A/N: Hello all! I got some great response to the last chapter! Thanks for that! I decided to update a little sooner than usual. So, I hope you enjoy this next chapter. I'll warn you all now, you'll probably hate the beginning of this chapter. But, you'll all really like the end of the chapter (I think, I hope). Anyways, please R&R! Thanks!
Disclaimer: I do not own Criminal Minds.
Chapter 11: Plain and Simple:
Emily drew her coat closer around her body. It was extra chilly for a February in Washington D.C. She was out that night walking the streets of downtown D.C. after leaving a trendy restaurant.
An arm came to rest around her shoulders. She looked to her right at the owner of that arm.
"Cold?" Rossi asked.
She smiled. "A little."
He pulled her a little closer to him and her smile faded away for a second, but she was quick to put it back on.
Nevertheless, the perceptive profiler caught the flicker. "Something wrong?"
She gave him a quick look and then stared straight ahead. "Nope, why would there be anything wrong? I've had a great time tonight."
"Good," he replied. "Me too."
She'd been dating David Rossi for the past three weeks. Well dating would be a strong word, since they'd only officially gone out a handful of times. But she was pretty sure that if you asked Rossi what they were doing he'd definitely say dating. If you asked her, though, she'd say that she had no idea.
She still remembered the night where this- whatever it was with Rossi- all started. It also happened to be the night Derek had broken up with her. She remembered every detail, and there wasn't a night she didn't play it back in her head.
After storming out of Derek's apartment she drove home quickly, probably dangerously, through teary eyes. She couldn't believe what happened that night.
Emily had worked so hard to tell him she loved him, to keep them together. And the end result was that she failed.
Quickly, keeping her head down—she didn't want nosy neighbours knowing her business—she made her way to her apartment. She stripped off her jacket and shoes and made her way to the couch. Sitting down she brought her knees to her chest and rested her chin on top of her knees. The tears dripped silently down her face, off her chin, to soak her jeans.
Somehow, someway, she needed to find a way to make this better. She loved him way too much to let him go so easily.
She had told him she didn't know if she could wait for him. But that was a lie out of her anger at him. She would wait for him. She would.
The doorbell rang and her face lit up. It was Derek, she knew it, she could feel it. He had come to his senses and had come to tell her. Emily quickly ran to the door. Opening it, she was in for quite a different shock.
"Emily!" Rossi exclaimed in surprise. "What's wrong? What happened?"
At the moment the sight of this man just brought even more anger to her and hatred. Quickly, she tried to shut the door on him.
"Emily!" he said in surprise, as he blocked her attempt.
He was too strong so she let go and turned back into her apartment.
"Just go away, Dave. I don't need you right now. Please, just go," she pleaded.
She heard only silence at her pleas and then she felt his hand touch her shoulder. She jerked away abruptly. She turned around.
"Don't touch me," she hissed. "This is all your fault!"
He put up his hands plaintively. "What is? What's happened, Emily? Are you hurt?" he asked concernedly.
Her eyes teared up at his questions. "Am… Am I hurt?" she nodded. "My… my heart it's…" she trailed off. He took a step towards her. "Don't!" she shouted.
She saw the sadness and pity in his eyes. He turned towards the door and she was grateful that he was leaving. Instead, he shut the door with him still on the inside.
"Dave," she pleaded.
He turned around shaking his head. "Something happened, Emily. I'm not going to go, leaving you like this. Now what happened tonight?"
She could see he wasn't going to leave until she gave up something. She walked back to the couch before speaking.
"Derek…" she began, choking on the words. "Derek… broke up with me…"
There was silence at that. She looked over her shoulder; he was still standing by the door staring at her contemplatively.
"It's temporary…" she quickly assured.
"Are you sure?" Rossi asked, walking to the couch.
"Yes," she replied quickly.
He sat down next to her. "Then why are you crying?"
She opened her mouth to speak and then shut it a couple of times. Finally, she found the words she wanted. "It is. Why are you here anyways? This is all your fault, you know. I don't want you here. I don't even like you."
He gave her a patronizing smile. She felt like hitting him. "Emily I'm not the one who broke your heart; Derek did."
"You didn't help," she assured. "And like I said, it is temporary."
"Really?"
"Yes," she said again. "I'll prove it."
She reached for her phone and dialled Derek's number.
"Emily what are you doing?"
"I'm calling him," she answered.
"I don't think that's a good idea." He made to reach for the phone but she pulled away. "Emily," he warned.
