Chapter 62: Forever Home

Nate and Jack were excited to move in together again. More so, they were excited to pick out a house with their parents and to have some say in it. They wanted to find something that they all were comfortable in. The boys wanted to decorate their own rooms. They were adamant about that part. That is, they really wanted their own rooms.

Emily and Hotch agreed with that. The boys were close enough in age that they could have shared a room and been ok, but Jack was at the point where he'd want friends over and privacy, a place to call his own and explore his own things. Nate, while he had a little more maturing to do, wasn't far behind.

"Soon, he won't be a kid anymore… And for me, that's way too fast and he's not allowed to grow up," Emily once told Hotch.

The only thing he could do was tell her that they would get through the tough years together. It was a mixed bag of feelings. They were both looking forward to it and not. No one wanted to endure difficult years, but they would have each other to lean on, and that was something to always count on and appreciate.

Now, they were house hunting. It was both tedious and enjoyable at times. Emily and Hotch allowed the boys to have input only after they narrowed down the search. There were three houses in the school district that fit their needs and were in their price range. So, the family went to see all three.

The first one, everyone liked, but they weren't sold on it. It was about 10 minutes away from where they were living now. It had three bedrooms, their minimum requirement, but only one bathroom. All of them quickly learned that one bathroom for four people just wasn't enough. It was doable, and they could always do some remodeling, but it would really depend on what else they saw.

House two felt more them. It felt like home. There was no pool, but the community center which had a pool was only two blocks away, and there were plenty of other activities that took place there for Jack and Nate to take part in. Both the middle and high school were only another few blocks in either direction, and James still wasn't that far away. Location wise, it was just what they needed.

It didn't look like much when they pulled up to the house. It looked much too small for them, but looks were deceiving. The cream colored siding was homey. The porch was inviting. The yard gave the kids enough room to run around, and allowed the adults plenty of space to entertain if they wished. Birthday parties could definitely be held outside comfortably.

What really sold the place, though, was inside. It was so much bigger inside. The open floor plan was exactly what the house called for. It was mostly colored in neutral paint choices: yellows, cremes, and the like, but it made the place brighter and cozier.

Emily absolutely fell in love with the fireplace. It was open on multiple sides, allowing people in the living room and the dining room to experience the ambience. The gray stone mantle offered an elegant change of color to the room. It was gorgeous.

"What do you all think?" Hotch asked the family.

"All the rooms are so big," Nate said.

"It's nice," Jack added. "Still wish there was a pool, but my friend Tyler lives right down the road and he has one, so we could always hang out over there."

"Alright… That's two positive reactions, I guess." He turned to Emily who was now lost in the room, imagining what it would be like with their own decorations and furniture. "Em?"

"Huh? Sorry."

"Do you like it?"

"I do," she said. "The kitchen is great. I loved the cherry wood cabinets with those granite counters and the breakfast nook is perfect for busy mornings. It's bigger than the last house."

Three bedrooms, three bathrooms, and a basement that could easily be fitted to be another couple of rooms for whatever they wanted. Guest rooms, offices, a home gym… Anything. It was just… Perfect. And because it was a relatively new build, they wouldn't have to worry about any major problems. Of course, they would have the inspector come before signing off on anything, but they were excited by the prospect. It was even a green home, solar powered and energy efficient.

"Let's see the last house before we make any decisions," Emily said.

Hotch agreed, and the family moved on to the third place.

It was almost an immediate no. It wasn't that the location was bad or that the house was in disrepair. It was just not something any of them liked. The outside could be changed, but the dark exterior would be a hard fix, and then, inside wasn't much better. The master bedroom was decent enough, but the other two rooms were in no way big enough for growing boys. The fenced in yard and the pool were nice amenities, but they didn't make up for what was lacking.

Still, everyone was told to take some time to think about it before they made any final decisions. The boys made their thoughts clear on the ride home, and the parents were sure to take that into consideration, but, that night, the choice was essentially made.

"I think we should make an offer," Emily said.

"On which house?"

"The second. I know it's a little pricier than we initially budgeted, but not anything we can't afford. Everything about it works for us. We should do it."

"I knew you loved that house."

"You loved it too."

"I did. I could imagine us growing old there."

"Sitting by that fireplace reading on the sofa. Having movie night in the family room."

"Having the team over for Sunday dinners."

"Rossi might be upset if we steal his thunder."

"Neither of us can cook as well as him. I don't think we have to worry about that."

