Disclaimed!

This is the last chapter, mostly because I wasn't sure where to go from here and also because I want to concentrate on writing 'Rebuilding Bridges'.

Thanks to everyone who has taken the time to read, hope you enjoyed it.

As always, let me know what you think!

...

Prentiss stepped off the elevator, her whole body numb, as she watched Morgan, Reid and Garcia interact in the bustling bullpen as other agents got on with their mundane tasks.

In that moment, watching her friends laugh as Rossi stepped out of his office with a scowl on his face, the brunette realised that life had continued.

The newly returned agent had spent two uncomfortable weeks with her parents and her cat, Sergio, attempting to pull herself out of the haze that horror of the last year had been.

Prentiss hovered in the office entrance hoping that no eyes would land on her from inside the bullpen, her mind wondering if she could slowly slip out of the building like she did thirteen months, four days ago.

Not that she was counting the days, since she abandoned her life with her friends, her family, and recklessly ran into trouble.

Recklessness was just something she had been doing since her teenage years.

Pressing a hand to her scarred chest, the profiler took a few steps back but froze upon hearing the familiar clicks of heels coming towards her.

Prentiss turned slowly, her eyes widened as JJ smirked knowingly. "Running away again?"

"No, just reassessing my life." The brunette remarked.

JJ nodded once, her hands full of folders, like they always used to be. "Let us help, Em."

"I'm not sure I can." The older woman replied uncertainly.

"It's your choice, to come back or not. But just remember we're always going to be here for you." JJ took a step close towards the tense profiler.

Prentiss shrugged unsurely. "JJ, I was the one who was reckless. I was the one who ruined everything."

"That's not important." The liaison stressed.

"Isn't it?"

The blonde sighed quickly. "Emily, you made a decision, it ended badly but now it's fixed. You're going through a lot right now, and even though I can't imagine what it's been like for you..."

"You were keeping secrets too." Prentiss countered coolly.

JJ smiled thinly at the interruption. "Yeah, but I got to go home at night. Em, we're here and even if you don't want to come back to the BAU that's fine. You'll always have a home here. We'll always be your family."

"Thanks." Emily smiled gratefully.

"I'm here anytime you need me." JJ smiled comfortingly.

The two women stared at each other reassuringly not realising a figure walking towards them from the bullpen.

Garcia burst through the glass doors, meeting the blonde's eyes blankly before grinning broadly towards the brunette. "Emily, when did you get here?"

"Erm, just a few minutes ago." Prentiss replied after studying the suddenly guilty look on JJ's face after the accusing eyes of the technical analyst had vanished to meet her own eyes affectionately.

Garcia grabbed the profiler's thin hand and dragged her into the bullpen to greet their other colleagues.

JJ held back and quietly excused herself as she darted off to the Unit Chief's while Rossi nudged everyone else to the briefing room.

JJ hovered near the leading agent's desk, as he finished off an email with intense concentration. Hotch's eyes met the waiting liaison's, signalling that he was done with typing. "Emily's here."

Hotch nodded at JJ's remark. "How is she doing?"

"Not good, but she won't ask for any help." JJ shrugged knowingly. "It happens to most returning agents. She will crumble if no one intervenes."

The profiler smirked and raised an eye. "You want me to say something?"

"She'll listen to you. She's knows what you've been through." JJ insisted.

"Okay, I'll see what I can do." Hotch responded lowering his hand to the blonde's back to guide her out of his office and towards the rest of the team.

Prentiss's eyes darted around the familiar room, her mind fretting as she sat with her back to the door. Something she hadn't been comfortable with over the last thirteen months.

Garcia and Reid were chatting about Prentiss's new apartment, asking her if she needed any help with the move as JJ and Hotch entered the room.

The conversation quickly ended.

The brunette frowned as JJ hovered closely to Hotch while her seated friend's made no attempt to greet their colleagues.

"So do you need any help with the move?" Morgan broke the silence first when he caught Prentiss's eyes.

She shook her head and returned her gaze to the unit chief and liaison, who were still standing near the doorway. "Hi Hotch."

"Prentiss, it's good to see you again." Hotch smiled thinly after he exchanged a soft look with JJ.

The liaison held a file closer to her chest. "Em, are you sure you don't need any help with the move?"

"I'll be fine, really JJ. You've already helped me move five times." Prentiss smiled which JJ smirked back knowingly.

