AN: I do not own Criminal Minds, its characters, or anything related.
Maybe it was something about the way he said your name in that depressingly truthful tone he has perfected. Maybe it was how he held himself when he said it.
Whatever it was, the day suddenly got worse. Your Unit Chief, Aaron Hotchner himself, just told you that your best friend was in the hospital in a critical condition.
No! This can't happen, not to innocent Penelope. I damn near expect this to happen to a field agent, but Penelope? She's just a hacker-erm- analyst…
In what feels like minutes, you're in that same hospital hallway that is always full of desperation and bad news. It just has that vibe to it. The rest of the team occupies said halls, save for Morgan and Prentiss. Reid paces a few meters for the possible thousandth time, Hotch just leans against the generic white walls, and Rossi sits with a coffee in hand. You had already consumed your morning cup, and there is no need to be any more anxious then you already are.
Then she enters. Emily. The one person you could even consider saying anything to. She thoughtlessly sits next to you, her quiet field of energy attempting a little optimism. One soft hand clasps your shaking one, and you know.
You know that this, the whole situation, could very well turn out okay.