So this chapter is pretty long…sorry about that. I was going to go in a different direction in this chapter but AureliaMarie wanted some more Jack and who am I to deny her of that adorable little boy? So I added him in the chapter. Thanks to everyone who has been reading and reviewing and adding my story to their alerts. I really do appreciate it. Reviews make me smile, so let me know what you thought!
After walking into the BAU bullpen after an entire weekend with Hotch without any restraints Emily made sure to stand with some distance between them. The last thing she needed was anyone, especially Morgan, figuring out that her feelings for her boss were slowly escalating. She also didn't need them to know how comfortable she had become around him.
"Emily!" Reid exclaimed as she took her seat as Hotch made his way to his office. "I didn't know you'd be in today."
"Why wouldn't I?" she arched a perfect eyebrow.
"Well with Karl Arnold coming after you, I figured you want to stay under the radar, especially with how Hotch explained how he knew things about you and seemed infatuated with you right after—"
"Shut up kid!" Morgan said as he slapped the genius upside the head. The dark agent turned his gaze towards Emily and rolled his eyes. "Morning Princess." Without waiting for a response he walked over to her desk, leaned forward and placed a light kiss on her forehead. "How are you?"
Emily couldn't hold in a laugh. "Are you kidding? I'm having the time of my life. A psycho is after me and I spent my entire Sunday watching movies." She threw her hands up in fake annoyance. "What's not to love?"
Morgan chuckled slightly and patted her arm before heading back to his seat. "I'm glad to see you still have your sense of humor."
"Have you found anything else out?" Emily wondered.
"No," Morgan shook his head. "Sorry."
The morning dragged on slowly and as time went on Emily found herself becoming more and more annoyed as she sensed Morgan and Reid continuously staring at her. Emily spent the entire morning trying her hardest not to look up and let them know that she caught on to them three hours ago.
Just as she was about to get the guys to knock it off Garcia came sprinting into the bullpen and hugged Emily tightly.
"Sorry I didn't come see you earlier gumdrop but I was trying to find out as much information as I could. Unfortunately I didn't find anything. I'm sorry sweetie."
Even though Emily knew they were only concerned the attention was driving her insane. She quickly stood up and stepped out of Garcia's arms. The blonde tried her hardest not to look hurt.
"Guys stop."
"Emi—"
"No! I want it all to stop. The stares when you think I'm not looking." She glared at Reid and Morgan. "And all of the hugs and being so happy when you see me like I've been gone forever," she barked.
"We're concerned."
"I know that! Do you think I don't? And I appreciate it. I'm already nervous enough and you three aren't making it any better, so all I'm asking is please knock it off." She threw her pen down on her desk and walked up the four steps and barged into Hotch's office while slamming the door shut behind her.
Hotch looked up from his paperwork and watched as Emily plopped down on the couch. "What's wrong?" he asked quickly.
"Those three," she pointed to the window, "are driving me insane. Make them stop," she whined slightly as she ran a hand through her dark hair.
Hotch placed his pen down and clasped his hands together. "They're worried about you. Of course they are going to be over the top."
"You aren't," she pointed out.
"That's because you've been by my side since all of this began. I know where you are, what you're doing and I know you're safe. But," he continued as he saw her face, "if you weren't right by me I'd be just as concerned as those three are. So don't be so tough on them."
Emily couldn't resist rolling her eyes. "Please," she groaned, "don't take their side."
"I'm not," he held his hands up in defeat. "I just understand where they're coming from."
"I suck," she concluded after a few moments of silence.
"No you don't. You just hate all of the attention you're receiving. Just don't let it get to you. Let it roll off your back." Emily nodded her head at his words. A small smirk came upon his face. "I think I know what will cheer you up."
"What's that?"
"I have to pick Jack up from school today, why don't you come with me? I know he'll be ecstatic to see you. You'll see him and I know it'll make you smile and get your mind off of things. I have to drop him off at Jessica's though so it won't be a long trip."
