Sorry for the lateness. I got caught up in the Person of Interest arc and found myself kicking out FIVE stories in the space of a week! Now that I have Reese and Carter placated (for a while!), I can work on my Dave/Em. Hope you like this new chapter. And so you know, Em is being brutally honest.

The Last Unbroken Heart

For the second time in as many days, Emily was back at the BAU. But this time she was seeking answers from the one person she trusted with her life.

Knocking on Hotch's door, she waited for his invite.

"Come in," Hotch called out. Emily turned the handle and stepped inside. "Emily!" Hotch stood up. "I heard you were back in town." He hurried over to get her a hug. "What brings you back here?"

She hugged him back. "I need your advice."

"Legal or otherwise?"

"I'm not sure. May I sit down?"

"Sure. Sit." Hotch walked over behind the desk and sat down. Quickly he profiled his former team member, but it didn't take a world class profiler to know that Emily was distressed about something. "What can I help you with?"

Emily paused and tried to put her predicament into simple words. No matter how she presented it, there was no way to sugar coat it; hell was going to be paid. She figured it might be safer to tell him about the job offer first.

"I've been offered a job here at the BAU," she began.

"Really? I heard that they weren't going to replace any profilers for a while due to budget cuts," Hotch mused.

"Actually, Hotch, it isn't with the BAU, it's to be in charge of the BAU." Emily waited on pins and needles for his response.

"I see. I heard they might be looking outside for the next hire."

"I guess in a way they did. I'm still stationed in London."

"Are you going to take it?"

"I have considered it," Emily admitted. "And I've been considering what it's going to mean to my friends. I'm sure that I can remain unbiased, but…" She took a deep breath and readied her confession. "I don't know if you've heard, but I got married."

Hotch had to blink. "Congratulations. I didn't know you were engaged," he tried to approach the news cautiously since he wasn't sure if he had missed the announcement.

"I wasn't. It was rather…sudden. For both of us."

"He's a lucky man."

"It's Rossi."

The room was filled with a painful silence that made Hotch's ears ring. "As in Dave Rossi?" he asked his voice hollow. Em nodded. "Dave Rossi is your husband?"

"Yes."

Hotch tried to think of something to say, but the words wouldn't form. He was prepared for any name but the one of his best friend. He reached down and pulled open the bottom drawer of his desk. Pulling out the bottle of Scotch and two glasses, he undid the cap and poured a generous amount in both. Recapping, he put the bottle back.

"Here," he thrust the glass at Emily.

She shook her head. "I don't drink anymore."

"Drink. That's an order."

Emily took the glass and sipped. It was a good malt, but her stomach was doing somersaults. She could tell by Hotch's expression that he was trying to keep his emotions at bay.

Hotch in turn took a big swallow. The aged to perfection malt hit his stomach and spread like fire through out his body. It helped calm him.

"When?"

Emily's hands held tight on the glass. "Five days ago in Vegas."

"I didn't know you were meeting him in Vegas." He prided himself on being astute enough to see the big picture, but since Erin's murder he wondered if he was losing his touch.

"I didn't know either. They moved 'Sin To Win' to Vegas, and it was being held in the same hotel where Rossi was staying. It was a…last minute sort of thing." For lack of better word, she finished and took another sip.

"He didn't tell me."

"We are getting an annulment," she added quickly. "It can be over by Christmas, so we felt that it was best not to say anything." She shrugged. Her eyes met Hotch's. "Then I made the mistake of coming here, and before I knew it, I was offered the Chief position."

"And you think that by taking it, there is going to be a conflict of interest." Hotch felt the anger slowly ebb. Emily's distress was real and it appeared that she was conflicted over the sudden changes in her life.

"Actually, that's why I'm here. When I spoke with the Director, I admitted that Rossi and I were married, but he didn't care. It seems that they are going to force Dave out, regardless."

"I didn't hear anything about that."

"Heh. I guess they are keeping it on the down low. Apparently, he's nearly three years past the mandatory retirement age, and they can do it without any formality."

Hotch finished off the drink and set the glass down on the desk. "I am going out on a limb and say that Dave doesn't know anything about what is happening."

"No. He had to go to New York. I haven't seen him since he left Vegas." She didn't elaborate that it had been their last morning together and both were awkward with the way they were supposed to act. Breakfast in the dining room, and then he kissed her good-bye on her cheek. It was more of perfunctory act than one of romance.

"He won't be back until next week," Hotch pointed out.

"Which is going to make this awkward when he gets back," Emily finished. "Unless I say no and don't take the offer."

"He'll still be retired, and you'll be gone," Hotch said. "What do you want to do?"

"If I knew, I wouldn't be here seeking your advice. Pen and JJ told me what they want. But this affects the whole team."

"I think you want to take it."

Emily gave a soft laugh. "Profiling me, Hotch?"

"Doing whatever works." He leaned back in his chair. "Let me ask you this: What are your feelings for Dave?"

"I don't have any."

"I thought you were friends."

"I suppose you could say that…once, but we're not." Emily pondered her answer for a second before elaborating, "We were partners for years and we had each other's back, I guess, and I can't forget what he did for Matthew…"

"You were his sounding board-"

"Who directed him back to the woman who ultimately broke his heart in the worst way possible? Trust me, Hotch, I am not proud of that decision." Her heart still ached at the way things ended. If anyone had deserved a happy ending, it was Rossi.

"No one saw that coming, Em," he comforted. "If it means anything, he came to me with the same fears, and I told him what you did. We both sent him back to Carolyn."

"Well, if anything were to happen between us, Carolyn's death and my moving to London took care of it," Emily said evenly. "He moved on to Erin Strauss."

"Which is why this forcing out is going to devastate him," Hotch returned. "No matter how this ends, someone is going to get hurt."

"That's why I'm coming to you."

"I don't have all the answers, Emily. Hell, I still can't figure out my relationship with Beth, so I am the last person who should be giving advice. But," he continued, "if you want something that might help you make a better decision, I can tell you this: The Academy is going to need a full time instructor."

Emily nodded, taking in Hotch's suggestion. "He would like that. I suppose he could still do consulting for the BAU without violating any regs," she mulled the idea over in her mind.

"Are you sure you don't have any feelings for Dave?" Hotch scrutinized Emily's face for any signs that might indicate what he was sensing. But there was nothing. Her expression remained Prentiss cool.

"None," she answered.

"Then it shouldn't be difficult to choose what's going to work best for you. Unless you're afraid," he challenged. His eyes locked with hers for a silent battle of wills.

The tension in the room rose – until Emily was forced to look away.

"I need to let you get back to work." She rose from the chair.

Hotch followed her. "Maybe before you leave we can do lunch. I am sure that Jack would love to see you again."

"I'd like that. I have a couple of presents from London and Vegas that I want to give."

Hotch wrapped her in his arms and hugged her tightly. "Take the offer, Em," he whispered in her ear.

"I'll call you," Emily promised and pulled back. "Thanks for the drink and the advice."

"Bye, Emily." Hotch watched her leave and close the door silently behind her.

Leaning against the hard wood, Emily closed her eyes and let out her breath slowly. Hotch's words rang in her ears. In her heart, she knew he was right. But her brain was arguing differently. London was safe and far away. She had her friends and parents there.

But you have your family here, her heart argued. And you won't always have to see Rossi.

Taking a deep breath, Emily squared her shoulders. It was time to see the Director and tell him what decision she had come to.