Title: Dark Paradise
Author: Cindy Ryan
Summary: The team gets a lead on Ellis while Emily slowly recovers from the kidnapping.
Notes: See part one

Several long contented minutes passed before Matt cleared his throat. He didn't want to break the mood but knew she'd be mad if she heard about this morning from somebody else.

"Em."

"Hmmm."

Matt pulled away, breaking contact. "There's something else I need to talk to you about."

Instantly alert Emily slowly turned to face her partner. "What?"

Matt sighed. "They held my hearing earlier."

"That's why you went in."Emily replied with a shake of her head. "What happened?"

"Probation for a year, permanently out of the field."Matt said quietly as he slowly met her gaze. "They transferred me out of CNU."

"What?!"Emily replied not believing what she was hearing. "That's insane. You saved my life……what about Frank?"

"They let Cheryl handle his punishment. She suspended him for a couple days."

"I'm fixing this."Emily stated firmly as she got up from the bed and moved toward the closet for some fresh clothes. Her injuries screamed every step of the way but she ignored it.

Matt leapt off the bed and quickly caught up to her. "Em,wait."

"They can't get away with this."Emily fumed as she grabbed a matching pair of slacks and shirt."The Bureau needs you in the street not stuck behind a pile of paper."

Matt caught Emily around the waist and pulled her toward him. "Em, as much as I would love to see you go in there and take their heads off, you just got home. You need to heal."

Emily tried to pull free. "I'll heal later. Matt you and Frank saved my life, not the other agents. You told me they weren't even close to the Nevada lead. I would've died if you two hadn't risked everything. They need to know that."

Matt gently took the clothes from her and tossed them back in the closet. He tenderly caressed her right cheek. "They know, Em. They have all the reports."

Tears crept into Emily's eyes as her newfound strength left her and she melted into his chest. "Damn him…..Ellis is taking everything."

"No he's not, Emily."Matt replied quietly as he pulled back so he could see her face. "He can't take who we are……we're still together…..stronger than ever."

Emily rested her right hand on his chest."Your career is part of who you are, Matt. You live, eat and breathe police work. This isn't fair."

Matt leaned in and kissed her softly before saying. "The only thing that matters right now is that you're safe and healthy. And that's not going to happen if you aggravate those ribs any more today."

"Matt….."

"No arguing."Matt replied gently as he took Emily by the arm and led her back to the bed where he pulled back the sheets. "In you go."

Despite everything Emily laughed as she gingerly sat down on the edge of the bed. "First time for everything."

"What?"

"You ordering me to bed by myself."

Matt smiled. "Cute. I'll be right back."

Emily settled back against the pillow pulling the sheets and comforter closer around her. She hated that she was always so tired.

Matt returned a few minutes latter a dvd under his arm and carrying a glass of juice. "Here Em, time for your pain pills."

"Alright."Emily replied as she scooted more into a sitting position. She accepted the pills and glass of juice from Matt and quickly swallowed the pills. "Thank you."

"Not a problem."Matt stated as he sat the glass down on the nightstand and walked around to the other side of the bed. "I brought your favorite chick flick movie. Figured we could watch that for awhile."

"Sounds wonderful."

Matt moved back to the tv at the front of the room and put the dvd in the dvd player. He grabbed the remote and made his way back to Emily. Matt kicked his shoes off as he turned the tv on and started the dvd player.

Matt pulled his cell phone out of his pocket and placed it on the nightstand as he crawled into bed next to Emily.

Emily instantly snuggled closer to Matt her eyelids drifting closed. She knew she wouldn't see much of the movie. "Matt."

"Yeah?"Matt replied as he wrapped his arms around her.

"Thank you for taking such good care of me."

Matt lightly kissed her forehead so grateful to have Emily back in his life. "No other place I'd rather be."