A/N So I have changed how this story is going to go. Originally this was to be the last chapter. Emily never got shot, and she, Hotch, and Jack spent about a month on a tropical island. There was no fall out. Now though I want to explore the fallout. So, I am going to continue this story. I hope you keep reading. Thanks to all of you for reading, reviewing, favoriting, and alerting. It's been a pleasure to entertain.

Aaron brought the doctor in.

"Hi, doc. What's my prognosis?"

"Well, you were shot. Luckily the bullet missed your vital organs. You have broken ribs as well as various cuts and contusions. You should be OK to go back to work in about six weeks, and be field ready in three months or so."

Emily nodded. Normally she would fight this, but after everything she was just glad to alive and back with Aaron. The rest of it didn't matter as much now.

"We're going to keep you here for another day and then you'll be discharged. Do you have anyone to stay with you to help you around the house?"

"She'll be staying with me, doctor."

"Very good. I'll have a nurse go over some things you'll need to know including how to change the bandages."

Hotch nodded.

The doctor turned and left. Hotch wearily sank into the chair.

"Aaron. Are you all right?"

"I'm the one that's supposed to be asking you that. You were the one that was shot."

"I know, but I 'died,' was brought back to life, was shot, lay bleeding in your arms, and for the last three days have been in a coma – during which time you have apparently not left the room. Aaron, that's a lot to deal with. Are you OK?"

"You're here. You're alive. And more importantly, you're awake. I'm ... I'm ... OK? Maybe."

"It's OK. What you went through ..."

"What I went through? ... What about what you went through? ... Do you want to talk about it?"

"No. Not now. I ..."

"It's OK. You don't have to talk about it. ..." Hotch tapped his hands nervously against his legs.

"Aaron what is it?"

" ... Dave came by. Well, he came by more than once. Everyone came by, obviously-."

"Aaron. You're babbling."

"Right. Strauss wanted to see me. I didn't go. I told Dave I had more important things to do. Now that you're awake, she's going to want to see me, and you, I imagine. It looks like we are going to have to face the music."

"It's not going to help that you didn't go see her when she called."

Hotch smiled ruefully, "It's also not going to help that I lost it a little while you were taken. And then I really lost it when you were ...'killed.'"

Emily lifted her right hand and squeezed Hotch's knee. "I was at the funeral. He wanted me to watch."

"It was worse than that. ... I ... uh, I tore up the bullpen. Your desk it, uh took a hit. Or two."

Emily raised an eyebrow. "A hit or two?"

"It doesn't matter. JJ she ... She cleaned it out. We couldn't look at it without ... you."

Emily nodded. "Where is the team?"

"Working. They've been here off and on."

"You're not working."

"Yes. Did you just now notice that?"

"No, I mean. You're not working. You the workaholic. The one who stays until late in the night. You're not working. You haven't been to work in three days."

"Don't sound so surprised. There are more important things than work."

"Really?"

Hotch leaned in and kissed her. "Really. You should get some sleep."

Emily picked up the dry erase board, and showed it to Hotch.

"I wasn't shot when I wrote that. Think of it this way the more you sleep the faster you'll heal, and be able to get out of here."

"That's true. All right I'll do it. But on one condition."

"What's that?"

"You go home, shower, and take a nap."

"Fine." He turned and walked to the door. He turned back around. "I love you, Emily."

"I love you too, Aaron"

/

JJ stood in front of the hospital door. She could finally breathe. It was all going to be all right. Emily was awake. She knocked on the door lightly and the peeked into the room. Emily sat up in the bed.

"Hey JJ."

"Hey. Are you all right?"

"I'm good." Emily reached for the white board she erased the message and started writing.

"What are you writing?"

"It's going to be a sanity saver."

"That's not cryptic at all."

"... I saw you at the funeral, with Reid."

"You were there. How come we didn't see you?"

"I was disguised and I couldn't say anything. What's up with you and Reid? You finally succumbed to the charms of our resident genius?"

JJ blushed.

"You have, haven't you? You go, girl. What's he like? Is it true what they say about men with big hands?"

"Emily? ... I could ask you the same question."

"But if I told you, would you ever be able to look Hotch in the eye again?"

JJ thought about it for a moment before laughing, "No, I couldn't. Reid's nice. After you ... 'died' Hotch was lost. We all were, but not like him. We were all looking for something to cling to, something that was real. Reid and I, we just. We grabbed hold of each other, and we held on tight. It helped."

"I'm happy for you JJ, you and Reid."

/

Hotch was driving back to the hospital, and he wouldn't admit it if she asked, but he was feeling a lot better after a shower, nap, and a fresh change of clothes. The phone rang, and a sense of dread washed over him. He didn't know why or how, but he knew without looking at the phone who was calling him. He checked the caller ID, yep, it was Strauss. He massaged his temples for a moment before answering the phone. "Hotchner."

"Agent Hotchner, it's Section Chief Strauss."

"Ma'am."

"I'm ordering you to come in. We have some things we need to discuss."

"Now, ma'am?"

"Now, Agent Hotchner."

It galled him that she thought she could treat people this way, but for now at least she was the boss, "Yes, ma'am."

He turned off the road he was on and made his way to Quantico.

Chopin's "The Funeral March" played unbidden in his head.

A/N Dun dun dun. Will Aaron keep his job? Will Emily be able to recover? Find out next time on "Emily's very own stalker." But before you go, review.