out of the woods x hotchniss

sixteen

i just finished my second week of my classes and i feel terrible. i just want to sleep. the sun and stress is no joke😅

happy readings and stay safe besties! -salem🤍

TW: car crash, fighting, mentions of cheating, swearing, mentions of death
word count: 3680

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Aaron: "Scary with you is better than scary without you." Tamora Pierce.

"Aaron!"

The raven-haired man's hearing was blown out as he tried to turn his head. The bright lights were hurting his eyes. The smell of burning metal was what kept him awake.

"Aaron!"

He groaned in pain as he tried to look for whoever was calling him. Aaron squinted his eyes as he felt a sharp pain in his stomach.

"God, you're an idiot."

He recognized Emily's voice right away. The raven-haired woman had tears in his eyes from what he could see. She was crouching down to see him. Aaron tried to get out but he was trapped in the car.

After the hit, Aaron's car flipped onto it's side. The raven-haired man shut his eyes before he blacked out. The detective following behind him immediately called it in. All the windows shattered, resulting in glass behind everywhere.

"Did I get them?" Aaron asked softly. His entire body felt like it was under freezing water. At this point, he didn't know if Emily was actually there or if he was dreaming of her. "Emily."

"You got them," Emily said softly. "The ambulance is only two minutes away. You have to stay awake, Aaron."

"Emily, just in—"

"No. Don't do that. Don't give up already. You're going to be just fine, okay? Keep your eyes open, Aaron. Keep them on me," Emily said as she reached her hand into the car, careful not to scrape herself with any glass that stayed in the windshield. Her thumb gently ran over his cheek. "God, I want to be so mad at you right now."

"I know," Aaron said weakly. Emily smiled through her tears. The entire world faded around them. Both of them were scared out of their minds, but took comfort in the other being here.

The sound of tires screeching was heard. Emily turned and saw the rest of the agents all get out of the car. Derek was running towards the car.

"Prentiss! What are you doing? There's gasoline everywhere!" Derek yelled as he got closer. "One spark and the two of you are gone!"

"I'm not leaving him here alone!" Emily shouted as she looked over at Derek.

"Then I'm—"

"Stand down, Agent Morgan," Emily said and clenched her jaw. Derek stopped only a few feet away from the car. "Get back over to the other car."

"No," Derek said and took a step forward.

"I don't need the possibility of three agents dying today. Your team needs you as the next in line for chief. Now get back to the car. That's an order," Emily said and locked eyes with Derek. He looked down at Emily with such sadness in his eyes. "Now, Derek."

"If I see one spark, I'm running and I'm getting you," Derek said and glanced over at Hotch. He noticed the way Emily's hand was cradling his cheek. This altercation was vastly different than what he'd seen of the two of them before.

Derek didn't say anything else as he slowly stepped back. Emily nodded her head at him before turning her attention back to Aaron. The raven-haired woman's eyes fell to the puddle that was around the two of them. She was so caught up in Aaron's well-being, she didn't even notice that she was putting herself into an equally dangerous position.