Chapter 32
fair warning: light smut included in this chapter
Emily couldn't move her legs, they were glued in place. She watched the man walk off, past Hotch's car after calling her "Lauren". Her heart had stopped and she felt like she couldn't breathe.
Right after the man passed Hotch's car, Hotch hopped out and looked in the direction of him. His eyebrows furrowed and he looked over to Emily, who was staring down at the matchbook in her hand.
Hotch walked over to her, a concerned look on his face. Right as he was about to touch her arm, he said, "Em, wha-", before he could finish, she looked up and literally jumped in the air, back from him, clenching her hands, bringing them to her chest, startled, beyond belief.
He put his hands up and raised his eyebrows. "Whoa, whoa, whoa, Em! It's me. It's me, Aaron. Come here.", he said, opening his arms, which she practically ran into. "Ooh!", he heaved as the impact of her body running into his, hit him.
She squeezed him tight and he could feel her shaking. He stroked her hair and kissed her head. "Emily, what happened? Are you hurt?", he asked, pulling away, looking her up and down.
"No. I'm fine. We have to go.", she said.
"But Em, the movie... It's your favorite... It's your birthday...", he frowned.
"Aaron! We have to leave now! Okay? Please just listen to me. We need to get out of here.", she said, walking to the car fast and looking all around her on the way.
She closed the trunk and checked through the backseat windows to make sure no one or nothing was there. She got in the front seat and locked her door.
Hotch got in the driver's seat and turned to look at her. "Lock your door. Please.", she said. He did as he was told. He turned back to her with a sad look and saw the fear in her eyes. "Aaron, I mean it. Please, drive.", she said, panicking.
He started the car and drove off. While they were on the way back to his place, he noticed her staring out the window and looking in the rear view and side view mirrors of the car.
"Mind telling me what happened back there and why you're all fidgety?", he said.
"Just get us back to your place, please.", she said, choking back tears.
"Okay, we're almost there, don't worry.", he told her, placing his hand on her thigh, which she flinched at at first but calmed down.
They got to his house and pulled into the garage, closing it. She grabbed her bag from the backseat and reached in it for her gun as she got out. She pulled the strap over her shoulder and kept her hand still in it, holding her gun. Hotch unlocked the door and stepped inside, turning the alarm off, letting her come in behind him.
She looked all around as they walked through the living room and upstairs.
Once they got to his room, she went to the bathroom and checked it. Once she could see that nobody was there, she set her bag down and sat on the bed.
She let out a deep sigh and dropped her face in her hands.
Hotch bent down on the ground in front of her and held her knees. "Em, talk to me. What happened?", he asked.
She looked up at him and held his hands, as tears poured down her face.
"Aaron. I love you... but I can't talk about it... I'm so sorry. I know that's not fair, after everything you've done for me today. I really wanted to be able to have fun tonight and I did. I'm just sorry it was cut short but believe me when I tell you, I wouldn't have left unless I knew we had to.", she sniffled.
"Emily, did that man hurt you?", he asked.
"No. No, he didn't hurt me.", she said.
"Well, what happened? You were literally shaking and jumped in the air when I came near and you weren't looking. You've never done that. And what was that that you were holding? The little gold thing.", he said.
"Aaron, because I love you, I'm gonna ask you not to do this. I appreciate you worrying about me, really, I do. But this thing, I can't talk to you about it. It's for your own good, trust me.", she said, voice steady now.
"I know what's for my own good. Protecting you, keeping you safe, making sure you're okay.", he said.
"Not right now.", she shook her head.
"You can't do that right now. I'm okay. Just don't worry about it. I'm sorry if I startled you.", she said, dropping her head.
He lifted her chin slightly and brought her eyes to his. "You didn't startle me. You did worry me. I'd be lying if I said I'm not still worried...", he sighed. "What can I do?", he asked.
"Just being here with me is good enough.", she smiled.
He so badly wanted to know what was wrong and be able to protect her but knew she wouldn't give it up.
