RED

creepy houses, the french quarter, and spicy food

more team bonding! hope y'all enjoy!!

word count: 3268

Aaron Hotchner was in that blissful state between deep sleep and waking when the sharp ring of his phone shattered the quiet. He blinked groggily, the clock on Emily's nightstand glaring 3:07 AM in harsh red digits. With a sigh, he reached for his phone, trying not to disturb Emily, who was sleeping soundly beside him.

"Hotchner," he answered, his voice rough with sleep.

"Agent Hotchner, it's Sheriff Callahan," the voice on the other end crackled, full of urgency. "We've got another one. Body just turned up. Same MO."

Hotch closed his eyes for a moment, the weight of the situation sinking in. "Location?"

"On the outskirts of town, near the river. My guys are securing the scene now."

"Alright. We'll be there soon," Hotch replied, ending the call. He placed the phone back on the nightstand and turned his head to see Emily starting to stir.

"Mmm, who was that?" Emily mumbled, her voice muffled by the pillow.

Hotch ran a hand over his face, trying to shake off the remnants of sleep. "It's Callahan. They found another body."

Emily groaned, rolling onto her back and throwing an arm over her eyes. "Seriously? At 3 AM? This is bullshit."

Hotch chuckled softly. "I know, Em. Trust me, I know. But we've got to get up. The team needs to know."

With a dramatic sigh, Emily sat up, her hair a mess from sleep. "I swear, if this unsub doesn't go down by tomorrow night, I'm going to lose it."

Hotch smirked, sitting up beside her. "You're already losing it, and I'm about to lose it with you. Come on, let's get the others up."

Reluctantly, Emily swung her legs out of bed and padded over to her suitcase, pulling out clothes suitable for an early morning crime scene. Hotch did the same, quickly getting dressed in the dim light of the room. As he pulled on a fresh shirt, he glanced at Emily, who was trying to brush the sleep from her eyes.

"Em," he said softly, stepping closer. "Before we go, I just wanted to—"

He cupped her face gently and pressed a tender kiss to her lips. The brief contact was warm and comforting, a small respite from the chaos ahead. Emily's eyes fluttered open, her expression softening as she pulled back slightly.

"Go get changed, Hotch," she said, her voice low but filled with affection. "I'll wake up the others."

Hotch nodded, a small, knowing smile on his lips. "Alright. I'll be quick."

He slipped out of the room, heading to his own to change. Emily watched him go, feeling a mix of warmth and resolve. She grabbed her phone and headed down the hall to Derek and JJ's rooms, trying to shake off the lingering drowsiness.

In the hallway, Emily knocked firmly on Derek's door first. He answered, his face a mix of irritation and confusion. Derek was wearing a black T-shirt and plaid pajama pants, his usually suave demeanor replaced by one of annoyance.

"Emily? What the hell?" he mumbled, rubbing his eyes.

"There's another body. Get dressed, we've got to move," Emily said tersely.

Derek swore under his breath but nodded, disappearing back into his room. Emily then moved to JJ's door, repeating the process. JJ opened the door, her hair tousled and her eyes barely open. She was dressed in a tank top and sleep shorts, her robe wrapped tightly around her.

"This better be important," JJ said, sounding as if she was about to fall over.

"Trust me, it is. Get dressed and meet me downstairs," Emily replied.