A/N: Hey y'all... For this chapter, I've actually incorporated quite a bit of dialogue from the show. I know that some people hate that, but I really felt that exploring the thoughts behind the dialogue seemed necessary for this chapter. Anyways, enjoy the read.

Mid-June 2007

Coffee… The only thing on her mind. Emily had tossed, turned even rolled out of her bed multiple times during the night, trying to find some weird position where she could pass out. To say that she felt fully rested would be an understatement. Her stomach churned, and the left side of her forehead throbbed from a sleepless headache as she stood anxiously in the elevator. Hotch's gruelling two-week suspension had finally lifted, and the man was due to return to work. Emily had purposely arrived late, knowing that he would most likely have a meeting with Strauss, after that, she wished to announce to Hotch of her resignation.

She knew how incredibly confused he would be, and Emily would rather him be confused than her having to explain to him the circumstances behind her departure- which she knew at some point he'd ask. Figuring that the meeting with Strauss wouldn't take long, Emily travelled straight to his office. At least if he wasn't back, she could just wait on his sofa. However, as she approached the room, Strauss' voice filtered out, and Emily heard the end of, "that'll get you home at a reasonable hour."

On any other day, Emily would have hesitated and stood outside the door, but she figured that she could kill two birds with one stone. Strauss would have to find out one way or another. Both superiors simply stared at her, a mixture of surprise, confusion and the tiniest hint of fear displayed from Strauss. "Sorry, to interrupt…" Emily started, glancing over at Strauss before turning her attention back to Hotch, "Sir, I've decided to resign from the FBI. Effective immediately." His harsh frown softened, and Emily could evidently see his eyes calculating in confusion.

Aaron's thought process went from 'What the hell is Prentiss doing here?' to 'What the hell is she thinking?'. "I don't understand."

Emily's lips faltered for a moment. He genuinely didn't have a clue as to why she was handing in her resignation, and she preferred for it to stay that way, "I'm taking the foreign service exam. With my connections, I stand a good chance of landing in the state department."

Without hesitation, Hotch stated, "Prentiss, I think that's a mistake." There was no way in hell that he would let her leave the unit without investigating further. He had learnt to know Prentiss' behaviour. When the woman wanted something, she let you know about it. The way she'd begged Hotch for this job, how Emily determinedly said that she'd accompany him to the burn unit… Prentiss wouldn't just all throw it away. Something had obviously changed.

"Well… Don't try to talk me out of it, Garcia already saw my name on the list and she already tried." Emily explained. She could feel his intense, but calculating gaze upon her, analysing her nervous body language, digging into her inner thoughts. Prentiss let out a nervous laugh, "if she can't talk somebody out of doing something, no one can."

At that moment, everything clicked in place for Aaron. He shot a foul glance to the section chief sitting on the sofa. It was the only thing that seemed to make sense. Prentiss wouldn't just leave the unit out of her own doing, not unless somebody was pressuring her to leave. Or… Pressuring her to do something she didn't want to do.

Emily continued, "sorry for the interruption," before turning on her heel to walk out the door. However, she stopped in her tracks, "but sir, it's good to see you back." And Emily genuinely meant that. The last few cases without Hotch had just felt odd, and his absence had significantly rusted the teams 'well-oiled machine'. "The team needs you…" Emily shot one last glance to the Section Chief on the sofa, meeting her ice-cold eyes, "ma'am."

Hotch's eyes followed Emily as she walked out the door. Little did she know that the team desperately needed her too, with her quick and witty responses, her intellect and incredible talent for linguistics and language. His heart suddenly felt heavy, realising that she wouldn't be a part of the team anymore. Hotch had grown to like her. He'd seen agents leave the unit in his many years of profiling, but with Prentiss, it felt wrong to see her walk away because of the one other person in the room.

Strauss.

"I'll be overseeing this case until I can assign a replacement."

"You don't have any field experience, do you?" Hotch retorted quickly.

"My job is to protect the bureau. If I have to hold the team's hand for one case, so be it." Strauss stated as she stood up, brushing her hands past her dress.

"Ma'am, in order for this team to function effectively, this team needs stability." Hotch almost begged her. The mere thought of the team being led by Strauss made Hotch want to roll his eyes. He knew better than anybody that she had no clue what to do in the field or how press conferences worked or how to talk to grieving families. The team would suffer in her presence.

"The BAU has some very talented people in their bureau assets. And I believe that it's time that they were out from under you and Jason Gideon." Hotch nodded his head with that hint of sarcasm. This had been her plan all along. She exited the room, leaving Hotch deep in his thoughts.

