Secrets

      The next few days at work were stressful for Emily to say the least. She had to sit back and watch her team go into details and try to solve the case. Thanks to some handy work by Garcia the team had been sent astray a few times in order to protect Agent Prentiss. Something that could end with Garcia in jail but she knew no other tech analyst would be able to uncover what she deleted. Emily knew it was the last day of looking at the case, as long as they don’t find anything too monumental. With two coffees in hand Emily makes her way into the bau office and sets one down on JJs desk. It’s not often that Emily is one of the first to arrive at the office but this morning was different she was nervous and needed to be here. 

     Seeing as it is a Friday most of the team tend to be a bit late, Emily usually included. One of the first to arrive is in the office is Rossi, who makes his way over to Emily. 

     “You’re early?” He says looking at his watch seeing it is only 7:45. 

      “Yeah couldn’t sleep, plus there wasn’t a line for coffee this morning.” Emily says motioning for her cup. 

      “Are you doing okay?” Rossi asks eyeing Prentiss. He had seen how nervous she had been lately. At times she was withdrawn, her behavior reminding him of how she was before everything happened with doyle. 

      “Yeah” Emily says nodding. 

      “You know everyone reacts differently when an old case you worked on comes back to light again. If you need anyone to talk to, my door is always open. Always.” Rossi says looking at her sincerely. 

      “Thanks Rossi but I really am fine.” Emily says nodding. Rossi nods and heads to his office. Emily sits at her desk trying to busy herself by looking at the files until more people start to show up. Finally around 7:55 JJ walks into the office. Even though Emily’s back is to the door she can tell it is her by the click of her shoes on the floor. JJ sets her bag down on her desk and grabs the coffee and heads over to Emily’s desk. JJ sits on the end of Emily’s desk and smiles. 

     “Good morning, thanks for the coffee.” JJ says taking a sip. 

     “Anytime. How was your night last night?” Emily asked, already knowing the answer. The pair had been inseparable since the relationship between them started. They fell into a routine, JJ would follow Emily home from work and stay the night. But in order to erase suspension from the team they would arrive separately and at different times. 

     “Oh I think you know how it went” JJ smiles blushing a bit. The two stare at each other, wishing they were back in the comfort and privacy of Emily’s apartment. But this is quickly interrupted. 

     “Prentiss here this early? That’s never a good sign.” Morgan says loudly heading to his desk which is next to Emily’s. 

     “I know that’s what I thought.” JJ says, hoping off Emily’s desk. 

     “Just looking over the case that is all.” Emily says looking at her partner. 

     “This one seems to bother you, you sure that’s all?” Derek said eyeing Emily. As JJ heads back to her desk. 

     “What do you mean?” She says confused what he is implying. 

     “You just seem to be getting close to a particular someone.” Morgan says looking at JJ. 

     “We’re friends that is all.” Emily says dismissing him. 

     “Okay well I know you have heart eyes for a particular blonde in the unit. If something happened you can tell me.” Derek adds. 

      “What no I don’t!” Emily says surprised.

      “Okay I’m just saying if you want to talk I’m right here.” He says sitting down at his desk. 

       The rest of the team comes in and starts working on the case. Emily tried her best to bury herself in paperwork to avoid talking to anyone. She wants this day to go by fast. Everyone works tirelessly to try and find anything they could have missed, they go over every detail they find but nothing is coming up new. Hotch calls everyone into the conference room to see what they have found. 

    “Has anyone found anything?” Hotch asks looking around the room. 

     “Nothing substantial enough to bring new light to the case.” Rossi says as the rest of the team nods with him. 

      “Well we will continue to look at the case until 2:00. If no one finds anything else we will pack them up and send them back. Understood?” Hotch says. “Good now get back to work.” 

       Emily heads back to her desk and checks her watch. 11:30. Only 2 hours and 30 minutes and she would be out of this personal hell. After looking at a few more files Emily heads to Garcia’s lair to have lunch with her and JJ. 

       “Only two hours left.” Garcia says, looking at Emily walk into the office. She can tell by the look on her face that she is exhausted from this. 

      “Can you happen to make the time go by faster?” Emily jokes sitting down by Garcia. 

       “I wish, but it will go by fast enough and soon all of this will be behind us.” Garcia adds. They are interrupted by JJ coming in to join them. JJ can see how stressed Emily is. This assignment has been eating her alive. 

      “How are you holding up?” JJ asks sitting next to Emily. 

      “Just ready for this to be over.” Emily says looking down at her food. She has barely been able to eat over the last week. The stress of it all is affecting her more than she would like to admit. 

