This story takes place around Season 7, there will be no Alex Blake or the Replicator in this.
It has been a year since Emily had left the BAU for London.
Disclaimer - I do not own any characters belonging to the show Criminal Minds, only the ones I created.
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BAU: The Book of the Dead – Chapter 1
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INTERPOL, London –
"Bloody hell, Emily, take some time off, you look like the Grim Reaper." Senior Officer Reilly smiled from behind his desk.
Emily was sitting in front of his office, her face was pale as she sat stiffly in her seat. "You would be if you were being shot near your heart." She gave her temporary replacement and close friend, a hard look as she fidgeted within her loose fitting shirt; the bandages in her chest was uncomfortable and the stitches was beginning to itch again. "Is this what you want to see me? To nag and bitch?" She cast indignity aside and reached into her shirt and began to scratch her chest around the bandages.
"Er, what exactly are you doing?" He asked in his deep English accent his pale features reddening as he looked away from her.
"What do you think I'm doing?" She winced as she found the itch and then smiled as the relief came from scratching the itch off. "Damn, that felt good, almost as good as having an orgasm."
His face turning beet red instantly, Hale Reilly snapped his head back as he glared at her, "Emily! Really! Not…Not…here!" He began to look about him as if someone was coming in but they were quite alone.
"Hale…" Emily grinned. "You really need to chill. Quit starching your knickers and loosen up. Oh and ask dear old mom to stop feeding you those stinking kippers for breakfast and eat a little fast food for once."
Looking shocked, "Mummy told me not to listen to you, you're such a bad influence and besides, we're talking about you. Not me." He turned his nose up high.
Emily began to laugh at him, "You keep doing that, you gonna catch that frost on the tip of your nose, Hally."
He lowered his head as he frowned at her, "I wish you'd stop calling me that! That was a childish name, and a … a…girlish name to boot! You and I have outgrown them…Emmy." He broke into a grin at the last.
Emily laughed at her childhood friend for over 20 years, "I missed those old days, Hally."
He sighed at her, "As do I, Emmy. But we do have to grow up…and look at us now, playing spy games like we used to do when we're little only this is real."
She nodded. "Yeah with real guns, not those plastic water pistols."
They then broke into laughter.
Emily grimaced, breaking her laughter as the pain in her wound bothered her again as she moved her shoulders."
Hale sobered immediately when he saw her pain, "That shot was a bad one, wasn't it?"
She nodded, "Yeah, but it was worth it, killed that SOB."
"In the nick of time, mind you or you'd be the one lying on that cold metal table." He pointed it out at her.
"It's part of the job, Hally."
"And as a reward for this part of the job, INTERPOL has granted you a month's long of medical leave, and also this came in the mail this morning." He handed a large brown manila envelope.
Emily took it from him and looked at the return address and a wide smile adorned her face, the pain in her chest temporary forgotten as she eagerly tore the envelope, scattering the small bits of papers on the carpet, littering the otherwise neat and tidy office of her friend who rolled his eyes upward; he was used to her ways as he shook his head and grinned at her enthusiasm.
"I take it he's all yours, so to speak?" Hale said.
But Emily ignored him as she continued to read the letter that in the contents of a thick folder.
Hale sat there watching her indulgently and patiently.
Suddenly he almost fell out of his chair when Emily jumped out of hers and gave a loud whooped!
"Heavens! My heart!" Hale grabbed the desk for support. "You should give someone a warning, Emmy!"
She came around his desk and grabbed him as she gave him a big hug, "It's all legal, Hally!" She shouted as kissed him on his semi-bald head several times and stopped when his stern secretary burst into the room, "What is the meaning of this, Officer Reilly?"
They stopped in their tracks and straightened and stood properly.
"Oh, it's nothing, Mrs. Mills. We're just celebrating something important." Hale tried to straighten his tie.
Mrs. Mills glared at Emily before she retreated back into her office.
"She really frightens me." Emily said as she stood next to her friend.
"She frightens everyone, even the Prime Minister." Hale said with a grin. "We call her the Dragon Lady."
"Very apt."Then she turned back and faced him, "But back to this!" She waved the papers at him. "It's done! I have him!"
"Congratulations, Emmy. I'm glad for you. Goodness knows you deserved it."
She nodded as she became teary. "Yeah, he's going to be so happy when I tell him." She turned back to look at him.
"Hey, none of that, Princess Emmy," he gathered her into his arms and patted her.
She wept as he continued to pat her, "I know, it's a good thing. I'm happy."
