I've been going through a lot recently and this story idea just popped into my head. Let me know what you think if you have the chance.

There was something about him, of that she was certain. But knowing what exactly that something was, she hadn't the slightest clue. But whatever it was made her go weak in the knees whenever he looked at her. It made her heart race when he spoke only to her. And the more time she spent around him made it harder for her to get over her crush.

She knew she had to get over her feelings. Nothing would ever come from them. He wasn't that guy and she definitely wasn't that girl. There was no doubt about what people would say if she started sleeping with her boss. Although in her defense it wouldn't just be sleeping with him, she was in love with him. There was no doubt in her mind about that.

When Emily first realized she was in love with her boss, shock ran through her entire body. How on earth could she be in love with someone who didn't even know her? How could she love someone when she barely knew anything personal about him? It made no sense, but her feelings got shoved into a tiny little box in her head and were pushed to the back.

But then everything came spilling out full force when he was the one who came and saved her from the UNSUB. He was her own personal superhero and she began to think maybe Jack was right. Hotch came swooping into the small room and took the UNSUB out before Emily even registered what was happening. She was vaguely aware that he was kneeling in front of her, but all her mind could do was replay what just happened.

After a minute of not responding to him, Hotch finally cupped her face and made her look at him. When her eyes locked with his, she saw the intense fire in them. Hotch asked again if she was alright and this time she nodded her head, not trusting her voice. Then an amazing thing happened that Emily knew she'd never forget. Hotch gave her a half smile and sighed with relief then slowly ran his hand through her long hair. If Emily didn't already have fantasies about the man before her, she definitely would have that night.

Her heart had fluttered at the sentiment and she had to wonder if he had feelings for her as well, but that thought was quickly flown from her mind when Reid came in and Hotch left him in charge of her. She almost died and he was leaving her with Reid to protect her? Maybe he didn't care.

Not long after the UNSUB incident Emily knew she had to come clean. In all honesty she had no idea what Hotch would say when she confessed her feelings to him, but she knew that she had too. What's the point of living if you never take chances? And possibly being happy with him was one chance she needed to take. After finally mustering up enough courage, Emily took a deep breath then walked the short distance from her room to Hotch's and knocked softly on the door.

Hotch opened the door and arched an eyebrow. "Is everything alright Prentiss?"

"Can I come in?"

"Of course," Hotch stepped back and let Emily pass him as he closed the door. Hotch turned back to look at her and found her standing near the wall. "What's going on?" he asked concerned.

"Well, I, uh…" Emily trailed off.

"What's wrong?"

"I care about you," Emily blurted out before she could stop herself. "I think about you more than I should and I've realized that you're the only one that I want. All I'm asking for is a chance." Emily watched in horror as Hotch's eyes grew wide as he unconsciously took a step back.

"I don't really know what to say."

Emily felt her heart break at his words because she knew nothing was going to stop her tears from making an appearance and that was definitely the last thing she wanted. "Oh."

Hotch couldn't help but feel regret as she dropped her head and began to play with her nails. "I'm sorry," he whispered softly.

"All I want is to be able to get to know you," Emily sighed as she lifted her gaze back to him. "You have a relationship with everyone else on the team. They all know personal things about you, and I feel like we have nothing," she told him sadly. "Maybe it's because of how things were when I first started, I don't know, but I'd like to know you better."

Hotch shifted his weight nervously. "I'm not so sure that's a good idea Prentiss."

At her last name a tear escaped Emily's eye and Hotch took a step forward to wipe it away but he stopped himself.

"Did I imagine everything?" she mumbled.

"What?" Hotch asked confused by her question.

"All the signs? Were they all in my head? Just something I wanted to see?" Emily took a deep breath, "all the little glances and touches, were they really there?"

"No," Hotch whispered then cursed himself as he watched her nod, bite her lip then close her eyes as more tears escaped. "I never wanted to hurt you."

"Do you even want to know me?" she asked with her eyes closed knowing she couldn't deal with seeing the way he pitied her.

"Of course I do," Hotch answered honestly. "I apologize for making you feel like we don't have the open relationship I have with the rest of the team. That's probably my fault."

Emily opened her eyes slowly and leaned against the wall. "If you got to know me better Hotch, I swear you'd love me. You'll never know if you don't try, I promise you that I'm worth it. Don't you want to find out?"

Hotch took in her defeated stance. "Emily," he whispered as he moved closer, "if we start something and things went bad or Strauss found out we'd be separated. Could you handle that? Because I couldn't. I'd rather have you as a friend then risk the chance of losing you."

"I just want a chance," Emily sobbed as another tear rolled silently down her cheek.

Hotch couldn't fight it anymore. He stepped closer and rubbed his thumb over her smooth cheek, ridding the object of her tears. "If it was a different situation Emily I'd happily give us a chance. In a heartbeat," he confessed as he brought his other hand up to cup her other cheek. "If I wasn't your boss, or if Strauss wasn't always watching us like a hawk I'd say let's do it, but I value you too much to risk your career for something we don't know where it'd go."

Emily's hand came up to rest on top of his as her heart felt like it was going to burst through her chest. "So you…"

"Of course," he answered her question before she even had to ask. "The looks and the touches are there and I'm so sorry that I can't give you what you want."

"You'll never know if you don't try though," she told him sadly.

"There is just too much to risk."

Emily nodded and felt her lip quiver.

"Please don't cry Emily." Hotch leaned down and placed his forehead against hers. "God I wish things were different, but they aren't. That's why I keep my distance with you, because I can't get distracted, and if I get too close it'll only end in disaster. You deserve better."

"I deserve you," she breathed out. "I only want you. I don't care about the consequences Hotch."

"I'm sorry," he repeated for the hundredth time before he backed away from her slowly, causing her to look down at the floor. "I don't want things to be different between us now."

Emily nodded her head. "We'll just pretend this conversation never happened. Sorry to bother you sir," she cried out as she opened the door quickly and sprinted down the hall and rushed into her room, leaving Hotch gazing at the door with regret on his mind.