Pacing around his hotel room, Derek couldn't get Rossi's words out of his head. Hours later and the older man's wisdom still lingered as much as Derek didn't want it to. Emily Prentiss was the most stubborn and impulsive person he had ever met. Of course she denied that claim and reversed it by saying that he was the most stubborn and impulsive person she had ever met. Both claims were true. Their stubbornness was often unmatched and when it came down to the job, they were impulsive. If it meant saving a life or making sure that justice was served, neither one of them hesitated to break protocol to do what they thought was best. Many times, Derek had questioned her decisions in the field. Every time she argued with him telling him that if roles were reversed, he'd be doing the same thing. While he didn't like to admit it, knowing himself, Derek knew Emily's words were the truth.

Why do you have to question me on everything?!

His dispute with Emily was still at the forefront of his mind. The words that she'd spoken earlier refused to leave as if they'd taken up permanent residence in his brain for eternity. She and Rossi were both right. He did question her on everything because he did not trust her judgment, always fearing that she was too impulsive. Perhaps it was foolish to fear her being too impulsive, but he worried about her. He just wanted to protect her. If he couldn't protect her, then Derek knew he failed as a friend, a partner, and a husband.

But Derek didn't know if he could protect Emily from the heartbreak he knew awaited her at the end of this road. For he saw the end and it wasn't pretty. If Emily experienced the bitter, devastating end that was bound to come, he feared what would happen to her. It could break her. The strong, confidant, woman wouldn't exist anymore. Instead, she'd be frail and doubtful. She would question herself and her abilities. Unfortunately, Emily couldn't see the end. If she thought with her head, she might be able to. But, Emily was thinking with her heart, a most endearing characteristic.

Stopping in front of the mirror, Derek stared at his reflection. His reflection was deceiving. The reflection showed a confident man who had it all put together. That couldn't be any farther from the truth, because right now he was a total mess. He didn't have it all figured out. He questioned his wife's motives and her judgment. He wanted her to stop being the wonderfully, caring woman she was just so that she wouldn't get hurt. Running his hands over his head, Derek sighed, unsure of what to do.

One of you will be transferred to another team.

Derek enjoyed working with Emily and he worked better with her than he did with anyone else and it wasn't just because they were married. Long before they even thought about marriage, they worked well together. They seemed to have a deep, personal connection that the rest of the team didn't share. This connection had been felt by Derek and Emily the first time that they'd been partnered together in the field. From there, their connection, partnership, friendship, and romantic relationship only grew. And Derek knew that if one of them was transferred, not only would it upset the dynamics of the team, but hinder the close friendships the team shared with each other.

The BAU was everything that Emily wanted and for her to be happy, Derek knew that he would tell Hotch to transfer him. Garcia, he knew would be upset, but she wouldn't blame Emily. That woman probably loved Emily just about as much as he did. Reid would take it the hardest. Whenever somebody left, he took it personally as if he had failed them in some way. Derek never wanted to hurt Spencer. That kid didn't need another man he looked up to, to walk away from the team. As much as Spencer liked Emily, Derek knew he would blame her for his departure and cause an unrepairable riff between his friendships with Emily.

What are we going to do?

Emily wanted to solve this problem as quickly and efficiently as possible so nobody got hurt. Unfortunately, he had blown her off, still upset with her. The minutes were slowly ticking by, turning into hours. Hotch warned them. They had work this out. Not only for the sake of working together but for the sake of their relationship as well.

Glancing at the clock, Derek knew what he needed to do.

xXx

Fast food wrappers still lingered on the little table by the window, but Emily was in no hurry to clean the mess up. Running her fingers through her still damp hair from the shower, Emily held the black tresses atop her head as she closed her eyes and breathed. The sound of water cascading from the shower comforted her. It represented that Mallory was safe with her. Although she had only known Mallory a couple of hours, Emily felt an almost maternal bond to the younger woman. Mallory didn't have anything. She didn't have a job, a home, or a family. She didn't have anyone or anything, but the hope of a better future. If Emily didn't do something, that hope would be completely gone. But what could she do? With Derek against her, her hands were tied because any decisions she made didn't just affect her. They affected her husband too.

Derek was probably still upset with her, Emily realized as she sat down at the edge of one of the beds. Although they worked so close together, they hadn't spoken since they agreed they would discuss their dispute later. That was some time ago already and Derek hadn't made any movement to talk to her. Granted that she'd been avoiding him as well, but still Emily wanted to get past this.

