Episode: In Name and Blood

Finally onto this episode! Ugh, this is one of the most hotly-centric episodes ever and I'm so excited to write it, I wanted to make it a songfic. So this chapter's going to be written with the song Milwaukee by Stephen Kellogg in mind. Hope you like it!

Moonlight, highway.
Quicksand trying to pull us off the road
But you don't succeed by giving up
That's one thing I know,

She didn't knock. He liked that.

"Sorry to interrupt. Sir, I've decided to resign from the FBI, effective immediately."

Their eyes met, a moment of shock passing through Hotch, causing his blood to run cold.

"I don't understand." He was playing dumb. Pretending he couldn't hear the words that were practically being flung at him. He wasn't good at playing dumb.

And I'm sorry you got sick
And that I wasn't there
And if I acted like a dick
It didn't mean I didn't care,

"I'm taking the foreign service exam." Her eyes dropped from his and he knew it was disassociation. She was trying to cut herself off from him. "With my connections, uh, I stand a good chance of landing in the state department."

Hotch wondered if that was a reference to their conversation from the case with the Russian mobsters. He liked to think so.

And the way you treat your mother is up to you
but it can't feel all that good to be so angry
I guess I learned that too,

"Prentiss I think that's a mistake." His eyes never wavered from their spot on hers. He watched as she looked away, avoiding eye contact with him and Strauss. The thought of her avoiding his gaze hurt him, but her ignoring Strauss made him positively gleeful.

He hid it well.

"Well don't try to talk me out of it." A hint of a smile, a tip of the head. "Garcia saw my name on the list and she already tried."

List? What list? How long had this list been up? A small laugh, her curls moving in time with her face.

"If she can't talk someone out of something, no one can."

For a moment, their gazes locked again. Just a moment. He wanted to try and read her, to profile her and why she was doing this.

Why she was breaking him.

"Sorry for the interruption."

Pauses, a few steps, a turn of her body as she opened her mouth to say one last screw you to Strauss. Emily Prentiss, always the rebel.

"But sir... it's good to see you back. The team needs you. Ma'am."

And she was gone, leaving Hotch to deal with Strauss, to figure out his emotions, to pick up the hundreds of pieces that Emily Prentiss would leave behind in her wake.

OoOoOoOoOoO

Jessica is afraid she won't find love
she says that she's never home
and just last night I swear I heard her say
"What if I die alone?"

Hotch couldn't do it. He couldn't live like this.

It took him all of 30 seconds to turn the car around, driving as fast as he could towards the one place that he knew he would end up at. Before he had even entered the building he felt better. Before he was halfway up the stairs he could see her face.

And then he knocked on her door.

"Can I come in?" It was just that. Nothing more. There was no underlying desire, no matter how small, no pleading and hope. He was just a boss making sure to get the job done.

Hotch didn't believe it for a second.

"The team needs us. They're working a case in Milwaukee. Gideon hasn't shown up and don't tell me you've quit or I put in for a transfer."

Hotch was struck by her comfortableness in her home. She was never like that in the BAU (or maybe it was just around him...?) and she certainly never wore anything like what she was wearing to work. A momentary pang of disappointment rang through him as Emily's eyebrow cocked and she replied, surprised by his news,

"You put in for a transfer?"

"They're both still hung up in the system so, technically we're in dereliction of duty by not being there."

"I'm sorry, I can't go." Emily shook her head to avoid making eye contact with him. It amazed her that he was here. That he had driven all the way her to her house just to get her to come with him on one last case. It was too good to be true.

"Right, sorry I barged in."

"Wait, wait. Can I ask wh- why are you really here?" He sure as hell wasn't just here to say hi.

"I told you." Hands in pockets, avoiding eye contact while he spoke, moving away from her. Not the signs of someone who was being totally honest.

Hotch had moved behind a counter, unable to prevent himself from profiling the room. Not one thing was out of place, in her kitchen or living room. Her appearance was much the same, despite the fact she hadn't even been expecting company.

"I think Strauss came to you and asked for dirt on me."

