Hotchniss - Bonds, Deals and Running

Chapter 14

Chapter 14
7x24

Part one

The farewell party for JJ's wedding was filled with laughter and celebration, but for Emily, the atmosphere felt heavy. She stood at the edge of the dance floor, a warm smile plastered on her face as she watched her friends. Despite the joy surrounding her, a storm brewed within. The offer from Clyde lingered in her mind, and the ghosts of her past, particularly Doyle's betrayal, haunted her thoughts.

This is it. A fresh start or a retreat? She struggled with the weight of the decision to leave the BAU and join Interpol. Deep down, she felt like she was breaking something beautiful, something she had fought so hard to be part of. She loved her team, each of them had a place in her heart, especially. But the memories of Doyle, the lingering darkness, crept in. Could she really fix herself?

As the music played, she saw Hotch enter with Beth, a pang of something she couldn't quite identify twisted in her stomach. She forced herself to smile, but it felt hollow. Hotch, with his ever-intuitive nature, noticed her slight sign of discomfort and came over, leaving Beth momentarily at the side.

Emily let out a steady sigh.

"That bad, huh?" he asked, his voice low.

Emily met his gaze, surprised by the warmth in his eyes. "What?"

"That's your tell" he replied, it made her heart race.

"It is?" her face showed her shock.

"Hmm" he nodded and confirmed.

"For how long?"

"Hm, Ever since... I've known you" he pretended to be wondering for a moment. She acted annoyed and shook her head.

"Well... you have one too" she assured, and couldn't resist a small, genuine smirk and chuckle.

Hotch laughed lightly, "I do?"

"Yeah. Only, I'm not gonna tell you what it is or you'll stop doing it" (after I'll leave...), and this can't change, he can't change.
She managed a slight laugh. She kept nodding while smiling.

"I see" he smiled right back at her.

There was an unspoken understanding between them, a bond that transcended the surface. For a moment, the noise of the party faded away, and all she could hear was her heartbeat and the rhythm of their conversation.

"Do you want to talk about it?" he finally asked, his voice sincere.

"Absolutely... but not now." she said, shaking her head.

"First thing tomorrow." He stated.

"It's a date," she said, smiling softly.

He nodded.

As he walked away, she murmured to herself, "It's a date." The realization of what she had said sent a jolt through her, leaving her feeling vulnerable yet exhilarated. She followed after him out of the room, shaking the confusing feelings off.

Hotch's POV:

Aaron watched as Emily processed their conversation, before he left the room. There was something off about her, a heaviness he couldn't quite pinpoint, but he respected her space.

His mind flitted back to Beth, but that connection felt strained. Even as he stood beside her, he couldn't shake the nagging feeling that something important was missing.

'Am I doing this right?' He thought. He cared for Beth, yet there was something missing.

His back wandered back to Emily. The way they talked, the way she looked at him, there was an intensity everybody but the two of them saw.