Emily must have been the one Strauss manipulated to oust Hotch out of his throne. Why else would she choose to resign? He rested his head in his hands, knowing full well that he needed to speak to Prentiss desperately.

A pleasant nap seemed to have buzzed some life back into Emily. She felt so much better talking to Hotch, but a part of her knew that it wasn't the end. He had questions, and it would only be a matter of time before Emily would be required to answer. She craved a wine, so she travelled to the kitchen, switching on some upbeat music in the process before she heard a short, but sharp knock.

Who the hell wanted to visit her? It better not be her mother.

Prentiss scoffed to herself as she glanced through the peephole, before opening the door for him. Emily knew he had questions, but she wasn't expecting them so soon. And she didn't expect him to show up at her apartment to ask in person.

"Can I come in?" Hotch asked after a moment of analysing her. Prentiss quirked a brow before stepping aside and letting him into her personal space. After the morning he'd had, it felt refreshing to be in a completely new environment. As he walked down the entranceway, he smelt incense, the flavour he wouldn't have had a clue. The door shut behind him and Hotch wasted no time in speaking to Prentiss, "The team needs us, they are working a case in Milwaukee." The brunette shut off the music, "Gideon hasn't shown up and don't tell me you quit, or I put in for a transfer."

Emily's mouth dropped open. She hadn't realised that Hotch had transferred. That must have been what the conversation earlier that morning was about with Strauss. "You put in for a transfer?" She asked him in disbelief.

"They're both still hung up in the system, so technically we are in dereliction of duty by not being there." He watched as Prentiss shook her head from side to side as she glanced around her room.

Emily seriously couldn't stand another minute of Strauss. A wave of anxiety passed over her at the possibility of returning to work. She'd started accepting the fact that she didn't work for the BAU anymore, now Hotch arrives at her apartment, requesting that she travel to Milwaukee with him.

She just couldn't do it.

"I'm sorry. I can't go."

Hotch gazed at her for a moment, all hope of getting her back twirling down the drain. It was worth the shot, but if Prentiss didn't want to come, then he wasn't about to force her to. He nodded, accepting her decision before turning on his heel and heading for the door, "I'm sorry I barged in."

However, Emily was incredibly confused. He had no questions for her? And he wanted her to come on a case? There had to be another reason why he was here, "wait, wait." She stated, holding up a hand, "Can I ask?" She huffed at the stupidity of their situation, "why are you really here?"

He strolled into her kitchen; his lost hope being sucked back into him like a nail's attraction to a magnet. However, he was stumped as to how to answer the question. There were many reasons why he had visited, the main one being asking her to come to Milwaukee, but he also needed her to know that she didn't have to leave because of Strauss. "I told you." He said simply.

Emily pursed her lips together, glancing down at the ground before meeting his eyes again. It was clear as day that he knew the truth, so she cocked her head to one side and quirked an eyebrow, forcing him to elaborate.

"I think Strauss came to you and asked for dirt on me." Dang… He didn't miss a beat, did he? Emily nodded her head nimbly, looking at anything but Hotch.

At her response, Hotch knew that he'd hit the nail on the head. "Why would she do that?" Emily asked, the anger protruding in her voice.

"I think, if you have your eye on top leadership at the FBI, you might wanna know who might stand in your way."

Emily opened her mouth, moving closer to the kitchen. "Anndd… What could I have told her?"

Hotch replied sharply, "that one of my agents might have murdered a suspect in cold blood." Emily quirked an eyebrow as she nervously tapped a hand against her thigh, "or another might have a serious drug problem which I didn't report, and if Strauss had any evidence, my career would be over."

Her dark eyes drifted to the floor, and her expression softened before nodding. She could have told Strauss all of that, but she didn't. No matter how competitive or daring Emily could be, she would never be so competitive to the point where she became malicious. "I think she put you on this team and expected something in return and to your credit, you quit… Rather than whisper in her ear."

Emily looked at Hotch in surprise. Was he acknowledging that she'd saved his career, or was she just imagining it?

They shared a moment of eye contact, her disbelieving reaction telling Hotch that his suspicions were utterly correct. "I told you." She stated quietly, "I HATE politics."

"Come to Milwaukee," Hotch demanded in a soft tone. Perhaps now that they'd acknowledged the elephant in the room, she'd reconsider her options. But she shook her head, obviously already set in her ways, "I'll make you a deal, if your ready bag isn't here, packed… I won't bug you anymore." His voice fell to a whisper at the end, focusing on her reaction. She avoided eye contact as she considered the first option. Then Hotch continued, "If it is, I want you on that plane with me. One more case."

