Adventures In Babysitting

Disclaimer: I don't own Criminal Minds, that's CBS'. But I do own my thoughts, which made this story.

Summary: An injured Emily is sidelined on the teams next case, so she volunteers to watch Jack while the team is in the field. Jack tells her a secret about Hotch.

A/N: Yes this one was also another one of my favorites and I realized just how many babysitting stories involve Emily and Jack, so after re-editing them I decided to post them as a multi chapter fic of oneshots. Enjoy.

John F. Kennedy said, "Children are the world's most valuable resource and it's best hope for the future."

"This sucks" Emily grumbled, "I can't believe I'm sidelined for the next three weeks."

"Well Princess, that's what happens when an unsub trips you" Morgan teased the brunette.

"Shut up" she glared at him, "It could've easily been you, you know."

Up in Hotch's office, he and Dave watched the whole exchange, both men were relieved that the brunette was going to be fine.

"So what'll we do with her?" Dave asked, "She'll be out of commission on the field for three weeks."

"The same thing we did, when Reid was shot in the leg," Hotch said, "Keep her here with Garcia and help from the office."

The older man raised an eyebrow at that thought, he knew Emily hated being sidelined, and took it out on anyone around. Namely Morgan at this moment.

He chuckled when he saw the brunette agent toss a wadded up piece of paper and threw it at Morgan's head.

"Yeah, I don't think that's going to go over well with Emily." Dave said.

Hotch was pulled from the humorous image when his cell phone rang, noting it was was Jessica.

Dave left to give him privacy, deciding to go down into the bullpen to calm the easily on edge Emily, Morgan and Reid.

JJ ignored the chatter all around her talking with Garcia who was carrying their next files up to Hotch's office to alert him that Georgetown LEOs needed them right away.

"Okay I'll check Jessica. Bye." Hotch said into his cell phone.

"Hey bossman" Garcia greeted passing along the file, "We've got a quick case, Georgetown needs us."

"Okay assemble the team right away" Hotch told her, going over to his desk and quickly scanning the bullpen for the injured brunette.

The team went to the conference room, along with Emily with some help from Morgan.

"We have a quick one in Georgetown, three women gone missing and the local LEOs have an idea who the unsub but the Mayor wants it everything by the book so they need our help with a profile." JJ said.

"Alright we'll leave in an hour." Hotch said "Emily I'd like to speak to your before we leave. Wheels up in 30."

The team left the conference room while Emily stayed watched as her face fell into a sad expression before making it.

"I know, I know. I'm staying behind to help with Garcia." Emily said sullenly.

"I wanted to know if you could babysit Jack for me?" Hotch asked watching Emily's face look up in surprise.

"What?" Emily asked.

"Jessica has to go out of town, her father fell and broke his hip. She's going up there to help her mother. We thought it'd be best if Jack didn't have to see his grandfather like that." Hotch said hoping Emily would like to spend time with Jack.

Emily was more than happy to spend time with Jack, but she wondered if this was just because he felt bad that she hurt her ankle, because he was in a pinch or he wanted her to spend time with Jack.

"Sure" Emily said "No problem. Jack and I are old friends" Emily said smiling.

Hotch felt relief that Emily liked spending time with his son, he just wished he could tell Emily he was just as excited to spend time with her as Jack was.

"I think it'd be better if you stayed over at my place since Jack's use to my place and so Jessica can drop him off there" Hotch said "Before I leave the case, we'll stop by your apartment to grab some stuff." Hotch flashed his dimple at her.

'Oh boy, there's that dimple again' Emily thought 'Why is that my kryptonite?'

'Ah, I see the dimple got to her' Hotch thought watching her get up to go down the stairs.

"I better go get Morgan to help me down the stairs" Emily said hobbling over to the door.

"That's ok, I can help you" Hotch said walking over to Emily and taking her right arm over his shoulder to help her down the stairs.

Dave watched from his office as Hotch helped Emily down the stairs to her desk.

"Smooth move, Aaron" Dave muttered.

"Ok, Jessica should be here in about a half hour." Hotch said as he lead Emily in to his apartment.

"Alright" Emily said as she sat down on Hotch's couch.

It thrilled Hotch having Emily here in his apartment.

"I better go grab my go-bag and head out to meet the jet" Hotch said walking to his hall closet to grab his bag.

Hotch walked over to Emily on the couch, lean down and kissed her forehead, "Thanks for agreeing to watch Jack."

"No problem." Emily said in surprise and happiness watching Hotch waved at her, walking out the door.

Soon after Emily heard the door open and in came Jack and Jessica.

"Emily!" Jack said running straight for her.

"Jack be careful" Jessica said coming over to the couch "Hi Emily, how are you?"

"Oh, I've had better days" Emily said "I hope everything turns out fine with your father"

"Thank you" Jessica said smiling "I better get going. Bye Jack."

"Bye Aunt Jessica" Jack said sitting next to Emily.

As Jessica went to close the door behind her, she smiled at the sight of Jack talking to Emily.

'I wish Aaron would tell her how he felt. I certainly heard how he smiles when Jack talks about Aaron and her' Jessica thought closing the door shut.