"Maybe not… I just, I can picture it all and I want it."

"Me too, Emily. And… I may have put in a bid already."

"You didn't."

"I did. I could see how happy you were there, and the realtor had another couple trying to make a bid. I wanted to make sure we got it."

"When will we know?"

"Brian said he'd call the owners at the end of the day. Presumably he did already. We should hear something tomorrow."

Emily was excited, but they had to talk logistics. If their offer wasn't accepted, how much were they willing to rebid? The offer was already stretching their planned budget, but Emily could spare a little more if needed. They had to hash those things out and come up with a plan. If they didn't get it, and it didn't look like they could with what they were willing to pay for the house, then they would have to keep looking. The third place was out and the first one was ok, but they weren't willing to jump on that one.

It didn't matter, though. Brian called the next morning. Their offer was the best bid.

Hotch called Emily from work to give her the good news.

"Hey. What's up? I'm between classes and don't have a lot of time," Emily answered her phone.

"That's how you say hello now?"

"Hello, Honey. How are you? Would you like to tell me what's going on before my class comes in and everyone is privy to our conversation?"

"Might as well put me on speaker."

"Hotch."

"Emily."

"Seriously?"

"Alright. I got a call from Brian."

Sitting straighter in her seat, scooching forward on edge, she asked, "And?"

"They gave a counter offer. It was still in our range. I countered back, and they were happy with the offer. It's ours."

"It's ours?"

"It's ours," he repeated.

"You can't see it, but I'm smiling right now."

"I'm happy too. We'll talk more when I get home tonight. I just wanted to call as soon as I heard something."

"The boys are going to be excited."

"We all will be, but we have some things to take care of before it's official. Got to get to a meeting. Love you. See you tonight."

"Love you too. Be safe."

"Professor Prentiss was that your husband?" one of Emily's students asked.

"Oh, hi Bailey. Uh… No. No husband."

"Kid?"

"I have one of those."

"Boy or girl?"

"Boy. Nate."

"Cute."

"He is, but that's not really what you wanted to talk to me about. Is there something I can do for you, Bailey?"

"Actually… I was hoping I could talk to you before class starts."

"We're talking right now. Go ahead. What's on your mind?"

"Well, you mentioned that you were part of the FBI before, right?"

"I was."

"And Interpol?"

"Yeah."

"And if I wanted to maybe do that too?"

"Then you should go for it, Bailey. You're a bright girl and you work hard. The academy would be lucky to have someone like you."

"Really?" she asked, face lit up.

"Really. Why don't you email me later? We can set up a time during office hours to discuss this more. We can talk about your future and where you'd like to end up."

"Sounds great. Thank you, Professor Prentiss."

"No problem, Bailey. Remember to email me, alright?"

"I will."

"Good. Go take your seat. Class is going to start soon."

Bailey smiled and took her seat while Emily felt a sense of pride. She inspired someone to do something, or at least take interest… That felt good. The day was turning out to be a great one.

Unfortunately, they all couldn't be fantastic.

They were getting the house, but it wasn't without some setbacks. It took more than two months to close on the house. It brought them past Jack's 15th birthday, which they were hoping to celebrate in their new place, and almost to the end of April before they officially closed on the house.

It was a long, stressful, up and down of a few months, but the end result was what they wanted. The house was theirs and they could move within the week. Since the kids were on their spring break after Easter, they were planning to do the move then, and just continue with the packing in the meantime. They were still living out of two apartments, trying to condense, donate, and trash whatever they could.

Emily was an expert packer. For most of her childhood, that felt like her job, but this was completely different. She was moving herself, her son, and, essentially, another son and live in lover… She would never use that term again either.

Point was, despite moving with Nate and moving James, and moving from London all within the last few years, this move felt more permanent than ever before. She was making the biggest commitment she ever made with another man. The Nate thing with James and Vince was, arguably, a bigger commitment, but it was in a totally different realm.

Where Hotch had been married and divorced, living with Haley for years, Emily always kept herself pretty unentangled. A bit of a commitment-phobe for most of her life, she made sure that, even when she lived with a man, she always had a contingency plan. She would only have her name on the lease, everything that they shared was more hers than theirs. There was always an escape.

But it wasn't like that this time. She didn't want it to be. They bought the house together, both names on the deed, and they would be living there with their children. What more could she ask for?

"Why are you smiling like that?" Hotch asked, catching her with a giant grin as they packed up a few things in his old apartment which doubled as storage for now.

