This should have happened on the show! And hotch would tell her that it wasn't just because of the drugs but because he loves her! More hotly!

I really like this. It fully explains a lot of things that I feel about Hotch and Emily. I think that she definitely has feelings for him that she doesn't want to face. I'm not sure he has even considered her, and that's sad to me. I like seeing her inner struggle here. Nice job.

Beautiful piece. They're a great couple!

Your stories are always a delight to read, and this one was no exception. I loved it! Beautifully written with wonderful characterization. I wish I could have watched this scene unfold on the screen just as it was written. The writing was excellent, your talent shines through with every turn of a phrase.

Great job setting this one up - the ‘hospitals are creepy’ vibe, along with Emily’s hesitancy, not only provided a glimpse of what she was feeling, but also left me feeling similarly unsettled. Yet despite her unsettlement, her determination to stay by Hotch’s side pushed her forward because nothing else mattered quite as much.

“Nearly two years before, after she'd resigned from the BAU, he'd coaxed her into returning, accompanying him to Milwaukee on a case – one that had quite literally left her with a splitting headache in the end. She'd basically resigned for him, she'd come back for him, and now she sat at his bedside at the hospital with no intention of leaving. It was amazing, the things that Aaron Hotchner could unwittingly have her doing for him, oftentimes without a second thought.” This is the sort of inclusive detail that takes the reader back to the beginning and adds a layer of richness to the story.

“Aside from the days with Jack, this job was all the man really had.” And isn’t that just the saddest, yet truest statement? So like her to be cognizant of that.

“She'd never seen him quite so fragile before – in her mind, he'd always seemed so unbreakable.” I just love this line; he *does* come off as “unbreakable”, yet as the tiny glimpses we’ve seen have shown us - what seems, is not always true.

“He doesn't need you here. It surprised her, just how much such a simple fact could hurt. He didn't need her to stay with him, likely had no idea she was even there. And if he did, he'd probably think that her time would better be utilized out in the field, rather than sitting idly by his bedside. But that was Hotch, Emily realized with the tiniest twitch of her lips. The job came first, long before concern for his own well-being. But one of these days, Emily feared, it was going to get him killed.” Another part I loved; so true, and I can see why it would hurt.

I loved their brief interaction and the way Emily set to puzzling out everything in her head. Angsty, yet sweet; you do make me love these two and all the possibilities... Looking very forward to the next (and everything else on the list!). :)

Love it! You need to write more for this story!

GOD BLESS!

This was amazingly written, you really need to write more of these one shots. You're talented .

It's so good to read your work. Okay, this is only the second one I've read, but I'm already in love with your work. You write with such intensity, and at the same time, with such suability that’s just impossible not to admire your words. So, really, really, congratulations! And please write more of H/P :) It made me so very happy to read this, as sad as it was.

In your other Criminal Minds fanfic, you’ve said that you were hesitant with your characterization, but my dear! The way you wrote them both here mesmerized me! You captured both of them greatly, I could see this happening and they thinking exactly what you’ve written. That’s what’s so freaking amazing!

I wish I could write you more about how much I really loved this, but I’m not very good at reviewing and my english is kind of crappy. Just know that this is awesome and you’ll make me insanely sad if you don’t write any more H/P in the future :)

Again, congratulations!

Hi!

Excellent story! I love it. Plus you mentioned something that I haven't realised, when she resigned she did it for him! not just because she did not want to play politics or to be Strauss' mol. And of copurse, she came back to the BAU for him as well.

Thanks so much for sharing, I enjoyed reading your story a lot. Definitely something we could've seen in the show.

Have a nice evening!

This is a beautiful and powerful piece! Emily so confused... And in denial... Ah, my favourite kind when it comes to this pairing. It becomes way too much fun to play with that one.

Awesome work!

This was a nice study of just who Emily Prentiss is, helps me to understand her, what kind of person she is. I can see that she would be just as steadfast in her desire to stay by his side until she was sure he was okay, as he would be in his desire that she be out in the field working instead of (in his view) wasting her time sitting by his bed.

How she feels about Hotch (even if she doesn't realize it herself, or want to admit it to herself) comes shining through in how she knew he was in pain, in how she wanted to ease that pain. And when he seemed parched, how she was looking around for someone to bring him ice chips, water, anything to make him feel better.

I love that when he woke and uttered her first name it calmed her, made her reach out to him and grasp his hand, and that when he again said her first name, she touched him with a sort of intimacy, one that seemed so natural for her to be doing, and came so easy to her... and that made this come so easily to her lips:

...Stop fighting, Aaron," she breathed,

Although he seemed calmed by her touch, I love that when he began to ask her for something, she thought of a myriad of things he might be needing, all but the one thing he asked for - her to stay. I can just imagine the butterflies and heat that must have pinged through her when he said that.

You are so right in that he'd probably never remember using her first name (so intimate for him!) and asking her to stay, as he was in such a hazy world - but, I believe that it is because he was in that state that his true desires came out, the true desire that in his fully lucid world, he'd never allow himself to ask for.

Excellent job, and if you keep this up, I just may ship this couple too (I'm still feeling them out) some day - but I doubt it would ever be like my EC obsession. I think.

Don't ever say you're not good at this. This was one of the best things I read lately; I enjoyed it so much and I don't even watch this show. There's just something about the way you write that always makes me want to read more. Everything fits the way it's supposed to and I always end up sad that the story/chapter had to end. Yeah, I know it's crazy, but it's the way it is. :) Please, never stop writing, your stories are absolutely perfect.

This was really good! I mean, the way you wrote Emily, and her feelings couldn't be better!I just really could see this happeing, and you just really rock my socks! :D:D