How's that for a speedy update? ;) Since there's no new episode tonight, here's a new chapter to compensate for it. Enjoy!

Other than the discovery of the plane ticket, the team quickly ran out of leads. The rest of the week went by with nothing, and JJ was having a hard time trying to prevent them from being called away on a case. As Friday rolled around, tensions were beginning to run high.

And it wasn't just in the office. Back home, Emily noticed that Hotch was beginning to lose patience. He was normally able to keep his cool with heavy matters, but after being shut up for so long, he was getting anxious.

Emily was finding it harder and harder to calm him down. Every night she came home to find him watching TV, only she knew he wasn't really watching it. He often spaced out, looking more lost than ever. She was always able to snap him out of it, but it wasn't always easy.

Hotch just wanted to get back to his own life. He wanted to return to work and see his son again. Every minute away was killing him inside.

In an attempt to keep him occupied, Emily brought home books and DVDs for him to use during the day. She got him puzzle books, too (He had raised his eyebrows at that). She had even brought him a razor and shaving cream. She hoped he might feel a bit better if he reverted to his old habits.

Every night, they would sit on the couch together, and Emily would hold him. They wouldn't talk, just bask in each other's company. It was nice. Peaceful. But it would never last. After a while Hotch would stir, signaling that he wanted to go upstairs, and Emily would let go. And as much as it pained her, she let him go up to his room alone, because he wouldn't allow them to sleep in the same bed.

"This isn't working," Emily announced Friday morning. They were all gathered in the round table room with the exception of JJ, who was off trying to get them more time before a new case. They had barely been there an hour before this interruption.

"We know," Rossi said, leaning back in his chair. "But there's nothing else for us to do."

"Well, we're wasting our time," Emily huffed. Her heart sank when she realized Strauss was right about them not using their time wisely.

"No," Rossi countered patiently. "We're going over everything to make sure we didn't miss anything."

"We've been through these files way too many times," said Morgan. "I really don't think we missed anything."

"What I don't get," said Reid suddenly, "is why Finch hasn't made his move. If he knew Hotch was hiding away somewhere, why not draw him out?"

"Okay," Rossi said slowly. He scrutinized Reid. "You're Finch. Why wouldn't you do anything?"

Reid was silent as he thought about it. "I'm waiting," he said eventually. "This is what I've been waiting for, my revenge. That's why I haven't participated in any illegal activity. I can't miss this."

"It's almost like he's waiting for us to make a move," Morgan murmured.

"What kind of move?" Garcia asked. "I mean, it's not like we can arrest him."

"No," Rossi agreed. "But we can find him."

Emily shot him an exasperated look. "That's what we've been trying to do all week. He's gone off the grid."

"Exactly," Rossi replied. Everyone stared at him blankly.

"Okay, I'll bite," Morgan said. "What do you mean?"

"The answer is somewhere in here. Finch wants us to find it, but we can't because we've been looking at it for too long." He looked at each of them. "We need a fresh pair of eyes."

When Emily handed Hotch the case file, all she got in return was a confused look.

"What is this?"

"Finch's file. You need to go over it."

He raised his eyebrows. "I do?"

Emily nodded and plopped down on the couch next to him. "We need new eyes. A second take. Rossi thinks the answer is in there."

Hotch stared at it for a moment before flipping it open. A familiar look of intense concentration came on his face as his brown eyes began to dart back and forth. The apartment was silent for several minutes while Hotch read everything. Emily went into the kitchen and got a glass of water, but continued to watch him.

When he finished, he wordlessly reached behind him for the phone and dialed a number. Emily frowned and walked over to him. He raised his eyes to meet hers but didn't say anything. A familiar, chipper voice could be heard from the phone.

"Garcia," Hotch said, tearing his gaze away from Emily. "I need you to send over everything you can on Carl Henderson."

Emily could hear Garcia's excitement from where she was standing, and she had to suppress a smile. It was so good to hear Hotch ask Garcia for info. It was almost like old times. Almost.

Hotch hung up a few moments later. "Garcia's emailing you Henderson's files. I need to read it."

Emily hurried upstairs and grabbed her laptop. The file was waiting for her in her inbox.

"Why do you want Henderson's stuff?" she asked, handing Hotch the laptop.

"Who was the person Finch framed me for murdering?"

Emily almost smacked herself. How did they miss that?

"It's not your fault," Hotch said, as if he could read her thoughts. "He's been dead for months."

"I know," she replied defensively, but he had already begun reading.

Hotch had been working barely a minute when Emily's cell phone rang. Running upstairs, she ducked into her bedroom and answered.

"Any luck?" Rossi asked.

Emily glanced toward the door. "No. Well, not yet, at least. Garcia sent over another file for him."

"What file?"

"Carl Henderson's."

Rossi let out a low whistle. "And so Aaron proves why he was Unit Chief."

"Is."

"I'm sorry?"

"Why he is Unit Chief."

Rossi sighed. "Emily…"

"Morgan is Acting Unit Chief," she insisted. "Hotch is our real Unit Chief."

Rossi didn't say anything, just asked her to keep him posted before hanging up.

"Emily?" Hotch's voice called. "I found something."

When she got downstairs, he pointed to the laptop screen.

