Chapter 37

Emily woke up to the sound of a knock on the door of her hotel room in the middle of the night. "Emily? It's JJ.", she said from the other side.

Emily's eyes shot open. She rolled out of Hotch's arms immediately, waking him up.

"Em? What are you doing?", he asked, sitting up.

"Shhh. JJ's at the door.", she told him, getting out of bed. "Just a minute!", she called out to JJ.

"What? What is JJ doing here?", he whispered, barely awake.

"I don't know.", she said.

She threw on her pajama shorts and her t-shirt. She walked to the door and opened it, just a crack.

"JJ, what's going on? It's like 2:00 in the morning.", Emily said.

"Whoa, girl. What happened to your neck?", JJ asked.

"Doesn't matter right now. What's going on?", Emily asked again.

"Alright... more on that later... Do you know where Reid is?", JJ asked.

"What? No. Is he not in his room?", Emily asked.

"No. I saw him walking out an hour ago when I was going to grab ice. He hasn't come back yet and he won't answer my calls or texts. He's been acting really weird lately. I only have one idea of what he could be doing at this time of night...", JJ said.

"I'm sorry. I don't know. Do you want me to call Garcia to check his location?", Emily asked.

"Emily you know something's been going on with him...", JJ said.

"Yeah, I mean I've definitely noticed. He's kind of snarky towards me... well a lot actually. Why, what are you thinking?", she asked.

JJ looked all around the hallway. "Can I come in? I don't know if we should talk about this right here.", JJ said.

"Um actually, why don't we go get a coffee somewhere? Get out of here.", Emily said.

"Is there someone in your room?", JJ whispered.

"No, I just think we should get out. Maybe we'll look for Reid while we're out. That sound alright?", she asked.

"Yeah, sure. I'm just really worried. I think he's using again and we need to find him before it gets even worse.", JJ said.

"Yeah, I've noticed some signs for that... alright. Let me get changed. I'll meet you downstairs.", Emily said.

"Alright.", JJ said, walking away.

Emily closed the door and scurried over to her bag. She grabbed a scarf that she was so thankful she packed, jeans, a t-shirt, and a jacket. She had an excuse, seeing as it was rainy out and actually somewhat chilly.

"Okay, listen, I'm going to go out with JJ. You can stay in here if you want, okay?", she said to Hotch, pulling on her jeans.

"Reid is using? Again? As in he was before? And is now?", he asked her.

"Aaron... you're in here as my boyfriend. Not my boss.", she said throwing a different shirt on.

"I can't ignore information like that, Emily...", he said.

"Well you have to because you never heard it because you were never here.", she said.

"Emily...", he started.

"Aaron, I can't have this discussion right now. I'm sorry. I gotta go.", she said, finished getting dressed and leaning over to kiss him. "I love you. Sleep. I'll be back.", she told him, patting his leg when she walked away.

She walked out the door and headed downstairs. She met JJ by the front and they took the elevator down to the parking garage. JJ got in the driver's seat and they headed to a bar.

"I thought we were going to get coffee.", Emily said.

"Well, Reid went to this bar or lounge last time we were here on a case. Remember how he went disappearing at weird hours that time too? I know he had a friend who plays music here and he came here a few times.", JJ said.

"JJ, you really think he's using again?", Emily asked

"I don't know what to think but he's acting weird and it started right when we got here. Well, a bit before that but it really hit different once we got here.", JJ said.

"It's gonna be okay.", Emily said.

They pulled into the parking lot and went inside to the lounge. They ordered 2 scotch's and saw Reid across the room, watching his friend play music at the front. JJ started walking over but Emily stopped her.

"No. Not yet. Give him some space. He's not doing anything right now. Sit here and we'll talk.", Emily said.

JJ sighed and looked over at her, sitting back down. "Fine. So, want to tell me why you have hickeys all over your neck while we're on a case?", she asked, sipping her drink.

"Okay, let's talk about something else...", Emily said.

"No. Who could you have possibly met while we are working a case that you would bring up to your hotel room? Besides, aren't you seeing someone?", JJ asked.

"Sort of. We aren't exclusive.", Emily lied.

"Alriiight... and why not?", JJ asked.

"I didn't want to be.", Emily said.

"Didn't want to be? As in, now you do?", JJ said.

Realizing what she had just said, she had to stop lying completely.

"Yeah, alright, fine. We've talked about it. I'm still not sure.", Emily said.

"Emily! You just slept with another guy. You better make up your mind because you can't keep doing that if you want to be with him.", JJ said.

"Yeah, I know. I don't know what I was doing, honestly. The whole time, I was thinking about the guy I am seeing. I think I really like him...", she said.

"You should let him know that. Now. Go call him. While you still have a little bit of liquid courage in you.", JJ said.

"Okay, fine.", Emily laughed.