Emily's mouth fell open for the umpteenth time that morning. She simply couldn't believe the circumstances. Hotch was giving her another chance at the career she loved. Would it be stupid to just throw it all away and move into linguistics? She couldn't help but shake her head and let out an indecisive sigh. The one thing Emily needed was time. It was one thing resigning from your job, it was another thing to 're-join' that job hours after quitting. "I already turned in my badge and my gun," Emily said, trying to find any reason to not return.

"That's just hardware…" Hotch said, momentarily raising his brow. Damn him for justifying every reason why she should go. Emily took a second to glance at the door before running upstairs to grab her ready bag. How much more harm could one more case add to the team's already fractured reputation?

He watched as she ran up, smirking to himself at his little achievement. Hotch knew better than anyone that this still wasn't permanent, and Prentiss could easily transfer to linguistics at the end of this case, especially considering how damn stubborn the woman could be. But a part of him hoped that she'd stay with the unit.

She returned moments later in changed clothes more suitable for the job and with a ready bag draped over her shoulder. Raising an eyebrow at him, she asked, "You ready?" He nodded, and she followed him to the door, switching off the lights and grabbing her keys. "So…" Emily muttered as she locked the front door, "what's Madam Strauss' take going to be on this?"

Hotch sucked in a breath before following alongside Emily down the corridor, "I guess we are about to find out…"

The brunette shot a glance to her superior, wanting to laugh and stare at him in disbelief, "she's not… on the case… Is she?" Aaron sent Emily the 'So help me, God' glare and Emily could have sworn that the pit in her stomach grew larger. "Great. This is going to be great." She told herself.

Flying commercially was something hard adjusting to after flying on a private jet for so long. Emily tapped her fingernails impatiently on her go-bag as she and Hotch waited in the security line- which unfortunately happened to be 10 million miles long. People kept getting buzzed, bags would have to be retested, arguments were occurring between groups. It drove Emily nuts.

She glanced over to Hotch, perfectly stoic faced and silent as he always was. His eyes were intently dotting around everyone in the line, watching for any suspicious activity. The frown on her face deepened; Emily would never be able to understand his patience in the airport. In the time they had been standing, she could have read over the Milwaukee case file. But no. To be reading over a confidential case in an airport security line amongst hundreds of flying customers was just a little inappropriate.

To make matters worse for herself, her 'resignation' hadn't fallen through yet, which technically meant that she was still a part of the BAU. It irritated her. She could have been home studying for the foreign service exam. However, Hotch had to come knocking on the door, asking her to join him for one last case.

Just one more… She heard him say in her head.

"I hate this…" She muttered under her breath. Hotch had been noticing the brunette becoming increasingly frustrated; fidgeting profusely, sighing every few seconds. Her impatience had been a source of entertainment. It obviously hadn't been a strong virtue- particularly in airports.

"Relax Prentiss… I'd say 10 more minutes before we get through." He stated, watching a young couple ease smoothly through one of the body scanners.

She rolled her eyes, "You said that 20 minutes ago."

"No, 20 minutes ago, I said it would take half an hour." He retorted back sarcastically. The woman scratched the back of her head, scowling.

She was glad he wasn't biting her head off for what Strauss had asked of her. Hotch seemed to have connected the dots quickly, well… It wasn't tricky to when there were only a handful of factors as to why someone would randomly resign. "Sorry,…" He shot a glance over, bemused. "Standing around waiting when I could be doing something more productive doesn't always bode well for me."

"You mean, being at home studying for the foreign service exam?" Emily opened her mouth but quickly shut it, pursing her lips together. "You seriously weren't considering that, were you?" He imagined Prentiss working amazingly in any profession she set her mind to, but both knew that the field was where she belonged.

"I still am." Emily retorted back. "I'm sorry to disappoint you, but just because I'm working on this one last case doesn't mean that I'm permanently staying."

Hotch turned so that he faced her, light hazel meeting dark marron. "Prentiss… I know what Strauss has done to you. Me not knowing about it meant that she could manipulate all of us, but this case is a chance to prove to her that we can work perfectly as a team." Hotch paused, moving forward in the queue. "Just because she's been bullying you doesn't mean you have to leave."

Prentiss furrowed her brow. Was he begging her to stay? "I know…" She replied after a few minutes. "I just… I'm over her antics."

