I know it seems like my A/N at the beginning of each chapter is an apology for not updating sooner. So I'm gunna keep the pattern going here guys. All joking aside I am sorry I haven't updated for almost a month. I have exams starting on Wednesday but I'll try to update every few days. :) Enjoy!

Aaron's PoV

I was worried when, fifteen minutes into class, Emily didn't show up. AP psych was the only class we had together and it was the last block of the day. I hadn't seen her since this morning and had no idea where she went for lunch. The next two minutes dragged by, the clock hands quivered in place, not quite wanting to move. I swear they were taunting me.

As the teacher told us to turn to page thirteen in our text books and do the questions I strode over to his desk.

"Could I go to the washroom?"

"It's only fifteen minutes into class, Hotchner, I don't know what the rules at your old school were but here you go during lunch as not to interrupt my lesson." He was flipping through a magazine as he said this, paying no real attention to me.

"Actually, Sir, it's been seventeen minutes, and you don't appear to be teaching a lesson right now." My tone was sharp. If there was one thing a psychology teacher appreciated it was an honest student that spoke his mind.

He looked up from his magazine and looked at me, actually looked, at me. "Well stated Hotchner. Be back in five." He handed me a yellow, thickly laminated, hall pass.

-CM-

The first place I checked was the medical room, where, according to the nurse, Emily Prentiss had not come to and I should be on my way. I quickened my pace, only three minutes left. I was more or less speed walking as I looked in the gym and the library. I had one last Idea and after that I would just have to return to class after calling Morgan and letting him know what was going on.

A light rain began to fall as the fake grass bent beneath my sneakers. The metal bleachers stood tall and formidable, like a fortress. I rounded the back to see, none other, than Emily E. Prentiss standing under the cover of the steel frames.

My eyes flickered to the joint in her hand to the two other boys who were with her. The one with lighter hair was staring at her in a way that made it quite clear what he wanted to do with her. Anger bubbled deep in my stomach. How could she let that happen? I thought she was better than that! Had more self respect! She should be sitting in class next to me right now not being sized up by these unforgivable lowlife.

"What the hell do you think you're doing?" I heard myself yell at her.

She flinched as she turned at the sound of my voice. "Why do you care?" She snapped. Her dilated pupils were darting from side to side.

I grabbed her arm and tried to lead her away from the field. Her eyes became panicky as my grip tightened on her arm as she squirmed. I couldn't think right now, not about the fact that I was scaring her, nevermind causing her pain. All that I could think about was the blinding anger that pounded inside my head. My father said I had a temper like him but I had always denied it.

"Aaron." Her voice begged. "You're hurting me." I looked at her arm to see that my hand had become a vice grip around her bare arm.

I released my now sweaty hand and she stumbled a bit. "Who the hell are you?" One of the guys asked me. I whipped around to see that he was the taller, better built, one of the two. He had been the one staring at Emily with a hungry look on his face when I approached.

I don't know what took over then but something did, that was for sure. Because the normal Aaron Hotchner would not have strode over to the guy and punched him in the face. His nose made a satisfying crunching noise as he reeled back.

I wasn't ready for the other guy to come from behind. His fist connected with the side of my head. Stars lept into my vision but I felt no pain. I was too angry to feel anything else right now. I spun around and punched him in the gut. He crumpled over in two. I didn't stop though. I punched him and kicked him until he was unconscious. I got up to turn on the other guy but something stopped me. It was the form of Emily sitting on the ground. Her slender arms were wrapped around her knees and she kept whispering something to herself.

The creep who had been staring at Em stood his ground.

I touched her gently on the shoulder. She flinched and then looked up at me with confusion on her face. She had been somewhere else; in some horrible flashback.

My voice was soothing as the anger inside me was replaced with nauseating guilt. "Come on Em, lets go." She looked at me in a skeptical, untrusting way, as we rose from the ground.

The other guy didn't make a move after us as I led Emily across the field. His voice, though made us halt. "You'd better watch out." He cautioned me. "Because the next time I'm alone with your little girlfriend she's going to be sorry for what you just did."

Emily's beautiful eyes were filled with tears. "Can we go?" She whispered. I nodded.

-CM-

We never went back to class; we just sat there, on a hall bench, for an hour and a half. Neither of us talked. We sat two feet apart.

I turned to look at her. She seemed to have come back down from whatever high she was on but her eyes remained haunted.

The bell snapped her out of her trance. She turned to me. "I won't tell if you don't."

I sighed. They would be pissed. "Fine."

She eyed the bruises on my face. "Are you alright?"

"Fine, it just, you know, hurts." At first she looked hurt by my sarcastic tone but then then smiled when she realized I was kidding.

Her imploring eyes met mine. "I'm sorry. I was just- don't judge me because this sounds really stupid- sad that you didn't want to eat lunch with me."

"What, that's not stupid. And I do, I texted you but you never answered." A look of realization crossed her face.

"My phone was dead."

Our eyes met again as we both realized this whole situation was caused by a dead phone.

A smile graced her lips as one did mine. I offered her a hand as I stood up off the bench; this time she took it.

-CM-

On our walk home we decided to tell everyone that I fell down the stairs. We also decided never again during our time here would we split up again. She wouldn't admit it but I knew she was scared that guy would follow through on his threat.

"So Hotchner, it looks like we're gunna be stuck together for a while."

I smiled. "That it does." I paused for a second. "Don't you think this whole situation is a little wierd. I mean with the BAU?"

"That's what I thought at first; but honestly, being here is so much better than being with my family. They actually seem to care about us too, you know?"

I considered what she said for a moment. It was true that the BAU was ten times more loving then my own father and I had only known them for two days. "I guess you're right."

She smirked. "You guess I'm right? Of course I am you just don't like being wrong."

Our friendship was starting to heal and I was pretty happy about it, I have to say. What ever had been bothering her I hoped she opened up about it. I of all people knew what holding in secrets was like and believe me it's not that pleasant.

I really don't like the way the ending of this chapter turned out. I've retyped it ten times so I'm just going to give up now. Please review and let me know what you think. PS the incident is going to be revealed in the next chapter or the one after that. I've decided on the direction I want to go with this so it won't take me as long to update. And once again thank you for reading and please review. (Yes I know I say that a lot) ;)