Never Together Nor Apart

[Chapter 74]

[JJ is 22 weeks (5 1/2 months); Lily is 24 weeks old (6 months); Alana is 1 week old]

Emily's POV:

I sit on the couch while rocking Alana. I hear a knock at the door, my anxiety spikes up, my breathing becomes fast and heavy as I panic. I rush to hide us in the closet.

"Em? It's me. Can you open the door?" I hear JJ's voice.

With shallow breaths and an increased heart rate I slowly creep to unlock the door before rushing back into the closet. I hear the doorknob click, letting me know she was coming in.

"Emily, I'm coming in. Okay? It's me alright? It's JJ," she calls out.

Once I hear the door shut and lock I carefully exit the safety of the small room. JJ spots me, the worry in her eyes is prominent.

"I'm so sorry. I didn't even think about calling you beforehand," she apologizes.

"I-uh. No, no you're fine," I suck in a deep shaky breath.

"Is Hotch not here?" She looks around.

"He um, he went to get groceries because I um," I begin to tremble.

"Emily it's okay, let's just sit down alright?" She move us to the couch.

I place Alana in the bassinet right next to me so she can sleep. I break down into JJ's arms.

"I just don't want anything to happen to her," I sob.

"He can't hurt either of you anymore, okay? He is gone. I made sure of it myself and Garcia did the most detailed search she could. He will never hurt anyone again, I promise," she hugs me tightly.

I continue to cry into her shoulder until the phone rings. I pick it up once I see Aaron's name.

"Aaron?" I answer with a sniffle.

"Em, is everything okay? I'm almost home," he sounds panicked.

"No, no! I'm fine. JJ is just over here," I let him know.

"Okay, I have lunch if she'd like to stay," he adds.

"I'll let her know. I love you," I wait for his reply.

"I love you too," he states before ending the call.

I rub my temples and set my phone back down on the table.

"Aaron is gonna be home soon. He's bringing lunch if you want to stay," I offer.

"Oh, that's—" I freeze as I hear the door being unlocked.

I carefully pick up Alana, trying not to wake her, and rush into the closet.

"Em, it's me," Aaron's voice echos.

"Where is she?" I hear him whisper to JJ.

"She hid in the closet again. She did the same thing when I came over," she whispers back.

I peek through the door and see Aaron with grocery bags and go to help him put them up.

"I can take Alana while you eat," JJ offers, holding out her hands.

I stiffen, remembering how that vile man had taken my daughter. I let out a muffled noise and rush into my room and shut the door. Steamy tears stream down my face as I rock my baby girl, holding her firm against my body.

Hotch's POV:

I watch Emily rush out as JJ reaches to touch Alana.

"I'm so— I didn't mean to upset her," she trails off.