Author's Note: Thank you guys so much for all the reviews! I really hope you're liking this story. Here is the second chapter. I'm jus advising that we'll have a lot of angst and drama before we see some action between Hotch and Emily. Sooo, prepare your tissues!
Disclaimer at Chp01.
Chapter 2
She knew something was off when she heard the incessant ring of his phone inside the apartment. She turned the knob, finding the door unlocked and got in, sensing the worse. She only took a few steps inside when she saw. His feet at the corner of the room, showing from behind the dinner table. She approached with a clench on her chest and saw him unconscious on the floor, covered in blood.
She knelt down beside him and tried to find a pulse. She found none. The tightness on her chest increased and she let out a sob.
- Hotch! Hotch please, don't do this. You have to wake up. Hotch! – She cried, calling his name over and over again, trying to get some reaction. But there was none. He was gone, cold and pale. She stood there, sobbing incontrollable, covered on his blood. – No, no, no, no, no, please, please Hotch, wake up! Hotch!
She woke up with a startle and felt a hand on her shoulder. Looking up she saw a nurse looking at her worried.
- Are you ok ma'am?
- Yeah, I'm fine. I'm sorry, it was just a nightmare.
- That's ok. I understand. Your friends are in your boss's room. You stayed here all night?
- Yes, but please, don't tell anyone, especially my boss. – She looked at the nurse with big wide eyes. Seeing her stress the nurse smiled a little and nodded.
- Of course, I won't tell anything.
- Thank you. Everything is ok with him, there was any change?
- No, no. He is fine. He's supposed to be released tomorrow.
- Good, that's good. I'm gonna go. Thanks.
She went to the parking lot, took a new change of clothes and went to the bathroom. After change clothes and freshen up she went towards the hospital room where her team was.
The team gathered around Hotch's bed, talking when JJ spoke:
- Have anyone seen Emily?
- I told her to leave not long after you guys left. – Said Hotch with a neutral tone. Dave looked at him with sad eyes, knowing very well the tone he must have used with the brunette agent.
- I thought she would be here by now, maybe she overslept. – Said Morgan.
- I'm here. – Came the soft voice from the door.
- Geez Em, you look awful. Did you sleep at all? – Said JJ with a worried tone.
- Wow, thanks JJ. And yes, I did sleep. – She said, catching Rossi's eyes. He gave her a pointed look, telling her that he didn't believe in her.
- So, do you know when you'll be leaving here? – Morgan asked Hotch, changing the subject.
- No, I'm waiting for the doctor.
- Actually, I spoke with a nurse earlier and she said you'll be released tomorrow, probably. – Emily said, making eye contact with Hotch for the first time. He looked deep in her eyes, as if he was reading every single feeling and thought she had. She quickly dropped her eyes to the floor, avoiding showing too much.
- Earlier? I thought you had just arrived. – Said JJ. Emily looked startled for a second before answer:
- I was at the cafeteria. – She simply answered. Dave looked at her again and said.
- I think I want some coffee too. Could you companion me?
- Sure.
They left the room with Dave putting a comfort hand on Emily's back, going towards the cafeteria.
- You stayed here all night, didn't you?
- I hate you David Rossi. – He let out a laugh.
- No, you don't. Oh Bella, you should have gone home.
- I couldn't Dave. I knew that if I went home and slept I would dream with him and would wake up anxious, thinking that he was death. At least here, when the nightmares came I could sneak a look in his room and breathe, knowing that he was still alive.
- Em, you have to tell him. You can't keep doing this to yourself. It'll only get worse.
- I can't Dave. He is going through hell right now and the last thing he need is me confessing my love for him. Actually, he doesn't need me at all. He was pretty clear about that last night. – She said the last party with a sad whisper. He sighed, conscious of his friends' stubbornness and wishing the power to help them.
- I'm so sorry cara. I hope I could do something about it.
- Yeah, but you can't. And neither me. I just have to get used to it. Learn to deal with. Let's go, before they sent a search party for us.
They returned to Hotch's bedroom just in time to listen the doctor.
- Well Agent Hotchner, your recovery is better than we expected. I think you'll be able to leave at the end of the day. You'll just have to come back to do some tests and remove the stiches next week. And also, you can't stay alone. You either have someone at your house or stay with someone, at least until the stiches are gone.
- I was actually thinking about that. It's not good that you stay at your apartment alone Aaron. At you apartment at all I would say. – Said Dave. – Unfortunately my house is in reforms and it's not good for your recovery.
- Mine is reforming too, sorry man. – Said Morgan.
- I only have a couch. – Reid spoke.
- We don't have a guest room, and with Henry I don't think it would be the ideal environment for an injured.
- Guys, I really appreciate but it is ok.
- I have a room. – Emily spoke with a small voice, without looking at Hotch.