"I don't know," Emily hesitated. "If Arnold is lurking around he might see me with you at Jack's school then he'll know where Jessica lives. I really hate the idea of everyone in danger because of me."
"Fine, you can lay down in my backseat when we pull out of the garage so if Arnold is watching he'll just see me leaving alone."
Emily couldn't control the blush that ran over her as she thought to herself that she actually would like to get into Hotch's backseat and "lay" down. "Are you sure?"
"Yes. It's settled, you're coming with me."
Emily spent the rest of the afternoon in Hotch's office getting little work done. Hotch turned uncharacteristic and tried telling Emily some jokes that he looked up on the computer just to make her smile and forget that she was in danger. He hated to see her so upset, but he knew Jack would make her happy even for just a few minutes.
Their talk quickly turned from silly jokes to her place again.
"Are we still going to my place tonight?"
Hotch looked up from the computer screen and tilted his head to the side. "If you really want to we can still go but…" he trailed off.
"But what? Do you think it's a bad idea?"
He shrugged lightly, "I'm not sure, I just have a bad feeling about going tonight."
Emily nodded her head. "Okay we don't have to go then, but we will have to go soon so I can grab some more clothes."
"You gave up pretty quickly," Hotch informed her with a hint of skepticism in his voice.
"I just don't see the point in fighting you about any of this. If you have a bad feeling, I'm sure it's for a reason." Emily threw her head back against the couch.
"What do you call a pig's karate kick?"
She raised her head to look at him. "What?"
"A pork chop!" he said with flair and enthusiasm that she rarely got to see which made her laugh much more than the joke did.
"You're killing me Hotch," she giggled.
Hotch stood up and walked over to her. "Come on go grab your coat, it's time to get Jack." He held out his hand to her and pulled her up and walked behind her as she made her way to her desk. Hotch immediately saw what Emily was talking about once he shut his door tightly behind him. The three people in question looked up and watched Emily's every movement. He did his best to glare at them before Emily picked up on it.
"Where are you two off to?" Morgan asked as he caught sight of the glare and backed off.
"Emily is coming with me to get Jack from school then take him to Jessica's."
Garcia raised her hand timidly and four pairs of eyes looked at her strangely. "Yes Garcia?"
"I had an idea. I figured since Emily was cooped up inside for the entire weekend, I thought maybe we could all go out tonight. Go get a drink; you know let loose and relax a bit."
"No."
"Baby girl, what part of any of that is a good idea to you?" Morgan asked quickly.
Garcia blushed. "I just want Emily to have things be normal again and being stuck inside isn't normal. I'm sorry; I guess it wasn't such a great idea."
"The main goal is to keep her away from Karl not take her out and use her as bait," Reid chimed in using his know it all tone.
She sent a glare his way and the genius cowered back slightly.
"I'm sure Emily is fine with Hotch and if she wasn't she would tell us."
"Why are you all talking about Emily like Emily isn't standing right here?" the raven haired woman quickly asked. "And why is it everyone else's decision on whether I go out tonight or not? Shouldn't it be mine? If you want Emily to be happy then maybe you should include her in on your conversations instead of having them in front of her like she is suddenly invisible," she snapped as she grabbed her coat off of her chair and headed towards the glass doors. She jabbed the down button on the elevator and waited for Hotch to follow her. She knew without turning around that he was most likely telling them all to cool it.
Finally she felt his presence next to her as they waited for the doors to open. They stepped inside and once the doors closed Hotch placed his hand on the small of her back comfortingly. Emily relaxed immediately at his touch and they both knew now wasn't the time to talk about any of this. They walked in silence to Hotch's car and he opened the back door for her.
"Sorry about this," he apologized softly as Emily climbed in and laid down on the seat.
"Don't worry about it," she assured him as she got comfortable.
Hotch got into the drivers seat and pulled away. Once he was three blocks away and he didn't see anyone following him, he turned his head to gaze down at her on the backseat. The words 'you're beautiful' almost popped out, but luckily his mind came into play and he stopped himself. Instead he settled for, "you can sit up now."
