The Stripper Chapter Four

Disclaimer: Not Mine

A/N – Sorry this has taken me so long to get out. Life has gotten really busy. I'm hoping it starts to slow in June.

Emily walked into the dimly lit interior and bit back a groan. She wasn't prepared for this. She had to admit dancing with JJ and Pen all week long had been fun. Much more fun than she expected. She was also exploring a side of her sexuality that she hadn't before and had completely turned the tables on Derek Morgan. But this, she thought as she glanced around the bar, was giving her the willies.

The bar wasn't necessarily seedy, but it wasn't a place that you go with a date. Unless you were maybe paying said date by the hour. Her eyes bugged out of her head as Blake passed her wearing a tiny pair of shorts and a tee shirt that looked like it belonged on a toddler. She couldn't help gawking in stunned surprise.

"I was impressed myself."

Emily turned to find the owner of that comment bent over what looked like a beer that he was currently nursing.

"I never expected gams like that under those slacks she wears." Rossi said caustically.

"You're late." Emily came to a complete standstill as she took in Morgan in all his pimping glory. He looked like he belonged in a seedy bar. His collar was open and he was sporting a strand of gold chains. She would have laughed had his expression been less severe.

The story they were circulating was that he had come in from his sister club in Vegas to find out what the hell happened to his establishment in DC. He brought with him his most enticing, crowd drawing dancer. Emily hooted aloud when she saw the fliers that were posted outside. The airbrush was very good to her. She didn't say anything as his hand wrapped around her upper arm and he pulled her back to the dressing room.

Once they were out of the main area he turned to her and studied her closely. His eyes were no longer cold and impersonal. "You okay? You ready for this?" All the homework and planning in the world didn't always prepare you for the real deal.

"I'm fine." It helped that she talked to JJ on the drive over. Hotch had forbidden his wife to attend the show, not wanting to put her in any danger. JJ hadn't been happy to have been excluded. Emily was quick to point out that this wasn't a theatrical performance they were putting on but JJ wasn't appeased. She wouldn't be surprised if JJ talked Garcia in to taping it for her. Heck she probably had a live feed.

"Prentiss?" Morgan hissed, trying to capture her attention. "You need to be alert, Princess. Not daydreaming."

She frowned as she looked up at him. She wasn't woolgathering. "I was just wishing JJ were here." She admitted. "Her competitive nature always seems to have mine stepping up to answer to her." She gave a wistful smile.

Morgan just shook his head well aware of how the woman played off one another. "Sure, because JJ giving birth in a booty bar is the one thing this op is missing. I'm sure she's already complained to you about Hotch telling her no." He handed Emily her outfit to get her back on track. "You've got about half an hour to get ready."

Emily's jaw dropped as she held what was supposed to cover her in the palm of her hand. "This better be a fucking joke." She growled.

Morgan, who had been busily scanning the clientele as they started to trail in swung back around at her tone. "What's the problem?"

She glared at him angrily. "I can do this in shorts, heck, even in the outfit you have Blake poured in to, but no one said anything about dancing in pasties and floss!"

"It's not that…" He'd been about to say 'bad' when the bottoms hit him in the face. "Princess, this is what all the girls are wearing." He told her cajolingly, his hand making lazy circles on her arm.

"I can't wear that." She bemoaned. Derek hadn't even seen her in her bra and panties yet. She didn't want this to be his first peek.

"Is there a problem?" Emily turned to see that Hotch was now fulfilling the role of the bouncer alongside the club's regular bouncer who they thoroughly vetted. The man might not be the biggest, meatiest guy in the place but his face gave a 'don't fuck with me' glare that she was sure would intimidate just about anyone.

Anyone except Emily. "Yeah, who the hell is responsible for my choice of attire?" She snapped glad to have someone to take her frustration out on.

"What's wrong with it?" Hotch wondered, then whistled lowly when she held up the two scraps of material. "Interesting story." He chuckled slightly. "My wife said to tell you you'd thank her later. I'm going to guess this might have something to do with it."

