Disclaimer: I own nothing.
Chapter Six: Changes
Hotch fidgeted slightly in his wheelchair. The minute he saw Erin Strauss in his hospital room he knew it was bad news. Section Chief Strauss would not cross two state lines just to see how he was, hell she wouldn't even pick up a phone to see if he was alright. It wasn't a secret he was on her bad list. She wants him out of the BAU and he knew it.
"So…" Hotch started, eyeing Emily as if trying to get her to say something. She just smiled awkwardly and diverted her eyes.
"Agent Hotchner, I came to give you this." Strauss said handing him a large packet. "I know you are not expecting this but from your weekly updates the Director and I get we thought this was your best option. Of course you don't have to take it but…"
"Retirement? You want me to leave the bureau?" Hotch asked after opening the seal and reading the first few lines.
"Aaron you have to realize it's been weeks and your progress is very slow. You will not be allowed in the field in your condition. Now if you wish to remain in the bureau you will be transferred to another section." Strauss said somewhat sympathetically.
Hotch was pissed to say the least. His jaw was clenched and his hands balled into fists. He was going to walk. He was going to be the agent he once was. His mind was spinning when Emily stepped in.
"What happens if he does walk again? Can he get back in the BAU?"
"I don't know. If there is an opening, I suppose so." Strauss turned her attention to the brunette. "Agent Hotchner isn't the only reason I came. Agent Prentiss your leave is coming to a close and the team needs you back. If not you will be moved and replaced."
"What? You can't do that!" Emily stood but Hotch grabbed her hand before she could move too far.
"Your team is down two agents and they need help. Rossi told me he called you about this." Strauss argued.
Emily hesitated looking at Hotch's questioning eyes. She chose not to tell him her leave was ending soon. Things had been going so well she didn't want to spoil it. Worrying him wouldn't help anything. Looking back at Strauss she answered calmly "He did but I didn't think you would replace me. Aaron will be transferred to D.C. soon. And I will be coming back but how can I leave my husband here alone?" She tightened her grip on his hand.
"I know you both think I don't have a heart but I do. I don't know what you are going through but I'm very sorry to upset either of you. But I do have a job to do. Depending on when you come home I will try to get the Director to hold off on replacing Emily but Aaron we do have to. I'm sorry. But whether or not it is permanent I guess is up to you."
Hotch nodded slowly. "Do I have time to think about it?"
"Yes if you need call me by next Monday with your answer. Again I am sorry to do this to you. Emily I can't imagine what you are feeling either but if it was my husband I wouldn't leave either." She said softly and then left.
Emily and Hotch starred at the door, both stewing over everything.
"Why didn't you tell me?" Hotch asked his face in his normal grim frown.
Emily sighed. "I didn't want to worry you about anything. I was hoping you would be transferred and I would go back. I'm sorry Aaron." She finally turned to face him. His dark eyes showed his hurt.
"Emily what are you going to do if I'm not transferred?"
"I'm not leaving you. I don't care if I get fired over it." She whispered before leaving the room. She knew he needed to be alone. If she didn't leave the room they would end up fighting and things would be said. She didn't want that. After being married for just under a year she knew what battles to fight with him. This wasn't one she wanted or he needed.
Stopping in the empty hallway she leaned against the wall. She let it hold the brunt of her burden, the lie she knew that hurt him and the guilt he was sure to feel because of her not wanting to leave him.
At the end of the day it was Emily's decision to stay with Hotch or to go back home to work. Over the weeks she thought about going home to Gracie and to work but how can she leave her husband, her best friend, in the hospital by himself? Leaving the BAU wouldn't be that bad. She thought about it when she adopted Gracie and thought it would give her more time with her daughter. But at the time she didn't want to leave. The BAU was a dream of hers and she fought hard for it. Emily proved herself to the team and to the bureau over and over.
But now it was presented to her again. Would she be okay leaving now for her husband? He sacrificed his life for her when he took the bullets for her could she do the same?
Hotch watched Emily leave and thought it was best. He was understandably angry. Fighting with her wouldn't help anything.
He slowly moved himself over to his bed and carefully lifted himself into it. After adjusting his legs he laid back. He really was getting the hang of it and pride grew inside of him. it was about time he took his life back in his own hands even if his life was a mess.
Hotch looked to the packet on the counter. Retirement…he was too young to retire. But that wasn't the real issue. He could turn that down and stay with the bureau. Leaving the BAU, that was the real issue. The BAU was such a part of who he is that he wasn't sure who he would be without it. He was Unit Chief SSA Aaron Hotchner. Now he had to be just Aaron Hotchner.
Husband and father
He grinned a bit and nodded to himself. That sounds pretty good too.
When Emily re-entered Hotch's room she was pleasantly surprised to find him watching the TV with a smile on his face. She starred for a moment taking in the way his dimples peaked out slightly and how his mouth was bowed just perfectly in to the smile. Every time he smiled her heart seam to skip a beat. He was amazing. She sighed.
"Hey" she walked to him.
"Hi, are you okay?" he asked softly.
"Yes"
He smiled brighter. "I made a decision and I hope your okay with it. I'm not taking retirement but I am staying with the bureau. Even if I have to give up the BAU I want to stay. Plus with me not being in the field I will probably get a desk job and that means I get to spend more time with the kids."
Tears sprang in her eyes but she smiled through it. "I'm glad you're okay with it."
"Oddly I am. I still get to work but I miss Gracie and Jack so much. And hey maybe Jack can stay with us more... I'm okay with this."
Emily hugged him tight. The admiration for the man in her arms grew even more in her heart, even losing the thing that defined him didn't get him down. Emily wiped at her wet face.
"What have you decided?" he asked pointedly.
She hesitated but as he smiled once again she let out a breath. "I want to stay with the BAU but I want to stay with you too. I'm not sure what to do."
Hotch nodded. He knew she was between a rock and a hard place. It couldn't be easy to make that choice but they would know soon if he was able to transfer back home. "Let's wait to see what Dr. Marks has to say then if you have to you can go home. I really am fine on my own. I'm getting really good at getting around and I'm learning my own ways of doing things. I'll be fine."
"But who will keep you company? Who's going to make watching Day of Our Lives bearable?" she joked climbing into his bed and curling up with him.
"I'm sure I can talk Maria into making up even crazier scenarios then the show already has with me. I bet she can do a mean Kate." He kissed her head.
"See I leave and you soap cheat. I guess Dave will have to start wearing the 'frown' to work so I don't miss it too much." She giggled as he tickled at her hip. "I love you."
"I love you too. Hey, now you can change your name to Hotchner. I hate when people call you Prentiss."
"You just like people to know I'm yours. You're possessive!"
"Damn straight. You are mine… forever!" he whispered then kissed her with all his love.
A/N: Okay I hope Strauss didn't bring too much disappointment. I know she's not the happiest person but I think at the end of the day she does have a heart. And I know I have been neglecting the rest of the team but they will be coming back real soon. Let me know what you think!