"I'm rather glad that we were able to come over before heading home, Erin. There's something I wish to discuss with you."
Erin frowned as she looked up into Aaron's eyes. Jessica was putting Catherine down for her afternoon nap, while David and the children had gone outside to play in the yard, which left them alone for the moment. "What do you need to talk about?" she asked as she scooted over on the sofa to make room for him on the end.
He took a seat and let out a long breath as he regarded her closely. "I don't really know how to form this question in the right way. Because what I have are suppositions and nothing more, and I don't want to start pigeon holing my ideas, so I'm going to try and present this as neutrally as I possibly can, and hope that I don't bias you one way or the other."
She nodded as she reached forward, picking up her mug of tea and taking a slow sip before replying. "All right, let me hear this thing you want to discuss."
"I think that there is something going on with Emily, and I don't know what to make of it. She has started to have that thousand yard stare at times when she thinks that no one from the team is watching her, and that is entirely unlike her. This behavior has started to become more pronounced over the last few weeks, but it isn't interfering with her work ethic at the moment. Which is why I'm hesitant to try and read more into the situation than the facts that I can see right now. Because we have to rely on facts for our job."
"That is correct, Aaron. Now, when did this odd behavior start?" she asked as she turned to look at him, trying to read his expressions to the best of her ability, knowing that he was close to Agent Prentiss.
"Last week, when we were working that case out west. It wasn't quite as bad then, but it appears to have gotten a little worse in the short time between then and now."
"Are you planning on keeping tabs on her?"
Aaron shrugged as he let out a long breath. "I think that she would know if I was the one to watch her a little more closely, but I can try to keep an eye on her in the field."
From the hangdog expression on his face, Erin knew that the next thing he was going to ask was that she would also be one to look out for any off behavior from Emily. Sighing deeply, Erin took another sip of tea before levelling her gaze on him once more. "And you want me to start looking into her behavior when the team is home?"
"Would you? I know that it might make all the difference, because sometimes eyes outside of the team can pick up on things that we overlook because we're so accustomed to the way that she works, that she can cover easily. It was only by accident that I caught the troubling behaviour, and I want to know if this is something I should be concerned about or not. I doubt that this is fallout from JJ leaving us, but since Emily is still so secretive, I can't be certain."
"So, you're saying that Emily is a lot like us, in that she doesn't talk to people about her feelings."
Aaron nodded before blowing out his cheeks in a long breath. "I think that she talks, or rather, talked, to JJ, but I'm not certain if that is still the case or not. I know that she's busy with the State Department, and Emily is busy working cases with us. That leads to precious little time to get together for chats that friends like to indulge in. Plus, there's Henry to think of, as well. JJ has always tried to put her son first, and sometimes, I think that she puts me to shame in that regard, since I've always been a workaholic, much to our children's detriment."
Erin frowned deeper as she set her mug back on the coffee table before reaching out and taking hold of his hand. "Aaron Hotchner, you are a wonderful father who has done the best with the awful hand that Fate has dealt you. You've loved Elise as best you could, given how I kept her from you for the first few years of her life. And Jack worships the ground you walk on. While I may not talk about myself, I am more than willing to talk about you and how amazing you are as a father. And I know that David appreciates your friendship so much."
Aaron squeezed her hand tightly as he nodded. "Well, if we're going to discuss each other, I have to let you know that you are a wonderful mother who has clearly shown that she would lay down her life to protect her children, even one that she's allowed to call her aunt. Elise is who you would be if you hadn't faced the challenges of life that you had, and the fact that she so easily loves is a testament to how much love you and Dave show her. And I know that Jessica loves having you in her life. While you'll never be Haley, you are like a sister to her."
She blinked back tears as she tried to find something to say in response, but knew that if she opened her mouth in that moment, she might burst into tears. A throat cleared behind them, and she relaxed to recognize the sound. "How much will you two pay me for keeping this mushy little lovefest under wraps?" Jessica teased as she sauntered into the living room, taking a seat next to Erin and dropping her head onto her shoulder.
"You have my eternal gratitude that you don't speak of my softness outside this house," she replied tartly, and Jessica giggled as she nodded. "But does Aaron have it right? Are you my dearest friend?"
Jessica nodded as she scooted a little closer to Erin's side, picking up her hand so that she could thread their fingers together. "I know that you are dear to me, that we bonded due to our shared trauma and love for Jack and Elise. Plus, you've told me things that I'll never repeat to anyone else, on pain of death, so you're rather stuck with me as your adopted adult sister." Erin said nothing when Jessica pressed a quick kiss to the side of her head, instead deciding to shoot Aaron a look that she hoped said she wouldn't tolerate that becoming general knowledge around the office. "Why don't you go outside and rescue Dave? The kids are ganging up on him, and he needs another adult to keep the kiddos in line."
"You just want to get rid of me and talk to Erin."
"You know me well, Aaron." They both giggled as the man rolled his eyes affectionately at them before he got up and left the room. "I think that I've met someone," Jessica said as soon as they heard the door to the outside close.
"Would this be the same person that you were talking to the other day when I called to ask about Jack?"
She nodded as she let out a heartfelt sigh. "I'm torn, I guess. For the last few years, my whole life has revolved around Haley, and you, and the kids. I haven't really thought about my life outside of that, and it's a little scary."
"Do you want me to have Penelope do a background check on him?"
"Her. And yes and no? I don't want to scare her away, since we've only just started seriously talking on the phone. We haven't even met in real life yet. If it gets that serious, then we can revisit this topic?"
"Of course. And now I get to play the part of the overprotective big sister and tell you that if she hurts you, I reserve the right to meet her in a dark parking lot with a clue by four. Just to talk, you know."
Jessica choked on her laughter before nodding and rubbing her cheek against Erin's shoulder. "Haley would have told me the same thing, since I told her much the same when she and Aaron married. It's so nice to have you in my life."
"I'm glad that we have this friendship, too, Jess," she whispered as she squeezed Jessica's hand softly, happiness settling around her shoulders like a warm blanket.