Author's Note: This is an AU version of last week's episode 'Route 66'. If you have not seen it, don't read it...or do as this does not have Beth Clemmons in it. I know, she doesn't exist in this storyline.
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I do not own any characters belonging to the TV series Criminal Minds.
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She's A Keeper! - Ch 1
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"Have you call Emily?" JJ turned to Dave as she stood and watched the ambulance peeled off.
The BAU team was standing at the lobby of the FBI building; luckily traffic was minimal as it was past 8pm most of the regular agents were gone for the night.
Dave turned to stare at her, "Why? Why Emily?" He frowned but he pulled his cell phone out of his pocket anyways, preparing to hit the speed dial number.
"Just let her know, Dave." JJ nodded at him before she turned away from him to console Garcia who was held by Morgan and Reid.
Alex stood by looking on helplessly.
"Let's get to the airport, the jet is waiting for us." JJ urged the team.
"What about Hotch?" Reid looked outward where the ambulance had left. "Shouldn't we go to the hospital?"
JJ shook her blonde tresses, "No, he'd want us to continue with this case, that's our priority. Garcia,' She touched the other woman's shoulder sympathetically. "Go to the hospital but keep us up to date about Hotch but we'll still need your fingers and the brains for the case."
Garcia separating from Morgan, "Sure I'll be glad to do that." She said sadly.
"You gonna be okay, mamma?" Morgan asked her, his tone full of concern.
She nodded, "Yeah hotstuff." She said softly. "Go..go find that young girl." Garcia gently pushed him away. "And you too, Reid." She nodded at him.
"Let's go, people." Alex said and then turned to Garcia, "Hotch is in your hands, Penelope." She squeezed her shoulder slightly before letting go and walked away with Reid, JJ and Morgan.
"I'll be there directly." Rossi said as he was still on the phone.
"Prentiss." the voice on the other line greeted him.
"Some things never change." Dave uttered. "Emily, it's Dave."
"Hey Dave! How are you? What are you calling me at...gosh, it must be past 8pm your time. What's going on?"
"Emily, I don't want to alarm you but it's Aaron."
The line was quiet, Dave though he had lost connection with her.
"What happened, Dave? Where is he now?" She was deathly calmed, Dave could sensed.
Quickly, he explained to her about Hotch's sudden and unexpected collapse in the conference room.
After another awkward silence, Emily said, "I'm coming back, Dave."
Surprised, he shook his head, "No...no, no Emily! I'm pretty sure it's nothing..."
Emil cut him off. "Dave, have you seen him collapsed before?" She asked him sternly.
"No but I'm sure it's a glitch or something. Stay where you are. Garcia is at the hospital with Aaron, and she'll keep us informed." He was regretting calling her now.
"Dave... you still there?"
Sighing, "yeah Emily. I'm right here...actually I'm on my way to the jet, we have a missing girl case we're pursuing."
"With a murderer in tow?" She guessed.
"Something like that, it's her father. He was a prior convict."
"I see..." She said. "Dave I just signed my case to another team and took some leave. I'll be in Virginia early in the morning, I'll talk to you later. Prentiss out." She then ended the call without waiting for his reply.
Dave sighed again as he pocketed his cell phone and walked out and headed for the airport where their jet was waiting for them. "JJ's gonna be surprise..." he muttered. "Very surprise...wait a minute." He looked at his reflection at the large window of the Hoover building. "What's t he story with Hotch and Emily? And how did JJ know about it and I didn't?" He shook his head. "I must be losing my touch..."
…...
On the other side of the pond, Emily was driving out of the Interpol building as if ...as if, well as if Hotch was shot or something worst!
"Please don't let me be too late! Don't let me be too late!" She quickly swiped an errant tear from her cheek. "I shouldn't have left him. So stupid! I shouldn't have..."
Her cell phone rang and she answered by pressing a connecting button on the steering wheel.
"Prentiss."
"What the hell are you doing? You can't run out on me in the middle of a mission, Emily. It's the Al Shabab, for god's sakes. We're so close to capturing the leader."
"I'm sorry Clyde, I have a personal emergency in Virginia. Agent Halston can take over for me. He's been briefed."
"Emily, Jon Halston is not you. There's no one in the Interpol that's as good as you."
She smiled sadly, "That's a nice thing to say but Clyde, no one is inexpendable."
"Damn it Emily. What's the emergency? How long are you going to be away?"
She quickly explained about Hotch, "I don't know how long I'm going to be there, maybe a week or more."
"More than a week?" Clyde almost hit the roof.
"I'll give you a call when I know for certain."
He sighed, "Well, then I know when Muhammed is not budging until she is ready. Take care, Em. And my best to Hotchner." he ended the call.
Emily pressed a button and the line was now free.
She saw with a sigh of relief as she took the road leading to the airport. Her flight was leaving in two hours. She'd arrive in Virginia in 9hours; she hoped she was not too late.
"Hang in there, Hotch...wait for me, I'm coming home to you."
…...
End of Chapter 1