Disclaimer: Criminal Minds and its characters aren't mine, I'm merely borrowing them for entertainment purposes.

AN: So once again I'm not sure this whole story will be posted by Christmas. Sorry, I'm having issues with getting in the right mood this year. I'll try my best though. This was written for the Christmas Gift Exchange at CCOAC. It was written for flamegirl22 and my prompts were: "When Christmas Comes to Twon", snow, gingerbread houses, hot chocolate in front of a fireplace. All but one appear in this chapter. Hope you all enjoy!

It was a dreary, cold December day as David Rossi drove the familiar route from his mansion to the BAU in Quantico. As it was still early enough in the month for Christmas songs to be scattered on his usual radio station, he had left it on this morning. The many decorated buildings that he passed though reminded him of what time of year it was. Surprisingly though he didn't feel the usual despondency that he had in years passed. In fact, he was sort of enjoying the sights as he drove this morning. He had even sent his mother and siblings Christmas cards this year, the first time in years that he had done so. Maybe he wasn't exactly bubbling over with the Christmas spirit but he didn't feel as much like the Grinch as he had in years past.

The only thing that Dave could attribute the change in attitude to was the fact that the Galen case had finally been solved. Wrapping the case up may not have changed much in the lives of the Galen kids but at least it had brought closure - for them and him. He had actually received a Christmas Card from Connie the other day, giving him an update on their lives. Rossi had added the Galens to his very short list of people to sends cards to this year, which other than those he had already sent, included only his teammates.

As he turned onto the FBI Academy grounds, a Chritmas song started playing on the radio. For the first time in years, David Rossi didn't change the station or turn the radio off. Instead, he let the holiday song play as he made his way to his usual parking spot near the BAU. As he walked into the building the veteran profiler subconsciously continued to hum the Christmas tune, unaware of the looks his actions was gaining him.

Reaching the sixth floor, Rossi strolled to his office. He stopped short in front of the door without going inside staring at the wreath that had been placed on the door. The circle of evergreen boughs was adorned with fake holly berries and a huge silver bow on the top.

After a few moments, Rossi turned from the door and looked to his teammates gathered nearby in the bullpen. Morgan, Prentiss and Reid were all seated at their desks whith their technical analyst, Penelope Garcia, perched on the edge of Morgan's desk.

"Any of you know who did this?" Rossi asked.

Aware of his dislike for Christmas due to the previous year, his teammates were all reluctant to answer. Reid grabbed a file and was suddenly very interested in it. Morgan and Prentiss both shook their heads in reply. The only one to offer a verbal reply was a very sheepish Garcia.

"I did, sir" the technical analyst admitted. "It looked so plain compared to all the other doors that I just had to add something," she added as a way of an explanation.

Rossi looked around at the other offices that lined the bullpen. Each door sported some kind of holiday decorations. Agent Belle, who was Jewish, had decorated her door with things related to Hanukkah. Even Hotch's door was decorated, having been covered with candy cane wrapping paper and a wreath that matched his own. The fact that Rossi had seen that particular wrapping paper covering Garcia's office door led him to believe their technical analyst had been responsible for decorating the unit chief's door as well.

"It looks nice," Rossi said simply. Turning, he entered his office without waiting to see what his teammates thought of his reaction.

Walking over to his desk, Rossi sat down and flipped on his computer. He was working his way through his email when there was a knock on his door. Looking up he saw Aaron Hotchner strolling in.

"Do you have a minute?" Hotch asked, holding a case file in each hand. "I'd like a second opinion on which case the team should take next.

"Isn't that part of the media liaison's job?" Rossi asked, leaning back in his chair.

"Usually, but Agent Todd is no JJ. She's doing a decent job, don't get me wrong, but I would appreciate a more veteran opinion on this one," Hotch replied, trying his best to be diplomatic about the request.

Rossi smiled. He had known Aaron Hotchner too long not to be able to read in between the lines. Agent Jordan Todd had made a crucial mistake in Hotch's eyes early in her stint with the team. Though she had done a lot to redeem herself, that one mistake would follow her throughout the rest of her time with the team. Given enough time, Todd could redeem herself in the Unit Chief's eyes but JJ would be back from maternity leave before then, and in Rossi's estimation this job was not what Jordan Todd had anticipated.

"Pull up a chair," Rossi said, motioning to the empty chairs across the desk from him.