Emily went red with anger. "I've never punched a pregnant woman but there's a first time for everything." She growled. Trust JJ to pull a stunt like this.

Hotch frowned at her, clearly not appreciating her comment. "Under the circumstances I'm going to pretend I didn't hear that."

"Your wife is a menace." Emily bit out.

Hotch sighed. "I'm sure there's a little bit of truth in that statement. We're starting to fill up. I have Garcia running facial recognition on everyone that comes in through the door." He paused, knowing what he was asking of her. "I need you to come out, do just one dance and then you're going to put on a robe and circulate. Get into your role, Prentiss. This is just a job. Draw out our unsub and we'll be done with it."

Emily nodded and gave the situation the gravity it deserved. "You're right. I know that. I'm sorry." She shook her head as she balled up her costume. Her nostrils flared slightly as she rolled her shoulders. "You do realize I'm going to get your wife back for this?"

Hotch gave her a soft smile. "Don't be too hard on her. She's having a hard time over the fact that she can't be down here for you. She doesn't like sitting at home knowing what may possibly go on. I had to have Jess come over and stay with her." He hoped that would defuse a little of her anger.

"And she's already described in great detail what will happen to us if something goes amiss." Derek told her with a quirky smile. "I'm rather fond of my balls and have every intention of keeping them, so don't worry, you will not come to any harm."

Hotch squeezed her forearm as he slightly chuckled. "I'm going back out front. Remember, you are not to go anywhere alone."

~~CM~~CM~~

She was very subdued as she moved into the dressing room and slipped out of her clothes. "I have a bad feeling about this." Her nerves were kicking up. But that wasn't a bad thing it would only serve to make her more cautious during the evening.

"Don't jinx it." Derek warned, his voice taking on a slight edge. He had been thinking the same thing. It was like they were chasing a freaking ghost. They had lots of eyes on this case and nothing was popping. They had to have overlooked something.

Emily was apparently thinking the same thing. "I just, I feel like we must have missed something." Something other than several yards of material required to cover her body. Her eyes bulged as she looked in the mirror.

Morgan turned around to reassure her and stopped short. She was right, there wasn't much to the costume and it left very little to the imagination. "Holy shit." He stared in undisguised lust. His own imagination hadn't done her justice. She was amazing.

Emily ran her hands down her thighs nervously. "I know; there's not exactly a lot covered."

"Your legs are incredible." He slowly perused them from top to bottom and back. They were long, smooth and silky and he was itching to touch them. A massage was the furthest thing from his mind. He was imaging them wrapped around him.

"Wow, maybe we can have this conversation when I'm not playing bait for a psycho." Emily grumbled, able to appreciate the admiration she saw reflected in his eyes, but not wanting to deal with it at the moment.

"More likely a sexual sadist." Morgan replied off handedly, still focused on her legs.

"Really? Does that matter?" She mocked, smacking him in the chest.

"No, you're right this probably isn't the right time." He made his way past her hips and her toned stomach then felt his mouth water at the sight of her prominent breasts. "Please, please promise me that there will be a time to discuss this later."

His response was exactly what she needed to qualm her butterflies. "Derek." She laughed softly at the realization that their flirtation had come to an end. It was about to get real.

"Yeah?" He finally met her eyes.

"Next time we get together, let's not bother talking." They were so beyond it. She wasn't even sure why she hesitated in the first place. There was no question what her comment meant.

His eyes dilated. "Why you gotta say stuff like that to me when we're working? I was over at your house three times this week and you were very clear with your boundaries."

"I know." She smiled. "I appreciate that you were very respectful of my boundaries. But I think," She whispered softly, "It's time to test them. Actually I think it's time to forget boundaries all together." She inched a little closer.

"Really woman? Did you not just tell me now wasn't the time?" He groaned in real frustration.

"You should know it's a woman's prerogative to change her mind." She leaned forward and lightly nipped at his mouth. "Right now I'm telling you I want you to pay very close attention to my ass tonight."