Then she pulled away from him as she wiped her tears and chuckled, shaking her head.
"I'm going back to Virginia and bring him here to live. He'll like it."
"Well you have a month's medical so why don't you take your time and enjoy yourself there, check up on your old friends? It's been what? Half a year?"
She nodded, "Two years! Twelve long months since I've been with INTERPOL. I hope the guys still remember me."
"You kept in touch with them?" he asked.
"Oh yes, every week…well, when they're not out on the field. But we still do." Emily smiled.
"Then go! Go and see them and bring him home here, I'd love to meet him when you come back. Chelsea would too."
Emily grinned, "Chels would probably fatten him up, if I didn't know her better!"
"That she would and Mummy too."
"Yes, between your mother and your wife, I don't know who would indulge him more!"
The both grinned and exclaimed at the same time, "Both!"
"Will you get out of here, and leave me to my work now Emmy?" Hale smiled.
Emily gathered her papers as she stuffed them back into the envelope, "I'm out of here, Hally! Out of the country for the matter and maybe some R&R!"
"Yes, rest up! But no drinking! I'm tired of having to bail you out from the boys' house."
She grinned, "Hally, those days are over! When I come home, I'll be a whole new person with a new responsibility! Later, you old stick!" She waved at the door to him.
He nodded, "See you, Emmy you old broom!" they laughed together as she left the room.
Alone in his office and suddenly quiet, he looked around and sighed, "Just like the old day, she'd come in like a twister and leave a mess as if she'd grown into a tornado." He looked at the carpet, which was littered with bits of paper and shaking his head turned back to his work.
…..
That evening as Emily was packing to leave for Virginia, she had spent all day making arrangements to rent a house for a month in Virginia and making plans to move.
In the mail, she saw that she had received an engagement party invitation from Garcia.
"Pen is engaged?" Emily muttered as she tore into the envelope and pulled out the thick card and read it.
It was Hotch and Beth's engagement. Garcia was the maid of honor and she was giving the couple a formal party to announce their engagement and the party was to be held at Dave Rossi's place.
Emily smiled, "Dave should start charging for use of his mansion whenever we get together for stuff like this, he'd make a ton of moolah!" She was on the phone with Garcia as soon as she received it.
Hey! Didn't expect you to call so soon! Penelope gushed.
"I just got it, PG. Nice paper. I should be there, so I'm RSVP'ing you personally."
What? You're coming to the dig? You don't have to, Em. I mean it's just only an engagement party.
"I know but I'm flying into Virginia tomorrow and spending a month there."
Why? What's going on?
"Well, you know the thing I've been telling you about? It's official."
Oh my god! No way Em? Seriously?
"Way, PG." Emily laughed. "I can't tell you how freaking happy I am about it."
Oh, I am for you too and him. Are you going to call and tell him?
"No, I'm going to be there tomorrow, silly. I'm going there as soon as I land, and tell him in person."
Oh I wish I'm there to see it! It's gonna be so beautiful!
"You're not tearing, are you?"
Too late…you know how sappy I get over these things! She said weepily.
Emily chuckled, "I know how you feel."
So, you're going to stay for how long?
"A month. We have to pack and get his stuff ready and moved over here, so I figure a month is plenty of time to do that and enjoy ourselves."
He is going to be over the moon! Garcia exclaimed excitedly.
"I know, I've been waiting so long for this to happen, and so did he. I'll see you later, PG! "
….
The same day in New York City, US –
"Aaron!"
Sean?
"Who else?"
What are doing? Where are you?
"Er, here in New York City bro. He chuckled. And I just got your engagement invite.
Engagement? Oh! Garcia…
"Who? Oh…yah…um who's that?
Long story Sean. So what's going on with you?
"Well, tomorrow I'm about to hop on a plane and fly down to see you and my little nephew and spend some time before you take the big plunge."
Sean, you don't have to, I mean it's just an engagement party.
"Aaron, how often do you see me?"
A pause.
You're right, Sean. I'll be delighted to have you over. You're staying with us?
"If you'll have me?
Sean….
He laughed, "Okay, I just wanted to make sure it's okay with your fiancé."
She…we…Sean, Beth and I are not living together yet. Not until we're officially engaged.
"What? What kind of a prude are you?" He teased his older brother. "Aaron, this is the 21st century. People live together before they get married."
I know but Jack…
"I think Jack is too little to notice this sort of things, Aaron."
Sean, Jack is 9.
"What? I thought he's three or something like that."
