Thanks a lot for your reviews ! Chapter 3 is up.
"What are you doing?" Emily's voice had a strange edge as she asked this question for the third time. The first two questions hadn't met an answer, and panic was slowly starting to show on the brunette's face. He had both hands on her, one holding her arm, the other one trying to lift her dress, as his lips repeatedly attacked her neck. She didn't feel comfortable. At all.
Had she somehow started it? Had she involuntarily given him a sign that she wanted to go further? Had she been so provocative that he just thought it was okay to corner her the minute they were out the bar?
Emily shut her eyes tightly, trying to gather her thoughts and find a way to get out of the situation.
Emily's eyes fluttered open as she felt someone shake her gently. Hotch was leaning over her and looking at her quizzically. Emily's eyes wandered around until she realized that they were still in his car, and Hotch was repeatedly asking if she was okay.
"Did I fall asleep?" was her first question, as she rubbed her eyes and watched Hotch drop back into his seat.
"You were out so quickly, I thought you had passed out." He said, frowning. "Maybe I should have taken you to the hospital. Did you hit your head?"
"No, it's just a few cuts…" Hotch turned the keys and the headlights turned off. It was only then that Emily realized that they were parked in front of a house, not her building.
"Why are we at your home?" She opened her mouth again to start arguing, but he cut her short by putting a hand on her wrist.
"Listen… I don't know what exactly happened tonight, I hope you'll tell me later on…" She made big eyes at this comment but he remained still and calm. "But you don't look okay. You might have a concussion… So, it's either my house or the next hospital, your choice."
When she did not respond, he continued with a more gentle tone : "I am not letting you alone tonight."
Hotch waited for the brunette to reply harshly, and was a little taken aback as she just stared at him without saying anything. Were there tears forming in her eyes?
"You'll sleep here and tomorrow we'll call the garage to pick up your car."
With this final word, he left the car and waited patiently for her at the doorway, until she had made up her mind and followed silently. When they got in, she noticed that the lights hadn't even been turned off – he had left in a hurry, which made her heart sink. She must have seemed really desperate over the phone. As Emily walked into the living room and sat down on the sofa, Hotch once again detailed her with a worried gaze. Another bruise was now showing on her wrist, and the one on her jaw looked yet darker than before. Had she put up a fight?
"Thank you, Hotch." She said, looking him in the eye. Visibly she hadn't looked forward to getting to her lonely home.
"I told you once I'd be there if you had a bad day… I guess that includes car crashing." He said with a smirk. "Do you want something to drink?"
Emily looked away, rubbing her sore wrist.
"No, thanks. I kept you awake long enough." Hotch nodded.
"You can sleep in my bed. I'll go into Jack's room."
Emily couldn't help laughing at this answer. "I doubt you'll fit into the bed of a ten years old…"
Hotch smiled. "He has a big bed now. He more or less harassed me a few weeks back to get rid of his child bed…"
Emily pursed her lips, refraining another laughter. She could very well imagine this little boy attached to his father's leg, begging him.
"I'll be right back." Emily watched Hotch jog up the stairs, then looked around her. She had been in this house only once before. Hotch had bought it about a year back, because Jack was growing and needed more space than the tiny apartment they had lived in until then. Now they had a garden, the boy had a big room and Hotch often could spend his week-ends playing soccer with his son or teaching him how to drive a bike in the nearby park, as he often told the team. They had a good life, even if a woman was definitely missing in the picture. Of course, Hotch knew how to run a household, as Emily could see as she looked at the coffee table, the dining area, the book shelf. Everything was tidy, except for some toys on the coffee table.
The brunette turned her head when she heard footsteps. Hotch had a box in his hand, which he put on the coffee table and opened to reveal bandages and several medication.
"What are you doing?" she asked, looking at the bandages and bottle of alcohol.
"You should clean that up." He answered, motioning towards her face. Emily raised a hand to her lip, touching the swollen skin. She had completely forgotten about that.
"Oh." Hotch held his breath. She looked so lost suddenly, as she touched her injury and winced.
"Tell me if it hurts." She didn't say anything as he applied the cotton. She tried to read his eyes as he gently wiped the blood away. She tried to find anger in his gaze, or exasperation. After all, she had woken up her boss in the middle of the night, forced him to drive across town, and now he was missing the last possible hours of sleep, caring for her injuries. And despite all that, she was lying to him.
"Emily, what really happened tonight?" Hotch's voice was tense. They were sitting so close that it was almost unbearable for Emily. Now she had a choice: plunge into his arms and cry herself to sleep. Or keep a brave face and not burden him with her problems any more.
"Can we talk tomorrow?" He looked at her strangely, then sighed and nodded. He knew how stubborn Emily Prentiss could be – almost as stubborn as himself – and he didn't want to push her. Panic was starting to rise within him : he had rarely seen her so fragile. Pictures flashed through his mind : Emily limping out of Cyrus' house, Emily with a wooden piece sticking out of her abdomen after Doyle stabbed her, Emily with her nose bleeding and tears streaming down her face when they finally found the killer of her friend Matthew… She had gone through a lot – they had all gone through a lot these past years. And yet, he had seen this woman crumble only a couple of times. And each time he had to witness that, it broke his heart. They were family.
"Come, I'll show you the way." He simply said, pushing these thoughts away. Now he just had to be there for her.