Author Note – Okay, I'm back, my weekend plans got cancelled due to unforeseen circumstances and I needed to distract myself which is why I'm posting now . I ended up writing this chapter in three different ways, all with different endings; I hope I chose the right one to use. Let me know what you think.

Second Chances – chapter thirteen

October 2013

The ambulance sped away from the scene, trying to get its passenger to the hospital as fast as possible, and the paramedics within were trying to stop the blood pouring out of the bullet wound. Sirens were blazing and the streets were filled with residual murkiness from the smoke bombs they had used at the beginning of the attack.

The suspects were being led away to separate waiting vans, some shouting abuse and threats towards the people who had gathered from neighbouring houses to watch the dawn raid. Forensic teams were ready to secure the house and start collecting the evidence.

Emily gasped as the stretcher she was on hit the A and E doors, while she argued with the paramedics who were handing her over to the waiting doctors. "It's just a graze, I don't need hospital treatment. You need to concentrate on the other agent."

"Ma'am you need to calm down, my colleagues are dealing with his injuries," the nurse who started walking beside the stretcher argued back. "The bullet grazed your upper thigh, and you have a nasty gash to the head. There's a possibility of concussion." Emily lifted her hand to her head; pulling it away she could see the blood. "Have you ever had a concussion before?"

Emily felt the nausea come over her as she nodded to the nurses question. "A few years ago." The doctor and nurse were talking but Emily drowned them out as she stared at the blood on her hand. In the back of her mind Emily felt the need to contact Derek to tell him she was alive, he would worry until he heard her voice, maybe until he held her. She found herself craving that contact.

She came out of her trance as she felt the nurse start to wipe the blood off of her hand. Emily vaguely heard the nurse mentioning stitches and the possibility of being kept in for observation, but she didn't say anything in return as they began treating her wounds, her thoughts drifting back to the house this morning.

A month after talking to Morgan, Emily had been integrated into the undercover operation at Easter's insistence. Their suspects had organised a meeting with one of their suppliers when Emily was with them. The supplier had taken one look at Emily and started waving his gun around, accusing them of setting him up. Emily didn't recognise him; he'd had plastic surgery to change his appearance, but apparently he'd been one of the men who had done business with Doyle. He had gone off the grid, or at least that's what he had told her.

As he had grabbed Emily by the hair to fling her into another room, one of her agents had managed to get the distress signal out. A few minutes later the first smoke bomb came through the window, and he'd fired at Emily as she jumped out of the way, the bullet only just making contact. He'd kept firing into the fog and one of the other agents was hit in the shoulder.

Emily was brought back to the present by the sound of Amy's voice coming from the other side of the white curtain.

"I'm looking for Emily Prentiss; she was brought in by ambulance to be treated for a gunshot wound to the thigh. I believe she may have hurt her head."

"Are you family?" She heard a member of staff ask.

"My name's Amy Stevens, she's my daughter's godmother." That was news to Emily, she had been undercover when Amy had gone into labour, and so she had yet to meet the new born. "Also, I've been on the phone with her emergency contact, who's in America and has asked me to update him on her status. In her records you will find Derek Morgan listed."

Emily heard the taps on the keyboard as they verified Amy's story. "We've spoken to Mr Morgan and there's a note tagged to her file that you were coming. She's right behind that curtain there." Seconds later the curtain was pushed back, revealing Amy and the stroller. Emily realised she hadn't noticed the nurse leaving.

"Miss me?" Amy asked taking in the sight before her. When she'd seen the television reports of the raid, Amy had recognised her boss getting into one of the ambulances. She had tried to phone Derek herself but had been put through to the technical analyst for his team, who had said he was en route to Milwaukee, but she could get a message to him.

Amy's phone started ringing five minutes after hanging up with Penelope. She could tell he was angry and worried, but trying to keep calm for her sake. Amy told him to take a deep breath, she would find out what was happening and call him back. Her husband had left for work, so she had to bring the baby to the hospital with her.

"What are you doing here Amy? I'm fine, I'll be out soon."

Amy ignored her question. "What happened?" Emily sighed and told her an abbreviated version of how she got her injuries; they were in an open accident and emergency area, and anyone could hear what they had to say. "Do you know what's going on with the other agent?" Emily asked.

