Oh dear but I love cliffhangers!
Chapter 4- Tall tales
'You're upset, aren't you?' Hotch asked cautiously.
Emily crossed her arms as her left eyebrow rose in surprise, 'No Hotch, how could you guess?'
The scene had paralysed him for a few seconds but quickly he had stepped back taking them further into the darkened room.
'I need you to stay here. I'll handle it' he assured her laying her down on her bed and pulling up the covers. He had to fight the urge not to kiss her forehead as if she was Jack.
As he moved to leave she suddenly reached out and grabbed his arm, worry stamped on her face.
'It's okay,' he promised tucking her hand under the warm sheets, 'I'll handle it.'
With every stair he descended he could feel his irritation growing. If Garcia was here now, he thought for a minute, he would have shoved her into a wall. As quietly as he could he eased the front door open. It would not do on top of everything to advertise his half dressed state.
The parking lot looked like a war zone.
Six FBI issued SUV's were haphazardly parked in the little space. There was even one in the neighbour's flower bed. The profiler cast a practiced eye over the scene seeking out his agents. Reid and Jack were in his car both looking up at Emily's window, obviously hoping the couple would reappear, Dave was herding the neighbours and other on lookers back to their apartments but what drew his eyes was Morgan and his group. He knew the new team leader was attempting to do fierce damage control but Hotch could tell it was a losing battle. There were three fellow FBI agents from the bull pen all looking at the young African profiler in disbelief. There was really no reasonable explanation for why SSA Emily Prentiss was having a 'Gone with the Wind' moment with her former boss in her apartment.
The unwanted FBI agents began to disperse as the paramedics sidled alongside Morgan demanding his attention. He nodded and pointed to the front door, suddenly realizing that Hotchner was spying on them. The older profiler beckoned the group forward and stepped out of the doorway to allow the male and female paramedic access.
'Up the stairs, turn right, second door on the right' he directed the medical technicians in his trademark clipped voice; his eyes however never left Derek's face.
As the younger man closed the door, he held the back of his head with both hands ready to face his mentor.
'How is she?' was of course his first question.
Aaron sighed, 'She seems to be okay but she hit her head on the toilet. She's more embarrassed now than anything'
Morgan huffed out a loud whoosh of air as he looked out the window.
'Tell me' Hotchner ordered.
Morgan knew the man long enough to know exactly what he was being asked.
He shook his head in his disbelief, 'JJ. She was in the bull pen when the call came in and she freaked out'
The older man nodded in understanding 'Postpartum depression, Haley had it too although I can't remember her having it for so long'
'The way she was carrying out you would think Em's was being murdered!' he related in frustration, 'how could having one little baby, make her so crazy?'
'Morgan?'
'Yeah?'
'I wouldn't repeat that to her if I were you. She's not in control of her actions perhaps she needs to see her doctor'
The young man whipped out his blackberry and waved it at his friend, 'Way ahead of you man. I'll drive her myself, if Will can't'
Hotchner nodded, approving of the affirmative action, 'Tell the boys as soon as Prentiss is checked out, she'll call them on Reid's phone'
Turning to leave he was stopped as Derek grasped his arm, 'Hotch, this is going to be all over the office. What are we going to do?'
With one foot on the stairs he turned to the man, 'I'll talk to Strauss directly, it's me she's gunning for Derek. You should try and fly under her radar for as long as possible'
He raised his hand to cut off the younger agent's protest, 'Just take care of the rest, I've got this'
As they separated in the hall, Aaron took the stairs with a heavy heart. He could just imagine the conversation with the lead agent in the morning.
'I understand Emily is not feeling well' Strauss would comment with insincere concern. It would then probably be followed with a catty 'but was it necessary to make such a spectacle of yourselves?'
Aaron didn't care much about his career advancement but he would be damned if anyone cast aspersions on such a fine agent as Emily Prentiss. His personal feelings aside, she was a credit to the bureau and they were lucky to have her. She was going places, he just knew it. However, this was just the opportunity Strauss was looking for inorder to make him squirm. The Supervisor had no idea how petty and insignificant her jealousy was in the whole scheme of things. Didn't she realise that he would step infront a bullet for that woman upstairs? There was nothing that Strauss could demand that he would not do to keep the record of his agent clean. He could and would grovel with the best of them without batting an eye.
He paused at the doorway of the bedroom.
'Excuse me' he interrupted, 'why are you looking under her nightgown, if she has a head wound?'
The male paramedic spun around startled, obviously not hearing his approach.
'Sir' he began blocking the entrance with his body, 'perhaps I can ask you to wait outside while we finish our examination'
The man's body language left no room for interpretation and Hotch raised his hands in a placating gesture, 'that is fine, I just want to know why your colleague…'
'Sir I am going to have to ask you to take a step back' the other interrupted nervously as he took in the stern looking man infront of him, 'I am not going to ask you again!'
Hotch stood about 5 inches taller and outweighed the paramedic by about thirty pounds and for one second he thought about sweeping the irritating man to one side. Then his mind flashed back to the conversation in the bathroom remembering vividly how she had scuttled away from him. She had also been extraordinarily upset when she had found out that he had called the paramedics. His stomach dropped like a stone when he put these disturbing observations together.
'Emily!' he called walking forward but he was stopped as the determined young technician flung out his hands to bar his way.
She looked up then and just managed to see Hotch trying to get to her side, before the male paramedic closed the door firmly behind him.
