(Soo this chapter is how Aaron deals with Emily being on her first case and him being left, also we meet his caretaker who he isn't so keen on

Also I'm sorry if this chapter seems a little messy, it'd really late here lol but I wanted to post a chapter before I slept

Emily had returned to work, so far, it was only office work and reports and no cases had been called in. Aaron wasn't keen on being with the caretaker all name, her name was Talia, she was nice enough but he was uncomfortable being around new people and he didn't like the fact that he needed a caretaker in the first place. He used to be fine with it, but ever since his accident, he had become more nervous around people he never knew.

Emily was getting ready for work, she had just got dressed and went down to make coffee. Talia would here soon and she had to leave before she was late. As she heard Talia come in, she grabbed her coffee to go and went to the bedroom to quickly kiss Aaron's head before leaving. "I'm hoping for no case, but I'll call you if there one" Emily said to Talia.

Talia nodded, "Yeah, that's okay. Have a nice day" she said as she watched Emily leave.

—-

Aaron moaned as he woke up, fluttering his eyes open and sitting up slowly as he let out a yawn. "Emily?" He called out, rubbing his eyes.

Talia came up the stairs, "Sorry. She had to leave about an hour ago for work."

Aaron sighed, disappointed, "Yeah" he said, he wished he was at work with his team and Emily right now. Not here. Stuck in a bed he couldn't even get out of by himself.

Talia went to grab some clothes out, "Do you want to try?" She asked, handing him the top.

He nodded, as he tried to take off his shirt and grumbled when he couldn't get it over his head. Talia chuckled and helped him, "Here, let me do it." She said, putting the new shirt on for him. He sighed, he wanted a chance to be able to put the top on, but she had brushed it off and did it.

Once he was dressed, she helped him into the wheelchair and downstairs into the kitchen. "Is oatmeal okay? There isn't much else in" Talia asked.

Aaron shrugged, he wasn't really bothered.

When it was made, he took the spoon and started eating it slowly.

"So I was thinking we could do something today?" Talia asked.

He glared at her, as he put his spoon down, finishing only half. "Like what?" He asked.

She shrugged, "What would you want to to do?"

"Well..your asking someone who can't do anything. So, I don't know" he said bluntly.

She sighed, "I'll try and think of something. How could you've only finished half?" She asked.

He shrugged, "I didn't want it." He was in a foul mood, he just wanted Emily to be here, not this girl.

And then the call he dreaded came.

Emily had a case in Las Vegas, he sighed trying to keep it together. He'd not had any outbursts in front of Talia yet, and would prefer it to be kept that way.

"Can I speak to Aaron?" Emily asked from the phone.

"Sure" Talia said, gently handing Aaron the phone.

"Hey.." Emily said softly.

"Hey." He said, in a low tone, she could tell he seemed upset.

"I'm sorry, but I'm hoping it won't be too long. I'll be home when I can" she said, sighing.

He knew as well as she did that these things were never predictable, he just hoped it wasn't too long.

"Okay.." he nodded, "I love you." He added.

"I love you too" Emily said before Aaron ended the call.

Aaron was sat in his chair watching TV, he'd had no motivation all day. He reflected Talia's offer to go on a walk, and sat staring at the screen. He didn't actually know what was going on, he was deep in his own thoughts. He felt an empty pit in his stomach, he missed Emily a lot. He hadn't realised how much until he was in his own thoughts, his emotions were all over the place.

Before the accident, it wouldn't of bothered him being away from Emily for a couple days, they'd even gone weeks.

But since the accident, she'd always been there and now she wasn't. It was safe to say he had clung to her, and now he was alone.

"I need to go..." Aaron said awkwardly, to Talia.

Talia nodded, wheeling him into the bathroom and helping him sit down, "They still make you wear these?" She asked in a soft tone, although it sounded condescending too Aaron and made him feel a little embarrassed.

He nodded, "Y-yeah. Just in case.."

"That must suck." She didn't mean to sound how she did about it, but it came across that way to Aaron, and if kind of offended him.

He sighed and nodded, deciding not to talk to her.

"You have physical therapy later on" Talia said, when she wheeled him back into the living room.

