"It is a curious thought, but it is only when you see people looking ridiculous that you realize just how much you love them. "
― Agatha Christie, Agatha Christie: An Autobiography
Emily frowned. Derek was there again. She understood his concern, but women had been pregnant for eons, well before the invention of modern medicine. She knew she had no right to be upset with him, that he was just checking on her and it was sweet and that he was caring but it still annoyed her. JJ smirked and placed her hand on her friend's forearm.
"It's the hormones."
Eyebrows knitted together and Emily's face screwed up in confusion.
"The mood swings." JJ explained with a shrug. "I spent both pregnancies pissed off at Will. And Spencer. And actually Derek for that matter." She said laughing. "I won't say that they get any better, but you just get used to them."
Sighing, Emily combed her fingers through her hair and shut her blinds. "I know he means well, but...ugh."
JJ's laughter filled the office and Emily shook her head. "He's just excited. And he wants to make sure you're doing okay. It's sweet."
"It's annoying and patronizing."
A knock at the door. JJ smiled and opened it, finding Derek standing in the doorway. She met Emily's gaze and mouthed Be nice before sliding out of the office and shutting the door behind her.
"Hey, how are you feeling? Did you eat the spinach salad? And the white bean dip?" Derek asked walking over and pressing his open palm on her abdomen.
Sighing, Emily let him touch her abdomen for a moment before moving behind her desk. "I'm feeling okay. Not nearly as nauseous. The homemade ginger tea and ginger juice that Taala and Mackenzie sent over seems to be helping." She rubbed her temples. "I ate most of the salad and some of the bean dip. I'm just not hungry because I've been so nauseated." She watched as Derek's face darkened and she reached for the dip that was in her fridge. "But I'll keep working on eating it, okay?"
His face relaxed and he gave her a smile. "Sounds great. I love you so much, Emily." Derek whispered walking around and giving her a soft kiss.
"I love you too, but go back to work before you get your ass fired." Emily said, returning the kiss. "I'll be fine." Her phone blinked and she grabbed it, getting to her feet quickly. "Back to work, Derek. We have a case."
Derek's heart stopped watching Emily head out of her office to talk to Penelope and Dave. He walked down the stairs and grabbed Matt by the bicep and pulled him into the alcove.
Matt stared at the older man and looked around nervously. "Umm, hi Derek." He said, confusion written on his face and in his voice. "What can I help you with?"
Turning so his back was shielding them, Derek took a deep breath. "Emily is pregnant. We haven't told anyone yet because it's early. She's only seven and a half weeks pregnant, but we've tried really really hard for this pregnancy. I know JJ already knows, but she's Emily's best friend and she's going to side with Emily with everything. I need a man in the fight. I need someone to watch out for Emily when she's in the field." He said quietly.
The younger man smiled and reached for his hand, shaking it strongly. "Congrats Derek, that's great. Is it a secret? Like should I be telling anyone?"
"We don't want to tell anyone until after the first trimester. Emily is a high risk pregnancy and we don't want to jinx it." He looked at Matt and exhaled loudly. "But I can't go on cases with you guys, so I need you to keep an eye out for her, alright? Make sure she doesn't do anything stupid. Or impulsive."
Matt laughed softly, a gentle smile on his lips. "Isn't Emily's middle name impulsive?" He asked. "But I will do my best to keep an eye on her." He assured Derek. "I know the feeling of having a pregnant wife and not being there to take care of her."
Nodding, Derek ran his hand over his face. "Thanks. Just don't tell her that I asked you to do this. Or that I think that she needs to be taken care of."
"Sure." He looked around Derek and spotted everyone heading up to the briefing room. "I gotta go, but I'll keep an eye on her." Taking the steps two by two, he slid in and listened to the briefing, nodding as Emily said that they were on their way to LA.
He was thrilled for his boss and Derek that they were expecting, but he understood where Derek was coming from. He witnessed first hand Emily's abilities in the field, but also her impulsiveness. Matt couldn't help but steal a glance Emily's way as they settled on the jet. He knew pregnancy, hell, Kristy had been pregnant three times already and looking closely, he saw the gentle glow that usually graced pregnant women. It suited Emily. Smiling to himself, he focused back on the file on his tablet.
They landed and he headed off to the crime scene with Rossi, Emily staying at the precinct with Tara and Luke while JJ and Reid headed to the coroner's office. He was ready to tell Tara to keep an eye out on Emily, but he wasn't ready to break that trust just yet.
By the end of the evening they had a preliminary profile that they had discussed with the local LEOs, but would give to the whole police department tomorrow. They headed out for a bite to eat and a drink before heading to bed, no one noticing that Emily was without her normal glass of red wine. The next morning they headed back to the police precinct bright and early to talk to the local police chief and his men. They had a suspect and they hoped to have the case wrapped up quickly.
Emily brushed her hair off her face before going in to speaking with the family of one of the victims. She was good at that part of the job, even great. She had good people skills and could deal with people dealing with their own trauma. She was also great at interrogating people of interest, but that was more because she liked to see people sweat.
A few hours later, Luke and Rossi brought in their person of interest and left him in the interrogation room. If this was their unsub, he was a sexual sadist with a hatred toward women in power. It was an easy choice for Emily to make to interview the man. She had been in this position a thousand times before. She could play dumb if she needed, that one was always a bit harder for her. Flirting? That was easy. But this one, this one she got to be herself. Strong, powerful, and in charge.
