New York, New York! – Chapter 6

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Flashlight in one hand, gun in the other, Mac Taylor led Emily Prentiss into the deepest and darkest part of Central Park, New York.

She was not afraid, not entirely as she trusted Mac. She knew he was a good cop; a damn good and honest one to boot.

She had read his file and saw his numerous commendations and not only that, his lost; his late wife, Claire who was lost in the most tragic and meaningless of disaster of all times. And the worst thing of all, he had no body to bury. No closure for Mac Taylor in that chapter of his life but yet, he managed to come to work every day and did his job to the fullest.

Emily glanced over to him briefly and saw his concentration in hunting for their serial killer.

"Tell me, Emily." He suddenly spoke up without looking at, startling her. "What do you think of this serial killer?"

She turned her attention ahead of her as they walked into the dense woods, the trees were more thicker and closer together with moss and lichen growing all over the trunks, on the floor was old, thick and damp leaves, making walking a little difficult as they shuffled their way.

"He is probably in his late 20s to mid 30s, Caucasian." She began.

He nodded. "To better blend with the models he is seeking?"

She nodded too, "Yes. More convincing." They looked about them but it was quite dark which impaired their vision, Mac's flashlight was a little help as he shone them around.

Mac's phone rang startling them both as he answered it quickly.

"Taylor."

Mac…it's Adam.

"What do you have Adam?" He glanced over to Emily to make sure he had her in his sight.

Mac, I found a website online…it's a pretty cool site, and I didn't know about it until you mention about it….

"Adam, how about you tell me what you find?" He arched his brow; his lab technician tended to rambled and lost focused on the main point. Many times Mac had to rein him back into the present.

Oh, yeah…sorry Mac. Yeah, this site, Found the four dead vics but they were not dead at the time until the all last four photographs and he had them posed with a bum, all the models appeared dead already. Mac, it's the same bum throughout in the whole series of his collection. I'm going to send them to you."

"Do that, Adam. Do you have the name of the photographer?" Mac asked him while he waved Emily over to him.

Oh yes…Twitter here's a picture of him …Richard Penrose, what do you know? He's a blonde too, I bet he has blue eyes too but he has a rich buyer. There is an account to buy these pictures. Jo and Lindsey are on their way to talk to that buyer.

"Good, I'll talk to you guys. Good job, Adam."

Thanks Mac…hey...that FBI chick, she single? Any chance…

"Bye Adam." Mac pressed the 'End' button as he shook his head.

"What's going on?"

Mac began scrolling in his phone and shared the images with Emily, "Adam found these on the website, look familiar?"

Emily looked at them as she nodded, "Yeah, our vic and our bum…who's Adam?" She glanced up at him.

"My lab technician who thinks he's God's gift to women but …" Mac shook his head as he closed his eyes for emphasis.

"Ah! Who's this?" She pointed at an image on Mac's phone.

He opened his eyes and looked down and chuckled, "That is Adam, apparently he is shopping for ex-girlfriend number 22 or is it 23?" It was a photo he had just taken with a phone number included to call him.

"Nice crew you have there." Emily said as she chuckled.

"They are the best," he nodded. "I…" Suddenly something very big and black was coming towards them as Mac quickly grabbed Emily and wrapped his hands around her and was about to push them down when she also saw the big dark object and lost her footing and they fell backwards and tumbled down hills onto a long slope.

Down…down and down they went as they rolled around as Mac held onto Emily tightly to him as Emily felt something sharp jammed into her left shoulder blade as they continued to tumble downwards.

As fast as they went, they came to a stop finally as Emily started to giggle.

Mac looked at her curiously, "I don't see how this is funny unless the tumble had knocked your head a lot more than I thought."

As she slowed her giggle, "I'm sorry, Mac…all of a sudden that Nursery rhyme 'Jack and Jill' suddenly came to my head. Now I know how Jill feels tumbling down the hill. What was that, Jack?" Emily giggled.

Mack smiled, "Aside from a few rocks penetrating through my spleen as we came down, I think I survived…Jill and believe it or not, that was an owl…something must have spooked it."

She winced suddenly as she moved, "Ouch! I think I felt your rock but it's not in my spleen, something is stuck in the back of my shoulder. Damn! That hurts!"