She walked off to the side and decided to call Hotch anyways. It rang a few times and she thought he wouldn't pick up and she would pretend to leave a voicemail but he did.

"Em, what's going on?", he asked, groggy.

"You do realize how cute you sound when you wake up, right?", she giggled, walking further away from JJ to where she couldn't hear her.

"Yeah, you've told me once or twice.", he chuckled. "Did you find Reid?", he asked.

"Yeah, we did. We're just watching him from across the lounge. He's safe, he looks fine. But you have to pretend you didn't hear any of that.", she said.

"Emily...", he started.

"Aaron. How would you explain that you knew that or how you found out?", she asked him.

"I don't know. But if anyone were to find out that I did know and did nothing about it...", he said.

"Well, we'll make sure that doesn't happen.", she told him.

He sighed and scratched his head. "Can you just come back already? I'm feeling very lonely.", he said.

"Oh, poor baby. You're feeling lonely?", she teased him.

"Yes. Yes, I am. And I want you here with me. So, just come back so I can wrap my arms around you and give you kisses till you fall asleep.", he said.

"What else did you have in mind?", she asked him.

"Just that. So come back, I miss you.", he said.

She laughed, "Fine, I'll see if we can leave soon. I love you.", she said.

"Love you, too.", he said.

They hung up and she walked back over to JJ.

"So?", JJ asked.

"I think we're gonna give it a try.", Emily faked her enthusiasm.

"Really?! That's great. Okay now stop sleeping with random people you find downstairs at our hotel.", JJ said.

"Will do.", Emily chuckled.

After a few songs passed Reid was getting up to go to the bathroom and Emily and JJ walked over to him. He almost stumbled over when he stood up.

"Hey.", JJ said.

"Emily, JJ. What are you guys doing here?", he asked, slurring his words.

"We could ask you the same thing.", Emily raised an eyebrow at him.

"Come on, we'll talk about this more tomorrow. It's really late. Let's just get you back to the hotel.", JJ said, putting her arm around him and helping him to the car.

They drove back to the hotel and helped him in his room. JJ turned around to face Emily and thanked her. She nodded and headed back to her room, dying to collapse on the bed and fall asleep.

She opened the door and saw Hotch spread across the bed, fast asleep.

She smiled and got changed into her pajama shorts and shirt. She shook him awake and looked down at him, still sprawled across the bed.

"Hey, scoot over.", she whispered.

"Mmmmmm", he grumbled, still not moving.

She laughed and shoved him off to the side of the bed. "Bed hog.", she said as she got under the covers and moved in close to him.

"Yeah, well, somebody wasn't here for a while so I had it all to myself.", he said.

"Yeah, well, someone is back now and wants to be able to have space to lay down on", she said.

"Only if it's in my arms as promised earlier.", he said, reaching his arms around her.

"I will not object to that.", she smiled, bringing her lips to his.

"How'd it go?", he asked.

"We brought Reid back. He's okay. That's all I should really say though.", she said.

"I'm too tired to pry anymore anyways. You've woken me up three times now.", he said.

"I'm sorry! I-", she said.

He stopped her with his lips and chuckled. "It's okay, hun. I don't care if you keep me up all night. But I would like to sleep now, if that's alright with you.", he said.

"I'm sorry. Please forgive me.", she joked.

"Mmmmm... I'll think about it.", he said.

"Shut up.", she giggled, kissing him.

"No.", he grinned, now, starting to kiss each other after every word they spoke.

"Stubborn.", she said.

"Whiny.", he teased.

"Most amazing man I know.", she said softly.

"Most beautiful woman I know.", he said.

"Mmmm.", she moaned into his lips. "I think I love you...", she whispered, giggling.

"Really? I think I might love you too.", he said, laughing.

"Good.", she grinned, him doing the same back and going in for one last kiss.

"Emily, can I ask you something? Be honest.", he said.

"Always.", she told him, rubbing his arm up and down.

"Didn't you hate me when you first started at the BAU? I mean... I was such an ass to you that first day that you showed up in my office. How could you have possibly ended up falling in love with me?", he asked.

"Because you're amazing, Aaron. You're an amazing man. I just told you that. There are so many reasons why. I'll admit I was taken aback when you acted that way the first day, yes. But I knew who you really were. I knew you weren't an ass. And your attitude did change. How did I fall in love with you? I don't know... but I did and I don't think we need to question why or how. Because right now... we're here together. In this bed, in each other's arms and that's good enough. Isn't it?", she said.

He looked at her for a while and kissed her forehead. "That's good enough.", he said.

"Good. Because I am tired and we only have a few more hours to sleep.", she said.

"Alright. Get some rest, you need it.", he said.

She hugged his body and rested her head on his chest. "Goodnight, I love you.", she said.

"I love you too.", he said, hugging her right back.