(1 Month Later Derek's POV)
This is how it has always gone between Emily and I after one of our nights spent together. The first time was her birthday in 2007. Just a little over a week after she was injured by Joe Smith; the man using his son as bait to kidnap and kill women. Emily had been struck in the head by him which caused her a slight concussion and some skin glue to the forehead in order to close the gash. She had showed up at my house an hour or so after we had gotten home from another case in tears. So I ordered us food and we watched a movie, well- part of a movie. Then it was again after Benjamin Cyrus had held her and Reid hostage. Before last month, the last time had been right after we had saved Ellie Spicer. It was the first time I was the one that had come to her. Then, she "died" months later. Except for the one occasion, she was always the one to come to me but I would be lying if I said I didn't need it just as much as she did every time. Me helping to heal her even in this small way helped me to heal my own feelings of failing to protect her. But that was all we ever kept it at. I don't know about her but my feelings of course run deeper than that and have for years. But she's too hard to read most days. That's why she always catches me when I attempt to. This time was different though and I couldn't quite put my finger on why. After her return from the dead it was an eye opener for me. Almost like I was getting a second chance to do it right this time but I didn't want to push anything on her so soon, it didn't feel fair to do that. After every time this happens we go back to normal just with a hint of tension. It's like if we don't act like we almost can't stand each other then we are afraid of what will come of it.
(Emily's POV)
It's seven in the morning and I'm just now making my way into work. JJ had called around six o'clock to inform us of a case and that we needed to be at headquarters as soon as possible but I just couldn't bring myself to get out of bed. My night with Derek had been a great distraction up until now. The high of the it all, the sneaking around, the passion, the love neither of us will admit; all of it had started to fade over the last couple of weeks and I was once again left alone with all of my unresolved thoughts and feelings. You know the saying of how a flower dies slowly and then all at once? That's exactly how your darkened mind works and feels. It feels like I've been crumbling slowly for years and years, and that maybe "dying" is what will push me to my actual death. I need something or someone to save me but having the mother I do has made me damagingly independent and you will never catch me asking for that help. Unless you're Derek Morgan that is..
(3 Days Later Baton Rouge, Louisiana Narrators POV)
The team had been working the case of 4 missing and then murdered women. They were middle class women from a more upity part of the city but their bodies were found in the swampland of Baton Rouge, Louisiana. The man they had now come to know as Jacob Adams is 32 years of age, and works in the insurance industry. They were able to find out that all of the women he'd killed were under the same company he worked for and had recently had claims that he helped them to sort out. Luckily, but also not so luckily, Emily was just his type. Everyone was on edge when she volunteered herself to being bait after the whole Doyle situation, but she was adamant that she could handle it. Derek of course was the one to see through her lie and pulled her aside while they prepared to wire her up. Gently taking hold of her wrist, he led her to one of the empty offices of the police department and told her to sit, sternly. "Why are you really doing this?" He questioned. Her pale face quickly was washed over with confusion at his question and she slowly shook her head, an eyebrow raised. "What are you talking about? I'm doing exactly what my job entails, and sometimes that's going undercover when you fit the type to do so. I've done it plenty of times before." She replied. He gave her a slight eye roll and pulled up another chair to sit across from her, leaning his elbows to rest on his legs, "You may be fooling them, but you're not fooling me Emily. You don't think I notice how these last couple of weeks you've been completely fine with just throwing yourself into danger at the snap of a finger?" She scoffed, and with a sarcastic smile said, "That's the job Der-" But was cut off, "The job, yada, yada. No. This is different. You're different. I mean, understandably though. Not a single person on this team would judge you for not being okay and especially not me. You forget that I've been in your shoes. Maybe I didn't have to fake my death and be on the run for 7 months and then come back. I get that. But I'm speaking in a general sense. I've been the one that was so angry with the world and hating myself that I was willing to throw myself into the flames if I had to just to feel alive again." At this point he had taken her hands into his, rubbing his thumb gently over them. "I don't think you're okay and definitely don't think you're ready to admit it either. But if you can look me in the eyes right now and tell me that you can handle this, then I'll stand aside and support you." Emily had been staring at their conjoined hands in an attempt for him to not see the tears that had welled in her eyes. As much as he got on her nerves, he also grounded her. At this point, she didn't think she'd ever admit it to him though. She had already screwed up with Doyle and then magically coming back from the dead. There was no way she was going to risk losing him indefinitely to what she had convinced herself was a silly crush. So she blinked hard a few times in order to gather herself before looking up at the man in front of her, looking him in the eyes just as he'd said to and with a half hearted smile and one slight nod of the head she finally replied, "I'm fine."
