Chapter 1

Emily was sitting by Hotch's bedside, waiting for him to wake up. He'd been in a car crash and was shot at whilst trying to get out of the flipped over car.

'Come on Em, let's go get a coffee,' JJ told her as she took her hand to drag her up. 'Rossi is going to stay and take your place, we need to get coffee and then you can come back, you've been here for a long time and you need to look at something other than a white wall.'

Emily looked up at JJ before nodding. 'Okay. I might pop home and have a shower and get changed as well,' she didn't want to worry her friends if she didn't have to.

'Yeah, that's a good idea.'

'But if Hotch wakes up or if anything...'

'I promise you will be the first person I call, Hotch will be fine,' JJ reassured her.

'Thank you,' Emily gave JJ a hug.

'Come on, let's go get coffee,' JJ returned her hug. 'Do you want me to drop you back at home?'

'No it's okay, I'll drive home, thanks though.'

xxx

Emily had been home and had a shower, before getting into some fresh clothes. She felt a bit better than before but wanted to get back. She hated the hospital but she was concerned for Hotch. Emily made a quick cup of coffee before leaving again.

She left the apartment quickly and drove back to the hospital but got stuck in a small amount of traffic, allowing her to think of the worst possible scenarios, yet again, making her anxiety worse. She'd been having anxiety before, even with everyone's reassurances that Hotch would be fine, and she knew they were right but it didn't stop her from having anxiety. 'Did you sleep?' Rossi asked when she entered the now familiar hospital room.

'Yeah I did actually, I didn't think I'd be able to but I slept for a bit,' Emily lied easily. 'I feel better.'

Rossi nodded although he didn't believe her. 'Good. I'm going to get some coffee.'

'Okay.' Emily sat in the vacated chair. When she was left alone in the room, she let out a sigh of relief.

Noticing a nurse come in, she quickly spoke up. 'Um do you know when he will wake up? Is he okay? Is he getting better?'

The doctor gave her a small smile. 'He's getting better, don't worry. He'll wake up soon, just talk to him, he can hear you.'

Emily nodded before looking back at him. 'How do you know each other?' the doctor asked.

'He's my boss and a friend.' Emily answered briefly, not keeping her eyes off him.

When the nurse left the room and she was alone again, Emily started talking, even though she didn't know what to say. She cleared her throat. 'Hotch... I think you should wake up, very soon. We're all worried about you. I've spoken to Jack and gone round as well to make sure he's okay and he's fine. We just need you to wake up soon. We can't do this without you. Please.' She took a deep breath as she tried to think of what else to say. 'There's so much I want to say. Jack needs his dad, we need you back.'

Emily was getting more and more tired and was just about to fall asleep when JJ came in with coffee. 'You're a life saver.'

JJ smiled. 'I figured since your not leaving any time soon, I'll bring you coffee.'

'Thank you so much.'

'Your very welcome,' JJ took in Emily's tired image. 'You look really tired Em, and I know you're not going to leave but then at least try to sleep. You look like you haven't slept in days.'

She hadn't. 'I promise,' Emily reassured her. She wanted to keep that promise, but she didn't want to be asleep when Hotch woke up. 'I just want to be here and awake when he... wakes up.'

'Good.' JJ smiled. 'We're going home for the night, but we'll be back in the morning.' JJ let her know after the pair sat in silence for a few minutes. 'I know you don't want to sleep in case he wakes up, but honestly, it will be enough for him that you're still here and haven't actually left.'

Emily nodded in return. She had nothing to say. 'He would do the same.'

'He would.' JJ agreed.

After they sat in silence for a few more minutes, JJ got a message. 'Okay, that's Reid, I've got to go but we're coming back in the morning. Let me know if anything changes okay?'

'Of course.'

'And get some sleep.'

'You to,' Emily smiled at her and watched her leave before turning back to Hotch.

Emily was holding his hand carefully, having moved it, when she fell asleep, but awoke half an hour later, feeling guilty for being asleep in the first place. She carried on holding his hand as if it was her lifeline, and maybe it was.

When Hotch finally opened his eyes, the first face he saw was Emily's and he almost smiled. She couldn't see him, because she was looking for something on the floor, but he could feel the weight of her hand on his and squeezed to let her know he was awake.

Emily let out a gasp and whipped her head back up to see Hotch looking at her with a smile on his face. 'Hotch, you're awake. Are you okay? Are you in pain? Do you need anything? Let me get the doctor.'

Emily felt like she could finally breathe again. 'I'm okay, in a little bit of pain but I'm fine otherwise,' Hotch tried to reassure her, but he could see in her face that it hadn't really worked.

He looked at Emily properly. 'You look like you haven't slept Emily.'

'I've been sleeping fine. I just need to get the nurse. Do you need anything?' Emily changed the conversation as quickly as possible.

He knew that she wasn't going to say anything yet until she knew he was properly observed, so let the conversation end. 'I don't need anything but thank you.'

She squeezed his hand before going to get the nurse.

The next morning

Hotch had been checked over and told that he could come out of hospital in a couple of days, depending on his progress.

Emily had let them know that Hotch was awake and offered to pick up Jack so that he could see his son.

Before she could leave, she made sure that someone else was with him and that he wasn't left on his own.

When Rossi walked in, he smiled. 'You're finally awake. How are you feeling?'

'I've felt better,' Hotch answered honestly. 'The doctor said I could be out in a couple of days at the moment. Emily's gone to pick up Jack so I can see him.'

'That's good, at least you get to see Jack.'

Hotch asked Rossi about all the things he couldn't remember and about his time at the hospital.

'How was Emily? She looks tired. Has she slept at all?'

'No, she hasn't left your side since you've been here.' Rossi saw Hotch smile. 'So when are you telling Emily?'

'Telling her what?' Hotch played dumb.

'Telling Emily that you're in love with her. Don't deny it.'

Hotch let out a sigh. 'Okay I'm not going to deny it.'

'But?'

'She doesn't...'

'She loves you. So much. She hasn't left your side, she hasn't even slept because she didn't want you to wake up and for her to be asleep and she always made sure that she was in the room so that you don't have to wake up alone and if we banned her from the room, she made damn sure that someone was in here. She also made sure Jack was okay. She's done so much to prove that she loves you and that's only this weekend.' Rossi stated.

Hotch sat in silence for a few minutes as he thought back on all the times she had proven that she loves him. 'Okay I'll tell her tonight.'

'Really?' Rossi smiled.

'Yes and if you're wrong at least I've told her and I can move on,' Hotch reasoned.

'I'm not wrong.'