"Honey, you've got some explaining to do!" Garcia shouted over the phone. Axel shifted the cell away from his ear, attempting to save his eardrum.

"What happened Pen?" Axel inquired, wondering if the woman had actually heard from Emily and had put the pieces together. He was unsure what to do or say if she confirmed his worst fear.

"Why aren't you answering Emily's calls?" Garcia queried, terrifyingly calm. Axel closed his eyes and sighed.

"I got a new number. I forgot to tell her, that's all." He began pacing the length of his living room. Garcia was extremely intelligent, practically a genius. If anyone would figure it out, it would be her… but how? The analyst couldn't have connected everything from Emily explaining the situation… or could she? Her skills have awed him over and over again.

"Nope. I don't accept that," Axel felt his lungs constrict, "She is your best friend. You wouldn't just forget to call her. So, I'm not buying that alibi."

"Okay, I need you to promise me that the information will never leave your mouth."

"Of course! Who do you think I am? My lips are sealed," Garcia paused; contemplating her next words carefully, "Does this… distancing… have anything to do with a brooding BAU boss?"

Axel lowered himself onto his couch with a groan. He was upset that his agreement lasted all of twelve days. He didn't want to anger Hotch. He didn't want to destroy the new relationship between Emily and Hotch. He also didn't want to lie to Garcia, who had become a loyal and trustworthy friend. Garcia and Axel communicated every night after Axel finished his shift. They had become fast friends, especially because she was dating his brother. He had to make sure that Hendrix was treating her the way she was meant to be treated and vice versa. Of course, she found the notion noble and she gained respect for him.

"I'm guessing Emily told you about the day I walked in on their first date?" Axel asked, already knowing the answer but hoping to give him more time. He wasn't ready to be scrutinized or to start a brawl with the FBI agent.

"Of course she did. Now continue." Garcia ordered.

"I had just hung up on you when a knock sounded at my door. I open the door and Hotch is standing there, telling me that we have to talk." He heard Garcia gasp on the other end of the connection, "He pretty much tells me that he doesn't trust me with Emily. I knew he would never let up and that that would lead to a huge fight between Emily and him. You know that's the last thing I wanted so I promised him that they would never see me again."

"Shut the front door. Are you freakin' kidding me?" Garcia yelled. He heard rustling in the phone, assuming she was adjusting her clothing.

"Unfortunately, I'm not. Garcia, Emily can't know. You can't tell her." He heard Garcia chuckle in his ear. He had a bad feeling that Garcia had the courage to do something drastic.

"Sweet heart, I have to go." Garcia said sweetly. Axel felt anxiety rise in his throat, bile threatening to escape.

"Penelope Garcia!" Axel shouted as he heard the phone line go dead. He cursed under his breath, tossing the phone on the couch space to his left.

Hotch was seated at the tiny desk that the hotel placed in the corner for business clients. He scratched the back of neck while twisting open the water bottle cap. He tilted the plastic bottle, replenishing his thirst. He should be asleep as it was one in the morning. He had to be at the station in five hours, along with the rest of his team. A knock sounded and he walked over to the cherry colored door. He checked the peephole, absentmindedly smiling at the person on the other side.

"Hey. Shouldn't you be asleep?" Hotch asked Emily as he swung open the door. The brunette chuckled.

"I could ask you the same thing." She leaned forward, landing a kiss on his ready lips. He wrapped an arm around her hips, pulling her into the room. She draped her arms around his shoulder, interlacing her fingers behind his neck. He drew her body closer, inserting his nose in her hair. Thankfully, their relationship moved past the Axel ordeal without a hitch. She had seemed depressed and worried the past few days, though, and he assumed Axel had been drifting away. He just hoped that she would let the man go soon. He suddenly heard the woman in his arms sniffle. He looked down and noticed she had started to cry.

"I think he's mad, you know." Hotch felt sick. There was a hitch after all. He should have seen it coming.

"What're you talking about, honey?" Hotch asked, his voice trembling slightly. Emily seemed to be too caught up in her ordeal to notice his nervousness.

"Axel isn't answering my calls. He changed his number and didn't tell me. Something is wrong and I bet it's because he's mad about that night." Emily blurted out. Oddly enough, she didn't seem upset with him. She just seemed dejected. He suddenly felt the want to confess it all.

"Em, I-" the phone interrupted him.

"I'll let you take that. See you tomorrow Aaron." She turned and swiftly left his line of vision. She was most likely embarrassed by her burst of emotion. He shook his head, embarrassed by his own past actions. He raced over to the phone after shutting the door.

"Hotchner." He answered formally.

"Sir I respect you professionally but personally…I think you're a jackass." Hotch was immobilized. Garcia's statement nipped at his chest, causing apprehension.

"Excuse me?" Hotch attempted to sound infuriated but knew that the blonde would hear the slight trepidation in his tone.

"How could you do that to someone you claim to love?" Hotch felt his legs become unstable and fell onto the couch.

He swallowed, "I have no idea what you're talking about."

"Oh please, sir. You told Axel to get lost." Hotch sighed.

"How… did you know?" Garcia was silent. She knew Axel wasn't a liar but she was hoping that he was fibbing, just once. She knew that Hotch was threatened. She had seen it at the bar the night that they all met Axel. She was still stunned though.

"Emily told me that Axel wasn't answering calls and I knew about the fight you two had about Axel. I then remembered that you called me asking for his address. I put it together. I called Axel and he told me what happened." Hotch chuckled bitterly.

"Garcia-"

"No! You don't do that to someone you love Hotch!" The profiler lowered his head in shame. She was right, "That man pushed her to you. He loves Emily and wants her to be happy. How can you not want someone like that around? He is in your corner Hotch. He isn't a threat. He is an asset. You need to realize that. You also need to make this right before Emily starts ripping her hair out. I know you're my boss but sir, remember who I am."

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