Emily still in his arms pulled her closer to him as he peeked over her shoulder and widened his eyes, "Er…Emily…it's not a rock…I think we found the murder weapon."

She pulled slightly away from him as she look up at him, "What are you talking about?"

"The bloody knife is sticking out from your shoulder blade."

"Oooh, that's not good, Mac, that's evidence." She winced again as she tried to move.

"Tell me about it but…Oof! What..!" Mac was cut off.

"Ssh!" Emily suddenly pulled Mac tightly toward Emily, almost suffocating him in her very close embrace.

"Emil, this no time for…" he tried to struggle out from her folds.

"Sh...stop Mac…saw movement behind the tree, there's somebody behind us." She whispered in his ear.

He couldn't see what she was looking as he was facing the other way as all he could see was the handle of the knife and her blood spreading on her white shirt.

"How far is the tree?" he whispered into her ear.

"About fifteen feet." She said softly. "My gun is between us."

He nodded slightly, feeling the hard pressure of her hand and her gun between them.

"I think I can get to him," he suggested.

"No, you'll spook him.

She began to move slowly bringing it around over his shoulder.

"Are you sure it's him?"

"Looks blonde from here, like the picture posted."

Raising her voice and her gun over Mac's shoulder, "Richard Penrose! This is the FBI! Put your hands up! You're under arrest!"

But instead of doing as she said, he began to run…

"Why do they always run?" She said as she began to fire her gun twice as Richard went down as well as Mac who ducked at the loud noise.

Mac turned around immediately when she stopped as he looked over and saw their killer was lying down, he was no longer moving, he then turned back to Emily, "You okay?"

"Oh yeah…Never been better, I just have a damn knife sticking from the back of me and I…"

He shook his head as he suddenly pulled her head to him and kissed her in her soundly.

Emily's eyes widened for a moment before they softened before she closed them and surrendered to his kisses.

"Do you always talk this much?" He asked her a while later when he released her for some much needed breath.'

Emily opened her eyes and nodded shyly but frowned as she gritted her teeth a moment later.

"Ah, shit…" he sat up and grabbed his phone from the ground he had dropped and called his team as well as an ambulance.

Emily tried to sit up but Mac pushed her back and shook his head, "No, don't move, you're making it worse." He was concerned as blood was steadily seeping out as he pressed against the wound.

She hissed fiercely at him.

"Sorry. It must have hit an artery, it's not stopping and I can't pull it out." He lay her on his thigh as he kept a tight pressure on the wound.

"I understand." She nodded. Mac looked up and around, there was still no sign of any rescue crew.

"I'm sorry, Emily, your shirt…" He began to turn her slightly and unbuttoned it quickly and stripped her out of them and ripped it out of the stab wound and used it to soak the blood.

"Glad I had on a decent bra, Mother always tell me to always wear a clean pair of bra…" She tried to joke as she began to feel weak as Mac kept pressure on the completely blood soaked shirt as she lay on his thighs, his pants were now also soaked with her blood.

Her eyes closing she smiled weakly as she held onto his hand.

He gripped onto her tightly, "Hey…open your eyes…don't close them, that's an order."

She grinned weakly, "You…are …not…my ….boss…"

"No, Emily! Stay with me! Open them! Come on! Hey! Look! Remember, we're going to Giancarlo for his meatballs! Come on...aren't you hungry?"

He gave her a light shake.

She opened her eyes briefly, "Hungry….yeah, meat balls…C…co…cold…Mac." She closed her eyes again.

The CSI team finally arrived as they ran out of their vehicles as Mac waved them over, his hands bloodied as Emily lay deathly still on him.

The paramedics working on her ….Mac refusing to leave her side, not that anyone tried to argue with him….

….

Okay, okay…hey get off my back, mamma!

Oh, of course, you say that now. After she almost…again…

Come on guys…you're not gonna let me off the hook, are you?

NO!

What? Why not?

Because you, Derek Morgan, are a selfish jerk!

I agree with you, my sister!

JJ! Come on, you're always on my side.

Not in this. You are a jerk, Derek. Emily did the right thing and all you did was pout like a kid. Henry doesn't even do that.

Ouch!

Not you, kid!

Hey Morgan…you were being a…

Okay guys…that's enough. I think he's suffered enough. And he did apologized.

