Disclaimer: They're not mine, I'm just playing with them.
Chapter 15
The next day:
Hotch and Emily, walked into the BAU, hand in hand. They were both finished with hiding the way they felt about each other. They wanted to tell the team, their family, about them privately, but neither could stop from touching the other just yet.
Garcia, who had been leaning agaist Emily's desk, talking to Reid and J.J., spotted them first letting out a loud squeal. "Oh my, look at that, bossman and gumdrop are holding hands!"
J.J. and Reid's heads whipped around, both grinning at Hotch and Emily. "Thank God!," they both said at the same time. Morgan and Dave stepped out of Dave's office, alerted by Garcia's squeal. Both men grinning at the sight of Hotch and Emily, holding hands in the middle of the bullpen. "Finally!" Dave said smirking, "You both pulled your heads out of your asses." Morgan agreed, laughing. Garcia, J.J., and Reid, shot them a dirty look, but Hotch burst out laughing, to everyone's surprise. Emily blushed, smiling she said, "Gee thanks Dave, we love you too!"
The team laughed, and Garcia hurried over to the couple to hug them tightly. The rest of the team followed her lead. Dave after getting his hug said, "Well kiddo, let me make amends, Let me take the whole team, plus your significant others, and kids, to dinner tonight."
Garcia chimmed in, "Yeah! Party, party!" The team laughed again, all of them agreeing, setting a time and a place. Just as they finalised their plans, Erin Strauss walked in. She stopped in front of Hotch and Emily, and eyed their clasped hands. "Aaron I need to see you and Emily in my office, please." She said before walking back out of the room. Hotch and Emily, looked at each other and sighed. They had known it was coming, but they had hoped, she would wait till midday at least. They looked reassuringly at their friends, before going to face the music. The team all looked worriedly, after them, hoping Strauss wouldn't be a bitch for once.
Strauss's Office:
Emily and Aaron, watched Erin Strauss from their seats in the visitor's chairs, in front of her desk, as Strauss sat down in her leather chair, behind her desk. She leaned forward and set her elbows on the desk, her fingers coming together to a small steeple, and then she did something that surprised the two seasoned profilers, she smiled slightly. Hotch's mouth tightened angrily seeing that smile. He wasn't going to let Strauss hurt Emily, he needed to figure out what her agenda was before she surprised him again. Similar thoughts were running Emily's head, punctuated with several swear words. She didn't trust the woman in front of them, she never had.
Erin Strauss, knew her reputation, her cold, harsh manner, and her willingness to do anything to rise up the ranks of the F.B.I., had ensured her a place of dislike, within almost everyone who worked at Quantico. It had worked as double-edged sword. On one hand, it had gotten her what she wanted, a high presigious position, higher than she had ever suspected a woman could get. And that had only fueled her ambitions, at the time. On the other hand, she was wildly unpopular amongst her coworkers. She knew what most of her agents still call her behind her back, bitch, ice queen, dragon lady. Going in, day by day to work in a hostile environment wasn't easy. Having a family at home, with an understanding husband (now ex-husband), had gotten her through her hardest days. And after a while, it got surprisingly easier. After all the higher up in the chain of command she rose, the more she could demand the respect, she thought she deserved.
After her divorce, and after her children had left home, that sorce of comfort, had changed. Alcohol had taken their place, something that had increased in volume, over the years. But after awhile, it had taken more and more booze, to get through the day. Then she had targeted Aaron Hotchner, and his team. She had heard for years, his name spoken with deep respect and a little awe, and it had infuriated her. She knew that he was a threat to her and to her position, and had reacted to fight that precieved threat. Her actions, the things she had done to him and to his team shamed her now.
Aaron's response to her drinking problem, the kindness and sympathy in his eyes as he directed Derek Morgan to take her quietly to rehab had thrown Erin. She knew that if the situation have been reversed, she would have delighted, in throwing Aaron to the wolves. Aaron on the other hand hadn't told anyone outside his team, and to Erin's surprise neither had they. Realising that, realising what she had let herself become, had been a humbling experience. Erin Strauss, owed the man in front of her much more than an massive apology and her career, she owed Aaron Hotchner her life.
She saw both agents faces tighten, and while she couldn't blame them for their mistrust, it still hurt. She spoke quickly, trying to ease the tension in the room, tension that had only gotten worse, as they had all sat silently. "Relax, I've already spoken to the director. He has requested, that Agents Rossi and Morgan, do your evaluations every six months, but other than that you have nothing to worry about. As long as your relationship doesn't adversly affect your work, your personal relationship, will be regarded as just that. Personal."
Hotch and Emily, looked at each other, and then back at Strauss in disbelief. Both had expected Strauss to, suspend, transfer one of them, or even fire them. They had talked about it, and had decided that regaurdless of the consequences, they we're not hiding their relationship. They had spent years dening their feelings, they were not going to spend one more day, doing so again. Hotch finally spoke softly, "Thank you, Erin." "No Aaron, thank you. I owe you both a large apology, for my behavior towards you. I'm sorry..." She trailed off, not quite sure what else to say.
"It's alright," Hotch replied feeling relieved, for the first time ever in Strauss's company and office. Erin shook her head, "No it's not, but you're very kind to say so. I have alot of making up to do. I'd like this to be the begining, to starting a better repore, between your team and I." Hotch and Emily looked at each other, and then back at Strauss, before nodding once cautiously. Strauss smiled at them before saying, "I hope your both very happy together, I can't think of two people who deserve it more, she paused, then finished mock sternly, "now go back to work."
Hotch and Emily chuckled, nodding again, both shaking Strauss's hand before leaving, still a little shocked by this turn of events. Watching them leave Strauss said to herself, "Good Job Erin, good job. Now keep it up."
Well one chapter to go, the epilogue. I hope you all enjoyed it. Once again, thank you for all of your wonderful reviews, they've really inspired me to keep going.