"A girl can't be happy?"

"She can, but I can still ask about it. Is that it? You're happy?"

"Aren't you?"

"I'm very happy."

"Well, I am too. The house thing has been a pain, and packing really sucks, but… I… I want this and it's happening."

"It is."

"So, yes, I'm smiling because I'm happy, because we're finally moving into our home where we can be a family together. We all picked it out as a family, and that means a lot to me."

"To me too," he agreed.

"And things at work have been great. I have really made some connections with these kids. Some of them, the ones that really care… You can see it. Encouraging them, it makes all the difference. I'm making a difference."

"You always have, Emily, whether you've realized it or not."

She gave him a cheeky smile before asking, "Did I tell you what happened with Bailey?"

"No. What happened?"

"After we talked and figured out what her interests were in law enforcement, I got her in touch with Garcia. Bailey's actually equally as gifted in computers as she is in criminology. She's a little shy and doesn't know that field work is necessarily for her, but she still thinks she could make a difference. I think so too, so I talked with Garcia and Garcia helped me get Bailey a summer internship in a different department."

"Changing lives, one young adult at a time," Hotch said. "I'm proud of you."

"Thanks. You know, I'm proud of myself. I didn't know if I'd be a great teacher. Teaching at the academy was different and I didn't do it that often, but I do have a lot of experience that I've learned is valuable to these kids. Sometimes, it helps them see the realities of what they'd be facing and makes them rethink their plans, and that's ok because it's clearly what they needed, but sometimes, I get to help them learn what they're really capable of, and that's pretty amazing."

"You're pretty amazing," Hotch told her, voice dropping deeper.

"Why, Mr. Hotchner, was that your only move?"

"You know it's not."

"No, it's not. What do you say? We take a break from this and give this place a proper goodbye?"

"I thought you'd never ask. Bed is still in there."

"Then lead the way."

They made good use of their time, though maybe it wasn't the most productive. It sure was fun, though.

"I think I'm getting old," Emily said.

"Really? I definitely couldn't tell."

She playfully smacked him.

"We've been in here an hour," she said, "And now I don't want to get up."

"It's the weekend. We can stay here a while. I definitely wouldn't say no to that."

"Of course you wouldn't, but we have two boys who will be home soon and a whole lot of packing left to finish."

"That is an unfortunate truth."

Emily slipped out of bed and told Hotch she was going to take a shower before they got back to work.

"Can I join you?"

"It's a solo job."

"That's less fun," he said.

Emily tossed a shirt at him, hitting him square in the head as she walked to the bathroom, leaving him to dress and continue packing.

When she returned, Hotch was finishing up the last of the pile they were working on earlier.

"All of this can be donated," he told her.

"Great. We're going to have to make a couple trips. Maybe when you're working, I'll have James help me. We need to catch up about Nate anyway."

"You mean, you want to check in on him and Collin."

"That is exactly what I mean."

"They've been dating as long as we have, practically. We've had dinner with the guy. We've even helped Nate like him."

That much was true. Thankfully, Emily asked James to hold off introducing Collin to Nate until after she had her talk with their son. It worked out better that she got to have that talk first. It was still hard. When Nate heard his dad was dating, he was fine with that. Logically, he understood enough to know that his other father, Vince, was dead and James deserved happiness too, but that didn't mean he had to like it.

There was a tantrum or two before Emily and James took Nate to Vince's grave, something they had been meaning to do anyway, and helped him see that they weren't forgetting Vince.

"Sometimes it feels like it," James told his son. "Like your dad will come home and we can be a family again. I still wish for that."

"Me too," Nate admitted.

"It took me a few years, but I've accepted that he's gone now and that he would want us to be happy. We have been, haven't we?"

"Yeah," Nate said, looking at his mother. "I'm happy."

"For the first few years of your life, all you had were me and your other dad," James said.

"Now I have mom too. And Hotch."

"You do," Emily confirmed.

"And it's great having all those people, isn't it?"

"I like it."

"Well, Collin, he could be another one of those people."

"Are you going to marry him like you did dad?"

"I don't know, Nate. It doesn't always work out like that, but I do like him. I… I love him, and I didn't think I'd ever feel that after your dad died."

"Remember that talk we had about giving people chances?"

"Yeah?"

"Well, Collin makes your dad happy. Like Hotch, Collin's not trying to take anyone's place. He just loves your dad and wants to get to know you too."

"What if I don't like him that much?"

