WITHOUT RESERVATION

PROMPT: What Happens in Vegas, Dies in Boston (Crossing Jordan)

Chapter 5

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The man that met Hotch at the airport was not what he'd been expecting. "Mister Prentiss."

"Nicholas, please," the older man answered, shaking the offered hand.

"Aaron," Hotch replied, feeling his lips turn up in the first relative of a smile they had in a long time.

His decision had been a no-brainer. The words of Emily's uncle were really just the catalyst he needed after JJ's words. He needed Emily in his life. If he thought his life with her in it but pulling away was dreary, then living without her around was down right dark. He was miserable and though there were butterflies in his stomach, he felt more content as they were touching down than he'd felt in a long time. Actually, than he'd felt since things between he and Emily had started to crumble.

If he was honest with himself, he couldn't figure out where they'd started to fall apart. He had no idea when he'd started pulling away – and he knew, after close inspection, that it had indeed been him to pull away first – all he knew was that it wasn't fair to Emily in the slightest. Right when she needed him, he hadn't been there for her. And he'd regret it for what felt like the rest of his life. He'd come here without even knowing if she'd forgive him. She'd fought him, fought to break through his barriers, now it was his turn to fight for her forgiveness.

Emily could hear the car coming down the gravel drive way from the back of the house. It was one of the places she'd just sat for days at a time, trying to deal with the pain that continually flooded her system. She had no more tears left to cry, but it seemed like her heart wouldn't stop aching. She knew her uncle was getting disastrously worried about her and she wished there was something she could say that would reassure him that she was just trying to work things out.

But then again, he could always tell when she was lying.

Her brow knit absently as she heard two doors slam shut. Had her uncle brought company? He knew she wasn't ready for visitors. Hell, she was barely social with him. She pushed her foot against the wood of the porch, starting the swing and waiting with surprising patience. Her uncle knew where she'd be. It wasn't like she'd ventured far in the two weeks she'd been here. She heard the door squeak open as her eyes floated over the green in front of her.

"Emily."

Her head spun fast enough to make her dizzy. His voice was the one he definitely didn't think she would be hearing any time soon, and definitely not on her uncle's back porch. He looked nervous and anxious and so delicious in khakis and a black polo. "How did you find me?"

He took a step closer. "Your uncle called me."

"How did he get your number?"

She watched him bite the inside of his cheek. "He used your Blackberry."

Silence fell.

"Emily I-"

"What are you-"

Both of their mouths snapped shut, she found herself smiling shyly, against her better judgment. "Go ahead."

"I'm sorry," he said after a moment. "And I know that it doesn't even begin to cover what I've done… But I am sorry."

Her eyes went back to the sprawling fields as she pondered what to say. Part of her wanted to tell him to go to hell. The bigger part of her knew that she wouldn't mean it. She wasn't sure if she could watch him walk away again. As a general rule, she wasn't a fan of getting her heart broken.

"I… I don't know what to say to you," she admitted honestly, choosing her words carefully. "Part of me… I can't change you. I can't make you open up to me. I can't make you trust me enough to tell me when you're struggling. And even when I know… even when I knew… I couldn't do anything. Because you wouldn't let me."

She heard him take a few steps closer, but she didn't look up and he made no move to cross her vision.

"And then, I came here, and I thought… I can get away. I can get my mind straight, I can figure out what I want to do and whether I even come back to the BAU."

"You can't leave."

She blinked up at him for a moment. Then, she nodded slowly. "You're right. I can't."

One more!