"Henderson's grandfather owned a shoe factory on the outskirts of DC, but it went out of business ten years ago."

Emily's eyes widened. "You think Finch's center of operations is there?"

"Perfect place for illegal activities," Hotch answered. "He can lay low there for however long he needs to."

Emily called Rossi right then and there and told him what Hotch just told her. Rossi seemed thrilled to finally have something to go on and informed her that he and Morgan would go check it out. Satisfied, Emily hung up and turned to smile at Hotch. However, it quickly disappeared.

"Hotch?" She looked around the room. He was nowhere to be seen. "Hotch?"

"Yeah?" His voice came from upstairs. When she got there, she found him in the guest room tugging a sweater over his head. He had switched from pajama pants to jeans. Sitting on the edge of the bed, he dragged a sneaker over and slipped it on.

"Uh, what are you doing?" Emily asked carefully. Hotch laced his sneakers.

"The team is going to check out the factory, right?"

Emily hesitated. "Rossi and Morgan are."

"I am too."

She immediately shook her head. "Nuh uh. No way."

Hotch stared at her. "Excuse me?"

"You can't go."

He stood up and walked over to her. His eyes were dark.

"What authority do you have over me?" he challenged. "What makes you think you can stop me?"

Emily actually stumbled back a tiny bit. This sudden change in behavior scared her and made her a little angry. She drew herself up to full height.

"I can't let you go," she fired back. "And you know why."

"Alright." He crossed his arms. "Why?"

Her eyes flashed. "It's too dangerous."

"I've participated in dozens of takedowns."

"This isn't even a takedown!" she cried shrilly. "Not yet, at least. Besides," she lowered her voice, "those instances didn't involve someone targeting you especially. This is for your safety."

"To hell with my safety!" he roared. "I'm tired of waiting!"

"This isn't like you," she whispered. "Please, just try to think rationally." Her eyes searched his face, and he softened marginally.

"I'm sorry. I just…" He closed his eyes. "I want this to be over." Suddenly he looked ten years older, like everything had worn him down completely.

"I know," Emily said softly. She inched forward and tentatively wrapped her arms around him. He melted into her embrace and held her tightly. She maneuvered them to the bed and lay down beside him. They stayed like that for a long time. So long that Emily lost track of time.

She wished the same thing Hotch did: That it could be all over. She closed her eyes and imagined that it was, and they were cuddling simply because they loved each other, not because Hotch needed someone to calm him down and make sure he didn't do anything stupid.

Emily's cell phone broke the peacefulness. Hotch rolled away from her, and she missed his presence as soon as he was gone.

"Prentiss," she mumbled.

"He's there."

She became very still and very aware of Hotch's eyes on her.

"You're sure?"

"Positive. We got pictures."

Emily's heartbeat sped up. "Wow."

"Yep." She could practically hear Rossi's grin. Then her heart sank.

"But we can't bring him in."

"Garcia didn't call you?"

"No. Why?"

"She unearthed a police report about suspected illegal drug use in Finch's circle. She called DCPD, and the case is ours."

"Just like that?" Emily raised her eyebrows even though Rossi couldn't see her.

"Just like that." He paused. "Emily, we can end this."

She swallowed and sat up. "I'll be right there."

She was already downstairs when she realized Hotch was right behind her.

"What did Dave say?"

"We can bring him in." She smiled, though it faltered when she saw he wasn't returning it.

"Let me come with you."

She closed her eyes. "Hotch…"

"Don't distance yourself from me." His eyes pleaded with her. "You know I need this."

"I can't," she said with a shake of her head. "Just stay here."

Hotch's jaw clenched. "Fine."

She gave him a quick peck on the lips (which he did not reciprocate) and jogged out the door.

Relax. Just calm down. They'll call you when they have time.

These things take time, Hotchner, you know that.

Now this might be too much time.

What the hell is going on?

Hotch was surprised her hadn't worn a path through Emily's hardwood floor with this pacing. He had already memorized her kitchen and living room though. If there was ever an intruder, he would know, so that was a plus.

Emily had left nearly an hour and a half ago. And while Hotch knew better than anyone that takedowns took time and precision, he would have thought someone would have called him by now to give him an update. At this point, he would have even accepted a call from Garcia. She would ask him how he was doing, which annoyed him, but at least he could grill her for information.

Another fifteen minutes pass before something happened. He had been attempting to watch TV when he heard the sound of a key scraping in a lock.

"Emily?" he called, his heart lifting.

But it wasn't Emily that walked through the door.

"Dave?" Hotch stood up and strode over to his friend. "What's going on? How did it go? Where's Emily?" He looked behind the other man in hopes of seeing her there.

Rossi's face was grim. He sucked his lips in before ushering Hotch back into the apartment.

"Dave, you better tell me what the hell is going on, or I'll-"

"She's gone, Aaron."

The blood drained from Hotch's face. "What?"

Rossi shook his head. "Sorry, I said that wrong. She's not dead."

"Well, then, where is she?"

"It was a trap," said Rossi sadly. "They were prepared for us. They lured her out back somehow and…" He hesitated. "They took her."

Thanks as always for reading! Let me know what you thought! I will help me update faster! =)