She was looking for something, desperately searching the darkened apartment room by room. She was alone, darkness lurking behind every corner. She couldn't see anything that wasn't in the direct path of her flashlight. Her breathing was labored and her heart was thumping loudly in her ears, her footsteps echoing as her boots hit the hardwood. She didn't know what she was looking for but she was scared of what she might find.
She threw another door open, her gun raised as she cleared the room. She tried the light switch and flicked it upwards, only met with a small click and a resounding shudder of thunder. The power was out.
Her eyes followed her flashlight that was temporarily chasing away the shadows of the room. She swallowed hard as she saw something reflect off the nightstand. She walked over, picking up the picture frame and running her finger over the embossed metal before she put a hand to her mouth, realizing exactly where she was. She was in her old apartment.
She spun on her heel, picture still in her hand before the lights flickered back on. Her eyes quickly adjusted and she continued to stare at the picture in her hands. It didn't make sense for it to be here, since it was taken after she moved out of this place.
Her head snapped up at the sound of heavy feet running up the stairs. She immediately raised her gun, pointing it towards the door, preparing for an oncoming attack. The door pushed open slowly as her finger rested over the trigger. Sweat was forming at her brow, her hand steady before she saw who it was.
A breath of relief left her as she lowered her gun.
"Dec?" She breathed out, both happy and confused that he was there.
"Mom, you have to go. You have to get out of here." Declan said, grabbing her shoulders. It was then Emily noticed the sound of footsteps growing closer. "Go!" Declan yelled, his eyes wide with panic before the door nearly flew off its hinges when a heavy boot slammed against it.
Emily immediately tried to get in front of Declan, frantically trying to aim her gun. She had to protect Declan, it was a job she's intrusted herself with since he was four. She didn't even register what had happened, it happened so fast. Declan nearly pushed her down, shielding her as the thunder of a gun blasted through her ears. Declan was practically hugging her, her gun dropping to the ground as she felt something spreading against her chest.
"Dec?" She whispered, before she realized what was soaking into her. It was warm and she dared not look down before Declan fell to the ground before her.
"Declan!" She screamed just before her eyes snapped open. She was on the couch in her living room, in the house where her and Declan lived together. She took a few deep breaths, noticing the coffee that was split down the front of her blouse. She let out a few choice curses before getting up and putting the coffee mug down on her glass coffee table, not worrying about not using a coaster as she headed upstairs to change. Once she cleaned off and changed her shirt she grabbed her phone and tapped her foot as she let it ring.
"Mom?" Declan had a certain tone of annoyance in his voice but it didn't matter as Emily let out the breath she didn't even realize she was holding.
"Just calling to check on you" Emily said, knowing that she should stop being so paranoid.
"Mom, I told you only to call if it was an emergency." Declan whined.
"I know, I know, I' m sorry. I just…" She didn't want to worry him. "I'll let you get back to your date." She said, smiling.
"Okay, I'll see you in a few hours." Declan said, and she could see him smiling at her overprotectiveness like he always did.
"Okay," She replied. "I love you." She said right after he'd already ended the call. She ran her fingers through her long mess of curly hair before she found herself dialling another number and walking downstairs to make herself another coffee.
"Hello?" A very familiar voice answered.
"Hey Jayje" She answered happily, smiling as she turned on her coffee maker that she'd had for a little too long.
"Emily!" The woman answered excitedly. "How've you been?"
"I'm good, sorry for not calling much lately." Emily said, impatiently waiting for her caffeine fix.
"It's fine, Em." Jennifer said, always assuring her that she'd done nothing wrong. "How's Declan doing?" Emily sighed a little louder than she intended to.
"That bad?" JJ asked, and Emily rolled her eyes. She really needed a new 'tell', as Hotch had once called it. She nearly frowned at that memory before she shook her head.
"He's been hanging out with his girlfriend a lot." Emily stated truthfully, pouring her hot coffee into the ceramic mug that Declan had gotten her for mother's day. You'd think he'd get your typical "Best Mom" mug or something like that but no, he'd gotten her a mug that read, "Nerd? I prefer the term 'intellectual badass.'"
"Teenage boys do that." Jennifer said, obviously knowing Declan's girlfriend was not what she wanted to talk about. She knew her better than that.
"I don't think it's fair," Emily said, sipping at her steamy cup of coffee.
"What? Declan hanging out with his girlfriend? Didn't you say you liked her?" JJ questioned.
"I do like her; she's a sweet girl, and I'm not talking about that." Emily paused as she put her mug back down on the counter. "I'm talking about how you were a mom first and I still have to deal with the teenage years before you." JJ couldn't help but laugh at that.
"Well, now you can help me out when Henry reaches that age." JJ said and Emily could just picture the look on her face.
"I had a nightmare today." Emily blurted, not noticing how tight her hands were gripping the island in her kitchen.
"Was it about Doyle?" JJ asked, her tone not hiding any of the worry that she had for her best friend.
"No, no, I haven't dreamt about him since I left the BAU." She confessed, picking at her nearly non-existent nails. "This one scared me though." She said, as if surprised that a nightmare had managed scare her.
"Do you want to tell me about it?"
"No, it's okay. Just telling you that much makes me feel a little better." Emily smiled a little bit before changing the subject. "How are Henry and Will?"
"You should come see for yourself sometime soon." JJ said, raising an eyebrow. Emily let out a little laugh.
"How about tomorrow night? Supper at 6?" Emily suggested, excited to see her best friend and her family.
"That sounds fantastic." JJ agreed, happy to hang out. It seemed like forever. "Oh, maybe I could invite the rest of the team? Hotch has been asking about you, saying you haven't been returning his calls…"
"Jayje…" Emily coaxed, all the amusement gone from her voice at the very thought of Aaron Hotchner.
