Pumpkin; Rossi/Garcia; PG

[severity_softly]

Title: Pumpkin
Author: severity_softly
Pairing: Rossi/Garcia
Rating: PG
Word count: ~600
Notes: Beta'd by innerslytherin, who, coincidentally, you can blame the cat on. :)


Dave wasn't completely sure he understood himself anymore. It was disconcerting, to say the least. Penelope was... different. He'd said as much out loud. She wears her individuality like a shield.

So when he started to find himself drawn to her, it was confusing to say the least. He liked pretty little redheads, and he didn't think those red--actual red; ambulance red--streaky... things that Penelope put in her hair counted. She knitted, and that was about the most boring hobby Dave could think of. She had a boyfriend, and Kevin really didn't like Dave. And after three marriages, one of which ended with his wife sleeping with another man, Dave really couldn't pretend he didn't care about breaking up relationships anymore. It was oddly depressing that Penelope wasn't single, and Dave hated that.

On top of that, she flirted with everyone but Dave most of the time. Dave didn't like that as well, but he wasn't sure if he was jealous, or if it was because that was the thing that had sparked his interest in the first place. He suspected the latter, because treating him differently meant she felt differently about him, and he wasn't supposed to hope that she didn't flirt where she wanted to the most out of fear of rejection. Of course, it was always possible that she just treated him differently because she still felt a little intimidated by him. He wasn't very fond of that idea, either.

Dave didn't just hate that. That pissed Dave off. God damned unrequited attraction was not his style.

I was safe to say that Dave wasn't just confused, but that he was also more than a little irked. "God damn it," he mumbled to himself as he approached the glass doors into the BAU, seeing her bustling through inside.

She was wearing blinding lime green, with poofy things in her hair that matched, and lipstick that didn't. "Hello, hello, my grumpy-looking friend," she said, smiling at him. "What's up?"

"It's seven-thirty," he complained.

She caught his elbow when he tried to pass her, and he held his breath. "Yeah, it's seven-thirty, and you're a morning person," she said.

He blinked at her.

"Doesn't take a profiler, pumpkin," she said.

Pumpkin. She'd just called him pumpkin. That took a moment to process. "I'm fine," he said finally.

She snorted in apparent disbelief. "Walk with me, talk with me," she said, and tugged his arm again before dropping her hand and walking toward her office.

He stared after her for a moment, and then found it impossible not to follow.

"Late night?" she asked.

"A fun-filled extravaganza of watching the news with Cat, and going to bed early," he said.

"Who's Cat?"

"My cat."

"You... named your cat 'Cat'?"

"Yes," he said lightly.

"Wow." She was silent for a moment. "David Rossi has a cat," she said, disbelieving.

"He's a bastard," he replied, and she laughed.

"Ah, well, it takes one to know one, dear heart."

Okay, maybe she wasn't intimidated by him. Dave found himself smiling faintly. "Dear heart," he repeated.

She turned around in the doorway to her bunker. "Yep. Now go to your office. Shoo."

Dave's smile widened. "I thought we were supposed to be talking."

She nodded. "We were. And now you're smiling. Mission accomplished." She patted his cheek, and his eyebrows lifted. "Shoo," she repeated, and then shut the door on him.

He stood there for a moment, and then a tiny chuckle bubbled up inside him. He turned and walked away. As much as he didn't understand what the hell he was feeling, he wasn't sure he'd ever really understand her.

Oddly, he realized, that was one thing that didn't bother him.

Comments

[muse127.livejournal.com]

Oh, I've been *itching* to read some Rossi/Garcia! I'm so glad that someone decided to, not only write it, but write it well.

I can see Rossi being irritated that she doesn't flirt with him like she does with everyone else. I mean, even Hotch gets some Garcia lovin' from time to time. :D

Also, I love how Garcia's mission was accomplished when Rossi started smiling. It was just so *her*.

So lovely! <3

[severity-softly.livejournal.com]

Oh, I've been *itching* to read some Rossi/Garcia!

LOL I'm glad I'm not the only one! :D

Thank you!

[mcgarrygirl78.livejournal.com]

This is utterly fantastic....both characters to a tee.

His cat being named Cat and being a bastard, that just made me want to hug him. I want to hug this whole story.

