Hotch had called me on his drive from the precinct last night. This morning, we got called in a few hours early for a local case – a trauma surgeons' son had been threatened.
None of us were able to get onto Hotch this morning. Once I told them that he didn't get home until a reasonably late time last night, we concluded he must have overslept.

Once a few hours had past and we were running out of time to go over the medical files, I excused myself from Dr. Barton's house and left Reid with him. I needed to get Hotch here to help.

When I arrived at his apartment, I tried calling him again. I heard his phone ring loudly from inside, and I felt my stomach drop. He was a light sleeper; why hadn't he gotten up? I went to try opening the door to find it unlocked, and I drew my gun.
I felt my heart skip a few beats when I saw his things around, and then the bullet hole in the wall, and finally the large blood stain on the carpet.

"…Aaron!?" I called out, denying that this was what it looked like. I swept the rest of the apartment, and then called Garcia.
While I had her combing hospitals, I rang Haley.
"Haley, it's Emily Prentiss. Is Jack with you?"

"Yes, why?" Haley clearly wasn't happy that I was calling her.

I took an unsteady breath and closed my eyes. I couldn't tell her right now; I didn't even know where he was. "Aaron had the day off work, and I thought maybe he had Jack…but must be something else. Thanks Haley." I hung up before she had a chance to speak again. I was so happy that Jack was safe. I heard Hotch's phone chime a minute later and checked the text from Haley,

"Tell her not to call me."

I waited for the swarm of agents and crime scene techs to show up, sent by Garcia as per my request. As they combed through the evidence, Garcia called me back. I grabbed Hotch's phone and headed out to go to the hospital.

I pressured the nurses into telling me everything about his condition. I was so grateful that he hadn't bled out. I sat with him and texted Reid to let him know that I found him and would stay with him.
I felt guilty about staying. Really, there was nothing I could do here with Hotch until he woke up; I should have been back on the case.
I guessed this may be what would end my position with the team; clearly right now I wasn't going to put a case before him.

I talked to him quietly, about the case, and then about how much I loved him and how I would never think of him as less than my first priority. It was a strange realisation for me to have. No one had ever been higher on my priority list than my career.

When the day reached late afternoon, I heard footsteps that I recognised. I looked over and saw the team walking towards the room, worried expressions on their faces. I stood and met them outside of his room.

"What happened?" Rossi was the first to speak.

"He wasn't answering his phone. I went over to see what was wrong. The door was unlocked, a bullet hole in the wall, a large stain of blood on the floor. Smashed glass, signs of a struggle.
It was Foyet. He stabbed him nine times. Then he dropped him here…under Morgan's creds…"

There were a few painful moments of silence before Morgan spoke, "Are you okay?"

"Why wouldn't I be?" I gave him a questioning look. I wasn't involved in the attack; I thought that was clear.

"…Emily…you found all the evidence, and then found him here in this state," JJ motioned to the room behind me, "I would expect you to be shaken."

"I'm fine," I turned my glance to Garcia, "Can you please call Haley? Tell her he's here." She nodded quickly and walked away, pulling her phone from her bag. I noticed Reid's absence, and then remembered JJ's text about him being shot in the leg, but that he was okay.

I was in the cafeteria downstairs to get some coffee and – reluctantly – something to eat with JJ and Rossi. Now that night had fallen, the case had finished, and the others were all here too – it was setting in.
I didn't feel okay anymore. I was scared, although the nurses reassured me that he was okay, and he would wake any time now. I was scared, though, that this was just the beginning. This had to be a warning of some sort from Foyet. Why would he leave him alive? Why did he bring him to the hospital? What was the message he was trying to send?

When we went back up to Hotch's room, the others were all standing outside, and the door was closed. "What happened?" I knew they could the panic in my voice.

Morgan held a hand out as if to tell me to calm down, "They're just checking the wounds."

Then, the door opened and two nurses exited behind a doctor. The second nurse stopped in front of us, "Agent Prentiss, he's starting to wake up. I suggest just one of you with him for now. Please try not to overwhelm him." She smiled at me and I nodded, thanking her.

I went in and Morgan closed the door back over behind me, giving us privacy. I sat down in the seat beside him and took his hand gently. I felt his hand twitch in mine, and then his eyes started to blink open.
Once opened, I saw the panic in them. "Hey, it's okay. You're okay." I spoke quietly to try and keep him calm, "You're safe."

"Emily? Where am I?"

"In the hospital," I gave him a few seconds. When he didn't respond, I decided to ask him, "Do you remember what happened?" I watched him close his eyes and swallow hard. I walked across to the door quickly and opened it enough to stick my head out, "Can someone please get him some water?"

JJ got up quickly and went to fulfil my request. I returned to his side and took his hand again. "I remember. What did he take?"

"There was a page missing from your address book, in the 'B' section."

He seemed confused by that, too. I wasn't sure what he could get out of it.

