Don't let go - Emily Prentiss & y/n

I just need to see it through.

Major TW: mention of sexual abuse, physical abuse and murder. Please reach out to someone if you're struggling, and take care lovelies x

After you'd finished your coffee, you headed out of the kitchen to find the team. You knew Hotch, Reid and Rossi had gone out on the arrest, but you were hoping to find the rest of the team for a normal chat.

I don't want anyone else thinking I'm acting strange.

As you walked out of the kitchen, you headed across to the bullpen. You were halfway there when Rossi and Reid appeared, with Hotch linking arms with a handcuffed Mr Walsh not far behind.

You stood still, taking in the image of the man who just took these innocent kids' lives, now in front of you. As they went to pass you, Mr Walsh stopped dead in his tracks, causing Hotch to be dragged behind with him. Mr Walsh leant into you.

'Take a picture sweetie, it'll last longer.' He winked at you, before being harshly dragged away by Hotch. When they were gone, you looked up to see Emily, Morgan and JJ stood not far from you. You hadn't even noticed they were there until now. You looked at Emily.

I need to be alone.

You started hurriedly walking to the bathroom.

'Y/n?' JJ called after you.

'Leave them.' Emily said, holding JJ's arm back.

'Don't you think they've been acting a little strange?' JJ said to Emily, Morgan closing the gap between them all to listen in. 'Hotch ordering them to stay behind with Penelope when usually that's Reid's job, then their fixation on Elaine Walsh's bruise as I escorted her in, and now this?' JJ scoffed.

'That's not even to mention the fact that none of us would have linked the collar bone bruises to abuse. Even the pathologist thought they were just wounds from the murder until we suggested otherwise.' Morgan added.

'I think...' Emily started, cautious of giving too much away to the team that she'd only speculated herself, 'whatever they have going on inside their head, they'll share it with us when they're ready.' She said. This nipped JJ and Morgan's conversation in the bud pretty quickly, and soon the three dispersed and left it at that.

When you'd finished taking some deep breaths in the toilet cubicle, you stood by the sink looking at yourself in the mirror again.

I'm not a child anymore. I can stick up for myself now.

Giving yourself a pep talk was becoming an hourly occurrence.

I know I have the strength in me to get through this case. I just need to see it through.

You touched up your makeup as best you could with your fingers, tapping out the creases in your concealer, and then headed out of the bathroom.

Time to see what he has to say for himself.

You headed to the interview room to watch him through the glass, but when you got there the whole team were already having some sort of heated discussion.

'I said no!' Hotch demanded, turning his attention not long after to you stood in the doorway. Everyone's eyes followed his.

'Well, let's ask them now they're here!' Rossi suggested.

'Ask me what?' You questioned, nervous for what was about to come.

'Mr Walsh seems to have taken a shining to you, y/n.' Emily said carefully.

'He's not willing to tell us anything unless you go in there to speak with him.' Reid added.

'Why?' You said, your eyebrows crumpling together.