"Yeah, well, if you've been paying attention yourself I think you would know that I've been paying close attention to your ass for a long while." He huffed.

The smile blossomed on her face. "Good answer. I'm going to need you to keep it up."

"Oh don't you worry about me being able to keep it up…"

Emily chuckled, happy in the light moment. "I'm not talking about that you pervert. I want you to make sure that you pay close attention to my ass tonight and keep it safe. "

Derek was solemn when he replied. "I will, I promise I will keep you safe." Their eyes held.

They both knew that promises like that were easier to make than they were to keep and heaven forbid anything went wrong she didn't want him to blame himself if something unforeseeable did. "I'm a big girl. I can take care of myself. I just want to know that you have my back."

He wasn't eager to be let off the hook for her safety. He took that job very seriously. "Nothing will happen to you." He assured her.

Emily smiled softly, her hand wrapping around his wrist. "Hey, we both know that there are no guarantees and we've seen assignments go to hell in the blink of an eye."

"That's not going to happen." Morgan replied adamantly, not willing to concede any to chance happening that would end with her being hurt or worse.

"Well I certainly hope not." She said somberly. "But I need you to trust in my ability just the same. Trust that if for some weird fluke something does go sideways I'm going to be doing whatever is necessary to get back to you."

"I think we both know that I never doubt your ability." Morgan stated sincerely.

She gave a slight chuckle. "Alright then." She rolled her shoulders. "Let's get this over with. I have big plans for the evening."

"Oh yeah?" Derek muttered as his hand slid around her waist.

"Yeah. I have some moves that I can't wait to try out." She placed another soft kiss against his mouth as she heard her intro music start. "I think that's my cue."

"Okay." Derek stepped back from her. "Pace yourself out there, I have some moves that I want to try out myself."

She rolled her eyes as she moved right towards the platform stairs. Her nerves were under control as she stepped onto the stage and as the curtain rose she concentrated on Derek. She told herself that there weren't a hundred gross men, and her coworkers, watching her. He was the only one that mattered and tonight they were going to take their relationship to the next level.

~~CM~~CM~~

"Nothing?" Hotch stood by the door scowling effectively at all the patrons as they moved into the building. He heard the music that indicated that Emily would be on the stage momentarily and waited for Garcia to reply.

"No. Nothing so far, sir. But we've still got a lot of faces that are scanning, not to mention the folks that keep walking in the door." She let out a low whistle. "Holy smoke. Does Em know that JJ is responsible for her attire?"

"Yes." Hotch replied gruffly. "Is my wife still at home?" He listened to the quick click of a keyboard.

"Her phone is." Garcia answered truthfully.

"Somehow that doesn't appease or reassure me." He muttered.

"She promised she would stay put." Garcia smiled as she watched her friend execute a move that she would have claimed was impossible only days before. "Golly is she good. Derek is probably stiff as…"

"Garcia!"

"Oh, right, sorry sir!"

Hotch hung his head as he heard the chuckles from both Dave and Blake over the wire.

"She is pretty good." Rossi mumbled. "Your wife's tutor works wonders." He cracked.

"Let's not forget why we're here." Hotch growled, now away from the door and scanning the crowd, looking for anyone that was following his agent a little too closely.

Emily's routine was almost at completion when the fight broke out. She noticed the disturbance and watched as it looked like a riot erupted in the club. That couldn't be a coincidence. She attempted to find Derek in the mix but he had been caught up in the fracas. She moved to step off the stage when she was grabbed from behind. She turned with a fist raised then let it fall when she saw who it was.

"Don't get mixed up in that." One of the other dancers told her as she led her back to the dressing room. "You don't want to end up on the wrong end of a fist."

The woman's tone was a little too gleeful causing Emily's radar to go off but it was too late for her to act. It was too late for anything as the sweet smelling rag was placed over her mouth and nose by an unseen accomplice and her world went black.

Thanks for reading! A huge thank you to all of you that have commented and are following the story, I hope you're still reading. I really appreciate the interest and support.