Authors Note: So…this story started as a prompt for Daisyangel's forum. I got assigned Boys of Summer by Kenny Chesney and the only thing the song made me think of was the saying "All for one and One for all" LOL. It led my imagination down this crazy road and I'm hoping that you guys enjoy reading it as much as I enjoy writing and thinking about it!

A few notes: Set mostly season 6 prior to the Doyle debacle. JJ isn't with Will and doesn't have Henry. Hotch has Jack and Hayley died. I've tried to write the characters as close to what we all see on tv but sometimes the characters just give me something different! LOL bear with me and I hope you guys enjoy!

I do not own CM (sad face)… maybe one day…

Off The Grid

Chapter 1:

Her hair streamed out behind her as she stormed into the BAU headquarters. Quickly scanning the room and not spotting the man in question, she directed her fury towards the stairs and his office.

Not bothering to knock, she pushed the door open with such force that the older man looked up from the file he was reviewing with a shock.

"Pren-" Hotch began before quickly being interrupted by the furious brunette.

"What the hell do you want from me Hotch?" Emily fumed as she threw her hands up in frustration at the older man. "Can you explain to me why I just got out of meeting with the freaking ice queen herself, during which, I was given a detailed account of how the agency plans on faking my death. But oh no, that isn't all of it! Apparently the only people that have the rank to know are you and JJ! I'm just supposed to turn my back on them? Pretend that I died? I don't know who the hell thought up this ass backward plan but they need to be evaluated!" Emily fumed and after pacing back and forth with such speed, she abruptly gave the older profiler a steady glare as she dared him to argue with her.

"What I want from you, Emily, doesn't matter. It's what I need you to do." He calmly tried to reason.

"Semantics, Hotchner! You tell me how you expect me to simultaneously fool the evil bastard hell bent on my demise and manage not to die in the process!" A wild look flashed through her eyes as the thought that Ian Doyle might actually succeed in killing her crossed her mind.

"That's exactly what you need to do Emily." Hotch slowly approached her and attempted to make his voice as soothing as possible.

"We are going to do whatever it takes to keep you safe from Doyle, Emily." Hotch whispered as he reached out and pulled her into his embrace. As Emily took a few calming breaths to re-center herself she noticed that she wasn't the only one with a rapid heartbeat. "Losing you would be unbearable." He confessed quietly as they separated and he saw the question in her eyes. "It doesn't matter what it takes, we have to keep you safe because none of us will be the same if anything ever happened to you." The pair sat on the couch in his office and let their minds digest what had to be done.

"I hate running." She confessed quietly as she wrung her hands and started to tap her foot as her mind began to race again.

"It's not running, Emily." Hotch began as he gently put a hand on her knee to stop the tapping before he continued. "It's retreating from the spotlight so you can hunt him down instead of him hunting you."

"It's the same thing, Hotch." Emily whispered quietly as she slumped her shoulders in defeat. "I thought this was done years ago. We almost didn't get him the first time." She confessed quietly.

"Last time you weren't working with a team of the best profilers in the country. A team that would do anything for you; were going to catch him Emily." Hotch promised.

As his words sunk in, Emily stood from the couch and purposefully headed towards the door. As she swung it open she glanced back over her shoulder, "I'm going to invite the team to lunch and I am going to tell them the plan. They would never leave me in the dark if the roles were reversed and I can't do it to them. We are going to be in the backroom at Wai Lings, one o'clock. I understand if you don't want to unnecessarily risk your career seeing as how you already know what the plan is." Emily finished and the door was almost pulled shut when she heard Hotch call out her name.

"Emily? I'll have the sweet and sour chicken with rice." Hotch said calmly and Emily smiled as she pulled the door shut behind her and as she went to get orders for lunch.