Undercover Love

Breaking Out

"Are you sure you're alright?"

Emily hasn't left his side since they entered the hospital. She doesn't attempt anything different now.

"I think.." Hotch stands up, breath hitching as his diaphragm stretches," that if I don't get out of here..." Emily grabs his lower forearm as he dips," I'm going to go psychotic."

Emily places a flat hand over his abdomen," you're already psychotic."

He gives her a tight smile.

"She's got a point," the wheelchair is silent as it's rolled over the cheap tile of the hospital.

"Poor bastard probably can't even pinpoint who's fault it is," Rossi points out.

Hotch nods, not much but a small acknowledgment," it was a group effort."

"Bye Aaron," one of the many nurses they become quite close to waves them goodbye as they pass the nurses station.

He waves but keeps his head and shoulders down.

"You're taking him home, right?" Although there had been a bit of a argument about who would take him home, Emily won.

"Yes." Her answer is short and distracted, as many of her comments came lately.

"Call me if you need-"

"-anything." Hotch finshes," we know Dave. We're just a little beat up, we're not kids."

Rossi's memory flashes him an image of Emily bent over an unconscious, and rather dead looking, Hotch soaked in a combination of both of their blood. "Right," is all he can manage. He clears his throat, and the raw emotion that squeezes his throat shut," be safe."

Emily nods," of course."

She starts the car and the others back up waiting for her to drive off.

"Thank you," Hotch utters, once their a safe distance away.

Emily keeps her eyes on the road," it's fine. I know I got tired of their constant attention... can't imagine how you feel."

He rest his temple against the cool glass of the window," like death warmed up."

She smiles a bit. It's hard to tell if he's joking with the constant deadpanned voice he uses.

"Jack's gonna be happy to see you," she attempts.

He shuts her down," Jessica's taken him. She doesn't think he should see me... like this. They're up at Haley's father's."

She smacked with a memory of him telling her how he never apologised to Haley's father. "Oh Hotch, I know that's gotta be hard."

He just nods. He doesn't want her sympathy. He doesn't deserve it. If it wasn't for him Jack would have a parent to go to. Instead he spends all his time with his aunt and grandfather because his damn father is a poor excuse of  a man.

As if Emily can since his inner fury she asks," Hotch? You okay?" She looks him over," hey listen, we might have taken this to fast. Just say the word and we can go back-"

"Please," he sounds so desperate," it's not that. I just need... can we just get to the apartment?" Realizing his tone may have come off as sharp he adds," please."

She almsot challenges him but nods anyways," okay. We're going."

_¡|《》|¡_

The apartment is silent without an upbeat five year old running around in it.

Emily doesn't miss how Hotch just in the door way eyes glued to the red fire truck that's parked hastly by the pile of shoes that consist of mostly little boy's shoes.

"Do you want to lay down? I can order us something?" The others only finally gave into her watching after Hotch because she kept him together after Foyett and she'd slept in the same bed as him for half a week she could handle him.

Hotch looks up from the truck," I... I don't..."

Emily leave the kitchen and comes right up to his side," come on.." She pulls at the sleeve of his over coat and removes it from his shoulders. She hangs it on an empty hook and snags his hand. "Come," she gently leads him to the sofa. "Seat. Relax. I'll order a pizza."

Before they left the hospital they gave him a heavy dose of something like Oxy., she can now see it taking an affect on him.

He nods and lets her put a hand on his shoulder and push him back. He lays back and makes a vague motion to his coat," my wallet..."

She nods and pulls the blanket off of the back of the couch to tuck it around him.

She grabs her phone out of her coat," what do you like on a pizza?"

It's amazing the things she's come to realize that she doesn't know about him.

She turns back to him when he doesn't answer only to find him fast asleep.

She pulls the blanket up higher on his chest so it covers his shoulders.

She finds an unbearable itch to lean down and kiss him.

Her hand moves on its own and gently outlines his lips. "Sleep well," she whispers.

THERE IT IS PEOPLE!
-SH

P.S. I'm working on one of the requested FF but I'm still open for any others!