Just A Girl by No Doubt
"Are you freaking kidding me Hotch?" Emily shouted.
"Why would I be kidding?" Hotch said in complete seriousness.
"Give me a good reason Hotch."
"Excuse me?"
"Give me a valid reason why I can't go with you guys and I'll leave it alone." Emily tapped her foot impatiently waiting for a response knowing nothing he said was going to make it better.
"Prentiss, it's a dangerous mission."
"Of course it is Hotch! That's why you need me on the case. You need all you can get. I don't see any reason why I can't go."
"It's not safe."
"No shit. We've established that. But why do the guys get to go risk their lives to become heroes but I can't?"
"Pren—"
"Don't Prentiss me! Give me a good reason."
"We don't want you to get hurt."
"Well I don't want you to get hurt, so don't you think it'd be better to have a bunch of people watching your back?" she argued. "I don't need you guys to hold my hand."
Take this pink ribbon off my eyes
I'm exposed and it's no big surprise
Don't I think I know exactly where I stand
This world is forcing me to hold your hand
Cause I'm just a girl, a little old me
Well don't let me out of your sight
Oh I'm just a girl all pretty and petite
So don't let me have any rights
Oooo I've had it up to here
"We don't want to have to keep an eye on you when we go in there." Hotch told her quietly.
"What?" She screamed. She took a deep breath. "You don't want to have to watch me but you're taking Reid with you? Tell me how the hell that makes sense! It's because I don't have a penis isn't it?"
"Emily—"
"No, it is isn't it? If I had a penis I'd be able to play with the big boys but since I don't I get stuck on the side line. I can't help I'm female Hotch and you shouldn't keep me from something because I'm just a girl!"
"That's not why Emily."
Emily quickly sniffed the air. "I smell bullshit!"
"It's not bullshit, we just want you to be safe and you'll be safest here."
She took a step closer. "I want to be safe and I want you guys to be safe and well and I can't make sure you are if I'm stuck here! I want to be able to have your backs. Are you trying to make me scared of the world or something? I can do this!"
The moment that I step outside
So many reasons for me to run and hide
I can't do the little things that I hold so dear
Cause it's all those little things that I fear
Cause I'm just a girl, I'd rather not be
Cause they won't let me drive late at night
Oh I'm just a girl, guess I'm some kind of freak
Cause they all sit and stare with their eyes
Oh I'm just a girl, take a good look at me
Just your typical proto type
Ooo I've had it up to here, ooo am I making myself clear?
"JJ and Garcia will be here."
Emily let out a growl of frustration. "COME ON! Garcia wouldn't be going even if she had the training. And you aren't taking JJ because she's not a field agent like I am! I think it's bullshit you're making me stay with the other girls because I'm just that. A female."
Hotch hung his head. "Is it so wrong that I want to keep you safe? Is it wrong that I worry about you?"
Emily studied his face and saw the worry etched in it. She moved closer to him. "Of course it's not wrong to worry about my safety. It's actually very sweet, but Hotch I worry about you guys as well and being stuck here is going to make me go nuts. Because what if something happens to you guys? What am I supposed to do from here? I couldn't even take care of you guys from here. I know you worry about me, but Hotch I can take care of myself. All I'm asking for is the chance to prove to you that I'm not just a girl."
"I know you aren't Emily and that scares me." There was a long pause between the two. Hotch dropped his head again avoiding her dark eyes. "For some reason I feel the need to protect you. To make sure you're safe whenever I can. I'm very protective of you Emily. If something were to happen to you, I don't know what I'd do." He sighed then looked back up at her. "But if you want to come and you swear you'll be careful and stay with me the entire time, you can come."
Emily's face beamed with a smile. She ran up to him and pulled him into a tight hug. "Thank you so much Hotch and I swear I'll do whatever you say. Thank you, thank you!" She kissed his cheek quickly. "Thank you!" She removed herself from his arms and headed for the door. "You won't regret this Hotch, I promise."
She left his office and all Hotch could do was pray that that was a promise she could keep because he had a bad feeling about this. And under no circumstances was he going to lose the woman that he loved. And all he needed was a reason to tell her.
Oh I'm just a girl living in captivity
Your rule of thumb makes me worry so
Oh I'm just a girl what's my destiny
What I succumb to is making me numb
Oh I'm just a girl my apology
What I become is sober and so