"Daddy? Da-ddyyy?"
Hotch smiled at the sound of his son's voice. He had just sent him down to the living room to get his favorite book. It was Jack's bedtime – well actually, it was past Jack's bedtime – and although Hotch knew it was way to late to be reading a book together, he hadn't been able to refuse. "Yes?" "Da-ddyyy?" Hotch rolled his eyes. His son always ended up screaming for him at the top of his voice but was rarely able to hear his father's response. Halfheartedly, Hotch repeated his "Yes?" but he knew that Jack was already on his way up. Thump, thump, thump. The five-year-old was about as soft-footed as an elephant.
Jack's face appeared in the door frame and Hotch frowned at the expression in his face.
"What's wrong, buddy?"
"Miss Em'ly's here!"
"What? Where?"
"Outside. Look!"
The little boy grabbed his fathers hand and dragged him downstairs. He stopped in front of the floor-to-ceiling-windows in the living room and pointed at a dark shape on the patio.
Shit.
Hotch knelt down next to his son. "Jack? Will you go to your room and wait for me? I have to talk to Emily, okay?" The boy pressed his lips together, visibly conflicted.
"Miss Em'ly looks sad, daddy!"
Hotch looked at her again. His son was right. Emily was sitting on the stairs leading up to the patio, hugging her knees. He was pretty sure she was crying, although she was hiding her face now. Thank god she hadn't noticed them yet! Hotch sighed.
"Yes, she does, honey. That's why I need you to go upstairs already and let daddy talk to her, okay?" The five-year-old bit his lip, then nodded bravely and ran off, leaving Hotch standing there staring at Emily. It took him a few seconds to bring up the courage to open the patio door and talk to her. Emily flinched when she heard him saying her name. When Hotch stepped outside, she got up hurriedly and Hotch knew she was about to run away like a shy deer.
"Please stay."
She froze.
"Emily?"
No reaction.
She just stared at him, didn't move, didn't speak.
"Emily? Say something. You're scaring me."
Was she shaking? Slowly – predictably – Hotch came a little closer, glad when that didn't cause Emily to run. "It's okay, Emily. You're safe!"
Her head-shaking broke his heart.