"Alright. I'm right here. I'm not going anywhere.", he said. He stood up and pulled her up with him, taking her into his arms, wrapping them tight around her body. "I'm right here.", he whispered, stroking her hair, trying to soothe her. "Let's go to bed, alright?", he said.
She nodded against his chest. He kissed her head and pulled away with his hands on her face.
"You are not alone.", he told her.
She smiled at him. "I know.", she said.
He kissed her and pulled her in for one more hug before he stepped to the other side of the bed and took his shirt off, throwing it in the hamper.
He slid under the covers and pulled them down for her too. She walked over and got in bed. She curled up next to him, throwing her arm over his body and laying her head on his chest.
"How scared are you, Em...?", he asked as he felt her shaking and saw tears welling up in her eyes when he looked down at her. He rubbed her back up and down.
She waited a moment till she could collect herself enough to speak. "Extremely.", she whispered.
He started to feel tears forming in his eyes just hearing her say that. His voice wobbled a bit, "Emily, please tell me there's something I can do. I can't just watch you like this and not do anything... Please, Em."
"Aaron, you're the one person I want to tell and also the one person I don't want knowing this... You'd see me different. But I can't talk about it. I'm sorry... it's not up to me.", she sniffled.
"Emily, I would never see you differently. You'll always be the person I know you as now and did when I first met you all those years ago. My view of you and of who you are could never change. You're an amazing woman, who I love so much and nothing can change that either.", he said.
"Aaron, please just leave it be. I'm exhausted and just want to go to bed now. Can we do that?", she asked, looking up at him.
He rubbed her back and squeezed her tight. "Sure. Whatever you want.", he said, reaching his arm to turn the lamp off, without letting her go from his arms.
"How was the rest of your birthday?", he asked.
"Really great. Seriously. I appreciate everything you did for me today. I appreciate everything you always do for me.", she said.
"It's my job to be there for you and take care of you.", he said.
"No, it's not. But you do it.", she said, rubbing his chest.
He squeezed her tighter and sighed. "I love you. I won't stop letting you know that or showing you that.", he said.
"I love you too.", she said, kissing his jaw and brining her head back down to his chest.
"Happy birthday, Em... I'm sorry it was such a shit show.", he sounded disappointed.
"It wasn't all. You made everything feel better, okay? So, thank you.", she said.
"I'll make it up to you, I promise.", he said.
"You already have. Just by being here with me.", she said.
"No, I'll think of something. You deserve better than whatever happened tonight and I want you to have more than that. End of discussion.", he said.
"Fine.", she said, nuzzling into his chest more. "Goodnight. I love you. Thank you. You're amazing.", she giggled and kissed his chest.
"Goodnight, Em. Sleep well.", he kissed the top of her head.
A few hours later, Emily jolted awake and gasped. She looked up at Hotch, who was still asleep, somehow. She'd just woken up from a nightmare about Doyle. She knew she wouldn't be able to fall back asleep and she knew she had to call someone. And she knew who that someone was.
She carefully lifted Hotch's arm from around her and slid out of bed. She walked to her bag quietly and grabbed her phone. She stood up and looked at the closed door. Maybe she was just paranoid but she thought it was better to be safe than sorry. She didn't know if any more of Doyle's "friends" knew where she was or if they would try and do anything to her.
She crouched back down and grabbed her gun from her bag and put her phone in her pocket of her sweats. She slowly opened the door and closed it without making a sound. She held the gun up as she moved downstairs to the living room. She checked all the rooms in the house downstairs.
Once it was all clear, she walked back to the living room and sat down on the couch. She set her gun down on the coffee table and pulled out her phone.
She called one of her old friends who worked the Doyle case with her.
Her anxiety built up as the phone rang.
"Emily! How are you?", Tsia answered.
"Tsia, hey... I know this is out of the blue, calling you like this but...", Emily sighed.
"Emily... what is it?", Tsia asked.
"One of Doyle's people found me tonight.", Emily responded.
"What? How do you know? What happened?", Tsia questioned her.
