behind closed doors

seven

Hey all! So sorry for the long wait. I just moved, so it has been a very busy month. Nevertheless, I have posted 3 chapters to make up for the delay. Happy reading!

It was 7 AM in the morning when Emily opened her door to find Aaron standing there with two coffees in his hand.

"What are you doing here?" She asks, widening the door so could enter.

"I'm driving you to work" He replies, not entering her home

Last night, Aaron left her place at 1 in the morning. He held her in his arms the entire time as she wept. He whispered words of reassurance and kissed her tears away, trying to make up for lost time, trying to take away the pain that he only added into. Aaron wanted to stay the night, he wanted to watch her fall asleep and make sure that she was safe but he couldn't. Jack needed him.

"Why?" she raised a brow and grabbed her keys, pushing him out of the way so she could lock her door.

"Just want to make sure you get to work safely," Aaron responds, handing her a cup of coffee. She takes a sip, letting the liquid warm her throat that had dried from crying too much last night.

They walk to his car in silence, and they drive for a while in silence too.

"So how's Jack feeling today?" Emily asks with a sigh, putting an end to the awkward silence. Aaron hums "He's feeling a lot better today. The medicine really helped." he continues to keep his sight on the road. Emily nods, keeping her hands wrapped on the now-luke warm cup of coffee.

"Is there an actual reason as to why we're driving to work together?" she asks, turning her head to face him. He keeps his eyes on the road "I told you. I want to make-" he gets cut off "make sure I get to work safely" she finishes for him and sighs, looking away. 

Aaron notices that she was slightly annoyed "I just wanted to be close to you" he tells her, the truth finally leaving his mouth. She turns her face back to him, eyes wide but doesn't say anything else- she waits for him to continue.

"I don't want you to leave," he tells her, still avoiding her gaze "We need you here."

Emily tilts her head "The team will be fine without me. They're smart, they'll get by" she says but he shakes his head, and his grip on the steering wheel tightens.

"That's not what I meant," he says in his authoritative voice "I'm not talking about the team"

Her brows furrow "Aaron-" she begins but he finally turns to face her when they hit a stoplight "I need you here. Jack needs-" Emily shakes her head "No, stop." she says "Don't. Don't guilt-trip me into staying here, please." she sounds almost like she was begging, knowing that if he continued then it would work "I'm not guilt-tripping you. I just-- if you're looking for reasons to stay, I'm giving you lots," he tells her, getting defensive.

She shifts away from him in her seat "I've already weighed in the pros and the cons" she tells him dismissively, immediately regretting it. Aaron takes a deep breath, "So you've thought about this for a while," he says out loud, irritated. Emily scoffs "Yes. I'm sorry I didn't discuss it with you prior to my decision" she snaps, fully annoyed.

"I don't want to fight," Aaron says calmy despite both their annoyed tones "I just- I want to make sure that you are making the right decision" he continues to drive on the road "I'm capable of deciding for myself" she crosses her arms. He stops pushing it, knowing it would be wrong to force her to stay. She wasn't obligated to stay in DC, or stay with the BAU, or listen to anything he said. She was a free woman, she could do anything she wanted.

"Just tell me when you're leaving. So we can say goodbye" Aaron tells her, knowing damn well she would just disappear without saying a word to the team. Emily softens her facial expression "okay."