"Shh…" she scolded. She heard the click of Derek's phone. "Derek?" she spoke quickly. "Derek, it's me…"
"Emily?" came Derek's sad voice. "Emily, what's—Emily… I can't…"
"Wait!" she shouted. "Don't go. I need you!"
"Emily… I can't," Derek replied. And then he hung up.
She pulled the phone away from her ear and stared at it in shock. "He… he hung up on me…"
Rossi reached for the phone pulling it from her hands. "I know Emily."
"He… didn't even want… to talk," she said, starting to shake.
"I'm sorry Emily," Rossi said sincerely, putting a hand on her shoulder. She had no more energy to fight him.
"I… just wanted to talk. That's all. He… he didn't even want to hear my voice," she choked on a sob. "He doesn't love me anymore."
She broke down into a fit of sobs. And Rossi pulled her into his arms to comfort her.
He had stayed with her the whole night. Just making sure she had anything she needed. She was grateful to him for that.
Strangely—or not—they hadn't talked about that night since. That or Derek. It was like the topic was forbidden. But she always felt it there, lurking whenever she was hanging out with Rossi.
"So, what do you want to do?" Dave asked her. "We could go to that movie Reid was talking about. The guy's are all going. It could be—"
"No," Emily was quick to deny. "No, I don't want to see it."
All her friends would be there, including Derek.
Rossi let out a sigh, stopping them in the middle of the sidewalk. People had to go around them, shooting them glares.
"Emily," Rossi started.
"Let's not talk about this now, Dave," Emily suggested.
"Then when Emily," he replied unhappily. "They're going to find out sometime. I want them to find out, they're our friends. They'd be happy for us."
"Dave," she warned.
"Ok, scratch that, most of them will be happy for us," Rossi said truthfully. "This is about him, isn't it?"
"Dave, please. I don't think I'm ready for anyone to know that we're…that we're…" she faltered with the words.
"We're dating Emily," he said annoyed.
"I know that Dave," she replied, still not saying the words. She grabbed the lapels of his jacket, pulling him closer. "Look, can't it just be enough that we're together right now? That we're having fun spending time together? Please…"
She leaned up and gave him a quick peck. His face softened. "Ok, I understand." She started to pull away but he pulled her back. "But Emily you know I care about you, right?"
She smiled. "I know. And thanks Dave."
"What the heck did you do Derek?"
He let out a heavy sigh as he shut his fridge and turned to face his sister. "Desiree, remind me again why you're here?"
"Someone had to rush over here and knock some sense into you once we heard you broke up with the best thing that ever happened to you," Desiree replied indignantly.
He handed her a bottle of water. "I was hurting her… and she was hurting me…"
"And so you gave up?" Desiree asked incredulously.
He sat down on the stool on the opposite side of the island. "It's not that easy Desiree. Things became complicated."
"That other guy." Desiree nodded. "The one you work with."
"Yeah, that bastard was going after her even while we were together," Derek confirmed.
Desiree leaned across the island and lightly knocked him on the head with the water bottle.
"Oww… Desiree what was that for?" he complained.
"Did Emily have feelings for him?" she asked instead of answering.
"I don't think so," Derek shook his head.
"So you broke up with her because another guy had feelings for her?"
"I told you it was complicated," he said adamantly.
Desiree leaned over again ready to hit him on the head. But he blocked her. "Desiree!"
"Derek, you idiot, do you know what you did?" she asked angrily.
"I think so," he replied annoyed.
"You left her open to that man. She now has no reason to stop resisting him," Desiree replied, mad. "You basically handed Emily to him."
"They're not together," Derek denied.
"Yeah, ok, but guess what, she's not here is she?" she said rhetorically. "Instead you're here sitting at home with your sister."
"What am I supposed to do, Des?" he asked sadly.
"Fix it," Desiree replied. "Or the next person to come down here is mom. And she'll do more than hit you over the head."
"How do I fix it? She won't talk to me. She'll barely look at me anymore," he told her, hurt.
"You hurt her Derek," Desiree agreed. "But she still cares."
"How do you know?"
"She would have moved on by now, if she didn't," Desiree said simply, but logically.
Derek flipped his phone open. Emily was still number one on his speed dial. Maybe his sister was right. Maybe they still had a chance. Maybe he'd fight for her.
Emily's phone rang loudly. She and Rossi had decided to watch a movie at his place. Her phone was set on the coffee table.
"Don't answer it," Rossi suggested.
She reached for it. "I just want to see who it is."
She looked at the bright LCD screen and her mouth dropped open.
"Who is it?" Dave asked curiously.
