Can't say goodbye!

Emily stood by Hotch in his office and took a deep breath. She had tears in her eyes when she whispered quietly. 'I'm leaving'

'What?' Hotch asked, wondering if he had heard her right.

'I can't do this job anymore so I have to leave'

'Emily…' Hotch cleared his throat 'you don't have to leave'

Emily looked down and she nodded her head 'I do… I can't do this anymore'

Hotch tried to convince Emily to stay with the team a few more hours. He couldn't just give up on her like that. 'Is there anything I can do?' he asked hopefully.

'No… just let me go' Emily shrugged, more tears in her eyes, her shaky voice sounding sad and broken.

'I can't just let you go'

'I can still come and visit. I'll still be in the country'

'Why now?' Hotch asked, his voice cracking a bit.

Emily looked up at him and said truthfully 'I don't know… maybe it's the right time… I don't know but… I can't keep doing this to… to all of you… its not fair'

'Can't keep doing this to us? What are you doing? You haven't done anything?' Hotch asked.

'I've put you all through so much pain and… it's just too much, I can't do it anymore'

'What else?'

'The nightmares' Emily said sounding distant.

'We all have nightmares Emily… please can you just stay a little while longer, see if you change your mind' Hotch said to her, his voice back to normal.

'I've tried… I've been thinking about this for a while and I've made up my mind' Emily said and looked passed him. 'I've found another job'

'How can I try to change your mind?'

Emily looked through the window and at her family, they all looked so happy together 'they all look so happy… how can I say goodbye?'

'Don't… don't say goodbye just stay' Hotch said, emphasizing the word stay.

'I can't' Emily said once again.

Hotch walked up behind her and asked quietly 'when do you leave?'

'The end of the week' Emily whispered.

Hotch sighed and did something a boss shouldn't have done but at that moment he didn't care. He wrapped his arms around her waist, pulling her closer towards him and rested his chin on her shoulder. 'Why leave so soon?'

Emily was surprised but took great comfort in the sweet gesture. 'I have to move on' she answered. As much as she would have loved to stay like that in Hotch's arms she knew they would get in trouble if they got caught. So she turned around to face him instead and put her hand on his cheek softly.

'I'll miss you' Hotch said, sounding kind of defeated.

Emily's heart broke and she did her best not to cry. She shook her head and bit her lip 'I'm sorry'

Hotch nodded in return, not able to say anything.

'I'll miss you too' Emily replied and put her head on his shoulder, starting to cry.

Hotch rubbed soothing circles on her back, whilst he was doing his best to keep his emotions under control.

'Emily… I can only say I miss you because I cannot say goodbye' Hotch said.

Emily looked up at Hotch with tears 'no' she begged quietly 'baby we're not saying goodbye, I just have to go…'

'I don't like that you have to go… we're a family, a team, how are we all that without you?' Hotch asked emotionally.

'We still are a family' Emily whispered tearfully and kissed his cheek. 'We always will be'

'I've never seen you give up so easily, giving up without a fight. That's not the strong Emily Prentiss I know' Hotch said to her.

'Maybe you never knew me at all' Emily said back. She pulled out of his embrace and placed one last kiss to his cheek before leaving.

The girl, who never stopped trying, finally gave up the fight she had tried to battle!