Author's Note: So, chapter two. This is the story attached to Minimal Loss. I hope you enjoy it and please, please review!

DISCLAIMER: I only own the boyfriend, nobody else.

-----

Insistence

I was eating breakfast when I heard the front door open. It was only just seven o'clock in the morning and I was getting ready to head to work. I'd been expecting Emily home last night but when she hadn't come home I wasn't too worried. It wouldn't have been the first time a case had taken longer than expected and Emily hadn't texted to say when she'd be home. I'd start getting worried if I didn't hear from her or one of her team for a week.

But I got up when I heard the door open. But then I heard another voice. When Emily and I had gotten together she had asked to keep her personal life and professional life separate. I had no problem with that and I understood it. Her work was filled with horrors; she wanted something apart from that. So I stayed in the kitchen and listened for an opportunity to approach her.

"I told you: I'm fine." Emily sounded slightly exasperated.

"Are you sure?" It was a male voice.

"Really. The medics checked me out. I'm good to go. Seriously, Hotch. I just want to go to bed with some painkillers." I was starting to worry. I just wanted this 'Hotch' guy to go so that I could see for myself if she was okay. I was a doctor after all. I would know.

"Okay. Give me a call if you need anything. And I don't want to see you in the office today or tomorrow."

"Thanks Hotch." I could hear the smile in Emily's voice. "Bye."

"Goodbye, Prentiss." No need to worry about him, I told myself. He calls her by her second name.

I heard the door close. I rounded the corner having put my plate on the breakfast bar.

"Emily, what-" I stopped when I saw her. She had a dark purple bruise spreading over the left side of her face and she had a hand wrapped around her ribs. Her ready bag had been placed by the door. "What happened?" She looked terrible.

"I wish people would stop fussing. I'm fine, really. I took a bit of a kicking to the ribs but I'm okay. I was checked out by the EMTs on scene." She met my eyes. "I promise I'm alright. But I've been up all night and I'd really like to go to bed now."

I nodded, not entirely convinced. "Who was that guy just now?" I tried to keep all traces of jealousy out of my voice.

"That was Hotch, my boss. He didn't want me to drive or carry my bags," she rolled her eyes, "he thinks it's his fault I got beaten up."

"Are you sure you're alright? I could check you over before I got to work..." I drew her into a hug.

"Careful of the ribs," she murmured into my shoulder. "But really, I'm alright. I just want to take a painkiller and get some sleep. In case you didn't hear, I have a couple of days off."

"Do you want me to stay? I could call in sick..." I suggested.

"Don't worry. I won't be much company. Please go to work; I just want to sleep." Emily pushed me towards the door.

I held her off gently by the wrist. "You shouldn't take painkillers on an empty stomach. When was the last time you ate?"

Emily frowned, working it out. "Um, yesterday? Yeah, breakfast with you yesterday." She smiled a little sheepishly.

"Go upstairs and get changed. I'll cook you breakfast and you can have it in bed. I'll find you some painkillers as well."

Emily smiled and reached down to pick up her bag.

"No. You go. I'll get your bag." I told her.

"You don't have to do it because Hotch was overprotective." She protested.

"I'm not doing it because Hotch did it. I'm doing it because you shouldn't do any lifting."

Emily let out an exasperated sigh and rolled her eyes at me. But whatever was going through her head, stayed there, because she leaned forward to kiss me and then turned up the stairs.

"Don't lie down. You can't digest properly if you're horizontal." I shouted up after her.

"Yes, Dad." Was all I got in way of a reply.

I laughed.

***

Emily was sitting up in bed with a hot water bottle on her ribs when I got upstairs, holding her breakfast tray.

"It helps." She gestured to the hot water bottle.

"Well, I have brought you scrambled eggs, toast, yoghurt and tea. And your bag and a packet of painkillers." I dropped the bag on the floor and placed the tray on Emily's lap.

"You spoil me." She smiled as she picked up the mug of tea.

"There's nothing wrong with a bit of spoiling." I kissed her on the forehead. "Do you want me to throw your dirty laundry in the wash on my way out?" I reached for her go bag.

"Thank you."

"Then I'll be off and you can ring me at the hospital if you need me." I ruffled her hair.

She batted my hand away. "Have a good day. I'll make dinner."

"Bye." I called as I closed the door with her clothes in hand.

I ran down the stairs and went into the little cupboard room that had been converted into a utilities room. I sorted everything and threw the dark coloured clothes into the washing machine. I was about to leave when I caught sight of something. When I'd thrown Emily's shirt onto the light coloured pile, I hadn't seen the blood stain I was looking at now. I picked it up and tentatively touched the blood. It was dried, probably from yesterday, I guessed. This was the shirt she'd been wearing yesterday at breakfast. Although I'd known she'd been beaten up, I hadn't thought it had been this bad. I would've thought that Emily would've told me about it.

I shook my head as I put the shirt back on the pile. I was being ridiculous.