"Uh…" she looked at him quickly, then at the screen. "Uh… I have to take this… excuse me."
She stood up quickly and made her way to the bathroom. Shutting the door behind her, she flipped it open. "Uh… hi."
"Emily," she heard Derek's relieved voice. "I thought you wouldn't pick up."
Suddenly, she remembered she was still angry at him. "What do you need Morgan?" she said tersely.
"Uh…" he faltered.
"Go on, tell her," Emily heard a woman's voice in the background.
Something squeezed in Emily's chest.
"You've got company. I should let you go," Emily said emotionlessly.
"No wait Emily," he said urgently. "It's just Desiree."
"Oh," Emily answered. The relief she felt was acute. "She's in town?"
"Yeah," he said simply.
There was a moment's silence. She let out a sigh. "What do you want Derek?"
"I… I was wondering," he began. "I was wondering… if you'd like to have lunch with Desiree tomorrow."
"Derek!" she heard Desiree shout.
"Sure," Emily answered, surprised. "I'd like that."
"Ok, good, she'll pick you up from work," Derek planned.
"Derek, do not hang up!" Desiree protested.
"Ok, I look forward to it," she said awkwardly.
"All right, bye," Derek replied.
"Derek, I'm going to kick—" Emily heard, but the line went dead.
She stared at the phone a moment longer. It was one strange conversation. She had been communicating with Derek's sisters through email since her visit at Christmas. But Desiree hadn't mentioned a visit. And Emily knew that if Desiree did visit she'd want to see her. But why did she seem so angry?
She shook her head. Oh well, she guessed she'd find out tomorrow at lunch.
She opened the door and made her way back to the living room. Dave was still watching the movie and didn't look up when she sat back down next to him.
It was a minute after sitting down that he spoke up. "Important phone call?"
She looked at him to gauge his reaction. "Sort of."
He turned to look at her accusingly. "It was Derek wasn't it?"
"Dave," she shook her head. "Don't look at me like that. He was just calling to tell me his sister's in town."
"Funny, she couldn't tell you that herself," he replied.
"I don't know, maybe she forgot my number," she tried to rationalize.
Rossi stood up.
"Dave?"
"Still doesn't change the fact that when you saw it was his number you rushed to get away from me and answer him," Rossi said.
"Dave…" she trailed off as he walked down the hall further into his apartment, away from her. She dropped her head into her hands with a groan. "Man, can anything go right?"
"Ugh!" Emily groaned, putting her head down on her desk. "Work on a Saturday? Is someone trying to kill us?"
"Cheer up hun," Garcia said, patting her head. "At least it's not you the latest unsub is trying to kill."
Emily sat up. "Ha ha, funny."
But Garcia was right, the latest unsub was going after brunette's in D.C. and she was thankful she wasn't one of them, no matter how much her life sucked at the moment.
"Do you want to talk about it?" Garcia said sincerely.
"The case?" Emily asked confused.
"No," Garcia blew out. "The Derek/Emily/Rossi triangle."
Emily's eyes widened. "You know?" Garcia nodded. "Anyone else know?"
"Nope just me," Garcia assured. "And let me tell you we've got to talk about this questionable move you've made. Leaving a stud like Derek for Rossi—granted he is hot in his own way—has me baffled."
Emily's face fell. "Let me tell you, it wasn't all my choice."
Garcia was going to say more when a sad looking JJ entered the bull pen.
"Another long face," Garcia said instead, shaking her head.
JJ was about to walk straight for her office when Emily stopped her. "JJ, are you ok?"
JJ looked up startled. She changed her path and made her way towards them. "I don't know. Last night… my mom talked to Hailey."
"Your mom talked to Hailey?" Garcia scoffed.
Well it was good to know that she wasn't the only one having the weird night last night.
"Yeah, I know," JJ said to her best friends.
"And how'd that go?" Emily asked.
"Well, I didn't hear Hailey's half of the conversation," JJ started. "But from what I heard from my mom she was having a great time talking to her. At one point I think they were exchanging recipes."
Emily and Garcia shared a look.
"Weird," Garcia murmured.
"I know, right," JJ said in agreement. "And then she talked to Hotch."
Emily winced, imagining that conversation. "Is he ok?"
"Perfect. She was fine with the idea of Jack staying longer. My mom, Henry, and Jack are all out together as we speak."
One big happy family, Emily suddenly longed for that.
"So, it's just you that she can't stand then," Garcia said bluntly.
JJ nodded. "Guess so. Which is weird we used to get along, before—"
"Before you stole her man away," Garcia finished.
