Emily didn't feel herself fall to sleep. As Hotch stirred, she awoke, initially confused as to how long she'd been asleep until she saw him waking up, and she became overwhelmed with concern and relief.
"Hotch?"
He sighed and opened his eyes. They lit up slightly at the sight of Prentiss, but even in a moment like this, he was still able to half-contain his delight at seeing her sat next to him. He could only wonder at how long she'd been sat there, but her tired eyes suggested quite a while. She smiled, but there was a look of sadness and longing in her eyes.
"Thank God you're finally awake," she whispered with a beam.
"I'm glad you're here," he smiled back.
For a second she got lost in his eyes, wondering if she was one of the things he'd thought about before slipping into unconsciousness; was she a reason for him to fight? Of course he still loved Haley, and Jack meant everything. Was there a place in his heart for her? Would he ever be capable of feeling the way she did? She coughed and averted her gaze, worried he would read every thought and emotion contained within her. Something inside her made her want to tell him everything about how she felt, why she felt it, the way he was perfection and how great she'd be for him, but there was an immense fear of rejection that stopped her vocal chords and tightened her throat at every thought of a possible mention.
"Hotch?" she begun. He didn't respond, his gaze already on her. She carried on without his response. She knew, even though she wasn't looking at him, that he was waiting for her to go on. "I, er, well..."
A nurse entered the room and both Prentiss and Hotch turned to look at her.
"Just coming to check you're ok. Looks like you're through the worst of it." The nurse picked up the clipboard from the end of the bed and wrote some notes, before smiling at them and turning to leave the leave the room. As she reached the door, two agents entered the room. The nurse stepped aside to let them in, and then left.