The team was going to Will's Diner to get a bite to eat before heading back to the motel. They'd leave later the next day, provided the weather held out. The rest of the team was standing in the foyer, saying goodbye to the officers, while Prentiss and Hotch packed up the last of the paperwork. "You coming to dinner Hotch?" Prentiss asked. Hotch looked up and nodded. "Just want to get this finished before I leave," he said, nodding to the papers on the table. Prentiss nodded and helped Hotch pack up. "You don't have to," he said. Prentiss shook her head, "It's fine. We can walk over when we're done," she said. Detective Winters opened the door and said goodnight and assured Hotch she'd see the team off in the morning.
Morgan opened the door to the restaurant and each of the team members made their way into the warmth of Will's. They all sat at the table and Rossi and JJ poured glasses of water for everyone. "Tonight we've made roast pork for y'all. How's some warm apple cider to start hey?" Will said. Hotch nodded for the group. As they ate their dinner they talked and laughed, relieved the case was over. They hadn't made it in time to save Carla, but they'd found their murderer. Hotch sighed and leant on the table. Prentiss looked over at him. "You ok?" she asked. Hotch nodded. "I'm fine. Just tired," he replied. Prentiss patted his back.
It had been a long day, and Prentiss was feeling the overwhelming urge to get back to the motel and sleep. She stood and JJ nodded. Garcia and the girls all left together. "We'll see you guys in the morning," JJ said. The guys all said goodnight and Hotch watched as Prentiss made her way through the door. "Drinks anyone?" Morgan asked. The guys all nodded and Morgan and Reid stood and walked to the bar. Rossi looked at Hotch and smiled as his friend sat back in his chair. "You should tell her," Rossi said. Hotch looked over and frowned. "Tell who what?" he asked. Rossi rolled his eyes. "Emily," he conceded, "tell her how you feel." A smile crept across Hotch's face. He patted Rossi's shoulder and sighed. "Thanks for the consent Dave," he said sarcastically. Rossi sat back and looked over at Morgan and Reid at the bar. "Look, we've all noticed something going on. If the two of you are unaware, then you're not very good profilers." Hotch frowned. "It's not that easy Dave. I have Jack to consider, we still have to find Foyet so that Haley and Jack can come home, and we're colleagues. Strauss has pushed for me to step down temporarily. If I was to date a colleague or fellow team member, she'd have more reason to keep me down," Hotch explained. Rossi shook his head. "Stop making excuses. You have the chance at something so rare. Take it." By this point Morgan and Reid were heading back to the table. They handed the drinks around and spent the next thirty minutes talking about how Morgan was doing as the "temporary" team leader. After he'd taken the last sip of his beer, Hotch said goodnight and stood. "I'll see you all bright and early," he said. The guys nodded and said they'd have another round before returning to the motel.
Hotch walked towards his room and looked down the hall towards Emily's room. Maybe Dave's right, he thought. He shook his head and opened the door to his room. He quickly undressed down to his boxers and t-shirt before brushing his teeth. As he stood in the bathroom he thought about Emily, about how they'd grown closer over the years she'd been on the team. He loved how she joked and always seemed to bring a little light to the horrible sights they faced in their job. As he washed his face then dried it, he looked up at the mirror and smiled. Dave is right, he thought, hanging up the towel and grabbing the key from his dresser on his way out of the room. He walked to Emily's room next door and knocked.
She had been asleep a short while when she heard the knock at the door. She sat up in bed and called out, "Be there in a second." She stood up and, forgetting to turn the light on, ran into the chair near the dressing table. She shrieked in pain, and turned on the light as she made her way to the door. Dressed in only a singlet and boxers she felt the cool night air and wrapped her arms around herself. As she opened the door she rubbed the sleep out of her eyes. "Hotch," she said. He didn't say anything at first, just looked at her nervously and smiled. "Do you need something?" she asked. "Can I come in?" he asked. She nodded and stepped back, letting him in the door. After she'd closed it she followed him into her room. "What's going on Hotch?" she asked. He still didn't say anything, just put his hands on her hips, pulled her body close to his, and kissed her passionately.
As the passion of their embrace grew, Emily put her arms around his waist and pressed on his back. What the hell is going on? she thought to herself. She couldn't believe that this was happening and she was sure she was going to wake up at any moment. But she didn't. This was real. It was happening. It was Hotch.
After awhile, she needed to take a breath. She pulled away from him and slowly walked over the other side of the bed, her fingers touching her lips. Hotch's eyes followed her, slightly terrified about what her response might be. "Hotch," she started, "Uh, I don't understand. Just when I thought I was finally getting a grasp on you…this." She looked at her feet then back up at him. "I'm sorry Emily, I'll leave," he said. "No," she said, holding her hands up. "No. You stand on that side of the bed, I'll stay here. And we'll talk," she said. Hotch went to put his hands in his pockets then realized he didn't have any and put his hands on his hips and nodded. "Alright. What do you want to know?" he asked. She thought for a moment. "Are you sure?" she asked, kneeling on the edge of the mattress. He nodded and smiled, climbing onto the bed and taking her hands in his. The soft touch of her skin melted his tough exterior and it took all his energy not to take her in his arms again. "Emily, I have been feeling this way for a long time. I've tried keeping it to myself but it's affecting my behaviour regardless. After dinner last week, I thought you felt the same," he explained. Emily nodded. "I do feel the same Hotch. But…" she replied. Hotch kissed her briefly.
"Ok, so… I mean, how is this going to work?" she asked him. He shrugged his shoulders at first. "Well we should probably make plans to sit and talk about it when we get back to DC," he suggested. Emily nodded. "Are you sure you want to do this?" she asked. "You sound like you have doubts?" he quisited. She shook her head and put her hands up to his face. "Not doubts, reservations," she explained. She sat and lay her feet across the bed, her ankle needing a rest. Hotch sat and picked up her foot, placing it on his lap and rubbing it. "Tell me what your reservations are," he said. She looked him in the eyes and smiled. "I care DEEPLY about you. And I've been feeling this way for awhile, especially after Foyet. I'm concerned about you. And I want to make sure that you're alright. You're always on my mind. But obviously I have concerns about what this might do to us, to the team, to you. I mean there are rules and Strauss is already breathing down your neck," she explained. Hotch nodded. He leant over and kissed her again, briefly this time. "Let's take some time to think about this. If we're still in DC next weekend we'll meet up and see if we've come up with any solutions?" he suggested. Emily nodded and smiled. Hotch stood and Emily walked him to the door. Before he opened it to leave he turned to her. "One more kiss?" he said. She kissed the tip of her pointer finger and pressed it against his forehead. "Goodnight Agent Hotchner," she said, opening the door. Hotch rolled his eyes. "Goodnight Emily," he said.