(2 Hours Later Derek's POV)
This was supposed to be routine. Emily was supposed to go into Adams' building pretending to need help with a claim. In which he would end up following her out to her car attempting his abduction afterwards just like we had figured out he had done with all the other women because he felt safe knowing there were no cameras in the parking garage, and then we of course we would swoop in and grab him. But she never came out and her mic went quiet. "We have to go in there Hotch, what are we waiting for?" I questioned annoyed and panicked, it had already been 5 minutes. He put up a finger in order to shush me, leaning into the single headphone he had placed on one side of his head, then instructing me to put mine back on with just hand movements. As soon as they were back on, I could hear it. I could hear her. She was groaning but from pain and/or confusion I wasn't sure yet. We eventually could hear Adams talking to himself in the background as well. Where are they? JJ and Spencer were stationed at the main entrance to the building so we knew they hadn't come out there. While Rossi, Hotch, and I were at the only entrance to the small parking garage. So unless there was some hidden door we don't know about, there was no other choice than for them to still be in the building.
(Emily's POV)
"Shit.." I mumbled to myself as I attempted to open my eyes. It surprisingly didn't take long for them to adjust but seeing as the only light around me was dim, I soon realized we were in the basement level of the office building. I carefully felt around the backside of my head once I realized it was pounding only to see blood on my hand when I pulled it back around. He must've hit me from behind as I was leaving. I took a deep breath and started to look at my surroundings more, soon my eyes locked onto him. He was pacing back and forth while talking to himself and gathering things from a duffel bag. I went to try and stand up but he immediately came back to reality and pulled a gun out from his waistband, pointing it straight at me. "Sit back down." He demanded, so of course I did. He then walked over and put zip ties around my wrists and ankles before squatting down in front of me, pushing the barrel against my cheek with a devilish grin on his face. "You know, guns aren't my first choice as I'm sure you know, since you're a cop." He said, simultaneously pulling my badge from his back pocket and letting it fall open for me to see. "But, I might make a special exception for you. I'll give you props though, for finding me. I was sure I had covered my tracks well enough. So, I may be a dumb criminal but I'm still a killer therefore don't try any of your games with me. Are we on the same page?" I cleared my throat slightly and nodded my head. "Loud and clear." I already knew I was going to get an earful from Penelope for getting myself into this one. "Why are we in the basement though Jacob? You could've easily gotten me out of here." I was hoping that the team was still able to hear my mic from down here and would take the hint I had just given them. "Obviously that was my plan. But once I figured out you were a cop, I'm not risking the fact that you probably have guys outside just waiting. I'm not THAT dumb." He said with a roll of his eyes. "So what's your plan then? We're just going to sit down here and then what? You kill me and try to escape? Even if you do we both know you won't get away for long. What are you actually wanting to get out of this?" As soon as I finished, I heard those familiar voices I loved so much, sweeping in, guns drawn. "FBI, put the gun down Jacob!" Derek's deep voice echoed. But before they could get close enough, he had stood me up, and while using me as a human shield, pressed the gun right behind my ear. "Either you put the gun down and we walk out of here or you leave in a body bag, it's your choice." For a split second Derek and I locked eyes and I gave him a slight nod, letting him know that I was okay and to shoot if needed. Adams' warned them a few times to stay back but when they pushed him a little too far, he raised his hand and let the butt of my gun slam into my forehead, blood automatically starting to pour down the side of my face. "I said stay back!" He yelled right next to my ear. My vision was starting to get blurry and I knew if I didn't get medical care soon that this concussion was going to get ugly. "Jacob." I groaned out uncomfortably. "Just put it down. I'll personally make sure you walk out of here alive if you do." I tried to convince him. But words weren't working with him and I could see the look in Hotch's eyes that meant he was growing increasingly less patient so I understood there wasn't much time. I knew there was an almost for sure way to get myself out of this, but it also meant that I would have to admit something I wasn't ready to and it would honestly just turn my world upside down completely. The women Adams' had been killing were a surrogate for his mother. His case was a little special, because she hadn't abused him, or neglected him in anyway that was her choice. She had died during his birth and he blamed her for leaving him alone with his abusive father. "You know kid, your mom wouldn't have wanted this. She didn't want to leave you behind. She had no choice. She hemorrhaged during your birth, and everything that could've been done to save her, was done, but that's not always enough. That's just how life works, it doesn't mean she loved you any less." I flinched at the cold metal pushing harder into the side of my face, the sound of him of him cocking the gun following quickly behind. "You don't know anything about her or that day. She could've fought harder for me." His voice was now filled with emotion other than anger and I knew it wasn't long before he completely snapped. "That's what you think? That she could've fought harder for you? Okay. I can understand that. So, since I'm understanding your side of things are you willing to try and understand mine?" I said softly, trying to get him to calm as much as possible. "What do you mean?" I clenched my jaw, my eyes scanning my team members in front of me before ultimately landing on Derek. "Can you give me the chance to fight for my baby?" I watched confusion fall onto everyone's faces, but decided to continue what I had started anyways. "Do you want another child to grow up without a mother like you Jacob?" Of course this was a bit of different scenario than his but I knew if there was anyway I was going to get through to him, this was going to be his soft spot. "What are you talking about?" His voice wavered almost as if he was just as confused as everyone else. I licked my dry lips before biting down onto the bottom one, building the courage to say what I wanted to out loud. Soon after, finally putting my fears aside, I replied, "I'm saying, I'm pregnant."
