Undercover Love

Since When

I'm sorry this took so long. I've got so much running through my head and my fingers can't keep up...plus I couldn't seem to make up my mind what this chapter should be about so I settled with it all.

They may have promised not to profile one another but that doesn't mean they can't use what they know from years of friendship.

"Since when has Hotch let anyone ever get him a drink?" JJ asks leaning in, eagle eyes capturing Emily's.

"He doesn't feel well," Emily mumbles checking the living room to make sure no one's listening.

"Did he tell you that?" Derek asks leaning across the island, smirking.

"Maybe," Emily dumps a couple ice cubes down into two cups.

JJ smiles at Morgan and whispers," since when has Hotch let people know how he feels?"

Emily takes the cups and walks to the living room without a word.

They share a look and follow suit.

"What're you guys talking about?" 

Reid perks up with a now perfect time to lay down a fact," we were discussing dreams and how nightmares occur in REM sleep, which is the rapid eye movement of a sleeping person. There can be a number of psychological triggers that cause nightmares in adults. For example, anxiety and depression can cause adult nightmares. Post-traumatic stress disorder also commonly causes people to experience chronic,recurrent nightmares. Nightmares in adults can be caused by certain sleep disorders." He smiles proudly taking in each of their faces.

He runs his hands down his khakis," I..."

Hotch coughs, effectively clearing his throat," it's fine, Reid."

Hotch takes his cup and Emily's so she can slide in beside him.

"How are you feeling?" Rossi asks tossing back the rest of the amber liquid in his tumbler.

Hotch hands Emily her cup," fine."

Emily rolls her eyes," was this before or after the three shots of vodka?"

JJ smirks," you're not supposed to mix alcohol and heavy medicines."

Emily leans around Hotch," thank you, JJ."

Hotch looks to the ground," it was only three."

...
Three Hours Later
...

"How's he really doing?" The heavy narcotics plus three shots of vodka finally cought up with Hotch.

Emily's nerves bounce at the sight of Hotch's small hairs laying down in his face. "He'll be fine... eventually."

Rossi leans over and rest his elbows on his knees," and you?"

"Me?"

"You." Rossi repeats," I know we've been cought up in him because... Well because he got decked straight on his ass but we do worry about you. We know what happened."

Emily looks away, it's easier to forget if she hides it under taking care of Hotch," I'm fine."

Rossi seats his tumbler down," no. No you're not. People who stab their boss or well... whatever the hell the two of you've got, they aren't just okay." Rossi shakes his head," well he's not... shit. Emily you get what I'm saying."

Emily looks down at Hotch's hand thats laying so close to her hand. So close...

"Emily?"

She snaps away from his hand," I'll be fine, Rossi. We'll be fine. We'll move on like we always have."

Hotch moves a little in his sleep and Emily grabs his hand. She doesn't say a word and neither does Rossi but Hotch settles back down.

"Right. Moving on.." Rossi rubs his cheek," right. You guys just want to bunk here? I know how the narcotics knock him out."

Of course he knows just as well as she does how a horrible event and narcotics works through their friend's body.

"Yeah," Emily says," that would be nice."

Rossi smirks," I suppose you'll just share a room?"

Emily doesn't answer that answer.

...

"You can't sleep in your jeans," she teases lightly, pushing the pajamas into his hand.

"Jeans don't sound that bad," he mumbles leaning against the wall beside the bed. "Reid used to sleep in his pants."

She found that he lets out information when he's exhausted. She knows many things that he shouldn't have told her.

"Come here," she pulls back the cover and waits for him to slip in beside her.

He curls up, his long legs meeting the end of the bed," did Dave go out of his way to get us in the same bed?"

Emily pushes her hand through the sheets until she finds his," not really. He suggested we stay. I didn't argue."

Hotch drags his thumb over her hand," so he knows about our little..." He doesn't know what to call it. Their little comfort relationship. No. That sounds like something you'd call sex. No, this is far more complicated.

"Yes," Emily doesn't chance moving closer to him.

"Mmm," he closes his eyes and moves closer pulling her to him. "Could be worse."

She watches him fall asleep. His shoulders easing. His face relaxing.

He's prone, open, and nothing can hurt them. Not when they're this close.

I feel awful for taking so long to update and then not even having anything good to use. Well yikes...

I'm sorry... is there anything you want to see? Hmmm?
-SH