Authors Note and Disclaimer: This is a fan-made work of fiction: I don't own Criminal Minds or any of the main characters.
I know my timing for the plot is a little bit off - but I'm feeling inspired.
Kindest of thankyous to all of the favourites/follows/reviews. You're all a blessing!
Chapter Six: The Retention
The BAU had been through a lot; especially when it came to loss.
Luke was tough; he had always been pretty unbreakable.
He'd seen more than he'd cared to admit to everyone at the BAU. He'd been through Iraq, he'd been through the Rangers...
And then, Jeremy Grant happened.
Nothing had ever gotten to Luke before; not like this, anyway; but the feeling that flooded through his body when he found his deceased best friend was indescribable.
Indescribable.
Aside from when his Dad died, it was the worst day of Luke's life.
Phil was everything to him, and now, he was gone; he was a brother, he was a friend, he was a rock.
Luke was crushed.
He walked into the BAU, with little Lou in tow, handed the puppy off to Penelope; received condolences from Matt and JJ… he walked past Tara, Reid and Rossi, and they all held themselves back in approaching him.
What could they say to make anything better? What could they change?
Luke headed to Emily's office.
They hadn't really talked since their hand hold after Dina Carter's case.
Was it romantic?
Luke certainly wasn't sure.
Perhaps, Emily wasn't sure either?
If he went to Emily because she was his boss; that was one thing.
If he went to her because he wanted her - that was another.
But, Luke certainly had enough on his mind; and the thought of Emily Prentiss hadn't pressed him yet.
-0-
"Hey, I was just about to find you"
Emily opened her door at just the right time.
His eyes were dark, but they were cold and empty; almost broken.
They met hers, but this wasn't the spark at O'Keefe's; this was dead.
"Can we talk?" Luke asked.
His teeth were gritted, and she had never seen him look so hollow.
He was fuming; she wanted to hug him, but she wouldn't dare reach across.
They were at work, and as far as Emily was concerned, Luke had no idea had much she had thought about him lately.
They came into her office; he sat in a chair and she stood beside him.
"I can't keep you on this case"
"I understand" he had said.
But they both knew.
Luke was mad, absolutely brutal. He was so angry, and he wanted Jeremy Grant's head on a stick.
Emily knew it too.
She just thought he was better than that.
That he was stronger than her.
She had gone after Doyle.
Hotch had gone after Foyet.
JJ had fought Izzy Rogers, and Tivon Askari.
Morgan had gone after Chazz Montolo.
What did she expect?
Of course, Luke would go after Jeremy Grant.
But so much had happened recently: and she didn't want to be harsh: but, ever since Linda Barnes had tried to break the team, she had been swore to follow correct protocol.
She was trying to do the right thing.
She had to stand in her line.
-0-
But, Emily was shaking when she hopped out of the car.
She didn't feel strong at all.
Thankfully Matt was able to console Luke, take the gun from his hands, and arrest Jeremy Grant.
How it hurt her to see him so broken, so torn. So conflicted with the power of ended Jeremy Grant's life in his hands.
Emily put her own gun into its holster, and stepped forward.
"You defied a direct order" she said.
She tried to keep her voice soft, but she knew it came through painstakingly harsh.
Luke's eyes were the darkest shade of black she had ever seen them.
That smooth, melted chocolate look that normally sparkled - was completely gone.
He was pissed off, and absolutely broken inside.
She gulped; with the biggest lump in her throat.
"I can't let this slide" she put her hands on her hips.
He just nodded sadly.
"Is that clear?"
Nothing.
"Is that clear?"
"Yeah", he nodded sadly, for the second time.
"You're lucky you didn't shoot him, otherwise you'd be gone for good".
Emily spun on her heel, hopped back into the car with Matt and slammed the door shut.
Emily started the car, and reversed, leaving the clearest view of Luke in the front windshield as they drove away from him.
It broke her heart to reprimand him, but she knew if she wanted to stay in the Bureau's good books too - it had to be done.
The car ride home was mostly in silence.
