Title: Never Alone
By: realityaskew
Pairing: Hotch/Prentiss
Rating: PG
Disclaimer: I own nothing from CM.
Summary: Just a quick ficlet involving Emily and it takes place during the episode "Penelope."

***

Death is a constant in my life. Every single day when I wake up I know that I' am going to have to deal with the tragic demise of one or more innocent human beings. I've trained myself to have just the right amount of genuine empathy because if I actually let all my emotions out I wouldn't be able to focus on a case. Death always seems distant to me because it happens to people around me and never to me directly, that was until I heard Garcia got shot. I know this is going to sound strange but I consider Garcia a part of my family. In fact I consider the entire team a part of my family. Growing up my parents were distant and cold so it's nice to now have people in my life who care about me and watch my back. Garcia cannot die. I'd lose more than a friend, I'd lose myself. Right now I'm pacing back and forth in front of a janitor's closet. Luckily no one is around. I can't be around the rest of the team right now. I can't let them see me weak. I need to be strong for them and until I can get my shit together I can't go back to them. I'm so caught up in my thoughts that I don't hear him approach.

"Emily."

The sound of my name on his lips is soft and caring, something foreign to me. I stop pacing and look up at him. I can tell he sees the hurt and confusion in my eyes. He carefully steps forward until he is only a few feet away.

"Everyone was wondering where you ran off to so I decided to come looking for you." He tells me.

"I just needed to be alone for a little while."

"You know you're never truly alone right? We're always here for you. I'm always here for you when you need me."

I know he's just telling me this because he's my boss and he needs to be this way in a situation like this, calm and cool, but it does make me feel better. A few stray tears must have slipped down my cheek because I feel his strong hand reach out and gently brush them away. The feel of his skin on mine sends shivers shooting down my spine. I've always wondered what his touch would feel like.

"Hotch…" Before I can finish what I was going to say his lips brush against mine. I'm taken aback but I still kiss him back. It's a soft kiss that quickly turns deeper. I feel the pain that's inside of him and we grasp onto each other desperately needing someone to anchor us to this world. By the time we break apart we are completely out of breath.

"Never alone." He whispers to me.

"She's going to be fine." I hear JJ say.

Hotch and I jump apart and JJ is standing only a few yards away with a relieved smile on her pretty face.

"She's going to be fine."

Hotch and I both let out a shared sigh of pure relief. I feel like the weight of the world has been lifted from my shoulders. Those five little words uttered from JJ make my entire body flood with complete relief. Part of me knew that Garcia would pull through. She's too much of a fighter to have given up on life.

"We'll be right there." Hotch says.

JJ nods her head and rushes back to where the rest of the team is waiting. Hotch turns his attention back to me and reaches out to caress my cheek.

"I'm always here for you Emily. You're never alone."

***