"We'll talk about it if that happens, but none of us would ever do anything that would make you uncomfortable or unhappy… Not knowingly."

Nate sighed.

"It was hard for me too, Nate," James said. "Letting someone in after your dad was hard, but I don't want to be alone anymore, and I know you don't want that for me either."

His dad wasn't wrong, but it was just another person being added to his complicated life.

"We're all taking this one step at a time, Nate. Help us figure it out. Give him a chance."

"Fine," Nate agreed.

"Hotch and I met him," Emily said. "He's a good guy and I think you'll like him a lot. He likes that video game you love so much."

"Really?"

"Really," James said. "I know he'd like to teach you some tricks to beat that level you're stuck on."

"If it would make you feel better, why don't we all do something together? Hotch, me, your dad, Collin, and you. Maybe you'll be more comfortable."

"Okay. Can I talk to dad now?" Nate asked, pointing to the stone. "Alone?"

The adults looked to each other and nodded. "Okay," they agreed, stepping away.

"Thank you," James said to Emily. "For helping and for the offer."

"You kind of helped with me. It's only fair."

"It's more than that. So, thank you."

"I'm happy for you. I'm happy you found someone, and I want Nate to be accepting of that. Don't get me wrong, I'm helping you and him because of that and because Nate's behavior, that tantrum, was not okay, but if I ever find out that Nate is uncomfortable and that's being ignored, then we will have a problem."

"Em… Come on. Nate has always come first."

"That doesn't mean I can't say it."

"I guess I said it in my own way with Hotch…"

"You did. By hating him."

James rolled his eyes.

"Were you serious about the offer?"

"Yes. Of course. We'll set something up after I check our schedule."

"Okay."

They knew there was a long way to go with Nate and any significant others, but he warmed up to Collin eventually. The family get together helped. Watching all his parents and their partners get along helped. Jack explaining things in his Jack way helped too. They got there. Progress was made. That was all they were asking for.

"And?"

"And don't you think you should let up a little?"

She gave him the stink eye. "I'm not trying to break them up, Hotch, or even get involved in their relationship. I just want to see how they're doing and make sure that they're ok switching weekends with us so Nate can be with us for the first night in the new place."

"You really think they're going to change their minds?"

"I don't know. I'm happy that James has found someone. I'm happy that Nate likes him now."

"But?"

"No but."

"But?" he asked again.

"Despite all that, I know James. I know that things with him have been off lately. I don't know if it has to do with Collin or not, but James hasn't called as often or tried to make extra plans with Nate in the past few weeks. When we talk, it's a little… weird. We might not be at the same level of friendship we once were, but I still know him enough to see that."

"Maybe he isn't doing that because the talk with Nate actually helped and Nate isn't trying to spend more time over there. Nate has wanted to do more with us, especially after the BAU tour."

She smiled, remembering how much fun the team made it for Nate.

"Maybe. I hope that's it, but I want to be sure. I still care about James, and I can't help but worry. James and I are the opposite in relationships. He jumps in and gives his all right away without hesitation. That tends to drown him sometimes. I think they're fine, but if something is wrong, I want to… I guess try to be a friend to him. I'm working on letting go of the resentment and baggage we have between us. I've been better about it since we've done those therapy sessions."

"You have been better. The last year, the two of you haven't fought. There has been less animosity."

"Is it my turn to say but?"

"But you've said it yourself, the two of you will never be what you once were."

"I don't want to be," she confirmed. "I just want to be in a good place with him. Usually, I keep my nose out of his business unless it's Nate related."

"So this is Nate related?"

"Maybe. We'll see. Right now, it's just about keeping the peace and checking in with the 'ex,' I guess."

The ex is what they had coined James. He was, in some respects an ex of Emily's. They had a child together, in a less conventional way, and relied on each other, even loved each other for so long before things went south. Now they were tied together forever. They would never be best friends, but they would be cordial, and they would be friends because that was what Nate deserved.

"I won't meddle. I have no desire to," Emily continued. "But I want to make sure things are ok. If he says they are, I'll believe him and won't push it any further."

"But your gut is telling you that there's something going on."

"Yes. I don't know what it is, and if they're having some issues, I'll let James talk to me if he wants, but if not, I'll drop it. That's for them to figure out. But if it's something else… If it's something that could affect Nate, then I need to know about it and do what I can."

"I agree. Go."

"Now?"

"Yeah. James should be home now, and I can already tell this is something you have to do in person, so go."

"You're the best."

"So you tell me from time to time."

