Hotch knew he had to make it to the airport before Emily got on the plane. The only problem was there were two different International Airports and four smaller airports. Which one would she choose? He didn't even have a clue where she was going.
The closest airport to Emily's apartment was Ronald Reagan National. He dialled the information line but naturally they could not tell him whether or not an Emily Prentiss had bought a ticket there.
"Could she be in the lobby?" He snapped. No one was giving him answers.
"I am not at liberty to say sir." The representative said. He hung up rudely and dialled Garcia. He was surprised to find her still in her office.
"How can I help my midnight moonlight caller?" She answered.
"Garcia can you do me a huge favour and not tell anyone about it." He specified, hoping she would not ask more questions.
"Certainly sir. Just name it."
"I need you to look into Emily's credit card purchases." That sounded just as bad as it was.
Garcia was silent on the line for what seemed like hours. "Oh. Okay sir." He heard typing.
"Oh. Wow." He heard her say. He figured she had seen the resignation flag. "Sir, did you know that Emily—"
"Resigned? Yes I am aware of that. I need to know where she is, Garcia."
"Okay. She just—purchased a first class ticket to France?"
"At which airport?" He was just passing Reagan now.
"At Washington Dulles. But the flight leaves in less than 15 minutes."
Hotch immediately stepped on the gas. "Thanks Garcia."
"Can I ask, please sir, what's going on?" Hotch sighed heavily. He had no clue himself. He just knew he needed to get Emily back and make her understand he did not want her to quit. That he needed her on the team. But he couldn't quite explain that to Garcia.
"I just need some time Penelope. I can't explain now. Just keep it under wraps, alright?"
"Of course, sir. And if you can't catch her in time?" Hotch drove even faster. He did not know what he would do.
"I have to go Garcia."
*~*
He arrived, panting none the less, at the airport terminal.
"Has the flight to Marseille departed yet?" He barely got out.
The woman behind the counter leaned to the side. "I believe the connecting flight from Frankfurt to Marseille just took off sir."
Damn it! Hotch cursed to himself.
"That next plane flying out is in two hour and twenty minutes. We have a few seats left. I can book you a business class seat." The woman waited patiently.
He had a decision to make. Was Emily worth flying across the world? Yes, she was.
"American Express?" He handed over his credit card. The price was a little hard to swallow at six grand but he needed to convince her to come back.
"Thank you for flying United." The woman smiled. Whatever, he thought sarcastically.
He moved his vehicle to an actual parking spot and went back in. This was unbelievable. This morning he would never have believed he would be chasing Emily. He had two hours to kill. He dialled her cell phone again, and left yet another message.
What would he say to her when he finally reached her? That he was desperately in love and couldn't live without her. Would she believe him after this?
*~*
"United Flight 403 to Marseille boarding immediately. Vol 403 vers Marseille embarquant immédiatement." The monotone voice rang out overhead. Emily yawned discreetly into her fist. The overnight flight to Frankfurt was hard. She need to call the house she owned to make sure it was unlocked. And to get a car from the airport. She made all those calls never once looking at the 13 messages on her cellphone.
She was glad to get on the shorter flight to Marseille. It would only be a few more hours and then she could soak in a hot bath and eat as much food as she wanted. She yawned again, getting out her boarding pass. Maybe she would sleep on this plane instead of fret about her choices on the last one. Whatever, what was done was done.
*~*
Hotch much preferred the jet to commercial airline. It seemed like this pilot flew into storm after storm. He got no sleep being thrown around so much. Why did he not think to take the jet? Surely Strauss could have offered it. Then he would be able to meet her at the Frankfurt airport instead of narrowly missing her. He hoped to some God that the plane would be delayed.
He was the first one off the plane (having absolutely no luggage). He searched the lobbies and waiting rooms for the dark haired woman he was in love with. His layover would be ending soon but if she was here he wouldn't have to fly to France.
She wasn't anywhere to be seen. He inquired at the terminals but they had seen so many people during the day, they could neither confirm nor deny. He had no choice but to board the next flight.
