Really sorry about the wait. Hope you enjoy this and know that I'm already done with the next chapter!
Chapter XXVI
"Agents!" a uniformed officer called out to them as soon as the glass doors opened. "We have a chopper on standby."
"Where?" Hotch spun and stepped closer to the man.
"Mount Sinai Hospital on 98th and Lexington."
"That's not even 10 blocks away." Emily said as she strapped on her Kevlar once more.
"We don't have time to wait in traffic." Hotch turned to his team and each offered him a nod of agreement before bolting out the door, SWAT and NYPD right behind them. The group of eighteen ignored the horrified looks of everyone they passed as they wove their way around the crowds and towards the hospital. Once they reached the front doors, a nurse pointed them towards the elevators and stairs leading to the roof. The whirl of the helicopter blades could be heard from two floors away and one by one, they piled in and were forced to leave several officers behind to await the second pick up. Morgan, Reid and Rossi stayed with the second group while JJ, Hotch and Emily buckled their seatbelts and tried to calm their nerves for the duration of the 45 minute flight.
"What's the plan?" JJ's voice echoed in the other's headsets after they had finally lifted off the ground.
"Hail's going to have men with him. Alek and probably others we don't even know about." Emily added.
"We go in first. SWAT can neutralize anyone who resists but we go straight for Hail." Hotch ordered and everyone agreed.
"Make sure we have EMTs waiting outside." Rossi reminded everyone.
"Blueprints of the property have been sent. Take a few minutes to familiarize yourselves with the layout." Hotch said and everyone took out their phones and studied the PDF file intently.
"Three points of entry in the main building." Morgan announced. "We'll want to split those up."
"Morgan and Reid, take four officers and cover the entrance by the boardwalk. Rossi, JJ and another four take the side and Emily and I will go in through the front." Hotch said. "We need to hit the ground running but remember; they don't know we're onto them. Let's keep it that way."
"What do we do about Mackenzie?" Reid's voice asked and an uncomfortable silence settled amongst the group.
"She's a friendly." Emily said sternly. "We get her away from Hail and his men as quickly as possible."
"What if she's-"
"She's not." Emily interrupted the boy genius, her tone signaling finality.
"Em's right." JJ agreed. "She's just a kid."
"A kid who's wanted for fraud, embezzlement, and theft." Morgan added.
"That doesn't mean-"
"ETA 15 minutes." The pilots' voices rang in each helicopter, silencing the BAU's argument.
"We can talk about the morality of Mackenzie's decisions later- preferably after we rescue her." Rossi rolled his eyes, itching to get to the girl in question. Communication between the two choppers ceased and each member gazed at the starry sky in silence. Hotch risked a glance in Emily's direction and watched as she rubbed her injured shoulder.
"I'm fine." She said before he could ask. JJ returned her attention to the window, allowing the couple a few minutes of not-so-private conversation. Although she could hear them, the blonde knew that her friends were comfortable enough around her not to mind.
"You really shouldn't have taken the sling off." Hotch turned his body, pressing his back against the side of the aircraft, and faced her.
"How am I supposed to kick Hail's ass with one arm?" Emily sneered.
"I'm sure you could manage." Hotch replied, taking his hand in hers and squeezing. "I just-I don't want-"
"I know." Emily's soft voice seemed to calm his nerves slightly. "Nothing is going to happen to me or anyone else."
"You don't know that." Hotch dropped his head and held his breath and Emily eased closer to him. "I don't know what I'd do if anything happened to you." Surprised at the sincerity of the statement, Emily reached towards him and brought his eyes back to hers. The pain she saw in them shattered her heart and made her want to hide in a hole forever. She cupped his cheek gently as she continued to gaze into his hazel orbs.
"Aaron," she soothed him. "I promise you, nothing is going to happen. Please just…don't think about things like that."
"I'll try." Hotch forced a grin and brought Emily's hand to his lips. "But no promises." He kissed it tenderly and the two shared a small smile before remembering that they were not alone. Hotch cleared his throat awkwardly as he released Emily's hand.
"Please," JJ fought to keep the chuckle from escaping. "Don't stop on my account." Emily pinched the woman's arm and the blonde yelped in surprise but it did nothing to stop the ferocious blush that had taken over the dark haired couples' cheeks. JJ's blue eyes sparkled with mischief in the dimly lit aircraft as they approached their destination. As the helicopter began to decrease its altitude, each agent and officer checked and double checked their weapons, tightened their Kevlar and prepared to storm the house. They gathered a few blocks away and told the pilots to stay put until the raid was over.
"Everyone knows the plan?" Hotch asked the group. Everyone nodded.
"Alright, watch each other's backs and let's get this done." Rossi signaled for everyone to disperse, sending them to their predetermined paths. Hotch and Emily waited by the front door with their SWAT and NYPD counterparts for the rest of the team to get into position.
"Ready." JJ's voice whispered in their ears, signaling that the blonde and Rossi had arrived at the side entrance.
"Ready." Morgan announced seconds later. Nodding to Emily, Hotch counted down from 3 before kicking in the front door.
Shit's about to get real. Let me know what you'd like to see!