Episode: Jones
"I'm worried about Reid."
Hotch looked up at the woman before him, slightly breathy from lugging her large go bag around. Just what women packed for what they had predicted was going to be about a 4-5 day case he had no idea.
"We all are."
He smiled slightly as he saw her visibly relax.
"Really? Thank God. I thought it was just me." Emily sat down in the chair beside him, running her hands through her hair slowly as her mind whirled.
"Yeah, I didn't exactly know what to say to him," Hotch stopped and for a moment he completely zoned out. Emily waited patiently for a minute or two before coughing politely and seeing Hotch suddenly come back, dazed.
"S- Sorry," He murmured. "I just realised that I didn't do anything to help him with his- er... problem."
"Well there isn't much you could have done. He was, no, is in a dark place. I think Gideon's talking to him now." Hotch glanced over at Emily, who as studying him carefully. He wondered if she was profiling him.
"Yes, but I'm Unit Chief. If things like that happen, I can't just let it slide. What if somebody found out? Hell, what if Strauss found out?" It was Hotch's turn to look panicky and he played his part well. Emily bit her lip as she tried to refrain from running her hand down his arm to calm him down.
"You do that, you know. Bite your lip. It's one of your tells."
"Don't start profiling me, Hotch," Emily warned softly.
Hotch closed his eyes, murmuring almost to himself, "Sorry. It's just what I do. I'm worried, my senses are going into hyperactive mode." His eyes flashed open and he glanced over at Emily thoughtfully.
"I paired you with Reid for a reason, you know." Her eyebrows raised about a foot at that and he smiled as she began to splutter.
"Wh- Bu- Why?"
"Because," He replied simply. "If I had been with him, he would have been nervous, cowered away from me and possibly gotten worse from the pressure of leading a double life. Morgan would probably have just dropped the matter entirely and I wanted to save Gideon until he was ready to talk."
"So why me?" Hotch raised his eyes to hers and blinked.
"You weren't going to let it go. If I had continued to pair him with you, you eventually would have just confronted him. Yeah, he would have been mad, but after a while he'd just come out and admit it."
Emily just sat there, mouth slightly open in indignation at what she had just heard. But as she ran over it in her head, she realised it was true. She had already tried to bring it up with Reid several times already and each time he got more and more irritable.
How in HELL was Hotch that perceptive? For a moment her mind wandered to how perceptive he was about other things, until his voice pulled her back.
"We should probably get going. Do you know when he and Gideon were going to be back?"
"I think around 11," Emily replied slowly. Hotch dipped his head and stood, beginning to pack his stuff together. The rest of the team had already taken one of the cars to go to the airport, leaving one for Emily and Hotch.
The two made their journey in silence, both contemplating the conversation they'd just had. When they finally reached the airport, Hotch put out an arm, holding Emily's sleeve as he indicated the two people entering through the doors of the building.
"Reid and Gideon. Leave them a bit of breathing room." Emily nodded and they waited for a few minutes, Emily painfully aware of the fact that Hotch's hand was still grasping her sleeve and had begun to rub it unconsciously. She gritted her teeth slightly, reminding herself of the ring he currently wore and all that it symbolized.
Finally, he released her sleeve and left the car, Emily following behind. They continued their silence until just before they boarded the plane. As they made their way up the steps, Emily grasped Hotch's sleeve this time, smirking quickly as his breath hitched as he turned to face her.
"Hotch?"
"Yes, Prentiss?"
"Thanks for pairing me with Reid."
Hotch just smiled, understanding the veiled message of thanks for trusting her enough to let her loose on the situation that plagued the addled genius.
"No problem."
Oh my god, this went on for longer than I thought it would. Everyone enjoying the sexual tension? I certainly hope so. I feel like I should apologize, considering that, if my plans all work out, they won't actually start up a relationship until the last episode of Season 7. On that note, I'm cutting out the part where Emily leaves. Not because I hate SSA Blake, but because it wouldn't fit. So that means no Emily leaving and no Beth. Hopefully those are the only two major plot twists that I cut out! Send me a review to tell me how I'm doing and SEND ME SUGGESTIONS FOR EPISODES AND WHAT TO DO. OR ELSE I'LL UPDATE EXTREMELY INFREQUENTLY. AND NOBODY WANTS THAT.
Song: Little Numbers - BOY
