Author's Note: I'm really sorry, guys. I promised I'd put this last chapter up last night but my amazing, adorably insane best friend invited herself over and could I really say no? :) So anyway, by the time she had gone and I'd had dinner, I was so knackered that I fell asleep on the sofa. That's my reasoning. I was going to do it this morning but I slept in because I was so tired and I was nearly late for school! Ah well, here it is. Please review for this is the end of Crash and Burn where all will be explained.

DSCLAIMER: I don't own anything :(

Crash and Burn

Prompt Set #14

Show: Life

Title Challenge: Serious Control Issues

Revelations

The dreams went on. Every night, Emily woke up screaming. It was as if the turbulence on the jet home had brought back all the memories and they were torturing her subconscious while she slept. Mrs Williams had stopped checking up on her, stopped making sure that she was alright. But Emily still woke up screaming every night, having the exact same dream.

And it was beginning to show in her work. She had been less alert when they went out and her input in the profile had decreased. It had become easier to fall asleep on the jet but she never let herself. She'd have a whole lot of explaining to do if she woke up screaming.

But then again, she knew Hotch had picked up on what was going on. He'd seen her freak out on the jet and he had to have realised that something was bothering her. And that was why she wasn't surprised when Hotch asked to see her in his office, a week or so after the turbulence on the jet.

"Yes, Hotch?" Emily sat opposite him, the desk between them.

"I think you know why I asked you to come in here." Hotch informed her.

Emily said nothing, waiting for him to continue.

"Something's bothering you and it is affecting your work so I need to know now before I put you back in the field." Hotch was brusque and Emily stiffened a little.

She opened her mouth but no sound came out. She looked down at her feet.

"I saw what happened on the jet, Emily."

Emily twisted her hands together, not sure what to say. "I guess it brought back memories."

"Of what, Emily?" Hotch asked gently, losing the 'boss' quality he'd had a moment ago. Now he was just someone who was concerned about her.

"When..." Emily met his eyes and stopped for a second, almost as if she was deciding whether or not to let this secret be exposed. But it was eating away at her and Hotch was right: it was affecting her work. She could get someone killed. So she continued, "When I was seventeen, I was on a private plane with my Mother. I can't remember where we were coming from or where we were going but halfway through the journey. The plane went down; we found out afterwards that the plane had been sabotaged."

"Both you and your mother survived?" Hotch asked even though he already knew the answer.

Emily nodded, rubbing her hands together slowly. "Yeah. The pilots were killed on impact." She licked her lips. "I woke up in a hospital. My Mother was there too. She had six broken ribs, a punctured lung, broken cheek bone, broken arm and a whole host of internal injuries. It was awful. I guess that's why we can't talk to each other anymore. It's too hard."

"I get that." Hotch smiled at her. "What happened to you?"

Emily shook her head, blowing her breath out through her mouth. "Broke both my legs, one was the ankle joint, one above the knee. My elbow was broken, so was my jaw bone and because of the impact explosion , I got a lot of burns. There was more but..." he sniffed, trying to keep herself under control.

"It's okay." Hotch stood up and rounded the desk to rest his hand on Emily's shoulder. "It's alright."

Taking a deep breath, Emily continued. "Now, every time there's turbulence on a plane, all I can remember is that. All I can remember is that utter, mind-blowing terror."

"I'm sorry." Emily nodded at Hotch's condolences.

"Yeah. So am I."

"But it will get better, you know." Hotch told her earnestly and she looked up, meeting his eyes. "Each time, the fear will be less. It will get better and it will get easier."

Emily looked up at him. His face was so serious. He probably had a shed load of work to do but still he was talking to her about one of the most traumatic experiences in her life. And here he was telling her that one day it would be okay.

She smiled a little. "I hope so, Hotch. I really hope so."