behind closed doors

eight

It was late at night, and everyone had gone home. It was a rather slow day, a quite boring one actually, except for Emily. So much was happening, and it was all going too fast. It's like she blinked and her world was once again being turned upside down. She was finishing up some paperwork when she hears Rossi walking out of his office and down the stairs "You need a ride, lady? I didn't see your car out front." he asks her as she smiles politely "I'm good, Dave." she tells him. Rossi nods his head at her, then turns his head to Aaron's office. Putting two and two. "Okay. Goodnight," he tells her then begins walking away.

When she sees Rossi walk inside the elevator, she makes her way up to Aaron's office, then knocks before she enters. He looks up from his paperwork "Has everyone gone home?" he asks her as she nods before she takes another step closer to his desk "What are you working on?" she begins "Just checking over some paperwork. Someone on my team keeps forgetting to sign their forms" he looks up at her with a raised brow. Emily lets out a huff "Okay, okay. You got me" she smiles and sits on the edge of his desk "Are we going to talk?" she asks.

Aaron sighs and leans back on his chair "Yes, I talked to Strauss" he starts "She had a lot to say," he says as Emily looks down, disappointed "Oh," she utters "She disapproves?" she asks him. Aaron's mouth turns inwards "Oh yes, one-hundred percent." he tells her, taking ahold of her hand "But that's not all," this makes Emily meet his gaze.

"Did you know Strauss is fifty-four?" He asks her as Emily shakes her head, a little bit confused as to why they were talking about their boss' age "She's been in the bureau for thirty years. Worked as a communications liaison for seven and eventually made her way up as Section Chief." Aaron continues "Communications liaison? Wow. That's hard to believe" Emily chuckles "Wait- did you say she was fifty-six?" she finally realizes "Mandatory retirement for all agents is fifty-seven" she alluded, getting up from Aaron's desk.

"She turns fifty-five in two months, and she wants to retire early." Aaron announces "And she's giving me her job." he tells her as Emily widens her eyes, shocked. He gets up from his seat "I told her I was resigning from my position as Unit Chief, which she responded to with 'how did you know?'. I was confused at first but she finally explained the situation to me, and she picked me to take over for her." Aaron explains to the woman standing before him.

"Well, what did you tell her?" Emily asks, excitement in her voice

"I accepted, of course!" Aaron replies as Emily claps her hands together "Well of course you did, you're the perfect man for the job." she congratulated, taking a step towards him "The BAU's Section Chief, Aaron Hotchner!" she proclaimed, pointing at him.

"And you, The BAU's newest Unit Chief, Emily Prentiss" he closes the gap between them, wrapping his arm around her as she lets him. It made her feel special, knowing that she was the only person who knew his love language was physical touch. He loved to touch her, brush his fingers through her hair, wrap his arms around her while they slept, caress her soft skin whenever she wore something that revealed it, and the list goes on.

"Will you be in the field with us?" she pulls away from him as he nods softly, running his thumb over her face "I can if you'll have me." he tells her as she looks away to laugh "I want you in the field with us on every case," she demands, using an authoritative tone of voice. He licks his bottom lip, "Whatever you say, Chief Prentiss."

"And us? What will happen to us?" she looks up at him, her hand running random patterns on his chest. Aaron sighs, "Strauss wasn't happy about it. She said we'd have to declare 'the status of our relationship' to the team, and to HRB but other than that, we're safe." he explains to her, drawing out a small laugh from her "You need to do more Strauss impressions because you do it spot on." she comments.