Trials and Tribulations

Chapter 13

Emily exited the elevator and pushed through the familiar glass double doors. She walked straight through the bullpen and up the stairs to Hotchs office, knocking gently and waiting for a response.

"Come in" He answered quickly.

Emily opened the door and slipped in, shutting it behind her.

" Oh hey, what are you doing here?" He asked.

Emily didn't speak she just gripped the piece of paper she was holding tighter and walked up to the desk.

"Do you want to have a seat?" He spoke once again.

Emily shook her head. She still didn't say anything. Hotch looked at her with concern. She took a deep breath and laid the piece of paper on his desk.

"This is my letter of resignation"

Hotch instantly stood up from his chair.

"Prentiss what?" Surprise was clear in his voice.

She shook her head.
"Please don't" She pleaded.

She quickly removed her holstered gun and her credentials. She laid both on the desk.

"Emily-"

"Aaron"

They stood there in silence staring at each other. Both with sad eyes.

"Let me go" She breathed.

With that she turned and left his office. Closing the door and heading back towards the elevators.

"I can't" He said to nobody.

Rossi knocked on the door to Hotchs office and heard a faint "hmm" in response. When he entered he saw Hotch at his desk with his head in his hands. He lifted his head slightly, making eye contact with Rossi but not speaking. Rossi meandered over to the desk and stood before it.

"Okay talk" He said.

Hotch just leaned back in his chair and nodded toward the items on his desk. Rossi picked up the little black booklet and flipped it open. He recognized the credentials and looked at Hotch with furrowed eyebrows. Hotch picked up the piece of paper and handed it to him. He watch Rossi read momentarily.

"A resignation letter?" Rossi sank down into the chair across from Hotch.

"She wouldn't let me stop her"

"This isn't right. She is meant to be on this team" Rossi said.

"I know"

"So what are you going to do?"

"I was hoping you wouldn't ask that" Hotch mumbled.

"Does the team know?"

" I don't know, she didn't mention anything so i'm assuming not" Hotch said while shaking his head.

"Should I go tell them?" Rossi asked.

"Maybe we hold off for now" He replied while standing up.

"Where are you going?"

"I need to go talk to Strauss"

Hotch opened the door and stood by it as Rossi got up and headed through it. Hotch followed and closed his office door behind him.

Emily heard a knock at the door and got up from the couch, walking across her apartment to the front door. Without even looking through the peephole she opened it.

"Hotch...what are you doing here?" She was surprised to see her boss standing before her.

"Uhm, may I come in or are you busy?"

"If watching Twilight Zone and having a glass of wine counts as busy then yeah, swamped."

Hotch smiles and Prentiss stepped aside so he could enter. She closed the door and he followed her to the kitchen.

"Can I get you something?" Prentiss asked as she leaned up against the counter and crossed her arms.

"Oh no thanks"

There was a silence that made both of them uncomfortable.

"You're here to try and convince me to come back" Emily stated.

"I'm here to ask why" Hotch replied.

Emily frowned and shifted her focus to the floor.

"Hotch I-"

"I know it's not my decision, but I think you're making a mistake" He said.

"I can't do it"

"You're one of the best agents the bau has ever seen" Hotch said.

"I don't think I can be an affective member of the team anymore" Emily shook her head.

"If more time off is what you need that's no problem" He stepped closer.

"You're not listening" Emily said.

"What is holding you back?" His voice was calm yet urgent.

"Everything!"

They were only a few inches apart now.

"You make me so mad sometimes" Emily added.

"I'm not the one whose stubborn"

"Oh yeah?"

"Yeah"

As soon as the word left his mouth their lips came crashing together. Emily's hands gripped his upper arms and his hands found their way to her lower back gently. They pressed their bodies together hungrily. Without breaking the kiss Hotch pressed her against the counter. She let her hands wander up his shoulders and over his chest. He gripped her waist with strong hands.

"My bedroom is that way" Emily breathed, breaking apart the kiss and nodding down the hall.

Hotch only nodded and pressed his lips back against hers while picking her up and letting her wrap her legs around him. He walked them down the hall and with a bump of his shoulder the bedroom door opened. He instantly laid her on the bed and propped himself up above her with his arms. Emily pushes off his jacket and started fumbling with his tie.

"Here" Hotch breathed, sitting back and yanking his tie loose before pulling it off his neck.

Emily sat up with him and began unbuttoning his shirt, taking that off too. She lay her hands gently on his bare chest and brought her lips to his again.

Soon enough they were both naked under the sheets.