In Hiding (Final Book in the Boss's Niece Series)

Rossi's Funeral

Everyone one the team, except for Sara, who was standing with Haley, carried David's casket. I walked ahead of Spencer, who took my hand as we walked down towards the grave. David was being buried next to his wife and kid.

Spencer reached forward and took my hand in his. I turned to look at him, tear streaming down my face. I noticed the tears in his eyes and gave him a sad smile. I looked around. Everyone there had tears in their eyes. They were all friends with David.

Once we came to the grave, we placed the casket on the thing that would lower it down and we all backed away into a circle. Uncle Aaron stepped forward.

"Hello," he said. "My name is Aaron Hotchner. I used to work with David with we were on the BAU. He was a good, kind hearted man, even if he didn't show it that much."

We laughed. Spencer wrapped his arm around my waist and held me close. Haley, who was now with us, held onto my hand. She looked up at us with big eyes. She didn't like seeing mommy and daddy sad.

"David was many things." Uncle Aaron continued. "A profiler and an author, yes. But he was so much more than that. He was a colleague, a friend, a brother. He was very special to everyone here for many different reasons."

He stopped for a moment to wipe the tears forming in his eyes and to regain his voice.

"David-David was there for me when my first wife, Haley, passed away. A few years later, his first wife, Caroline, passed away and the tables turned. David-he was on of my closest friends."

Uncle Aaron's voice cracked. I quickly walked up to him and put a hand on his shoulder. He began to sob and went to join Beth and Jack.

"Hi there. I'm Melanie Reid. I'm Aaron's niece and an old colleague of David's." I said. "It wasn't until David's last year at the BAU that we became closer. I helped him with his writer's block, he wrote a chapter in his newest book about me and we just became close friends from there."

My face was so cold with the tears and the cold January weather that it almost felt like it was burning. I tried to keep my voice even and my breathing steady.

"I never imagined I'd ever have to go through something like this again. The first time I lost someone was my best friend, Molly. But David, it almost seemed like he would live forever. I'm surprised he didn't."

Everyone chuckled again.

"Anyways, I'm sure if he was still alive, David would tell us not to cry. He's nothing special to cry over. He was more special than he thought."

I nodded and joined Spencer and Haley again.

"Mommy, don't cry." Haley said to me. I smiled down at her and picked her up.

"That was beautiful." someone said. I turned around to see Emily Prentiss standing behind me. Her eyes were red and her cheeks were tear stained. I gave her a broken smile and a one armed hug.

"I didn't think you'd make it." Spencer said.

"Of course I'd make it. I can't miss his funeral. He'd haunt me for the rest of my life."

The three of us silently chuckled.

It finally came to the point of the funeral where everyone placed a flower on David's casket. Everyone had their own flower. Spencer, Haley and I got Lavenders because Lavenders were Italian.

"Say goodbye to David, okay sweetie?" I said to Haley.

"Bye bye David." Haley said and waved at the casket. "Mommy, where did he go?"

"An angel took him to a better place." Spencer answered. "To a place where he'll never be in pain again."

"Am I ever going to meet David?" Haley asked.

Spencer and I shared heartbroken glances. Haley only met David once and that was almost a year ago when we had renewed our vows.

"Maybe one day, sweetheart." Spencer said and took Haley from me. "For now, we can talk to him in the mornings before daycare like Jack does with Aunt Haley."

The church choir that had gathered began to sing Hallelujah as David's casket was lowered into the ground.

It wasn't sinking in. I wished it wasn't true. David couldn't be gone. He still had so much life left. He was only in his late 60s, but he could pass for 50, 45 at the youngest. Now he was gone. And the heartbreaking thing was Uncle Aaron was not much younger than him. I didn't want this to be him in a few years.

As we watched the casket be lowered, I felt this strange feeling like someone was watching me. I lifted my head and looked around. Nothing but a bunch of grieving faces. Except.

A woman with hair much like mine, long and auburn, was looking right at me. When I noticed her, she quickly looked away. That was odd.

"There's a woman looking at me." I muttered to Spencer. He looked over that the woman.

"She looks like you." he commented. "What do you think? Long lost sister?"

I let out a chuckle that was a lot louder than I meant it to be, which earned me glares from other grievers.

"I'd doubt it." I said. I looked back at the woman, who was now looking at David's casket. "Everyone's leaving. Quick, before she goes, take a picture. Maybe we can see what her deal is."

Spencer pulled his phone out of his pocket and snapped a quick picture of the woman.

"I got it." he said. "Now, let's go back to David's place. The BAU is going to go through his things before the place is put up for sale."

I nodded. I know I should be grieving the death of one of my colleagues, but right now, I can't get my mind off that woman.