Fifty Ways to Love You - Emily Prentiss x OC

28. cherev

[tw: implied drug mention]

[from Emily Prentiss] we have a suspect: Anton Cherev
[from Emily Prentiss] Hotch said it was okay if I told you info you wanted to know, thought you'd be happy to hear it :)
[from Emily Prentiss] you're probably asleep, love, I'll stop. I'll lyk if anything else comes up <3 I love you, Galya, lmk when you get these <3

Earlier, Emily had gone into Hotch's office and, without preamble, shut the door and said, "Karimova's not on this case anymore." It was weird and stiff to refer to her girlfriend by her surname.

"Why?" asked Hotch.

"Conflict of interest,"

"She needs to be here, she's working this case,"

"Hotch." Emily crossed her arms. "Conflict. Of. Interest. I can go and tell your boss you're having an agent work a case in which her brother is a victim and the only real witness, would that work better for you?"

Hotch looked down at his desk, his body unmoving. "Prentiss, your relationship with Karimova cannot affect your work,"

"It's not. I'm reporting a workplace violation,"

"On behalf of your girlfriend,"

"Hotch..." Emily shook her head slowly, contemplating her phrasing. "Galina has been terrified about Dmitri. She puts on a really brave face at work. When she goes home...if you knew how bad this really was for her you'd take her off the case in a heartbeat,"

"Emily—"

"And honestly, sir, you called us in to discuss our relationship, which I'm pretty sure right now, not to be selfish, is one of the only things giving her comfort though all this. She drove back with JJ in a fit of terror at what you'd say,"

"Prentiss, I apologize, but it is protocol."

Emily fought the loss of her temper, trying to keep her voice level. If she went off about protocol violations again she'd lose her mind.

"It is not your job as her boss to make sure she's stable, but as her partner it is mine. I love her, and I'd more readily spend my day making sure she takes care of herself than spend it here with you. But she wants me here. So back down, or send me home to my girlfriend."

-

I curled up under the blankets and groaned softly. 9:37. I'd slept for three more hours. Much needed.

I opened my phone and had three texts from Emily. I grinned.

[from Galina Karimova] just got up. HOLY SHIT
[from Galina Karimova] thank you for updating me, my love. keep me posted on your progress. love you always

[from Emily Prentiss] of course. Love you, sunshine

I was warm to see her call me my favorite name of hers for me. I wanted to kiss her, hold her, lay next to her and feel the warmth of her body; but I knew how important it was that she was at work.

I hoisted myself out of bed and started a pot of coffee. I felt a weight lifted off my shoulders. It wasn't over, not by any means, but I carried less fear with me.

The TV kept my mind off things for a while. I watched anything I could find remotely interesting until I grew restless around noon. If I wasn't working, what was I supposed to do?

I fought with myself about going on a walk, needing to move around and get fresh air but not wanting to get hurt by a man seeing a young woman walking alone.

Just as I was about to go, my phone started ringing. Emily. I answered as fast as my hand could move. "Hey,"

"Hey, my love." Good. I could speak freely. "Just me. Uh, I don't know what time I'm gonna be home, we're leaving now to get Cherev. I'm gonna call you when this is all over, okay, baby?" My heart soared.

"Thank you, Em. I...I can't thank you enough, baby. I love you,"

"I love you too. How are you doing, my love?"

"Uh, I'm okay,"

"Yeah? Alright, my sweet girl. Stay home, I'll call you and tell you how everything went. I love you, Galina,"

"I love you, Emily."

When my phone finally rang, I nearly cried. I danced around the living room in ecstasy. "Hi, Emily." I tried to keep my voice level, an absurd task.

"Hey, Karimova." My fidgety body stood as still as I could manage. "Cherev's in custody. Thought you should know,"

"Thank you, Prentiss,"

"Of course." She hung up and texted me.

[from Emily Prentiss] Sorry. CSF, can't see my phone though. Love you, Galina <3 You can go see Dmitri now, love, I'll send you the address

CSF: can't speak freely. A code we sometimes used if a call seemed out of place and we wanted to be certain the other knew.

-

"Mitya, you were doing so well...you weren't supposed to leave the house,"

"I know, Galya, I'm sorry." I rubbed my eyes and sighed. "I'm sorry,"

"I know you are," I said. I looked away from him and tried not to cry. "How long? When?"

"Three days ago," he replied. "Galya, I don't want to hurt you—"

"You're not." We both knew it was a lie.

Dmitri shook his head and hung it with a sigh.

I continued, "Dmitri, we have to get you help before this gets bad again. I...I will take care of this. Until then, you're staying in my house,"

"Please don't do this,"

"I have to. I'm not letting this happen again if I can do anything about it. So you're staying with me until I can find you someplace to go."

Emily got home later and I knew she desperately needed sleep; she finally admitted that she slept much better next to me.

I only told her that now that he wasn't being protected, Dmitri was staying with me for the night. I didn't have to saddle her with more of my problems just that night. For once she deserved to sleep knowing she did a good job. Nothing was wrong to her that night, I was glad to keep it that way until tomorrow.