"I was at a drive-in movie and a man bumped into me... I dropped my soda and when we leaned to pick it up, I saw the same tattoo as Doyle and he dropped a matchbook with the four-leaf clover on it.", Emily said.
"And what makes you think it was one of Doyle's people?", Tsia asked.
"Well... he had an Irish accent and he said, "Good to see you, Lauren. Oh. Sorry- I guess it's Emily now.", and smiled as he walked off. So yeah, I'm pretty sure, it's Doyle that's behind this.", she snapped.
There was a moment of silence.
"If Doyle wanted to get to you, he'd do it himself. Which he can't because he's in prison. In another country. This is just a scare tactic he's using.", Tsia said.
"Okay, well, it's working but also... how did he find me and why now?", Emily asked.
"I don't know but there's nothing he can do. Listen, I'll talk to Sean but I don't think there's anything to do. He's locked away...", Tsia said.
"I know I just can't shake this-", Emily started before she heard Hotch coming downstairs.
"Emily?", Tsia said.
She turned around and saw Hotch walking over to her.
"Oh, uh- sorry for calling you back so late, mom. I'll call you again tomorrow.", Emily said.
"Is someone else there?", Tsia asked.
"Yes, of course, I'll do that.", Emily said.
"Talking in code again, just like the old days. Let me guess... boyfriend?", Tsia said.
"Not sure yet, but you're probably right. I'll look into that and let you know tomorrow, alright?", Emily said.
"Alright. Keep your head down for now, just to be safe.", Tsia said.
Hotch reached Emily and leaned over her rubbing her shoulders.
"Right, got it, you too. Bye.", Emily hung up.
"Hey, what are you doing up?", Emily asked Hotch.
"I woke up randomly and you weren't there. I got worried...", he said. His eyes moved to the coffee table. "Emily, why do you have your gun down here?", he asked, letting go of her shoulders and coming around to the other side of the couch to face her.
"I just thought I heard something, wanted to be safe.", she lied.
"So you grab your gun and go down by yourself?", he asked.
"Well I was coming down here to call my mom back. She wished me a 'happy birthday' earlier and she's overseas right now so the time zones are weird. I just thought I'd give her a call back now. She also had a couple questions about some case she wanted an opinion on but it was nothing.", she said. He crouched down in front of her.
"Well what were you doing up? Do I snore?", he asked.
She laughed, "No, no. You're perfect.", she said, stroking his cheek. "You're really perfect.", she said in a soft, loving tone.
He put his hand on her knee. "Emily... you're really worrying me.", he said.
"What? I can't tell my boyf- you that you're perfect?", she asked, hoping he didn't pick up on what she began to say.
He stared at her with concerned eyes, neither of them speaking for a moment.
"No, I just want to know what's going on inside your head. You're up in the middle of the night on a weird phone call with your gun by your side after what happened tonight. I'm worried.", he said, rubbing her leg.
She stood up, as he followed and she placed her hands on his face and kissed him. "Don't be. I'm fine.", she said.
He cocked his head and looked sad like he didn't believe her. His hands were at his side and he stared at her.
She let go of him and grabbed her gun and walked to the stairs heading back to his room. He just stood there and watched her.
"Are you coming?", she asked. He dropped his head and walked up behind her.
She walked into his room and turned the light off and put her gun and phone back in her bag. She stood up and turned around to him. She could tell he was still upset.
She moved towards him and grabbed the waistband of his sweats. "I think there's still one gift I haven't opened yet.", she said with a smirk on her face.
"Emily, I don't think we should right now. You just-", he said.
"Aaron... don't think...", she said, pulling off her shirt. He looked away.
She pulled her sweats down, leaving her in her black laced bra and matching underwear. "Aaron, look at me...", she said, bringing his face back to hers.
He looked in her eyes and only her eyes.
She tugged on the waistband of his sweatpants again and dropped them to the floor. She ran her hand up his chest to his neck and pulled him closer until their lips met.
Before she knew it, he was picking her up and walking over to the bed.
