Disclaimer: I own nothing, except my own creations.
Aaron Hotchner looked up from his desk when a knock sounded on his door. Silhouetted against the dim light of the bullpen, Derek Morgan stood in the doorway. 'I'm off Hotch,' he said, straight to the point.
Hotch nodded his head. 'Thanks for the reports again today Derek,' said the boss, nodding to the stack on his right.
'Don't mention it,' replied Morgan, shrugging off the gratitude. 'You're here late.'
'Just finished up something,' Hotch responded, his expression giving nothing away. When his boss was not forthcoming with more information, Morgan nodded. 'Night Hotch.'
'Good night Morgan.'
'Good night to you too Jack,' added the dark skinned man with a smile, his first since his arrival.
The little boy in Hotch's lap looked up from his colouring in with a wide smile on his face. His fingers held several crayons as he waved. 'Good night Mr Morgan!'
After Morgan left, Hotch pressed a kiss to his son's head and complimented his artistic work. His heart wasn't in it though, his mind on a meeting two floors up.
Emily Prentiss sat opposite Erin Strauss. Dressed in pressed black pants, shirt and jacket, she drew confidence from her professional appearance.
'So Agent Prentiss,' began Strauss, leaning forward on her desk, hands clasped together. 'I understand that you have something to tell me?'
Emily opened her mouth to reply, and then shut it again when the office phone rang.
The Section Chief ignored it and gestured for her to continue. 'Thank you for this meeting,' said Emily formally. 'I need to advise you that I am pregnant.' She squeezed her hands together. 'Almost four months along.'
'I see,' said Strauss. 'Well, this is unexpected. I trust that you want to remain with the team until your maternity leave?'
'About that...' She trailed off as Strauss' assistant opened the office door. He gestured 'phone' in the most urgent tone that he could, whilst still maintaining his composure. Strauss smiled thinly, dismissing him as she reached for her handset.
From her position opposite the desk, Emily could just hear the conversation. 'Is this Federal Bureau of Investigation Section Chief Director Erin Strauss?'
'Yes it is,' confirmed the blonde haired woman, sitting up taller, preening at the recognisance of her status. 'May I ask who is calling?'
'Please hold for a call from the Ambassador.'
Emily's breath caught in her throat. Oh no...
'This is Ambassador Prentiss,' came the crisp voice clearly used to authority. 'Put me on the speaker phone.'
Oh yes...
As Strauss automatically did the bidding, Emily wasn't entirely sure how she felt as the familiar voice filtered over the line.
'Hello Mother.'
Hotch hadn't expected the meeting to go brilliantly, but the exasperated look on Emily's face when she stepped into his office was not expected either.
Emily greeted Jack where he was sprawled on the carpet in front of his father's desk, playing with cars – intent on smashing one into the other – before stepping over the little boy and heading for the big one who was easing his chair back.
She straddled his lap without a word. Surprised at her forwardness, Hotch nevertheless declined from mentioning it as he rested his hands on her thighs. 'So?'
'Apparently our child is a matter of national security,' she said harshly.
'I'm sorry?' said Hotch, confused.
'This child of ours is a matter of national security,' repeated Emily. 'My mother advised Strauss in no uncertain terms that it was a matter of national security that I not be subject to any form of discipline. Apparently it is not in this great country's interest that the reputation of the daughter of the Ambassador about to be assigned to the EU be smeared.' Emily laughed shortly, still unable to believe it herself. 'My mother had to call, like I was some helpless case and claim national security?' she said in disbelief.
'Em,' ventured Hotch when the brunette finished venting. 'Do you think that maybe your mother is trying to protect you?' he reasoned.
'No,' she replied succinctly and Hotch saw a flash of Emily Prentiss as a rebellious teenager. It's amazing what effect parents had on their children. 'It reminds me of all the times when I was a teenager and she came by to make it all disappear. God forbid if I should damage her "ambassador-brand".'
Hotch was ready to speak, but Emily beat him to it, sighing as she accepted defeat. 'I know that I should actually be thankful, but I wanted to face this on my own. I didn't need her help,' she added, more to herself.
