If Not for You

Part 12

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It was late morning when Mac returned home. He was looking forward to seeing her lying on his bed. His body hardened at the thoughts of her perfect bare body, her gorgeous hair tussled on his pillow and lips begging to be kissed awake. Throughout the early morning hours, while waiting for some lab results he wished he had her phone number and kicked himself several times for not doing so while he was with her! And asking Flack was out of the question; that young man was not a detective for nothing as he would be sniffing out Mac and Emily!

He tried to be quiet entering his home as he wanted to surprise her gently by slipping into the bed with her and gathered her warm body to him. He was smiling with anticipation when something on the table caught his eyes; it was a folded piece of paper with a silky material attached.

Picking it up, he recognized Emily's panties. He grinned as he recalled seeing them on her last night for the first time. It had jarred his libido to a near heart attack.

But he stopped smiling as soon as he realized why she had left it here and not in his bedroom where he had tossed it off her earlier.

God! He hoped it was not a 'Dear John' letter! It can't be. She is not that type…there has to be a reason. He thought nervously.

Will you just read the note?

Frowning at the offending piece of paper, he finally opened it and read;

Mac,

I had the most wonderful night ever! You cannot imagine how much this meant to me as I wanted to prolong our 'play' time. And I had missed you much when you left. Many thoughts of us occurred while you were gone, and I wanted to make them a reality with you when you come back to bed.

But my boss called (yeah, most intrusively!)I was really tempted to not answer as I was on vacation but alas my moral code would not allow me to ignore it. As it turned out, we do have an urgent case here in New York City. He would not have called me in but for the fact that he is short-handed; two of our team members were stricken with pneumonia and restricted to home, two are in Kentucky for a parole board review, and since I'm here, I am obligated to help my team. So, with great reluctance, and you have no idea how pissed I was when I got the call, I have to leave you and your delightful body. At least I'm still in the same state as you and can see you again as I'll be at the FBI field office awaiting my Unit Chief's arrival.

Please don't feel this is the end! Gosh! I for one do not want it to end! And the fact that I don't have your number annoyed me much. And I don't even want to ask Flack as that bloodhound can sniff gossip faster you can fire your Glock!

I'll leave my cell number because I was wondering if, sans a case, you are available for dinner tonight. Let me know!

Yours,

Emily

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Mac sat down as he reread the note again, slowly this time. Once he knew it was not the dreaded 'dear John' letter, he began to smile. She wanted to see him again. She enjoyed being with him!

As do I, Emily Prentiss, as do I.

With a good feeling, he walked to his bedroom and did a double take; Emily had made the bed and tidied the room before she had left! It looked as if they had not…no, they did. He was still holding onto her panties!

Finding sleep eluded him again; he grabbed some clean clothes and headed to the bathroom. He figured he might as well go back to work as she was not here; it would take his mind off her until later that evening.

…

Emily had rushed back to Flack's apartment to change; it would not do if she were to show up in the field office in Mac's sweats which was baggy on her. She smiled to herself during the cab ride imagining Hotch's reaction to her attire.

Hotch.

She had not thought of him since, well to be honest, before her trip here in New York City.

Hotch.

She did not feel any quivers whenever his name was uttered. Had she moved on? Emily smiled again as she knew she was 'cured' of her obsession over him.

All thanks to Mac Taylor.

If it were not for him, she would still be moping around Flack's apartment her mind full of Hotch. Now, it seemed plain and bland whenever she recalled Hotch. No tingling mess in her heart. Especially when he called her on the phone; her heart would palpitate. But not this morning.

This morning when her phone buzzed, she had thought it was Mac. When she glanced at the Caller I.D. and saw that it was Hotch, she sighed with disappointment. She had hoped it was Mac.

At first thought, she was tempted to not answer her phone; after all she was on vacation. But conscience spoke, reminding her that it might be an urgent case. She knew Hotch would not call unless it was important. As it turned out, it was. Her conscience was patting herself on her back, proud that she made a good call. Coincidently, the case was here so she did not have to fly out. Of course her work clothes were home but a quick call to Penelope Garcia had helped. Garcia had willingly gone to Emily's home to pack her go-bag and gave it to Hotch as he was due to leave later.

Her mind returned to Mac. Images of their love-making played in her mind repeatedly. Emily couldn't help but grinned wider when she remembered certain portions that brought a dark blush to her cheeks and a giggle escaped her.

The cab driver looked through his rear view mirror and frowned; the lady certainly seemed happy. She had to be a tourist. No New York resident looked this happy so early in the morning! And she certainly didn't look crazy at all.

Yup. Tourist.

Then again, he thought again, the hoodie she was wearing had NYPD emblazoned on the front. He shook his head and told himself that she certainly did not look like a cop. No NY cop looked this chipper in the early hours as well.

No doubt about it; tourist.

He frowned again as his fare burst out in occasional giggles. He wanted to ask but thought that whatever she was giggling about, it was very private. Best to let her begin the conversation if she wanted to. He learned, throughout his five years' of cab driving, that it was best if the patron began the conversation. He learned from experiences that to some patrons, those cab drivers were a bunch of annoying people with awful accents.

Arriving at the destination, he pulled alongside parked cars. "There you go Miss."

Emily nodded, "Hey, I don't have cash with me but if you'll go up to the apartment with me, I'll get my money there.

Hesitate, the cab driver thought for a moment; either she is coming on to me or she is absolutely insane!

"Let me radio into my dispatcher, I have to let her know what I'm doing." And he called in.

Emily waited patiently outside when she heard her name called. It was Flack.

"Em? What the hell is going on? Did you just now come home?" Flack was scanning her attire as well as the red gown on her arm and the cab.

