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her.
“For the flight,” Hotchner walked past her, handing her a plate of homemade chocolate cookies he got from one of the detectives in the station. Emily was sure he said something else but her mind was too focused on the realization that he wasn’t flying back with the team.
The plate of cookies was still in Emily’s hand when JJ closed the passenger door beside her. Emily silently contemplated the gift and the man who gave it to her. She knew Hotch wasn’t yet cleared to fly so he chose to drive back home, but there was something wrong about having to do it on his own.
“Is everyone ready to go?” The blonde agent asked everyone, wordlessly checking if everyone was comfortable in their seats. “I’ll alert the captain that we’ll be arriving at the airport in 30.”
Most of them gave an affirmative answer save for Emily. “Can you…hold for a second?” She searched around for Hotch’s tall figure. When she found him arranging his things in the backseat, Emily dropped the plate of cookies on JJ’s lap and got off.
“Hey!” JJ exclaimed. “Where are you off?”
“Hotch’s driving alone,” and she was off.
No one bats an eye. Not JJ who would’ve found it worth mentioning to Penelope during girls’ night. Not Reid who, although oblivious to the female psyche, found the growing closeness of Hotch and Emily interesting. Not even Morgan who partnered with both Emily and Hotch so closely that he knew how the two spoke of each other. Rossi was another story, but he didn’t offer any witty quips. Just a smirk sent the brunette’s way as she strode to the black SUV.
Hotch cared for the team and Emily was devoted to their leader. There was no question in that, so when Emily ran off to the other car, no one batted an eye.
Emily jogged quickly to catch Hotch just as he started the car. The female agent promptly knocked on the window of the front seat, clearly startling the man already inside.
The tinted window rolled down, revealing Hotch in a not-impressed-but-surprised state. “Prentiss?”
“Got room for one more?”
Hotch leaned forward to check if there were others behind her. Seeing that it was only her, he inquired, “where are the others?”
“They just left. It’s just me.” Her boss silently nodded and opened the door for her. She went in and got settled. “It’s a long drive, you shouldn’t be alone. Not in your condition.”
He looked at her as though she just offended him. “Are you saying I’m incapable of driving by myself, Agent Prentiss?”
Emily flushed red. She had no intentions of offending him, not this early in the car ride. “I’m not implying anything, Hotch. I just don’t want you to drive back alone… that’s all.”
She didn’t want to leave him alone, not after the pained look he gave her as the sound of the victim’s grave being extracted berated in his ears. It was the only time she felt helpless in the group. But knowing Hotch, she knew he would never ask for anything that would benefit himself.
“Ready to go?” Hotch asked, startling her back to reality.
“Yep,” she confirmed, buckling the seatbelt across her torso. “Sorry, I’ve got no cookies for the trip.”
That earned a slight smile from the boss. “We could just grab lunch somewhere.”
“Sure.” Then they were off.
Emily mentally prepared herself for a silent drive, so it surprised her when after only 5 minutes on the road, it was Hotch who spoke first.
“I planned to stretch the drive into 2 days, but Haley’s got a date, and Jessica’s out of town, so I’ve got Jack for the weekend.”
Emily nodded, smiling at the thought of father and son. She’d never met the child, but she’d seen the photos in his office. Jack Hotchner was one cute child. On the other hand, she was more intrigued by the thought of Haley dating. “Are you fine with Haley dating? Sorry, don’t answer that. I was out of line.” Yep, she should’ve just said something about his son.
“It’s okay,” he glanced at Emily to assure her. “Haley’s a great person, she deserves someone who can see that.”
“You shouldn’t blame yourself, you know.” She offered. It didn’t take a profiler to see how Hotch blames himself for the death of their marriage. The job entailed traveling outside DC almost every week, so being a doting parent may seem close to impossible.
Hotch sighed, “I know. I love this job, but sometimes it takes so much. Since I became Unit Chief, I’ve got less and less time for my family. It broke her, and I couldn’t do anything about it.”
“I’m sorry.” Emily offered. A quick glance at the man beside her and she could see how much it affected him. His jaw was clenched and he had a stoic expression on, but his eyes were sad and empty.
“It’s fine,” Hotch replied. “I’m just trying to make it up to Jack now, make sure he doesn’t grow up wondering why his father spent so much time away.”
It was unfair how he had to drive his way home for seven hours, but everyone else was on an hour-long flight. And not one in the team had a child to go home to except for their leader. With that, Emily decided: “I’ll drive half of the way home.”
Startled, he shifted his gaze between the road and Emily. “What? Why?”
She shrugged as if it was nothing. “So you can rest before seeing your son.”
Emily knew that if he drove for seven hours, he’d either have to rest for half of the next day or not rest at all, which would have affected his day with Jack. The female agent couldn’t quite understand why she felt the need to do it for the man, but her boss was pretty devoted to his son, and he deserved to rest after a stressful case. “Come on, Hotch,” she chided. “Just take it.”
“Okay,” Hotch said, giving in to his subordinate’s request. “But I’m buying lunch and dinner.”