Hotch watched her face before he posed his question. 'How did Strauss take it?'
'She wasn't too impressed with being told what to do – or what not to do rather,' she admitted with a shrug of her shoulders. Her eyes met his as she remembered. 'And by the way, paternity's known too.'
'It is?' he asked in surprise, though it made sense. Why else would Ambassador Prentiss feel the need to step in?
Emily nodded in confirmation. 'My mother-' the anger was still there, but not as pronounced '-made sure of that. It wouldn't do to have the father of her grandchild anything less than stellar. What are they doing?' she muttered. 'Collecting evidence of any and all transgressions before she leaves the States?'
Hotch let that one go. 'And Strauss was okay with that?'
Emily nodded her head. 'She had to be.'
Hotch contemplated this in silence. The only sound that could be heard was Jack's soft beep-ing and honk-ing as plastic met plastic.
It was Emily who spoke next. 'Strauss didn't go down without a fight though,' she elaborated and he felt her tense. 'She took great delight in declaring that I should let you know that with budget cuts and the like, to not expect any replacement for me.'
'Right.'
Leaning back, Hotch rested his chin on one hand. As the stressful implications of this hit him, it then occurred to him that he didn't know what all this meant future-wise for Emily. 'If you're not – if we're not – facing any disciplinary charges, and you're no longer on the team, where are you going?'
'Teaching,' she replied, releasing a quick whoosh of breath. 'My skills will now be put to use teaching the profilers coming up in the ranks.'
'You'll be a good one,' Hotch replied sincerely.
'Thanks,' she said, uncertain. 'I don't know.'
Seeing her becoming teary, he grew concerned. 'Are you okay?'
'No, I'm not,' she snapped, before she took a deep breath to calm herself. 'I am never this emotional,' she grouched grumpily. 'I should be seeing this as a new career move – not a loss.'
'Mm,' responded Hotch neutrally. This was a minefield, and he had a suspicion that if he wanted to retain his ability to produce more offspring, he should keep his trap shut for the next few moments.
'It's just that I'm going to miss working on the team with you all,' sighed Emily. 'No more away trips, no more frantic rushes to save our victims, no more real life profiling,' she lamented. 'Just textbooks.'
That startled him. 'Already?'
'Mm,' confirmed Emily. 'I've got a new office waiting for me next week.'
'Right.'
What Emily hated and feared would happen since she first knew she was pregnant then followed as she burst into tears. The action unexpected for him too, Hotch found his arms full of a crying woman as Emily buried her head into his shoulder and let it all out. His arms automatically came around to run up and down her back.
Intent on the brunette, Hotch startled when another voice entered the fray. 'Why's Emily crying?' asked Jack innocently.
'She's a bit overwhelmed,' replied Hotch.
'What's the over-elmed?' asked Jack as Emily's tears began to slow.
'It means that everything is a bit too much for her at the moment,' explained Hotch.
'Oh.' Pause. 'Poor Emily,' agreed Jack, patting her on the back.
Jack stopped long enough to scramble up onto what was left of his father's knee, making room for himself on the rather full lap. 'You can have my favourite car if it will make you feel better,' he said seriously, holding out the black SUV.
Hotch ruffled his son's hair proudly as Emily brushed her tears away. 'Thanks Jack,' she replied, taking the precious proferred vehicle. 'Maybe I'll hold onto it for just a little while.' Slipping from Hotch's lap, she held onto the car tight. 'I'll take good care of it,' she promised.
Leaving the office, Hotch swung his son up into his arms as both men waited for Emily to gather up her things. Jack gleefully laughed as he was held upside down, his hands almost touching the floor if he reached far enough. His father was laughing too before he spotted Emily's face.
'Em?' he asked in concern. 'Emily!' declared Jack with a laughing call of his own from upside down. 'What's the matter?' asked Hotch.
Emily fingered Jack's car as she looked around wistfully. 'I'm going to miss this.'
Author's Note: Don't shoot me! (ducks) All this is happening for a reason!
Next chapter: Working the case.