He nodded, "I know. I remember" he had begun to start remembering small things, that he usually forgot about. It was progress.

Aaron was sat alone, this day sucked. Just as the next couple of days would, he just wanted her case to be over already. Although he was at home, it felt foreign, like he didn't belong. He could feel himself becoming overwhelmed, breathing slowly in and out to try control himself.

Tears threatened to fall and once again he found himself victim to his own emotions getting the better of him. A sob escaped as he put his hands in his face.

After a few minutes of breaking down, Aaron had calmed and luckily Talia was nowhere to be seen. Saved himself the embarrassment of crying in front of someone he barely knew. He sighed, as he tried to reach for his drink on the side, it was in a glass cup which he hadn't got the hang of holding properly yet. As he took into his hands, he went to bring it to his mouth but it slipped out his hand and shattered onto the floor. He groaned in frustration, "Fuck." He exclaimed, getting angry.

Talia came rushing in, seeing the glass smash, "Mr Hotchner are you okay?" She asked.

He nodded, closing his eyes, "Just wanted a drink.." he said with a sigh.

"Right, just shout me next time, saves this mess. You know you can't hold glass" she said as she went to clean it.

He nodded sadly, she made him feel like it was his fault. Like he had meant to do it. Either way, he was stuck with this woman for the next few days, so he had to deal with it.

After Aaron's physical therapy which went well, he had channelled all his frustration he had into working hard throughout the session, he had managed to stand up from his chair and take a few steps. He was happy with himself for doing it but he had nobody to share that with, usually he'd tell Emily about the progress made and they'd both be pleased. He didn't want to tell Talia, she'd probably tell him it wasn't far enough.

Talia cooked dinner for them both and put Hotch's plate in front of him, "Make sure not to spill anything this time" she joked, into which she received a glare from Aaron but he didn't speak to her.

He took a few bites and put his fork down, groaning.

"What's up? Don't you like it?" She asked.

"I just..I'm not feeling well" he said.

"You didn't eat much this morning, and skipped lunch. What's wrong?" She asked. "Just because Emily isn't here doesn't mean you can't eat"

Aaron frowned at her, "It's not to do with that. I just- I don't feel very well."

"Why? What's the matter?" She asked, placing a hand on his forehead, his temperature was a little high.

"I just feel..really nauseous, and my head." He said with a groan.

Talia nodded, "Maybe get some sleep and see how you feel." She said getting up to take him to the bedroom.

"Wait- I need...I'm going to vomit." He said, holding his stomach.

Talia gasped, quickly wheeling him to the bathroom, just in time for him to vomit into the toilet.

He groaned as he finished, what a perfect day to get sick Aaron, he thought. He didn't like the idea that his new caretaker would be the one there when he was sick, not Emily.

Talia grimaced, vomit disgusted her, "Okay...let's get you into bed." She said, wheeling him into the bedroom and helping him onto the bed. She was in no way soothing to him, which was both a good and a bad thing.

He sighed, closing his eyes almost instantly as he put his head on the pillow.

—-

As Aaron slept,the phone rang, it was Emily.

Talia picked it up, "Hey, Emily." Talia said sweetly.

"Hey, Talia. Is Aaron free?" She asked, she had missed her husband and wanted to talk to him.

"I'm sorry, he's just fell asleep."

"Sleep? Isn't it dinner time in DC?"

"Yeah, but he's not feeling too well. He's been vomiting and complained of headaches."

Emily sighed, "Is he okay?"

"I think so, hopefully he'll rest it off."

"Keep me posted to how he is, and call me when he wakes I want to talk to him." Emily said, before saying goodbye and hanging up.

She was worried about Aaron, she always was. But she missed him herself, a lot more than she thought she would. Sure, she'd been apart from him before but she'd never missed him as much as she did now.

Aaron was sleeping peacefully, he prayed the case was going to be done quick. He hated being left with Talia, he hardly knew her and this made him really uncomfortable. Especially if he'd come down with something, the last thing he wanted was for Talia to be the one taking care of him. He wanted Emily to come home so he could tell her his progress he had made in therapy today, he knew she'd be over the moon by it. Today's therapy session had given him hope, hope that after all maybe he could walk again one day.