I've been working on this story for what feels like forever. I've had this part and another few parts written out for a while now! I hope you guys like it. AND did anyone else get their cry on at last night's episode? Sweet Lord baby Jesus…my heart still hurts! "I didn't get a chance to say goodbye!" and Garcia's phone call OMG! Make it stop! I can't handle this sadness! What are you trying to do to me Criminal Minds? HUH! Anywho, on with the story, if you like it or have any ideas you might want to see pop up, let me know!
Morgan knocked hastily on Hotch's door and walked in without waiting for a response. "We have a problem," the dark agent said.
Hotch looked up from his large pile of paperwork. "What are you talking about?"
Morgan stepped closer to the desk and held up a picture. "My friend called me. Karl Arnold has escaped." Hotch's mouth dropped open as he took the picture out of Morgan's hand. "And they found that in his cell." Silence filled the small office as Hotch gazed down at the photo. This was his fault. When it was clear his unit chief wasn't going to say anything Morgan spoke up. "We have to tell her man."
Nodding his head, Hotch cleared his throat. "Are there any leads?"
"No, but we know where he's going, and I'm not letting her go anywhere without me."
Hotch stood up and put the picture in his jacket pocket. "I'll take care of it. I won't let her leave without me. Head home Morgan, I'll deal with this, just send her up on your way out please."
"Are you sure?" he asked with uncertainty in his tone.
Hotch sat back down and nodded again. "Yes, have a good night," and with that Morgan was dismissed.
"Hey Prentiss, Hotch wants to talk to you." Morgan informed the raven haired woman.
Emily looked up with a quizzical look on her face, her eyes darted towards Hotch's office then back to Morgan. "Am I in trouble?"
Morgan flashed a small smile. "No."
She stood up and started to walk towards the stairs, but turned back. "Are you going to be here when I'm done or are you going home?"
He tilted his head towards the door. "I'm going to head home. I'll see you tomorrow."
"Good night." Emily headed up towards Hotch's door again. She raised her hand to knock when Morgan called out to her.
"Princess, wait."
He ran up the steps, and picked her up into his arms in one fluid motion for a hug. Emily let out a laugh and hugged him back. "What is going on with you?"
"Nothing." Morgan placed her feet back onto the ground and smoothed her hair down. "I love you. I'll see you tomorrow," he whispered and leaned in to place a small kiss on her forehead before he walked down the steps and out of the bullpen.
Emily watched as he walked away and wondered what the hell was going on with him. The smile that was gracing her face slowly disappeared and fear started to take its place. Without knocking Emily rushed into Hotch's office and slammed the door shut. "Am I being fired?" she yelled.
Hotch looked up at the outburst and arched an eyebrow. "What? No, why would you be getting fired?" he asked quickly.
She pointed outside towards where Morgan was not two minutes ago. "Morgan doesn't hug me, and kiss me, and say that he loves me every day Hotch. Something usually causes that kind of reaction!"
Standing up from behind his desk he moved closer to the frantic woman. Placing his hands on her shoulders he shook her gently. "Calm down Emily. You're not getting fired, I promise."
Emily looked at him with a disbelieving gaze. "Are you sure?"
"I'm positive."
Letting out a shaky breath Emily finally started to relax. "Okay, well if I'm not being fired, what's going on?"
"Come sit down," he encouraged as he led Emily to one of the chairs while he took a seat in the other one.
"I have to tell you something."
"Say it already Hotch, you're freaking me out!"
Hotch took a deep breath, "Do you remember Karl Arnold?"
"Of course," she shuddered lightly. "Nasty." A long pause passed between the two before Emily arched an eyebrow. "Why do you ask?"
"Well, they checked his cell and they only found one thing."
"Which was?"
Hotch pulled the picture out of his jacket pocket and handed it to Emily. "This."
Emily's fingers took the picture out of his fingers and gasped softly when she saw what it was of. "Why…how did he get a picture of me Hotch?"
