Well, Here's the Hotch and Prentiss story I promise!

I do hope you like it. Please if you could put in a review and let me know what you think! Thank you!

Oh, and I change my pen name too! Figure it's time for a change.

The 10th Muse.

Enjoy!

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Look Before You Leap – Chapter 1

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"Stand down, stand down…repeat, stand down!" Hotch spoke into his microphone as he walked towards the dark van and opened the side door. "It's been four hours, let's wrap it up folks!"

She shook her head, "No, Hotch…he'll come. Just wait for another hour." She almost begged.

"No, Prentiss." He glared at her. "We've been combing the park a few times already and it's a no-go. We're wasting tax-payers' money, not to mention, unnecessary manpower that might be needed elsewhere."

"Hotch, he'll be here." Emily insisted.

He turned towards Reid, "What is your opinion, Reid?"

Reid looked at Emily and then Hotch, he saw the two were close to blows, he knew he had to defuse them; it seemed lately Hotch and Emily had been at each other's throat. "Er, Prentiss is right…the UnSub's M.O. does indicate that he'll strike with these given environment although…" he raised his voice a couple of decibels when he saw Hotch turning a couple shades of red, "Although I could be wrong…I mean, you and Prentiss have the right assessments on the UnSub and…and…he seem…er to like to hang around in parks…as well, as well at the playgrounds near elementary schools." He nodded assuringly.

"So you think he'll strike at the park or the playground next?" Hotch repeated his question.

Reid thought for a moment carefully before he answered, "Er…it's hard to …I mean, yes and no." He gave an apologetic look to Emily, "I'm sorry Emily but he may not do it here tonight…then again…the most ideal location...is at the playground where Morgan and JJ and Dave are at the moment, since he has not struck there for the last three days" His voice faded at the last part of the sentence as he looked away from Emily.

Hotch watched him for a moment before he sighed, "Thank you, Reid."

The young doctor nodded almost regretfully; he didn't want to see Emily getting in trouble.

"We'll leave and head over to McArthur's Playground." Hotch announced and began to relay his decision to the rest.

Hotch held up his hand when he saw Emily was about to protest, "I've made my decision, Prentiss."

Emily stood up, almost banging her head on the top of the van, "Hotch, I know I said he's going to be here in this park and I may be wrong, what if he's on the outskirts of the park?"

Hotch gave her an unbelievable look, "Are you serious, Prentiss?"

She nodded.

Hotch was angry, "Stop Prentiss! Just stop! Inside…on the edge…what's the difference?" he turned away from her and hand-combed his hair before turning back to her, "We are leaving…now. Let's go, Reid."

Reid nodded his head while he gave Emily a sympathetic look as he joined Hotch who was opening the door…

Emily glared at Hotch, "Fine! I'll patrol this area by myself!" as she grabbed her service weapon and rushed out without a word.

"PRENTISS!" Hotch called out but she kept walking away, ignoring him.

Hotch stepped out of the van and watched her disappeared into the darkness.

15 minutes later, she thought she was being watched as she walked on the sidewalk of the outskirt of the park, as well as the feeling that someone was following her even though she couldn't hear any footsteps. It didn't help the fact as well that some jerk was playing his stereo loudly. She would love to find that jerk's stereo system and shoot it right now but as it was, she continued to be vigilant as possible and remained calm.

It was impossible!

No, he was impossible!

Her blood was still boiling from her argument with Hotch! How could he doubt her? She had this feeling the UnSub would strike tonight and here at this park popularly visited by hookers, transients, and druggies.

According to their assessment, the UnSub would have struck tonight; he'd take one of the unwary hookers or druggies at the park, preferably a young teen.

As for the playground, where the other team members were watching, would be too quiet and deserted, something the UnSub would avoid, he knew he would be watched, he knew the FBI and the police force were out there hunting for him.

She and Reid had gone through many times since this morning and they came to the same conclusion many times; the UnSub would be striking at the park tonight!

Why couldn't Hotch see this? Urgh!

Since he'd split up with his wife, Haley, he had been antagonistic and cold towards Emily as well; as if he was blaming his failed marriage on her!

Emily couldn't understand what had happened…No, actually Emily knew why…

It happened a month ago, they had been working well, too well as it was. Their rapport was great, Hotch had partnered with her on many cases since she had joined the team and he had gotten to know her and vice versa, she had gotten to know him, as team mate went.