"Garcia!" Emily exclaimed, wondering what had gotten into her friend.
"But I didn't… I didn't do anything," JJ stuttered. "I… I had Will. I would have never…"
"Relax JJ," Garcia quickly replied, Emily sent her friend a glare. "I didn't mean you did. But that's how she sees it. Now that you and Hotch are together, Hailey can't help but wonder if anything ever happened between you two, way before, like out on cases and stuff."
It made sense, but Garcia didn't have to put it to words.
"But that's just crazy… we never… we never even had time for that kind of thing. We were working," JJ said incredulously.
"I didn't say it was rational."
"Wow," JJ said.
"What?" Emily asked worriedly.
"She thinks I was the other woman," JJ said slowly.
"JJ who cares what she thinks. You two know you weren't," Garcia assured.
"Besides," Emily added. "What matters now is that you are the only woman."
JJ nodded.
"Look, we've got to get this case started," JJ said. "But thanks for listening guys."
Oh man, this was awkward, Derek thought as he climbed into the driver's seat of the SUV.
He glanced over at the woman sitting next to him. She was already seated and was already fixated on staring out the window.
Derek suddenly wondered why Hotch had decided to pair the two of them on victimology. Since Hotch had kept them apart sine their break-up, why now did he want them to work together?
He wasn't going to get answers from Emily, not like this. Desiree was right, he needed to fix things. At least so they could go back to talking—getting back together was a long shot.
He let out a sigh and turned on the car. "Guess we should get back. Desiree's probably waiting for you at the BAU."
"Yeah," Emily agreed.
He started to drive away. "Emily…" he began.
She didn't answer, but she didn't tell him to shut up either.
"About last night," he continued. "I wasn't actually only calling about Desiree."
She looked at him then, her face a mask with no emotions. "Oh?" she wondered.
"I… um… I wanted to talk," he paused. "About um… us."
He turned to look at her again, the mask was still there, but there was a flicker of something in her eyes before they hardened, something that gave him hope.
"Figured everything out yet?" she asked coldly, before turning to look out the window.
Derek nodded. "Ok, I deserved that. Emily, I'm sorry. I just wanted the hurting to stop," he explained. "But… it didn't."
He'd caught her attention again. "It didn't?"
He shook his head. "This past month, Emily, has been hell for me."
"Me too," she whispered.
Her barely there admission was all he needed. "Emily, I'm so sorry. I was a huge idiot. I still care about you. I still l—"
"Derek, wait," she cut him off. "You did hurt me. And this past month without you has been hard. But I need time. I can't just jump back into things with you. I… I don't know if things can go back to the way they used to be."
That was fair, though the thought of not being with her ever again nearly killed him.
"Ok, I understand," he assured her. "I can give you that. I just hope you know that I do care about you. And that I will never ever give up on you again."
Her face softened at that. "Thanks for letting me know Derek," she responded. "I… um… still—"
Derek felt that she was about to say something important when Emily's phone rang.
"Hello?" Emily answered. He watched her smile as she listened in on the other end. "Yeah we're almost there."
She turned to look at Derek. "Your sister," she quickly told him.
"Oh, tell her to hold her horses," Derek informed.
Emily relayed the message. "She says to get some new sayings; they're showing your age."
"Wait until I get there," Derek joked.
Emily laughed. It was nice to hear and Derek was suddenly very grateful for his sister's visit.
"Wow, my brother is an idiot," Desiree confirmed after listening to Emily tell the whole story.
Emily nodded. "I couldn't believe it when it happened, but now…"
"Now you've accepted it," Desiree finished.
The word accepted made Emily uneasy. She shook her head. "No, I still wish things were different, but what can I do?"
"Derek wants things to change," Desiree offered.
"I know," Emily answered. "He told me before I came to meet you at the BAU."
"Oh thank God. I thought I was going to have to call my mom," Desiree said relieved. "And she would definitely kick his butt."
Emily laughed.
"So, what did you have to say?" Desiree asked.
Emily let out a sigh. "That I needed time. That I wasn't sure if I could go back to all that."
"But…"
"But…" Emily hesitated. "What I really wanted to say was that I'd take him back in a second."
Desiree nodded knowingly. "You don't want to seem like a pushover, right?"
"That, and…"
Emily winced when realization hit Desiree's face.
"Oh no, no don't tell me," Desiree stated. "You're with that guy. Emily, how could you?"
"No it's not like that. With is a strong word, we've only went out a couple of times," Emily defended.