Shaking his head slowly, he locked eyes with her. "I have no idea Prentiss."
"Okay, well it's no big deal; I mean he's locked up so having a picture of me is really no biggie other than it's creepy as all hell." She handed the picture back to Hotch and he placed it on his desk.
"That's why I needed to talk to you. They checked his cell for a reason," he started then paused.
"Which was?" Emily pressed on.
Hotch sat in the seat focusing entirely on Emily. How was he supposed to tell her this? How was she going to take it? Would she hate him knowing that it was his fault? Emily fidgeted in her seat under his intense gaze.
"Hotch! What was the reason? Why aren't you talking? What is wrong with you?" Hotch continued to sit there and Emily stood up quickly. "If you aren't going to tell me I'm going to go ask Morgan than because he clearly knew what was going on!" she said as she made her way to the door.
Hotch reached out and grabbed a hold of her wrist and pulled her back. "Wait! Don't go, I'll tell you! Just please sit back down."
Emily did as she was told and Hotch took another deep breath. "He wasn't in it."
After all the silence and pauses Emily didn't understand. "What?"
"They checked his cell because he wasn't in it."
Horror flashed across Emily's face as realization to what Hotch was saying hit her. "He…escaped?" she said softly.
"Yes," he nodded. "No one knows where he is and Emily," he reached out and grabbed her hand that was now shaking slightly, "I'm so sorry. It's all my fault that he has a picture of you because I asked Morgan if you could come with me. I knew what would set him off and what would give us the most answers and you were my best option. I'm sorry."
Emily squeezed his hand gently. "It's not your fault." Hotch opened his mouth to talk but she quickly cut him off. "You did the right thing by taking me there. We found out a lot of information and you can't regret that, so stop. None of this is your fault."
"Emily—"
"Stop!" Hotch's head shot up and his eyes locked on hers. He saw the anger and the fear and frustration mixing in her eyes. "If you try to apologize to me one more time or say how it's all your fault I'm going to punch you in the face." Hotch arched an eyebrow in shock. "Don't think I'm joking, because this isn't your fault, so I want you to stop thinking that it is."
"Okay."
"So what is being done about finding him?"
"I haven't had time to get all of that information yet. Morgan came in and told me then I had him send you up here."
Nodding her head slowly, Emily finally removed her hand from Hotch's. "Alright, well when you know something please tell me," she said softly as she stood up again.
"Where are you going?" Hotch asked in disbelief.
"Home, it's getting late."
Hotch got out of his seat and headed towards the door and locked it before standing in front of it with his arms crossed firmly in front of his chest. "You aren't going anywhere."
Emily tilted her head to the side. "Are you joking? You're keeping me prisoner in your office?"
"No, not at all," Hotch shook his head, "but you aren't leaving here unless you're leaving with me. You aren't going home unless I'm with you to pick up a few of your things, and you aren't staying anywhere alone. Do you understand?"
Emily let out a laugh. "Please tell me you're kidding! So I'm not a prisoner in your office but I am a prisoner in a way," she growled.
"I'm doing this for your protection Prentiss. This isn't meant to be a punishment for you. I want you to be safe and you'll be safe if you're with someone at all times." Emily sent Hotch a glare and he took a step closer. "You may say that none of this is my fault, but under no circumstances am I going to let you get hurt because of this. The faster you accept this the easier it's going to go."
Emily crossed her arms, "So you're saying that I have to go everywhere with you. What house are we staying at Hotch? Mine or yours? And what about Jack? I doubt he's going to enjoy having me around taking away his daddy time."
"Jack is going to love having you around, and we're staying at my place. The first place Arnold would look is yours so like I said we are only going there to grab a few things so you can stay with me." Hotch watched Emily roll her eyes. "Go get your things together, and we'll head out."
Letting out a loud sigh, Emily nodded then glumly walked to her desk to gather her belongings for the night.