Emily did and she climbed into the front seat which made Hotch swerve slightly once when her hair fell into his face as she tried to get her leg over the seat. "Sorry," she mumbled with a laugh.
The pair rode in silence the rest of the way to the school. Hotch parked out front and went to stand near Emily's window and looked in. "Do you want to come in or just stay in the car?"
She knew that any other time he would have told her to come in with him, but after her outburst at work he was more aware that she did have an opinion. And she also knew that he wanted her to say that she would come in because then she would be with him and he would know that she was safe.
"I'll come with you."
Emily saw the flash of relief run through his eyes at her words as she got out of the car and they made their way up the stairs to the building. Arriving at the correct door Hotch knocked twice. A beautiful blonde opened the door.
"Mr. Hotchner," she beamed, "I didn't know you were picking Jack up today but it's such a lovely surprise."
Emily tried hard to contain the laughter that was threatening to explode. This chick had a thing for Hotch, and the sad thing was that she didn't blame her. She looked over at Hotch and he seemed completely at ease, like he had no idea that the teacher wanted to eat him up.
Just as she opened her mouth to say something else, the blonde noticed Emily who shifted slightly next to Hotch. The eyes that were so big and blue a few seconds ago became squinty as she stared at Emily then back up at Hotch. Before another word could be said a small boy's voice traveled through the silent air.
"EM'LY!" Jack ran up and held open his arms and Emily quickly bent down and picked the small boy up and hugged him tightly. Hotch had been right Jack was happy to see her and he definitely brought a smile to her face. "I didn't know you were picking me up today. Daddy didn't tell me." Jack turned his head towards his father and gave him the famous Hotchner glare. "Why didn't you tell me daddy, I would have worn something else."
The three adults chuckled slightly, and Hotch ran a hand over Jack's back. "I didn't know she was going to come Jack, but don't worry next time you'll be the first to know."
Jack was satisfied with this answer as he placed his head in the nook of Emily's neck and snuggled closer to her while telling her all about his day at school. Hotch couldn't take his eyes off of the two huddled together and the only thing that pulled him away from the perfect picture was some ones hand on his forearm.
"Do you want to come in and get his back pack?" she asked in a sultry tone that Emily for one didn't miss.
"Oh yeah sure," Hotch said as he shot another look at his son in Emily's arms and quickly stepped into the classroom behind the teacher to grab his belongings.
Emily danced around the hallway slowly with Jack in her arms as he giggled. "I missed you yesterday Em'ly."
"I missed you to sweetie."
"Are you coming home with us again tonight? You didn't leave yet right?"
"Actually you're going to your Aunts house tonight."
"What? Why? I want to stay with you though. Do I have to?" he whined.
Emily couldn't help but smile at his pouting face. "I'm sorry honey but you have to. But don't be sad," she said as she ran a finger lightly over his face, "you'll see me soon and then you'll be so tired of seeing me that you'll want me to go away and never come back."
"NEVER!" he exclaimed as he kissed her cheek.
She suddenly felt her heart swell with emotion at the small boys' actions. Emily needed to be careful because if she wasn't she could find herself becoming more attached to him than she already was. Instead of saying anything Emily just hugged him tighter to her and swayed to non existent music again.
Eventually Hotch exited the classroom looking rather red and Emily knew something had happened. She arched an eyebrow at him and he quickly looked away before reaching blindly for her arm and tugged her with him towards the exit.
"Is everything alright?" she asked once they reached the car.
"Yeah, everything is great. Do you want to put him in the car seat or shall I?"
Emily opened the back door and wordlessly placed Jack in and buckled him in. Hotch hopped into the front seat and started the car. Strapping herself in Emily looked over at Hotch again and saw that his focus was on the road ahead of him and nothing else. What the hell happened? She wondered to herself.
Ten minutes later of listening to Jack ramble on about how much he wanted to stay with the two of them they finally pulled up in front of Jessica's house. "Sorry buddy," Hotch apologized, "but you have to go with Aunt Jessica tonight."