"Still does Derek know?" She shook her head. "Of course not, he wouldn't be trying to get you back if he did."
"No one knows except you and Garcia," Emily offered. "He was there for me after Derek broke up with me."
"Still, Emily…" Desiree said unsurely. "I'm not sure Derek would be able to forgive you if he found out. What are you going to do?"
"I'm not sure," she admitted. "Why can't anything ever be easy?"
"I can't answer that," Desiree replied. "But what I can say is that Derek has never loved anyone as much as he loves you."
Emily nodded solemnly. "I love him too."
"I won't tell him. You're my friend and I know you'll do whatever you think is best," Desiree assured.
"Thanks," Emily said gratefully. "So, come on, enough about me, tell me what's up with—"
And just then her cell phone rang. She glanced at the ID and winced. "I'm sorry Desiree; I've got to take this. Work."
Desiree nodded for her to go on.
"Hotch, what's up?" she answered.
Her boss went on to tell her that they had a lead on the case and he needed her to check it out. That Reid and Morgan would meet her there too. She said she'd go and hung up.
"Duty calls?" Desiree asked.
"Yeah, I'm so sorry. You come into town, all we do is talk about me and now I've got to go."
Desiree smiled. "I'm used to it with Derek."
"You sticking around for a bit?" she asked as she stood up.
"Yeah, a couple of days," she replied. "Call me later."
Emily nodded and was off.
Emily knew she probably should wait for Derek and Reid, but Hotch had only said it was a lead, not the actual unsub's place. Still to be safe she did have her FBI vest on.
She approached the front door of the house and knocked tentatively on it. It swung on its hinges at the force of her knock. This wasn't good. The house belonged to Joan Horton, a brunette. Hotch and the team felt she may have come in contact with the unsub in the past, if not recently.
"Ms. Horton!" Emily asked. "If your inside or hurt let me know."
Emily heard nothing. She pulled her gun out of its holster and pushed open the door. Slowly, she made her way inside shouting her FBI status as she went through.
Clearing the first floor she made her way upstairs. Her first stop was where she found the body. Hanging limp over the side of a bathtub was, she assumed, Joan Horton.
Getting closer Emily could see that Ms. Horton's head was floating in the water. On the woman's neck were bruises from where the unsub had held her down. Things were tossed around. Joan Horton didn't go without a fight.
Emily was saddened by the fact that she'd been too late. But now she had to do her job and get this guy.
She turned back to the body ready to profile the scene when she heard a creak come from inside the house.
Holding out her gun in front of her she stepped into the doorway of the bathroom. She looked left and right. There were bedrooms on both sides. She chose left. Slowly, she made her way down the hall; she tentatively opened the first door on her right. No one was in there. The next door was at the very end of the hall. Again she approached it, and nothing.
She was ready to turn back around and check the right side of the hall way, when she heard the creak again. This time it came form right behind her. She spun around quickly only to have some object come smashing down on the side of her head. Her gun dropped from her hand as she crumpled to her knees. Her hands went first to grasp her head and then quickly out to protect herself as her attacker gave her a swift kick to the stomach.
She hurt, hurt real bad. She fell to her side on the floor. She knew if she didn't put the pain aside that if she didn't think fast she'd be in serious trouble.
The man grabbed at her ankle and started to drag her. Realizing he had the same fate in mind as he had for Joan Horton she kicked at him to no avail. Then it her, Derek was on the way. She reached into her pocket and hit number one on her speed dial.
"Let go of me!" she yelled. "Let go!"
She continued to yell, hoping Derek would get there in time.
"Why does Hotch think this woman may be a lead?" Morgan asked.
He'd been out investigating a tip when the team came up with the idea that Joan Horton knew the unsub.
"The woman heard the description JJ gave on the news. She thought it sounded identical to an ex-boyfriend she'd had a restraining order put on. We checked it; Craig Foreman has one long disturbed history.
"We think all these women are all substitutes for Joan. She's the one he's really after," Reid finished.
"If that's the case we need to get there and fast," Derek said concernedly.
"Uh… Hotch called Emily too. Turns out she's closer than us," Reid offered.
"What!" Derek exclaimed. "Is he crazy? He sent Emily alone. Emily, a brunette? Exactly who this guy is killing," Derek fumed. His foot hit the gas pedal harder.
"Whoa Derek, Emily knows she needs to wait for us," Reid said reasonably. "She'll be fine. Besides she's a trained agent."
Reid's words didn't exactly comfort him. He had a bad feeling in the pit of his stomach and he didn't let up on the speed.
