A/N: First thank you for the reviews I appreciate the time you take to send a few words my way. Second I just wanted to apologize to the reviewer who was not happy about Garcia's description of Beth. No she probably wouldn't call someone she doesn't know a 'bimbo' on the show but for what she was doing in this story, calling Hotch out on the crap he put Emily through, I think it was okay. She was just making a point but anyways sorry you weren't happy about that. I'm a die-hard Hotly fan and I tend to hate on Beth quite a bit, just FYI. Now on to Garcia and Hotch's plans!
Disclaimer: I own nothing!
Chapter Twelve: Phase 1
Early February 2013 (Present Time)
Hotch paced the floor of his office for the umpteenth time then stopped. Turning to the blonde tech he asked "What do I say to her?" his face was soft and his eyes pleading. It had been a week since he asked the blonde for help winning over Emily but every time Garcia gave him a goal he chickened out. Not little chicken outs big ones, like standing in front of the brunette with his mouth open and no words coming out. Embarrassed was an understatement but Garcia kept on him. And his goal now was just to talk to Emily. Just for him to open his mouth and for words to come out.
Garcia smiled sadly at the man in front of her. "Anything. Just start talking to her. This process is going to be slow especially since you're barely on speaking terms" his huff interrupted her but she continued on "and your recent attempts at talking to her but you just need to go back to the beginning."
"The beginning of what?" he asked confusion taking over again.
Rolling her eyes Garcia stood up from her perch in Hotch's chair and went to the window looking out over the bull pen where Emily sat with her face buried in mountains of paperwork. "You need to get her to trust you again, confide in you, not only as her boss or lover but as her friend. Let's face it our Gumdrop doesn't trust easily nor does she forgive easily but you, sir, broke that trust she once had in you. Fix it. Just start talking and let her get use to you again." She said opening the door and taking her leave. Sure she would help him but she wasn't going to hold his hand through it.
Hotch watched her go then turned to the window. "Trust" he whispered giving himself a small pep talk. "Just talk to her."
-CM-CM-
Emily closed the file she was working on and with a groan flipped the next one open. With Reid and Rossi at a conference in Boston the rest of the team was left to pick up on their regular consults and Emily for one was not too happy about it. Even with help from Morgan and JJ she hated doing it. She would much rather be on a plane to anywhere to catch a 'bad guy'. She would take a serial killer over the paperwork any day.
She lived for that rush though. The adrenaline that took over her body when they were this close to catching the bad guy was her drug, her addiction. It empowered her. It probably did the same to everyone on the team. But she hadn't felt that in so long. Hotch and Strauss finally made her give up on the traveling with the team now that she was further along in her pregnancy. She still got to work the cases but from her desk or Garcia's lair. Emily knew Garcia loved having her here but the brunette dearly missed being in the action. But being a mother was more than the job could ever be so she kept the complaining to a minimum.
Looking up Emily's instincts were buzzing. Eyes were on her. It wasn't the creepy stalker eyes but someone was staring at her. Her eyes darted around the office then up to connect with the dark orbs of Hotch. Bingo! She half heartedly smiled at him then turned back to her work. More often than not when she got that sinking feeling of someone staring at her it was him.
Over the past few weeks after their talk she noticed him doing it more often. It didn't bother her much because he did it more when they were together. It was oddly comforting… in a weird way.
March 2012 (Flashback)
Emily smiled as she looked up to Hotch's office window. From her seat she could tell his eyes were darker than normal and they burned her's when they connected. As his dimples poked out she felt her body react. Those dimples and eyes got her every time. Her core tightened and her heart beat rapidly sped up.
Throwing her pen down and looking around the room to make sure no one would notice she took to the stairs and quietly went into his office. Stopping short by the look on his face her breath caught in her throat.
"Hey" his low husky voice washed over her. Her legs seemed to melt on scene and she couldn't tell if she was even standing anymore. "Close the door." He stated his eyes not leaving hers.
Coming back to herself she walked backwards letting her back rest against the now closed door. "You were doing it again." she finally found her voice. Her eyes also darkening in want and desire.
"Can't help it." He shrugged stalking towards her. "I can't keep my eyes off you."
As soon as his hands found her waist she reacted. Hands wrapped around his neck she quickly covered his lips with her own. Feeling his tongue running against her bottom lip she happily let him in with a deep moan from the back of her throat.
Soon their kiss went from passionate to hot and heavy and hands groped unbuttoning shirts and raising skirts. Needing air Emily pulled back and rested her forehead on his. "We have to stop before…"
"I know." he sighed. "You have to stop wearing red to work."
Emily chuckled looking down at the red blouse hanging off of her. "I like wearing red." She teased.
"I like it too but if you want to remain professional in the office I suggest you only wear it at home." he said taking in the damage his hands had done. "Sorry" he apologized trying to button her top back up but finding some of the buttons were missing.
"Don't worry about it." Emily kissed his cheek softly. "Just promise there's more when we get home."
Early February 2013 (Present Time)
"Emily?" Hotch waved his hand in front of Emily's face for the second time. After catching him staring he decided to come down to talk to her but she was lost in dreamland or something.
Shaking her head Emily's eyes snapped to the man next to her "What?"
"Are you okay?" he asked concern dripping from his words.
"Uhh… yeah. Yeah, I'm fine. Do you need something?" she asked slightly embarrassed. She took to moving around her paperwork even though she knew she would have to put it back after he left but she couldn't look at him, especially after having a day dream about him. Stupid hormones!
"No… yes. I mean no, I don't need anything but I was uh… hoping maybe you would like to come to dinner tomorrow at my house… I uh… Jack misses you and wanted me to ask." He spit out so fast he wasn't sure she even heard him. After opening his mouth he didn't know what to say. Jack just seemed like a good buffer. Garcia was going to kill him. The goal was to talk to her not have her come to your house moron!
"I'm not sure. I miss Jack too but I'm not sure about us spending time together outside the office is a good idea." She said finally meeting his gaze. "You were…" she motioned to his window.
"Doing it again? Yeah I know, sorry." His cheeks reddened slightly. He knew she caught him but honestly he couldn't help it. Even if he isn't looking out the window for her his gaze always made it that way. He couldn't control it.
Sighing softly Emily nodded. "I'm sorry too." She stood up and turned to him. "Can I take Jack on Saturday?" she asked. "Take him to the park or something?"
Hotch nodded slowly. "Yeah, I'll tell him." about to walk away with his tail between his legs he grabbed her arm and let his confidence take over. "I can't help it when you're wearing red." He whispered in her ear then he walked over to Morgan's desk to get the agent's finished files.
Emily felt her legs melt again and sat down in her chair before she ended up falling on the floor. Her mind was buzzing and her heart was racing as she looked at his retreating back. It shouldn't surprise her when she felt like this around him because she often did but every time it took her a minute to get over it. Shaking her head to get the thoughts of him out she went back to work.
"What was that about?" Garcia asked Emily after witnessing the exchange between her best friend and her partner in crime.
"Oh, nothing. Jack misses me and wants to see me." Emily replied keeping her head in the file.
"Oh okay. Here is another case." She said handing over a file then turned in her pink heels and got her target in sight. Garcia walked up behind Hotch and tapped his shoulder.
"Yes?" he turned. His face drained at the stare he got from the blonde.
"Jack?" she asked suppressing her urge to roll her eyes.
"But I did talk." Hotch defended himself. Al least he was able to make words this time.
"Whatever. Let's just move on to phase 2." She took off to her lair.