Sean, it's been over five years since Haley's dead and Jack was four and a half at that time.
"Wow, where was I at all this time?"
I don't know Sean but if you'd visit more often you'd be more up to date on your only nephew.
"Duly noted, brother."
Hotch chuckled. So, when do you arrive?
"Oh, don't worry about me, I'll be at your doorstep tomorrow afternoon."
I can pick you up from the airport, Sean.
"Hey, I'm a big boy, Aaron, I can find my own way."
Sean…I'm offering.
Sean sighed, "Okay…"He then gave him the flight information.
Done, I'll be there.
"Just don't bring the bells." He teased.
Sean…grow up, will you?
"I know, I know. Act my age. Never, that's what big brother is for! I'll see you later tonight."
Right, Sean.
….
It was a long flight from Heathrow Airport London to Dulles International Airport with a connection in New York City.
Emily was ready to move about on land after being cooped in the plane for more than 9 hours.
Luckily her companion from London to New York City left, she was quite the chatterbox; needlessly, Emily didn't get any sleep at all.
She was happy when Shannon whatever-her-last-name got off, grabbing a pillow from the flight attendant and a blanket, she made to take a nap for the rest of the duration from New York City to Washington which was a short hop but a nap was all she needed to fuel up before the big and exciting moment.
Just as her eyes closed, she heard movement and a jostling in her seat.
"Excuse me?" Opening one eye, she saw a quite tall slim man with a beard standing next to her. "I believe that's my seat over there," he pointed at the empty window seat.
Emily opened both her eyes and gathering her pillow and blanket she stood up and moved out of her seat and out to the aisle so he could shuffle into the snug confinements of the economy seats in the commercial plane.
"Thanks, sorry about this," he apologized as he managed to fold his long frame into the small chair as he tried to settle down as best he could.
Emily smiled a little as she took her seat and arranged her things around her again.
She tried to close her eyes but her neighbor began to fuss and move about as he seem to be looking for something and in the process his elbow kept hitting her.
At one point he accidently hit her shoulder near her bandaged wound and a sharp pain seared into her as she hissed instantly.
The man next to her turned to look at her, "Oh, I'm so sorry! I didn't mean to…"
Emily shook her head, "It's fine, don't worry about it." She turned her back to him as she massaged the pain out.
"Look I said I'm sorry." He leaned over to her.
Emily turned to find him close to her and leaned back, "I said, I'm fine." She said annoyingly.
He frowned at her; what the hell is her problem? He turn back to continue to look for his safety belt and saw it had looped into her seat…
"Uh…" he tapped her back gently. "Excuse me…?"
Emily rolled her eyes, "Really! Look buster, I said I'm fine, get the hint and leave me the hell alone and go bother someone else!" She turned back from him again.
"Look lady, I'd love to not bother you for the rest of the flight but I have to." He said angrily. "My damn seat belt happens to be hung into yours and unless you want to sit on my lap the rest of the way which I'm sure you don't, how about helping me on this and I promise I won't bother you again."
Emily sat up straight and looked down on her lap and in between their seats and saw that it was twisted about.
"How? Never mind." She unbuckled hers and unwound her belt which somehow made it worse and then reworked it again but the blanket became twisted into both hers and his belts as she tried to get it untwisted.
"Here, let me do it." He offered as he made to grab it.
"No, I can manage it, just let go of the belt." She looked at him angrily.
"It's not that complicating, lady. All you have to…"
"Look, I can figure it out…"
"Then how did you get it twisted like this in the first place?"
"I didn't do this on purpose!" She fired it back at him.
"Um, excuse me, will you two please put your seat belts, we're about to taxi out of the terminal?" The flight attendant was standing over them.
"We are trying to get this unravel, Miss." Emily explained to her.
"Oh, here let me." She smiled as she worked on it and less than a minute both belts came apart as she handed one to each of them.
"Thanks." They said to her at the same time.
"You're welcome. Now, just strap on." She nodded at them as if they were a pair of three-year olds and moved on.
Emily buckled hers and muttered, "I'll wipe that damn grin off your face so fast you won't know what hit you."
Her neighbor started laughing under his breath as he shook his head.
"Are you laughing at me?" Emily glared at him.
He turned to her, "You talking to me now? I thought you didn't want to talk to me?" He grinned.
Emily shook her head as she turned her head, "Never mind…" She smiled to herself as she tried to catch a glimpse of him peripherally; he was cute looking, she said to herself. If you like beards and he had blonde hair and very nice blue eyes.
