Shadow Of Hearts (Emily Prentiss X OC)

Chapter 14: Shadows Of The Past

The BAU team worked tirelessly, driven by the newfound connection between the victims and their involvement in historical and religious preservation. With each piece of information that emerged, the puzzle of the Order of Aletheia grew clearer-but with clarity came a deepening sense of foreboding.

Echo found herself pouring over old texts and dusty records in the dim light of the evidence room. Rossi was beside her, his decades of experience offering a steady hand in the investigation. But her thoughts kept drifting to Emily, and the words they'd shared earlier.

Echo was used to keeping her emotions in check, especially when it came to work. But there was something about Emily that made that control slip. Perhaps it was the way Emily effortlessly moved through the world, a combination of strength and warmth that seemed to draw Echo in like a moth to a flame.

That evening, as the team gathered in the bullpen for a brief moment of respite, Emily approached Echo with two cups of coffee, a familiar gesture that had become their unspoken ritual.

"Thought you could use a break," Emily said, handing Echo the steaming cup. "You've been at it for hours."

Echo accepted the coffee with a grateful nod. "Thanks. I could use one." She hesitated for a moment before speaking again, her voice softer. "And thanks for earlier, too. You really helped me see things differently."

Emily smiled, her gaze lingering on Echo for a beat longer than usual. "You're welcome. We make a good team."

Echo's heart fluttered at the sincerity in Emily's voice, but she quickly pushed the feeling aside, trying to focus on the case at hand. "We do. But this case... it feels different, like we're up against something bigger than we've faced before."

Emily nodded, her expression serious. "It is different. The Order isn't just a group of fanatics-they believe they're on some kind of divine mission. That makes them dangerous, unpredictable."

They stood in silence for a moment, the weight of the investigation pressing down on them. But even in the midst of the darkness, there was a warmth between them, a connection that neither could deny.

Echo glanced at Emily, her heart beating a little faster. "You ever get the feeling that you're in over your head?"

Emily chuckled softly, a sound that sent a shiver down Echo's spine. "All the time. But that's why we have each other. We're not in this alone."

Echo's gaze met Emily's, and for a moment, the chaos of the world around them faded away. It was just the two of them, standing together in the dim light of the bullpen, a quiet understanding passing between them.

As the evening wore on, the team regrouped to discuss their next steps. Hotch, ever the stoic leader, laid out the plan with precision. "We need to get ahead of the Order. Rossi and Echo will continue to investigate the historical connections, while the rest of us focus on potential targets. We're getting closer, but we need to stay vigilant."

The team nodded in agreement, the weight of the mission clear in their expressions.

After the meeting, Echo found herself lingering by her desk, unable to shake the thoughts of Emily from her mind. It was more than just admiration; there was a pull, an undeniable attraction that was growing stronger with each passing day.

She was lost in thought when she felt a presence beside her. Emily stood there, her dark eyes filled with concern. "You okay?" she asked, her voice gentle.

Echo hesitated, then nodded. "Yeah. Just... thinking."

Emily studied her for a moment, then gestured toward the hallway. "Walk with me?"

They made their way through the quiet corridors of the BAU, the soft glow of the overhead lights casting long shadows on the walls. Neither of them spoke at first, the silence between them comfortable yet charged with unspoken words.

Finally, Echo broke the silence. "This case... it's really gotten to me. I can't stop thinking about how it all fits together, what the Order is trying to do."

Emily glanced at her, her expression thoughtful. "It's normal to feel that way. Cases like this, they get under your skin. But you have to remember to take care of yourself, too."

Echo nodded, appreciating Emily's words but feeling a deeper turmoil within. "It's more than that," she admitted, her voice barely above a whisper. "I've been trying to keep my distance, to stay focused, but..."

She trailed off, unsure how to continue. But Emily seemed to understand. She stopped walking and turned to face Echo, her eyes searching hers.

"You don't have to do this alone," Emily said softly, her voice filled with something that made Echo's heart ache. "Whatever you're feeling, it's okay to share it. I'm here."

The vulnerability in Emily's voice broke down the walls Echo had so carefully built. She felt her heart racing, emotions she had long kept buried rising to the surface. She wanted to speak, to say something, but the words caught in her throat.

And then, without thinking, she closed the distance between them. Emily didn't pull away; instead, she leaned in, her breath warm against Echo's skin.

In that moment, the world fell away. There was no case, no Order of Aletheia, no danger looming on the horizon. There was only Emily, standing so close, her eyes soft with unspoken emotions.

Echo reached out, her hand brushing against Emily's. It was a simple touch, but it sent a jolt of electricity through her, and she knew, without a doubt, that this was more than just a passing attraction.

"Emily," she whispered, her voice trembling with the weight of everything she felt.

Emily's hand tightened around hers, her gaze never leaving Echo's. "I'm here," she whispered back, her voice steady and filled with a quiet intensity.

Echo didn't know who moved first, but suddenly, they were kissing. It was slow, tender, filled with all the emotions they had been holding back for so long. It was a kiss that spoke of trust, of connection, of something that had been building between them from the moment they met.

When they finally pulled apart, they were both breathless, their foreheads resting against each other's as they tried to catch their breath.

"I didn't expect this," Emily admitted, her voice barely above a whisper.

"Neither did I," Echo replied, her heart still racing. "But I don't regret it."

Emily smiled, a small, soft smile that made Echo's heart swell. "Neither do I."

They stood there for a long moment, wrapped in the warmth of each other's presence, before the realities of their situation began to creep back in. The case was still looming, the danger still real, but now there was something else-a connection that gave them both strength.

Finally, Emily stepped back, her hand still holding Echo's. "We should get back to work."

Echo nodded, knowing she was right. But as they walked back to the bullpen, their hands still entwined, she couldn't help but feel a newfound sense of hope.

They were in this together, and that made all the difference.