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littlewinter1917 · 3 months ago

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Oh my god!! When I say this is a masterpiece I absolutely mean it!! I just binged this tonight and it was so addicting and gripping and wholeheartedly, mindblowingly good! 💕 The tension between Hotch and the reader, the characterization of the rest of the team, the pacing of the story, the serial killer mystery, the plot as a whole … Incredible!!! I cannot stress enough just how good this story is and how much I am anticipating the next chapter!! 💖

The Gambit (Hotch x Fem!Reader) -- part eighteen

This chapter has one of the most diabolical lines (to me) that I've ever written 😭 I won't say what it is right now but eventually I will 🤭 Anyways, things are progressing!! The ice is melting!! (Also also, I update the word count on the masterlist as I write, if you ever want to snoop on that 😉)

Warnings: Hotch's pov (yes the angst makes it a warning), he's so worried honestly bless him, Rossi being such a dad (to both of them /hj) that it's kind of (affectionately) annoying

Hotch has never felt this helpless in his life.

When he heard your voice on the phone, he nearly caused a wreck on the highway. Before you even told him what was going on, he had turned around and started booking it in the direction of your apartment, knowing you had left the BAU before him to head home.

His mind thought the worst. That the unsub had gotten to you, that you were kidnapped, that you were on death’s door. He didn’t feel right again until he laid eyes on you, but whatever peace he had was quickly washed away when he saw how panicked you looked.

He could sense your panic on the phone — hence why he tried the grounding method on the phone, despite your insistence that you were fine and were not panicking. But he could see it on your face, in the ridges of your shoulders, but if he dared to say anything about it, he knew you’d just be angry with him.

So, he tried to focus on the note, which then only made you assume that he was bothered — of all things — that you called him and that he didn’t want to be there.

He didn’t want to be anywhere else. He didn’t want to leave your side until he knew you were okay, no matter how long it took.

Then the police, of course, were useless, and he lost his patience. If it weren’t for needing to go through the official channels to have documentation of this unsub stalking you for the sake of the larger investigation, then Hotch wouldn’t have called the police at all. He got there quicker than they did, anyway.

And then, as you returned from packing a few things, you looked worse. Hotch’s heart twisted painfully and he couldn’t help himself from asking if you were crying.

You didn’t want to talk about it and he couldn’t blame you, but the thought of you crying silently with him just in the other room made him want to wrap you in his arms. But you don’t want that, and you’d both probably start arguing before you got far, anyway.

Now, you’re sitting quietly in his passenger seat, legs and hands all neatly tucked. But you’re breathing normally and you aren’t shaking, so he takes it as a win. For now.

“You’re welcome to take tomorrow off,” Hotch says gently. “You’ve been through a lot, and there’s nothing on our radar—”

“Hotch, please,” you sigh, propping your elbow on the door to put your head in your palm. “I’ll go crazy if I can’t go into the office and work.”

He nods. He understands. “I just want to help.”

“I know you do,” you say, voice sounding softer than he’s ever heard it when you’re directing your words at him. “I’m sorry I don’t want to let you.”

He tries to keep his emotions from showing on his face. “That’s nothing you need to apologize for.”

You don’t say anything else for the rest of the ride.

But when Aaron parks at Dave’s house, you let him carry your suitcase into the house. Dave offers a hug and says dinner is on the stove, and you happily scurry off to the kitchen, clearly desperate to escape.

Dave steps outside the front door for a moment to speak with Aaron.

“What’s going on?” he asks immediately. “You didn’t exactly explain.”

Aaron shakes his head. “I couldn’t over text. The unsub left a note in her apartment door.”

Dave’s eyes widen. “You’re sure it was him?”

Regretfully, Hotch nods with confidence. “It’s the same handwriting. I saw the word gambit. It has to be.” He pauses to heave a sigh. “I had it sent off to the lab at Quantico for prints and anything else. But I’m certain.”

Rossi curses under his breath. “Now I see why you were so insistent on her staying with me.”

“It’s the safest place I can think of,” Aaron says desperately. “I’m scared, Dave.”

“I know. I can tell,” Rossi says quietly. “She is too.”

“She won’t admit it,” Aaron says, hating the way that some anger seeps into his words. He’s not angry with you. He knows that. He pulls himself back. “She’s terrified.”

“We’re not going to let anything happen to her,” Dave says, attempting to reassure Aaron. “We’ll get him.”

“I know.” Aaron does know it. Because he knows he has no choice, and he knows he won’t be able to live with himself if he lets the unsub get his hands on you. Not before Hotch gets his hands on the unsub first.

“Go home,” Rossi says. “Get some sleep. I’ll make sure she does too.”

Hotch nods. “She wants to come to work tomorrow, so.” He laughs a little, “Prepare for that.”

Rossi shrugs. “Then we’ll come to the office. But I’ll make sure she sleeps, we’ll get breakfast, we’ll come in late.” He smiles his usual mischievous smile, and Aaron knows his friend has a plan already brewing to keep you occupied.