"What did he leave?" He looked at me now. I shook my head to say I didn't know. "My things?" I grabbed the bag containing his clothes and the things he had on him. That's when he found the picture. He explained that he kept Haley listed under her maiden name. "WitSec. Get them into witness protection. Emily, please, you need to—"

I heard the panic rising in his voice and I could see he was heading quickly towards an outburst, "Hey, shh," I hushed, "I hear you, Aaron. I'll get it taken care of right now," Her timing perfect, JJ knocked and opened the door gently with the water, "JJ is going to stay with you while I go make the call, okay?" He nodded and I kissed his cheek before smiling appreciatively at JJ and headed out of the room.

After I made the call, I asked Garcia if she got onto Haley. She was on her way here with Jack. I filled the team in on what was happening, and I could see the sadness and rage in their eyes. Reid was here now, a crutch beside him and a bulge from the bandage around his leg.

I stayed with them for a few minutes as we discussed our next move, and then I heard my name being called out. I smiled at Jack when he ran to me. I picked him up and gave Haley an apologetic look. She looked at the others and then back to me, "Can we see him?"

"Yeah, he's in here." I opened his door and motioned for JJ to leave. She got up and left quietly, and then Haley came in a step behind me. She let out an unsteady breath as she looked at him. He was sitting up slightly now, although I wasn't sure that was such a good idea. I put Jack down on the bed beside him and he moved to hug his dad, "Careful, Jack. Daddy's hurt." I squeezed Hotch's hand momentarily and then nodded to Haley before stepping out and closing the door behind me.

I sat with the team and listened to their quiet conversation but stayed silent myself. About twenty minutes passed before Haley left with tears on her cheeks, and Jack looked devastated. Haley looked at me, "Aaron said you had to walk us down to the car?"

I smiled weakly and stood up. She walked beside me to the elevator, and then outside to the car. When we reached it, Jack almost jumped from her arms into mine. I hugged him tightly and kissed his hair, saying goodbye. I saw his eyes start to water, "It's not forever, Jack. We'll get the bad guy, and then you and mummy can come back home to daddy, okay?"

He nodded lamely and got into the car under Haley's direction. She looked at me for a moment before speaking quietly, red rising in her cheeks, "Is it completely inappropriate to hug you right now?"

I smiled again, "It's okay."

She hugged me tightly, and while strange, I didn't feel like she hated me right then. "Please keep him safe…and sane. He always gets so upset when he can't see Jack. This will be agonising for him."

I nodded, "We'll keep him safe, and we'll catch Foyet, and then you can come back." I assured. We parted and she thanked me before stepping into the car. "Thanks." I said quietly to Sam – the marshal taking them to their new home. He nodded and got behind the wheel. I watched them leave, and then took a deep breath before heading back inside.

Almost two weeks later, Hotch was released from the hospital. He was quiet and distant with me, but that was to be expected. I tried to leave him be, although made sure that he knew I was there for him if he needed me. I stayed with him at his place the first few nights, and then he asked me to leave.
I was a little shocked when he asked; he used to almost beg me to stay with him.

I suppose when you lose your ex-wife and son at once, you're bound to be a little out of sorts.

His first case back was in Louisville, a killer in a psychotic break. His behaviour wasn't like him. He was reckless and snarky. I tried to get the team to let it go, but Morgan was too concerned to let it slip. He told me I needed to do something; talk to him about it.

I tried, but he wouldn't have it. He had files of Foyet scattered around his apartment. A few more bottles of scotch than usual around.

When we were called to Long Island – a particularly uncomfortable case for Rossi – he hadn't improved.
This was even easier for me to understand, however, because I knew Jack's birthday had arrived and he couldn't see him.

When we got home, I went to his apartment again. He wouldn't answer the door this time, so I used my emergency key. I found him across the room at his desk with a bottle of scotch and a glass beside him, files around. I sighed to myself and sat down on the dining chair not far from him. "Aaron, please talk to me," He was quiet; he kept his eyes on the file, "Are you acting this way because you're depressed over Haley and Jack, or because of what Foyet did to you directly." I saw his demeanour change at my latter suggestion. He was uncomfortable. "Please tell me what happened? Let me help you." I put my hand on his knee and he took an unsteady breath.

"He didn't just stab me, Emily. He wanted to prove to me that stabbing isn't always a substitute for…" He trailed off. I understood exactly what he didn't say. I let out a breath and shook my head, "He didn't go as far as to actually do it, but he…played with me and himself…"

I closed my eyes, "Aaron, just because he didn't sexually penetrate you, doesn't mean he didn't sexually assault you. You need to talk to someone about this. If not me, then Rossi, or a professional. Aaron, you cannot just bottle this up and deal with it on your own."

"I don't want to tell Rossi or anyone else. I don't want to discuss it with you, either."

"Aaron—"

"No, Emily," He looked back down to his file and drank back his scotch, "Why Haley? Why isn't he going after you?"

I couldn't help the clench of my heart. He would rather me in this amount of danger than Haley. I understood that on a professional level – I was a trained FBI agent. On a personal level, I was hurt and offended. "Call me if you need anything." I kissed his cheek lightly and left his apartment quickly.

I sat in my car for a while and let myself cry. Why wouldn't he just confide in me?
It seemed like a huge step back in our relationship. Of course I expected some distance and odd behaviour due to the current circumstances, but I never thought he would completely shut me out and wish I was the one being hunted.

I wiped my eyes and started my car. I needed to get some sleep if I wanted to appear normal at work tomorrow.