Hotch turned and pushed the office door shut to give them some privacy. "I see you left the wreath there," he commented as he settled down across from the elder profiler.

Rossi shrugged. "I kind of like it. I think perhaps a bit of the Christmas spirit is finding a way to seep back into me."

"Really? Perhaps I should bring Jack over to your place the next time he wants to watch The Polar Express then. That kid loves that movie but if I hear the song "When Christmas Comes To Town" one more time I may actually lose my mind."

Rossi smiled, knowing the man would never follow through on it. He cherished the time he did get to spend with Jack too much not to do whatever the boy wanted to do. "Rumor around the office is you already have - what with managing to get the team a whole week of uninterrupted leave for Christmas."

Hotch shrugged. "Everyone deserves a Christmas off now and then," he commented as he pushed the files he carried across the desk to the more experienced profiler.

Without a word Dave took the files and opened them, quickly scanning the material within. The first case seemed to be along the lines of what they usually dealt with - three women had gone missing in the pass three months in Flagstaff, Arizona only to turn up dead a week later. The third body had just turned up two days prior, prompting the local's request for help. The UnSub had a distinct pattern going, and the locals expect to have three weeks from the disposal of his last victim until he struck again. The next case had a bit more of an unusual flare to it.

"Elves going missing," Rossi commented in disbelief as he started looking over the case. "The holidays really do bring out the cooks, doesn't it."

"Yeah. Needless to say, Brighton, Ohio is suddenly having a shortage of people willing to dress up as Santa's helpers for different events."

"I'm not sure why anyone would want to dress up in an elf costume to begin with," Rossi commented as he continued looking through the information provided. In the last week, three of Santa's helpers had gone missing. In each case, they had clocked out of work but had never made it home. The body of missing elf number one had turned up the day before in a dumpster near the mall he had worked at. There were clear signs of torture and a sprig of mistletoe had been shoved down the young woman's throat.

"Well, the UnSub nabbing the elves seems to be more fast paced. We've got three missing people, one dead, in a week compared to three missing people over a three month time period in Flagstaff," Rossi commented. "I'd have to say we should head to Ohio. I can look at the Flagstaff material more closely and give the locals some tips on how to proceed with their investigation."

"That was my thoughts exactly," Hotch said with a nod. "Though I appreciate the volunteering for the consult," he added. "I could send one of the others in here to help you if you don't think having someone to brainstorm with would lead to group think."

"You're not going to let me live that comment down, are you?" Rossi asked as Hotch stood up, picking up the file for the Ohio case as he did so.

"Now why would I do that?" Hotch said, one of his rare smiles coming to his face.

Rossi grunted as he opened the Flagstaff file and started spreading things out on his desk. "How about sending Reid up here? He'll be the easiest to get caught up on the material."

"He'll have that material read before you finish it," Hotch commented as he headed for the door.

"That he probably will," Rossi commented softly, already immersed in the information sent to them by the Flagstaff police department.

Five days later, six weary profilers made their way off the sixth floor elevator of the building that housed the BAU. Three more elves had been taken while they had searched for a break in the case in Brighton, Ohio and the last two of the three original victims had turned up dead. Though it hadn't been the results they had hoped for, at least the UnSub, one Charlie Larkin, who had been molested as a child by a family friend who had dressed up as an elf for extra money during the holidays, was now behind bars. With one more UnSub off the streets and closure for the families of the victims killed, it was a victory of sorts.

Normally after the five days of long hours and late nights that his team had put in, Agent Hotchner would have sent his team home for some rest when the wheels of their jet had touched down in Quantico. However, their holiday leave was supposed to start the next day, and Hotch wanted the paper work for this case wrapped up before the week long vacation started. He was well aware of the holiday plans that most of his agents had as talk of those plans had occupied the short flight home from Ohio. The only two who didn't have any set plans for their time off was Rossi and Reid, although Reid had assured everyone that he had several academic projects to occupy his time during the break as both Morgan and Prentiss had invited him to join them.

Garcia was waiting to greet her travel weary teammates with a smile and a tray of mugs of hot chocolate with candy canes in them. Hotch found himself smiling at the jubilant technical analyst as he took a mug from the tray on his way to his office. It was just like Garcia to find some way to brighten their day a little.

"Too bad we don't have a fireplace," Rossi commented, as he picked up a mug for himself.

"I may work miracles in cyberspace but even I can't convince the FBI to add a fireplace into the BAU's decor," Garcia told him. "Though I'm sure you'll be able to find some lucky girl to snuggle up by the fireplace with during your time off."