It was now mid-day. He was supposed to be in his office working on cases. Would the team wonder where he was or did Garcia handle it?
*~*
It was a hard landing in Emily's experience but she was glad it was over. Now she just had jet-lag. She was exhausted and finally exited the airport. A car was there waiting for her to take her to Saint-Rémy-de-Provence which was were the house was located. She had never actually seen this one. Her grandfather lived farther inland and in a more secluded region, and her father bought this house to be closer to the family here. She would likely have to visit those left in the area.
The skies were dark with rain clouds. She nearly fell asleep in the car, enjoying the gentle vibrations and pitter-patter of rain. She was almost there. Her cellphone rang again. She tossed it across the backseat. She needed a new phone and number.
In no time she was pulling into the driveway. Maybe she had fallen asleep. It took all of her energy to get out of the car. The driver said goodbye and handed her the keys. The house was huge and completely not her style; but it was her father's dream house. It was still gorgeous. It was like having a tiny castle all too herself.
It was completely dark inside. She would need to open up all the windows but for right now she wanted a bath and bed. She walked up the dusty grand staircase and found the master suite. It had been cleaned especially for her. The maid wouldn't be back until tomorrow. It beautiful in its grandness. She fell in love the bathroom. It was huge. She turned on the faucet to started a bath.
*~*
He arrived at Marseille in the afternoon. He got no sleep and the caffeine was getting to him. He needed another cup of coffee and soon. He was standing outside the airport when it hit him. He was in a foreign country with nothing but his wallet, cell phone and suit jacket. It was pouring rain outside. He had no idea where Emily was and no way of finding out. He had forced her to quit and may potentially lose his job. This was great. He had gotten himself into a terrible mess.
There were two choices. He could turn back now; get back on a flight to New York and let her go. Or by some miracle he could find out where she had gone. Aaron Hotchner was never one to turn away from something. He fully admitted he needed her now. He was a complete jackass but life would not be the same without her. Even if he couldn't have her; he still wanted her around. Only this time he would treat her right and as a friend.
He called his miracle worker.
"How is my far-fetching hero?" Garcia answered.
"Lost." He admitted. He was grateful, once again, to have Garcia apart of the team. She was another woman who was irreplaceable.
"Fantastic. And while you've been lost; Strauss has been losing her head. She is literally prowling the bull pen as we speak. Have you talked to Emily yet?"
Just great, he thought. "No. That's why I'm lost. For some reason I thought I would know where to go when I got here. But I don't. She could be anywhere."
"Well, good for you that you have me because I specifically remember Emily telling Reid about some house she was bequeathed in Europe. And I'm pretty sure it was in France. I just need the magic words."
"Find it."
"Found. It's in Saint Rémy De Provence, about an hour away from where you are. It's 27 Ancienne Voie Aurélia in 13210 Saint-Rémy-de-Provence. Got that?"
"I think so. Thanks Garcia. And stall Strauss will you? I will try to be back as soon as possible." He quickly jotted down the address at a terminal. He flagged down a taxicab. The logical side of him told him to just rent a car with a gps system but that would take too long and he wasn't sure if he should be driving. He was way too distracted.
"Can you take me to this address?" He waved the piece of paper into some cab drivers face.
"Saint-Rémy-de-Provence? Qui. American? Pay first. 150 Euros."
"150 Euros!" He exclaimed. That was like 200 american. The price was ridiculous but he had no alternative. He had to see Emily and she was worth any price. He would just have to suck it up. The problem was he didn't have any Euros on him. Or cash.
"Wait here." He instructed the stretchy cab driver. He simply nodded and went rudely chewing gum.
Hotch quickly came back with the cash in hand and paid the driver handsomely. It was a rough drive. Twice Hotch thought the driver would crash or hydroplane in the raging thunderstorm. It took even longer then the hour Garcia quoted because of the detours. Then the car slowed to a stop.
"Why are we stopping? Are we here?" All Hotch could see was trees and a road. No house or anything.
