Author's Note: So, this is my new Criminal Minds story. It's about eight chapters, all of which are written, just not all typed and they are from the point of view of a boyfriend of Emily's, who is living with her throughout Series 4 and 5 ish. I hope you like it and please review to tell me what you think. This chapter is after Emily gets home from New York, episodes Lofi and Mayhem.

DISCLAIMER: I don't own any of the original Criminal Minds characters.

-----

Returning Home

Emily got in at about six o'clock. She looked tired, her shoulders sagging and she had dark circles emerging under her eyes. She had her ready bag slung over her shoulder which she dumped in the hallway as soon as the door was closed. More gently, she placed her laptop bag on the floor next to the stairs and then hung up her coat. She unclipped her gun and took the clip out before putting them both in the little safe.

I got up slowly and moved towards her. She looked like she was dead on her feet so I just wrapped my arms around her and just like that, she was pressed against me, her breathing hitching only slightly. In the time I've known Emily Prentiss, I don't think I've ever seen her cry. Even though she's tall, I'm taller and I pressed my cheek against her hair and we just stood there, being together.

After a couple of minutes, Emily pulled away. Her cheeks were dry, her makeup still in place and she smiled weakly at me, blowing her hair off her forehead.

"Are you okay?" I asked.

She ran her hand through her hair and nodded. "Yeah," she sighed. "It's just been a long day."

"When did the day start?"

She smiled almost ruefully. "Two days ago, about four am."

"That'll be why you're tired." I pointed out.

Emily only nodded absently. I could see she had something on her mind.

"Do you wanna talk about it?"

Emily looked up. "Huh? Oh, no. It's fine. I'm fine."

I nodded. Getting information out of Emily Prentiss when she didn't want you to know was like getting blood out of a stone. It didn't help to push her.

"Okay. Why don't you put your laundry by the washing machine and I'll run you a bath? How does that sound?"

Emily almost groaned in pleasure. "That sounds absolutely heavenly." She leaned forward and kissed me on the lips. It was quick and sweet but it was nice. It was like I had my girlfriend back instead of Supervisory Special Agent Prentiss. I smiled at her.

And, although she had been absolutely exhausted moments ago, she almost skipped over to her ready bag to get her dirty clothes. I nearly laughed but just shook my head. She was such a funny person.

I ran up to the bathroom and turned on the hot water in the bath. I squeezed in some of Emily's favourite bubble bath and took her favourite shampoo and conditioner from the shower and put them on the side of the bath.

Closing the door behind me, I figured I'd go back to my book while Emily had her bath and then, depending on whether she wanted dinner or not, we'd head to bed.

***

Almost an hour later, I heard the gentle creaking of the stairs and looked up to see Emily coming down, almost zombie-like from relaxation. I would've said completely zombie-like if it hadn't been for the essence of alertness that clung to Emily like a second skin. I suppose it came with the job and the way she'd been brought up.

But anyway, she stumbled on the second to last step but caught herself before she fell. She was wrapped up in her dark blue dressing gown with a white towel around her shoulders to dry her hair with. She threw herself down on the sofa next to me and curled up, with her head on a pillow.

"I'm assuming you don't want dinner then," I smiled as I looked at her. It was nice to see the real her rather than the work persona.

"No. Go away. Sleeping." Emily mumbled, burrowing further into the cushion.

"Come on, girl." I put my book on the arm of the sofa and stood up. "The bed is definitely more comfortable than the sofa."

Emily groaned but let me pull her onto her feet.

"Come on," I coaxed. "I'll lead you. You won't even have to open your eyes."

As I said that, her eyes opened and she scowled at me sleepily. "Fine. Lead the way."

"As you wish." I grinned and took her up the stairs, pushing open the bedroom door ahead of me. As soon as we were inside, Emily made a dive for the bed and snuggled up on top of the covers. "This is so nice. I miss this bed when I'm away." She murmured, already half asleep again.

"I hope you missed me as much as the bed." I teased as I pried the dressing down off her. Underneath, I saw she was wearing a pair of my boxers and one of my shirts.

She saw me looking. "I did miss you."

I smiled. "Good. I missed you." I leant down and kissed her on the forehead. "I'll be up in a bit.

***

I'd fallen asleep on the sofa. I opened my eyes to the shadowy room. The only dim light source came from the lamp I'd been using to ready by. I glanced at the clock on the DVD player: two sixteen am. I groaned, wondering what had woken me up. But then I heard a noise upstairs. I froze, listening.

Then I heard it again. I'd been afraid that someone had broken in but it wasn't. It was a whimpering sound, crying. For a second, none of it was accepted into my brain. Emily didn't cry.

But then there was a scream. I sprung off the couch and raced up the stairs, pushing the bedroom door open with more force than was probably necessary. In the darkness, I could make out Emily writhing on the bed, her legs all twisted up in the sheets. She was screaming and screaming and still locked in her sleep.

"Emily!" I said loudly as I sat down on the bed beside her. I grabbed her flailing arms and held on gently. "Emily, it's okay. I'm here, Emily. Come on, wake up. It's okay. I promise, it's okay."I hoped that speaking to her might pull her out of her nightmare.

Luckily for both her and me, I think, Emily suddenly gasped and her eyes flew open. She swallowed several times and sat up slowly. She was breathing deeply, carefully, trying to regain her composure.

I watched her as she closed her eyes and concentrated on her breathing. As she blew out and sucked in slowly, I found myself mimicking her. For a few minutes we sat in the dark, in silence.

"Do you want to talk about it?" I asked finally.

Emily shook her head. "No, it's fine. I'm okay." Although she'd been calming herself down, there was a slightly hysterical edge to her voice that I noticed. I didn't know if she did.

"Are you sure?" I didn't want to push her but I'd been woken up by her screaming for god's sake. That had to be one hell of a nightmare.

"Yes. I'm fine." Emily's tone was clipped as she lay back down. Agent Prentiss was back again. I noticed that she had her eyes forced open. I may have been no profiler but I could tell that what she had dreamt had rattled her. She was scared and she didn't want to admit it.

I lay down beside her, facing her, making eye contact. She stared back at me, her muscles tight in apprehension.

"Emily, what did you see?" I asked her. I gently moved a strand of her hair out of her face and rested my hand on her bare forearm.

She hesitated. She was trying to decide whether to trust me or not, I could see it in her eyes. But she doesn't trust anyone; I know that. I don't think she knows I know. She throws a facade around herself, pretending she trusts people. But she doesn't trust anyone, not enough to share her real self, the person she's comfortable being with them. But I could try.

She took a deep breath. "There was a car bomb while we were in New York. My boss was caught in it. That's what I saw."

"Is he...?" I trailed off. I didn't want to ask.

"No," Emily shook her head. "No, he's okay. An Agent from New York died."

"I'm sorry." What else could I say?"

"I didn't really know her." Emily's voice was hollow, sad.

"And that was your nightmare?"

"Yeah, that was it." But I could see that that wasn't it. There was more; there was so much more. The job she did, the life she lived inside her head were things I'd never know or understand. The things she'd seen on the job would haunt her forever from the little I knew about it. Her job was the biggest part of her life. I knew that. It was fine. It had to be. Because I loved her.