Just another short Demily story.

Disclaimer:

I do not own Criminal Minds or its characters.

Emily

Derek and I had been sitting at our house for hours doing completely nothing. He wasn't in the mood for anything…fun, and he didn't want to go out to eat or see a movie. He sat on his phone in his one spot on the couch.

"Can I invite the team over? It'll be fun." I broke the silence that had fallen over us once again.

"Hmm? Sure, sure." He answered. I knew he wasn't listening.

"Who are you texting?" I asked.

"No one, Em. You're really irritating tonight."

I stood up and got my phone out. I texted everyone in the team and offered drinks at my and Derek's house. Everyone agreed, but JJ and Garcia were already out and had a few to drink already. I offered to pick them up, to which they accepted willingly.

"I'm going to pick up Garcia and JJ. They'll probably stay the night. The guys might get here before I get back. Please get off your phone when they're here."

He nodded, still looking at his phone. I stared at him before sighing and walking out. I locked the door behind me and walked down to my car.

They were telling me all about these two guys that were trying to pick them up, and how ridiculous it was. We laughed the whole way back to my house, which was about 10 to 15 minutes, depending on traffic.

When we got there, Hotch, Rossi and Reid showed at the same time.

"We carpooled, apparently you did too…" Rossi smiled as we met them on their way up the path.

"They've already been drinking; I had to pick them up." I said as we kept walking.

"Hey, Emily, who's that?" Reid asked, pointing to a car that was parked outside the house. It hadn't been there when I left.

I examined it from where I was standing, "I don't know. Must be a neighbour's friend."

"Whoa, you two got a head start…" Rossi laughed as he caught JJ.

"Sorry, no I haven't had too much; I'm just over the driving limit I think."

"Sure." Rossi nodded.

I unlocked the door and walked in, stopping dead in my tracks at the site of another woman kissing Derek.

"Shit." I heard him say quietly as he pushed the girl away.

"That is her?" The whore said quietly.

"Oh, I have a gun right beside me." I said harshly. "Get out of my house!"

She rolled her eyes and stood up. He deliberately bumped me as she walked out the door. The team were all standing inside and staring at Derek in shock.

"Are you—" I turned after the Barbie doll, but Rossi grabbed my arm and pulled me further into the room.

"Let the whore go home to her drugged boyfriend." He said as he closed the door.

"Emily, I can explain." Derek said as he stood up.

"I'm listening."

"Kick his arse." JJ whispered.

"JJ, please." He said.

"You're a fuckboy." She said.

"You've been drinking."

"That does not change the fact that you are a fuckboy and we really hate you right now." Garcia said.

"Penelope, come on."

"Reid, it was the whore's car." I said.

"I figured…" He said quietly.

"Okay, look, she…I…I don't…" He didn't know what to say.

I shook my head, "I cannot believe you, Derek."

"Emily, it isn't what it looked like."

"I'm sure it isn't." I walked to the door and opened it, "Out."

"I'd rather stay in…" He said as he stared out the door.

I looked to where he was looking and threw the door closed instantly. An unknown man stood on the other side, holding a gun in his hands.

I rolled at the bottom of the door as he shot several bullets through it.

I stayed low and got my gun out of the locked drawer by the door. I threw Derek's to him and 2 rounds.

We loaded out guns and stood on either side of the door. I glanced over to the others. Rossi and Hotch had automatically gotten JJ and Garcia to the ground when the first shot was taken. Reid was crouching behind the counters with them.

"We can talk about it later." I said.

"Yep." He answered as he moved and pulled the door open after my nod.

I held my gun steady pointed to where the man stood. He was gone.

"Shit." I said.

"We should get paid more…" He said, closing the door and locking it. "Did you leave the bedroom window open?" He asked.

"Fuck." I stood up. "I'll go to the back door."

"Are any of the other windows open?"

"I don't know. Despite our job, I never remember to check them."

"How useful."

"I am about to shoot you in your dick. You won't ever be able to fuck anyone else."

"We agreed later."

"Well we're about to die, so…" I said.

"Take the back." He rolled his eyes and moved towards our bedroom, looking at the windows as he passed them.

As I walked towards the back door, it flew open and a gun was pointed right at me. I took a shot, missing him by the tiniest bit. I had too much on my mind, and I wasn't concentrating enough to shoot properly. Instead of hitting him though, I got lucky and hit his gun. It flew from his hand and he pounced at me.

"Down!" Derek yelled. I dropped to the ground, but not voluntarily. The man threw a very painful punch to me, and kicked my ribs. I dropped from pain, not being able to hold myself up.

I closed my eyes and covered my head as Derek took a shot. A loud thud fell beside me. I moved slowly and looked to my side; the man lay with a bullet right between his eyes beside me. It looked like he was staring back at me, but he was definitely dead.

Derek stepped forward as we heard police sirens. He helped me up and guided me to the living room.

The kick to the ribs was very hard, and in return, very painful. I sat down on the couch and lifted my shirt enough to see where he kicked me. "Motherfucker."

Rossi and Hotch went and looked at the man, but neither of them was able to identify him. We were taken outside by policemen and paramedics.

I was left sitting at the back of an ambulance with a bandage around my ribs.

Derek walked over slowly. The others were standing far away, a few metres, by a police car. I knew they were listening.

"Thanks." I said quietly.

"For what?"

"Well, you sort of saved my life back there."