Morgan scoffed at their inside knowledge. "So, did you have fun at the 'rents?"

"Erm..." Prentiss bit her lower lip as the obvious divide between JJ and Hotch and the rest of the team continued. "Guys, is everything okay?"

"Why would you think it wasn't?" Garcia asked obliviously.

The brunette glanced around the table at their angry eyes behind the fixed smiles then looked back at JJ and Hotch's stoic features. "I'm still a profiler."

"Does that mean you're coming back?" Rossi prodded.

Prentiss shrugged uncertainly. "I don't know."

"What do you mean you don't know, we're your family?" Reid snapped, the first to break the facade.

She met Reid's eyes softly. "Why are you all blaming JJ and Hotch?"

"They lied." Morgan retorted angrily.

Prentiss blinked a few times. "So did I."

"That is different. You died." Garcia added coolly, keeping her gaze off the standing agents.

The profiler sighed and leaned back in her seat. "I... I'm still alive though."

"Emily, we're just happy that you're back home with us." Garcia reached across the table for the Ambassador's daughters' hand.

Prentiss smiled slightly at the touch. "But I wouldn't have been if it hadn't been for JJ and Hotch."

"Don't make us feel guilty for blaming them." Morgan rolled his eyes.

"I don't want you to blame them." Prentiss responded in a whisper.

JJ took a step forward away from the safety of Hotch's side and placed the file in her hand in the middle of the table.

She looked at Prentiss's troubled expression before walking towards the TV screen. "Okay why don't we get on with why we're all here? Emily, Hotch wants a word for you. Everyone else let's get to work."

Prentiss nodded, grateful for the blonde's professional interruption, and followed Hotch out the room while listening to JJ brief the team about a case in Milwaukee.

The profiler hovered in the doorway to Hotch's office as he leaned against the front of the desk. "When are you going to tell the team that you love JJ?"

Hotch's face didn't betray his shock at her statement. "I..."

"Sorry that was personal." The brunette stepped into the room and sat on the couch.

Hotch shook his head. "It's fine. We'll probably tell everyone when they figure it out for themselves."

Prentiss chuckled solemnly. "I'm happy for you two. You both deserve to be happy."

"So do you Emily. I need you to do me a favour." Hotch tilted his head as he observed the once confident and ambitious agent.

Now Prentiss seemed lost and even weak.

Emily raised an eye in curiosity. "You think because you and JJ saved my life I owe you?"

Hotch smirked at her sarcasm. "Yes."

"Fine." Prentiss rolled her eyes.

Hotch walked forward slowly and sat on the table in front of her. "I need you to get some help."

"Like a shrink?" Prentiss asked while crossing her legs.

Hotch smiled, warming his face. "Yes and ask the team to help you move. Talk to JJ, so she stops worrying. Don't lock yourself away. I expect you back at work by the end of the month."

"But..." She hesitated momentarily. "I don't know if I'm coming back."

Hotch chuckled quietly. "Of course you're coming back Prentiss."

"How can you be so sure?" The brunette raised her eyes.

Hotch looked around his office briefly. "Because I remember walking into my office one night after coming back from St Louis and you were sitting right there, you were so eager to work here."

"A lot has changed since then, Hotch." Prentiss retorted quickly.

He nodded once. "Not that much has changed."

"Hotch you're being a little forceful here. I'm not even certain I want to work for the Bureau again." Prentiss stated calmly.

Hotch met her eyes confidently. "Don't get too hung up on all the secrets you've told. You have the chance at a new beginning. Don't screw it up."

"Hotch." She called out quietly when he stood.

Hotch picked up a file off his desk before meeting her expectant gaze. "I'm glad you're back safely. I should get to briefing."

"Yes sir." Prentiss smiled thinly as she stood and made her way to the door.

The profiler made the newly returned agent freeze as he stopped at the door. "Emily."

"Yes." Prentiss rested her hand on the rail.

The profiler faced the brunette as he hovered in the doorway. "It's gets easier."

"You think?" Prentiss raised an eye as she hovered on the top step.

Hotch smiled and shrugged before turning. "I do."

...

Thanks to everyone who has taken the time to read and alert and a special thanks for reviewing; Andi, GiftedGurl3393, MegKate, kdzl, 22twilighter22, stefi, JJandHotch4ever96, Flames101, mummacass, angry penguin and jekkah!