Thank you to those that have reviewed I really appreciate the nice comments. I hope for you that this is getting better as I go please let me know what you think.. thanks song: I Surrender by Celine Dion
Chapter Two
Finding Out
"JJ I can't go babysit someone in Paris; what were you thinking telling them I would?" Hotch sat with his head in his hands trying to think of what to do. "What am I supposed to do with Jack?" He asked looking at JJ with defeat written all over his face.
"I told you Hotch that I will keep him if Jessica can't the whole time. I have already talked to her about this and she said we could work something out and that it wasn't a problem. Hotch this woman's life is in danger and they want our help in protecting her. We all can't go and you're the one that has this kind of experience so it's a no brainer that you would be the one to go." She could see the wheels turning in his head before she saw his shoulders slump and he finally said "Fine, I'll go but I won't like it." JJ smiled to herself, step one was a go. As soon as Hotch left JJ called Dave to let him know everything was going according to their plan.
Aaron climbed the steps into the BAU jet two days later and prepared himself for the long flight. He took the file out that JJ had given him on the woman. It said her name was Sasha Ellery. He studied her file for a while before he realized that there wasn't a picture of her in the file. Damn he thought. He put the file down and laid his head back against the seat and closed his eyes. He hasn't been able to rest in months. He would sleep but it was a fitful sleep filled with images of Emily and he didn't know how to stop the images from forming behind his eyelids. He blamed himself for her death for not getting to her sooner. How he missed her smile, her laugh and especially her eyes. He really missed her eyes, missed the way they sparkled when she was laughing. Hotch had wished for months that he would have told her how he felt but now it was too late and he would never get the chance to. He started to drift off to sleep and there it was, her face smiling at him. He dreamt with visions of her dancing in his head. He managed to get a few hours of restless sleep before the pilot let him know that they would be landing in a few minutes.
Hotch walked into the lobby of the hotel JJ had set him up in and went the front desk and checked in. He took the elevator to the top floor of the seven story hotel and walked down the hall to his room. He took the key card out of his pocket and swiped it through the lock walking in and throwing his bags down by the closet. He walked over to window and stared out of it. The view was spectacular, he took in the sight of the river with the lights reflecting off the water. He would have to remember to thank JJ for getting him a great room. Hotch took a shower and grabbed a bite to eat before he went looking for the club this Sasha lady worked at. He remembered the name was catchy The Raven's Nest, it was supposed to be up the road a couple of blocks from his hotel so he decided to walk instead of taking a cab because he needed to stretch his legs after the long flight.
Hotch walked, lost in thought about the job at hand and wondered why the hell he had agreed to this. Surely there was somebody else that could have done this, now that he thought about it, JJ and Dave were eager for him to go and he wondered why. He didn't have much time to think about it because when he looked up the club was there in front of him. He heard the music flowing out the door and then this voice singing a song he couldn't make out the words to. Her voice was soft and sensual. He made his way into the club and found a seat at the bar and turned toward the stage. The house band was playing while whoever was singing was nowhere to be seen. Hotch turned to the bartender who had come up behind him and asked what he wanted to drink. "Can I have a scotch; I am also looking for Sasha Ellery. Is she here tonight?" Hotch asked. "Yeah she is here but she is in the middle of set. She won't be through for about thirty minutes. She'll be back on stage in a few minutes you should listen to her she is really good." As the music started the lights went down and Hotch turned around to face the dark stage. Her back was to him so he couldn't tell what her face looked like. She was tall and very slender with long raven colored hair. From the back she reminded him of Emily he thought.
She turned slowly around and Hotch felt his mouth drop open. There standing on the stage was Emily Prentiss there was no doubt about it. His heart was racing and his palms were sweating and he felt like the breath had been knocked out of him. He listened to the words of the song and watched her sing so beautifully. He would let her finish her set before he went to her.
There's so much life I've left to live and this fire's burning still
When I watch you look at me, I think I could find the will
To stand for every dream and forsake the solid ground
And give up this fear within of what would happen if they ever knew
I'm in love with you
'Cause I'd surrender everything to feel the chance to live again
I reach to you, I know you can feel it too, we'd make it through
A thousand dreams I still believe, I'd make you give them all to me
I'd hold you in my arms, never let go, I surrender
She could feel his eyes on her. She knew exactly who it was but how did know she was here? How did he know she was still alive? She scanned the room looking for him as she sung. Where was he? She got around to the bar area when she found those dark, dark eyes staring at her. Her voice cracked just a little but no one seemed to notice but Hotch. God she was so beautiful. She continued to sing as she stared into his eyes feeling something she hadn't felt for so long. She felt the love for him; that she had had for years come out of her through her song. She couldn't tear her eyes from his.
I know I can't survive another night away from you
You're the reason I go on, now I need to live the truth
Right now there's no better time, from this fear I will break free
And I live again with love and no they can't take that away from me
And they will see, yeah
I'd surrender everything to feel the chance to live again
I reach to you, I know you can feel it too, we'd make it through
A thousand dreams I still believe, I'd make you give them all to me
I'd hold you in my arms and never let go, I surrender
She longed for the day that he would come for her. It had been so long since she had seen that face and god those smoldering eyes. She wanted to run to him and throw her arms around him and never let go of him.
Every night's getting longer
And this fire is getting stronger, baby
I'll swallow my pride and I'll be alive
Can't you hear my call? I surrender all
'Cause I'd surrender everything to feel the chance to live again
I reach to you, I know you can feel it too, we'd make it through
A thousand dreams I still believe, I'd make you give them all to me
I'd hold you in my arms and never let go, I surrender
Right here, right now I give my life to live again
I'll break free, take me, my everything, I surrender all to you
Right now I give my life to live again
I'll break free, take me, my everything, I surrender
As the song ended Hotch stood but couldn't seem to make his legs move.