Disclaimer - I don't own anything you recognise, so please don't try and sue me :)
AN - My first attempt at this pairing. I love Emily, and while I usually ship her with Rossi, I can see the reasoning behind HotchPrentiss being such a popular ship. This will be a three shot, and it's all written out and ready to be posted. I hope you enjoy it, and if the feeling takes you, please drop a review on your way out.
Spoilers - Season 9 Episode 5. Also, this is AU, so... yeah. Keep that in mind.
I'll Be Here
She didn't think twice as she ordered for the plane to be prepared for a flight to DC, nor did she stop to wonder why her heart was pounding in her chest as soon as she heard that Hotch was in the operating theatre.
Grabbing her always ready go bag, she was on the plane within half an hour of Penelope's call, and in the air within an hour. She tried to bury herself in paperwork as the hours passed by at a snails pace, but her concentration was completely shot. Her phone lay on the table beside her hand, waiting for news, any news, from Garcia.
The journey gave her time, far too much of it, to delve into her thoughts. She couldn't help but wonder if she would be on this plane, making her way across the world, if it had been anyone else in the hospital. She liked to think she would, but she knows herself too well. If it had been anyone else, she'd have at least asked for the details before she ordered for the plane.
Penelope called when she was an hour off the airport.
"Hey, he's going to be alright. He's out of surgery," the technical analyst gasped. To Emily, she sounded out of breath.
"Oh, thank god," Emily replied, breathing in deeply. The relief was almost overwhelming, making her dizzy with giddiness. "I'm about an hour and a half away, depending how fast I can get from the airport to the hospital."
Silence reigned on the over end of the phone, and Emily was suddenly reminded of the fact that she hadn't actually told Penelope that she was flying back.
"You're…. You're on your way here?" Penelope asked quietly.
"Yeah. You didn't think I'd be able to just stay at the office and wait did you?" Emily asked, a small chuckle escaping her.
"Well, I mean, I hoped but… I didn't actually think you'd be able to come," Penelope said, and Emily could clearly hear the glee in her voice now.
"Like I said, I should be there in about an hour and a half. Is he awake?"
"Not yet, sweetpea, but I'm sure he'll be ecstatic to see you when he does wake up."
"More like he'll rip me a new one for overreacting," Emily replied, grinning to herself. "I'll see you soon, alright?"
"You will my love, and Em?"
"Yes?"
"I'm really glad you're coming home."
"Yeah. Me too."
Emily clicked the button to end the call and leant back in her seat. She'd never felt so much relief than she had when Garcia said Hotch was going to be alright. Choosing not to analyse her feelings too deeply, she allowed her eyes to drift closed.
Who knew when she was next going to get any rest.
xxxx
Penelope was waiting for her when she stepped out of the cab, a tight hug following the cry of happiness she let loose, almost cutting off Emily's airways in the process. Emily returned the hug, revelling in the familiar feeling and scents.
"I've missed you so much," Penelope whispered, letting her arms fall down to her sides as she stepped back to take in the sight of her friend.
Emily picked up her go bag from where she'd dropped it when Penelope put her arms around her, and smiled.
"I've missed you too. How is everyone?"
"Apart from being worried about the boss man, everyone is fine. They're going to flip when they get back and find you here," Penelope said with a gleeful laugh.
"Pen… I might not be here that long, you know. Just… don't tell them yet, okay?"
Penelope's face fell. "But you only just got here!"
"And I shouldn't be here," Emily told her as they stopped outside of Hotch's room. "I don't have clearance to be away from work. I'm lucky Clyde was in London and could take over for me or I'd be out of a job."
Penelope nodded sadly. "It's still really good to see you."
She pushed open the door and entered the small room, sitting herself in the chair she'd abandoned to fetch Emily.
Emily stood at the door, dropping her go bag at her feet but didn't attempt to go inside. She leant on the door frame, her eyes taking in her ex-boss and friend lying in the bed, hooked up to numerous machines.
"He's missed you too, you know," Penelope said quietly, startling her.
"What?" she asked, frowning as she drew her eyes away from Aaron.
"He's missed you. He doesn't show it that much, but I see him sometimes, staring at your old desk with a sad look on his face. We all miss you, Em."
Emily didn't know what to say, so she settled for a small smile and a sigh, switching her eyes back to Hotch. He seemed to be coming around. She tensed slightly as he opened his eyes, blinking a few times against the light. He didn't see her, turning his head to look at Garcia instead.
"What happened?" he rasped.
"Uh, you collapsed and they performed emergency surgery because you were bleeding internally. The doctor said it had something to do with the stabbing. But you're fine. There were some complications with the operation, but you're, you're okay."
Emily watched with a slight smile on her face as Hotch tried to keep up with Garcia's speech. The smile got a little wider at his next question.
"Where's Jack?"
"He's at home with Jessica. Shall I send for him?" Penelope asked, her eyes flicking to Emily and back.
"Please," he replied, his voice a little stronger.
"Ah, sir, you have a visitor," Penelope said, standing up, nodding towards Emily. "I'll just go and call Jessica and the team."
Emily smiled when he turned his head to look at her, and saw the exact moment he registered that she was actually there, and he wasn't imagining it.
"Emily?"
"Hey," she said, stepping into the room as Penelope passed her, patting her on the arm as she went.
"What are you doing here?" he asked, looking decidedly confused as she moved to his bedside, perching on the edge.
"You're here," she replied simply, gesturing to the room.
"You heard Garcia, I'm fine," he told her. "You didn't have to fly all the way here. She would have called you."
Emily shrugged. "I was worried."
More like petrified beyond all natural reason, she thought inwardly, rolling her eyes at herself for her dramatics.
His face softened and he took her hand in his. "Thank you," he said quietly.
"You have nothing to thank me for," she replied gently, stroking the top of his hand with her thumb. "It's really good to see you."
"It's good to see you too, though I'd rather it be under different circumstances."
She chuckled, nodding her head.
"How long can you stay?" he asked quietly, and she looked up to meet his eyes.
"As long as you need me to," she assured him.
He stared at for a long moment. "What about the London office?"
She shrugged again. No matter what she'd told Penelope, if he needed her to stay, she'd find a way. "Clyde's there for now. If I'm needed here, I'll sort something else out."
He closed his eyes at that, letting out a sigh. "What if I don't stop needing you?" he asked, and it was so quiet she thought she'd heard him wrong until he opened his eyes and looked at her, his eyes full of repressed emotion.
She squeezed his hand. "Then I'll find a way to be here. You should sleep until Jack gets here."
"I'm scared if I go to sleep, you won't be here when I wake up," he admitted.
She smiled gently. "Go to sleep. I promise, I'll be here when you wake up."
He nodded, his eyes drifting closed, his hand still clutching hers.