Closing her eyes, Emily tried not to think about Hotch's threat to transfer one of them to another team. She didn't want that to happen and she doubted Derek wanted that either. They always worked so well together and the team was a family. But if one of them had to leave, Emily knew she would. Staying and making Derek leave wouldn't be fair to him. He had been a part of the team long before her dreams of being in the Behavioral Analysis Unit were even possible of coming true.

Before anymore thoughts of one of them having to leave the team could fill her mind, a heavy knock pounded against the door. Her eyes opened in annoyance. Right now she just wanted to be alone to think. Closing her eyes, Emily ignored the incessant knocking. Another knock. And another before it was followed by a gruff voice.

"Emily, open the door!"

Derek.

If there was one person that she wanted to avoid more than ever right now it was Derek Morgan.

But the pounding on the door did not stop and if she didn't open the door soon, he'd probably kick it in. And knowing her bad luck she'd probably be the one stuck paying for the damages.

Sighing, Emily pushed herself off the bed and walked the few feet to the door. One look through the peephole confirmed that her caller was indeed none other than Derek Morgan. Turning the door knob, Emily slowly pulled the door open a little ways so she could poke her head out. "What do you want?" She asked. Her voice was laced with contempt as she peered at him through the narrow slits of her eyes.

"I just want to talk," Derek replied with an exasperated sigh.

Her tone was like steel as she replied with, "I don't want to talk now."

Ignoring her, Derek used his strength and pushed the door the rest of the way open, causing Emily to jump back. Entering the room, he shut the door behind him and crossed his arms over his chest. Emily did the same, staring back at him with a raise of her brows. Moving closer to the middle of the room and closer to Emily, Derek realized that he wanted to be as close to Emily as he could in this moment. As much as he hated Emily's idea of having Mallory live with them, Derek still wanted to understand her argument and why she was so adamant about it.

"If you're not going to talk, can you please leave?" Her tone was like ice, but it didn't faze Derek at all. He was used to her condescending sarcastic remarks when she wasn't in a good mood.

That's when Derek realized he had lost himself in thought, wondering about the reasons why Emily was so adamant about helping Mallory. Clearing his head of all thoughts, Derek inhaled a deep breath before speaking. His eyes looked straight into Emily's as if they were an open doorway to see right through to her soul. "I don't think Mallory should live with us."

Her arms still crossed defiantly over her chest, Emily shook her head. "I don't think we should have this discussion when Mallory's in the shower."

"She's here?" Derek asked his voice almost at a shout as he raised his eyebrows. "Jesus, Emily!" He exclaimed, uncrossing his arms and rubbing them over his face. Interlacing his fingers together behind his head, Derek turned his back to her. Right now it was as if his mind was in overdrive as several different thoughts raced through his mind like Thoroughbreds in the Kentucky Derby.

Frowning, Emily uncrossed her arms and lunged forward, grabbing his muscular bicep in a tight grip. "Morgan." Her tone was like venom.

When they first met, she always called him Morgan, hardly ever Derek. When they became an actual couple, she started calling him Derek more and more. Now, there were only three times she ever called him Morgan. Those times include when they're joking around, working a case, or when she was angry with him. Derek knew by the way she called him by his surname and by the tight grip she had on him that she was upset. Dropping his arms, Derek turned around so that he was facing her once more. Her arm dropped back to her side, but her gaze on him was like ice. She was ready to fight.

"What?" His tone matched the intensity of hers.

Glossy tears were beginning to fog Emily's vision, but she refused to let them fall. Tears meant weakness and showed vulnerability. Derek Morgan had always known Emily Prentiss as a strong woman. She would not give him a chance to see how weak and vulnerable she really was at times. Emily didn't care if Derek didn't like her idea of helping Mallory. Whether he decided to support her decision or not, Emily was going to help Mallory. Hands on her hips, Emily narrowed her eyes, glaring at him. The tears were long forgotten and no longer threatening to fall. Taking a strong step forward, Emily made sure that she was in his face. Poking a finger to the center of his chest, she said, "I am going to help Mallory whether you like it or not." Her tone was strong and forceful telling him that she was not going to be taking no for an answer. "And if you don't like it Morgan," she added with even more venom in her voice. "Then you can find someplace else to sleep when we get back to D.C."

This was far from over. He was not some weak husband that she could just walk all over. "God damn it!" He cursed, grabbing her wrists and pinning them to her sides as he backed her farther into the room.

