Disclaimer: I do not own Criminal Minds or Can't Stop.

Chapter Two

Emily, Hotch, Riley and Jack had been in the car for about ten minutes. Riley was silently listening to her iPod while Jack told a story about his first grade class. Emily and Hotch both listened to Jack, but Emily's mind wasn't really there. She was trying desperately to think of a way to relate to Riley. Emily could remember being a teenager, and she knew that she too was withdrawn, but Riley hardly even talked. Jack jabbed Riley in the arm while he told his story.

"What?" Riley asked. Emily had not heard Riley talk this nicely to anyone. She was substantially nicer to Jack than anyone else. She was protective of him.

"Our song is on the radio. I don't want you to listen to your iPod when our song is on." He scolded.

"Sorry baby." She said, patting his head. "I didn't even hear it."

"That's 'cause it's too quiet. Puuuuhhhleeeasse turn it up!" Jack pleaded. Emily laughed and turned the volume up. "Can't Stop" by the Red Hot Chili Peppers filled the car.

"You like this song buddy?" Hotch asked Jack.

"Yes! It's Riley's and my song! She teached me how to play it on the guitar. She says I play like a pro!" Jack squealed happily.

"You play the guitar?" Emily asked Riley. Hotch never told her that Riley was musically talented.

"Some." Riley said quietly.

"Are you kiddin'?" Jack asked, sounding appalled. "Some? She plays lots of guitar! She plays the normal guitar, the bass guitar, the piano, the violin and the sexophone!" Hotch and Riley burst out laughing, and Emily snorted, trying to hide her laughter as to not embarrass Jack.

"Jackie, I don't play the sexophone. It's called a saxophone baby." She said through her laughter.

"Oh. Oops." He said.

"It's an honest mistake buddy." Hotch said after regaining his composure. "Riley, I never heard about you playing the saxophone. When did you start?"

"Two years ago." Riley said bleakly.

"Really?" Hotch said after a lengthy, awkward pause.

"Yes. I invited you to a performance six months ago." She snapped. Another awkward pause ensued.

"I'm so, so sorry. I was on a case. I forgot."

"I bet you remember every detail of the damned case." Riley snapped, even more angrily. This was the longest pause so far. Emily was surprised that Hotch didn't remember something like that about Riley. The tension was so thick, even Jack understood the amount of awkwardness. He wanted to make the silence go away, so when the song got to the chorus, he screamed at the top of his lungs;

"The world I love,
The tears I drop.
To be part of
The wave, can't stop.
Ever wonder if it's all for you!"

Emily saw what Jack was trying to do, and she reached around and patted his hand lovingly. Riley's headphones were already over her ears, so she didn't hear Jack's attempt to salvage the ride. He shrugged, and Emily shrugged back. Hotch focused on the road for the rest of the drive, and Riley didn't make another peep. Jack and Emily sang together and chatted through the rest of the long, quiet ride.

**

They had been in Hotch's house for about 2 hours once the kids were finally settled in. Riley was flipping through one of Hotch's case files, despite his protest. Jack watched "Finding Nemo" absentmindedly. Hotch was getting some chinese food for dinner, so it was just Riley, Jack and Emily.

"Hey Emily?" Riley began.

"What's up Riley?"

"I've got a bit of a question, but I don't know if I should ask. You might be offended." She said.

"You can ask me anything." Emily said happily.

"Are you sleeping with my father?" Riley asked, bleakly. Emily was taken aback.

"What...? Why would..why would you ask that?" Emily asked.

"You drove over an hour to pick up a guy's son and bratty teen. You're staying here, even though you don't really need to. I've seen how you look at each other." Riley shrugged.

"What? I mean...What? Why do you want to know?" Emily asked.

"Why won't you answer?" Riley asked with a smirk. Emily had no idea how to respond. "I don't care. I just want to know."

"Well...your dad and I are together." She admited with a sigh.

"Okay." Riley shrugged, returning to the case file.

"Wait, what? That's it?"

"Yeah. I just wanted to know. I wanted to see if you were honest."

"How would know if I was honest? I could have lied." Emily pointed out.

"I'd have known for two reasons."

"And what are those reasons?" Emily asked.

"Well, first of all, my dad is a profiler. Even though I never see him, he has taught me how to tell if someone is lying." She said with a small smile.

"Okay, and what is the second reason." Riley smiled when Emily asked this.

"My father told me that you were together when he called Jack and I on Tuesday." She said.

"Oh."

"I just wanted to know if I could trust you." She said. "And if I offended you...I encourage you to bite me." Emily lauged slightly.

"I understand." Emily said. At this point, she began to think that she might just be able to warm up to Riley yet. She realized that the biggest issue wasn't going to be her getting to know Riley. The issue will be getting Hotch closer to Riley.