The Explosion
Disclaimer: I don't own Criminal Minds, CBS does.
Summary: Emily makes a mistake early on in a case of a violent and dangerous unsub who ends up escaping causing the team to be angry at her.
Timeline: Present Day but there is no Ashley Seaver or Ian Doyle.
A/N: Special shout out to my sister for helping me figure out this story.
Hotch sat in his office, waiting for Emily to come to see him.
'Today is going to be a bad day.' Hotch thought to himself.
Hotch always hated funerals, ever since he attended his own father's funeral.
Things were still tense within the BAU, and no one spoke of or to Emily.
Hotch knew it was partially his fault, since he blamed her for Victor Evans' escape and his blowing up the warehouse with people inside and the brain death Officer Bailey.
'Now they blame her for Anderson, Mick and Officer Bennett.' Hotch thought 'It's not her fault.'
"Penny for your thoughts." Emily said standing in his doorway.
"Pretty cheap thoughts then, huh?" Hotch joked.
"I'd go for a dirty thought than a cheap one." Emily said smirking at Hotch.
Emily walked into the office and he saw her in the appropriate black funeral attire, but still so beautiful.
"Do you want to talk about what's on your mind?" Emily asked.
"That all this is my fault." Hotch said "The deaths, the teams cold shoulder treatment towards you."
"It's not your fault Hotch." Emily told him "I really wish you'd stop blaming yourself."
"How can I not blame myself?" Hotch said "If I'd given you adequate back up, Evans would be in custody right now. And we wouldn't be attending multiple funerals."
"You couldn't have predicted this, anymore than you could of predicted Foyet, or any other unsub we faced." Emily said gently.
"It still feels like this is my fault." Hotch said.
Emily walked over to Hotch raising her hand up like she's going to touch him but heard footsteps approaching and backed away from him smiling.
Hotch felt a huge shock by the look in her eye, love.
A knock pulled Hotch's eyes towards the door to see Morgan and Garcia there.
"It's time." Morgan said looking at Hotch "Are you alright, Hotch?"
"I'll be there in a minute." Hotch said to the two as they headed down the catwalk.
"Emily..." Hotch said walking up close to her only to see her head shake her head as she moved to the door.
"Seems like our timing sucks." Emily joked "It's time to go say goodbye."
"I wanted to know if you are going to want to stay on with this team?" Hotch asked.
Emily bit her lip and shook her head "I can't stay."
"Why?" Hotch asked.
Looking out Hotch's window in to the bullpen she said "It's time to go, Hotch. They're waiting for you."
"Are you going to ride with us?" Hotch asked.
"I've got my own ride there." Emily said "You better go."
Hotch heads towards the door and said, "I think I'm in love with you."
Emily smiled at him "I love you, too."
Walking out of his office, Hotch joined his team to attend the funerals.
Hotch got out of the SUV, lost in thought as he started to walk over towards the caskets for the burials.
"Are you ok, Aaron?" Dave asked seeing his friend's face.
"Dave?" Hotch said "Why is everyone ignoring her?"
"What?" Dave asked.
"Why is everyone ignoring Emily?" Hotch asked.
"Aaron?" Dave asked lightly "Where do you think we are today?"
Hotch turned around to see the three caskets with pictures of Anderson, Mick and Emily next to them.
Hotch shook his head and the tears fell down his face.
"Hotch?" JJ asked running up to him "Are you alright?"
Hotch just cried as his team circled around him each embracing one another.
"This is all my fault." Hotch whispered staring at the smiling photo of Emily.
"No it's not!" Morgan said "This is not your fault or hers. This is Victor Evans fault."
Hotch walked away from his team to stand next to Emily's closed casket while looking at her photo.
"Goodbye, Emily." Hotch whispered placing a white rose on the casket.
The wind blew and a feather landed at Hotch's feet, bending over to pick it up, he felt Emily's presence.
"I love you, Emily." Hotch whispered as he went to sit with his team.
"One day, your life will flash before your eyes. Make sure it's worth watching." Author Unknown
The End