27Being Human
Disclaimer: I want to say that I own Criminal Minds, but I don't. CBS does.
Summary: While away on a case, the team shares a hotel suite and in the middle of the night, Hotch wakes up to hear a distraught Emily after the Doyle drama.
A/N: A new series of one-shots, some featuring Hotch as the lead, some with Emily but it's all about supporting the one you care about.
Thanks for reading, don't forget to leave a review.
"The study of crime begins with the knowledge of oneself." Henry Miller
Hotch bolted awake from his dream, sighing inwardly. Looking over at the clock he saw it was two o'clock in the morning.
Glancing over, he saw Dave was fast asleep. The sound of light snoring gave Hotch the urge to smother his friend, for being able to sleep throughout the night.
Hotch got up and decided to get a glass of water, something to occupy his mind and pass the time until he could get to sleep again.
Walking out of the room he shared with Dave, Hotch closed the door and passed by the room that Morgan shared with Reid.
Hotch passed by JJ and Emily's room frowning. The door to their shared room was opened. Peeking inside he saw JJ fast asleep then quickly looked over to the extra bed but didn't see Emily.
Forgetting his need for water, Hotch wandered the room and saw the light on under the door to the bathroom.
Wondering if he should knock to check on her, he debated inside his head if he even should bother.
Emily always appeared to be fine since her return to the team. She passed her psych eval with flying colors, he knew that.
Ever since her return three weeks ago following Doyle's death, she came to him asking to return to his team. He had seriously debated whether allowing her back on the team.
A spot was opened, Seavers' was gone, transferring to Organized Crime. The team missed Emily, and forgave her for not telling them the truth about Doyle, when they learned she ran to protect them. Her family.
So Hotch gave her a spot back on his BAU team but was wary of trusting her, again. He knew it wrong not to trust her, but he felt that they were friends before the Doyle mess. He had trusted her, listened to her advice on the job regarding Jordan Todd, Ashley Seaver and she even searched for him when he was missing following his stabbing during the Foyet mess.
But she kept something from him that was important, that nearly got her killed. That killed her Interpol team.
If he were honest with himself, he'd know that it was just about a criminal that made him upset, it hurt his feelings too, but he had put that aside earlier after her stabbing to put her safety first. While she was gone and the team was mourning her death, he was mourning not his friend, but his feelings which had gone from friendship to possible love. But he couldn't focus on that while she was off to parts unknown.
Now here he was standing in a dark hotel suite that he shared with his team in front of a bathroom door, not knowing if he should knock to check on his one time friend.
What drew him out of his inner monologue was the sound of a small voice, crying.
Hotch felt his heartbreak, he knew that voice. That person that was crying. And he didn't have a single clue what to do.
He knew if he went in their to comfort her, she'd lock this emotion in a little box and file it away in her head. That wasn't healthy, to bottle every emotion inside.
Sinking down on the floor, he sat outside the bathroom. Filled with relief that the rest of his team was whole and asleep.
Hotch sat on the carpet, and placed his hand on the bathroom door hoping she could feel his strength.
His heart broke hearing the sniffles of the brunette, a woman he had admired and respected, but now wished he knew what was racing through her mind. He'd give anything to know what she was thinking.
A small wry sobbed chuckle escaped her lips and her voice silently said, "I got you. You can't hurt them."
Hotch's eyebrow rose and he wondered if she was talking about Doyle.
"Thank you, God." Emily sniffled "Thank you."
Unable to bare to hear her pain anymore, Hotch turned the doorknob and heard her gasps as she looked up from her spot on the bathroom floor in front of the bathtub.
He thought he saw a small wave of fear enter her tear filled eyes, but he just sat down next to the brunette.
Pulling her in his arms to hug her close to his chest, he rubbed his hand up and down her back, rocking her back and forth.
"Hotch?" Emily whispered uncertainly.
"Shhh." Hotch said quietly "Shhh, it's ok. I got you. You're safe now."
Emily clung to his shirt and he could hear the sobs subside into a soft sigh.
"I won't ever leave you alone again." Hotch promised her.
Emily pulled herself up and looked him in the face, he leaned in and kissed her cheek.
"We've got your back." Hotch told her, looking at her "I've got your back."
Hotch helped her up and walked them over to the couch and laid her down, getting in next to her.
"Hotch?" Emily said uncertainly.
"Just rest." Hotch told her, pulling a blanket on them from the back of the couch.
Hotch wrapped his arm around Emily and she laid her head on top of his chest.
Kissing her forehead he whispered, "Good night, Emily."
"Good night, Hotch." Emily told him.
Both dark-haired agents fell asleep, not caring that the team would see them in the morning in this embrace.
"Tears are the safety valve of the heart when too much pressure is laid on it." Albert Smith
To Be Continued...
See the review box over there? Please leave a review, even a smiley face will do. Thanks. :)
