"So when will you be flying back?" he asked, and she sighed.
"I don't know yet. Things are… complicated," she admitted, looking around to make sure Penelope hadn't followed her outside. Switching the cell to the other ear, she leant against the wall.
"Should I start looking for your replacement?" he asked, and she could hear the amusement in his tone.
"Don't make me beat you, Clyde," she muttered before sighing again. "I don't know that either."
"I think you do, Em. I think we both do. He's a lucky guy," Clyde replied easily, a slightly wistful note entering his last words.
"Clyde…"
"I want you to be happy, Darling. If he's what makes you happy, then so be it. Besides, I'll see you more if you're in DC."
"I'll call you tomorrow with a definite answer, okay?"
"Formalities, I'm sure. I'll speak to you tomorrow," he replied, and she laughed, clicking the call to an end.
She stayed outside for a few more minutes, revelling in the warmth from the sun, before she ducked back into the hospital. The team were flying back today, and she was sure they'd want to drag her away from the hospital as soon as they realised she was here.
It'd been three days since she'd arrived, and apart from an odd hour here and there in the uncomfortable hospital chair by Hotch's bed, she'd not slept. The tiredness was beginning to creep in on her and she had to stifle a yawn as she walked back into the private room.
"You should go and sleep," Aaron told her, raising his eyebrow.
She shrugged, slumping into her seat. Penelope was sitting on the other side of the bed, laptop on her knee, doing whatever it was Penelope did when she wasn't working on a case.
"I'll drop you at your hotel if you want, sweetcheeks?" she offered, looking over the rim of the laptop.
"I'm good for now," Emily said quietly, glancing between the two of them.
"You know the team are going to want to take you out as soon as they get here," Penelope said. "Since we don't know how long we have you, we have to make the most of it."
It was on the tip of Emily's tongue to say she wasn't there to go out with the team, but she held it back. She knew she was being crabby. Sighing, she nodded.
"Fine, I'll go back to the hotel for a while. I need a shower anyway," she conceded, standing up again. "But you stay here. I'll get a cab."
"No, I'll take you," Penelope argued, storing her laptop in its bag.
"I'm not going to sneak off and get a flight to London, Pen. I swear, I'll be back here later, okay?"
"And yet, I'm still going to take you to your hotel," Penelope said, and Emily gave in. She didn't have the energy to argue. Leaning over the bed, she pressed a chaste kiss to Aaron's head and smiled at him.
"I'll be back in a bit," she said quietly. He caught her hand in his, squeezing it softly, before he released her and nodded.
Following Penelope from the room, Emily's head was filled with thoughts of hot water and soft sheets. She was so ready for a rest.
xxxx
Hours later, Emily found herself walking back into the hospital. She felt much better, having slept a solid five hours, something she failed to do at home more often than not, and taking a long hot shower. She'd changed into sweat pants and an FBI hoodie, and her hair was up in a loose ponytail.
She hoped her outfit would stop the others wanting her to go drinking, or for a meal in an upmarket restaurant. She was all for spending time with them, of course, but she really wasn't in the mood for celebration.
She running shoes kept her footsteps silent as she moved closer to the open door of Hotch's room, and she heard the familiar voices of her family. Once more leaning against the door, it didn't take long for her to be seen.
Aaron was the first to see her, and she smiled as his face lit up. It made her chest ache to know that her presence could make him smile like that.
Cries of "Emily!" filled the room, and she found herself being passed from person to person, sharing hugs and kisses with them all.
Sitting down on the edge of the bed, Emily grinned at them all.
"How long have you been here?" JJ asked, a beaming smile refusing to budge off her face.
"Since nine hours after Pen called me about Hotch," Emily said quietly.
"And you didn't tell us?" Morgan asked Penelope, raising his eyebrow.
"You needed to concentrate on the case, and -"
Emily cut Penelope off. "I didn't know how long I would be here, and I didn't want you to be sad if you missed me."
"How long are you here for, Sweetheart?" Rossi asked, smiling at her.