- I already said it's not necessary Prentiss. I don't need a babysitter. – He said with a stern tone, not missing the way she flinched a little, making him feel bad for his sharpness.
- It is necessary Agent Hotchner. You'll need help with the most domestic things like getting stuffs in the refrigerator, doing the dishes and etc. I think you should take your friends offer and appreciate that you have such good friends. – The doctor spoke severely. – I'll pass by the end of the day to release you. Now, if you excuse me…
- It's decided. You'll stay with Emily, at least until next week. – Dave said, looking a Hotch with a look that said he shouldn't make any arguments. Emily stood quiet, waiting for what her boss would say. She knew it would be even harder to deal with her feelings living with him but she just couldn't deny help when apparently she was the only one available.
- Fine. Thank you Prentiss. – Hotch said with a resigned voice.
- No problem, sir. – She said. – I'm gonna head home. I need to arrange some things.
- There is no need to bother Prentiss.
- That's ok, I'll be back later. – She said leaving. Morgan, JJ, Reid and Garcia decided to go the cafeteria to eat something and get coffee, leaving Rossi alone with Hotch.
- You know, you should try to be a little more gentle and grateful with Emily. – He started, emphasizing her first name. – She was the one who drop everything in the middle of a case to go after you. She was the one who found you apartment full of your blood and with a .44 hole in the wall. She was the one who moved every resource available to find you. She was the one who stood by your side for several hours without food or rest. She was the one who offered to stay again with you, to keep you company only for you to shove her out of here. And now, she is the one who is reorganizing every square meter from her house to receive you, with all the comfort you don't deserve. I think you should cut her some slack and start to treat her right, because she didn't do anything to you and doesn't deserve to be treated like shit. You should learn to appreciate everything you had, even in the worse moments, and that includes the family you had here, with your team.
Hotch just remained in silence, listening to him and knowing that he was right. He just give Rossi a nod and closed his eyes, thinking about everything that had happened, thinking about his son who was only God knows where and wondering how the hell he was supposed to go through this.
At 5pm Emily was wheeling a very unhappy Hotch through the doors of the hospital.
- It's totally unnecessary this wheel chair. – He huffed.
- It's just the procedure sir.
- But I can walk. That's just ridiculous.
She just remained in silence reaching in her car. She helped him to get in, careful to not demonstrate too much care to not make him uncomfortable. She got in the driver's seat and started the engine, pulling the car towards her apartment.
Parking in front of her building she got off the car and went to grab their bags in the back seat. Earlier Dave had gone to Hotch's to get a bag with clothes and personal stuffs for the first few days. She leaded him through the hall into the elevators. Arriving at her floor she went, still in silence, opened the door and let him in. She directed him towards the spare bedroom.
He noticed the new sheets in the bed, that smell of lavender, indicating that she had cleaned recently. There was a curtain on the window and an armchair on the corner, with a little table by the side. The full size bed was covered with light blue sheets and a couple of pillows with white cases. A dark blue blanket was folded up at the foot of the bed. At the bedside table there was a small lamp and a few books.
- There is a small closet over there where you can hang your clothes if you want. And that is the bathroom. It's just a shower but at the end of the hall there is one that has a bathtub if you're interested. My room is right after the bathroom, fell free to knock and ask if you need anything. – She said, a little awkwardly. When he didn't say anything she sighed and turned to leave. – Well, I'm gonna let you get comfortable. I think I'm gonna take a shower and then see something for us to eat.
The thoughts were racing at Hotch's mind. He knew he'd been a jackass with her ever since he woke up and here she was, giving him a very good bedroom, all cleaned and saying that she would make him dinner. She deserves at least a thank you, don't you think? When she was almost at the door she her him calls her name.
- Emily…
Emily. Emily. That made her froze in spot. She really didn't remember of him calling her for her first name ever. Slowly she turned, with a stunned face, and looked at him.
He winced inwardly. He could avoid but feeling a little stung on his chest. It's just her name. Why he always kept her at such arms-length? She'd never done anything against him. Quite the opposite. She gave up her job to protect his career. She had taken care of every one of his agents every time it was necessary. She had taken care of him after the explosion in New York. She had been the one who found him and stood by him like Dave very well mentioned. So, why the simple fact of him calling her Emily was such a big deal? Because you are an asshole, Aaron.
- Thank you. For everything. – He said. And right then she felt her heart melt for him. Trying to remain her composure she smiled a little and said.
- No problem sir. I'll be at the end of the hall.
- Ok…
She went to her room with her heart racing. You're really pathetic, Prentiss. He treated you like shit since he woke up and just because he called you by YOUR NAME you're all worked up. Damn. She was really screwed.
A/N: Please, leave a review. It really make all diference at this writing process.