Emily gulped, stepping backward, cowering away from him. When the back of her knees hit the edge of the bed, Emily sank into the mattress, looking up at her captor. Derek stood in front of her so that she couldn't escape. Derek Morgan was a good guy. She'd witnessed that on several occasions over the years. Never had she been afraid of him. Until now. Emily knew that Derek was strong. She'd seen him go up against some of the toughest criminals and never flinch. If he wanted to, he could easily be sending her to the emergency room and she couldn't do anything to fight back. His eyes were angry and full of hatred and Emily wondered if he really would hit her. Even if she was a little afraid of Derek right now, she kept eye contact with him as if she weren't afraid.

Her gaze was almost taunting as if she were daring him to hit her. And right now, Derek did. He wanted to hit her so bad right now. Who did she think she was talking to him like that? Weren't wives supposed to show their husbands a little respect? It was taking all of his self-control to not give into his desires of smacking her across the face. Balling his fist, Derek shook it at his side, resisting the temptation to raise it.

Shaking his current thoughts from his head, Derek took a step back, giving them both room to breathe. Smoothing his hand over the top of his head, Derek turned around that his back was to her once more. As he took a deep breath, he knew that Emily knew what he was thinking. He didn't want her to see him weak.

"I don't want to see you get hurt," he admitted in a low whisper.

Just like that, all the pent up anger that she felt for him in that moment vanished at his confession. It amazed her how fast her mood could change around Derek. They could be fighting one moment and loving the next as if they were bipolar. But that's just the way love works sometimes. Sighing, Emily pushed herself off the bed and took a step closer to him. Outstretching her arm, Emily placed a comforting hand on his shoulder. As if it were pulling her closer to him, Emily came closer so that her hand was moving along his upper back in comforting circles as she rested her head on his shoulder. Gently, she placed a tender kiss to the nape of his neck and she could feel the tension leave his body.

"I'm not going to get hurt," Emily whispered. Her tone was quiet like his, but matter-of-fact.

Shaking his head in disagreement, Derek replied, "You don't know that, Em."

Derek was right. She didn't know that. But Derek Morgan was not her boss and could not tell her what to do. Feeling her anger rise once more, Emily stepped away from him and turned his body so that he was facing her once more. "Who cares if I get hurt?" She asked, her voice dripping with venom. Poking him in the rib cage, she narrowed her eyes and her tone was now accusing. "At least I would have done something to help her!"

Grabbing her wrist, Derek forced her hand back to her side and held it there so that she could not move it. "There are other ways to help her, Emily!"

Unfortunately, Derek kept underestimating her strength. Ripping her arm away from Derek's grasp, Emily pounded on his chest as hard she could as if she could physically pound some sense into him, making him see things the way she did. "No there isn't!" She shouted and pounded on his chest as if it was a bongo drum, but Derek just stood still and took the abuse. "You don't understand, Derek!"

Of course he didn't understand, but he would if she would just open up to him about this. She didn't always have to play the strong silent type. Shaking his head, he backed away from her and walked to the door. Opening the door, Derek looked back at the surprised woman still standing in the middle of the room.

"I don't want to fight with you, Emily," he said. And then he was gone.

The door closed behind him and Emily found herself rushing after him once the door closed. Turning the knob, Emily found herself unable to open it. Derek didn't want to see her right now. Space would do them some good before they spoke words they'd regret. So instead, Emily dropped her hand and turned around, sliding against the closed door until she sat on her butt with her long legs stretched out before her. And she cried.

She cried for Mallory who so desperately needed to feel the love of someone who cares.

She cried for Derek who didn't understand how much of herself she saw in Mallory to just not do something.

Lastly, she cried for herself and the words she'd spoken in anger to Derek, hoping that he hadn't of taken some of those words to heart.

xXx

The water was almost scalding hot, threatening to burn her sensitive skin, but still Mallory did not want to leave the shower. But having scrubbed the dirt and grime away from her body and her long, blonde hair, Mallory stepped out of the shower, not feeling the filthiness of her life that she wore like a coat. Turning the shower off, the young woman was met with silence as she grabbed a towel from the towel rack and began to pat her body dry. But the silence did not last as most good things in Mallory's life didn't. Just as Mallory had tied her hair up in another towel to dry, shouting was heard from the main room. She instantly recognized one of the voices as Emily's. The other belonged to Emily's partner, Derek. No, not just partner; Emily had mentioned that she was actually married to Derek.

Putting on the clean clothes that Emily had given her, Mallory tried to ignore the shouting coming from the other room. After all, it wasn't any of her business of what they were arguing about. Yet, curiosity got the better of her and Mallory tiptoed to the door. Pressing her hear to the door, Mallory found that she was able to better hear the words being shouted from the main room.