"I'll tell you all about it later but can you pay the driver? My money is at your place." Emily asked, she was quite relieved she was not going to have a stranger follow her to the apartment.

Digging into his wallet, Flack quickly paid the fare and nodding to the driver who was relieved that he didn't have to follow his questionable patron who looked nothing like a cop despite the hoodie, or someone who should be locked up in the insane asylum, or a tourist who giggled and smiled a lot throughout the ride. The cabbie nodded to Emily quickly and left, his wheels almost squealing away.

Emily stared after the receding taxi as well as Flack who asked, "Did you do something to the cabbie? I mean he looked terrified."

Emily turned to him, "No. All I did was sat down. In fact, we didn't even talk at all which is a strange thing. I thought all cabbies are talkative especially when they knew you're a tourist."

They headed up to his apartment when Flack spotted the hoodie. "Where did you get that?"

Emily blushed when she looked down and saw the monograms, "I borrowed it."

"Borrowed from whom? Where were you last night? I mean the charity do-da didn't last all night, did it?"

Emily laughed, "Do-da? I haven't heard that description in a long time! Do-da! What are you? Third grade?"

Flack glared at her, "You know what I'm talking about. Where were you last night?"

Emily returned his glare, "You are not my dad. I'm a grown ass woman so I don't need to answer to you."

Flack harrumphed, "Whatever. Just hope you use protection."

"Don!" Emily exclaimed, her face flaming red. "I…I…it's none of your business and FYI, I'm on the pill. If I were to …you know…" She couldn't finish the rest of the sentence.

Flack stopped and looked at his friend properly. The lighting in the hallway towards his apartment was not the best illumination but it was adequate to spot the blush on her face. Even though they had not seen each other for a long time but he could still read his best friend's face and it was very telling.

"You got laid, didn't you? Met some strange dude at the do…function?" Flack squinted, gauging her looks.

Emily nodded. She could never lie to her best friend, he always knew the truth. That was why he was a detective. Damn him!

"Wait a minute…wait a frigging minute…" Flack was thinking hard as something began to click in his mind. "You and Mac! Oh my god! You and Mac?" The horrified look on his face broke the tension as Emily began laughing hard.

Hey! Fucking quiet down! Some people are sleeping here! Late night shift!

It was coming from the apartment to their left.

Go have your fucking party somewhere else or I'll call a cop on you!

Flack almost yelled out that he was a cop but Emily, still smiling wide, pulled his arm and shook her head. "Let's get inside."

Flack stared at the door where the shouting came from and then shook his head. "Yeah, he's lucky you're here or I'll be busting his fucking door down. Late night shift…well, I worked the late night shift too, don't see me yelling everyone down, dumb ass." He mumbled as he let Emily pulled him towards his apartment which was two doors down to their right.

"Shut up Don and open your door. I need to shower and change." Emily pushed at him.

"Quit shoving! I'm getting my key! And you haven't answered my question. Did you and Mac do it?" He was grinning.

Emily shook her head, "Like I said before, none of your business and I'm a…"

"I know, I know," Don nodded his head as he inserted the key into the keyhole. "You're a grown ass woman and I need to keep my nose out of your shit."

Emily didn't reply, her eyebrows arched.

"That's okay. That look you just did gave it away. And Mac did look very happy earlier." Flack added after a second thought.

Emily looked at him anxiously, "Did he say anything?"

Flack laughed as he pushed the door open allowing her to go in first. "A lot and not much."

Emily turned to glare, "That doesn't even make a sense. I think you need to get your damn head examined! I'm gonna hit the shower and change."

"Why? I thought you'd go back to bed. After all you had a long night!" he teased. "My vacay is cut short. We have a have case here. Hotch is short handed with two out with pneumonia, two in Kentucky for board review."

He nodded understandingly, "Ah well, you know what to expect when you signed in with them. And at least you're still going to be around. What's the scoop?"

Emily gave him a quick run-down; three men, ages in 20s to 30s, were found in empty warehouses, they were castrated and strangled.

Flack winced unconsciously when she mentioned castration. It was not a word men liked to hear.

Glancing at the clock on the wall, Emily pointed to the bedroom, "Shower now. Then I leave for the field office."

"Yeah, okay. I'll see you later. I mean you're still bunking here, right?"

"If you'll still have me. Although you might start charging rent!"

Flack chuckled, "As if. Okay, go shower you stink as if you…"

Emily's eyes widened at the implication and unconsciously sniffed at herself and realized she had been played.

"Made you check!"

"Ass!" Emily called out as she slammed the door shut on him.

"I'm gonna tell Mac you're being mean to me!"

Emily giggled on the other side of the room, "Mac will tell you to grow a pair and act like a man! A real man!"

"You're so mean!"

"Aw! Did you want your blankie?"

"Blankie! I really missed my blankie!"

Emily laughed more. "You are so sad! Okay, I have got to shower! Hotch will be at the field office in two hours!"

"Fine. I'll see you later."

Emily moved from the door and retrieved her bag for fresh clothes when her phone buzzed.

It was from Mac and only a text message.

Em, I enjoyed last night very much. Love to dine tonight, how about 830? Mac.

Emily smiled; good, now I have your number! She quickly fired back a text.

830 is perfect but I'll let you know for sure. Don't know Hotch's strategy in regards to case. Miss you already, Emily.

Emily continued to grin as she made her way to the bathroom; a date! An actual date with Mac!

Her heart raced as she remembered the night before…or actually earlier hours ago.

Mac Taylor…who would have thought? She thought as she took off his sweats and glanced at the mirror waiting for the water to heat up.

She saw some faint bruising on her neck and shoulders and smiled; he was marking his possession? I like that!

Then she came back from the clouds; it was going to be turtle-neck sweaters today and probably tomorrow as she stepped into the stall.

End of Part 12

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