A New Chapter
"Hey Hotch?" I ask timidly.
He turns towards me and gives me his full, undivided attention.
"What is it, Emily?" I look at him trying to convey what's running through my mind.
"You aren't alone. I know that you think that it's you against the world, but it's not. You have the team;" I take a deep breath, "you have me."
His eyes widen in surprise at the double meaning of my words.
"Thank you." When he looks away, I do something that neither one of us expected. I walk over to him and lightly, almost tentatively, wrap my arms around him.
"What are you doing?" He asks, his voice wavering.
"I know you're not a hugger, but I am; so I'm hugging you. Just accept it."
"I can do that." And as he returns my hug, I finally realize that this is a new beginning. A door has opened to an entire world of possibilities. But, for now, I'm content to just stay as we are.