[severity-softly.livejournal.com]

LOL I'm so used to innerslytherin's Rossi having a mean cat when we write other Rossi pairings together, I just can't not picture him with one now. *snort*

Thank you! I'm glad you liked it! :)

[rhea-carlysse.livejournal.com]

I think this is probably the best thing that's happened to me in the entire day XD It's awesome, I was waiting for someone to write them since last season. Not that I ship Rossi with everyone (but Gideon)... And this? This is wonderful ♥


Dave didn't just hate that. That pissed Dave off. God damned unrequited attraction was not his style.

lol, I loved that bit <333

[severity-softly.livejournal.com]

Not that I ship Rossi with everyone (but Gideon)...

Uh-huh. Suuuuuure.

I'm glad you liked it!

[nebula99.livejournal.com]

*g* this was cute. I liked Rossi's annoyance at Garcia's lack of flirting.

[severity-softly.livejournal.com]

Thanks! :)

[hopskotch-hotch.livejournal.com]

I was surprised to find that I loved this - I didn't think it would work, but it really, really did! :)

[severity-softly.livejournal.com]

Part of me wonders if most people are clicking the link out of morbid curiosity, and then going "Oh. Huh." LOL

Glad you liked it!

[a_blackpanther]

Oh this is just about the oddest pair that acme outa this comm. Yet this story is love and endearing and really cute. Also there's a mistype in "Ah, well, it takes on to know one, dear heart."

[severity-softly.livejournal.com]

Thanks so much!

(and thanks for pointing that out!)

[taradilien.livejournal.com]

Brilliant. I really enjoyed this.

[severity-softly.livejournal.com]

Thanks! :)

[innerslytherin]

Loooooove. :D

[severity-softly.livejournal.com]

ILU! *clings*

[kyrdwyn.livejournal.com]

I love the fact that Rossi named his cat 'Cat' (as the Garfield cartoon once said, what's the point of naming an animal if it won't come when you call it anyway?)

Cute fic. I think Garcia's mission to to make everyone smile. Although I think she'd fall out if she actually got Hotch to smile.....

[severity-softly.livejournal.com]

Eee, yes, ahe exists to make everyone's life a little brighter. :)

Thank you!

[delphini-2.livejournal.com]

OMG

When I seen the pairing I thought OMG I can not see these two sexing eachother up, but I had to read to find out what happened.

Thankgod. No sexing ! Just complete sweetness. I loved it. I love Garcia. I want to keep her !

And Dave and his cat is so adorable. I think I'll keep him too.

[severity-softly.livejournal.com]

Hee! Thanks, dear!

[empressnan]

I'm one of the ones who clicked out of curiosity. But my reaction wasn't "Oh. Huh." It was more like, "Hmmm. WOW! Heeeee!", accompanied by a blinding grin. This was just great! And one of THE best Garcia characterizations I've ever read. Brava!

[severity-softly.livejournal.com]

Aw, THANK YOU! I, sadly, don't write her often, but I enjoy it each time I do, so I'm glad it worked. :)

[callmekat8.livejournal.com]

aaaaahhhh I loved this soo much! I've been waiting for more fics on this pairing!

[severity-softly.livejournal.com]

More? I've never seen it, so if you could point me to others, I'd be thrilled.

I'm glad you liked it!

[patch-tank.livejournal.com]

That was so awesome! You get that this makes you the best person ever, right?

Fantastic characterisation of both of them, and I love the part about Cat XD

[severity-softly.livejournal.com]

LOL Thank you very much!

[selinara.livejournal.com]

I clicked out of morbid curiosity, I have to admit. Definitely enjoyed it, though I'm a die hard M/G shipper.

You had Garcia bang on, personality wise, and Dave's reaction was a hoot. Not sure that you've won me over to them as a full-out couple, but will keep my eyes peeled for more of your lovely fics.

[caitriona-3.livejournal.com]

Cute!!! I never considered this couple and then in two fics I have to think about it! Gosh darn you anyway!

I hope you write some more - you have Garcia down perfectly and I love Rossi's responses.

Favorite line - "We were. And now you're smiling. Mission accomplished."

[crimsonquills.livejournal.com]

This pairing is an odd one, but I love them both and you totally make it work. *grins*

Also, I am in love with the idea of Rossi owning a cat he named "Cat". :-D

[severity-softly.livejournal.com]

Hee! Thank you!

[winky3018.livejournal.com]

*giggles* oh I love Penelope!

A cat whose name is "Cat" that belongs to Rossi and is a bastard? *snorts*

[severity-softly.livejournal.com]

Thanks!

[caitriona-3.livejournal.com]

**blows raspberry at screen**

I utterly blame you for sticking this pairing into my head.

That said - I liked this - especially how the thought of Pen being intimidated ticked Dave off.

[severity-softly.livejournal.com]

Thanks!