"Well it's true." She kissed him before running to grab her coat. "I'll be back in time for dinner. You're cooking tonight."

"Obviously," he teased. "Call or text if you're running late."

"I will."

Emily left the apartment and got to her car. She noticed a low tire pressure sign but didn't pay it much mind. She figured she'd have Hotch get that little gadget out and check on that later. It wasn't flat, so she would be ok for the ride, she determined.

Only it didn't work out that way. Emily made it all the way to James' street before her tire gave out. It may not have been flat when she started the ride, but it certainly was when she ended it.

"Awesome," she grumbled, stepping out of the car and examining the damage.

The tire was definitely done for. Whatever it was, it wasn't just from a change in air pressure.

Whatever, she thought. She was still there for a reason and she could call a car to drive her home and send someone to fix it in the morning. Rolling her eyes, Emily left the car behind safely off the road, and went to James' door, knocking.

"Emily? What are you doing here?" James greeted, looking around her. "Is Nate with you? Did I forget something?"

"No. Nate's at practice and you didn't forget anything."

"Then why are you here?"

"I can't just drop by?"

"You can, but you usually don't."

"Can I come in?"

"Yeah." He stepped out of the way. "Come in."

"Collin around?" she asked, making her way into the apartment.

"You just missed him. I'll tell him you said hi."

"Great."

James moved to sit on the couch as Emily did the same. Emily continued to ask about Collin, about how things were going and how he thought Nate was doing with him.

"Things are good," James told her. "They're getting along well now. You know that. You helped it happen."

"Things have been better since then?"

"Yeah. No more issues."

"Good. Good."

"You didn't come here just to ask me about how things are with Collin, Emily. If you wanted to ask about him, you would have done it over the phone."

"Maybe. We haven't been talking much lately."

"Well, you've been pretty busy packing and getting ready to move. And we agreed a long time ago that I shouldn't rely on you as much as I used to."

True, she thought.

"Alright. Look. I did come here to just talk to you James. Whatever happened in the past, you know that I am still here for you, right? We have a son, so we're in each other's lives indefinitely, and I'd prefer it to be on good terms rather than hostile."

"Isn't it on good terms?"

"Yes. As such, you can talk to me if you need to."

"About what?"

"About whatever."

"I don't have anything to talk about, Emily. Things between Collin and I are good. We're serious, but we're not rushing things. It's good. He's there for me and he makes real effort with Nate."

"Yeah. I'm glad. You look happy when you talk about him."

"I am."

"Good."

"So… Why are you here?"

"Lately, you've been… off."

Instantly, there was attitude flowing. "Off how?"

"I just noticed that you haven't been asking to take Nate as much or calling at the normal times."

"We've all been busy, Emily, and I know that Nate needed to be there to help out with the move."

"James, I'm not trying to accuse you of anything or jump to any conclusions, I just want to make sure everything's ok."

He was clearly being defensive, his voice betraying the words.

"Why wouldn't it be?"

"James… Come on. Don't be like that. I'm just concerned."

"You don't need to be," he insisted.

"Did I do something to upset you?"

"Other than right now?"

She nodded.

"No."

"Then help me understand. When we've talked lately, you've been really short with me, and I've heard you snap at Nate recently."

"It happens sometimes, Emily. You do it too."

"Usually, I have a reason. A bad day. Something, and I address it as soon as I've calmed down. I'm not yelling at you, James."

"Feels like it. Feels like you're treating me like a child."

"I'm not," she sighed, wondering how things spun out. "We may not be best friends, but we've been able to hold conversations. Lately, you've been monosyllabic and… well, defensive. I just want to understand why."

"Maybe I just don't want to talk to you."

"That's not it."

"How do you know? If you treat me like this, then I don't want to talk to you."

"James. Stop. Look at me."

He wouldn't.

"James. Talk to me, please. If I've done something, please let me know. We promised to try communicating. We've been doing that. Let's not stop now."

It took some coaxing, but he finally said something.

"I'm jealous," he admitted.

That certainly surprised her.

"What are you jealous of?"

"I came to accept you and Hotch together. I knew he loves Nate, so I didn't mind letting him be part of Nate's life."

"Now you do?"

"No. I just… You're giving Nate the life Vince and I tried to give him, only instead of two dads, it's his birth mom and stepdad. You're giving Nate everything we tried but couldn't accomplish."