Come on Hotch. You're gonna give in so easily?

Hotch and I go a long ways guy.

I wouldn't go that far, Derek.

Ouch!

Burn!

*Laughter*

"Can…I ….talk…now….?" Emily's raspy voice called out weakly from the bed.

All at once six faces came her view on both sides.

"Em! You're awake!" Garcia exclaimed. "You gave us such a fright, honey!"

"How are you feeling?" JJ asked.

Emily smiled slowly, "Like I've been stabbed. What are you doing here guys and did we get the killers?"

They laughed at her.

"What's so funny?"Emily frowned.

"Emily," Dave Rossi grinned. "That case's been solved over five days ago."

"What about you guys?"

"Flew straight from New Mexico, made a special trip when we got news from NYPD…Det. Mac Taylor...nice guy." Dave said.

Emily blushed slightly, "Yeah he is." Then it dawned on her…"Five days!" She opened her eyes wider and tried to sit up but winced hard as several pairs of hands restrained her.

"Whoa!"

"Look, I have to get back to work…my team…"

"Emily, they are fine. You have a great team, short but great team." Hotch's dimples deepened as he smiled at her. "Great job, Unit Chief Prentiss."

They all nodded and grinned.

"Wow, thanks…Hotch." She said softly.

"Hotch?" Dave shook his head. "You two are the same rank now, I think you can call him Aaron, right?" He looked at Hotch who nodded.

Emily nodded, "Yeah but…he's always Hotch to me, more personal than Aaron."

"Ahem! I think you've overstayed your allotted15 minutes. The patient needs her rest. Out!" The nurse stretched her arm, indicating the doorway sternly.

"Aw! Already!"

"Okay…we have to get back home." Dave began to usher them out as he quickly reached over and pecked Emily's cheek and waved her goodbye, "Get well, cara!"

"Bye Dave…"

The BAU team began to kiss her cheek affectionately but hurriedly as they fled from the nurse who still glared at them as she watched them filed out of the room.

"Thanks for coming all the way from New Mexico…guys…bye." Emily said tearfully.

Lastly, Hotch looked at her as he said, "Hey I'm going send a few more agents down …up your way if you want?"

"That would be great…I need a few more, Hotch. Thanks."

"Not a problem."

The nurse cleared her throat again as she glared fiercely at him.

Hotch leaned very close to Emily as he whispered to her, "I think if she's armed, she won't hesitate to shoot me. Get well quick, Em." He then quickly kissed her on her lips before he hurried out of the door without looking back.

The nurse arched a brow at her as she smiled before closing the door.

Emily shook her head slightly and smiled, "Didn't know there was this side of you, Hotch." She leaned back on the pillow exhausted as she closed her eyes.

…..

That evening, when Emily opened her eyes again, she began to laugh until tears flowed down her cheeks.

"Hey…can't have that..It's supposed to cheer you up not make you cry." Mac's soft voice came from her left."

Emily smiled as she turned to his voice, "Hi."

He smiled as she found him sitting next to her by the hospital bed. "Hi." He leaned over and kissed her softly on her lips.

"Is this your doing?" She asked when he straightened but held her hand.

There were white daisies all over her room, every surface possible was occupied by vases of white daisies.

"Actually it was a joint effort from your BAU team and me," he owned up shyly. "A Dave Rossi insisted on doing this while Penelope Garcia suggested strenuously that one or two vases were not enough." He shook his head and chuckled. "I can see why you're eager to get out of there."

Emily smiled, "You know that is not true, Mac. They have their great qualities."

He softened at her and nodded, "I'm teasing, Emily." He squeezed her hand gently..

She nodded, "Yeah, I know. This is wonderful but where am I going to put them when I get discharged? I'm still at the hotel…craps…I just remember…I don't think I have a room anymore."

"Hey…it's taken care of. If you don't mind…I have a guest room, and I don't think you're capable of taking care of yourself for the next week or so …so how about it?"

She grinned, "If you don't mind a moocher?"

He shook his head, "I'll be sure to charge you rent."

"Deal."

But before her discharge, her three agents, and surprisingly, Stanley, came to visit her while she was still at the hospital.

"Hey boss!" Gonzalez greeted her cheerfully.

Shell looked about him but not finding any room he decided to placed the vase of flowers onto the floor near her bed.