"Alas, Kitten it looks as though I'm destined to spend my holiday alone. Too many years of being the Grinch doesn't exactly lead to many Christmas invitations."

Garcia's smile fell. "You could always join me and Kevin . . ."

Rossi smiled. "I wouldn't dream on intruding on you two love birds' holiday plans," he told her. "Don't worry about me. It's not the first Christmas I've spent alone," he added as he placed a kiss on the blonde's cheek before heading to his office to do paperwork.

Rossi settled down at his desk, taking a sip of the peppermint flavored hot chocolate before diving into his paperwork. Though taking work home with him wouldn't ruin any plans, he had no intention of doing so. His holiday might end up being lonely but he didn't plan on filling it with serial killers this year.

A few hours later, Rossi finished up his paper work and leaned back in his chair. Stretching his arms above his head, he tried to stretch out his stiff back muscles. Between little sleep, the flight home on the jet and paperwork his body was starting to cry out for a little TLC. Unfortunately, a little stretching was all it was going to get at the moment.

Finishing the stretch, he stood and gathered his paper work. Strolling out of his office he noted that the three desks of his teammates in the bullpen were empty as he covered the short distance to Hotch's office. Though he knocked, Rossi didn't wait for an answer before strolling in.

"The others have finished already?" he asked, waving his paperwork toward the bullpen.

"Yeah, though looking at the handwriting I'd say that Reid was giving Morgan and Prentiss an early Christmas present."

"Ah," Rossi replied knowingly. "Perhaps I should have thought of that myself."

"You and me both," Hotch commented.

"Anything I can help you with?" Rossi asked, sliding his paperwork onto Hotch's desk.

"I don't want to hold you up from starting you vacation. I'll get things done eventually," the unit chief replied.

"Nonsense. It's not like I've got anyone waiting for me at home or any plans. Two people will get things done quicker. Just tell me what you need me to do," Rossi said, taking a seat in a chair across from Hotch. His back was just going to have to deal with more sitting.

Hotch sighed but didn't protest any more. David Rossi was probably one of the most stubborn people he knew and trying to argue with him would only waste time. Instead he started delegating some paper work to his friend, grateful for the help that would get him out of the office quicker as he had arranged with Haley to have Jack during his time off.

"So what are you going to do during your time off?" Hotch asked his friend as he and Rossi made their way to the parking garage after finally clocking out. The building was deserted except for security and janitorial staff.

"Not sure," Rossi replied honestly.

"You could go home. See family and old friends," Hotch suggested.

"I don't really have a desire to revisit my past. Think I'll keep to Christmas present, thank you."

Hotch didn't press for details. He knew from past conversations that his life before joining the BAU was something that David Rossi preferred not to discuss.

"You can come and hang out with Jack and me," Hotch offered. "Jack wants to build a gingerbread house. I figure that should be a time consuming project with a four year-old."

Rossi laughed. "And one you are quite welcome to experience by yourself," the veteran profiler told him. He grew more serious as he continued. "Besides, as much as I would like to find something to make this holiday seem special I'm not about to intrude on my friends' times with their loved ones. I know how much you miss Jack, and I'm sure he misses you just as much. He needs this time with his father without having to share it. I'll figure something out."

Hotch didn't know what to counter Rossi's argument with so he didn't even try. He did, however, let out a long sigh before speaking again. "I don't know what else to suggest about not having to spend the holiday alone then, though if you want to do something special perhaps you should put some of your money to use. Make the holiday special for someone else in need. You could give gifts to the children in the hospital or you know the mall has those Paper Angel Trees. I usually try to fulfill one or two of the requests placed on them myself each year. It's a good feeling knowing you're helping someone have a little brighter of a holiday season."

"Perhaps I will do that," Rossi commented thoughtfully. Since his first book had taken off, Rossi had never been one to be stingy with his money when he saw a way to help somebody out but deep down he knew it wasn't exactly what he was looking for.

They reached Hotch's car first and after saying good-bye to his friend, Rossi continued to his car on his own. Climbing behind the wheel of his SUV, Rossi determined that tonight he was going to go home and relax. Come tomorrow he would head to the nearest mall and fulfill a few Christmas wishes from the Paper Angel Tree as Hotch had suggested. Maybe while helping others he could figure out how to fulfill this empty feeling inside of him.