Disclaimer: I do not own Criminal Minds.
Echo
The shot cracked through the air vibrating in the deep valley, echoing in long intervals as it travelled through the hills, a second shot following only milliseconds after the first. Dark clouds rolled in over head blocking any sunlight, making the valley that much more depressing. The wind began to pick up, the trees blowing wildly overhead, leaves rustling signaling an oncoming storm.
Garcia's cries could be heard through the phone as JJ soothed her although her own eyes were not free of tears-. Morgan was cursing loudly as he kicked the gun from the now dead hands of their latest unsub before kicking the lifeless body again in a sudden rage. Reid held his hands up in a calming manner silently warning Derek before he caused any more damage. Rossi's loud voice resonated above the panicked cries of onlookers as he motioned them behind the yellow caution tape. Ambulance sirens were screaming in the distance as they neared the valley.
Hotch noticed none of these things as he ran to her in a blind panic, his breathing ragged as he was already on the verge of hysterics. He skidded to a stop next to her before dropping to his knees. He grabbed her hand in his and brushed the hair away from her sweaty forehead. Blood soaked through her shirt where her Kevlar had failed to protect her. He moved his hands to the wound on the inner part of her shoulder applying pressure as an attempt to slow the bleeding. Somewhere deep down his unconscious mind knew that she wasn't going to make it. Between labored breaths he told her to hold on, that help was on the way but her eyes refused to stay open. Tears filled his eyes and for once he did not care if they fell. The ambulances came to a screeching stop at the top of the valley as he screamed for them to hurry. His eyes locked with hers as he again begged for her to hold on. She shook her head knowing herself that this was it, the last thing she was ever going to see was Aaron Hotchner`s face. Tears began to roll down her cheeks as she whispered what she knew were her final words. Hotch heard the faint ``I love you`` escape her lips as her eyes closed for the final time. He was full out sobbing now as he threw himself across her body and whispered ``I love you too Emily`` although the effort was wasted on her lifeless ears. The rain began to fall as if on cue soaking through his shirt and blending in pool with her blood. The final echoes of the deadly shots could still be heard throughout the valley.
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A/N: Thanks for reading and please review :)