━━━ ❝ ❨ 𝑷𝒓𝒐𝒃𝒂𝒃𝒍𝒚 𝒏𝒐𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒘𝒐𝒖𝒍𝒅 𝒉𝒂𝒗𝒆 𝒈𝒐𝒏𝒆 𝒘𝒓𝒐𝒏𝒈 𝒊𝒇 𝒔𝒉𝒆 𝒉𝒂𝒅𝒏'𝒕 𝒐𝒇𝒇𝒆𝒓𝒆𝒅 𝒉𝒊𝒎 𝒕𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝒋𝒐𝒊𝒏𝒕 𝒊𝒏 𝒕𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝒈𝒓𝒂𝒗𝒆𝒚𝒂𝒓𝒅. ❩ ❞
Their story was never meant to be a happy one. In fact, the...
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CHAPTER 5: ROSE PETALS AND ROMANTIC DINNERS (5x10: the slave of duty)
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BESS STOOD NEXT TO ROSSI in the large crowd of people gathered together in the cemetery for Haley's funeral, listening to Hotch's speech he had written for the occasion. It was beautifully composed, though it didn't have the same impact on her as it did on the others. Her body refused to drop a single tear, just like the tightness in her chest was nothing more than an empty thought. She didn't feel anything.
There was nothing to be done; she had to accept that she barely knew the woman, if at all, and acting otherwise wouldn't change that.
"I met Haley at the tryouts of our high school's production of The Pirates of Penzance. I found our copy of the play and was looking through it the other night, and I came upon a passage that seemed appropriate for this moment," Hotch told the crowd, then cleared his throat, "Oh, dry the glistening tear that dews that martial cheek. Thy loving children hear, in them thy comfort seek. With sympathetic care, their arms around thee creep, for, oh, they cannot bear to see their father weep."
After the memorial, Bess followed the others in putting her single rose onto the top of the sleek black coffin, though she avoided speaking to Hotch. What could she say really? She couldn't bring Haley back, nor could she take away his pain. It was pointless to even try. Therefore, she just gave Jack a small smile, then waited for Rossi, so they could walk back to the funeral home together, where dinner would be served.
By the time the last guest left, Hotch had lost count of how many people offered him their condolences. His tired expression caught Rossi's attention as he approached with two drinks in his hands, saying, "I think you could use some air." When Hotch didn't answer, the senior agent continued, "Jack's okay. I saw him with his cousins."
Hotch let out a deep sigh but caved into his offer with a resigned nod. He caught Haley's sister, Jessica's eye, asking the woman to get Jack something to eat, then tracked Rossi out to the balcony. Bess' gaze followed the pair over the rim of her wine glass until they disappeared, her eyes settling on Emily instead, who had been stretching her neck to prevent losing sight of the two men. When she did, she turned back, asking, "What do we do?"
"We have to wait him out. Help him with whatever he needs," Morgan muttered, not tearing his gaze from his wine glass.
No one spoke until Reid cleared his throat, mumbling, "You think he'll ever come back?"
JJ flashed her eyebrows at the boy. "Would you?"
"He'll come back," Bess answered before anyone else could, eyeing the blonde woman while bringing the glass to her lips to take another sip. "It's just a matter of time."