And there it was. Had he known it all along? Probably. Emily realised too late that she had assumed an aggressive pose.

"Why would she do that?" The venom in her voice, unmistakable. It stung Hotch practically into submission, but he did not back down.

"I think if you have your eyes on top leadership at the FBI," He raised his gaze slightly so he was staring at her, their eyes locked again, but this time the looks were defensive, both sides afraid about revealing their hand. "You wanna know who might stand in your way."

"Aaaand, what could I have told her?" She stepped forward, egging Hotch on, trying to get him to fall, or at least trip up slightly.

"That one of my agents might've murdered a suspect in cold blood. Or another might have a serious drug problem which I didn't report, and if Strauss had any evidence, my career would be over."

Emily's face dropped from his gaze, as she realised he was telling her that he hadn't failed to notice the fact that she had chosen him above her job. The job she had waited ten years for.

"I think she put you on our team and expected something in return. And to your credit, you quit," She turned back to face him, listening intently. "Rather than whisper in her ear."

"I told you," Emily's face was still, her lips in a fine line that showed no emotion other than what she wanted to show. "I hate politics."

"Come to Milwaukee," It was a plea, not an order. Still, Emily couldn't do it. "I'll make you a deal. If your ready bag isn't here, packed, I won't bug you anymore. If it is I want you on that plane with me. One more case."

She pressed her lips together, ignoring the thrill that went through her when he said, 'I want you on that plane with me.', instead grasping at straws.

"I already turned in my badge and my gun."

"That's just hardware."

So she looked to her closet, where her ready bag had stayed. She had meant to unpack it, but couldn't. Couldn't deal with that part of her life being over so soon. Hell, she could hardly deal with the idea of leaving the BAU for the state department, of all places.

"Give me 5 minutes."

And this broken-hearted attitude
you know it fits right in
to this movie about all of us
that's waiting to begin

The plane ride was long, but that may have just been the company. The jet, obviously preoccupied, was not their mode of transportation for the moment. Instead, they were forced to fly commercial, Hotch flashing his credentials at the flight director who promptly set up a flight leaving for Milwaukee in less than an hour. The flight was 2 hours, one of which was spent looking over the case file and formulating ideas.

The other hour was spent silently, with Emily staring out the window and Hotch staring at Emily. His mind was focused on Hayley, though. Hayley and the fact that everything about her, almost every little detail, was different from Emily.

Maybe it was the anger talking, or maybe it was how he had changed since the woman had came into his life, but at that moment, if he had been forced to choose who he preferred between Emily and Hayley, he would have chosen Emily.

At least she stuck by him.

And I've been chasing dreams in magazines the last ten years
and the way you treat your lover's is up to you
but it can't feel all that good to be so jealous
I guess I learned that too

"So you looked pretty perky after that plane ride." JJ had gone with Emily early that morning on a coffee run, afraid that if they went too long they'd begin to lose focus.

"I don't know what you mean, Jayje." Emily replied coolly as she balanced the various paper cups in the tray.

"Come on, out with it. What happened on your little jaunt? Little birdy told me you weren't originally planning to come along. What convinced you?"

"JJ, I was in dereliction of duty by not being here. My loyalty to this job brought me here."

"You know, I don't think H-O-T-C-H is pronounced 'Loyalty to this job'."

Emily rolled her eyes at that, but pressed on. "JJ, he's married. For God's sake, MARRIED. With a KID."

JJ shook her head as they entered the car, balancing the coffee cups on Emily's lap.

"You can try and hide it, Agent Prentiss, but eventually you'll slip. And when you do... I'll be waiting to tell you that I called it first."

It will change in time
we'll feel more alive
cause protection's like a wheel

They were more in sync for this case, constantly knowing what to say and how to build on the other's words. It was like they were united, fighting back against the wrath of Erin Strauss.

Emily couldn't help but find it a little bit funny that Hotch and Strauss had the same name. She was glad he had made her come with him. She was glad to be part of the team. To be one of a whole. It was like seeing your family after being away for the first time.

