Hero

As Hotch pulled up at Emily's apartment, dropping her of at her place, she was just about to get out when Hotch stopped her, putting a hand on her shoulder just like she had done earlier.

She looked at him surprised and waited for him to say something. 'Did you mean what you said earlier?'

Emily frowned 'of course, why wouldn't I?'

'I was just wondering' Hotch shrugged before he took a deep breath and added 'you're a hero too you know'

Emily sighed sadly and shook her head with a sad smile 'no I'm not but thanks anyway' Emily replied, going to leave he stopped her again.

'Why do you say that?' Hotch asked, concerned at what she had said and the way she said it with a sad smile.

'Because it's true, you saved her remember...' Emily started.

'So I'm not allowed to say I'm not a hero and you are?' Hotch questioned and Emily half chuckled half glared at him.

She responded with a 'I never said that'

'Well you are a hero Emily, your just like Morgan, going in first to protect everyone, save people or catching unsubs, that's what a hero does' Hotch said softly.

'Thanks but you do the same'

'What's the difference then?' Hotch asked.

Emily looked down and said quietly 'your you and I'm me, you deserve it and I don't, that's it'

Hotch put his hand on Emily's face, so she could look at him and when she did he said 'why don't you think you deserve it Emily?'

'It doesn't matter...' Emily said biting her nails.

'Of course it does' Hotch responded right away. 'Just tell me what's on your mind'

'It's nothing...' Emily started, then saw the look on Hotch's face 'I just don't feel like a hero at the moment'

Hotch was still worried about her and wanted to ask why but he felt he had asked too many questions for one night so he said 'okay, if you want to talk I'm here to listen'

Thanks' Emily said, sending him a genuine smile before getting her bag and leaving, before she closed the door though she added 'I'm not an ordinary girl Hotch' before closing the door and walking away, not giving Hotch a chance to respond.

Hotch sat there thinking about what Emily had just said 'no, she's not an ordinary girl, she is an extraordinary, special and so damn beautiful girl who IS a hero and so much more... It's a shame she doesn't know that, perhaps I'll have to tell her or show her that's she's worthy of love and deserves happiness' Hotch thought to himself as he drove off making a promise to himself to make sure she was okay.

Emily made herself a promise to tell him, she promised herself soon and not when she was ready as she knew that day would never come...

FINISHED!