If I don't get some MAJOR love for this chapter, I give up. Enjoy my loves!

Chapter XXXIV

"Stop fidgeting!" Emily smacked her friend's thigh as the blonde struggled to get comfortable.

"I can't." JJ sighed and placed a hand to her chest. "This is the most annoying pain I've ever had."

"Well next time don't get shot." Emily grumbled as she passed the woman a cup of water. JJ took small sips, wincing every so often, before handing the cup back to her. "You're lucky they didn't have to operate."

"Despite contrary belief, I didn't ask to get shot." The smaller woman quipped back, an eyebrow raised in challenge. Emily chuckled softly before returning to the solemn expression she'd been sporting since the team had dispersed. "Stop worrying."

"I can't." Emily admitted without looking up. JJ sighed, a question coming to mind as she stared at her friend.

"Em, I've never seen you like this before." She began quietly.

"Like what?" The brunette glanced forward and met the blue eyes before her.

"So affected by a case." JJ worded the sentence carefully. "I mean, we've seen worse."

"I know but this is so…real to me." Emily crossed her arms. JJ offered the woman a small smile, knowing that it would do nothing to comfort her. She placed her small hand over her friend's and squeezed. Without looking, Emily returned the gesture. "Besides the fact that we know nothing about her past, all I see in her is me. It's…strange."

"I understand." JJ nodded in agreement. "You do have a lot of similar qualities."

"Oh really? Like what?" Emily challenged with a smirk.

"Your taste in men." The blonde stifled a chuckle as Emily's mouth dropped.

"I hope this isn't something I don't want to hear." A deep voice sounded from the far corner of the room. The women turned and met the ever-so-pleasant face of Aaron Hotchner. JJ chuckled and gestured for him to enter while Emily seemed to have developed a new interest in the counting the tiles on the floor.

"Don't worry Hotch, you're safe." The blonde smiled and waited for one of the dark haired pair to speak. When Hotch simply sat himself on the opposite side of her bed, she frowned. Fine, I'll fix it for you. "Em, could you please get Dr. Monroe? I have a few questions for her."

"Sure." Emily bolted out the door faster than a rabbit out of a trap. JJ waited for the door to close completely before rounding on her boss whose mouth was already in the middle of forming a sentence.

"Don't even." She raised a hand for silence. His mouth shut instantly. "I cannot believe the two of you. It's been what, a week? You've already found a way to be at each other's throats."

"We are not at each other's throats." Hotch frowned. "I just don't appreciate-"

"I know what you're going to say Hotch and please don't. Have you even been here for the past eight years?" JJ motioned around the room for emphasis. "This thing between the two of you only just developed. You can't expect these 'habits' of hers to die that quickly."

"I know I just-"

"I know you're used to being in charge and in control of everything, but you need to fix this before you lose her for good." JJ crossed her arms across her chest and sighed. "We both know how she is. One bump and she'll think it's her fault and jump ship. Please, you two are finally happy. Don't let something so mundane ruin it." Hotch sat in silence for a moment or two, taking in the fact that it was JJ setting him straight.

"You're right." He could barely be heard over the sound of the chair scratching against the tile flooring as he sped after the brunette. JJ leaned her head back and sank into the pillows with a sigh of relief. She wanted nothing more than everything to go back to normal and for her two best friends to set things right. Everything could be perfect if only time could stop getting in their way. With that thought, she closed her eyes and let sleep take her once more.

"Emily." The brunette turned suddenly and nearly ran into the tall, dark man of her dreams. The only problem was that now, thoughts of him invaded her nightmares as well.

"Hotch." She greeted and moved to slide past him. A gentle grip on her wrist tugged her back, slightly closer than she had been before.

"I'd like to speak with you." he formed it as a question, his tone so calming and vulnerable she knew she could never refuse. With a nod, she felt herself being led towards an empty on-call room and waited for Hotch to close the door behind them. She stood, back straight and chest out- mainly because if she didn't, he would see just how hard she was breathing.

"I'm sorry." Both voices spoke simultaneously. They each averted their gazes and bit their lips to keep from smiling.

"You first." Emily nudged her shoulder in his direction.

"I'm sorry I got so jealous. It wasn't like me." He admitted. "I don't want you under the impression that I would get jealous if you had male friends. I understand that your relationship with Morgan has been like this for years and I wouldn't want to get in the way of your friendship."

"Aaron, Morgan is my friend and he always will be." Emily began. "But he was never you. I-I could never feel this way about anyone else but you and I need you to know that."

"I do Emily."

"I promise to change the way I speak to him and I'm sure he will agree." Emily's breathing constricted as she realized just how close Aaron had gotten. The scent of him invaded her nostrils and acted as a drug to her brain. "I-uh, I don't want to well, I don't want you to think that-"

"Emily?" his voice sent shivers down her spine. Slowly, he reached out and tugged at her hand until it was secured in his. Their fingers toyed with one another as their eyes met once more.

"Hm?" she found that she couldn't look away from the man's gaze as his golden eyes melted her from the inside out. She could feel his pulse quicken beneath her fingertips and the thought that she could do that excited her beyond words.

"Remember when I told you that you talk too much?" Hotch's left hand moved upwards and pushed a strand of fallen hair out of her face. It felt like forever since they had touched and he found that his entire body shook.

