Chapter 27
After another month had passed by; Hotch was back at work and Derek was still barely speaking to Emily. She'd invited Derek over multiple times to talk and hangout but he constantly declined.
She finally gave up for the time being and gave him space for a while.
Strauss has been trying to get Hotch to step down as Unit Chief or transfer to another field but he kept pushing back. She'd called in Emily to ask her to bring any information back to her to help her do that. Emily kept refusing and eventually decided to transfer to another field herself.
She walked into his office the next Monday morning. Strauss was in there, talking with him about transferring him and giving him time off until he decided if we would accept that.
Emily opened the door and stepped in.
"Sorry to interrupt but, I would just like to let you know, Sir, I've put in my papers for my resignation. Don't try and stop me, Garcia already tried.", she laughed. "I'll be transferring to another field... it's good to have you back.", she said, turning around to look at Strauss. "Chief.", she nodded. "Once again, sorry for the interruption.", she eyed Hotch, walking out.
Emily left her badge and gun on her desk, packed up her stuff and left work to go home. She couldn't believe she'd really done that.
Had she done it for Hotch? Were things getting too messy for her? Was the BAU just not right for her? She wondered.
Regardless, she was done there and needed to just leave. She got in her car and drove home.
Meanwhile, Strauss sent Hotch home when the rest of the team got a case and headed to got home and spent time with Haley and Jack, still upset about Emily's decision she had made earlier that day.
Derek called him later and he'd had files from the case they were working on, sent over to Hotch. Haley walked over to him on the couch and they argued about him not being present even when he had a break.
Later that day, he got another call from the team and knew he needed to go out and help them, even if it meant going against Strauss' orders.
"So that's it?! You're just packing up and going out to Wisconsin? Aaron, you're never home, you need to take this other job. It'll be much better for all of us. You need to be here with your family!", Haley said, as he was packing his go bag and getting changed to leave.
"And I will be. After this case is done.", he said.
"No, Aaron! I'm sick and tired of this!", she yelled.
"I'm sorry, but I really have to go.", he said.
"Be sure to give your son a kiss on the way out.", she snarked, as he walked past her and left.
Hotch knew he needed one more thing before he left. He drove to Emily's apartment to try and convince her to come with him.
Once he arrived, he knocked on the door and waited for her to open the door.
On the other side, she looked out the peephole and sighed, opening the door for him. He walked straight in and went towards the kitchen as she followed him.
"Aaron, what are you doing here? If you're going to try and convince me to stay, don't. I already sent the papers in for the transfer.", she said.
"I checked and it hasn't gone through yet. I need your help though.", he said, standing further away from her than he'd like.
"And what would that be?", she asked
"The team is working a case in Milwaukee and needs us.", he said.
"I can't go, you know that. It's not a good idea for a lot of reasons. Besides, I already quit.", she said.
He walked towards her and stood just inches away from her, looking her in the eyes. He stuffed his hands in his pockets.
"Em, this has nothing to do with us. I need you to come with me for this case.", he said. She looked down and didn't speak. "I know Strauss has been asking you for dirt on me and I know that instead of telling her anything, you quit. I don't know exactly why but I do know that you're an amazing agent and the team needs our help.", he said, bringing her chin up to look at him.
"Listen, if your go-bag isn't packed and ready, here, I'll leave. But if it is, I want you on that plane with me. Come with me. I don't want you to quit and I've put in for a transfer too but you shouldn't have to. Just work this case and if you don't change your mind, fine. But just this last one. Please.", he said, curling her hair behind her ear and cocking his head.
"I already turned in my badge and gun.", she said.
"That's just hardware.", he told her with a slight smile.
"Fine... fine. I'll go.", she said, heading for upstairs as he stayed down in the kitchen. "You can come up if you want...", she said.
He followed behind her as they walked upstairs to her room.
"Why are you really here?", she asked him, walking over to her bed, grabbing the bag and a new outfit to change into before they left.
"I told you, I need you on the case with me.", he said.
She looked back at him and walked towards him. She opened her arms and latched on to his body, as he held her tight.
"Okay... also, I needed to see you and make sure you were alright. But I did need you to come with me too.", he said.
She squeezed him tight and let go, bringing her hand to his neck, where he was shot. She gently traced his neck.
"How is it?", she asked.
He took her hand and held it. "It's fine.", he said. "Now get changed, we can talk in the car and on the jet.", he said.
She picked up her outfit and looked back at him. "I'm just gonna change in the bathroom...", she said, walking into it.
He put his hand up. "Yeah, no worries. Totally get it.", he said, awkwardly.
She changed into black dress pants and her black boots with a long sleeve, low cut pink t-shirt. She left her hair with the curls and makeup the way they were already and walked out.
"Wow.", he said.
"What?", she asked, looking up and down.
"I just don't think I've seen you wear that color before... it really brings out your complexion and the dark shade of your hair.", he said, smiling at her. "I'm sorry... that-", he started and looked down.
