Chapter Eighteen

I've finally had a chance to update this story…

My schedule is very full right now, so updates on stories will be a bit slower in coming. I will be updating the companion piece to this 'Agent Gibbs and the BAU Agent' once I finish this story entirely. I also hope to update 'Prentiss's Find' and 'Ziva's Treasure' as frequently as I can.

(I've recently been informed my timeline is off…so I am changing this story to be set in the later fourth of season Three of CM and Season Five of NCIS—that way I can include all the information I have on the characters up to—but not including—the season finales)

So here it is….

HOTCHPRENTISSHOTCHPRENTISSHOTCHPRENTISSHOTCHPRENTISSHOTCHPRENTISSHOTCHPRENTISS

Hotch pulled the SUV up to the hotel and exited, handing the keys to the waiting valet. Morgan jumped from the passenger seat and hurriedly opened the rear door.

He'd intended to lift a sleeping Prentiss from the vehicle and carry her up to her room. JJ and Garcia were already in the room, and Morgan had planned to turn her over to Garcia's care. But Hotch beat him to her. The older man held her close, her head tucked under his chin, her legs draped over his arm.

Prentiss didn't even stir. Derek smiled softly, his boss's dilemma very amusing. to say the least. Hotch had changed in the last year, year and a half. Since Elle, since Gideon, since Reid and Hinkle, since Hayley had left. He'd grown even more reserved, colder even. His defenses had thickened and Derek wondered if Hotch realized just how much.

If Emily could be the one to help soften Hotch—all the more power to both of them. Derek was all for that. With all his years of studying people it was more than obvious that they'd be good for each other. If they'd just do something about it.

He had no doubts they'd be able to keep it out of the office, so why shouldn't they be allowed to do whatever they wanted outside of work? Interoffice affairs might not be a good idea, but they happened all the time—even in the FBI. Wasn't Malone's team over in Missing Persons chock full of them?

So if Malone and his team can do it—why shouldn't Hotch's?

JJGARCIAJJGARCIAJJGARCIAJJGARCIA

JJ opened the door at the knock expecting to see Morgan standing there with Emily. He'd called ahead and told her to be waiting, that Emily had fallen asleep.



Instead, she was half-right. Hotch stood with Emily cuddled tight against his chest. If the dark headed woman had been awake, JJ knew she'd be mortified. JJ's eyes flew to Hotch's face, not surprised to see the completely inscrutable look in his dark eyes. Morgan stood directly behind him, a half smile on his handsome face.

"Hotch." JJ said, inexplicably tongue-tied. What were you supposed to say when your boss knocked on your door, holding your friend sleeping in his arms? Her marketing experience really hadn't prepared her for that. "Hey, how is she?"

"Hurting, tired, obstinate. Thinks she has something to prove." Hotch said, entering the room. He scanned it quickly before alighting on the unoccupied mattress by the window. It was a two-bed room, just like the one he shared with Rossi. Garcia had her laptop and notes spread out on the one bed, so Hotch lowered his burden onto the free bed. JJ moved closer to take off Emily's shoes.

"Sounds like Em." JJ said. "We'll take it from here."

Hotch almost protested but stopped himself—what could he say, really? Just let me sit here and stare at my subordinate while she sleeps? He doubted that would go over very well. Especially with Emily.

"Morgan, my love, got any more shirts to donate to the cause?" Garcia asked, rifling through the bag Hotch recognized as Emily's.

"Afraid not, sweet thing. That's the last of my shirts she's wearing now, baby girl."

"Shirts?" Hotch asked.

"Something she can slip over the cast, handsome. You have any contributions?"

"I've a couple button ups. I'll send them over shortly." Hotch said, some primal part of him glad she'd be sleeping in one of his shirts rather than Morgan's. "Well, good-night, ladies. I'll expect to see you both bright and early tomorrow morning. Tell Prentiss if she needs it, take tomorrow off."

"I'll tell her, sir, but I seriously doubt she'd do it." JJ said, strangely wanting her boss to leave. Something about his intensity was different, and it made her decidedly nervous. "Well, good night. Good night, Derek."

"See you in the morning, JJ. Doll face, don't you stay up too late, hear me?" Morgan said, winking at Garcia.

"I'll send the shirts over shortly." Hotch said, as the two men left.

EMILYPRENTISSEMILYPRENTISSEMILYPRENTISSEMILYPRENTISSEMILYPRENTISSEMILYPRENTISS

Emily woke the next morning hurting like hell. She rolled over and groaned, wanting nothing more than to go back to sleep.

That wasn't going to happen.

JJ and Garcia—already awake and dressed—peered down at her from opposite sides of the bed.

"Hey, my sweet girl. How you feeling?" Garcia asked.

"Ouch." Emily said, smiling ruefully. "What time is it?"

"Nearly six." JJ said, sinking onto the bed beside her. "Hotch wants us at NCIS by seven-thirty. He said you could take the day off if you need it."

"No, I can work." Emily said, sitting up. "Um, how did I get back here?"

"Hotch and Morgan. Do you remember driving with them?" JJ asked.

"Vaguely."

"Um, do you remember Hotch carrying you to the room?" Garcia asked, rubbing her hands together at the yumminess of Hotch carrying Emily. Just like in an Officer and a Gentleman—despite the fact that Emily was unconscious at the time.

"What?"

"Yep." JJ explained, "Apparently you fell asleep on the ride over and before Morgan could wake you up or even pick you up—Hotch had you. You seriously don't remember? Do you remember me waking you up later to change into that shirt you're wearing?"

"Do you recognize the shirt you're wearing?" Garcia asked, nearly giggling.

Emily looked down at herself, taking in the soft cotton shirt covering her body. It was white with yellow and blue pinstripes. It was one she'd seen Hotch wearing on several occasions. "Oh."

"Yeah, apparently you'd worn all of Morgan's extras, so Hotch volunteered a few." JJ said, watching Emily's eyes for any hint of reaction.

"Why don't I remember any of this?" Emily moaned. "Did anything else happen? Anything I need to know?"

"Well," JJ started, looking between Emily and Garcia. She didn't know if Garcia knew about Gibbs kissing Emily, but it was about to be out in the open. "Hotch saw Gibbs kiss you the other night."

"He did?"

"Yes. So did Spence. He's afraid Hotch was mad at you—and Gibbs—for that."

"Agent Hottie kissed you?" Garcia squealed. "And Hotch saw this?"

"So?" Emily asked. "What I choose to do after hours is no business of Hotch's."

"You really don't get it do you, Em?" JJ asked, "Spence thinks Hotch was jealous!"

"You cannot be serious." Emily said. "That will never happen."

"So there's nothing between you and Hotch?" Garcia asked, disappointed. "You two would be so good together, chickie."

"I swear to you—they're will never be anything more than professional between me and Aaron Hotchner. I guarantee that!"

"If you say so." JJ and Garcia said almost in unison. "If you say so."

"I do."