"Mhm." She blinked several times, giving him a reason to admire every part of her down to her eyelashes for just a second longer.

"Nothing's changed." Just as his sentence finished, Hotch leaned forward and gently pressed his lips against hers. It took every fiber of his being not to push her against the wall and show her exactly how much he wanted her. Instead, he waited for her to respond. His lips slowly left hers and he watched as her eyes fluttered open. His hand now against the small of her back, desperately wanting to press her to him, wove tiny circles on her shirt. She trembled in his grasp and leaned slightly forward. Opening her mouth slightly, it looked as if she were drowning and desperately needed air- air that only his lips could give. He waited until he felt the slightest brush of her perfect lips against his before pursuing further. Hotch tightened his hold on her hand and finally pulled her flush against him with one fluid motion. She gasped against his mouth as he crashed his lips against hers once more. This time, Emily refused to let up. She released his hand and brought hers up to the back of his head where she wrapped her delicate fingers in his hair. She scratched his scalp and opened her mouth slightly, granting him entrance. Immediately, she felt his hot tongue press against hers and couldn't help the delighted sigh that escaped her lips. He responded in kind, leading her backwards and further away from the door. Finally finding the wall he, somewhat roughly, forced her against it. Moaning against his lips again and giving him confirmation that she did indeed enjoy what he was doing, Emily continued to massage his scalp and lifted a leg against him. She ran it along the side of him and heard him groan against her before his large hand took hold of it, gluing it to his side. He pressed himself harder against her, colliding their centers and eliciting a loud moan from both mouths before claiming the inviting flesh of her neck. He kissed her from jaw to collarbone before giving into her silent pleas and darting his tongue out. The taste of her skin sent fire coursing through him and only served to intensify his rabid hunger for her. Emily continued to moan softly against his ear every time his mouth found a particularly sensitive spot. Her raised leg had found its way around his waist and now held him against her core. Every so often she would raise her hips, allowing them both equal amounts of pleasure. Before she knew it, Hotch's hands were at the hem of her shirt, playing with it as if asking for permission. She took his hands in hers and worked them upwards, slowly revealing the porcelain skin underneath. Hotch's breath caught in his throat, his reaction evident between their legs, as a black laced bra appeared. Tossing the dark blouse across the room, Hotch couldn't help but gawk at the sight. The sound of Emily's chuckle brought him back. Wordlessly and with a smile, Hotch resumed his lavishing of her neck, this time travelling further south than before. His hand slipped underneath a strap and massaged the untouched area. Slowly repeating the process on the other side, he took in Emily's reaction. Her chest heaved in anticipation of his touch and her mouth seemed to have been permanently left open. He smiled against her skin as his hand delved beneath her bra and felt her for the first time. Both gasped at the sensation and Emily couldn't help but grind her body against his. Her hands- not at all idle- had already unbuttoned his shirt and were now exploring his torso as he did hers. Between pants, she caressed every scar on his body as he helped her shed the offending article. Her nail slowly racked across his back the moment bare flesh appeared.

"Mm, Emily." He moaned and shivered but never ceased his advances on her skin. With expert fingers, she buckled his pants and reached inside, seizing him firmly and watched as he struggled to compose him. She smiled against his neck and began to stroke him slowly, her tongue occasionally darting out to connect with his salty pulse point. Abandoning all efforts on her chest, Hotch moved agonizingly slowly towards her own object of desire. The slower he went, the less adamant she was about pleasing him. Taking the hint, Hotch sped up the process and smoothly unbuckled her pants. He placed his burning hand against her equally hot stomach and inched further south. She squirmed against him, an aggravated noise leaving her lips. His fingers reached her underwear, finding it just as flimsy as her bra, and wove beneath it. The second his fingers made contact with her, the movements of her hand multiplied tenfold until both were panting heavily. Seconds later, Emily's other leg had made its way around Hotch's waist, pulling the two even closer together. Their unused hands reached for one another in a desperate attempt to bring their bodies closer. Emily pressed Hotch's head against her chest- a place he was more than content in being- and he latched onto her hips, pulsating with the rhythm his fingers had set. Before long, the pants and gasps turned into outright cries as both were thrown into a release they didn't even know was possible. Hotch groaned against her chest and felt the control slip between his fingers- or preferably, Emily's fingers- as every worry in the world seemed to be lifted from his shoulders. Emily continued to pump as she felt him twitch beneath her fingers until her own ecstasy overtook her. When it did, Hotch's fingers increased their speed automatically. Both legs wrapped around him, the only thing keeping her standing was his almost naked body against hers as she trembled with the force of her release. Biting his shoulder to keep from screaming, Emily felt her eyes roll and her every muscle strain in glorious protest. Hotch held her against him as he continued to force every ounce of pleasure out of her and when she finally stopped shaking, set her down gently before lying beside her. Both sweating, panting and barely clothed, the couple began to laugh together at their actions. Hotch turned his head and saw Emily's eyes closed, her lips curved in a devilish grin. He scooted closer to her and pressed a chaste kiss against her surprised lips. She returned it warmly before rolling into his bare arms and swinging her leg on top of his.

"We're going to be alright." His promise vibrated from her head on his chest and struck her very soul.

"Yes." She sighed contently against him. "We definitely are."

This is the farthest I've ever written so please feel free to tell me your exact thoughts on the content!