At 15

Chapter 56

After 5 long weeks Emily was released from the hospital. It had been rough on the whole of the Hotchner family. Anna, Aaron's mother had been in and out of the hospital to help her son and daughter in law out with their children. Elizabeth had been visiting her daughter as often as her job allowed her too. The team had seen Emily as well, however she would be asleep during most of their visits.

"How are you doing?" Aaron asked as he sat on the couch next to her

"I've been better" she replied tiredly, he smiled at her attempt to try and lift the mood with her sarcastic humour

"Okay well, Jack and Layla are asleep, so if you want to we can go to bed" He suggested

All she could do was nod, Aaron stood up and took her by the hand. After reaching their bedroom he helped her changed into more comfortable sleepwear and curled behind her as they fell asleep. It didn't take long for her to relax into his arms. She was extremely exhausted even though she'd been in bed for the most of the last 3 weeks she spent at the hospital in Washington. She had been moved from Boston after 2 weeks to allow her to be closer to home.

Less than 2 hours after they fell asleep, he could feel her starting to get restless, which only meant one thing.

The whimpers that followed shortly after confirmed his theory.

"No" she repeated as she kicked the sheets away
"Please, stop"

"Em" he said softly
She kept fighting him as he tried waking her

"Honey, wake up" he tried again, this time holding her wrists. He had learn that during her dreams when she relived that awful night that when she woke she was fully alert. Aaron unfortunately had learnt that the hard way and was met with a fist to the face when she opened her eyes and felt threatened.

"Please stop" her voice was quiet but it broke his heart as she moved into a fetal position in attempt to cover herself from what ever was hurting her

"Sweetheart" Aaron whispered as he rubbed her arm

"Aaron?" Emily mumbled

"Shh, it's okay, come here" he assured her, leaning back on the bed he opened his arms for her

"I want it to stop" Emily sobbed into his neck
"It feels so real, I want it to stop" she repeated as her whole body shook in fear. The brand was burning, as she was remembering the events of a few weeks prior

"I know Honey, I know. I need you to try something for me okay?" He said rubbing her back in an attempt to soothe and comfort his wife.

It took awhile for her to respond, even though it was only a nod he was making some progress

"You need to calm down, okay?. You're going to make yourself sick. Just try and take deep breaths" Aaron asked
"That's it, good job sweetheart" he encouraged the fragile brunette as his hands travelled higher on her back she would breath in and when they would lower she would let out a breath

"I feel like a baby" she complained as she clung to his shirt

"Em, you've been through a lot. It's normal to feel as if you are not in control"

Aaron could feel that she was relaxing again, he was surprised she had stayed awake this long.
Placing a kiss on her forehead he held her close

"Go too sleep, I'll be here when you wake up"

"I'm scared" Emily told him softly

He didn't reply. How could he?. She didn't expect him to either. They both just held the other closer and enjoyed the fact that she was home.

"I just need to do something" she said
Pushing back the cover she made sure that he was cover before she left their room. She walked down the hallway and opened the slightly ajar door. Layla's tiny body was highlighted by her butterfly nightlight.

Emily took in the view of her nearly 2 year old daughter cuddled with Charli, her teddy bear she's had since birth. Leaning down Emily carefully brushed back the girls curls and kissed her forehead. Slowly backing away Emily left the door as she found it and went to the room directly across from Layla's.

"Hey bud" Emily announced her presence to alert the boy
"Why are you awake?" She added, sitting down on the bed

"I heard someone in the hall" Jack answered simply, not looking her in the eye

"Jack. What's going on?" Emily asked concerned
"Jack" she urged when he didn't reply. Instead he turned onto his side so he was facing the wall with his back to her

A tight feeling in her chest, made her want to cry. She had always had a bond with Jack. If wasn't like him to shut her out and not talk to her.

"Don't want mommy to get hurt 'gain" he mumbled into the pillow

"Jack. Look at me" she said seriously but kindly. She waited until he did and continued after she positioned herself against the wall

"I did what I did to keep you safe. I would do anything in the world to keep you 3 safe. But the bad guy is gone now. He can't hurt me anymore. He can't hurt anyone anymore. Okay?" She told him

"Okay?" She repeated holding his hand so he knew that she wasn't going to leave him

"Okay mommy" he said and hugged her torso
"I love you" the boy added tiredly

"I love you too buddy, so much" placing a kiss on 5 year olds head she turned his nightlight down and walked back to her and Aaron's bed room.
When she did she saw that he had switched on the lamp on his side and was waiting for her to come back to bed

"Everything okay?" He mumbled against her shoulder once she settled and he turned the lamp back off

"As okay as it can be" she answered

"I love you" Emily said turning in his arms so she could lay with her head on his shoulder

"I love you too Em"