Hi guys! Hope you all had a wonderful holiday! I didn't have any plans at all for New Year's so I decided to update one last time before 2015! Although for some of you, 2015 has already arrived. Whatever year you're in, I hope you enjoy this installment : )
XxxxX
The rest of the weekend went by smoothly; Emily went home Saturday night to give Hotch and Jack Sunday to be together. Although on Sunday afternoon Hotch invited her to have lunch in the park with them. Emily was with them these days more than she was away from them, but somehow it just felt right. She was over at their apartment almost every night for dinner that next week. Luckily, the team didn't catch a case and Hotch was able to go to Jack's rescheduled birthday party the next weekend.
The party had been fun, and all of Jack's friends got to come even though it had to be postponed. Emily took countless pictures, making sure there were more than enough to remember the day. She happened to capture a really sweet one of Hotch and Jack that she purposely didn't show them so that she could save it for a special time; possibly Hotch's birthday or Christmas. Since she'd gotten the picture from George, she'd found herself taking more and more pictures. She'd come to understand their value, and while she knew it was important to enjoy her life and her moments with the team and with Hotch and Jack without looking through a screen, she had vowed to try and make as many memories as she could. She'd even gone so far as buying a new camera so she didn't have to always use her phone.
It was Thursday now, almost a week after Jack's party. Hotch and the team had caught a case in New Jersey a few days ago, but the last time Emily had talked to him he had said they were close to closing the case. She hoped he would be home soon; it was strange not having him around when she spent so much time with him. Emily was excited though, because she knew she'd at least get to see Jack tonight. Jessica had to go away to a conference in New York and wouldn't be back until Friday, and since Hotch wouldn't be back yet he had asked if Emily would pick him up from school and take him to their apartment. She had happily agreed, always up for spending time with Jack.
Emily had just left yet another job interview, this one for a position with the Office of Victims Assistance when she heard her phone start to ring in her bag. She didn't recognize the number, but answered it anyway.
"Hello?" Emily answered; brow furrowed in confusion as she reached her car and sat down in the driver's seat.
"Is this Emily Prentiss?" an unfamiliar female voice said.
"Yes," Emily answered, even more confused than she had been before.
"This is Jackie Bennett, I'm the nurse at Jack Hotchner's school."
Emily felt her breath catch in her throat. "Is he okay?" She asked, her voice calm but her eyes wide and full of worry.
"Well, he's sick and he needs to go home. I know you're on his pick-up list, but you're also next after Jessica Brooks on his emergency contact list." Jackie explained.
"I can be there in fifteen minutes." Emily said, not caring about anything except making sure Jack was alright. She felt her heart swell a little when she heard she was on Jack's emergency contact list. Hotch hadn't asked her, but he didn't need to. She was just glad that Hotch trusted her enough to take care of him if he or Jessica couldn't. She started her car and drove as quickly as she could to Jack's elementary school, parking and practically running inside to the front office.
"Can I help you?" The older woman behind the desk asked.
"Hi, I'm Emily Prentiss. I'm here to pick up Jack Hotchner." Emily explained.
The woman nodded and asked to see Emily's ID. After Foyet, Hotch made that necessary for anyone to pick Jack up early. Even Hotch himself and Jessica had to at first, but now the school knew them both well and didn't ask.
Once that was taken care of, the woman spoke again, sensing Emily's apprehension. "If you go down the hall and to the first door on your right you'll find him in the nurse's office."
"Thank you." Emily smiled and quickly followed the directions and found Jack lying on a couch in the nurse's office, Jackie Bennett sitting in a chair across the room.
"Hi," Emily said softly. "I'm Emily Prentiss." She informed the woman.
"Oh, hi Miss Prentiss." Jackie smiled. "You got here quickly." She commented.
"I just wanted to come and check on Jack. How is he?" Emily asked, noticing he was fast asleep. He had to be pretty sick to be sleeping at 11am.
"He started throwing up about an hour and a half ago. His teacher sent him here and he got sick again before I suggested he lay down with a cold cloth over his head. He's been asleep ever since." Jackie informed her. "We're not allowed to give medicine to students without a parent or guardian present, so I didn't give him anything. But I did check his temperature and it was a little high. When you get him home, try and get him to take something for the fever. Even if it doesn't stay down, he'll hopefully get enough to help a little." Jackie said patiently.