Another pout came across his lips. "Well can Em'ly walk me in then?"
"Of course," Emily said as she hopped out of the car and grabbed Jack up in her arms then made her way to the front door. Hotch caught up finally and knocked.
Jessica opened the door with a big smile which quickly faded when Jack didn't want to come inside because Emily wasn't coming with him.
"How about we do something fun this weekend?" Emily suggested in Jack's ear as Hotch and Jessica began to have another conversation about school work.
"Do you promise?"
"I promise. You pick something to do and we'll do it. Anything you want." Emily assured him gently.
"Okay, that sounds fair. I'm going to miss you Em'ly." He told her as he squeezed the life out of her.
Emily struggled for air but realized that it would be worth dying over after such an amazing hug from the little boy. She squeezed him back and planted a few kisses all over his face. "You be good okay? I'll see you this weekend sweetie." Jack leaned back and then kissed her nose. "I'll miss you too," she said with a chuckle as she put Jack down and he ran his little legs right pass his aunt and father and right into the kitchen.
"I don't get a goodbye?" Hotch yelled into the house which caused the younger Hotchner to come back and hug his father's legs.
"Sorry daddy. Bye. I love you." He said as Hotch placed a kiss on his forehead and he ran back into the kitchen. The three adults said their goodbyes and the two headed back towards Hotch's vehicle. Once they were almost back to work Emily couldn't hold it in anymore.
"So what happened back there?"
"What? Where?" Hotch asked clearly confused.
"School," Emily said simply.
Hotch turned five shades of red as he recalled the memory. He didn't want to share that story with Emily. He didn't want to share that story with anyone. "Nothing," he brushed it off.
Emily rolled her eyes. "She hit on you didn't she?"
Hotch's mouth dropped open and he turned to face her and sputtered a "what?"
"Jack's teacher Hotch. You know the sexy blonde who opened the door. She hit on you. I can see it in your face."
"I…you…I'm sure I don't know what you're talking about," he lied unsuccessfully.
"It's okay Hotch. You're hot for teacher it happens," she laughed at her own stupid joke.
"I am not!" he exclaimed forcefully.
"Sure sure. Don't worry your secret is safe with me."
Hotch wanted to deny what Emily was saying. He wanted to tell her the horrid details of how the woman stepped closer to him and ran her hands over his arms and hit on him in front of a classroom of fifteen children. He wanted to tell her how uncomfortable he had been and how he couldn't wait until he got out of there but he didn't. For some reason he didn't know how. It more than a little bit hurt that Emily seemed okay with the fact that he got hit on. It didn't seem to bother her at all, which really bothered him. Maybe he was seeing things that weren't there when he thought about how much closer the two have gotten over the past few days. Maybe Emily wasn't feeling the same things that he was. Was it all in his head? He didn't know and he really didn't want to find out.
"Thanks for coming with me," Hotch smoothly changed the subject. "Jack was happy to see you."
"I'm glad I came. I needed to see him. He can always find a way to brighten up my day."
"I know what you mean," he said with a nod. "He's gotten me through some tough days." They turned the corner and Hotch gave Emily a look.
"Right, gotcha," she said as she climbed back into the back seat to lie back down. "Who knew I would be laying in a back seat without getting anything out of it," she said jokingly which she noticed caused Hotch to choke on air.
Thoughts were running nonstop through Hotch's head. She didn't say anything about the teacher hitting on him but she made a comment like that. He was thoroughly confused. Did she want something out of laying in the back seat of his car? Should he reply back? Say something witty and funny or maybe even charming or should he let it go? Did she have feelings for him? When they found Arnold should he send him a fruit basket in jail to thank him for pushing the two together? Just as a great comeback popped into his mind, Hotch realized that the moment was long over and anything he said now would probably be awkward and unwelcomed so he kept his mouth shut as he pulled back into the underground garage. But when he opened the door for Emily and she hopped out and nudged him playfully in the arm Hotch decided then and there that a fruit basket wouldn't be close to enough as a thank you.