They were good partners; they could read each other's intentions when they were on the field.

The only thing they hardly talked about was their personal life; it was kind of a taboo subject for Hotch as he did not like to talk about his personal life which was fine with Emily.

But Emily knew that he was having marital problems when he'd answer his phone calls from Haley with a stiff tone.

When he began to spend more late nights at the office instead of going home, Emily took it upon herself to go to him and offered some help.

Too often, she'd hear his phone ringing and too often, Hotch would ignore it.

She knew it was Haley who was calling and she felt the urge to punch Hotch! Why was he doing this? He could have gone home to his pretty wife and wonderful son…something Emily was envious of; a family.

One night, after a hard case when the team came back late and most of them had gone home as soon as their plane landed in Virginia.

All except Hotch and Emily; they headed back to the office as usual to write their reports on the case they had came back from.

An hour into her report when Emily heard shoutings in Hotch's office, she looked up and saw Hotch on the phone gesturing angrily.

Emily sighed; she knew he was having another row with Haley again. She was mad he was late again.

Finally he slammed the phone down hard and walked to the window on the other side of his office.

Emily knew this called for some help; she pulled her desk drawer opened all the way out and removed a bottle of Scotch she kept for emergency and two clear tumblers and walked up to his office.

As the door was opened, she knocked on it anyways

Hotch turned around and was not surprise to see that it was Emily standing by the doorway and he also saw what she was holding, "This is not Bureau approved, Prentiss." But there was a slight grin on his face as he returned to his desk and pointed to the chair across from his.

Emily nodded and stepped in.

"I know but since it's after work hours, I figure you and I needed this."

He nodded as she poured two fingers full of Scotch into each tumbler and handed one to him.

"What shall we toast?" He watched her.

She thought for a moment as she stared at her drink and looked at him before she raised her glass, "To Cheryl Glasgow and the other four victims Charles Hammond killed, may they rest in peace finally."

Hotch nodded gratefully; he knew that she had heard the commotion he made with the phone call, "To Cheryl and those ladies we vindicated their deaths. They did not die for naught." He raised his glass and clinked it against hers and together they took a drink.

"Mmm, nice Scotch." Hotch nodded.

Emily smiled, "It's a birthday present from Rossi…1972 single-malt Scotch from Aberlour."

Hotch raised an eyebrow, "Nice…good taste, he certainly knows how to pick the year."

"I told him my great grandfather likes his Scotch and that he passed that tradition down to his sons up until my daddy; he was quite disappointed when I was born."

Hotch smiled, "Didn't the Ambassador want other children?" He took another drink.

Emily shook her head, "Oh no…one kid was enough for her." She was staring at the rich amber liquid as she continued. "She did her obligatory duty as a wife to the Prentisses and that was that." She picked it up and downed the rest of her drink and poured more for Hotch and herself.

They exchanged a few personal conversations before they turned back to work. For the rest of the evening and into the late night, the two worked hard to complete their reports as well as catching up their work they had left behind when they left for the case, Hotch decided it would be easier for Emily to work in his office together.

What happened next, Emily still remembered clearly and knew it was something either couldn't control nor should they have done it…

Maybe it was the Scotch or the late night or the lack of sleep or the combination of all…

"Emily…" Hotch was nudging her arm.

"Hmm?" She cracked an eye open, "Oh…sorry, I guess I fell asleep. Sorry!" She yawned and covered her mouth and grinned. "Sorry again."

Hotch shook his head, he yawned as well and they laughed when he did, "Infectious…yawning."

She nodded, "Yeah, Reid will give us some scientific data about yawning and how it's infectious and affect everyone."

Hotch grinned and nodded, "That's our Reid." He stood up with a stack of reports. "Well, we're done with the reports so we can go home…Emily, if you'll just hand over your stack…"

Emily had stood up and as she extended her hands with her stack of reports, she accidentally bumped into Hotch's stacks and the entire stack fell onto the floor and it became one huge pile of papers and folders!

"Aw man!" Emily covered her mouth in horror and kept from laughing. "I'm so sorry, Hotch."

He shook his head as he placed both hands on his hips and stared at her in disbelief, "What am I to do with you? This is the third time you've knocked over the reports!" he chuckled tiredly as he began to bend down and collect the folders and sort out the papers.

"Third time?" Emily had also squatted down and began to shuffle the papers together. "I'm sorry, Hotch… I know I'm a klutz but you don't have to keep track of the amount of times I had dropped the reports. Thanks!" She said annoyingly.

