table and lost his mind for a moment, "There's nothing we can do. Aaron proposed to break up, and I can only say yes."

Gideon hesitated for a while, of course he should be satisfied with this, but he couldn't bear to see Rossi so depressed, "David, although it's strange for me to say this, are you really not going to redeem it?"

Rossi pursed his lips hard, "No, Jason, you won't understand. I can only say yes, have to say yes... that's the only way we can still be together."

"I really don't understand, you agreed to break up to be with him?" Gideon was puzzled, "Can you explain?"

"It's about control and freedom." Rossi closed his eyes and said softly, "If I say no, of course Aaron won't really insist, or of course I can make him give up, but that's not what I want."

"what do you want?"

"I want Aaron to nod not because he knows I want him to." It's because he does. Rossi opened his eyes, "No matter how or why, I shouldn't try to control him, otherwise, considering the job and position, this will lead to unpredictable consequences."

Gideon patted him lightly, he really couldn't say more, obviously both Rossi and Hotch could understand the uneasiness he saw, and I don't know if they should be thankful, they both have enough reason.

"I don't think I'm the one you should be worried about, after all, it's not the first time I've been broken up." Rossi lowered his head, put his hand on his forehead, stared at the report on the desktop and sighed again, "Although I do thank Aaron for at least agreeing Don't show up here today, give me a day to adjust."

"He'll be fine," Gideon reassured.

"Me too." Rossi forced himself a smile.