CHAPTER 3

(Emily's POV)

Emily sat in the conference room, five minutes before the briefing was scheduled to start. Her foot jiggled in anticipation of her first meeting with the entire team. So far, she'd only met the sweet yet capable JJ and the… well. She wasn't sure yet what she thought of Hotch. At the very least, he was intimidating. She was still surprised that he had hired her, considering how adamant he was when they first met that she would not be working for him.

It also didn't help that tall, dark-haired, brooding men were exactly her type. Emily sighed.

The rest of the team soon gathered, made hasty introductions, and began to review a counterterrorism case. Emily quickly wowed them when she easily translated Arabic to English. Seeing their surprised stares, Emily flushed and explained, "I lived in several Middle Eastern countries growing up." She glanced at Hotch's face and saw a glimmer of respect and a hint of… what was that? Recognition? Understanding? The profiler in her told her that Hotch had also not had an easy childhood.

Emily had grown up all around the globe. She could speak or at least stumble along fairly well in seven languages. However, being an ambassador's daughter certainly had its disadvantages. Emily constantly felt smothered by the pressures of being the perfect diplomatic daughter at endless social events. She and her mother constantly fought, leading to Emily's rebellious streak that climaxed in Rome. Emily shuddered. She had made close friends in Italy, but the cost still haunted her. Her choice.

After the meeting, Emily was collecting items that she would need for the day ahead when she overheard Hotch speaking to Gideon. "I think you should take Prentiss with you," Hotch stated.

Emily continued to eavesdrop as Gideon argued against her joining him in Guantanamo. When Gideon said that she probably didn't have a go-bag, Emily quickly pulled hers out from under her desk. Both of the profilers glanced her way, so Emily avoided eye contact and tried to stay casual, although her heart was beating fast.

A minute later, Gideon rushed by her carrying his bag. "The car leaves in four minutes," he said grudgingly. Emily tried to contain her huge grin and glanced at Hotch again. He kept his face impassive, but Emily swore as he walked away that the corners of his mouth were upturned.

God, those dimples were adorable.