Walking into the interrogation room, Emily leaned against the wall and looked down at the man, a look of disgust and disdain in her eyes. He was dirt beneath her boots. "We know you did it. Just confess, you're too dumb to actually hide it from us." She said, her snarl perfected. She inhaled and the scent of his cologne sent her stomach rolling. She hadn't had very many aversions yet. Pepperoni pizza, frying ground beef, and their cinnamon toothpaste were the only three aversions sha had, but his cologne. It was so strong she had to take a step back to calm her stomach.
It was that half second step that he used against her. He was across the room, the table flying with him, pressed against Emily, his hand around her neck. Pinned against the wall, the table and the man pressing against her, she struggled to kick him off of her when the door flew open and Luke and Matt were in there, tossing the man aside.
Panic washed over her and she exited the interrogation room quickly. "Emily, are you okay?" Rossi asked, laying a fatherly hand on her shoulder.
Oh she fucked up.
"Y-Yeah." She mumbled, her voice shaking. "I'm fine."
Physically, she was fine at least. Brushing her shirt, she used the motion to rest her hands for the slightest moment over her still flat abdomen.
"How about you go get a drink of water and I'll go back in with you?" Tara suggested. "We'll leave Matt and Luke in the corner."
Emily nodded and went and grabbed a bottle of water, taking small sips. Once her hands stopped shaking, she rolled her shoulders and gave Tara a nod. They had a job to do.
"You sure you're okay?" JJ asked Emily softly. They sat away from everyone else on the jet, allowing them the slightest bit of privacy.
Sighing, Emily nodded slowly. "Yeah I think so. I mean…" She pressed the heel of her hand against her forehead before leaning back against the chair.
"It wasn't your fault. No one could have predicted he was going to do that." JJ sipped her coffee, her blue eyes set on her friend across from her.
Emily's hands fluttered over her abdomen, her eyes darting around before her hands stayed there. "I know."
"You gonna tell Derek?"
Rolling her eyes, Emily brought one of her hands up to her mouth and she chewed on her nail nervously. "Doubt I'll have to." She said her eyes landing on three of the men who were sitting behind them. Rossi, Matt, and Reid all looked away quickly, pretending to be busy with other things.
"I'm sure Derek already knows."
JJ nodded, tucking her legs up under her. "I'm surprised he hasn't called you yet, or texted you."
Emily's eyebrows arched. "He's probably seething and stewing in the office."
"You don't think he went home?"
"Oh, even if he did, he's back at the office now." Emily said with a sigh.
And she was right. They walked onto the BAU floor and Penelope emerged from her den with an apologetic look on her face. Derek stormed out of her office and stood on the mezzanine, leaning on the railing, his eyes following Emily as she walked up to her office. He was behind her, a large dark shadow. She could feel his anger washing off of him in waves.
"It wasn't my fault." Emily said, placing the file on her desk. "We had a profile and I had to go in and interview him."
"Alone?"
"Derek, I don't need a babysitter. How was that going to look to the unsub? That the head of the BAU, the unit chief, needed someone to watch over her? Derek, let's be realistic here." Emily sighed and leaned back against her desk.
Glowering, Derek grabbed her arm, his fingers tightening around her forearm. "Let's go." He tugged, only slowing as he felt Emily reach for her bag.
"Ugh, let me grab my stuff, Derek." She pulled back.
His hand released quickly and Emily looked up, finding Rossi in the doorway, the look on his face dark and dangerous.
"Derek, go take a walk." He said, his voice low so the rest of the tea couldn't overhear. Taking a step between them, Rossi putting his body between his and Emily's. "And I never, ever, want to see you grabbing Emily like that again. Ever."
Emily laid her hand on Rossi's shoulder and shook her head. "He wasn't hurting me, Dave. It's okay."
Turning, Rossi shook his head. "He needs to calm down, Emily. I know from experience that when your emotions are high like this, nothing good will come from it. Let me drive you home and you two can talk after."
Derek shook his head and turned on his heel, storming out of the office. He blew past his friends and out the door, taking the SUV that they drove in together.
Pressing her fingers to her temples, Emily sighed. "He wasn't going to hurt me." She said grabbing her bag and slinging it over her shoulder.
"I know, belissima, but he needs to gather his thoughts, and you're exhausted from the case. Nothing good can come of you two fighting with your emotions high like that. But I'll drive you home and you two can talk." Rossi shrugged and followed Emily down the stairs and out to his vehicle. Climbing in, Emily placed her bag at her feet, her jacket over the back of the seat.
"Thanks, Dave."
He shrugged and started his car. "You pick up a few things when you've been married three times." He gave Emily a gentle smile, pulling out of the underground garage.
"I guess so." She smiled, playing with her phone nervously on her lap.
They drove in silence, Rossi turning on the radio quietly. Pulling into their driveway, he turned off the engine and gave Emily a smile. "I'll grab your bag."
Nodding, Emily got up, reaching for her purse. Rossi's eyes flickered down and at his boss, before looking away. "Emily, dear, I don't mean to be impolite but you appear to be bleeding. It's on your sweater." He watched as her eyes grew wide and her face paled.
"Dave. I...I need you to call Derek and JJ and tell them to meet us at the hospital." She said, her voice wavering despite its strength. "I need to call the hospital."
"Emily...what's going on."
She sighed heavily, sitting on the front seat. "Dave, I'm pregnant and I might be miscarrying."