Deceit | David Rossi

Chapter One

Everything in David's life has gone wrong. He went from being an aspiring BAU profiler alongside his close friend and colleague, Jason Gideon, a happy and prospering marriage with his beautiful wife Carolyn and even a father-to-be, to a man who dreads waking up every morning.

He lost his son, something no one can control and hope to fix. He became resentful, irritated at every obstacle and harsh toward those that once brought him life. It wasn't Carolyn's fault, he never blamed her, yet he couldn't help but feel contempt toward her body, for being unable to carry his son.

In turn, his marriage fell apart. Carolyn detested the man he turned into, unable to do anything to bring the man she married, back. It was the only natural thing to do, divorce, seeing as the two never got on the same again.

Like all bad things that come in threes, David's work ethic crumbled.

He stopped putting so much effort into his cases, stopped caring and scrutinising every detail. It strained his relationship with Jason, who could only offer support for so long. David found he no longer enjoyed the drive to work, now impatiently waiting for the clock to strike home time.

Much like now, as he taps his pen against the papers, aimlessly staring at the clock and the tiny little hand that counts the seconds. He could think of better things to be doing, like drinking or working on his car, not sitting in an office miserable.

"The longer you stare at it, the slower it's going to go." Jason voices from across the table, not bothering to look up.

David rolls his eyes, turning his attention back to the file before him. "I don't know why Strauss put us on this case, it's a dead end." He huffs, leaning back in his chair.

Jason sighs, putting his file down to stare directly at his friend, an irritating look across his face. "What is it going to take to get you, to pull your head from out of your ass?" David frowns, opening his mouth to retort. "Because you're starting to really piss me off, and not just me, everyone that has to be around you all day."

David purses his lips, biting back a remark despite knowing his friend is right. He's been sour for months, and no matter what he does, his mood just doesn't lift. "I don't know," he murmurs, dropping his gaze to the stack of papers on his desk.

The confession startles Jason for a moment, who expected some witty curse to be thrown his way, not this.

"Listen, Dave," he gets up, making his way to sit on the corner of David's desk. "No one should have to go through the things you've gone through, alright? But you're stronger than this, I've seen unsubs knock you on your ass and you got up and hit them harder, so why are you letting this affect you?"

I don't have the energy anymore, he thinks.

His friend's eyes soften at the defeated look. "Whatever reason it is, you need to take it, and put it in this little box," Jason uses his hands for emphasis. "And lock it away. It'll get you killed in this next job."

"What next job?" David chooses to ignore the fact that his friend just told him to push his problems aside.

"The one Strauss is about to give you," Jason says nonchalantly.

David sits straighter, preparing to drill Jason for all he knows when the elevator doors open and their Unit Chief steps out, a figure following close behind. She makes her way across the floor, stopping by the boy's desks for a brief moment before continuing up the stairs.

"David, a word in my office."

His eyes narrow at her tone, unceremoniously following her. He studies the woman next to her, taking in her posture and the way she presents herself; definitely someone important. Who? David could care less.