Return To Me – Chapter 2

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Aaron Hotchner stepped in the bar called The Heat and despite the crowd, he spotted his little brother's dirty blond hair.

Smiling he went up to the counter, "Can I have a beer?"

Without turning around, Sean stopped and shook his head, "If I didn't know better, I'm pretty sure that's my big brother's voice."

Hotch chuckled, "And if I didn't know better, my baby brother better serve me a nice cold one and a damn hug!"

Smiling widely, Sean opened the top of the beer and as he came around the bar and placing the bottle of beer by Hotch and both brothers hugged warmly and hard as they patted each other's back.

"What are you doing here? Got a case?"

Shaking his head as he took a deep drink, "Nay, I'm here on a holiday."

Sean frowned at him, "Okay, who are you? You must be an imposter. My brother doesn't even know the word holiday."

"Sean, it's me and actually I'm here with Jack."

"Jack!" Sean exclaimed with delight. "Where's he then? Did you leave him in the car?"

Shaking his head, "No, he's at a Broadway play."

"By himself?"

"No, he's with Emily."

His brow high above his forehead and covered by his bangs, "Emily who? I thought you were dating …Beth?"

"No, Beth and I are done."

"So, it's Emily now huh? How long have you known her? And she sounds like she's really chummy with Jack or you'd not let him out of your sight."

"Emily used to work for me at the BAU. She works in London now."

Grinning boyishly, Sean chuckled, "She used to work for you? What happened? Did you guys get caught?"

"No, we just never connected before…until now." Hotch said as he began to spin his beer bottle around.

Sean watched him, "Is there something the matter?"

"No Sean, everything's fine. Just taking things easy with everything."

Nodding slowly, "Okay brother. Whatever you say. So, how long are you gonna be here?"

"About a week."

"A week? Hey," He began to look worried, "I don't have the space to bunk."

"It's okay, we're staying at the Waldolf."

Eyes almost popping out at the mention of the Ritzy hotel, Sean whistled, "Man, did you hit the jackpot? That place is not cheap."

"I know but I'm not paying anything for it. Emily's mother has connections with the owner of the hotel. We're staying at a suite and that place is as big as my house."

Sean chuckled, "Sounds like you did hit the jackpot with this Emily. Nice to have the right connections."

Hotch laughed, "That's why I'm inviting you to have dinner with us when you clock out."

Sean glanced at his watch and nodded, "Yeah, I'm almost done in 10 minutes." He looked up at the bar, "And I see Bruce is here. Hang on, let me talk to him…" He walked away before Hotch could say another word.

A few minutes later, "Okay brother, let's book." He began to move away from the bar. Hotch followed after him.

"Hey Sean, I have to pay for the beer."

He shook his head, "Nah, it's on the house. I'm half owner anyways, so you can drink all you want." He grinned, showing off the only thing they had in common; their dimples.

"How's it going anyways? Being co-owner." Hotch asked as they stepped out of the building and began walking towards the hotel which was four blocks away.

"Business is booming, you'll never believe how successful we've been and we're thinking of opening a second joint."

"I'm happy for you Sean. You've always wanted to be a restaurant owner. Do you still cook?"

"No but if you opened a second place, it's going to be a bar and grill."

Nodding happily for his little brother, "That's great, maybe if you're more successful, you might think of putting one in Virginia."

"That's a thought. Invading in my brother's territory."

Frowning Hotch said, "No, you're not…" Then he realized Sean was teasing him and began to laugh. "Very funny."

Sean shook his head, "I thought so, you need to loosen up. Although this is the closest I've seen you looking so…so chilled."

Hotch shrugged, "I am chilled. I have a wonderful son and a wonderful job."

"Yeah, and now you have an international girlfriend."

Hotch stopped walking.

Sean had continued to walk as he was unaware that Hotch had stopped. A few feet later, he realized he was alone and turned and saw Hotch still rooted. He walked back to him, "What? Did I say the wrong thing?"

"Sean, Emily's not my girlfriend." He almost added yet but he was not sure of anything between him and Emily.

"And you wanted it to be?"

Hotch nodded slowly, "I think so."