His phone suddenly rang and he pulled it out of his pocket. A quick glance revealed it was Emily. But the relief he felt was quickly replaced by an intense fear.
"Emily, thank God—"
"Let go of me," he heard Emily shout. "Let go!"
His stomach dropped. She was being attacked by the unsub.
"Emily!" he yelled. "Emily we're on our way."
"Derek what is it?" Reid asked urgently.
"It's Emily, I think the unsub's got her," Derek said fearfully.
"No," she shouted. "Derek, please hurry, please—"
He heard her phone click off. "Damn it!" he yelled. He must have found her phone. He was going to kill the guy once he found him.
"What happened? What's going on?" Reid questioned.
"We need to be there, now."
Emily awoke later, feeling groggy. Her mind was still foggy and for a second she had no idea where she was. But then she heard a sound that clued her in, the beeps of machines. She was in the hospital.
And then the events of the past day flashed into her mind. Her talk with Derek, lunch with Desiree. Finding Joan Horton dead and almost becoming a victim herself.
After dialling Derek's number the unsub dragged her towards the bathroom. She knew he had the same fate planned for her as he did Joan. She remembered praying to God that help would arrive, that Derek would save her. And then he had shoved her under.
The next thing she remembered was coughing up water while Derek hovered over her. He had given her CPR. He had saved her life. He had pulled her into his arms where she assumed she passed out because she couldn't remember anything after that.
"Hey there, sleepyhead," she heard from her right.
She turned and found her hero sitting in a chair smiling at her, looking relieved.
"Derek," she said, surprised by how hoarse her voice sounded.
"Don't talk," he told her. "The doctors said your throat would be sore for a bit."
She ignored his advice. "Thank you Derek," she murmured. She reached a hand out to touch his cheek, a smile on her face, when the sound of throat clearing came from her left.
She turned and found Rossi sitting in a chair. "Dave," she said in surprise.
"Emily, I am so sorry I wasn't there for you. I'm so sorry you got hurt. I can't believe I almost lost you," Rossi said, clearly distraught.
Emily was about to respond, to let him know it wasn't his fault, but Derek spoke first.
"I was there," Derek informed. "I got there just in time."
She looked to both men as they glared daggers at each other. She wanted to say something to alleviate the tension but she didn't know what.
Luckily she didn't have to.
"Hey, you're awake!" Garcia exclaimed from the doorway. "She's awake," she called out to someone outside.
Her room was suddenly full to the brim with people as Garcia was followed by JJ, Reid, Desiree, and a more pensive looking than usual Hotch.
He approached her immediately. "I'm sorry Emily. I shouldn't have sent you alone."
Emily shook her head. "You couldn't have known. It wasn't your fault Hotch."
He nodded solemnly and stood by JJ taking her hand.
She was tired, but she had to deal with the group of well wishers before she could go back to sleep.
"How's Emily doing?" Desiree asked over the phone. She'd had to go back home for work.
"Uh… good," Derek answered. "She gets to go home today."
"And your not there for her?" Desiree scolded.
"Come on Des, she has someone there for her," Derek replied, letting out a sad sigh. "Were you going to tell me she's with Rossi?"
"Derek, don't be like that," Desiree protested. "You gave up on her once, that's how she ended up with Rossi in the first place. Don't give up on her again. Fight for her. She wants you too."
"She does?" he asked sceptically.
"Yes, she does. I know you're the baby of the family, but can you stop acting like one please?" Desiree pleaded.
"I don't know…" he hesitated.
"Listen to me Derek, go over there right now," Desiree implored. "Trust me; this is the first step in getting her back."
"Second," Derek corrected absently.
"What?"
"Second step. First step was making sure she was alive for me to take the second step," he explained.
"Why are you still talking to me, being a smart Alec? Go and put your energy into getting back your soul mate!" Desiree said dramatically.
"Ok, ok, I'm going," Derek relented, smiling. "Thanks Des, for everything."
"What are big sisters for?" she asked. He was about to answer when she cut him off. "Wait. Don't answer that."
Emily packed the few belongings she had with her in the overnight bag Garcia and JJ had thought to bring her. She was glad to be getting out of the hospital. She hated them. But she was thankful that her stay was relatively short, only a week. Doctors said she was fine, but for a few bruises and a bruised trachea and larynx. They advised her to not talk a lot for the next week or so, which was fine by her. Talking was not something she really wanted to do with anyone, especially, those closest to her, namely Rossi and Derek.
After waking up at the hospital with both men at her side she was pretty sure her relationship status was out of the bag. Something squeezed in her chest at the thought of Derek knowing she was with Rossi.