Emily, who was sitting up at the moment, smiled her thanks and greeted them.

"Thanks you guys."

They grinned back, "Stan bought the flowers, boss." JG said.

"When are you getting out, boss? I mean not that we are hurrying you and all but…" Shell blushed as he couldn't finish his sentence.

"Hopefully tomorrow but it'll be light duty for a week or so. Aw, you guys miss me?" Emily teased him as he blushed deeper.

"Actually we do, word is we're getting three more agents from Quantico." JG frowned.

Emily looked at her, "What's wrong, JG? I did ask for more agents from my former boss."

JG shook her head, "Oh, nothing. I guess I got used to our small unit."

"I understand but I do need a bigger crew, bigger resource. New York City is a bigger place and eventually I'd need to expand more agents but three more agents to start with will do for now, and especially now, I'm not able to work the field for at least a few weeks, it's going to stretch you guys." Emily explained.

JG nodded as she shrugged, "So boss, where are you staying when you're discharged?"

"Oh, I'm staying at Mac's until I'm well to move around on my own." JG stiffened slightly when Emily explained to them.

"Oh, all right." JG shrugged again.

Bob then stood up awkwardly and announced to the others, "Okay we need to get back to work. Take care boss. We'll see you sometime." He nodded and walked out.

Shell and JG did the same

Stan was about to walk out when Emily stopped him, "Stan…a moment."

JG paused but Shell pushed her as they kept walking.

"Closed the door, Stan." Emily said.

Stan nodded as he did as she asked and came to her.

"What did you find out in your hunt?" She asked.

He shook his head, "Nothing. It had gone cold as soon as that case closed."

Emily frowned, "Really? I wonder if it's related."

Stan shrugged, "It might be. I mean there's no weird bouncing at all since then for the past several days, all phone calls are within the state."

"I don't believe it…will you keep it open?" She asked him.

"Oh yeah, it's no problem. I have it online on one of my computer and it's not in the way."

"Okay…and if you…could you keep this between just the two of us only?" She said.

He frowned, "Yeah…okay. Is this legit?"

She gave him an exasperated look, "Stan, come on..use your brains besides those pork rinds and Yoo-hoos…"

"How did…?"

She grinned, "You talking to a former profiler, Stan, we don't stop, just because I'm lying here…and speaking of profiling. I need of more thing from you and this is strictly confidential."

He nodded again as she to explain to him what she needed from him.

"You cannot do this in front of them, understand?"

He nodded nervously.

"Okay…don't get caught, Stan. Good luck."

He nodded again and waving to her he left her room.

Emily got out of the bed and began to move about the room.

"Hey!" She turned around quickly and sighed with relieved, her heart thumping rapidly as she realized it was Don Flack, standing by the doorway, grinning. Emily gripped her chest as she glared at him, "I almost had a heart attack, Flack! Thanks!"

He walked into the room and sat down on the bed, "You're welcome. By the way, Mac sent me here to tell you to stay in bed, and I see he was right." He chuckled as he picked up his phone and pressed a number.

"What are you doing?" She tried to grab the phone from him as she saw his intention, "Are you ratting on me? Give me that!"

He pulled the phone from her reach easily as he was a whole foot taller than she was, and she was bore foot.

"Flack!"! She yelled at him but he was not paying any attention to her. She looked around the room and all there were about the room was the flowers….

Emily grabbed a handful of daisies and threw them at him which he easily dodged them as well. Soon, there were daisies strewn all over the bed.

"Mac…yeah…Just like you said. Caught her out of bed." He said cheerfully as another batch of daisies rained on him. "And she's abusing your flowers." He handed her the phone.

She sat on the bed by him as she grabbed the phone from him, "Hi…I'm sitting on the bed now." She stuck her tongue at Flack. "No, I'm not sticking my tongue at your best friend." She frowned at the phone and looked up at Flack who had picked up one of the Daisies and began plucking one petal at a time "…Emily loves Mac…Mac loves Emily…Emily loves Mac…"

She giggled as she turned away from Flack, "You have a very immature friend," she told him as she laughed.

She then turned and frowned, "How did you know he's plucking the petals….?" She turned around again and saw Don was gone and that she was alone in the room, "Flack?"

…

End of Chapter 6