"I will. Thank you so much." Emily said sincerely. She went over to Jack and just looked at him for a moment. He looked so pale, and even though he was sleeping Emily could tell he didn't feel good at all. She didn't want to wake him, so she picked him up slowly and carried him out to the car. She figured the longer he could sleep the better. Luckily, Jack didn't wake up along the way. Emily pulled into Hotch's apartment complex a few minutes later. She was glad she already had a key since she was supposed to pick Jack up after school. She got the key out and ready before she carefully picked Jack up and brought him up to the apartment. Jack didn't stir until Emily laid him down on the couch. He opened his eyes slowly, confused at first before he sent Emily a weak smile.
"Hi," He said quietly.
"Hey buddy, how are you feeling?" Emily asked, sitting down next to him and feeling his forehead. He felt really warm, and she knew she needed to try and get him to take some medicine.
"Bad," Jack replied simply.
"I know, I'm sorry. Do you think you can sit up and take some medicine? You have a fever and I don't want it to get too high." Emily asked him. Jack shrugged.
"Tell you what," she said. "I'll take your temperature right now, and if it's lower than it was at school I'll let you go back to sleep and well try again later." Emily suggested. Jack seemed okay with this plan and told her the thermometer was in the medicine cabinet. Emily went to the bathroom to find it, while she was searching for the thermometer she decided to call Hotch and let him know what was going on. Maybe he had some advice for her. She'd never taken care of a sick kid before and she was feeling a little clueless.
Luckily, Hotch answered.
"Hello?" the familiar voice said, He sounded distracted.
"Hi…sorry, you sound busy." Emily apologized, biting her lip as she opened the medicine cabinet to look for the thermometer.
"No, It's okay, we're actually wrapping things up. We got our unsub at about 4 this morning and ever since it's just been protocol and paperwork." Hotch said.
"Oh, that's good." Emily smiled. "I'm actually calling because I had to go pick Jack up early today, he's pretty sick." Emily said as she explained what the school nurse told him. She found the thermometer and twirled it around in her fingers.
"Oh, poor thing. Is he awake now?" Hotch asked.
"Yeah," Emily replied. "He's so pale and I can just tell how awful he feels. He hasn't gotten sick since I picked him up, though. So hopefully this is just a 24 hour thing and he'll feel better by tomorrow. I'm taking his temperature now and if it's gone down since he was at school I'm not going to try and make him take any medicine. Is that okay?" Emily asked nervously, she really had no idea what she was doing.
"That's fine. I wish I could give you some advice on what to do, but there's not really a handbook on taking care of a sick kid. If the fever reaches 104 I would suggest taking him to a hospital as soon as you can, but other than that just be with him." Hotch explained.
"Okay. The nurse said it was 101 when she took it." Emily told him. "I'll let you know if anything changes, but he's fine with me until you guys get back. Don't worry about rushing back, okay?" Emily said.
"We should be back late tonight, maybe early tomorrow. I just hope you don't catch it." Hotch said.
"I'm fine. I don't get sick." Emily said seriously.
"Okay, whatever you say." She could hear the smirk in his voice.
"Sorry to bother you. I'm gonna go check on him and I'll text you if anything changes." Emily said as they ended the call.
Emily took the plastic bag out of the trash can in the bathroom to bring with her to put next to Jack, just in case, remembering a time when she had been sick as a child that a nanny had done that for her. She also made another cool wash cloth for Jack's forehead, and grabbed some fever reducing medicine. She hurried back to the living room to check on Jack, he was still lying on the couch where she left him. He was awake, but it didn't look like he'd moved at all.
"Hi honey," Emily said softly, placing the cloth on Jack's head and the trash can on the floor beside him. "Can you sit up and let me take your temperature?" She asked. Jack nodded and she slowly helped him sit up.
"Emily I don't want to take any medicine, I really don't feel good." He said softly, his voice sounding unfamiliar and small to Emily.
"I know honey, I know. But if your fever gets too high we'll have to go to the doctor. Let me take it really quickly and see what it is, okay?" Jack nodded and she stuck the thermometer in his mouth. It was the same as it had been at school, 101.