I don't think Mallory should live with us.

They were talking about her, Mallory realized as she held her breath; afraid that if she breathed, she might miss something. Wondering why they would be talking about her, Mallory tried to get even closer to the closed door separating her and the fighting couple. So Emily wanted to give her a home. Derek didn't. What was so horrible about her that Derek wouldn't want to know her? Maybe he could just see the humiliating failure of her life whenever he looked at her. Just one look at her and he knew that she was not worthy of love.

Jesus, Emily!

That one line told Mallory that Derek seemed more upset with Emily than her. But the man was upset. They always blamed the person they loved the most for the problems. By morning, Mallory knew that Emily would fall into his arms and apologize. They would kiss and live happily ever after without so much as thought about her.

The shouting continued but Mallory found it harder to make out without leaving the safe confines of the bathroom. After a while the shouting had stopped altogether and Mallory wondered if the make-up kiss had happened sooner than she expected. But Mallory had heard enough anyways. She didn't need anyone to tell her. She wasn't stupid. Mallory Parker had a unique gift of knowing exactly when she wasn't wanted.

Tears coursed down her face as if they were skiers finding the safest way down the mountain. Stepping away from the door, Mallory didn't want to hear the rest of the conversation. Slumping to the tiled linoleum floor, she cried.

Mallory cried a lot and many times she didn't know why she was crying at all. This time she did though. She cried for thinking that Emily was different than all of the others that had come into her life saying they wanted to help. So many said that, but every single one of them never did a damn thing. Emily had acted as if she actually genuinely cared about her. Wanting to feel loved so badly, Mallory had blinded herself and actually believed that Emily could help her. She cried because she was stupid. She shouldn't have trusted Emily. Trusting people was exactly what got people hurt and made them distrustful. It also made some like Mallory to hate themselves even more when the trust they placed in one person was broken.

Mallory just wanted this nightmare to end. Wanting to numb the pain of rejection and self-loathing, she reached for her few personal belongings and searched for her jackknife. Unable to find it amongst her things, Mallory cursed. Emily must have taken it. Anger swelled up in her as she frantically searched the tiny room for something else that would do just as much damage. If shattered, the tiny light bulb above the sink would create many sharp pieces that could cause the damage she needed done to numb the pain she felt deep inside. The noise would without a doubt be heard in the main room but Mallory needed to do something. She couldn't continue to feel this way. But the shouting had once again started up. Hopefully the shouting would drown out the unmistakable sound of breaking glass. It didn't take long for Mallory to reach a decision. Climbing onto the sink, she reached up and gradually twisted the light bulb until it was loosened enough to be released from its hold. Holding the light bulb as if it were a prized trophy, Mallory remained kneeling on the sink and kissed the cool glass once for luck. Then with as much strength as she could muster she threw it at the ground. She was right. The shattering glass did make an unmistakable sound but no thundering footsteps ran to the bathroom. No fists pounded on the door as concerned people asked if she was alright. Mallory Parker was completely alone and she cried even more. Hopping off the sink, Mallory fell to the floor and grabbed the biggest and what looked to be the sharpest broken piece of glass she could find. Settling herself against the bathtub, Mallory stretched her left arm out and closed her eyes as the glass pierced her skin, going deeper and deeper. The wound bled like crazy but Mallory didn't care as she slid the glass from the cut and moved the piece of glass to another spot on her arm and cut again. And again. And again.

Slowly, the pain that Mallory wanted to go away was beginning to numb. Tossing the glass to the side, Mallory ignored the spurting blood leaking to the floor as she grabbed a wad of toilet paper. Putting pressure on the cuts, Mallory tried to stop the bleeding. But, the bleeding wouldn't stop. Never before had she cut herself that deep, that many times. A small smile lifted her lips as she wondered if this would have done the trick to finally stop this pain once and for all. Was it even possible to bleed to death from a few cuts on the arm? But as the spurting blood slowly stopped, Mallory frowned and tossed the soiled paper across the room. If she couldn't end the nightmare that was her life, she could at least get away from the people that she thought she could depend on.

Emily might be upset and worried about her at first, but she'd get over it. She would go back home with Derek and eventually Mallory and the case they worked would all become nothing but a bad memory to her. No, Mallory knew that she had to do this. There was no use in staying around people that only pretended to want you. That only pretended to care.

Mallory had to do it. Her mind was already made up.

By the time that Emily Prentiss awoke in the morning, Mallory Parker would be gone.