Long Lost Daughter Of David Rossi

Chapter 4

Rossi's POV
After supper, which Serafina had two helpings of carbonara, but I don't mind because at least I know she likes it, it was time for Sera to have a bath. I started the water and let Sera adjust it to her liking, but when I told her it was time to get in and asked her to please undress after I turned around to face the wall so that she could undress, she started freaking out.

Serafina bolted past me and ran down the hall to her bedroom and slammed the door and locked it. Of course, I followed her and stopped outside her door. I knocked on the door.

"Sera, Serafina, please come out and talk to me. What's the matter, sweetheart? What has you so upset?" I said, knocking.

"No, I won't come out! If I come out and take my bath and take my clothes off, you'll just want to do things like all the rest! I won't let you hurt me, I don't trust you!" Sera shouted, crying.

I was so confused. What did she mean by that? Had other men hurt her those 6 years she was in the foster care system? "I promise you Sera, I won't hurt you. I would never hurt you, you're my daughter and I love you." I replied, "Unlock the door Serafina."

"No!" She yelled defiantly and kicked the door so hard it actually hurt my shin. I winced and suppressed a shout of pain. I knew if I shouted, it was only going to make things worse.

I didn't know what to do to soothe her, I was so lost. Yes, I've dealt with sexually assaulted children before in my field of work, everyone at the BAU had, but it's different when it's your own child, your own flesh and blood. I did the only thing I could do; I walked down the hall to my bedroom and called Penelope. Penelope was a female and she was great with children, she was better with them than I was. Maybe she could get Serafina to calm down and take her bath. Penelope answered after three rings.

"Your friendly neighborhood Oracle of all things knowable and unknowable at your service." Penelope answered and I had a feeling that Penny wasn't even really paying attention to who was on the phone because I could hear keys clacking in the background.

"Hey Penny, it's Dave. Can you do me a favor?"

"Of course, Rossi. What can I do for you?"

"Could you come over to my house? I picked up Serafina from her social worker at the airport earlier today. Everything was fine, she even had two helpings of my carbonara. I was trying to get her to take a bath and as soon as I asked her to undress so that she could get in the tub while I turned around, she freaked out and ran down the hall to her room and slammed the door and locked it, she won't come out. Maybe you can get her to take a bath, you're a female, she might trust you more than me. She thinks I'm gonna hurt her and I won't." I explained everything to the blonde woman while I paced.

"I'll be right over, Dave. Just stay there until I get there. Do you have bath toys? Kids love bath toys." Penelope replied and I heard her grabbing her car keys and putting her coat on.

"I don't have bath toys, Penny, I didn't take Serafina shopping yet. I was planning on doing that tomorrow, taking her shopping for clothes, books, and toys." I said, running a hand through my hair as I paced.

"I'll swing by the store on my way to your place and pick some up. Trust me, Serafina will feel more comfortable with bath toys." Penelope replied.
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(Time Skip)
Rossi's POV
I was still pacing in my room when I heard the knock on the front door and knew it was Penny. I went downstairs and unlocked the door and let the bubbly blonde woman in.

"Hey Dave, is Serafina still in her room?" Penny asked as I took her coat and hung it up for her. She was carrying her purse and a plastic store bag.

"Yeah, she's been in there for the past 45 minutes. A new bath will need to be drawn, but Sera can adjust it to her liking. What's in the bag?" I replied, following her into the living room as she set the bag down on the coffee table.