"I saw the Director on my way in, he said they were non critical and they were about to start his debrief now as he's in a room. He also said they would be in to talk to you after they were finished." At that moment the baby decided to let them know she was still in the room. Amy moved to the stroller lifting the baby out, holding her close for a moment before holding her out to Emily expectantly. "I would like you to meet Annabel. Do you want a cuddle?"

Ignoring the pain in her back, Emily's arms were reaching out automatically for the baby. "She's beautiful Amy."

"I may be a little biased but I have to agree," Amy smiled. "It's a good thing you think so as well, seeing as I want you to be god mother." Emily's head snapped up from looking at the baby.

"Are you serious? What about your other friends?"

"I don't really have any other female friends. Well, none that I would want as god mother to my daughter." Amy's head tilted to the side as she watched Emily sit on the bed with Annabel in her arms. "Besides who else is going to teach Annabel how to dodge bullets, pick locks, and play poker as well as divulging the perfect hangover cure. Plus my mother in law loves the fact that you're a high ranking agent in Interpol, she's practically giddy over it." Emily laughed at her friends' explanation, knowing that Amy hated her mother in laws' need for propriety, before looking back down at the baby in her arms.

"What do you think about that Annabel? Want me to be your god mother?" The baby cooed back up at her.

"I think you two are going to get along like a house on fire," Amy told Emily. "Children suit you," she added as an afterthought.

They spent a few minutes talking, Amy having a calming effect on Emily. Easter poked his head around the curtain as Amy put the baby back in her stroller. "I'll leave you to debrief, I need to make a phone call anyway." She said looking at Emily pointedly.

Emily's eyes shifted between Amy and Easter, finally focusing on Amy as she said, "Can you tell him that I'll call him tonight?"

"He's on a case," Amy told her gently. "But I'll see if he's got a few minutes."

"Thank you, Amy." Emily was worried about calling him now; he didn't need to lose focus because of her. She followed Amy with her eyes as she pushed the stroller out of the room, her eyes shifting to Easter as they passed. He stood at the edge of her bed, looking her over.

"How are you?"

"Been better," she couldn't help the bitterness entering her voice. They had continued arguing about her involvement in the undercover aspect of the case until she had gone in.

"We had no idea where he was, he went underground after Doyle. We never knew he was involved, if we did I wouldn't have sent you in. I promise." Easter paused. "He was killed as we were taking him in, pulled a gun, and grabbed an agent as a human shield. A junior agent managed to get an angle and took the shot." Emily raised her eyebrow in surprise. Suicide by police; she was doubtful. "I know you're angry with me Love, so I've come with a peace offering."

Emily look turned expectant as she waited for him to continue, curious. "We found evidence in the house that they have ties to America, and that the FBI might have an interest in the information we found. In order of promoting interagency relations, I thought you may like to be the agent who liaises with their Counter Terrorism division." He gave her a pointed look. "As I recall it's just a few floors down from the BAU; thought your ex-partner may need to double check you're alive." Emily's mouth dropped with the implication. It was a huge peace offering; he must have heard about Morgan's visit and put the pieces together.

She was discharged a couple of hours later and had continued the debrief back at the office, before Easter had ordered her to go home to rest. Emily had no idea how Amy had known when to be at the office, but she was there to drive her home, staying to make her dinner. Afterwards she placed Emily's laptop in front of Emily to make the video call she had planned with Penelope. Minutes later Emily was face to face with Morgan, and he was silent as he catalogued the injuries he could see, his face unreadable even to her.

"The bullet hit your thigh?" He asked finally. At his neutral tone, Emily nodded and waited for him to get angry, to tell her about his frustrations, but it didn't come. Finally his face relaxed and Emily was able to read him; he looked lost, like he had no idea what to do. Emily could also see the guilt which she had seen in the year she had returned to the BAU, when he blamed himself for any of her injuries.

"It grazed me, I needed a few stitches but I'll be fine," she reassured him, trying to keep her own tone neutral. "It'll be another scar soon." She saw Morgan's eyes flash and she remembered their first night together.

"I like your scars, they remind me you're alive, healing," he whispered. "I really want to hold you right now."

"I want you here as well, but you've got a case." Emily decided not to tell Morgan about her visit, which Easter had scheduled for when she was cleared to travel, in case he wasn't home from Milwaukee, in case it was cancelled.