But at the back of both their minds was the realisation that while they were here, now, working as one, soon they'd be back home, alone and away from the BAU.

And the way you sometimes feel

Can make you think that you might even be
the worst person you'll ever meet

"Lemme go in alone."

Hotch turned. Was she serious? Was she really going to risk her life for this case?

"The boy's in the family room, he'll answer the door."

"No." Emily turned quickly, facing her ex-Section Chief.

"We need to get invited in that door. He's looking for female authority figures. If he lets me in, I can signal as soon as I see anything that gives us cause."

"Technically you're not even in the FBI."

Strauss is like that little cousin you have who always complains about everything, Emily thought to herself, bitterly as she faced the woman who had put her through so much hell.

"All the better." Hotch's voice came from behind her and Emily had to hide a smile, moving towards the house to scan it and plan her move.

"She's interfering with a federal investigation."

"Well, if I'm no longer in the FBI then you have no authority over me. I'm just a civilian knocking on a little boys' door." Emily was sick of this woman, of her commanding attitude and just her in general.

"Prentiss." Derek handed her his gun, which she slid into her belt as Hotch handed her a signalling device.

"As soon as you have probable cause, give us the signal and get out of there." Emily looked up at Hotch, realising that she had lost track of the amount of eye contact they'd had that day. She was feeling slightly overwhelmed by the sudden protectiveness that surrounded her coming from both Derek and Hotch. It was as if they were trying to shield her from both Strauss and the UNSUB.

"Ok." She whispered, her voice barely a breath. As she turned to enter the house, she could feel his eyes on her and as much as Emily prided herself in being an independent woman, she prayed he'd get her out in the end.

But it's alright
Cause we've got each other
We got each other
We got each other

Panic raced through Hotch as he burst into the room, seeing Emily on the ground, her head bleeding. What the HELL was going on? Why did he kid have her gun? How had they not gotten there sooner?

"Drop the weapon, son."

He hadn't meant to say son, but it was true. The kid looked like Jack. A pained sigh came from Emily and all thoughts about Jack were erased from his mind.

"Give me the gun."

"Prentiss." Another groan as Emily was pulled back into safety behind Derek.

"It's ok. Do what they say." Hotch pulled the gun from David's hand, lifting the boy into his arms, his mind battling between thinking of Jack and worrying for Emily. It almost physically hurt him to wait outside for the rest of his team to come out, blinking in the harsh sunlight.

After a while he made his way to the ambulance, where Emily sat, an EMT dabbing at her forehead.

"How's your head?" He tried not to sound panicky. He tried to remain the unbiased Unit Chief, despite the fact that he didn't even work for the BAU anymore.

"I'll live." Emily replied, wincing.

Damn right, you better.

"Is it weird I'm glad to be back?"

"I'll make sure it stays official." And he meant it too. Even if it meant losing his own job, he wanted Emily to succeed.

Maybe she'd be Unit Chief herself.

As Strauss came over, he prepared himself for an ordeal, glancing at Emily as a way to make himself remember why he was doing this.

"How's she doing?"

"She's going to be ok." He hoped she couldn't hear the tenderness in his voice.

"You know I can't officially approve of how this transpired."

"The arrest was clean. It ...would be a mistake to break up this team."

"None of you will ever move up the chain of command, you know that."

"Why would I ever want to leave the BAU?"

Emily's head shot up at that, an action that sent a shooting pain through her. Wincing, she listened to the conversation between Derek and Hotch, her heart fracturing as she heard Hotch utter, 'I don't know, I gotta talk to Hayley.'

It was stupid, of course. Having any semblance of feelings for a married man. Happily married? Not exactly. But she had heard through the grapevine that things had gotten better during his suspension.

A lot of things had changed during his suspension, though.

And I've been chasing dreams in magazines the last ten years
And the way you treat each other is up to you
But it can't feel all that good to be so scared
I guess I learned that too
I guess I learned that

A knock on the door. The light switch clicks and Emily yawns as she goes to the door, opening it and stopping when she sees the man on the other side.

