Undercover Love

Agape

"I hear you're not eating."

After a day and a half of nerve wracking coughs that leave him gasping for breath in the end, his appetite is the last thing on his mind.

"I've been distracted." He watches her as she walks. Taking in all that is Emily Prentiss. The ring in his left hand heats up.

"Distracted?" Emily hums seating down in the visitors chair.

Hotch smiles down at his lap," even though I feel like I'm drowning in my own lungs I've been craving cigarettes."

Emily nods," better not tell Sean that. From what I understand he's trying to quit."

Hotch clears his throat and rubs his chest to stop multiple coughs from following it. "He's been smoking for years, he's not stopping."

Emily's coy smile falls. She reaches across the mountain of white cloth," he's stopped cold turkey, Aaron. The nurse said that the smoke could trigger a coughing fit. He hasn't smoked in two days."

Hotch coughs slightly and it triggers his lungs up. Emily stands as quickly as she can and pours him a cup of water.

"Drink." He sips at the water as much as he can and slowly it helps sooth his lungs down.

"Thank you," she smiles as a 'you're welcome' and rubs his back until he lays back down.

"How's the baby?" His voice breaks a little half way through his sentence but they both ignore it.

Emily smiles fondly, she'd taken a picture," here." She hands him the picture and tears swell in his eyes.

"He's got your eyes," he smiles.

Emily nods and points to their babies tiny nose," and your nose."

He chuckles and one of the tears threatens to fall.

Emily sniffles and watches Hotch gently touch the photo," you know, he still doesn't have a name."

Hotch frowns," well we have to name our son."

Emily laughs and seats down on the corner of his bed, as close as she can get without risking hurting him. "Well... any ideas?"

He shakes his head," I know I liked a lot of names... but uh I forgot." He bows his head.

Emily reaches up and gently touches the bandage on his head," it wasn't your fault." He doesn't look up. "He was a drunk, Aaron. He hit us. There was nothing you could have done."

Hotch nods but he still doesn't look up.

Emily hums soflty to herself, he picks up the tune as Billy Joel's Vienna the song he used to sing to Jack and their son while he was still in the womb," how do you like Jacob?"

Hotch shrugs," it's okay, I guess."

Emily leans forward and cups his cheek in her hand," I need you, Aaron. Don't you want to help name our baby?"

He looks up," of course I do." She smiles as his eyebrows scrunch up as he thinks. "Noah?"

Emily smiles," do you like Jason?"

Hotch smiles even bigger," Jason Noah Hotchner."

Emily kisses him, startling him, and he kisses back. "I guess our baby has a name."

An Hour and A Half Later

"Why can't I see him?"

Emily tries to push past the male nurse but Rossi grabs her hand," Emily." He waits for her to turn around," we need to talk."

He takes her away from the nurses. It had been his idea to keep her out. This kind of thing isn't a choice they make.

"He spiked a fever, Emily." Emily doesn't seem to understand what he's getting at. "He has bacterial pneumonia. Half an hour ago his temperature rose to 102º." Emily scowls at him. "Emily, I need you to understand that if you go in there you won't be able to see that little boy. You could risk getting him sick. He has an even lower survival rate than Aaron."

Emily shakes her head," no. He was fine just before I left. You can't b-" Rossi steps aside and she sees through the window. There's a mask covering half his face. The other half is covered by a rag. There's about three more bags connected to the IV port in his hand and he's as pale as the plastic tile beneath her feet. "Is he gonna be alright?"

Rossi sighs and shrugs," they don't know. It worked it's way through his system so quickly that they're afraid he won't be able to fight it off." Rossi puts his hand on Emily's shoulder," Emily, they don't think he's gonna make it."

Emily pulls herself out of Rossi's grip," where's Jack?"

"With Reid, he took him to the park."

Emily nods and pulls at her sleeves. "My mother, can you call my mother?"

Rossi nods," of course."

Emily smiles but she can't hide the tears that fall down her cheek.

"Come here," he pulls her in and she falls apart. "I've got you, sweety."

She soaks his shirt collar easily and she knows if she doesn't tell him now she won't be able to get it out. "You have to tell Aaron that he pinky promised." She holds Rossi's tie," you have to remind him. He'll know."

She closes her eyes and she can see him so clearly that afternoon. Laying on the couch he promised. He promised.

Agape means love in Greco-Christian term

If you go back to the chapter "Uncle Dave?" You'll see the story that I referenced ^^ Please Like and Comment (not gonna lie comments make me feel appreciated) ❤❤
-SH