She flashed a grin toward Hotch, a feeling of both hunger and happiness spreading in her stomach. “That’s good enough for me.”
him.
4 hours in, Three cities, two albums, and one bathroom break later, Prentiss announced that she needed to be fed lest there will be consequences. Not giving in to his subordinate’s antics, Aaron quietly drove but stopped by an old diner in a town near the interstate line. Fifteen minutes later, they were served two large plates of greasy hamburgers, two tubs of chili fries, and milkshakes that could definitely send them both into a food coma. It didn’t matter, though. The cheese in their burgers alone is worth it.
“Prentiss, can I ask you something?” The unit chief asked after he popped the last bit of his fries.
The female agent looked up, smiling. “Call me Emily. We’re not at work and we’re not solving a case.”
He nodded. “Okay, Emily. I’ll ask you something.”
“Shoot.”
“Why aren’t you following your mother’s footsteps?” Aaron had been meaning to ask her that question since she first stepped into his office. The interest grew when she turned in her resignation letter and claimed to be pursuing a foreign service exam.
Emily thought about it for a minute. “I told you, I hate politics,” she started. “Politicians claim to want to change the world, but more often than not, they’re doing it to gain something. No sincerity. I know you weren’t oblivious to how I used to take off during my mom’s parties and state dinners.”
He sent a smirk her way. Emily was one of Aaron’s assignments during his deployment under the Prentiss household. He knew how creative she could get at embarrassing Ambassador Prentiss during formal dinners. Sometimes, she’d show up with a man her mother would not approve of. Other times, she’d appear in a gown that the ambassador would find scandalous and improper. Most times, she’d make her appearance for ten minutes before taking off for the night. It was, at times, Aaron’s responsibility to make sure that she got home safely.
“I never saw the appeal of it,” Emily continued, “especially knowing how it took my mom away from me.”
It was then that guilt washed over him. Emily must have noticed because she hurriedly placed a palm over his hand to console him. “Oh, Hotch. You know it’s not the same.”
“Is it really?”
“I’m not sure, but here’s the thing…you’re a great dad, and seeing how you’re speeding the highway to get to your son tonight says a lot.”
He’s trying. God knows he’s trying. He may have failed Haley and their marriage, but the only thing keeping him alive was Jack. The boy deserves a father who was present, a father who’s not in the face of death every two weeks or so, a father who comes home to his son to tuck him in every night. But Aaron loved his job and the purpose it gave him. He could only wish his son would one day understand that. For now, all he could do was drive straight home to Jack after a week of stressful work.
“Thanks.”
Sensing his discomfort, Emily started to chirp about this new noir book she’d been reading. He listened intently, interested in how she could still consume crime books as if it wasn’t part of her daily routine. “It might come in handy,” she reasoned.
Just as she reached the end of the story, a young waiter arrived at their table, carrying a slice of cake with him. “On the house, ma’am. Happy birthday!”
Startled, Emily was rendered speechless for a few beats before gaining herself back. “Wha–thank you!” She turned to Aaron with her mouth agape, “you remembered?”
He shrugged. “I do have a great memory.”
Emily grabbed a fork and stabbed a slice of the chocolate cake. “It’s not my birthday today, you know.”
Aaron smiled, “it is on the 12th. We’re just celebrating early.”
That earned him one of the biggest smiles he’s seen Emily give since the first time she started working with them. “Hey, Hotch. Thank you.”
“Aaron,” he corrected.
He never quite forgot her birthday, not after seeing Emily extremely heartbroken on her 25th birthday. It was his 3rd year working for the Prentisses then and knew how tight the ambassador’s schedule was. The younger Prentiss was promised a dinner with the ambassador to celebrate his silver year, and looked forward to it, despite how rocky the mother-daughter relationship had been in the past.
Hotch could still remember how her jovial expression fell as he passed the message that her mother won’t be able to make it to dinner. He could still hear how her heels clicked against the marble floor as she swiftly walked back to her room.
Aaron took a 30-minute break and ran off to the nearest pastry shop, searching for something that could cheer up the younger Prentiss. There were no cakes left, not at that hour, so he settled for a chocolate muffin and a single candle. Not wasting any minute, he immediately gave the package to the birthday girl as soon as he arrived back at the Prentiss residence, hoping to get a smile on Emily’s face.
The smile she gave him that night was almost the same one he received minutes before. The same smile that made him hope that she’d at least had great birthdays after her 25th. He made a mental note to ask her about it.
“Ready to go?” Aaron asked as he was settling in the passenger seat that Emily vacated almost an hour ago. They just arrived back from the convenience store near the diner they just ate at.
“Yep! I just got my driving essentials,” she said, showing the items one by one. “Chocolate. Energy drink. Some snacks.”
“What’s that?” Aaron pointed to the small orange toy she grabbed on a whim inside the store.
Blushing, Emily explained. “Oh, it’s a T-Rex. You mentioned Jack has been into dinosaurs lately. I just grabbed it without thinking, sorry.”
Aaron gave a small smile. “Do you plan on giving it to him?”
