Emily bit her lip as she made her way down the steps of the jet, her heart calming as she saw her black Toyota Yaris sitting perfectly near the end of the tarmac. Just as she stepped off of the last step on the small staircase, her breath caught in her throat as the tip of her boot got caught in the bottom of the railing, sending her and her go-bag sailing to the ground. Every member of the team was immediately at her side, JJ, Derek and Rossi helping her stand while Reid and Hotch went to fetch her bag.
Hotch let Reid bring her the black bag while he went for the scattered items, cursing slightly as he tried to put the battery back in her phone. His eyes flew to a small white piece of paper that stuck itself under the staircase of the jet, and his fingers immediately went to retrieve it.
Emily smiled at everyone as she shouldered her bag, thanking them before looking over to her boss. "Hotch? Can I have my phone please?"
When there was no answer, she walked over to him and tapped his back, waiting patiently as he slowly turned around. Emily pushed her straightened hair behind her ears as she looked into her boss' sad eyes. "Hotch what's the matter?"
Hotch let out a humorless chuckle as he showed her the card in his hand. "You took his phone number?"
Emily's eyes widened as she snatched the card from his hand, shoving it into the outer pocket of her go-bag. "Not that it's any of your business, but yes. I took his number. Is that a problem Aaron?"
Hotch gave a dry laugh as he tried not to blush when her eyes glanced at his lips. "Yes Emily, it's a problem. You can't fraternize with someone who used to be a key suspect in a case. You know better than that!"
"Excuse me, but as I recall he was not a suspect, he was a link to a suspect. And he's changed, Hotch. He's sweet and he's gotten his act together. And who cares if I want to get to know him and be his potential friend? Well let me tell you, you sure as hell shouldn't care!"
"Emily you are my friend, this is my business."
Emily let out a scoff as she pulled her vibrating phone out from her boss' hand. "Everything that happens to me stopped being your business when you broke up with me." Her eyes were hard as she pressed the answer button on her phone, covering the speaker with her other hand. "You are no longer able to have a say in what I do or when I do it. So stay out of my life."
Hotch watched as she walked over to her car, the phone pressed to her ear and a small smile crossing over her face as she got to her door. He felt his stomach twist painfully as she let out a small laugh and nodded against her phone, her athletic figure slipping into her car, blocking his view of his former love.