A/N: Hey, I'm back! This chapter marks Hotch's return to work and the 5x02. It's basically a little more thoughts of Emily and Hotch about their feelings for each other. I'll probably be posting the next one by friday. It'll be based on the episodes preceding the 5x09 (100). Just one more until the end of Foyet. I'm just warning you, I've changed a LOOT the events of "100", because of my intention to this story. So, you guys are still liking this? I'd really like a review to know if I should keep writing.

Chapter 8

The first case after Hotch's return proved to be very intense for the whole team. With the time pressure and the lack of leads to the unsub Hotch seemed to be closer and closer to the edge every minute. After snapping with Garcia, a few deputies and even Emily and Dave, he thrown himself into a house were the unsub was holding a child as hostage, without a vest or gun and standing right in front of the snippers that were waiting for a clear shot.

When the boy was released and a gunshot was heard the team raced towards the house, fearing the worse, just to find the unsub's father dead and Hotch cuffing him. Emily let out a breath seeing that he was ok, but deeply she knew that it was just the outside. Inside he was struggling and finding excuses to blame himself for everything.

The team arrived to the BAU to finish their reports before heading home. Hotch locked himself into his office and sank on his chair, burying his face on his hands. He was conscious that he had screwed up with his team. But with the adrenaline of the job again and dealing with unsubs he could only remember of Foyet and his case with all the mistakes he had done and that leaded to the delay on arresting him and his escape.

He looked down at the bullpen and sighed. Watching his team working he knew that he had to pull himself together before he could cause some serious damage on the dynamic of their work and even hurt them more.

Looking at Emily he felt tightness on his chest. He had a thought on his mind ever since they left her apartment to work and he knew for sure that she wouldn't like it. He saw her sign her last file and stand up to head to his office. She knocked on the door and he told her to come in.

"Hey, I finished my reports. Do you think you're going take how much longer?" She said, handing him her files.

"Actually, I was thinking… I think I'm going back to my apartment". He saw her face fell.

"Oh…" It was the only thing she could manage it. She knew that someday he would go back to his place but she didn't think it will be so soon. "Are you sure? You know you don't have to hurry". She said, pathetically.

"Yeah, I think it's for the best. I'm pretty sure that Foyet is watching me and I don't want you to become a target to him." Seeing her frowning at him he quickly added. "I know that you're not afraid of him and I know that you can take care of yourself but I know what he is capable of and, no offense, but I'm stronger than you and look what he did to me".

"Don't you think that I'm already a target Hotch? I mean, as you were saying, he's probably watching you since the attack and if he is, he's going to know that I was the one who when after you, I was the one who found you and only left the hospital to go arrange my apartment for you, and then took you home and we're living together for what, four, five weeks?"

"I know, but…"

"There's not but Hotch. It's the truth and you know it. If you leave right now and he already sees me as a target don't you think he'll come after me, providing that I'm alone? As you so well pointed, I'm not as much stronger as you and God knows what he could do with me. I think between the two of us and our three weapons we can watch each other's back and we have more chance against him, don't we?

He looked at her for a minute, absorbing her words and trying to find an argument against her logic. He found none. She was right. If Foyet was watching him he already saw Emily's spot on his life and knew that she was important to him. However, one thing she said had confused him. "What did you mean when you said that you only left the hospital to arrange the house? I sent you home to sleep."

She slapped herself inwardly. Stupid, stupid, stupid. Her eyes widened for a slip of second before she dropped her head down. "Yeah, I meant to say that".

He narrowed his eyes at her. "Emily… Did you go home to sleep that night?"

"Of course I did." She said quickly.

Seeing that she was still avoiding eye contact he pushed. "Emily…"

Sighing defeated she looked at him. "Ok… I stayed at the cafeteria".

"Why did you do that Emily? I told you that you could go home to rest."

"I couldn't ok?! I knew that if I went home I was going to dream with you and stay at home trying to convince myself that you were still alive. At least at the hospital I could sneak a look at your room and calm myself."

He kept looking at her for a moment before asking a little softer. "And you slept on a table at the cafeteria? Why didn't you stay at the visitor's chair in my room?"

She actually snorted. "You're kidding right? How was I supposed to stay in your room when you all but shoved me out? I didn't really have a choice Hotch"

He winced. He deserved that. "I know. I'm sorry."

"So… you're still leaving?" She asked.

He closed his eyes, sighing. "No, I think you're right. We having each other's backs it's our better chance."

"Good. Now, can we go home? I'm kind of hungry"

He looked at his paperwork before closing the file. "Yeah. I think I could use some food." He stood up and grabbed his briefcase following her out of his office. While they were waiting for the elevators he touched her elbow, making her look at him. "I'm sorry for snapping at you on this case. I think I need to work on my temper to not do some serious damage on the team."

"Don't worry" She said with a small smile. "Although it would be good if you didn't rip the LEO's heads off or mistreated Garcia. I think Morgan really wanted to punch you when you talked to her like that".

"And I'd probably deserve it. I own an apology to her."

"You do." They got into the elevator and push the button to the parking garage. "So, there's this amazing French restaurant that JJ took me once. Wanna try it?"

He felt warmth on his chest at the thought of going on a dinner with her. If only was for the right reason. "Sure. My treat."

They went towards her car and drive off. He asked to drive since she had driven the ride to the work. He parked near the restaurant and got off, going to her door to held open for her. They entered the place and found a table by the window. After making the orders they started to talk about the case.

"Do you think Call will be ok?"

He sighed. "I don't know".

"He got his answers. Killed the man who hunted him."

"And what else is there?"

"The years for torture"

"Do you think he'll get over that?" By this point they both knew they weren't talking about Call anymore.

"How could he? But at least he doesn't have to feel like he's alone anymore"

"But he doesn't have anyone"

She looked at him straight to his eyes. "He has Tommy. He's not alone" You're not alone. They knew it was what she really meant

They stood in silence for a few minutes before the food arrived. Occupying themselves with the food they kept thinking about everything that had happened, how their lives had changed in such a little among of time and how they're supposed to get back the normality after everything was solved.

To Emily, she kept just reminding herself that she had to protect herself, not from Foyet or Hotch, but from her own stupidity tendency to give too much. She realized every single day how much she was digging herself into a hole by exposing her heart and soul to Hotch, knowing that she would never get anything in return. Every day she saw him struggling and hurting for missing his family and she knew that after this he would do anything to get them back because this was the type of situation that makes you think about every aspect of your life and she knew that he missed terribly his life with Haley and Jack. And when he got them back she would be alone again, stuck into this feeling that she was nourishing because of her idiocy.

To Hotch, he could just try to figure it out the nature of his feelings. Every day he found himself more dragged into Emily and her kindness and her ability to make everything seems better. He knew he shouldn't be relying on her. It wasn't fair. But after all the darkness he put himself through and the demons he carried craved into his soul he couldn't help but want some kind of light to follow, a hope to hold on. She made him feel free, light, like there's still a way to escape from the emptiness that had become his life. And he wanted that. Selfishly, he wanted to use this way out she was giving to him. He wanted to explore this. To see if it was really possible for him to feel this happy, to enjoy life, one thing that Haley had took with her when she left him.

Later that night, when they were both at home and in their rooms, both of them felt the sleep overtook them with the same thought. After all of this was over, what the hell should they do?

A/N: See the review button? It'd really like a little click.