+++

Rossi tries and fails miserably at his attempts to subtly take care of you.

You’re sitting at the counter on one of the stools, watching him as he walks into the kitchen after Hotch leaves. You know exactly what he’s doing when he asks if you’d like a glass of wine.

You look up from your bowl of pasta. “Sure.”

He nods and turns to grab two glasses and a bottle of red, pouring silently.

“I’m fine,” you say before he can even ask.

Dave nods slowly but says nothing. He slides a glass over to you.

“Thank you,” you say, hoping it’ll get him to reply with something, but it doesn’t. You swirl your wine. “I just feel like this is getting blown out of proportion.”

That makes Dave’s eyes snap toward you. “Riiight.”

Okay, so not the best thing you could’ve said, clearly. “I don’t know why I called Hotch,” you admit. “I should’ve just. Called the police to report it, I guess, and went on with my life.”

Dave stares at you with raised eyebrows.

You sigh. “Will you say something?”

“Well, I was going to begin with asking if you’re okay, but you said you’re fine,” he shrugs, swirling his glass. “Unless you’re not really, then I’ll actually ask.” He pauses. “Are you okay?”

“I’m fine, I’m just.” You cut yourself off with a shake of your head. “I don’t know.”

“You’re not used to letting people in.”

You scoff out a laugh. “How’d you profile that one?”

Dave smiles softly. “Does anyone else know about your father? Anyone at all that you can talk to?”

You shake your head slowly. “No. It was something only my mom and I held onto. The few friends I did have, I didn’t want to scare away. I ended up doing that anyway without telling them about my dad.”

It’s true. Even though your mom hardly ever talked about your dad, it was something only the two of you ever discussed. You never wanted to bring it up to any of your friends because, well, how do you even go about bringing up something like that? The friendships all fizzled out on their own, anyway. Some got married and moved away to start families in hometowns, some moved where their careers took them, some simply stopped putting effort in. You’re no less guilty, always busy with work and then moving away to join the FBI, then the BAU, now never in one place for long with the cases you get. It’s no one’s fault that you don’t have close friends anymore.

You have the team, sure. You get along with everyone, but even this feels like they’re only friendly with you and as close as they are because of proximity. Because there is no choice but to try to be friends when you work as many hours as you all do at the BAU. If you guys didn’t get along, it’d be hell.

You’re used to being alone, dealing with everything alone. And you’re terrified to admit that this might be the first situation in your life where you can’t handle it alone, not entirely. You’re so terrified that you refuse to admit it. But Rossi can see right through you.

Dave pulls up a stool on the opposite side of the counter, facing you with those gentle eyes. Ever since you connected the dots about meeting him when you were younger, you have been reminded of that day. How kind he is, how wise. How he was maybe the only person to show you genuine care that day, your mom too distant and emotionally zapped from dealing with your father. How Dave might just be the closest thing to a father figure that you’ll get.

“I know you don’t want to hear this,” he begins quietly, “but you did the right thing by calling Hotch— You did the right thing just by calling for help.”

You pick at your dinner that has mostly gone cold. “I’m not overreacting?”

In your peripherals, you see Dave shaking his head. “No. You needed to call someone safe, and to get yourself to safety, and that’s what you did. That was the correct reaction.”

You nod slowly, smiling a little as you look up. “And you’re not upset that I’ll be sleeping over for…the foreseeable future?”

Dave shakes his head again, smiling at you. “Not at all, kiddo. I have five guest bedrooms for a reason, you know.”

“Five?” Your eyes widen. “That’s ridiculous.”

He laughs. “It’s a big house, but I love hosting. And being able to offer a safe haven when needed.”

“Thanks,” you whisper. “And I can pay rent if I’m here for too long, or—”

Dave holds up his hand to shut you up. “Don’t ever suggest that again.”

You roll your eyes. “Fine.” You pause, sipping the wine. “I’m buying my own groceries, though.”

Dave looks even more offended than he did a second ago.

+++

Given the circumstances, you slept…surprisingly well. You’re awake before your alarm, feeling rarely well-rested. You’re showered and dressed and putting water in Rossi’s fancy coffee maker by the time he comes wandering into the kitchen.

Wordlessly, he walks over and turns the coffee maker off. To his credit, he’s already dressed as well. “We’re going out for breakfast. My treat.”

You furrow your eyebrows, glancing at the time on the stove. “We literally have to be at work in an hour.”

He waves his hand, scoffing. “When have I ever gone into the office on time?”

He makes an unfortunate point. And since you have no car, you’re at his mercy. “Fine. A drive-thru, though, Rossi, I have shit I need to get done.”

Once again, he waves you off, swiping his car keys off the counter. You grab your work bag and follow him to the car, rolling your eyes when you see he has nothing with him. He probably leaves everything work related at work. If only you had such boundaries.

Rossi, as expected, ignores your request for a drive-thru breakfast, instead taking you to one of his favorite cafes in a town too far from the BAU for your liking.

