A/N: I know, I know - it's been ages since my last update and this chapter is embarrassingly short. I promise there's more to come!
„How is she?"
Hotch froze, then rolled his eyes. Of course Rossi knew where he had been! They were profilers, after all. This whole „keeping secrets from each other"-thing didn't really work here. He had been foolish to even consider the possibility of sneaking into their hotel room without Rossi noticing.
Hotch sighed and turned the lights on, causing his roommate to sit up in his bed and blink a few times to adjust to the light. „Yes...?" He prompted expectantly but Hotch didn't say anything. Rossi understood. „I assume she made you promise not to tell anyone?" Hotch nodded yes and Rossi sighed at his friend's answer. „That bad?" Another nod. „I just don't know what to do" Hotch confessed, resignedly sitting down on his bed. Rossi waited patiently for him to continue. "I suspended her." Hotch finally confessed and Rossi frowned. "Why? What did she do?" "Officially, she didn't do anything." He explained cryptically, causing Rossi's frown to intensify. "I – we're going to tell the team that she's sick. It's flu time, anyways, and JJ's sick, too, so..." He shot Rossi a conspiratorial glance. "You don't want any of this to go in her file." The older agent assumed, earning an affirmative nod. "That's one of the reasons" Hotch confirmed. "Okay..." Silence. "I won't tell you, Dave." "I know." Another sigh. "I'm sorry." Rossi made a dismissive gesture.
"Did she tell you to leave?" Hotch hesitated, then nodded yes. "She's stubborn" Rossi started. "Because she's strong. Whatever happened: She can get through this, Aaron. She's Emily!" Hotch must have made a disbelieving noise because Rossi sighed. "Was she crying?" He asked softly. This time, Hotch didn't want to confirm Rossi's assumption but the sad look in his gave him away. Rossi sighed. "Whatever happened is not your fault" Hotch sniffed, avoiding his friend's gaze. "There's nothing you can do for her until she's admitted to herself that she needs help." "I know" Hotch replied sadly. Rossi sighed."She knows you're there for her, Aaron. Just give her some time! And now do yourself a favor and go to bed. There's nothing more you could have done for her tonight."
Hotch sighed and finally obliged, knowing that sleep wasn't going to come easy tonight – neither for him nor for Emily.