"C'est 2700 Ancienne Voie Aurelia. Il est caché."
"I don't speak any French. What did you say?"
"We here. Hidden." The driver gestured out the window.
"You can't take me up the house? It's pouring rain out. I'll get soaked." Hotch complained.
"No. This as far as I go."
"I can't believe I paid 200 dollars for this." He mumbled getting out. It was raining so hard he could barely see. He was wet in seconds. He found the hidden driveway and entered the gate. It was a long walk and the rain made it miserable. He would be quite a fright when he reached the house. If he ever reached it. It was a very winding road. By the time he saw the gigantic house his shoes squished with water and his pockets were soaked.
Thank god the entrance was covered and shielded him from the storm. It was now or never. He shivered and knocked on her door.
*~*
A persistent banging sound woke her from her sleep. At first she was very disoriented and panicked because she didn't know where she was. Then she remembered the flight, the drive and the bath. She heard the banging again. Someone was at the front door. Emily tugged on a sweater and got out of bed. She was irritated that someone disturbed her sleep. It shouldn't be the maid and no one else knew where she was. Likely not a safe thing to do but she wanted complete peace and quiet.
Emily saw the rain coming down hard on the windows. She hoped there wasn't a leak anywhere in the house. She got to the front door and flung it open. She was shocked.
There was Hotch, her boss, standing in the rain, on the steps of her house. He was so wet his hair matted his forehead and his suit clung awkwardly in places. He had never looked so comical.
"What—What are you doing here?" She managed to sputter.
"You never answered any of my calls." He shifted his feet awkwardly. His teeth chattered but he stood straight as the rain whipped behind him.
"You followed me?" She narrowed her eyes angrily.
"Ah...well...technically...yes, I did. But, you see, I had no choice."
"What do you mean, you had no choice? What choices were there? I quit. That's it, Hotch. Game over." She crossed her arms, angling to get out of the winds.
She watched him struggle with words. "Er...there were no choices because...well...um...the team—"
"And don't give me some bullshit answer about 'the team'. If that's all you got then you can turn right around and leave." She spat at him. She was no longer his subordinate. She could say whatever she pleased.
*~*
He had planned on what to say to her from the first flight. But now he forgot everything. He just kept staring at her at a loss for words. She raised her eyebrow sarcastically. She would probably turn him out soon if he didn't say anything.
The truth was always easier to remember. "The reason is that, is that, I said those awful things yesterday because Gloria told me something completely untrue that I believe at the time and I really overreacted but I never expected you to quit nor did I want you to. You just ran off before I could catch you and then you were gone when I got to your apartment and then I found out you flew to Frankfurt and you weren't answering your phone at all." He stopped to take a breath. "But the team really does need you and you shouldn't have to quit over something I said."
Oops, wrong thing to say. Her nostrils flared and her eyes narrowed even further. She leaned in closer to him and gave it to him. "It's never what you said. It's what you did. You had no right to treat me like that. I know I never did anything to deserve it and yet you continued to berate me for the littlest thing. That is such a pathetic excuse; it makes me sick that you blame her for your mistakes. You're a profiler for god's sake. You should have known what you were getting into."
"I'm not blaming anyone but myself."
She laughed harshly. "Right. So you're really telling me you came all the way out here on your own?"
"Yes." He whispered to her.
"Well I don't believe you. I cannot believe you would actually think you could come here and even speak to me after what you did."
"I—I..." He had no way to respond to that.
"What the hell was even going on in your head? Why would you think you could treat me so inferior? Why me? You only did it to me!"
"It's...hard to explain. I just really need you to come back. Just please come back to the team Emily." He was begging her. This was going so wrong. Her mind seemed set against him.
"You're wasting your time. Why would I even want to come back? So no, I'm not coming back." She stood firm. Hotch felt he was losing everything. He had already lost his wife and son, his house. But he couldn't lose Emily. Not after everything else. He loved her. He really did love her.
"The reason this has all happened is because...I'm in love with you."
*~*
Please review and comment! What will happen next?