She looked in the mirror. Her hair had grown out a little in the 3 months she spent in hiding. She was recognizable once again.
She still was shaking from the news. Her eyes were red and puffy. And an occasional tear still made its way down her face.
It had been 6 hours since Hotch had called her, and she was still in shock.
"Hotch?" she said cautiously.
"Emily. It's so good to talk to you." She knew that it was tough for Hotch to know that she was alive, but pretend that she was dead. And that it was tough for him not to talk to her all this time.
"What's happened?" she asked.
"It's Doyle. He's dead."
Prentiss had gasped. "He- I- but-"
"He's dead. His death certificate and proof of death are being faxed to you."
"But- wha- what happened?"
"Doyle found me again. One day when I was leaving the BAU. He threatened to kill me. I managed to get him to put his gun down. And then… the rest is a blur. I remember punching him and beating him to the ground. And then I shot in. Straight in the heart. And that was all."
Emily could hear in his voice how the incident was still fresh. But his voice was tender. She knew that one of her team members would be the one to kill Doyle, but secretly she instinctually knew it would be Hotch.
"Hotch, I-"
"And it's been arranged with the Bureau. You've been approved to come back…"
Prentiss was still in shock. She had always hoped that she would be able to come back. But Doyle had escaped imprisonment before. The pessimism inside her told her that he would always be out there, and that she would never be safe. But now…
But now she was safe. Doyle would never haunt her again. He was dead. Gone. For good. She could return to the States. She could return to the BAU. She could return to her family. And now, she was stronger than ever. Braver than ever. And no one would ever stop her again.