She shrugged. "I'm not sure yet," she replied, glancing at Hotch. "As soon as I know, you'll know."
"Then you'll come out with us tonight," Morgan said, and Emily wasn't stupid enough to think it was a question.
"I could eat," she agreed. "Somewhere I don't need to get changed for is preferable."
"We can do that," he agreed, and they all started to stand up. Emily stayed seated until the others left the room, and turned to Aaron.
"I'll be back after, okay?"
"You don't have to, you know? You can wait until tomorrow, get some more rest."
"I'll be back after."
"I look forward to it then," he replied and she chuckled.
"Want me to sneak you in a burger?"
"I'll love you forever," he said, and his face was so serious she couldn't hold back the laughter.
"Strawberry milkshake and fries to go with it?"
"Please," he replied. "And Emily?"
She raised her eyebrows.
"I meant what I said. What happens if I don't stop needing you?"
"I meant what I said too, Aaron. As long as you need me, I'll be here."
xxxx
"I never thought I'd see you looking so happy to eat a burger," she told him with a grin.
"That's the best food I think I've ever tasted," he said, smiling as she took the wrappers and threw them away. "Did you have a good time with the team?"
"Sure, it was just like old times," she replied.
"What do you think of Blake?" he asked curiously.
"She seems nice. A bit reserved, but friendly enough. Does she fit well with the team?"
He looked a little unsure. "She does, but then sometimes, it's like she's only half in. I don't think she'll be with us much longer."
Emily frowned. "She's already flagging?"
He nodded. "I think she misses having a normal schedule. Can't blame her for that."
Emily shrugged. "I don't know what I'd do with a normal schedule. I'd probably die of boredom within a week."
"Hows the London Office?"
Emily hesitated. "Different. I don't know how to explain it really. Same job, more responsibility."
"We miss you."
Emily looked up to meet his eyes. She watched as he shuffled over in the bed, before patting the space with his hand, the invitation indisputable.
Sitting down, she turned so she could look at him properly. "I miss you. And the team, of course."
He raised his eyebrow at the distinction. "How did the call with Clyde go this morning?" he asked, taking her hand with both of his, stroking the skin carefully.
"He wanted to know when I was going back," she said quietly. "Or rather, he wanted to know if I was going back."
"Really? Where did he get the idea you weren't planning on going back?"
"He knows me," she said. "He's a profiler too, remember. I guess… Yeah. He knows me."
"What did you tell him?" Aaron asked carefully.
"I told him I'd call him tomorrow and let him know."
"What's stopping you from making a decision?"
"I don't know. I'm... I don't know. I guess I don't want to come back just to have the same thing happen all over again, you know? Six months down the line, I don't want to wake up and wonder why I'm here in DC when I could be in London, running an Interpol office."
"Do you feel like it could happen?" he asked, his hand resting lightly on her knee as he traced nonsensical patterns through her sweatpants. She could feel the heat from his skin, and it was distracting her from the subject at hand.
She shrugged helplessly. "I don't know. I don't... I've made so many mistakes. I don't want to add another to an already long list."
He sighed. "What does your heart tell you?"
"That I want to be here."
"And your head?"
"That I'd be stupid to give up the job I have, but that I want to be here."
"And if you stayed? Would you return to the BAU?"
"Maybe. Probably."
"You want to know what I think?" he asked, his fingers pausing in their movements.
She nodded, not trusting herself to speak.
"I think you need to go and sleep on it. You've barely rested since you've been here, and your emotions will be getting the better of you. Think about what you really want, Emily, and make sure the decision you make is for the right reason."
She smiled. Always practical. He was correct in his assessment though.
"You're right," she told him with a small smile. "I'll see you in the morning?"
"I'm not going anywhere in a hurry," he agreed, with a grimace. "Sleep well, Emily."
She stood up, taking a moment to lean over and kiss his cheek. "You too, Aaron."
Walking to the door, she paused before she opened it. Looking back, she found his eyes on her, with such a tender look in them it took her breath away. "Good night," she murmured.