Episode: 52 Pickup
"If you're too obvious you turn off your target, if you're oblivious your target moves on to another profiler."
The words rang through Hotch's head as he made his way up the stairs to Becky's apartment, Emily in tow. Hotch narrowed his eyes as he passed police officers on his way up, wondering how much of the crime scene was being contaminated.
Was it word choice? Did she have feelings for another member of the team? Hotch's mind raced as he pondered the situation. He was glad he had paired himself with her. A sudden flash of jealousy overwhelmed him at the thought of Emily being with someone else on the team.
But what did it all mean. He had never been good at reading into relationships. Hell, with Hayley she practically had to tell him to his face that she had feelings for him before he realised. Stick him in a room with a serial killer and he'd be fine, but just the thought of Emily Prentiss was enough to turn his mind to mush.
Sighing as they entered the room, he watched as she made her way across to the balcony, looking out over the view, her hair sweeping down in front of her face, sun hitting her at just the right angle for him to see the slight contours of her pale complexion.
Yup, he had it bad.
OoOoOoOoOoO
"Are you ready to meet Viper?"
He should have said no. He should have said, "Oh, Emily, I don't know if I can handle all his raw untamed sexuality, please go off with Morgan and I'll sit here and try and figure out what the hell Reid's doing with his maps."
At least, that was what he was thinking while he listened to the filth that Viper was spewing. It was disgusting. He spoke as if men were serial killers and women were placed on the planet for sex. Hotch was barely able to walk up to the man without punching him in the face.
And then the things he said to Emily. The way he so obviously leered at her, analysing every part of her body. Hotch stepped slightly closer to her, eyeing Viper as he spoke. It was only when Viper stepped forward, closer to Emily, that Hotch tensed up, hand reaching back slightly and ghosting over the form of his gun.
"But meet me on my turf... oh, the things I could make you do."
Emily scoffed shaking her head slightly as Hotch stepped forward, handing him their card. He noted how Viper never broke eye contact and the desire to punch him outweighed his need to be alpha and stand at Emily's side, causing him to turn away. Emily followed after him, shaking her clothes slightly as if ridding them of dirt from Viper.
"Please, tell me we are not giving up on that guy."
"We're just getting started."
They drove back in silence, Hotch's hands gripping the wheel so tightly that his knuckles were white for the whole ride. As soon as they got to the station, Hotch shooed Morgan and Emily on ahead, pulling out his phone and calling Garcia. Emily stayed behind, however, giving him a confused look. He tried to shoo her away again, only to feel her hand ghosting down his arm, a nervous look crossing her face.
I'm fine. Hotch mouthed, trying to give her a small smile, but failing as Garcia picked up.
"The Oracle of All-Knowing at your service, what can I do you for?"
"Hey, Garcia," Hotch raised his eyebrow at Emily who paused a moment before leaving to follow after Morgan. "I need you to find everything you can on a man named Viper."
"I can get you anything your little heart desires, sir. Any particular reason, though?"
"He uh, said some things to her and I want a background check on him."
"What things?"
Hotch bit his lip, not wanting to repeat anything that Viper had said. "Along the lines of, 'If you met me on my turf, the things I could make you do.'" He replied, uneasily.
"Was there more?' Garcia whispered, disgusted already as she began a preliminary search of Viper.
"Yes. Basically the whole interview was him leering at Emily and telling her about the things he's ... done."
"H-He actually said that? To Prentiss?"
"Yes he did, so what can you tell me about him?"
"I can tell you the Viper's real name was Paul Thomas and before he rechristened himself ... he had a major mullet going on."
"Garcia, we need the names of all of his students."
"Uhh, I'm going to need a couple hours for workaround."
"I also need you to send Reid everything you can about uh, what this guy teaches. I think the UNSUB's using one of his routines. We need to start building a linguistic profile."
"Sir... Does this guy's stuff actually work? On real breathing girls?" Hotch frowned at Garcia's words.
"Why are you asking me?"
"I abhor the whole chicks dig jerks thing."
"Well fortunately Garcia, you're one of the exceptions." Hotch didn't mention the other woman in the BAU that he hoped was an exception.
"Well, be still my bespeckled heart, so are you, sir."
He smiled despite himself, murmuring out a thanks and turning off his phone, unable to keep Emily off his mind until Rossi's voice broke his reverie.
OoOoOoOoOo
Knock. Knock. Knock. Knock.
"Prentiss?" Hotch bit his lip, unsure of what he'd find on the other side of the door.
"Yeah, come on in."
"Hey, I'm 10 minutes away."
Hotch paused, struck suddenly by how gorgeous she was. Her eyes were dark, hair curled around her face, framing it beautifully.
"You're okay with this, right?" He realised how awkward he looked and felt, but he had to ask.
"Yeah, I'll be fine," She smiled, pulling an earring out. "Sadly, I've actually dated people worse than Viper."
"Wow," He was completely unprepared for that moment of truth and blurted out the first thing that came to mind. "So I guess I'm a step up, then."
Emily glanced up and he held her gaze for a moment, purposely not looking away.
"I guess so."
"Look, Emily, I just wanted to say that I'm sorry. It was stupid of me to invite you out the other day and to... Well..."
"Hotch, it's fine," She reassured, slipping off her necklace.
"No, it's not. You gave me time to think and to contemplate things and I haven't been."
"You've been busy," She offered, knowing it was futile.
"I've been avoiding the issue. We both know that this..." He gestured openly, unsure of what else to call it. "Can't happen. I'm not going to deny my feelings, but it can't work."
"Yet," Her voice was soft, almost imperceptible, but Hotch heard it and his head shot up. Emily was turned away from him, unashamedly unbuttoning her shirt. She pulled it off and Hotch glanced away, always the gentleman.
"Do you really believe that?" He whispered, his voice low as he studied the ceiling.
"I do," Emily replied, sliding the dark dress on, tugging off her jeans underneath.
"But... why?" She turned around, tossing her jeans into the locker and tugging her dress down slightly so the wrinkles were smoothed out. Emily paused and studied herself in the mirror before closing the locker door, walking up to Hotch, and placing a chaste kiss to his lips.
"I said it before, Hotch. You're worth waiting for."
Omg third kiss what am I doing with my life. Ok, let's see. I've been browsing through my playlist and I can't really find a song to fit this. I NEED MORE SUGGESTIONS PEOPLE. Also, how'd you like the last chapter? ;) You are all so very welcome. Hope it'll tide you over until season 7.
Also, if you haven't already, you should totally check out my other fics. I have (in my humble opinion) a pretty good one that I'm collaborating with my friend on. It's called How to be a SeReidal Killer and it's insanely Reid-centric and super angsty and everything any fangirl loves. Anyway, hope you enjoyed this (I 'm currently watching 'Normal' and just finished writing 'Brothers in Arms')
History's Door - Husky
