A/N: Welcome to the sequel to my story "Reckoning"! It would probably help you a lot to read that story first since this story takes place immediately after it and makes many references to the events that took place in that story. But if you don't, just a quick summary, "Reckoning" was my version of how Emily comes back and a resolution to the Doyle situation. At that end of that story, Doyle was dead, Emily was injured, Hotch was determined to pursue her and invited her to stay with him as she recuperated and was officially back among the living. Things were strained with the team, but what also surfaced is that Emily has her own issues with the rest of the members and hints that there was something more lurking beneath the surface.

If you're following my other stories you're probably thinking, "My God, woman! You're starting another?" Those other stories are actually almost done, so that is my excuse. This story, well, it's going to be a long one, so get ready to hunker down and I promise a lot of those bread crumbs I planted in "Reckoning", get fleshed out and explained here.

And while there'll be a major case in this story and it involves delving into Emily's issues, I will say that the first couple of chapters will be more about getting her re-established with the team. But the title is a hint of what will be coming. For those who may not know, "Comedy" can also mean a poem that begins in disaster and ends in happiness. So keep that in mind. Now on with the story!

In the middle of the journey of our life, I came to myself in a dark wood where the straight way was lost.

~ The Divine Comedy, Dante Alighieri

Aaron Hotchner sank back into his desk chair with a sigh of relief. He closed his eyes and enjoyed the peace of his quiet office. After six hours with the Director of the FBI, three deputy directors and six various department heads, not to mention the heads of Legal an d Communications, it was finally decided that Emily Prentiss will be reinstated in her old position as an Agent of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, assigned to the Behavorial Analysis Unit under the supervision of Supervisory Special Agent in Charge, Aaron Hotchner.

Just exactly how Hotch wanted it.

It wasn't without a battle. The FBI felt that their hand was forced and somehow manipulated by the press leak. It wasn't that they didn't want Prentiss back. Profilers didn't simply grow on trees and Emily was far too talented to not have in the Unit. But they wanted her back on their terms. However, with the news story running strong of how FBI Special Agent Emily Prentiss helped take out one of the most wanted terrorist in the world, what was the FBI going to do? Perhaps they could have forced a retirement on her. She had been through a traumatic experience, but that idea was nixed. Too high of a probability she would simply go to another agency and how would that look? That there was something wrong with the FBI if their number one heroine left it to work for someone else.

Then someone suggested turning her into the "face" of the FBI and merely keeping her on the publicity circuit, drumming up good will and press for the Agency. She was after all, a diplomat's daughter and knew how to conduct herself in public and for the press. Someone said she could be the next Sandra Bullock in Miss Congeniality 2. That suggestion had been met with cold stares though Hotch had no idea what the film reference meant.

Finally, they agreed to what Hotch had been pushing for, Emily would be back on his team in her old position, doing what she was born to do: profiling criminals to save lives.

Not everyone was completely satisfied with that idea, but they had no choice. After dismissing the others, the Director kept Hotch back. When they were alone, the older man had looked at Hotch with his piercing eyes and warned in his lazy Southern drawl, "I don't like being backed into a corner, Agent Hotchner. Especially not by someone in my own shop."

Hotch's spine had stiffened at the accusation. "Sir," he said crisply, his voice just bordering on insubordination, "Neither I nor anyone on my team was involved in that press leak."

The Director continued his intense scrutiny of Hotch and then finally grunted. "Maybe not," he admitted, "But it all worked out to your satisfaction. Oh, don't look surprise. I could see that smug, pleased look on your face when the decision was made that Agent Prentiss would be back on your team." He gave Hotch a sly, appreciative look. "She is very beautiful."

The Director watched in grim amusement as Hotch's face darkened. He waved his hand before the younger man could say something that he might regret, "If you keep it out of the Bureau, its fine. But the second your personal life starts dripping into the work, I'll have Prentiss transferred out of your unit and doing the Miss Congeniality Tour like Brubaker suggested." He picked up his glasses and another file, clearly dismissing Hotch.

For a second, Hotch merely stood there, blinking in surprise. When the Director continued reading his file, Hotch finally turned around and left the room. His steps to the elevator were slow, but his mind was going a mile a minute. Did he just get permission to pursue a relationship with Emily, fraternization rules be damned? From the Director no less?

By the time he reached the BAU floor, his steps were lighter and he had the faintest trace of a smile on his face. His team noticed immediately and Morgan called out a one word question,

"Hotch?"

The dark-haired agent paused and decided that his team needed to know what was going on. The anxiety around them was palatable and he didn't wish to torture them. "The Director has agreed to ask Emily back to the Bureau and her place on the team." He was happy to see looks of relief on the others' faces. Perhaps Emily's re-integration back onto the team will be much easier than he thought.

"When is she coming back?" Garcia asked eagerly.

"The offer hasn't been made yet," Hotch explained. "Plus she's still recuperating from her injuries, so it'll be at least a few weeks."

"Just exactly where is Emily?" Rossi asked, staring intently at Hotch. He seemed more measured in his reaction to the news. Hotch made a mental note to ask his old friend about that.

There was absolutely nothing inappropriate with what happened last night, but Hotch still felt reluctant to tell them she was staying with him. However, if he didn't, he had no doubt that they would begin a search for her immediately, concerned that she had disappeared on them again. He couldn't put them through that and he didn't want them to blame Emily.

"Last night Prentiss was discharged from the hospital. Since she had no place to stay, I invited her to my house. I do have a guestroom." He added that last part to make it sound as if was the most logical solution and Hotch stubbornly believed it was.