"Are you okay?" Matt asked her.
She didn't speak, but shook her head instead.
Matt reached his hand across and squeezed her knee comfortingly - he just wanted her to know that she wasn't alone.
Meanwhile, Luke, who was indeed all alone in the marina, had crumbled into his own heap on the floor.
Little did Luke know - that tears began to fall softly from Emily's eyes, as she cried beside Matt the whole trip home.
Her fingers imprinted the steering wheel as she fought her guilt.
It hurt.
-0-
When she got home, she threw her bag down, and headed straight to her shower.
She lathered herself in hot water and scrubbed until she could barely feel her red-raw skin.
She wiped hands over her eyes, and barely recognized herself in the mirror.
Her heart hadn't stopped pounding.
She sculled a bottle of water as quickly as she possibly could, and went to bed - also, as quickly as she could.
She was punishing herself.
She wasn't tired, but she forced herself to sleep.
-0-
"Em"
She shivered.
These days… he was the only one who called her that.
Emily was frozen in place with her back to the desk.
Her heart hadn't stopped pounding.
This was crazy.
This was a dream.
She needed to wake up before anything else happened.
She unconsciously bit her bottom lip.
His hand was still on the doorknob, and she watched cautiously, as he then reached for the lock.
He clicked it shut.
"Luke" she whispered.
He stared at her, longingly.
There was a beat.
A pause.
Before he walked over to her, wrapped both his hands around her, picked her up into the air and kissed her - hard.
Lips locking in this perfect melody that could make Emily die happy right then and there.
She wrapped her arms around his neck, and their kisses were consumed between furious gasps.
Her legs went around his hips, his strong arms against her butt, gripping her hard.
Lifting her up and holding her close, so close - that there was barely a space between them...
The kisses continued - deep, and breathless. Their eyes closed, as if life was a melody and their kiss was a song.
But, then, there was also this frenzied, desperate, quickness.
This had to be quick.
If it wasn't - and they got caught - they were screwed.
Fraternizing on the job was practically an instant dismissal - and that would be the most awkward walk of shame to have to tell the rest of the BAU.
One of her hands reached behind her, against the desk, and he leaned her across it.
Files and books hitting the floor with a loud clunk, like a cliched romantic movie scene.
Emily fumbled with the buttons on his shirt, practically ripping it open - revealing the standard six pack she imagined he had.
He pulled off her leather jacket, revealing her blouse underneath.
She flung that quickly over her head before returning to kissing him again.
She fumbled with his belt and his zipper, too distracted by his lips to really focus.
Her purple bra teasing him, perky nipples underneath.
His boxer shorts teasing her, just as much.
She played with the bulge in his jeans, mercifully, while he moaned sweet nothings against her ear.
Hot breath on her neck, making her shiver and tingle at the same time.
She felt him up, as his length grew against the palms of her hands; stroking him as their lips continued their furious kisses.
She kept her bra on, but her underwear slid down.
For whatever reason she was wearing a skirt today, she wasn't sure. She never wore a skirt, but she was wearing one today.
Finally she'd had enough teasing— and she pulled his boxers slowly down, finally revealing his long, thick member for the first time.
Not that even of them were really paying attention to anything other than kissable lips.
Luke was kissing along her jawline and neck, continuing to make her shiver, while she moaned and stroked him to the point of precum trickling down.
She was wet just thinking about him; oh how his cock would throb inside of her body.
He had both hands at her hips, pulling her close.
Her legs spread apart and he entered her.
Right then and there, on the desk in her office.
It was rough and deep; and she gasped at the pressure.
Emily woke up sweating.
It was a dream.
It was just a dream.
What a ridiculous dream.
She hadn't had a sexy dream in so long… but even then, Luke of all people?
Her crush wasn't going away, was it?
Emily sat up in her bed; the room cold, but her stomach warm.
She felt empty, but also weirdly satisfied.
She ran her fingers through her own hair, her breathing heavy, and her thoughts tousled.
On this particular night – sleep didn't reach her again.