Author's Note

This story begins somewhere in season 4/5 roundabout there. But it won't really follow the episodes. Haley has left Hotch, but the Reaper won't happen.

Chapter 1

It was nearing the end of a long, boring day. Hotch stood at his window and watched his team in the bullpen. He liked to do that sometimes. Not in a creepy stalker way, just in admiration for the camaraderie and ease they had with one another. Prentiss and Morgan were teasing Reid about something. Hotch couldn't hear them, but they were clearly having fun. They were hanging out before they all went home. He envied them that. Hotch didn't really "hang out." His ex-wife had said that before she left; she'd actually used that as one of the reasons. Hotch didn't hang out. Haley had said his job had taken him over; he was cold and distant and couldn't remember how to have any fun. She had said the fun shouldn't take work; if it was work, then it wasn't fun. Hotch didn't quite understand that. In his life, everything worth doing was also worth putting the work in. Hotch wanted to prove her wrong. He wanted to be able to have fun again. Not with Haley, their marriage was over quite a while before she finally left, but in general. And maybe, if it wasn't too much trouble, with another person. Another person with long dark hair who, at this moment in time, was playing "keep away" with one of the film canisters Reid used in his physics magic experiments. He smiled. She could certainly teach him to have fun. He just hoped (when he let himself hope) that she wanted to.

Emily laughed as she tossed the canister to Morgan and reached over to answer her ringing phone, "Prentiss." She smiled at the boys as Reid tried to reach for his canister and missed, with Morgan taunting him. She was unfortunately not paying as much attention to the phone call as was needed.

"Speaking. … Wait, I'm sorry, hold on a second please." Emily looked to Morgan and Reid, who were oblivious to her, "guys, sssh!" she admonished and went back to her phone call. "I'm sorry about that. This is Emily Prentiss. … Oh. I'm sorry to hear that. But I don't understand why you're calling me personally. … What will happen to her? … What!"

Emily's last exclamation caught the attention of Reid and Morgan, who stopped their game to look over at her, checking for signs of a problem. Emily, for her part, had sunk into her chair with the shock of what she was hearing. "I'm sorry. Stop. You're going to have to. Please. I need you to repeat that. Can you start over please?" She was rambling. Emily Prentiss never rambled. When it was work related. Morgan and Reid exchanged a look and stepped closer to Prentiss's desk, just in case they were needed.

Emily looked up at them, not really seeing anyone, just continued her phone conversation as best she was able. "Listen this can't be the best option. I'm not suited to … No, I'm not saying that necessarily, but … Look didn't John have ...? Are there no other options? … No, that wouldn't work. … I see. ... And that's all …?"

Suddenly, Emily stood up like a shot and spoke in a firm voice, "Absolutely not. That is not an option. … Did you hear me? I said that is not an option. 100 % not an option."

By now, Morgan and Reid were concerned. Hotch had stepped out of his office door, having seen the change in her behavior through his office window.

Emily was on a roll now, "Did you hear what I said? No! He cannot be allowed anywhere near… That man is a criminal. I'm a federal agent, trust me, I know what I'm talking about. I am telling you that that man is a pedophile. If you even think about… I will be on your doorstep with a bevy of lawyers before you even write out the motion. … I don't care what he's got. Besides being a federal agent, I'm a Prentiss."

Hotch was intrigued. He never heard Emily trade on her family name before. She often downplayed it or made self-deprecating comments about her family, but that was it. He was quite certain she never used her family's name and prestige to get anything. Something huge must be going on because she was using it now.

Emily continued, "The Prentiss Family Trust commands a lot of influence in this town. My family has open retainers with most of the top tier law firms in this town, no, I don't need a lawyer, thank you. I can walk in to just about any one of them, tell them who I am, and secure killer counsel that will crush any... … Look, I don't generally like to use that, but I will if need be here. So you tell me, what do we do about this?"

Emily was back to looking lost again. Hotch hated to see her like that. He knew her though, now wasn't the time to offer help. He knew her. She needed to process whatever was going on by herself first. Then he would offer his help. She'd say no thanks and struggle for a bit. Then, hopefully, she'd come to him. He would wait.

Emily sat down, it seemed her phone conversation was coming to an end. "Thank you, Mr. Daley. I can be there within the hour. Where is she now? … Okay. Do I need to have a family lawyer with me today? … Okay. I'll see you shortly." As Emily hung up the phone she looked around her, not seeing anything. Such was the result of the giant bomb just dropped in her life. She didn't see Morgan and Reid looking at her. She didn't hear them asking her what happened. She didn't see the junior agents and support staff milling around looking at her. She didn't see Hotch walking down the stairs toward her. She was having trouble focusing her eyes as she gathered up her coat and purse. She stood up and made a beeline for the elevator, leaving the men of the BAU staring after her, wondering.

TBC