AN: So I've been having serious writer's block at the moment and I decided that doing the 30 Day OTP Challenge would help. I started uploading these onto Tumblr before I remembered to upload them here. Enjoy. Also my Tumblr name is whitecrossgirl, same as on here so feel free to follow me, I will follow back or message me if you like if you're on Tumblr too.
30 Day OTP Challenge: Day 1- Holding Hands
Emily glanced up into Hotch's office before looking up again. He was sitting at his desk, his hands rested against his temples and staring blankly at his desk. Emily knew straight away what was wrong. Ever since he'd told the team that Haley had filed for divorce, there had been a sort of awkwardness between them. Hotch wasn't one for reaching out to people but at the same time, she hated the idea of him feeling like he had to go through this alone. They weren't exactly best friends but they definitely had become closer after the whole Milwaukee thing. Strauss had tried to tear the team apart and ended up bringing them closer together. Go figure.
Emily got up from her desk and walked up the steps towards Hotch's office. The rest of the team had gone and Hotch was clearly unaware of her presence otherwise he wouldn't have shown any sort of weakness; not even in the privacy of his office. It shouldn't be like that, Hotch was human too and it was okay to show emotion sometimes. Emily considered the irony that she of all people was considering telling Hotch to show more emotion but dismissed that as she knocked on the door.
Hotch jumped at the sound of someone knocking his door. Quickly hiding the envelope containing the divorce papers under a file and taking a second to try and hide any physical evidence of how he was feeling, told whoever was outside to come in.
"Prentiss, is something wrong?" Aaron asked as Emily walked into the room and approached his desk, a look of concern on her face.
"Everything alright?" Emily asked needlessly. They both knew the answer to that but she was offering him an out; to cover up and lie or reach out to the help she was offering.
"I signed the papers." Hotch admitted resignedly.
"Oh Hotch," Emily replied sympathetically. She made a gesture with her wrist, as if she was going to reach out to him but stopped herself at the last moment. It seemed to have gone unnoticed by Hotch who shook his head.
"I suppose it was for the best. It's just-" Hotch trailed off and Emily understood. He still loved Haley despite all of this. Emily and the team weren't stupid; they knew that Haley didn't hate Aaron; their marriage just wasn't working anymore. If anything that was worse than if there was hatred between them; if there was hatred then divorce was the best option. In this situation, there was no other option. She'd seen it millions of times before. How many marriages did she watch crumble and die due to 'work commitments' taking priority over everything.
"I know," Emily replied genuinely and this time, she allowed herself to reach out. Her hand rested on Aaron's hand and for a moment neither of them moved before Aaron moved his hand so that it was resting in Emily's.
Neither of them said anything; their hands were being held gently, with no pressure from either of them. It was a sign of comfort, of support and a reminder that he wasn't alone. They didn't speak, their joined hands did all the speaking for them.