A moment of silence fell between them. Hotch had to admit too that he was nearly at the end of his tether with Strauss, but he would refuse to let her take away or break apart the acceptable agents the team consisted of. "I want you to consider staying." He told her seriously, "think about it."

The brunette stood there for a moment, slowly nodding her head. "I will."

After what felt like years to Emily, they finally made it through to the scanners. Hotch laughed as Emily got buzzed and had to be padded down head to toe by a middle-aged bald guy- much to her disgust. He, on the other hand, got through squeaky clean.

"Come on, can I go now?" He could hear her protesting.

"May I ask why you have a holster without a firearm?"

She visibly sighed, this explanation was going to be tricky. "I work for the FBI… And before you ask for my badge, I don't have it on me…"

"And the firearm?"

God, this guy was relentless. Maybe it was better just to lie. "Look… I live in Milwaukee, okay. And I only have a limited amount of space in my bag, so it's easier if I just wear my holster until I return home." The guy still seemed confused as hell but figured since there were no weapons in her bag that she was completely harmless.

She snatched the bag and practically speed-walked up to Hotch who glanced at her with that smirk twitching. "I didn't know you moved to Milwaukee Prentiss…"

Emily gritted her teeth and ignored him, instead figuring out what gate they needed to be at. The last thing they needed at this moment in time was catching a flight to the wrong state.

The brunette watched on with sadness as a police officer escorted the young little boy with bright blue eyes and sandy blonde hair into a cruiser. Why some people had the nerve to expose their children to the horrors of violence and murder, Emily would never understand. Hopefully, for young David, he wouldn't turn out like the psychopathic jerk his father was, and Emily hoped to God there would be people around that could support him.

She winced in pain as the medic pressed a bandage tightly onto her wound, dragging Emily back to reality. After everything that'd happened, the woman felt nothing but an immense sense of relief. Had it not been for Hotch, Emily might never have found her passion for profiling again. Not even the petty argument with Strauss moments earlier could deter her away.

Screw Strauss.

She spotted Hotchner approaching the ambulance, "How's your head?"

It had been a dangerously close call. Prentiss could have easily been knocked out cold, and he hated to think of the consequences had that happened. But thankfully, she seemed okay, albeit he felt slightly concerned at the extensive amount of blood dripping down the side of her head; it looked painful.

"I'll live…" Prentiss finally replied. "Is it weird that I'm glad to be back?" Sitting in the ambulance had given her a chance to finally think after the crazy day that'd passed. Firstly resigning, secondly being asked to help with a case, and thirdly getting struck in the head with timber.

And now she realised that this was the reason why she fell in love with the job.

Emily lived for the adrenaline. Enjoyed the thrill of being able to catch the bad guy and get revenge. The immense relief she felt when she saved a child saddened her, but it put a smile on her face, knowing that one less kid was suffering. And most importantly, she loved working with the team. This is where she was meant to be…

Hotch nodded, internally joyous that Emily was giving herself a second chance staying in the unit. He had not revealed to her how grateful he was for her not betraying him or even attempting to destroy his career. It showed the depth of her loyalty to the team as well as the trust she'd built over the last several months. Her skill set, knowledge and presence were invaluable to them. And though he would never admit it, he enjoyed talking to her. The budding friendship they had grew with each day.

So, he stated, "I'll make sure it stays official." And he genuinely meant that. Strauss would never stand in the way of them again.

On the jet home, the effects of the drugs the paramedics had gifted to Emily were starting to fade, and her head began to throb violently. So, she took the chance to lay down on one of the long sofas, swallowing a couple more pills. The great thing when it came to the jet is that it could get you anywhere in the shortest amount of time possible. And for Emily, she couldn't wait to get back home.

Everybody else on the jet were busy doing their own thing, even Strauss tried catching some shut-eye. Hotch, on the other hand, kept a close eye on Emily. She genuinely didn't look too flash. From his seat, he saw her limbs tremble, and her eyes tightly shut. He'd had his fair share of concussions in his lifetime and knew the immense pain they could trigger. Figuring that the jet had that tinge of ice to it, he travelled into the aft cabin, grabbing a light blanket to drape over Emily.

Her eyes flickered open, and she mustered a small smile, saying thank you before shutting her eyes tightly again. "Do you need anything else?"

Emily hummed a 'no', and Hotch nodded, walking back to his seat.

There was no way he wanted to transfer from this unit… He enjoyed it too much; it had become his oxygen. The next trickiest part involved convincing Haley that staying in the BAU was the best option. And somehow… In his gut, he knew it would be no easy feat.

A/N: Please review if you can! They mean a lot to me. Thanks again, Guys!