After all her protests and denials that she didn't want Rossi she got with him the minute she was free. What was she doing? she asked herself.
But that wasn't fair. Derek had hurt her. It was only human to seek comfort from someone who cared, someone who actually wanted you. But even though she knew she was doing what was safe for her, she remembered the look in Derek's eyes as he had left her room that first night in the hospital and Rossi had stayed. It was hurt and maybe betrayal.
She knew what was squeezing in her chest. It was her heart.
There was a knock and an utterance of her name that had her whirling around in surprise.
"I'm sorry I didn't mean to scare you."
She stared openly. "Derek, what are you doing here?"
He looked sheepish as he tried to smile, but it faded away quickly. "I heard you were getting out today. I didn't want you to be alone, but now that I think about it, Rossi's probably picking you up. I should go—"
"No!" she exclaimed abruptly.
He gave her a strange look that had her blushing at her outburst.
"I mean, no he's not. Da—Rossi's got this book signing he couldn't get out of. Garcia's supposed to be driving me home."
"Oh," he said, looking at her blankly. "Well… I guess I could wait with you until she gets here. If that's ok with you?"
She smiled at him, a first the past month. "I'd like that, thanks."
He nodded and came to stand next to her by the hospital bed. "Need any help?"
"Nope. I'm all done. Not much to pack," she replied.
They were silent for a second each not sure what to say next.
"How are you feeling?" Derek asked her.
She gave him another smile. "I'm great, thanks to you."
If it wasn't her imagination, she saw his cheeks darken a bit. It put warmth inside her.
"I'm glad," he said simply.
They stood in silence once again, until Derek broke it again, turning to face her.
"Emily," he began. "I am so sorry for everything you've gone through. If I could turn back time I would fix things in a second. I would make everything right."
She had more than a feeling that he wasn't just talking about the attack on her by the unsub. But she needed him to elaborate. She couldn't risk her heart again, at least, not on a mere feeling. She needed more.
"Derek, there's nothing to be sorry for. It was my fault for not waiting for backup. I slipped up. It was my overconfidence that got met hurt," she said instead.
"Wha—No Emily, I'm not talk—" Derek started frustrated.
"How's my lovely girl doing?" Garcia burst into the room. Her cheerful smile faded when her eyes fell on the tense looking pair. "Whoa... am I interrupting something?"
Emily looked at Derek, who after briefly looking at Garcia had fixed his eyes on her. The intensity of his look answered Garcia's question for Emily. She had totally interrupted something.
"Uh… yoo hoo, guys?" Garcia continued.
"Uh… yeah Penelope…" Derek answered, snapping his gaze from Emily's. "I was just leaving," but he turned to look back at her. "But, Emily is there anyway we can talk, sooner rather than later?"
She nodded dumbly and then found her voice again. "Uh yeah… I'll um… call you tonight?"
"Sure," he confirmed.
And then with a quick bye to Garcia he was gone. She stared at the door as it swung closed after him.
A touch on her arm brought her out of her daze and she turned to her right to see Garcia looking at her concernedly.
"Are you all right?" she asked worriedly.
Emily thought about the question for a good minute. How did she feel after seeing him? After realizing he had come here to make things right between them? After he possibly tried to confess his feelings for her?
"I feel…" she began, smiling. "Good."
"I'm so sorry I wasn't there for you today," Rossi said to her remorsefully.
Emily smiled. "Hey, I said it was ok. It's not like I'm really hurt or anything," she scoffed.
When he didn't reply right away she looked up from her Chinese food to see him looking at her unhappily.
"Emily, you could have died," Rossi reminded her.
She nodded, looking solemn. "I know, but I didn't."
"Yeah, thanks to him," Rossi murmured, but Emily caught it.
She chose to ignore the comment. They hadn't got to the conversation about why it was Derek she had phoned and not him. And she didn't feel like going into that.
"Thanks for the Chinese food," she said instead.
"It was the least I could do," he told her.
They sat in silence again. It seemed like everyone wanted to give her throat a rest.
She watched as he continued to eat in silence.
"So…" she began. "How was the book signing?"
He looked up and smiled. "There were no crazy fans, if you're asking. I think it's pretty clear to them who my heart belongs to now."
Emily blushed; remembering he had dedicated the book to her, his number one fan.
"So, it went… good, I take it," she finished.
He nodded again. And then that same palpable silence overtook the room again. It frustrated her. She didn't want it to be silent; silence left her to her thoughts and she didn't want to go there right now.