"Oh dude, you think so?" Sean shook his head, "Hey, I know it's none of my business but…wait, you want me to check her out? Give you the go-ahead?"

"No Sean, I don't need your approval. It's just that Emily…she's different. Different from Beth and definitely different than Haley."

"Hmm, she sounds like an enigma. My kind of gal." he smiled.

Frowning at his little brother, "Make one move and you'll find yourself buried in a remote place and no one will discover your sorry carcass."

Sean whipped his head and stared at his brother before both of them broke into laughter.

"Man! You had me going! I thought you were serious!"

"I am but I promise I won't bury you somewhere, just the nearest dumpster."

"Oh, that's a relief. Anyways, I'll meet her and give you a profile of her." He chuckled.

"I don't think so. You forget she used to be a profiler and she's going to give you something else."

"Is that a challenge? You know I love a challenge, especially from an ex-fed chick."

"You don't know what you're up against."

…..

Outside the Minsk Theater, Jack Hotchner was holding Emily's hand while both were laden with bags of goodies and a large stuff Lion.

"Make sure you hang on to my hand, Jack." She almost couldn't see the boy, the stuff lion was as tall as him!

"That is so cool, Emily! The lions roared like real lions." He said excitedly as he held while she maneuvered them out from the sold-out crowd.

"I know!" She replied, her voice was also excited. "Which is your favorite?"

"Simba of course, Emily! He's the bravest lion." Smiling at his new stuffed animal, "Can I get a real lion cub?"

Emily began to laugh, "No…you can't keep a lion for a pet. Besides, your Aunt Jessica's allergic to cats."

"Oh…yeah. Even lion?"

"Lion's in the cat family, Jack. You don't want your Aunt to start sneezing like crazy."

Jack began to laugh as the image and shook his head. "Where're we going?"

"Well we're supposed to meet your daddy back at the hotel and then we're going to dinner.

Jack nodded enthusiastically, "Cheeseburger? Hotdog?"

Emily laughed, "I think your dad and I have something else in mind but how about tomorrow? We might go to the Zoo and we can have hotdogs or Cheeseburgers."

"Cool!" His eyes were wide open, "The zoo! More lions and maybe we can see …Rafiki or Timon, or Pumbaa."

"I'm sure they have meerkats, and warthogs."

He nodded, "Come on let's go, Emily! I'm hungry!" He tugged on her hand.

"Okay, sweetie, but we have to cross the crosswalk first, hang on kid."

Emily and Jack did not see Hotch and Sean standing across from them.

Sean whistled, "That's Emily Prentiss?"

Hotch nodded but his eyes were intent on her, taking in every thing that's her; she was wearing a pair of casual jeans that was snug on her legs, and boots that came to her knees. A white Tee and a light jacket in the cooler November evening. Her hair a glossy dark brown and her pretty eyes were crinkled with laughter as she and Jack were sharing a joke. She looked sexy and hot.

"She's hot, Aaron." Sean then nudged hard at his brother. "You mean to tell me that figure had been working with you and you didn't make a move?"

Hotch shook his head, "Sean, you know I'm not the type. She was a colleague."

"Yeah, pity. And you're an Oak." He grinned when Hotch gave him a wry look. "Seriously, if things don't work out between you two, please let your little brother have a chance."

Hotch snorted, "In your dreams, Sean. Emily is way above you. You can't handle her."

"Oh no? Let me have her for the weekend, and I'll prove it to you; she'll be putty in my expert hands."

"Again, no way. She's special…to me."

Emily and Jack kept walking to their left as they didn't see the brothers who soon caught up and were walking behind them.

Jack was talking a mile a minute and Emily was giving him her attention as the same time keep an eye on where they were going; they were one block from the hotel, she could see the tall building ahead of them.

Hotch was about to call out to them when he noticed a black van pulled up by her and his son, the side door opened and two men in a black balaclavas came out and grabbed her and Jack and shoved them into the van, they jumped into the van as well and the van sped off.

"Emily! Jack!" Hotch called out belatedly and began to give chase to the vehicle as it peeled off.

"What the hell? Aaron!" Sean ran after his brother.

….

End of Chapter 2