"Okay," Emily said as she sat the thermometer on the coffee table in front of them. "I know you don't want to but I need you to try and take some for me, I'm sure once your fever breaks you'll feel a lot better." Emily said as she went into the kitchen to get something for Jack to drink after taking the medicine. She found some Gatorade and figured that would at least help him from getting dehydrated.
Jack didn't argue as Emily gave him the medicine and handed him the Gatorade. He made a face after swallowing the medicine, and Emily was prepared with the trash can but luckily it wasn't needed. Jack took a small sip of the drink Emily gave him and then handed it back to her before laying back down.
"I hope you feel better soon." Emily said sincerely. "Want me to put a movie on for you?" Jack nodded and shrugged when she asked him what one. She put on one of his favorites and sat back down on the couch next to him, placing the cloth on his head and running her hand up and down his back comfortingly.
Jack slept fitfully off and on all day, waking up for a few minutes to let Emily check his temperature before falling back asleep. His fever stayed the same until just before 9 that night when it finally started to come down. He had only gotten sick two more times since Emily brought him home, and she knew that was a good sign. She also knew that him sleeping so much was a good sign too, even if it was fitful sleep.
"Your fever's coming down." Emily told him with a smile. "Do you feel any better?" She asked.
Jack shrugged. "Kind of. I'm still tired." He said, leaning back into Emily's side. "Is my dad's case over?" He asked quietly. Jack had been uncharacteristically clingy all day, and Emily knew he was missing Hotch, but she didn't want to bring it up unless Jack did.
"I talked to him earlier and he said they got the bad guy and he should be home late tonight or early tomorrow, and he hopes you feel better soon." Emily told him. She'd texted with Hotch a little while ago and he still wasn't sure when he'd be home.
"Okay," Jack replied. "I'm glad you're here if he can't be."
Emily couldn't help but smile as she ran a hand through Jack's hair. "I'm glad I could be here too." She said.
They sat like that for a few more minutes before Emily spoke again, realizing Jack was still awake. He still looked sick, but he seemed a little more alert than he had earlier in the day.
"Do you want me to put on another movie or something?" Emily asked, knowing he wouldn't be up for much more than that.
"Can you read to me instead? Jack asked. "It hurts my head to watch TV."
"Sure, what do you want me to get?" Emily asked, and Jack told her that there was a book on his nightstand he'd been reading.
Emily went to get it and came back quickly, smiling when she saw it was a book she'd bought for Jack to give him at his birthday party. Although she'd already given him his present early, she still wanted to have something for him to open at the party, so before everyone arrived, Emily went to the zoo early and found a book about reptiles. She knew those were his favorite animals at the zoo, so she thought he might like to learn more.
Emily sat down and Jack leaned into Emily's side again, opting to sit up instead of lie down like he'd been doing all day. Emily started to read, at first Jack just listened, but the longer they sat there the more engaged he became. Emily was so glad to see him getting back to his normal happy self. She knew it'd take him a few days to feel a hundred percent better because he still hadn't eaten anything; but she felt relieved knowing that he was on the mend.
She and Jack were so into their reading that they didn't hear the front door open and Hotch come in. He stood in the foyer for a few moments, watching them interact. Somehow, watching Emily take such good care of Jack made him fall in love with her just a little bit more. She'd always been great with him, but he knew caring for a sick child was no easy feat. She had Jack smiling when he felt awful; Hotch knew there was something special about Emily.
Hotch decided to make his presence known, so he stepped into the living room and greeted Emily and Jack.
"Oh, hey." Emily smiled, not making a move to disturb Jack from his peaceful position cuddled into her side. "I didn't even hear you come in."
"Rossi sent me home as soon as the jet landed." Hotch said. "How are you feeling, Jack?" He asked as he sat down on Jack's other side, putting an arm around him.
"Okay. I'm glad you're home." Jack said as he hugged his father tightly.
"I'm sorry I wasn't here, but Emily's a pretty good doctor, huh?" Hotch asked, looking over at Emily and winking; she playfully rolled her eyes at him.
Jack nodded. "Yeah." He agreed softly.
"How's his fever?" Hotch asked.
