Chapter 2

As soon as JJ was released from the hospital, the team loaded into their SUVs to make a quick stop at the hotel and pick up their bags. Morgan drove one of the black giants, with Hotch riding shotgun and Reid and Emily in the back seat. The ride was silent, despite Reid's tendency to babble incessantly about anything and everything. From time to time, Emily squirmed in her seat, struggling to get comfortable. The pain had subsided some as she had more time to recover, and after a hefty dose of aspirin, the stabbing pains in her stomach had almost disappeared.

"Everybody out!" Morgan called, slamming the SUV to a halt outside the hotel.

"Meet out here in fifteen, please." Hotch commanded, already walking into the hotel. Emily clambered out, pleased at the lack of pain.

Morgan saw the small smile form on her lips, and chuckled to himself. "Feeling better, Em?" he teased. "Oh, that's right. It didn't hurt much anyways."

"I never said that," she protested, "I just said it would get better…and I was right." They entered the air-conditioned lobby of the hotel, and as Morgan turned to the stairs to his left, Emily hesitated. "I think the elevator's more my speed right now."

"Alright." He said. "I'll race you up." He threw the door open and began sprinting upstairs to the fifth floor, making Emily chuckle, and also making her ribs ache.

"Ouch." She muttered. "Jerk."


As Derek walked out of the hotel room ten minutes later, he heard a thud to his right and turned to see Emily struggling with both her own luggage and JJ's, who had stayed in the car. She dragged a suitcase behind her, and juggled two duffel bags between her shoulders, all while trying to close the door. Morgan smirked and swaggered over to her, pulling both bags off her shoulder. "Oof," he huffed. "Why do you guys pack so many clothes? This is ridiculous!"

"Hey!" Emily snorted. "Those two are JJ's!" She pulled one of them from Morgan's hand. "And I can carry these myself...I'm not an invalid."

"I'll believe it when I see it." Morgan said, snatching the bag back and striding away. "Now come on, the plane's waiting."

Emily groaned, but picked up her own suitcase and followed obediently. "At least let me carry one of JJ's. You have three bags!"

"Nope. But we are taking the elevator."

"Funny, I felt like taking the stairs." Emily said, dry sarcasm and annoyance dancing in her eyes. She lightly punched him on the shoulder as Rossi walked out of his own hotel room.

"Don't tell me I need to separate you guys on the jet," he teased, walking into the elevator that had just opened.

"Shit!" Emily exclaimed, frantically searching her pockets. "I think I left my phone in the room! Hang on while I go get it."

Rossi held the elevator doors open, and looked at Morgan's tedious load. "Do you want me to take one of JJ's bags? That girl packs a ton."

"Yeah man, thanks." Morgan said, depositing the bulging bag on Rossi's shoulder.

Emily poked her head out of the room and gave him a dirty look. "I thought you said you didn't need help. And I can't find my phone."

"I don't need your help." Morgan rolled his eyes, walking towards Emily's room. He dropped the bags on the threshold and began searching the room with Emily as they heard the elevator doors slide shut. He saw her wince as she bent down to check under the bed. "Em, Em, I got it!" He dropped to his knees, face pressed to the ground.

"Will you quit it?" She said, clearly irritated. "I'm fine! Stop treating me like an invalid!"

Morgan pulled his head back, confused. "I'm just trying to help," he soothed, trying to calm her anger.

"I can take care of myself, Derek Morgan. I'm not some princess that needs saving from the fire-breathing dragon." Her glare was stone cold, and even the infamous Derek Morgan was taken down a peg.

"Whoa." he said, holding up his hands defensively. "Is that what this is about? You just don't want my help? You know what your problem is, Emily Prentiss?" The words flew from his mouth before he could stop them. "You're too damn proud to realize when someone cares." He stood up, dusted off his pants, and left the room without another word, dragging only his suitcase behind him and leaving JJ's bag for Emily.

Emily stood still, alone in the hotel room, and reeled at Morgan's words. She was too strong to cry, she knew that, but not strong enough to be impervious to pain. A hand snuck across her stomach, probing at the tender skin as she tried to figure out what to do. It only hurt when she touched it, or bent over, or twisted...really, it wasn't that bad. Another day or two and she would be healed, she convinced herself. The bruises would surely fade.