She blushed and smiled, walking towards him and lightly tugged on his tie. "Don't worry. This red tie is one of my favorites on you.", she said, showing her dimples.
He looked back up at her and a corner of his lip turned up. "I personally like the blue more but I guess the red is alright too.", he chuckled.
They stared at each other for a moment before she patted his chest and picked up her bag. "Okay, I'm ready.", she said, taking a deep breath.
"Let's go.", he said.
Once they got on the jet, they talked over the case for a while. When they finished going over everything, she got up to grab a water for them both. When she came back, she sat down and kicked her feet up on the seat across from her, next to the window. She handed him the bottle of water and they talked for a bit, mainly about his recovery, her and Derek, work in general, more about their transfers.
He got up to go to the bathroom after a bit and when he came back, he scooted all the way to the window seat on his side. He picked up her feet and rested them in his laps and laid his arms across her legs.
They looked at each other as they both smiled and she leaned her head back, still staring at him. They stayed that way till the jet landed and they headed to the station.
When they got there, everyone was happy to see them except for Strauss, who assured them that they would be having a talk when they got back to Quantico.
Derek didn't say much but sat next to Emily and she smiled at him. He looked at her and said, "I'm glad you're here.", putting his hand on her thigh, under the table.
"I'm glad to see you.", she said back. She was surprised when he smiled at her. She touched his hand on her thigh and they brought them back up to do their work.
After spending hours of tracking down the unsub, they finally got an address and headed to the house.
"We can't go in yet.", Strauss said.
"There's a victim inside, we have to.", Hotch told her.
"Not without probable cause, not yet.", she said.
Emily walked up to them. "I can. Technically, I'm just a civilian right now.", she said.
"Prentiss, no.", Hotch shook his head.
"I can press this signal for you guys to come in when I find her. It's really the only choice we have. We don't have a lot of time.", she said.
He furrowed his eyebrows. "I don't like the idea of you going in alone, unarmed.", he said.
She grabbed a gun and put it in the back of her pants. "I won't be. Come on, this is the only option.", she said.
Hotch looked over at Strauss. "If this fails, it's on both of you, you can forget about staying at the BAU, am I clear?", she said.
"Yes.", Emily said. She looked back at Hotch and could see the concern in his eyes. She walked up to the house and knocked.
Once she was inside, she got down to the basement with her gun drawn. All of a sudden the unsub came out of nowhere and hit her in the head with a piece of wood. She fell to the ground and once again, found herself in the same situation as a few weeks ago in that warehouse, with her gun pointed at her.
She hit the button on the waistband of her pants and the whole team came busting in and arrested the unsub and helped the victim down from where she was tied up.
Hotch ran over to Emily and helped her up. "Are you alright?", he asked, trying to stay as calm as possible.
"Yeah, yeah, I'm fine.", she said. Once she stood up, she started to fall over, feeling caught her and helped her out of the house.
Once they got outside, he walked her over to the back of an ambulance and sat her down. He wanted to sit with her and hold her but stood by her side instead.
When Strauss started to walk over, he said, "Prentiss, you probably have a concussion. Please let the medics check you out.", he said, giving her a nod and walking off to the side with Strauss.
While thinking of Emily, he and Strauss spoke and he convinced her to let both of them come back and stay at the BAU.
Once everything was all settled and taken care of, everyone got on the jet and flew back home.
Emily got back to her apartment and headed to bed. Right as she laid down, Derek called her and she picked it up immediately.
"Hey.", she said, calmly.
"Hey. I wanted to check on you, make sure you got home safe and were alright.", he said.
"Yeah... I'm alright. How are you? I've missed you...", she said.
"I've missed you too. I'm sorry I've been such an ass the past couple months. I didn't know how to react and I guess I still don't but, I hate not talking to you.", he said.
"I know... me too.", she said.
"Well, maybe you'd wanna get together tomorrow night? Go get some dinner or something?", he asked.
"I'd like that. A lot. Maybe we could talk about everything.", she said.
"Sure, that sounds good.", he replied.
"Great. And Derek, I just wanna-", she started but she got another call, and looked at it. Hotch was trying to reach her. "You know what? I'll just save it for tomorrow night. I'm getting another call, can I text you after?", she asked.
"Sure. I'll see you tomorrow.", he said.
"Alright, have a goodnight.", she said and hung up as she answered Hotch's phone call. "Hey, you get home alright?", she asked.
"They're gone.", he said, flat.
"What? Who's gone?", she asked.
"Haley and Jack. She left. She took all their clothes and everything. She just left.", he said.
"Whoa, whoa... what happened?", she said, sitting up.
"I don't know. I just got home and they weren't here. Neither was any of their stuff.", he said.
"Aaron...", she sighed.
"Will you come over?", she heard his voice crack.
"I'll get dressed now.", she said, hanging up.