Chapter Text
Aaron stifled a yawn against the back of his hand as he continued down the highway. Darkness had fallen and they were still three hours away from Quantico. Neither of them had said a word since they left the prison, Karl Arnold’s demented laughter still echoed in their ears. There was nothing that could be said. Nothing that could be done. So why bother?
Aaron stifled a second yawn in as many minutes and Emily turned her face from the passenger window where she had been watching the cars in the other lanes speed past, oblivious to the nightmare the two agents found themselves in. she looked at Aaron; she could see the battle raging within him; terror, stubbornness and rage were all fighting against his growing exhaustion. The whole team had watched him struggle for months and they knew that he was almost at his breaking point.
“Pull over. Let me drive for a while.” Emily said finally.
“I’m fine,” Aaron replied tensely as he kept his eyes on the road. They both knew that if he looked at her, he’d give in.
“You’re exhausted and I’m not dying in a car accident because you’re too stubborn. I’m driving.” Emily said. It was a testament to how exhausted he was that Aaron didn’t argue and instead pulled over. Without a word, they exchanged places and Emily turned back onto the highway. A few minutes later, she glanced over and wasn’t surprised to see that Aaron had fallen asleep. A troubled sleep but probably the first bit of sleep he’d had in a while. She wished there was more she could do to help.
Emily shook her head to shove those thoughts back into the box where they belonged. There was a time and place to delve into those thoughts but this wasn’t it.