"James…"

He went on, expressing what she was sure he kept pent up for a while. She knew moving in with Hotch could set this off. Well, she didn't think it would happen, but knew it was a possibility. He seemed fine when she discussed it with him first. Underneath, though, she knew he would always have some raw feelings where Emily and Hotch were concerned because he helped her when Nate was still new in her life. He took on the father figure role while James was injured and grieving. So there would always be that worry.

"I'm sorry," he said.

"Don't be. I get it," Emily responded.

"I'm happy for you, though. Really, I am."

"I know, James."

"I just… I will always wish things were different."

She knew that too. They had versions of that conversation time and again. There would always be that lingering what if and what could have been. Emily wondered about that too. If they didn't need her, where would she be? Would she ever have been a part of Nate's life? Would she be in a relationship with Hotch? So much would be different, and not in a good way… Not for her.

For James, though, it would probably be better. He wouldn't have lost the person he loved, lost time with his son, or had to share Nate… He would be the one living a version of the life she was now. She was grateful for how things turned out, but she was also aware of the downsides for others.

"I understand, James. I do. But we have to focus on what is. Nate has you and me. We're making the most of the situation at hand. We've gotten to a point where we share custody in true 50/50 fashion and can still be lenient and flexible with each other. Is it the dream? No, but it's our reality and, maybe that's better."

"Maybe," he muttered.

In the end, Emily could tell he was being truthful. He meant what he said about being jealous and all that he was feeling, but there was more he wasn't saying. She wasn't going to push. The conversation was actually a good one, and that was a promising start. Still, she had to wonder what else was hiding under the surface. Yes, his feelings could have explained the way he was acting. Jealousy made people act out sometimes.

"Crap," Emily said, catching the time.

"What?"

"I was supposed to be home ten minutes ago. I'm holding up dinner."

"So go."

She sighed, shoulders sagging.

"Do you think you can give me a ride?"

"You didn't drive here?"

"I did, but I got a flat. I managed to park in your visitor spot and was just going to call someone to take care of it in the morning. I'd call a cab, but I'm already running late. Would you mind?"

He seemed hesitant, slow to answer. Nervous even, and Emily wasn't sure why.

"You can say no, James. I won't be offended. I'll just call a car to come get me. No problem."

"No… Ugh… No, it's fine. I can do it. Give me a second."

"Really? Thanks."

While she waited for him to get his keys, Emily sent Hotch a text saying she'd be home soon and sorry that she was holding up dinner. Right after that was sent, James came back. She slipped the phone into her pocket and followed him out to the car.

They briefly stopped to assess the damage to her tire. The tire was definitely not drivable, but it was an easy fix.

Getting into his car, James offered, "I can have Collin fix it for you. He's pretty good with cars."

"Really? Thanks. If he doesn't feel like it, don't force him, but if he's up for it, I'd appreciate it. There's a spare in the trunk, I just don't have the tools in my car because we needed room for boxes."

"I'll ask him about it tonight," James said.

"If not, I'll come back in the morning and do it with Hotch or call the service to handle it. I just didn't want to wait around for them to come tonight."

"I'm sure it'll be no problem."

They kept up small talk, catching up on Nate things and talking about the move.

"You missed the turn," Emily pointed out.

"What? I did. Sorry. Sorry," James said.

"Why are you heading toward the highway?"

"I'm not," he insisted, voice raising. "I just… I just missed the turn."

Emily listened to the way he said that, like he was trying to convince himself. And then she took a moment to look him over, and dread gripped her heart.

"James, your hands are shaking."

"It's fine."

"James."

"Emily."

She had seen that before. It wasn't a nervous shaking, but a tremor.

"Pull over."

"Emily," he tried. "It's nothing. I'm fine."

"That's not fine. You're confused right now, aren't you?"

No answer, and she took that as a yes.

"You're not ok. Confusion, tremors… That's what happened when you used to have seizures. Pull over now."

He didn't.

"Pull over, James."

Only then did it become clear that he couldn't. He physically couldn't pull over the car. The twitching in his hands became worse, his foot pushed down on the gas, and his body shook with seizure.

"James?"

Emily had to act fast. The car was speeding up. They were approaching busier roads as they got closer to the highway, and as she tried to hold his head to keep him from choking as he convulsed, she tried to manage the situation by grabbing the wheel with one hand.

No way could she reach the brake pedal, but she had to try something. Steering blindly while trying to help James was not working. So, she acted in the moment, pulling the emergency break and swerving the car, putting them on a collision course with a tree, glass shattering around them upon impact.