By the looks on everyone's faces, it probably wasn't.

"Emily is staying with you?" Rossi said slowly. His reaction coupled with his tempered response to Emily returning to the team sent off warning bells in Hotch's head.

"Yes." Hotch's one word response held just the slightest hint of a dark warning. Rossi caught it as did Derek, the other person who didn't seem particularly happy that Emily was staying at his home.

"That's great!" Garcia gushed, oblivious to the tension between the three men. "Sergio is with you so she'll be with him again. It's totally away from the press so no one will bother her. And she's got lots of room to recover, including that nice deck you have. She won't be cooped up like she would have been at my place."

Hotch watched as Derek seemed unconvinced, but the younger man simply remained quiet. Dave, on the other hand, was giving him a piercing look. Hotch, not wanting to hear what the other men had to say simply nodded his head indicating an end to the conversation before turning on his heel and making his way to his office.

He had been sitting in his peaceful silence for about five minutes when there was a quiet knock on his door. Before he could even call out a come in, the door was opening and Rossi was stepping through. He closed the door behind him and regarded Hotch with troubled eyes.

"Something bothering you, Dave?" he asked quietly when the other man simply sat down opposite him and stared.

"Emily staying with you."

Hotch smothered a sigh of irritation. Of all the people he thought who would have issues, Rossi was at the bottom of that list, with only Garcia being further down. "What is wrong with Emily staying with me?"

"Aaron, I know you, and I know you've finally pulled your head out of your ass and realize what an amazing woman Emily Prentiss is and you've decided you want her."

"My head is free of my ass. I realize Emily is absolutely amazing. I've decided to pursue her. Right, so what's the problem if my ass-free head is smart enough to realize I would be a fool to let someone as wonderful as Emily slip from my grasp?"

His voice was calm, but Hotch was using the word "ass" so Rossi knew the other man was at the point of extreme irritation. Others would typically back off, but not Dave Rossi, especially not with something as important as this. He didn't want to see anyone hurt, not Emily and not Hotch.

"Because Emily isn't ready for it, and you know it," Rossi replied calmly. "She's spent nearly two years in hiding, running from Doyle's goons and ruining his network. She's had to sleep with one eye open, constantly on alert. She was just hospitalized. She's got to cope with all of us and how we'll react to her. Hotch, the last thing she needs is another complication."

Rossi saw the younger man's features tightened and then after a few seconds, they relaxed into resigned lines and Hotch sighed.

"I know I can't pursue her now, but I can be her friend and offer her a safe haven," Aaron replied as he leaned back into his chair. "She needs a place where she can heal."

"And if you can offer that, great, but you can't push your own agenda and wants and desires on her. Not now." He saw a flicker of guilt in the other man's eyes. "What? What did you do?"

"Well, I may have sorted of manipulated things to get her to stay more than one night," Hotch admitted.

Rossi narrowed his eyes at the other man and went through a variety of scenarios but thought of the one that would make Emily feel like she couldn't say no to staying at the Hotchner house. "Jack. You used Jack."

"I didn't use him," Hotch protested.

"No, but you probably used his desire for Emily to stay to convince, or guilt her into doing so," Rossi shot back. He sighed. "That is why I'm not thrilled with this arrangement."

"Staying with me is the best option for her," Hotch returned stubbornly. "No one will bother her at my house, I have the room, and there'll be someone with her if she needs help."

"Who's with her now?"

"I'll be with her most of the time and I'm just a phone call away," Hotch amended. "Look, where else would you want her to stay? With you?"

"I'm a bit more neutral territory," Rossi pointed out. "I won't push her."

Hotch's eyes narrowed at his old friend. Rossi nearly let out a snort of frustration. Was Aaron serious? The older profiler could see the jealous and territorial gleam in Hotch's eyes. He had it much worse than Rossi thought and under any other circumstances, he would be encouraging his old friend and demanding to be the best man at their wedding, but right now, Emily did not need Hotch romantically pursuing her. Did he not understand that?

"She's staying where she is until she's ready to be back on her own feet," Hotch said softly, his tone not fooling Rossi at all. There was steel underneath that mildness and woe to the person who tried to upset Hotchner's plans.

Rossi sighed in resignation but he issued one more warning. "Fine, but do not, I repeat, do not push her Hotch. If you do, you might find yourself doing more harm than good and maybe not being able to reach her at all. We have our issues to work through with this Doyle mess, but remember, Emily's got her issues with us too, and that includes you."

"My only concern right now is to make sure Emily recovers, physically, mentally and emotionally," Hotch informed his old friend. His face softened slightly and he added. "Dave, I care enough about her to not hurt her. I hear what you're saying and know that my only goal right now is to make sure she's all right."

Rossi knew that Hotch would never deliberately hurt Emily in any way, but he also knew the power of emotions and how they could make even the best intentions go awry. He also knew if anyone could control his emotions, it would be Hotch, but he's seen first hand that where Emily Prentiss was concerned, Hotch was sometimes anything but his usual, in control self. All he could do right now was to watch the couple and be prepared to help wherever and whenever he could.

A/N 2: Thank you for those who nominated my two stories, "A Rose By Any Other Name" and "Reckoning" (which this story is the sequel to!) for the Profilers' Choice Awards. The final ballot is up so you can vote if you wish. forum. fanfiction. net/topic /74868/ 51253709/1/ (just eliminate the spaces to make the link work). Voting ends November 30th. There are a lot of good stories nominated, maybe some you haven't read before so it might also give you an opportunity to discover a new story.