CHAPTER 15

The news that Hotch had gotten earlier in the day was worrying him. He and Emily had been married for almost six months now. To their knowledge no one in the Bureau knew they were together, let alone married, including the team.

And from the reports coming out after what happened in the Forgery division, they weren't going to be able to tell anyone until they decided what to do next.

Last week, the Bureau was rocked by allegations from several female agents about sexual harassment and discrimination based on gender in the Forgery department. Others in that department were found to be aware of the violations but did not report them and were now also being reprimanded.

An subsequent investigation also found rampant violation in the anti fraternization rules and blatant sexual harassment across multiple departments. As a result, the Bureau was suddenly becoming much stricter on enforcing the anti fraternization rules.

Hotch and Emily had hoped if they could show that they had worked well together that in a few weeks, they could go to the higher ups and admit to their relationship. The recent change in policy undermined that plan. It no longer appeared that it would be received favorably but would result in both of them losing their jobs or loss of rank and assigned to separate departments.

Now he was glad that the time never came for them to tell the team. If the truth about his and Emily's marriage came out before they could act, the team would honestly be able to answer in an investigation that they didn't know. Though he wasn't quite sure how it would look for profilers to be unaware of a relationship right under their noses.

After they got home that night and ate, Hotch decided to broach the topic. He and Emily needed to decide together what they wanted to do.

"Emily, we need to talk."

Emily looked over at him nervously as these were words no one ever wanted to hear from their significant other particularly when you already had a fairly good idea of what they wanted to talk about.

She nodded before answering, "I know. About Jack Smith and the Forgery department?"

"Yes. And the changes in the anti fraternization rules. We need to decide what we want to do." Hotch explained.

Emily looked down at the table while saying quietly, "do you want a divorce?"

Hotch's eyes widened as he heard her. He knew things had suddenly become much more complicated but he didn't realize that was where her thoughts were going.

Standing up he pulled his chair until it was right next to her. After sitting back down, he placed his finger under her chin and waited until she was looking at him to say, "Emily, no. That isn't even an option. I love you. I wasn't lying when I said I want to spend the rest of my life with you."

As he spoke Emily could feel herself letting out a breath that she had been holding most of the day. As tears started to fall down her face, she answered, "I love you too. So much. I've been so worried since the story came out."

Hotch wiped the tears from her cheek before leading her over to the couch where she leaned against him. Once they had settled, he replied, "now that we have agreed that our marriage isn't what is going to change, we need to decide what will change."

Emily sighed before saying, "I'm going to leave the team, Aaron. It makes the most sense. As you know, both Counterterrorism and Counterintelligence have both been actively recruiting me since I came to Quantico. The combination of profiler and language skills is very attractive to both departments. I don't want to work with Jordan Todd again so I'll probably look at Counterintelligence first."

Hotch shook his head before saying, "I can't ask you to do that. I've been with the team longer. I can find another position. I'm also being actively recruited for other positions both inside and outside the Bureau."

Emily sighed before looking over at him and answering, "but Aaron you are the Unit Chief. You are the leader of the BAU team and handpicked the members. It will be very difficult to find another position of the same rank at Quantico. Besides, you know Strauss will challenge any transfer that will put you in position to make advancement. It will be easier for me to transfer."

Hotch sighed nodding at her points but still didn't want to concede to her being the one to leave the team. However he was impressed with the departments that she mentioned and either would allow her to advance her career.

As they sat there holding each other, he said, "Emily, let's not decide tonight. We need to gather information of what the options are for both of us. And what is available right now. Why don't we both do our research and come back to this discussion in a few days?"

He could feel Emily nod before he heard her answer confidently, "OK Aaron. But I'm leaving the team."

Hotch heard the determination in her voice however for him the draw of the BAU wasn't what it once was. This was something that they were both going to need to figure out together. He was just relieved that they had at least discussed it enough that Emily was no longer worrying about the status of their marriage.

After kissing her forehead, he whispered, "we'll see sweetheart. Let's go to bed. It's been an exhausting day."

He stood up and she took his hand and moved up next to him, curling into him before tilting her head and kissing up the side of his neck. When she reached his ear she nipped his earlobe before whispering in his ear, "it has been an exhausting day. But I need you tonight Aaron."

He wrapped his arms around her pulling her close to him before answering, "I need you too sweetheart." He then picked her up and carried her into their bedroom.