"Emily, I'm just kidding." He smiled just as he and she reached for the same stack of papers and their hands touched.

At first they recoiled and looked up at each other, "Sorry." They mumbled

It was as if something had clicked in their heads.

They were knelt very close together and their heads were almost touching…

"Hotch…"

"Emily…"

Uncontrollably they leaned forward and kissed.

Dropping the papers onto the floor, they pressed their bodies harder and gave in as they touched each other urgently.

Suddenly, Hotch's office telephone rang and the two broke apart as if they had been scorched as they stared at each other, breathing hard and fast.

"Emily…I'm sorry, I didn't mean…" He was pointing to her shirt where he had begun to unbuttoned them.

She shook her head, "Don't be, Hotch. I'm not." She licked her lips; it was swollen.

The phone continued to ring.

"You better answer it, Hotch." Emily said as she began to button her shirt up with shaky fingers.

Nodding numbingly, Hotch got up and went to his desk and answered the phone; it was Haley.

"I'm on my way, Haley…I'll meet you there." He replaced the phone on the cradle and turned to Emily. "It's Haley, I…I have to go."

Emily nodded but she didn't say anything or looked at him as she tucked her shirt into her pants.

"Emily, look at me please."

She stopped her motion and after a moment's pause, she looked up and almost regretted; he looked disheveled, his tie was askewed and untied as well as his hair where she had ran her hand over and over and his shirt buttons were unbuttoned as well; did she do that? Yes, her face was heated when she recalled the urgent kisses and hands on her body…and her hands on his body…

Half an hour more, they would have been completely undressed and in the throes of love-making in his office…

"Yeah, Hotch?" She interrupted her thoughts, it didn't want to stop.

"Jack is running a fever and throwing up, he can't keep any fluids in his body, Haley is taking him to the emergency room at the hospital."

Emily nodded, "I understand, Hotch…you should be there for Jack. He needs you."

Hotch nodded, "Yeah…I have to be there for Jack." He walked to her and knelt before her, "Emily, we…what happened just now…we need to talk but not now."

Emily shook her head, "No, Hotch. There's nothing to talk about. We…there's nothing. Just go…I'll take care of the reports. Go! Jack and Haley are waiting for you. Good bye Hotch." She nodded her head sadly as she turned away from him while she picked up the last folder.

"Emily…" Hotch called out to her.

She shook her head as she continued to look away from him; she did not trust herself at all.

A few moments later she heard him walking away.

A tiny teardrop fell on her hand; she looked down at it and dashed it away as she rearranged the reports…

Another drop fell on her; Emily realized it had begun to drizzle.

And the tiny hair on her arms was standing on ends as she kept walking as casually as she tried to make it; someone was following her!

Taking out her cell phone, she made a call to Garcia and chatted on the phone, she hoped it might calmed her down; "…hey PG…whatcha doin' tonight?"

"Emily? Why are you calling?" Garcia asked her. "Aren't you at the job?"

"…Nah…Just walking around the park, waiting for Reid until he gets off work…"Emily continued her chatter loudly –

"What are you talking about? Reid's on his way to the…oh my god! You've lost Reid! Where are you?"

"…like in 'bout half an hour….yeah… oh…no…I hang on..."

"No…no, don't you tell me to hang on! Let me call Hotch!"

"I have to go; I think Reid's trying to call me on the other line."

"Are you in the park? Alone?" Garcia, in her scared tone asked her. "Damn it, Emily! You shouldn't do this to me! Wait till Hotch finds out you're going against his rules…let me get him…"

"PG, I have to go, I'll see you later." Emily ended the call and shoved her phone back into her pocket but at the same time she withdrew her service weapon and slowed her pace.

This time she heard footsteps quickening and before she could raise her Glock and turned around, she felt something hard smashed into the side of her head and she fell onto the concrete floor.

She dropped her gun as she felt the sickening pain and soon she tried to fight the oncoming darkness. "Wait…I'm…federal … agent…" she tried to open her eyes to focus on the figure but the pain at the side of her head felt as if a giant had stepped on her …. "Federal agent…I…" She tried to raise her arm… "…get off me…Hey… you hear me…I'm….fed…" She felt herself being dragged into the bushes. "Stop…stop, fed, agent…shoot you, scum…"

She finally succumbed to the intense pain and blackness.

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End of Chapter 1