"How'd you get hurt Emily?" Jack asked noticing the ace bandages around her wrist and ankle.

"Oh, a bad guy tripped me." Emily explained to the five year old. 'Tell the edited version' Emily thought.'

"So you hungry Little Man?" Emily asked.

"No Aunt Jessica gave me a hot dog before we left." Jack said.

"Want to color a picture for your dad, when he comes back?" Emily asked.

"No, I want to show you something," Jack said running to the bedroom.

He came back with a picture behind him. 'Maybe Emily likes daddy to.'

"What you got there Jack?" Emily asked.

"Do you like my dad?" Jack asked "Because he likes you."

Jack hands her a framed photo of the team that Emily barely remembers taking. Had to be from at least three months ago.

"See Emily, daddy's looking at you in this picture. He always likes looking out you." Jack said.

"Jack, this doesn't mean that your dad likes me as anything more than a friend," Emily said.

"But when the mom of a girl from my school asked daddy out, he told her that he was interested in someone else." Jack said, "He always looks at you. Uncle Dave said that daddy is afraid of rejection that's why he hasn't asked you out."

"Jack" Emily licked her lip, "Let's not discuss this now."

Jack went to put the picture back in Hotch's room.

"Please just talk to him," Jack asked sitting next to Emily.

"I'll think about it." Emily said, "I can't promise anything."

Jack grabbed the remote and sighed 'I tried.' Jack thought 'I'll try harder when daddy comes back.'

Hotch returned the next afternoon and saw Emily playing Connect Four with Jack at the table.

"I'm home" Hotch said watching Jack and Emily look up at him. "Miss me?"

"Daddy" Jack said running Hotch.

Emily heard the two talk while Emily put the game back in the box placing it on the shelf behind the table.

Hotch saw Emily lightly hobble over to get her overnight bag.

"You're leaving?" Hotch asked putting Jack down.

"Yeah, I'm going to skedaddle now." Emily said walking over to the door.

"Well then I'll drive you home." Hotch said.

"No that's ok, I'm going to catch a cab." Emily said to which gave her a look "Don't give me that look."

"Don't go Emily," Jack said.

"I got to Jack." Emily said wincing as she lowered herself to Jack's eye level, "Hey, I'll see you soon. Ok?"

Jack nodded sadly, and Hotch felt himself feeling sad too.

'I guess she just offered to watch Jack as a friend's favor.' Hotch thought.

'I gotta get out of here' Emily thought to herself 'Otherwise I'll confess to someone who doesn't see me as anything than a friend.'

"Bye" Emily called out, closing the door and limping towards the elevator.

"Daddy?" Jack said as Hotch looked down at his son. "I think it's my fault she left so fast. I showed her the picture of your friends. The one where your staring at her. I told her you liked her."

Hotch's eyes widen, "What?"

"I told her that Uncle Dave said your afraid of rejection that's why you haven't told her" Jack told his father "I asked her if she liked you more than as a friend, she wouldn't answered but she looked like she wanted to say yes."

"Oh my..." Hotch said, opening the door and groaned as the elevator had just closed "Wait here."

"Okay." Jack said watching Hotch run out the door to the stairs.

'Please, please hurry.' Emily thought. 'As soon as I'm home than I can have my freak out.'

The doors opened and Emily nearly walked into a gasping for breath Hotch.

"Wha... whoa... wait." Hotch got out through gasps for air.

"What the hell?" Emily said "You ran down three flight of stairs?"

Hotch nodded and walked over to the water fountain taking a big sip of water.

"Must be in good shape" Emily said lightly which caught Hotch's attention.

"Ok, now can you tell me why you ran down three flights of stairs?" Emily said.

"Jack told me what he you two discussed the other day" Hotch said looking for any sign from her.

"Oh," was all Emily said. "Ok."

"So now you know how I feel, though I'd rather been the one to have told you instead of my son" Hotch said.

"We can discuss this later, my ankle is killing me." Emily said shifting to the side.

"Fine we can discuss this back in my apartment." Hotch said.

Emily shook her head, "No I'm going home we can talk about this after work on Monday."

"That's too far away, we're going to my apartment whether you like it or not," Hotch said "Or do I have to throw you over my shoulder?"

Emily took a deep breath, "Five minutes, than that's it" Emily said.

"We'll see," Hotch coyly smirked. The alpha in him could tell she had feelings for him whether she wanted to admit it or not.

Hotch grabbed her bag and put her right arm over his shoulder for support and went back up to his apartment.

As soon as they got to the front door, Emily felt hesitant. Hotch sensing this turned to her.

"Emily look at me" Hotch said trying to get to her, "Look at me."

The brunette met his eyes, as his own turned serious, "I like you, I really do. Do you feel the same about me?"

Hotch saw her hesitating again, setting her bag down he pressed his forehead against hers while wrapping his arms around her waist.

"I think we both want this" Hotch leaned in, kissing her thrilled when she returned the kiss.

Jack opened the door, and smiled saying, "Told you so."

Hotch took Emily's bag and they walked into the apartment to a very excited Jack.

"Life loves to be taken by the lapel and told: 'I'm with you kid. Let's go." Maya Angelou

To Be Continued...

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