Chapter 18

Emily looks at me for a moment our eyes lock, without saying a word I watch as she turns and walks out the waiting room, I can't help but frown, I can feel Rossi staring as I look at him his head tilts towards the door as though asking me to check on her, I nod at him as I ease Garcia off my shoulder. "I'll be back in a moment," I say as I stand. I squeezed Garcia's shoulder gently before making my way out of the room.

I make my way along the corridors I have an idea where she has gone but Emily can sometimes just disappear when she needs to clear her head and control her emotions I wish she were not so guarded. I finally find the ladies bathroom, I enter with an air of caution, the last thing I want to do is startle her. I call out softly "Emily are you in here" I wait a few moments for a reply, I can hear a slight sob coming from one of the stalls, "Em" I say again and this time I get a muffled reply.

"Open the door please Emily" I push slightly,

I know she is not one to allow anyone to see her emotion but right now I am worried about her, the door slowly opens and I can tell she doesn't want me close to her but she has been through so much in the past few days and all I want to do is wrap my arms around her and offer her some sort of comfort.

She comes fully out of the stall though she does not make eye contact with me she moves straight over to the washbasin her hand rest on the bowl her eyes fixate into the mirror but I get the impression she is not really paying any attention, I move so I am stood behind her. I run my fingers down her arm I feel her tense slightly against my touch. I know she does not like people to show her affection in frightens her and I only know this when I saw an old friend of her wrap her arms around her. In addition, Emily tried her best to shrug me away from her.

Though this time she does not move away she does not try to shrug me off, I take that, as the contact is welcome as I allow my arms to wrap around her waist. Though it is at this moment, I hear and feel her wince against me. "Emily, what's wrong" I ask as I move away from her slightly.

"Nothing, just slightly sore."

I look at her for a moment, I can see the pain in her eyes and I know when I ask she will more than likely say no. "Let me take a look please" I more likely plead with her.

She shakes her head slightly before she speaks "It's just bruised nothing to worry about," I let out a soft sigh as she turns to look at me, her eyes are slightly drawn her skin has gone more pale than normal I have to suppress a gasp. She gives me a slight smile, which I can tell she had to really force. I take a breath before I speak again and I know she may refuse but seeing her so vacant and torn I can see, she needs to get out of this hospital even if it is only for a moment.

"Em, lets head back to the hotel and you can get changed" I offer her a small smile, I watch as her eyes closed for just a moment, she nods ever so slightly at me, her hand rests on my shoulder the words leaving her lips so softly I only just catch what she is saying

"Thank you"

I turn my face to look at her giving a gentle smile "Let's go and get you cleaned up, and pick get the guys their go-bags" she gives a nod before she takes my hand. I smile internally at the small action, which in truth speaks volumes to me.

The drive back to the hotel was silent thought was not uncomfortable, Emily kept the contact with me her hand resting gently on my leg, I wished I could offer words of comfort, but I could not our minds were fully on Morgan each of us praying to a god for him to pull through. I glance at Emily as we pull to a stop at the lights her head resting against the window. Her eyes unfocused on the road ahead. She is completely lost in thought I take a moment to rest my hand on top of hers giving it a gentle squeeze and even that small expression of support caused no response.

As the lights changed I removed my hand making the way into the parking lot "He has to make it Jen"

I couldn't help closing my eyes, her voice sounded so defeated as though the life had been ripped out of her. I take a moment before I try to offer comfort to her or as much as I am able too.

"He's strong Emily," the words failed me for a moment. How was I meant to tell her everything would be okay, how could I give her the reassurance that she needs to hear.

The walk to the hotel room was deadly silent as I opened the door for us both, I took hold of her hand causing her to turn around to look at me, the deadly pale skin, her drawn eyes, the worry and pain which swirled in her eyes pulled at my very core. I took that one moment looking straight into her eyes before pulling her close.

I made my move though it was not out of anything other than love and support, I kissed her gently and was scared slightly she would not respond or that she may pull away but instead she kissed me back, a gentle kiss of love and support. I pulled back resting my forehead on hers as I spoke, finding my voice for just that moment

"He will be okay Emily,"

I saw her give a slight smile as the words slipped from my mouth "He has to be" I felt her nod against me before I moved out of her personal space. Not because I wanted to but more because I had to.

I pull out her go-bag looking for fresh clothes for her to wear, I turned around, maybe at the wrong time her pale bareback was fully on display, my eyes went wide in slight shock and the tone in my voice was not much better. I guess I sounded like a mother scolding her child

"That is not just a bruise Emily," I saw her flinch slightly at my words but I did not care.

The angry black line that I could only think of to be a beam from either the door frame or a shelf laced her back, "Did you allow them to check that Emily" again my voice was firm and strong and I watch in disbelief as she shook her head.

I shouldn't have been surprised really this is Emily Prentiss after all, the one women who think she can take care of the world and herself without asking for any type of support "That needs checking" I scold slightly I watch her shoulder shrug slightly and I can understand why she didn't, she cares more about others than herself.

Though now I am going to care for her whether she wants me to or not "When we get back you are having someone check on that, what do you think Morgan would say to you" I guess my voice and tone sounded angry as she bowed her head in shame "He would kick your ass" she only nodded as she took the offer blouse off me. "Emily why didn't you tell them" my tone softened as I looked deeply into pained eyes.

"I didn't want to leave him too long, I wanted to be there when he" her words trailed off and I knew deep down what she was trying to say.

The drive back was silent again as I pulled up into the parking lot pulling out the bags we had also picked up from the hotel, we made our way inside as I motion Emily back to the reception and asking someone to check over her back, I gave her a stern look that must have made her intake her breath, it was more of a don't mess with me and do as your told which held in my voice.

I refused to leave her side I needed and wanted to make sure she allowed them to fully check her out this time. The nurse wheeled her down to x-ray and I couldn't help the chuckle at escaped as she muttered about stubborn agents and if our team fully admitted we were all extremely stubborn when it came to hospitals, we just wanted to either get back out on the field or to check on our team members or just be able to go home.

Sometimes I was reminded of a child when Emily was in the hospital her lack or near none existence of co-operation could test, anyone and I felt slightly sorry for the nurse when she came back to the treatment room, which I was waiting in. "Is she always like this", she asked as Emily begrudgingly sat down on the chair.

I gave an empathic look before I answered "No normally worse" the nurse chuckled slightly before pulling the x-ray up on to the screen.

"It's just a bruise" I heard Emily mutter out again and I couldn't help the groan which slipped out

"I didn't know you could see your back let alone your bones" the slightly mocking tone in my voice didn't go unnoticed by them both as Emily shifted slightly her seat as we waited while she studied the x-ray before turning to Emily.

The look on her face told us both the news before she opened her mouth "You have a slight fracture on three ribs." I could not help but roll my eyes. "I will write you up some pain medication" I smiled before asking if she could bring it to the waiting room, as I knew Emily just wanted to get back to the team to see if we heard any news on Morgan.

We made our way back into the room, passing Reid and Hotch their go-bags before resting Morgan's against the chair, which Garcia was still sat on "Any news?" Emily asked as they shook their heads in response, we sat in silence for a few moments before doctor dressed in teal-green scrubs entered the room we all looked at him expectantly waiting for him to give us some news.