"It's coming down. Still higher than it should be, but I think he's on the mend." Emily told him. "He hasn't been sick since I texted you this afternoon, so that's a pretty good sign."
Hotch nodded. "Do you feel like eating anything?" He asked Jack. Jack shook his head. "That's okay, maybe you'll feel like it tomorrow."
Together, Hotch and Emily helped Jack get into his own bed. They both knew a good night's sleep would help him get better even faster.
"Are you staying all night?" Jack asked Emily as she pulled the covers over him and sat down on his bed.
Emily glanced over to Hotch, and seeing his grin was all she needed as an answer. "If you want me to, of course I will." Emily replied.
"I want you to." Jack confirmed.
"If you're still feeling sick tomorrow I can stay with you while your dad goes to work and gets some paperwork done, how's that sound?" Emily asked.
Jack nodded and yawned. Emily smiled and kissed his forehead and told him goodnight before leaving the room to allow Hotch to do the same.
Emily went across the hall to Hotch's room and waited for him, where he joined her just a few minutes later. She was sitting on his bed, legs stretched out in front of her and her head resting against the headboard. Hotch greeted her by sitting on her other side and kissed her without saying a word.
"Hi," Emily laughed when they broke apart. "What was that for?" He usually kissed her in greeting, but not quite like that.
"Just because." Hotch shrugged. He smiled when she rested her head on his shoulder and laced their fingers together. They sat in silence for a few minutes, as they often did when Hotch just got home from a case. Hotch knew that having Emily to come home to was good for him. While she was with the team, she was always the voice of reason, the glue that kept them all from bashing their heads against a wall when they hit a rough patch. It had been hard for all of them to get used to working without her. She was just good for everyone. She had a light around her that always made everyone smile.
"Thank you for being with Jack today." Hotch said quietly.
"Of course," Emily said. "I'd do anything for him, you know that."
"Have you ever thought about it?" Hotch asked. Emily lifted her head up to look at him, her eyebrows furrowed.
"About what?"
"Being a mom." Hotch clarified. "You're so good with Jack. In every single aspect, and I know you wanted to adopt Carrie Ortiz a few years ago after that case. You were always the first to advocate for the children on any case, and you were the one I'd pick first to interview them." Hotch explained.
Emily laughed softly. "Are you profiling me?" She asked him playfully.
"Just making some observations. I didn't mean to make you feel uncomfortable." He apologized.
"No, no. You didn't. I don't know. It's always something I've thought about. But I was always so focused on working once I got into the bureau that I never really dated. Well, and the Doyle thing kind of turned me off dating for a pretty long time too." She said. "And it takes years for a single woman to adopt a child, and with my hours? It wouldn't have happened anyway. I thought about going to a clinic, you know, maybe finding a donor or something. But I just never made the appointment. I think I was scared the doctor would find something wrong with me, or it wouldn't work. Better to not get your hopes up, you know? And now I feel like my age would be a problem. I know these days you can have a child later in life, but part of me is too scared to try that now." She admitted, biting her lip. "Sorry…that was kind of depressing."
Hotch pulled her close and kissed her temple. "I didn't mean to upset you. I just…I love you, Emily. I want you to have everything you want."
Emily took one of her hands in hers and played with his fingers, giving her something to do while she thought about what to say. Finally, she looked up at him with tears in her eyes.
"You're the sweetest person I've ever met. And I love you. As long as you let me hang out with you and with Jack, I have everything I need." She answered truthfully. She didn't mean to get so upset at his question. Sure, she'd always thought about being a mother someday. But somehow, she'd let so many years go by she'd basically given up on that. It wasn't that she was unhappy, she really wasn't. She loved working and making a difference in the world. So even if it never happened, she wouldn't feel like her life was wasted or like she was somehow unfulfilled. At this point in her life, she was just happy she had someone in her life as amazing as Aaron Hotchner, and she was equally as happy to have Jack in her life.
"As long as you're willing to put up with us, you're pretty much stuck with us." Hotch joked.
Emily leaned back into him and smiled, closing her eyes. She didn't realize how tired she was until now. "Wouldn't have it any other way." She said.
They didn't say anything else for the rest of the night, eventually they lay down and got under the blankets and fell asleep; but neither of them could say exactly when that happened.