This has been rattling around in my head for the last few days but I haven't had time to do anything with it. Finally took a few minutes to type it up. Enjoy!

Alternate/extended ending for "Haunted."

I own nothing.

"You didn't have to walk me up here you know," Hotch says as they enter his dark apartment. He walks across the room to turn off the alarm, and keeps the distance between them.

"I know." He hears the hesitation in her voice. "So do you think Call's gonna be okay?"

"I don't know."

"He got his answers, killed the man who haunted him."

"What else is there?" He keeps his eyes focuses away from her, as if afraid of what she might see in them.

"Years of torture."

"You think he'll get over that?" He looks at her briefly, then away again.

"How could he? But at least he doesn't have to feel like he's alone anymore."

"He doesn't have anyone."

"He has Tommy. He's not alone." Emily gives Hotch a poignant stare as he continues to look away from her. "Get some sleep."

He closes and locks the door behind her and stares around his empty apartment a moment before grabbing his keys and running back to the door. He looks down the hall, then sprints to the front door of his building, spotting her on the sidewalk outside.

"Prentiss!" he calls and watches as she stops, turning to face him. He jogs to where she stands as she continues to watch, confusion etched on her face. "Emily… I don't want to be alone."

She nods her understanding, whispers "okay" and follows him back inside.

He wakes up with a start as the music from the DVD menu continues to play in a loop, and starts to get up when he hears her stir next to him.

"You okay?" her voice is drowsy and he smiles despite everything he's been through in the last 24 hours.

"Yeah, I'm fine, just cleaning up. Go back to sleep." He picks up the popcorn bowl from its spot between them on the couch, along with their empty glasses and carries them to the kitchen. He can hear her bare feet shuffle behind him and turns toward her. "Are you staying the rest of the night?"

"Only if you want me to."

"I'd like that." He smiles at her as they wash dishes, then looks at her again. "You can take my room. I'll sleep in Jack's."

"Are you sure?" she asks as they walk down the hall.

"Positive."

She watches as he opens the door to his son's room and takes in the few toys they keep in the small apartment, then opens the next door and enters the bedroom. She hears a light knock on the open door as she's pulling down the comforter.

"Do you need anything to sleep in?" He walks to a drawer and pulls out a pair of sweatpants and a t-shirt for himself.

"Yeah, thanks." She takes the clothes he offers and they stand again in awkward silence.

"Emily, I just…"

"What?" she asks as he trails off.

"Thank you." He smiles at her shyly. "For staying tonight."

She smiles warmly. "Anytime."

He walks to the door and hesitates, then starts to pull it shut behind him.

"Hotch?"

"Yeah?" He turns around and sees her standing just a few inches from him. He lets out a surprised breath when she pulls him into her arms, her head resting on his shoulder for just a second.

He's almost sure he imagined the whisper in his ear, "I'm always here for you," before she pulls back again. "Sleep well, Hotch."

He nods, mumbles "you too" as he closes the door behind him.

Thanks for reading! If you've got a minute, please send a review to tell me what you thought!