“Oh yeah, but if you think it’s a bit weird, then it’s okay.” Yep. She should have asked him first before grabbing any toys for his son.
“I think he’ll like it. Thanks.”
“Great! We better get going.” Emily put the keys in the ignition and started the vehicle. “This toy needs to get to its rightful owner.”
her.
Emily quickly got comfortable on the road. Despite having her objections about moving around, she had no problems with driving. In fact, it was one of her favorite activities when she had spare time over the weekends.
“You know, you fit well in the team.” Aaron quipped, breaking the thin wall of silence over them.
Emily gaped at him. “Are you really evaluating me right now?”
“Eyes on the road, Prentiss,” Aaron reprimanded. “It’s just a mere observation.”
She hummed, unsatisfied with his answer. “What brought this on?”
“On the field, you’re headstrong and objective. You compartmentalize well. When we’re not, you’re thoughtful and caring. Everyone in the team adores you.”
Not used to his compliments, Emily cracked something along the lines of a joke. “You really sound like you’re just giving me my evals.”
“I’m saying that it’s great to have you around,” Aaron answered.
Once Emily got past his initial comments, she now understood the reason behind it. “All of this because I remembered your son has an affinity for dinosaurs? You could’ve just gone with that in the first place, you know.”
The man in her passenger seat chuckled, “where’s the fun in that?”
“Aaron, I’m not sure we have the same concept of fun.”
It was true. Her version of fun revolved around drinking with the girls and embarrassing men. She loved socializing with others and things that involve not being inside the house. On the other hand, she’d never seen Hotch join them for drinks after a case. Not even after the most ruthless serial killers have been locked behind bars.
“Hey,” Aaron quickly defended himself. “I have fun sometimes.”
Emily smiled at his attempt. “I know you do, but sometimes it feels like you have a permanent scowl on your face. It comes with the job, I know, but it won’t hurt to crack a smile or two.” She glanced at him, and true enough, a pair of dimples started to show on his cheeks. “But just for the record, you’re a really great boss.”
him.
Somewhere between Ohio, Virginia, and Emily’s endless anecdotes about her time in Chicago, he fell asleep. Hours before, they grabbed dinner from a rundown Greek restaurant in a small town right before they entered the state lines. “This is legit,” Emily remarked as she grabbed the first bite of her keftedes. She then proceeded to impart her extensive knowledge of Greek cuisine.
“Hotch? Aaron?” He woke up from the soft taps on his shoulder. Being the light sleeper that he was, he immediately sat up. “We’re here.”
Aaron darted his eyes to his wristwatch, squinting to check the time, but to no avail. It was already too dark outside. “How long was I out?”
“More than an hour,” Emily replied. “It’s a quarter before 10.”
“Oh.” He was hoping that they’d arrive a bit earlier so he could have Jack for the night. Knowing that Jack slept in his room in their new apartment gave Aaron a sense of security and satisfaction.
“Are you still getting Jack in for tonight?”
Aaron shook his head no. “He’s probably tucked in now, I’ll just make sure we have an early day tomorrow.”
Emily nodded. “Well, don’t forget his dinosaur.”
Aaron grabbed the orange toy from her hands, giving it a squeeze before sharing a smile with her. “I won’t. Thanks for driving.”
“It was our deal,” Emily waved him off. “And you were an okay passenger, it wasn’t really a drag.”
A few beats later, they were both walking across her complex’s parking lot. Despite knowing Emily’s ability to protect herself, Aaron felt more comfortable seeing her off to her door. Or at the very least, the main door to her apartment complex.
“Why’d you really drive home with me? You could have had your rest hours ago.” Aaron asked. The others had been home for a good eight hours by now. Most of them are already on the way to completing the sleep they lost over the week. So, forgive him if he couldn’t fathom how and why Emily chose to sit next to him for a good 10-hour ride.
She remained silent as they neared the lobby. In fact, Aaron had already accepted that he wouldn’t get an answer from her. “I don’t know. I don’t want to look into it. Not yet, at least. I just know driving back here alone could be a little lonely.” Emily said, her voice softer than usual.
She didn’t want you to feel lonely, his subconscious said. He’d have to go back to that thought later on. “Thank you. This was fun.”
“You slept, Aaron.” She said, matter-of-factly.
“I’ll try to stay awake next time. Can’t have my driver bored to death while I’m in slumber.” She looked up at him, with a smile that reached her eyes. Next time. They gazed at each other for a long time, not wanting to break whatever spell they were under.
Only the sound of the elevator bell broke their reverie. “Do you want to come in for coffee? I can’t have you driving back still half-asleep.” Emily offered, but they knew he wasn’t half-asleep. In fact, he might not be able to sleep at all. Not when he’d surely have her words haunting him over the night.
Aaron stuffed his hands inside his pockets and glanced at the black SUV. “I’ll take a rain check, but thank you for the offer.”
“Well, this is me,” Emily smiled. “Have a great weekend with Jack.”
He turned to leave, but not before Emily took a hold of his wrist and placed a kiss on his cheek. “Good night,” she mumbled, before walking back to the elevator. Great, just another thing to think about.