"That's what I thought." He said.
Three hours later, using her INTERPOL credentials, Emily was able to bypass customs faster than the usual line and was soon in the baggage claims area waiting for her bags.
As she was waiting for her bags she saw a familiar figure and was surprised to see him, "What is he doing here?"
She walked to him, "Hotch?"
"Emily?"
"Aaron!"
"Sean!"
Emily turned to see Hotch greeting her neighbor passenger. "You know him?"
Hotch grinned at her, "Yeah, Emily, come meet my brother Sean."
Emily stared at Hotch than at Sean, then at him again, "This is your brother?"
Sean bear-hugged Aaron and as he pulled back from him, he looked at her, "Of course, didn't you see the family resemblance?"
Still in shock, Emily shook her head, "I…I…sure…don't. Was one of you adopted?"
They both looked at each other and then laughed, Hotch shook his head, "No, Emily. Believe it or not, we're biological brothers."
"Wow, could have fool me." She said as she went to Hotch and gave him a hug.
He returned it with a tight squeeze, Emily winced and pulled from him quickly, Hotch frowned at her as she smile at him.
"So, are you going to introduce her or not, Aaron?" Sean wriggled his brows at him.
"Oh, Emily, Sean Hotchner. Sean this is Emily Prentiss. She used to work for me at the BAU but is now with INTERPOL in London."
They shook hands as smiled at each other.
"Nice to meet you again, in a better circumstances." Sean grinned.
"What do you mean?" Hotch glanced at him and then at her. "Do you know each other?"
"No, "Emily shook her head. "We were seated next to each other in the plane from LaGuardia to here." She explained.
"Ah, I see." Hotch nodded. "So how are you Emily? And why are you here, if you don't mind me asking?"
She shook her head as she smiled at him, "First of all, there is an engagement party to attend to, so congratulations to you and Beth. And the papers have finally came and it's all legal and valid."
"You mean?" Hotch smiled at her.
She nodded. "He's mine legally."
"Emily, that's great! I'm glad for you! Are you seeing him?"
"Of course! As soon as I get a rental car, and I'll be here for a month before we move to London for sure."
Hotch nodded, "I can't be any happier for you two!"
"Me too, Hotch. And thanks to you, you helped a lot from here with your legal techno magic." She grinned.
He shook his head, "Glad I can help."
"Well, I see my bags," she walked over to the carousel and was about to pull them out but Hotch and Sean came in front of her and picked it up for her.
She had three big luggages.
"Thanks guys."
"Not a problem." They said.
They obtained a cart for her and later waited until she got her rental car keys that she had placed a reservation the day before.
"We'll give you a ride to your rental, Emily." Hotch offered.
She nodded, "Thanks Hotch."
He shook his head, "How about Aaron? You no longer work for me."
She nodded, "Aaron it is, and it's going to take some getting use after calling you Hotch for over 7 years!"
He nodded.
When they found her rental, the guys helped her load the baggages into the trunk before they waved her good bye.
"See you tomorrow evening at Dave's" Emily grinned.
They waved back as Sean looked back at her as she drove off.
Hotch pulled away from the rental lot and made for the freeway and headed to Virginia.
"So," Sean turned to look at his brother. "Emily Prentiss, is she single?"
Hotch began to smile, "No Sean."
"What? What did I say? Is she married?"
Hotch shook his head, "No she is still single as far as I know. But she is a complication you don't need, Sean."
"What do you mean complication? She seems nice, I like her."
"She is not into short time relationships, so forget it."
"Well, who knows? If she's the one and we click, I might make it into a long term relationship too." Sean smiled.
Hoch frowned as he glanced at his brother before he turned back to the road, "Sean, be serious. Emily is…special." He said suddenly.
Sean narrowed his gaze at his brother, "What do you mean she is special? To whom? To you?" He arched his gaze at him. "You mean you and her? What about Beth? Does she know?"
Hotch shook his head quickly, "No, no…I didn't mean it like that. She and I are friends, that is all. So don't jump into any conclusion, Sean."
"Then what do you mean about her being special?"
"I don't know why I said it, just forget about it. But be careful with her, will you?"
"I will, Aaron. I'm not going to hurt her."
"I hope not. She's been through a lot and she's finally gotten what she wanted, although something's not right with her at the moment." Hotch recalled her pushing him away when he hugged her at the airport.
"Always playing profiler," Sean mumbled under his breath.
"What?"
"Nothing…so, where's Jack?" he changed the subject quickly.
…
End of Chapter 1