A/N: Sorry about the absolute tiny-ness of this chapter. It's really just Hotch's perception of Emily's second Christmas home. I'll post the next one ASAP.
DISCLAIMER: I do not own Criminal Minds.
Hotch hadn't seen Emily the whole time she'd been in DC. She'd returned again that Christmas and stayed until the 27th December. Hotch had been out of the office when she'd come to pick up JJ and Garcia for their annual pre-Christmas dinner. So he hadn't seen her. Then, when he and Jack arrived at Dave's annual New Year's Eve celebration, Hotch had found out they'd had to return to California. Peter had just started again as a surgeon at San Francisco General. Apparently Emily wasn't too happy to have to leave, but Peter had insisted, in front of JJ and Will, that she and Emma come back with him.
Hotch was secretly glad that he'd missed her during this visit. He had called Emily a couple of months earlier and they'd argued. JJ had returned from her summer vacation with photos of Emily and her family, and he had said that she finally looked happy, holding her tiny daughter. Emily got on the defensive, saying that she was happy, and that it wasn't just because of Emma. She had a wonderful husband and didn't think it was fair for Hotch to assume that she needed to have a baby to finally feel happy. Hotch didn't understand what made her snap but she hung up on him before he could find out what was wrong. He thought back over their conversation, looking for hidden meanings, hidden cries for help.
"Yes Hotch, I am happy. Why is that such a surprise? Because I'm not in the BAU? You really do think that don't you?" she asked bitterly. Hotch tried to respond but was cut off as she started talking again. "Hotch, I have a beautiful daughter and a husband who... loves me," Emily rolled her eyes hoping her involuntary faux pas wouldn't reveal how she really felt. She loved her husband, but the last few months were tough on them. She had returned to work two months after Emma was born. They had argued, Peter saying that she didn't need to work, that he could support both of them. Emily had rolled her eyes saying that she didn't want to stay at home. That she wanted to work.
Hotch sighed on the other end of the line. He didn't want to push, he didn't want to ask the questions. And he knew that she didn't want him to be the one to ask. Ever since her first Christmas home they'd kept things superficial. They kept their conversations on the topics of their kids, Emma and Jack, and their work. Hotch asked her how it was to be back at work and Emily had explained that it was a little strange. Her new partner, Dan, was a good agent, solid and trustworthy, and they got along well. But he could hear it in her voice, whenever they spoke, that something was wrong. But he wouldn't push. "Emily, I didn't mean to offend you. I just... I was trying... I saw JJ's photos and thought I'd call to say hi," he explained.
Emily couldn't think of what to say. "I'm sorry Hotch. I... I have to go. Peter's gonna be home soon and I have to get Emma ready for her bath," she said, hanging up before he could answer. Hotch looked at his phone. He threw it on his desk and leant back in his chair, sighing as he looked at the ceiling. He hoped, for Emily's sake, that things weren't as bad as they sounded. He hoped that she wasn't going through as much pain as he thought. But he knew those hopes were in vain. He knew she was in pain. And there was nothing he could do to fix it.
A/N: Personal note first: I've written this chapter 4 times now. Stupid computer keeps crashing. I think I might cry.
Story notes: So as I said before, this is just a propellant chapter. It's just to show what Hotch is thinking at this point.