Grumbling, you follow him to the door. “Just because Hotch thinks I need a break doesn’t mean I do.”

“We’re not taking a break,” Rossi shrugs. “We’re getting breakfast.”

You glare at him, but you indulge him all the same. Because you have no choice.

Rossi knows the waitress by name, even giving her a kiss on the cheek that she returns. She leads you both to a table by the window in a quiet corner, saying she’ll return with coffee as soon as the fresh pot finishes. You open the menu to glare at it instead.

You’re just beginning to determine what type of eggs are better to glare at when Rossi tips the menu down from your eye line, giving you an expectant look.

“I’m fine,” you say immediately, knowing that’s what he wants to ask.

“How’d you sleep?” He continues pressing on the menu until you rest it on the table, removing the proverbial wall you had put up. “There’s four other guest bedrooms to choose from if you don’t like that one,” he jokes.

“I slept fine,” you concede slightly. “Maybe I’ll move around each night and try a new room. Give you a rating for each one.” You pause. “Four stars for the one I stayed in last night.”

“Four? Why not five?”

“You snore,” you deadpan. He does. And the guest room you chose was just down the hall from his.

“I do not snore.”

“Sure, grandpa.”

The lighthearted banter brings a smile to both of your faces, and Rossi is glad to see it. You haven’t smiled much since this all began. Granted, prior to the car chase, you didn’t smile as often as you glared at Hotch, but you still smiled. After visiting Richard Monroe in prison, you’ve had somewhat of a permanent frown. Understandably, but Rossi still doesn’t like it.

The smile falls slowly, and the frown returns. You look down at the table. “What do you think this unsub wants with me?”

Rossi sighs, shaking his head regretfully. “I don’t know, kiddo.” He pauses. “I wish I did.”

“Me too,” you murmur.

Coffee reaches the table and you both order your breakfasts, letting the sounds of adding sugar and cream to your mug fill the silence instead.

“Do you think I’m in any actual danger?” you ask, your voice so quiet that Rossi almost didn’t hear you.

He sighs, watching you stir your coffee. “I think… It’s dangerous that the unsub knows where you live, and that he was able to walk right to your door and leave a note, or have someone else do that for him. I think he’s closer than any of us would like, and he’s targeting you.”

“Because of my dad.”

Rossi nods slowly. “It seems that way.”

You sigh this time, setting your spoon down to prop your head up in one hand. “I didn’t even speak to my dad after he was arrested. I never sent him letters in prison, I never even replied to his—”

“He sent you letters?” Rossi interrupts.

“Yeah,” you nod. “I thought I mentioned that.”

“Not that I remember, but you might’ve,” Rossi says. “You never read them?”

“I read some,” you grimace. “I wasn’t quite strong enough to ignore them outright like my mom did.”

“Did he send her any letters?”

“A few,” you reply. “But mostly me.”

Rossi thinks for a moment. “Do you have any of them?”

You scoff out a laugh. You knew he was going to ask that. “I do, actually. I don’t have all of them — my mom got rid of some before I ever saw them or sometimes I’d ask her to just get rid of them — but I’ve kept some.”

“We might need to look at those,” Rossi says, which you know means you need to look at them. “There could be clues in there.”

“I mean, I guess,” you shrug. From what you remember from the letters, though, it was a lot of nothing. A lot of a father wanting to connect with his daughter who wanted nothing to do with him. “Maybe.”

“Where are they?” Rossi asks. “I know none of this is ideal, reliving it all, but—”

“No, you’re right,” you say. “There could be something in there that I didn’t see at the time because I was a kid, or— Yeah. They’re in my apartment, I can get them.”

“Would you mind if we went there after we eat?” he asks. “We can grab the letters and head to the BAU.”

It shouldn’t be such a relief to hear that you will be heading into work today, but it is. It’ll give you something to do. “Yeah, that’s a good plan. Maybe forensics will have an update on the note he left, too.”

“Exactly,” Rossi nods. “I’ll let Aaron know.”

“I’ll do it,” you blurt, averting your eyes when you see Rossi’s raised eyebrows. “I can text him.”

“Okay…” Rossi doesn’t question it, but his expression of disbelief is enough on its own.

#I am going to scream in the tags some more because this story has me losing my mind!#I looooove love love the pacing of it; the way that the enemy to lover trope is not speed-run through #and instead is drawn out in this heart wrenching and gripping way #with all these subtle signs of affection that increase and come slowly but surely to the forefront #the back and forth between Hotch and the Reader has me screaming into my pillow; I love it!!!#also all the other characters are written sooo well and endearingly #and I very truly cannot wait until the next chapter comes out!#also the serial killer / stalker storylines has me in a tight grip as well; and the lore of the reader too #I am definitely invested in both: Hotch and readers relationship as well as who this killer is!!#really looking forward to whatever is going to happen next #but this series has certainly been phenomenal so far and I am on the edge of my seat waiting for more #I loved loved loved this!!!#fic rec #aaron hotchner fic

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