Haunted

When they came down to finally tracking down the UnSub it was clear he'd had trouble sleeping though it hadn't yet affected his way of thinking. They were outside the house that housed both the UnSub and his long term tormenter when she noticed him take off his vest and start walking into the house.

"Hotch," she called. "Hotch." What was going on? He hadn't told them he was going to do this. Emily had just been in the process of talking to the lieutenant into finding a way to get Darrin Call out without more deaths happening. They didn't need this. Sure he was their boss but was he being suicidal? She couldn't bear to think of her supervisor up against a gun with no protection.

"What the hell is he doing?" Morgan asked noticing as well.

"We have to trust him," Rossi answered trying to calm the two of them down.

Ten minutes later they heard gunshots and she tried to keep her composure but her chest tightened and she closed her eyes for a split second hoping hope against hope it wasn't Hotch who had been shot. He came out with Darrin Call handcuffed. She breathed a sigh of relief and restrained herself from running to him. Tommy ran to Darrin.

After they'd got Darrin into the police car Hotch joined his team. Rossi had taken Morgan aside to tell him not to question Hotch's decisions at the moment. It was clear Hotch wasn't doing well after Foyet's attack and they needed to let him get his head back into the game or they'd lose him. They had to support him. She knew her best friend was all up for supporting Hotch through this. They all were.

They climbed back into the SUVs and went to their hotel. There they collected all their GO bags and headed back to the jet. There they said their farewells to the local sheriff and loaded onto the jet.

They mostly fell asleep on the jet apart from Emily and Hotch. She looked at him take a picture out of his wallet and smile at it sadly. "I miss you already, buddy," he whispered.

"Hotch, I'm so sorry, but we will find Foyet. The bastard's going to pay," she answered.

He looked shocked and surprised that she was still awake as he thought no-one else was awake. Also she hardly ever swore.

"Sorry, I didn't mean to alarm you," she said gently.

"I thought everyone was asleep," he answered.

"Why aren't you asleep, Hotch? It looks like you've had trouble sleeping."

"How can I?" he answered. It was scary how quickly their relationship had moved. She'd quickly become his confidante.

"Nightmares."

He nodded.

"Want to talk about it?"

"Not really."

"We all get them in this job."

"These aren't like my usual ones. Not since they started including Jack."

"Hotch, we will find Foyet before anything happens. We won't let it," she said touching his hand. She wasn't going to let anyone give him more pain. She promised Jack and Haley. She only wanted to see him happy.

He knew the team wouldn't let him down but without Jack and Haley he just felt alone. He knew he didn't love her anymore like he had done all those years ago but they were still friends for Jack. He loved Emily now and even more than he ever had Haley but they couldn't be together. She was his subordinate and he her boss. It was forbidden in the FBI.

"You should get some sleep," he answered.

"We should get some sleep."

She stayed there trying to give him some sort of reassurance until she finally felt her eyes close. He watched her sleep and was grateful for her comfort. He knew she would always be there for him. She'd fallen asleep on his shoulder and he didn't want to move her as it actually relieved him a little reminded him someone did still care for him. Someone close by cared for him.

When they deplaned she drove him home. When they arrived back at his apartment he let them both in.

"You know we still left him all on his own," he said.

"He isn't on his own. He has Tommy." She hoped he understood she wasn't just talking about Darrin she was talking about Hotch. He'd never be alone. He always had them; they would always have his back.

She suddenly acted on her urges and kissed him full on the lips. When she realised what she was doing she pulled away apologising, "I'm so sorry, sir."

He couldn't believe it she'd kissed him. The woman he secretly loved had just kissed him and though she seemed embarrassed she didn't seem really all that sorry. In fact she seemed relieved and there was love in her eyes. Did she love him as much as he did her?

She looked shocked and frightened and was backing away from him. He wouldn't let her go not now that there might be a chance of a future. He grabbed her hands.

"Don't be." Don't be sorry did that mean he loved her too? She looked up in his eyes with hope and though she saw that now regular haunted look in his eyes there was love. Love for her? She sure hoped so. "You love me?" he asked.

