Dave strolled into room 617 and his eyes widened slightly when he saw how pale the man before him was. Hearing someone enter Hotch looked up, and Dave could have sworn that a look of disappointment crossed his face but he let it slide.

"How are you feeling?" the older man asked as he stepped closer to the bed.

"Like I've been shot," he deadpanned.

"Funny," Rossi chuckled. "You had us worried there for a minute you know."

Hotch nodded his head and winced slightly as he tried to change his position on the bed to be more comfortable. "Sorry about that." Silence passed between the pair and Hotch finally asked the question he wanted to ask the second Dave walked through the door. "Where's Prentiss?"

"She'll be along shortly, she wanted to call JJ and tell her what happened that's all." Dave didn't know what the hell was going on but he knew that something was. Hotch was clearly disappointed he wasn't Emily and Emily practically refused to come up and see him. The thought that the two of them were in a relationship briefly crossed his mind but he shook that idea to the side considering today was the first day he noticed anything differently.

"I could put on a wig and some make up if it'll make you feel better," Rossi offered.

Hotch bit back a laugh, "no thank you."

"You know," Rossi started, deciding to push for information, "Emily was pretty upset. I mean more than I thought she would be." Dave watched as Hotch's face became a shade paler.

"She found me," Hotch explained. "She probably thought I died the second I passed out."

"Is that why you asked for her?"

"Is what why I asked for her?"

"To show her that you are alive even though the doctor told her downstairs?" Dave clarified.

Hotch gazed up at his friend and felt the need to shove him out of his room. He wanted to, no, he needed to see Emily, but that wasn't happening with Dave in the room. Then again he couldn't say 'oh hey Dave, can you leave and tell Emily to come up here so we can straighten out the words that were exchanged? Thanks.' "Yes," Hotch lied. "I don't want her to continue to worry."

"Well, I'll head back down and send her right up," Dave said as he patted Hotch's foot. "Take it easy." At those words he went on a search for a certain raven haired beauty.

After stopping at the waiting room and finding no Emily he made his way outside. Dave turned a corner to see Emily leaning as still as a statue against the wall with her eyes closed. Rossi frowned as he got closer when he noticed the tears sliding down her now rosy cheeks. Dave reached up a hand and lightly brushed her tears away with his thumb. Emily jumped and raised her fists to swing when she noticed it was only Dave.

"What's wrong?" she blurted out. "Did something happen?"

"Nothing like that at all," Dave replied as he held up his hands as if to surrender. "Just came to let you know Hotch is awake and wants to see you."

"Oh."

"Oh?" he repeated. "That's all you have to say?"

"What did you want me to say?"

"I don't know. Thanks Dave, I'm heading up now might be nice."

"Fine. I'll go," she started off towards the hospital door before saying another word as Rossi watched her huff away.

Emily paced outside of Hotch's room for ten minutes. Any idea of what to say to him quickly escaped her mind. Was she supposed to act like she never said anything? She wished she had never said anything.

Finally mustering up the courage Emily pushed the door open quietly and walked in. Hotch was paler than usual and he looked like he was on his death bed. Emily sighed as she realized Hotch was asleep. Thanking her lucky stars she back tracked quickly out of the room before he woke up. All the way back downstairs Emily was thankful that she now had more time to think of what to do before she had to see him awake. But the picture of him lying there pale and hurt was imprinted in her brain and she knew just from how she felt from when she saw him, that even though he may not have wanted her that didn't change the way she felt about him.

Rossi returned to Hotch's room an hour later and he once again watched as his friends face fell. Deciding to know why he decided to push. "Why so glum?" he asked as Hotch shifted to lean on his good side.

"What do you mean?"

"You're okay, everyone came up to see you and you still look like someone kicked your puppy."

Hotch's brow flitted together. "Emily never came," he said slowly, trying not to let Dave know that it bothered him.

"She came," he informed his friend. When Hotch shot him a disbelieving look, Dave continued. "Once I left you, I headed down to find her. She came right up. When she returned she told me you were asleep, but Emily did come see you."

Relief ran across Hotch's face before he schooled his features. She didn't hate him. He fell asleep before Emily was able to talk to him. But if he had been asleep why didn't she wake him or wait until he woke up? Returning to see him when he was awake crossed his mind, but maybe she left already.

Dave watched his friend debate with himself. The reason why both of his friends were acting weird was still a mystery to him, so he figured he'd save Hotch the trouble of saying what he wanted to. "I'll find her again and tell her you want to see her. Don't worry," Dave reassured Hotch as he said his goodbye and headed for the door leaving Hotch alone with his thoughts.