      “Well it will be soon.” JJ says grabbing her hand. The trio sits and makes small talk over lunch. Both Garcia and JJ try to keep it light trying their best to cheer up Emily.  Once they finish their lunch Garcia looks at the clock. “Look, you only have a hour and a half left.” She says.  

      “Yeah that’s quick. Most movies are longer than that!” JJ said, trying to help ease some stress. 

      “True. I need a drink.” Emily says tuning her fingers through her hair. 

       “Ask and you shall receive.” Garcia says as she starts to go through a drawer. JJ and Emily look at each other confused until they see Garcia pull out a bottle of whisky and three glasses. She pours them each a little and hands them to the women who are still confused. 

      “Morgan got me it to drink after we solved a case a while back. I didn’t think I would use it but this seems like a better time than any. Cheers.” Garcia says while they clink the glass together. They finish their drinks and head back to their desks. Emily starts looking at the files again. She admits the drink did help calm her nerves a bit.  

      Everyone continues to work hoping to find the missing piece to this case. Emily notices Reid sit up straighter deep in thought. She worries for a second that he uncovered something that would extend this case for them. However she notices he has all of the case files closed in front of him. Morgan notices her starring. 

     “Yeah wonder boy over there gave up an hour ago. Said he’s seen it all and there is nothing there.” Morgan says. 

      Emily breathes a sigh of relief and smiles. “Well if he said that why are we still working?” 

      “We aren’t.” He says turning the Manila folder around to show that he is playing games on his phone instead. 

     Emily smiles and chuckles. “You are too much, Derek.” 

     Emily tries to stay focused on the case but ends up being pressured into playing fortnite duos with Morgan.  “So I click this to shoot?” She asks, trying to figure it out. 

    “Yes perfect. Okay let’s go kick some teenagers ass.” He says smiling. Emily has to admit the game is fun and a great distraction to the crazy in her life right now. After a few games and 2 wins Hotch comes out into the bullpen. 

     “Okay everyone can start packing up the files.” He says walking back to his office. 

     “Finally.” Emily thinks, not realizing she said it out loud. Letting out a sign of relief, her nightmare was finally coming to a close. 

     “Yeah I couldn’t agree more.” Morgan says grabbing a box and putting files into it. “This case was hard. I don’t think they will ever solve it.” 

      “I think you're right.” Emily says setting a box down before filling another. The team works up filling all 40 boxes with the files and evidence they were given. They are almost done when Emily hears Morgan groan. 

      “That’s never a good sign.” He whispers under his breath. She turns around to see Strauss walking over to Hotch's office with two younger agents. Emily’s heart skips a beat and she looks over to JJ who looks just as concerned as she does. 

       “I wonder what that is about?” Reid says watching as she walks into the office and the door and blinds her closed. 

       “I don’t know I’ll call Rossi.” Emily says picking up her phone and hitting his name. “Any idea what’s going on in there?” Rossi heads down to the bullpen. 

       “Not a clue.” He says as he joins the team staring at Hotch's office door.  

       “I’ll see if babygirl knows.” Morgan says picking up the phone. “She doesn’t either.” Everyone sits in silent watching. JJ comes over and stands next to Emily trying to grab a hold of Emily’s hand that is shaking. 

     “Maybe we are getting new members to the unit.” JJ says, trying to find any answer. 

      “We would have heard about that though.” Rossi adds. 

      Emily feels her heart beating throughout her whole body. She can’t help but bounce her leg as she sits at her desk. Then suddenly her phone rings, the team looks over and sees Hotch's name come up on the screen. She looks over to JJ who is staring back at her, JJ shakes her head not wanting Emily to answer it. However, they both know she can’t.  

     “Prentiss.” She says trying to sound normal, but the team picks up on a slight waver in her voice. 

     “Yeah I’m on my way.” Emily says setting her phone down. She stands up and starts to walk to the office. 

     “Em wait.” JJ says grabbing her. “I’ve got your back. Don’t worry.” She says squeezing her hand before letting go. The whole team watches as Emily enters the office and the door is slammed closed behind her. 

     “I’m calling Garcia.” JJ says grabbing her phone and dialing her. She quickly joins the rest of the team in the bullpen. 

      Suddenly they all get a text to head to the conference room. They all look at each other with worry in their eyes. 

     “Does anyone know what the hell is going on?” Morgan says sitting down in his spot. 

     “Maybe she is being transferred.” Reid supplies knowing it is a reasonable explanation. 

      “Maybe, this feels different though.” Rossi says as they look through the glass wall of the conference room to Hotch's office. They watch Hotch and Strauss walk out first chatting followed by one younger agent. A minute passes before everyone takes a sharp inhale at the sight in front of them. They watch helplessly as Emily Prentiss gets taken away by the other agent in handcuffs.