Not a very long chapter today... Will explain at the bottom:)

Chapter 4

What just happened? Emily asked herself as they rode along in silence. The lack of conversation wasn't uncomfortable and she wasn't bothered by it. It was as if they were conversing through body language and movement. What was that clichéd phrase?

An action speaks a thousand words.

It was kind of like that in a way, but not only because they were profilers. Yes, they were on autopilot reading other peoples body language constantly, but not to this intensity, this passion.

The only sounds to be heard were the gentle thuds of the horse's hooves on the dusty floor.

"I don't actually know that much about you." Emily spoke softly so as to not disturb the tranquility of the moment.

"Well, what is it that you want to know?" Aaron also spoke softly as he let his guard down to the woman beside him.

"It's not what I want to know, it's just that we never really speak outside of work, so I know what you're like, just not what you're like. We've talked more these last couple of days, but not properly like get-to-know talking. If you know what I mean." She stopped short when she only just saw his semi-amused face through the darkness. "I should shut up now, shouldn't I?" her cheeks burned and she looked down at her hands.

"I get what you mean." He chuckled. "Kind of. We're not really the greatest at sharing, are we?" Aaron squeezed her hand as the only gesture of comfort he could give her at the moment.

"I guess not." Emily admitted and chuckled too, "But I guess that comes with the territory…" She trailed off uncertainly.

Emily and Aaron both loved their jobs - that much was clear- however the large amount of death and destruction left in the paths of unrelenting killers took its toll on every individual in their quirky team in different ways. Although the satisfying ending they received from most cases helped, there still were those cases that were just draining emotionally and physically.

"Woah, hold up." Emily announced suddenly, pulling Ping up short.

"What?" Aaron asked as he did the same.

"What way do we go?" Emily asked him, pulling her hand out from his and pointing it ahead of them. The trail forked off, and since they held back from the team they had no idea which path they had taken.

"I can't remember. Even if we took this path the other day I couldn't tell in the dark." Aaron shook his head.

"Call them." Emily told him.

"Oh yeah." He realized, so he pulled it out of his pocket and hit the second speed dial, which was Rossi's number. The phone beeped dejectedly in his ear so he pulled it away and looked at the screen.

"Dammit, no signal." Hotch cursed, shoving it back into his pocket.

"Should we flip for it? Heads is left and tails is right." Emily said as she fished for a coin in her jodhpurs pocket. She flipped it easily.

"Heads." Aaron read out, after studying the coin in the dim light of the moon.

"Right it is." They set off once more hand in hand along the trail, stopping every once and a while when they heard a noise that could be their missing group.

"This isn't working." Hotch decided finally, after ambling along for around fifteen minutes. "If they even are on this trail we wouldn't know. We need to speed up."

"Okay then." Emily untangled her fingers from Hotch's and signaled Ping to trot.

After a few silent minutes Hotch signaled for them to stop.

"We would have caught up by now." He pointed out.

"Should we turn back?" Emily asked him, ready to turn at his say-so.

"I'm not sure-" He was cut off by a hush from Emily. "What?" He asked her quietly.

"Did you hear that?" They both listened intently for a few seconds and they heard a twig snap behind them.

"Is anybody there?" Emily wasn't able to disguise the waver in her voice. They were blind to whoever it was and their firearms were back at the cabin.

"Right, because a homicidal maniac hiding in the shadows is really going to answer you." Aaron said dryly, but was ignored by Emily who was squinting her eyes, willing them to see through the darkness.

"There you are!" A voice boomed around them, causing them both to jump violently and their horses skittered to the side.

"Morgan!" Emily scolded, hand on her heart after she had steadied her mount. "Don't do that!"

"Sorry." He apologized, but still grinned at them.

"I think it's time to work our way back, what do you think?" Rita addressed the whole group.

"Yeah." They all murmured in agreement and nudged their horses into movement as Ray led the way.

Emily sighed softly as she sank onto her bunk. The team had left for breakfast, but Hotch was still in the bathroom so she had made up an excuse to stay behind to wait for him.

Three more days. Three more days left until they had to return to the BAU. Emily loved her job, she was practically married to it, but she wasn't sure she could return to the constantly stressful environment with her head as clear to the job as it used to be.

Some members of the team asked her how she managed to compartmentalize so well with the horrendous things that they uncover on a day-to-day basis, but the truth was that she was just incredibly good at hiding her feelings. That's all it is. She put all of the horrible images into the back of her mind so she could focus on the task at hand, but when she got home it all came spilling over. Compartmentalization wasn't anything special; it was just a different way of dealing with things.

The brunette was so immersed into her thoughts that she hadn't realized Aaron had re-entered the room.

"Penny for your thoughts?" He asked her softly.

"It doesn't matter." Emily shrugged off his concern and sat up, ready to leave for breakfast. She sat up and sighed as she rolled her shoulders, trying to rid herself from the stiffness that had settled there in the night.

"Come here." Aaron said, twisting her round on the bunk and sitting behind her, kneading his hands into her neck.

"Oh… You have magic fingers." Emily moaned appreciatively, "How did I not already know this?" Hotch shrugged and she felt his arms jolt slightly as he chuckled.

"When Hayley was pregnant this was like gold dust." Aaron pulled her towards his chest and wrapped his arms around her shoulders. "Are you okay?" He whispered into her ear then placed a tender kiss on her right temple.

"Yeah, I'm fine." Emily said, "We should probably go." She sat up, pulling away from him.

"It sounds kind of cliché, but you know I'm here for you, right?" Hotch asked her, unsure.

"Of course I do." Emily promised as he pressed a firm kiss to her temple. She jumped out of the bunk.

"Come on superman," She encouraged, tugging on his hand until he jumped down beside her, "Even crime fighters need food." Emily reminded him, leading him towards the cabin door.

"Coffee. Never forget the coffee." Aaron mocked his usual sternness, but gave in and gave her a grin, once again flashing his dimples.

The reason that this chapter is not as long as normal is because there are three more days left in their week at Rocky Heights. I know what is happening on their last day there, but I put this chapter up early to give you guys the chance to choose what happens in the other two days. No matter how weird/cute/strange any of your suggestions are, I'd like to hear them to take them into consideration! Nothing is too different for me to include, so you never know!

Review please! PM or review your requests:)