They both landed on it with her underneath him, legs wrapped around his waist.
With her hands in his hair and their lips parting, allowing their tongues to slip through, she forgot about everything else.
He started grinding against her slow, causing her to moan. It took him less than five seconds to slip off her bra and continued on with what he was doing before.
She eventually went for her underwear but he beat her to it. He slid them off and as he was coming back up he stopped in between her legs but she pulled his head up to her.
"No. I want you.", she whispered.
She reached down and slid his boxers down and he kicked them off, coming back up to her.
Seeing her like this, made his heart warm, knowing that she was his. He knew she had started to call him her boyfriend earlier but stopped once she realized what she was saying. He wanted to be able to call her his girlfriend but there was nobody to say it to. Nobody knew they were together and they hadn't even talked about what they were to each other anyways.
She could feel him hard against her thigh as she grew hotter. She pulled him down more and claimed his mouth with hers. He began to grind against her again, now skin on skin, making them both moan.
He lined his tip up with her hot, wet
entrance and slid in. Every time he did that, she always gasped. No matter how many times they'd been together, it was still a shock to her body that always needed a moment to adjust.
He knew her inside and out, literally. He knew every time to wait till he could feel her walls loosen just enough to tell him when to go. He stared her right in the eyes and she pulled him down for a kiss letting him know to continue.
After a half hour of pure love making, they grew exhausted and decided to go to bed.
"Em?", he asked as she scooted towards him, ready to fall asleep.
"Mmm?", she phrased as a question, nuzzling into his side.
"If you're in danger... you- you'd tell me, right?", he asked, running his fingers along her arm.
"Aaron... please. We just had an amazing moment and I want to sleep now.", she said.
"Emily, you brought a gun downstairs with you! I'd like to know if you're in trouble at the very least, whether I know what it is or not. I know that wasn't your mother on the phone. I won't ask who it was, I'm sure it was important and you can't tell me, I get it. But please... just tell me, are you in danger? Just be honest with me about that...", he said.
She was silent for a moment and lifted her head up and turned on her side, sitting up more. "Honestly?", she asked, quietly.
"Please.", he begged. She sighed heavy and looked around the room and up at the ceiling before back at him.
"I don't know...", she admitted.
He felt his heart drop and she could tell.
She reached for him. She touched his face and stroked it.
"I promise... I promise I will let you know when I know something for sure. Okay?", she said, softly.
He took her hand on his face and kissed it. He brought it down to his chest and pulled her into him.
"Okay... That's all I needed to hear. You can always tell me more if you're ever able to or need to. I know I tell you that a lot but I don't know if I ever express to you how much I really mean it.", he said.
"I do know. And you do express it. I know you. I know your intentions and I know how much you love me. Don't worry about that... And Aaron?", she said.
"Yeah?", he asked.
"Do you trust me?", she asked.
"With my life. Literally. We put our lives on the line everyday with our job and I know I risked my life for you back at that warehouse when I was shot. You risked yours for mine too... I trust you with my life, Em.", he said with no hesitation at all.
"So trust me when I tell you not to worry about me right now. That I'll be fine. That no matter what happens, I still love you and nothing will change that.", she said.
"I'll always worry about you. I've told you that so many times. I don't care what you tell me... I will always worry about you. But I can live with the rest. But that doesn't mean I'm not going to check in with you if I see you upset or I notice something going on. I won't ignore any of that.", he said.
"I can live with that.", she said.
He could feel her smile on his chest and his heart melted. Next, he felt her eyes flutter close and he stroked her hair, trailing down to her back and holding her.
He loved the feeling of her falling asleep in his arms and she loved the feeling she got when she listened to his heartbeat and steady breathing as she fell asleep.
Before he knew it, she was out and he stayed wide awake, barely getting any sleep for the rest of the night. He was too worried about her and overthinking the possibilities of who that man was at the drive-in and what's so horrible happening in her life.
All he wanted to do was protect her but she wouldn't let him and that's what hurt him the most.