Challenge 25 - Halloween Horrors!

Pairing: Hotch/ Emily

Title: desperation

Disclaimer: Unfortunately, I do not own Criminal Minds or any of the characters

"I hate this time of the year!" Emily complained as she looked around the bullpen. There were orange and black streamers, cobwebs hanging from the light fixtures and stupid pictures of zombies and vampires on the cabinet doors. "Someone needs to put a leash on Garcia because if I open one more door and find a severed finger in there, she's going to lose a real one."

"Wow, woman, what has gotten your knickers in a knot?" Morgan asked as he parked his cute little tush on the side of her desk.

Looking up at him, she just shrugged her shoulders and nodded her head. "I am the Grinch of Halloween past. I have really never liked all the gory décor of Hallowe'en. I mean we see enough in the real world of sick & perverse people including real blood and guts. And I just don't want to pretend that it is ok. I am so sick and tired of turning a corner and bashing my head into a stupid flying bat. I feel like I'm 12!"

Morgan watched his friend try to explain her feelings but he knew her and he knew why she was so off. This wasn't about Halloween. This was about something else and he knew enough about her that if he pushed, she'd run. So instead he agreed with her. "Listen Princess, I hear you, but you know that it is expected from the head honcho's that each floor decorates as it bolsters team cooperation. So we really don't have a choice, and besides you know that my baby girl can't help herself. She is always so over the top. She wants it bigger and better than last year's event. So you have got to figure out a way to get past your feelings because this stuff isn't going anywhere."

Leaning back into her chair, Emily shook her head in disgust. "You're right. It really isn't that bad but ever since I came back to the BAU nothing seems right. I feel nervous about everything. Everything seems to bother me. And look." She whispered loudly shoving her hands into his face. "Look at my finger nails. They are practically non-existant. I don't know what to do, or how to feel or even what to say." She looked almost deranged as she vented to him.

Taking a huge chance, Morgan placed one hand on Emily's right shoulder. "Em, you have to tell him."

Emily's eyes grew wide at his words. He couldn't know what he was saying, could he?

Seeing the doubt in her dark eyes, Morgan continued. "Emily, I know that you have feelings for Hotch. I knew how you felt before that Doyle situation. But everything seems to be more intensified since you came back. What happened?"

Hesitating for a minute, Emily finally admitted the truth, "Beth."

"Oh, right. I forgot about her."

"Yes, well, I can't seem to forget about her. Ever since JJ's wedding, I can't seem to get rid of this feeling of desperation. I feel like my chance to tell him has slipped through my fingers. And with me moving to counter intelligence next month, I think my chance with him will be long gone. You know the saying, out of sight, out of mind." Emily lamented as she chewed on her nails.

Reaching out to stop her from chewing her nails down to nothing, Morgan took her hands in his. "Emily, you will never be forgotten. When you were gone all those months, I have never seen such a loss in Hotch's eyes. He was a hollow man until you returned. You were the one that brought the light back to Hotch's eyes. You have got to tell him before you leave the BAU. If he doesn't feel the same way, so be it. But you can't leave with this hanging over your head."

"Morgan, he seems to really like her and I know that their next step is just around the corner. I think that I blew my chance. I should have told him how I felt the minute I got back and maybe everything would have been different. But I didn't. Did you see them at JJ's wedding? They seemed happy. Oh God, maybe he has already fallen in love with her."

"Em, listen to me. I'm really sorry that you are going through this. Maybe you need to get your mind off of the situation. Come with me tonight to the FBI Halloween fundraiser. It'll get your mind off of this situation, at least for the night."

"I don't think..."

"That's your problem Princess. Stop thinking and just enjoy. I'll pick you up at 7:00 pm."

"But I don't have a costume."

"Not to worry, I'll take care of that." Morgan said as he placed a kiss on the top of her head. "Now get back to work. Our esteemed leader seems to have made his way back from a meeting with the dragon lady."

They both turned around to see Hotch entering the bullpen, his eyes immediately taking in the two colleagues sitting together at Emily's desk.

"Meeting room in 2 minutes." Was all Hotch said to them as he climbed the stairs to his office.

Emily stared back at Morgan who gave her hands another squeeze before he walked down the hallway for a cup of coffee. As Emily collected her own cup, she walked towards the room watching Hotch knock on Rossi's door before heading over to the meeting room.

She stood watching how his muscles showed in flashes beneath the cut of his suit. "Damn he looked good." She said to herself.

Hotch turned around and saw that she was staring at him. "Prentiss, are you coming?" Looking at his face, he seemed to be hiding some anger. Emily wondered what that was all about but instead just responded that she was on her way.

Maybe Morgan was right. The Halloween party might be a good way to get her mind off the fact that she was in love with her boss and he loved someone else. Maybe what she needed was to find someone else herself. Or maybe she just had to tell Hotch how she felt before she left.

As she entered the meeting room, her head smashed into another flying bat. She wanted to rip it off the ceiling. Shaking her head, she realized that she was just being silly. She knew that she had better make up her mind soon. All this back and forth was driving her just batty.