"Hotch. What are you doing here?" She was surprised, of course. But happy. The happiness faded quickly as she noticed the gaunt look on his face, his hair mussed like he had pulled at it in stress.

"Can... I come in?"

"Of course. Make yourself at home, I was just going to watch TV, want something to drink?"

"Sure." Hotch's voice was soft, monotone as he practically stumbled forward, sitting upon Emily's couch with a sigh that broke Emily's heart. She poured some wine quickly, ignoring the romantic implications that red wine brought. Especially late at night.

She said nothing, just handed him the glass and flicked on the TV, seeing some old episode of Friends that was on. Some episode where Chandler was in love with Joey's girlfriend. Emily didn't change the channel, just pretended to watch as her mind raced.

Why was he here? At her house, of all places? Had he had a fight with Hayley? Had something bad happened to her? Where was Jack? Emily's heart pounded as she watched the show, wondering if maybe things hadn't gotten better between them. Maybe the trial separation hadn't been so temporary after all.

Hotch sipped his wine, the second drink of the evening. He had gotten home, realised what had happened, had a tumbler of scotch, wished he could get rip-roaring drunk, and then driven over here. Why? Why here of all places? He had other friends. Friends who'd understand and would be infinitely less awkward if he showed up on their doorsteps. But he hadn't gone to them. Somehow, he had found himself here.

Even stranger was that he didn't even feel out of place. Sipping his wine again, he tried to focus on the screen. He had watched Friends a bit when he was younger, but had never been particularly fond of it. This episode, though, had a different appeal to it.

The love interest looked like Emily.

Hotch sighed as he watched Chandler rant and rave about his feelings for Joey's girlfriend, wondering how his life had gotten so messed up. It was then that he finally snapped out of his reverie for long enough to realise that Emily was watching him. He cleared his throat and uttered out the words that she was waiting for.

"Hayley left. She... took Jack. I don't know if she's coming back."

He could feel her arm creeping up his arm, running over his shoulder. She murmured an apology, then pulled her hand away, leaving Hotch to wonder again why he was here.

"I should have seen it coming. I- It's just a matter of time before..."

He couldn't say it. The big 'D' word that meant he had chosen work over family.

"Hotch." Emily's voice was sharp and he immediately looked over to her, seeing the seriousness in her eyes. "You didn't do anything wrong. Hayley just doesn't understand the job. It's not your fault and it's not hers either. It's just a shitty situation. But you aren't to blame."

Hotch could feel her hand running up his arm again and for a moment, he just wanted to forget everything. So he took a leap.

Before either of them knew what was happening, his lips met hers. It was gentle, soft. She was surprised, and was about to pull away at first, when she felt his hand sliding into her hair, pulling her closer to him. Suddenly, she stopped caring as well. She leaned into it, running her hand up his arm again and smiling against his lips as she heard him sigh, softly. A fire sparked in her belly, filling her with a kind of deep warmth that she had never felt before. Hotch, on the other hand, felt a cold feeling running down him, as if someone had woke him up from a long dream only to be thrust into a harsh reality. Harsh, but wonderful. Neither of them had any intention of deepening the kiss, but neither wanted to break it.

So they didn't, kissing for however long on Emily's couch as the flickering late night TV showed Chandler doing the same with Kathy.

Why am I so angry (I guess I learned that)
Why am I so sad (I guess I learned that)
Why am I so contagious (I guess I learned that)
Why is it so good to feel bad
I guess I learned that too
(Just want to feel)
I guess I learned that too

Wow, so it's currently late at night and I just finished this. I bet none of you expected that to happen, mostly because I didn't even expect it either. But with all the tension I was writing in, this kind of felt like a natural progression. Unfortunately, though, they won't be starting anything up until season 7. Sorry, guys. Hopefully this'll tide you over for a while longer! And who knows, maybe I'll add a little bit more in here and there. Anyway, just wanted to say thanks for the support and I really hope you enjoy this THREE THOUSAND FIVE HUNDRED WORD CHAPTER. Oh god. I can't even begin to believe I did that.

Well, rate, review and follow and enjoy :D!