"You were holding a gun, Emily. Why didn't you shoot again?"

I stared at him.

"It's because of the last case, isn't it?"

"Why should I tell you? You obviously cannot be trusted anymore."

"I just saved your life…"

"Yeah, and I'm about to end yours!" I stood up and he took a few steps backwards. Hotch was between us in seconds.

"Stop." He said to me.

I shook my head and turned around. I started walking down the small street to no place in particular. Rossi followed me.

"Hey, Prentiss."

I stopped walking and he turned to stand in front of me, "Yes?" I knew there were tears welling in my eyes. I really loved Derek Morgan, and I mean really loved. More than I had ever loved someone before. I thought he was possiblly the one who would take everything from my past away, and make new, happier memories with me, but apparently I was wrong again.

It wasn't even the man with the gun that was upsetting me, it was the sole fact that Derek had been cheating on me, in my own house.

In fact, it wasn't the previous case that left me not shooting; it was the fact that I hated myself so much at that point. For being so stupid to think he loved me. For not being good enough for him. For not looking like a Barbie doll. For everything she had and I didn't. She probably had a rich family and a lot more to offer him. I didn't shoot because I didn't care whether I was dead or alive.

All I had was the amount of money I was paid, and my love. All of it. Every piece of me, I gave to him. I just wished that was enough, and that he would take it.

"You're crying."

"No, I'm not."

"You're allowed to cry." He nodded.

I shook my head, "I'm fine."

"Is it the shooter, or Morgan?"

"It's neither. I'm fine."

"Emily." He voice was so concerned, sincere. I knew him enough to trust him, but who knows; maybe he would turn on me too. Or was that just a Derek thing?

JJ and Garcia approached us.

JJ saw the concern in Rossi's eyes, and she pulled me straight into her arms. I let my tears fall then, giving up on the whole "I'm strong" charade.

"What's going on over there, Penelope?" Rossi asked.

"Hotch is giving Morgan the biggest mouthful I have ever heard. He's very angry that he did that to you, Emily."

I closed my eyes as I cried, not wanting to see their eyes on me.

"Reid looks like he's just nodding in agreement, or repeating what he's saying…" Rossi said.

"Reid looks scared of Hotch…" Garcia laughed.

After a few minutes I pulled away from JJ. "Thanks and sorry."

"Oh, any time." She smiled, "So, do you want to talk about which event is bothering you?"

"They connect."

"Explain, then?" JJ asked.

"I didn't shoot."

"No, you didn't. You let him jump you."

I nodded, "I didn't shoot."

"Why didn't you shoot? What am I missing?" Garcia asked.

"I didn't shoot, because I didn't care."

Rossi cleared his throat, "Well that's a problem."

"How does this connect?" JJ asked.

"You didn't care because of Morgan?" Garcia guessed.

I nodded and tears fell from my eyes again, "I feel so weak." I said as I wiped them away.

"It's healthy to cry sometimes. I haven't seen this in months, so it's good." JJ nodded.

"What's not good is not caring whether you're alive or dead." Rossi said.

"Okay, can we please talk about it tomorrow? I can't deal with it right now." I said.

"Where are you staying?" Rossi asked.

I motioned back to the house where we had just come from a half hour ago.

"No, you're not staying here. You can come with me tonight." Rossi said.

"No, Rossi, I can stay—"

"No. You are staying with me as long as you need too." He insisted. "Starting with tonight."

I shook my head.

"Emily. You can't stay here. I would offer my house, but Will and Henry are both sick and I don't want you to catch anything. Garcia has no room at all at her place. Stay with Rossi." JJ said.

I looked back at Rossi, who nodded with a smile. "Fine. Just for tonight."

"We'll see." He smirked and put his arm around me, leading me back over to Hotch and Reid.

Morgan looked at me and went to speak but I shook my head at him and kept walking.

"I need to tell you who that was and how it wasn't what it looked like."

"Not tonight, Derek." Rossi said quietly.

"Where are you going?" He asked me.

"She's staying with me." Rossi replied.

He stood in front of me, between Derek and myself. I was at Hotch's side, and tears filled my eyes again as I looked at Derek's angelic face.

Hotch hugged me, an unusual thing for him to do, and led to his car. He opened the passenger door and motioned for me to get in. I took one last look at Derek before I got in. I rolled the window down quietly so I could hear their conversation.

"Thank you, Rossi. Please keep her safe, and make sure she's okay." He said.

Rossi nodded and walked over to the car with Reid by his side. They got in the back.

Hotch was still standing in front of Morgan. "Do you have anywhere to stay?"

"I was going to stay here." He motioned to our house.

"You can stay with me, but if you get in that car, not a single word is spoken to Emily, do you hear me? Nothing, unless she talks to you first."

He nodded, "Thanks Hotch."

"Do you two have a way home?" He asked JJ and Garcia.

They looked at each other, "Yeah, yeah we do."

"Officer, take these two home please?" Hotch said to the closest officer. He nodded and walked around his cruiser, opening the door for them.

"Thank you." They said to Hotch, and then to the officer as they got in.

I checked my phone as it received a message. Hotch and Morgan got in the car at the same time that it sounded.

"We'll come to Rossi's or the office tomorrow, depending on where you are." JJ texted.

"Office." I replied.

We drove in complete silence the whole way. Hotch would glance over to me every so often but I never returned it.