SHE NODDED A LITTLE NERVOUS. IT WAS HIS TURN NOW. HE CLAIMED HER LIPS FOR HIS OWN AND KISSED HER. THIS TIME THE KISS WAS RECIPROCATED. HE LOVED HER! SHE LOVED HIM! THEY LOVED EACH OTHER!

NO-ONE WOULD GET IN THE WAY OF THEM. NOT EVEN Foyet. Foyet! He pulled back and she looked at him confused and hurt.

"Foyet," he explained but she still looked at him puzzled. "I can't let him get to you. I can't have you being a target too."

She took his hands and made him look into her eyes. "If we can hide it from the Bureau we can hide it from him. You need this, Aaron, and I'm not going to give up on you."

"I can't lose you."

"You won't lose me," she answered tracing her hand down the side of his face. "I'm trained to protect myself. No-one will have to know about us. Not until we're ready."

"Are you positive?"

"I'm positive. Who's better at hiding our emotions than we are? We have to for our jobs. We can't mix the professional with the personal. We're all good at that," she smiled at him.

He smiled back slightly. She knew he wouldn't smile fully until he had Jack back. She had every intention of reuniting father and son. She didn't want to replace Haley but she hoped that they would have a relationship. She hoped this was what they were entering. She definitely wanted him and he seemed to feel the same way.

"Stay," he asked her. "Stay the night."

"Sure," she smiled. "Anything you want, sir," she added undoing his tie and pulling it from around his neck.

He put his lips back to hers and they started kissing while she removed his jacket and unbuttoned his shirt. She then removed his shirt and he removed her jacket. He pulled back to remove her top. When he had done he finally saw his scars.

He looked down at them nervously. This was the first time anyone had seen them. It showed his vulnerable side. The side he hated showing to anyone.

She just kissed one of them which relaxed him. She then looked back up at him and kissed his neck.

"The bedroom," he sighed. "The bedroom."

She followed him in there and they finished removing each other's clothes and got into the bed.

The next morning she woke up in his bed and they were naked. She looked over to him and saw he was still asleep. Thank god, he was sleeping! She'd worried about his lack of sleep. He didn't need that while searching for Foyet and making sure he could see Jack again.

She stroked the side of his face reminding her this was real. That he was actually lying in bed next to her. He woke up and smiled at her. She was there! She was really there! He had something to live for though he hoped he would get Jack back. He knew he wouldn't stop until he did. Thankfully he wasn't alone anymore. He had his Emily.

"I love you," she whispered.

"I love you, too," he whispered back.

They had the day off since they got in late last night. She cuddled up into his arms. She just wanted to stay in here all day snuggled up to her boss. He didn't really want her to leave either.

"We'd better get up," he said. "Can't spend all day in bed."

She groaned, "Don't want to move. Don't want to leave."

"You can stay," he answered kissing her hair. "I'd like you to."

They shifted and he got up. "I'll just go make breakfast. Pancakes sound good?"

"Sounds great," she smiled up at him.

He went off to make the pancakes while she used his shower and changed into a pair of clean clothes out of her GO bag. She then went through to his kitchen and sat on the chair near the workplace.

"Hey," he smiled up at her then shifting his eyes back to the pancakes.

"Hey," she smiled back. "I hope you didn't mind me using your shower."

"Not at all."

He dished up the pancakes and put out a range of toppings realising he didn't really know much about her personally. He looked forward to finding out everything about her so did she about him.

She picked up the chocolate sauce and put it on the pancakes while he used maple syrup. They ate in silence but smiling at each other. She knew the haunted look in his eyes wouldn't leave though until he had his little boy back. She stroked his hand reminding him she would always be there. There was no way she would leave Aaron. Not now not ever.

"Thank you," he said.

"Anything," she smiled back slightly. "How do we deal with the Bureau?"

"Just keep our relationship outside of work. We're both good at compartmentalising."

"We can't do anything but try. I'm not giving up on you, Aaron."

He smiled slightly at her.