They talked for a few more minutes before Hotch called his name saying they had gotten a break in the case. Morgan looked at Emily apologetically. "I gotta go Emily, I love you."

"I love you, call me when you can."

"I will." He signed off and she was face to face with Penelope.

"Hey Pen, how are you?"

"Worried, you really need to stop having brushes with death My Love."

"Pen," Emily sighed. "My agents needed my help."

"I understand that, but my Dark Knight needs his Princess," she peered at Emily over the rim of her glasses.

"I know that's why I need your help."

Four days later, Penelope was decorating her office for Halloween when there was a knock at her door. "Enter at your own peril," she called to the person on the other side.

"Hi Pen," Emily greeted as she entered. She had been cleared for travelling the day before and put straight on a plane. When they had talked the other day, Emily had told Penelope she was coming home for a short visit, asking her for help when she arrived. It had taken all of Penelope's will power not to tell anyone Emily was on her way.

"Oh we don't have long; everyone is on their way back from Milwaukee," she said taking the bag Emily offered her. They walked to the BAU bullpen, and Emily felt nostalgia wash over her as her eyes landed on her old desk. Looking closer, she smiled as she saw JJ's name on it. Emily glanced around and found Alex's name on Morgan's old desk.

Passing Penelope the other bag she held and the tray of coffees, Emily opened her shoulder bag, pulling out some items. Emily placed the container of vitamins on Spencer's desk as well as a King chess piece, from where he'd won their cyber game a few weeks ago; on JJ's name plate she placed a small Tinkerbelle figurine as well as a shot glass.

Making their way up the stairs they came to Morgan's door and Penelope could barely contain her excitement. Emily shot her an amused expression, to which she replied, "I can't help it, and I just know how happy they're going to be that you're home for a visit when they get back. Morgan's going to be over the moon."

Emily couldn't help the smile as she thought of Morgan. Opening the door to his office, she walked to the other side of the desk as Penelope's phone beeped. "That was JJ, they're about to get on the elevator. She wants to have lunch."

Emily grabbed one of the coffees off of the tray and placed it on the desk attaching a post it note. She managed to make it to the spare elevator as the other one opened, Penelope waving at her as the door closed.

Penelope stood there, switching her small wave to the team as they looked at her strangely, before departing the elevator. As they made their way to the bullpen, Penelope felt her excitement rise as she anticipated their reaction to Emily's presents. She saw Morgan check the pocket that held his phone twice in that short walk.

Morgan left the others behind in the bullpen as he continued to his office, slumping down in his chair, looking in confusion at the coffee cup as he grasped the post it note to read what it said.

'Was wondering if I could be your Halloween honey this year? I'm meeting with Counter Terrorism, wait for me in your office, Em x'

She was here, he thought to himself. Relief washed over him that Emily would be with him that evening, that he would be able to see for himself she was still alive. Closing his eyes, he allowed the anguish of the last few days to drain away; he'd been on edge since he'd received the phone call he'd been dreading from the hospital. Everyone had tiptoed around him, including Hotch. After apprehending the suspect Morgan had needed space, taking a seat on a low wall outside the precinct while the others had finished handing over to the locals, when Reid approached him with a cup of coffee and they had sat in silence while they drank; Morgan finding comfort in his presence.

Laughter from the bullpen drew his attention. Grabbing his coffee, he went see what everyone found so funny. Leaning over the railing he took a sip, and caught Rossi's eye from where he stood at the bottom of the stairs.

The older man looked up, eyes twinkling, away from JJ and Spencer holding their gifts. He gestured to JJ. "I think we found out who the Green Fairy sponsor was."

The blonde looked at them, a huge smile on her face. "You know what? I'm not gonna feel guilty, the night before is well worth the morning after."

That evening, Morgan was closing his front door to the last of the trick or treaters, and returned to the living room. Standing beside the sofa Morgan watched as the light from the fire flickered along Emily's long legs as she lay on the sofa in nothing but the shirt Morgan wore to work and her underwear, the buttons undone but not revealing. His gaze travelled the length of her body, pausing at the small bandage that was still on her thigh, continuing up past her panties, following the gap between the shirt panels to her belly button towards the valley between her breasts and finally meeting her eyes.

Emily lifted her hand to intertwine their fingers, and Morgan sat on the edge of the sofa as she placed their hands over her heart. "I'm right here."