A/N: Well, this is it friends. We've come to the end of our journey. I can't thank you all enough for the incredible response to this story. You truly make me smile! I hope this ending does the story justice. Thank you all again! Enjoy!
BRING OUR GIRL HOME
Chapter 11 - Closure
He waited next to Hotch's office door until he finished his phone call before knocking. "You got a second?"
"What's up?"
"Listen, um… about before…"
"Morgan…"
"No, let me get this out." Hotch nodded so Morgan could continue. "About what you said in the conference room earlier, you don't have to do that. We are a team, regardless of our personal feelings. The only way we truly function is all together."
He sighed and rubbed his head. "I let my anger get the better of me yesterday. I know better than that. It's just… you caught me so off guard, man. I didn't take the time to process what was really going on. I guess deep down, I didn't want to process it. All I could see was that you lied to us. Despite knowing that you would only do that for a very good reason, my head and my heart refused to see it that way. For what it's worth, I'm sorry I hit you."
"You don't have to apologize, Morgan. I deserved it."
Morgan weighed that statement for a moment before raising his eyebrows and grinning. "Yeah, you did."
That got a momentary chuckle out of Hotch. But Morgan turned serious again.
"Hotch, there's a good reason why you're a Unit Chief and I'm not. I never could have made that decision. And when our backs are against the wall, we need somebody who can. There's a reason we all trust you with our lives. You proved that by protecting Emily's despite the personal consequences. We were all hurt, and it's going to take some time to process all this, but I think we all understand now. Seeing her here just proves how much we need our family – our whole family."
"So," Hotch asked tentatively, "does this mean we're okay?"
"We will be. With time." Morgan held out his hand, which Hotch accepted and shook gratefully.
"And you're not gonna hit me anymore? 'Cause that really hurt."
Morgan couldn't hold back his laugh. "Nah, your nose is safe, for now."
"Good," Hotch breathed a sigh of relief and clapped Morgan on the shoulder. "Let's eat."
THE END