Her frustration was the reason why she blurted out what she did next.
"Derek, can we just—" she cut herself off by putting her hand over her mouth.
Rossi looked up at her and stared, not saying anything.
"I'm sorry," she quickly said. "Dave, I don't know why—I didn't mean to—"
His sigh stopped her stuttering. He wiped his hands on his napkin, getting up, and turning towards the door.
She got up following, alarmed by his actions. "Dave what are you doing? Where are you going? I said, I didn't mean to call you—"
"Derek," he finished for her. "I know. But you did and that tells me something."
She shook her head. "It means nothing. I saw him today; I guess he was just on my mind."
That was an understatement.
"He's been on you mind for awhile, hasn't he?" he asked. But he didn't let her answer. "I'd say since before the attack, at least. Actually, he probably hasn't been off your mind the whole time we were together."
"That's not fair," she said stung by his accusations.
"Emily, don't worry, I'm not mad. I knew what I was getting into when I pursued you. I took this chance," he said, taking the blame. "I'm just sad that we couldn't make this work."
She stepped towards him. "Dave all I did was say his name. Are you… are you breaking up with me over a silly mistake?"
He shook his head. "No, I'm breaking up with you because I care about you, love you actually."
She gave him a confused look. "I—"
"I'm breaking up with you before I get even more invested in this. I'm avoiding the pain later on when you leave me for Derek," Rossi explained.
"Dave…" she tried again, faltering. She stared as he put on his jacket.
He gave her a sad smile. "I understand Emily. You never did stop loving him."
He turned to open the door, ready to leave her. He was in the doorway, one foot out, when he turned back around, approaching her. He put his hands on her forearms and leaned into her. She closed her eyes, feeling his lips against her cheek.
What else could she say to him?
"I'm sorry," she whispered.
Not much, because he was right about everything.
Derek waited impatiently for the phone to ring. She said she'd phone him. It was already ten pm. It was getting late. Why hadn't she phoned? Maybe, he thought, she didn't want to hear what he had to say.
He'd been playing out how the conversation would go over and over in his head since he'd left the hospital. He'd been rehearsing exactly what he wanted to say.
But in the end, he threw away the long speeches he was going to make, because he knew exactly what he wanted to say.
'I love you,' he thought, plain and simple.
Now all he needed was to hear her voice.
There was a knock at his door and he considered not answering it. But, he could send whoever it was away once he found out who it was.
He walked to the door and opened it without looking outside first.
"Emily!" he exclaimed in surprise.
She pushed past him and walked quickly into his apartment. He swung the door shut and turned to watch her pace feverishly in his living room.
"Emily, I thought you were going to call me?" he asked. "I thought we were going to talk over the phone?"
He joined her in the living room. She stopped pacing and faced him. The look in her eyes both scared him and delighted him.
"Emily?"
Suddenly, her arms were around him and her lips were crashing down over his. She was kissing him. It only took him a second for him to respond, throwing his arms around her, matching her urgency.
But, a minute later, he had to pull back. Too many questions were blazing through his mind.
"Emily," he said wrenching his lips from hers. It wasn't easy, she went on kissing him. He let her for another moment until he had to get some answers.
He put both his hands on her shoulders and held her at arms length.
"Emily wait, we need to talk," he protested.
Emily shook her head. "Can we not? I don't feel like talking. Besides, I'm not supposed to talk much."
She reached for him again, but he held her back. "Emily, what happened? Rossi—"
"Derek!" she cut him off. "Please, let's not talk right now. All you need to know is that I'm here now and that I still love you. And I was hoping you still loved me."
She stared at him, waiting for his answer. She still loved him, wanted him. After he hurt her, she still wanted him. It amazed him. He didn't know what happened with Rossi. But he wasn't going to mess it up, not again.
"I love you," he said plain and simple.
And then he let go of her shoulders and they came together, arms wrapping around each other, lips fusing, coming together.
Well that's it for now. The longest chapter I've ever written. I hope it was enjoyable. It was probably less angsty then the last chapter, but still full of the drama I love.
Hope you all enjoyed. Told you it had a good ending.
Just wanted to thank everyone who reviewed: star jelly (thanks! I'm really all about the drama. :) ); kwy 0202; mishma (Sorry for the evil ending last chapter. Hope this made up for it); ArwenLalaith (Does this chapter make you think of a song?); and Caramel . Tart (That was one of my most favourite moments to write, glad you enjoyed it.).
Next chapter will be up soon.
Leave me a review and let me know what you think!
Thanks!