#sniper!hotch

[notsopersonalcharlie]

Hotshot Part 5 - Second Chance

Aaron Hotchner x Fem!Army!OC - Angsty Fluff

tags: @rousethemouse @hotchgan​ @hotchnerxo​ @chaoticconnoisseurgiver​

Warnings: swearing, mentions of being shot, I think thats it.

Notes: You know I have 0 consistency but I do have a vision and that vision was cheesy as fuck. Photo from a post by @slytherqueern and this is what I imagine him looking like in literally all the flashbacks Enjoy!

Part 1 here - Part 2 here - Part 3 here - Part 4 here

Willow smiled at her phone when it buzzed. She was looking at a photo of Aaron and Jack from a few weeks ago. It felt like it had been a lifetime and also no time at all since she met Aaron again. In reality it had only been seven months.

"Hey Hotshot."

"Are you ever going to give that up?"

"No, what's up?" Aaron looked at the ring one last time before putting it in his jacket pocket.

"Ready for our surprise date?"

"Of course I am. Always ready for our dates, Aaron." He couldn't help but smile.

"I'm leaving right now." Willow set the phone down and looked in her closet. She hadn't thought about what to wear and he hadn't really given her an idea of what the event was. Jeans and a shirt were probably alright, maybe a sweater since the spring chill hadn't vanished yet. A frown set it when she looked in the back of her closet, pushing her uniforms out of the way. A familiar navy gown was gathering dust against the back wall. She'd only ever gotten to wear it the one time. She couldn't even have imagined looking at it seven months ago, much less touch it.

"Aaron, what are you talking about." He had always worn his emotions on his sleeve, maybe just to her but she could always see them, especially in his big brown eyes.

"Willow, I joined the military to go to law school, you knew this. I need to go now."

"But Aaron, I..." She regretted everything now, waiting till after they deployed to get married, all the time that had passed with the ring she was wearing now.

"Please, I have to. I know you want to stay, but I can't. That doesn't mean we have to-"

"Have it. You'll need it to pay for your degree." He was speechless now, watching the diamond ring fall into the palm of his hand that had been outstretched to take her hand. Willow felt like a coward when she walked away, hot tears on her cheeks as she stormed back into the busy ballroom. Some of the sniper squad were still seated and when she sat down one of their wives touched her arm.

"Sweetie, are you okay?" Willow shook her head, lifting up her left hand without a word and stifling a sob as her friend pulled her into her arms.

"Grey, grab our stuff come on." She helped Willow up, her husband trailing with all their things as Willow tried to keep her crying under the radar.

Willow forced the thought away. She hadn't ever felt like that since that night, maybe because she had avoided it at all cost, moving from war zone to night watch over and over until no one knew where she was or how to talk to her. But now she had Aaron.

Willow jumped remembering she was trying to get dressed, and opted for a black and white sweater before grabbing her phone and a jacket and running out the door. Aaron was already waiting.

"What did you forget I was coming?" he joked. She smiled, leaning over to kiss him before fastening her seatbelt.

"I got distracted. So where are we going?"

"You are so terrible with surprises," Aaron laughed, pulling away from the curb. He had gotten sentimental, and he knew he couldn't recreate exactly his first proposal, but he could get pretty darn close on the harbor by the water.

"You are too."

"What did you get distracted by?" Willow took Aaron's hand, which was resting on her thigh, and squeezed it before saying, "I was thinking about when you left. And I guess when I did, and how I shouldn't have given that ring back." Aaron's heart was beating too fast now, and he pulled over just a few blocks from where she lived.

"Is this where we're going?" She asked, looking out onto the city block.

"No... No I... Willow, there's more to that story. On that night." She frowned and looked at him.

"After you and Carly went outside Greyson found me. I was just sitting on the back of my pickup and he asked me what happened."

"Hotchner, what the fuck, man?" Aaron could tell he was mad just based on the face that he used his actual last name. He was slow to lift his head out of his hands.

"I have to go to law school, Grey. I joined the Army so I could do that and I've put it off long enough."

"You weren't fucking putting it off. You were in love, you were doing what the two of you needed. It's not too late, you can make this work. You can stay together." Aaron was shaking his head, he hadn't ever cried in front of the squad, not even after his first kill or when Willow had gotten shot when he was still stateside. Now he couldn't stop the tears. Law school was all he had ever wanted before he met her.

"It's too late. I have to go." Grey grabbed his shoulders, forcing Aaron to look him in the eye.

"Aaron, you can go over there right now and ask for her back. Ask to make it work, but this is your only chance man. You only get one chance."

"I regretted not getting up then, but I really hope Grey was wrong. I really hope this is my second chance." Willow stared at the ring Aaron was holding out to her. It was the same one. She could see the small knick in the band where it always rubbed against the shitty metal on the door handle of Aaron's blue pickup. It carried so many memories of them. And she had always assumed he just sold it.

"Of course. You better not screw it up, hotshot."

[maschotch]

I think it's funny that hotch has his silly little ankle gun and he never really gets to use. Even when it got it's first debut kill it was Reid that actually got to shoot it and smth about that makes me giggle

he’s just a paranoid lil guy :^)

[ralvezfanatic]

Y/N: I need someone to take me out already

Derek: Like on a date or with a sniper?

Y/N: Either works but at this point I rather a sniper

Hotch: Do I need to have you evaluated?

Elle, texting Penelope to ask how much a hitman costs:

Spencer, texting Penelope to ask her for tips on how to ask you out:

Penelope, very confused at the two types of text she got: ???

[ithebookhoarder]

If your still taking requests could u pls do “if you were taken by an unsub” criminal minds imagin? Or smth along those lines, if not that’s fine tho

~ ☘️

(BAU Headcanons) If you were taken by an Unsub

A/N: Um, of course you can?! Thanks for sending this one in angel 😇 I'm only sorry it's taken me this long to answer this. Hope you like it!

Warnings: Usual Criminal Minds references to criminals, murder, violence etc. Mentions of mental health. (Let me know if I missed any)

Aaron Hotchner

If you were taken? This man would not rest until you were back and safe with him - and not just because of what happened to Haley (though it doesn’t help). 

He would bark orders at everyone in a cold and blunt manner that tells them he is not in the mood to be messed with.

They will do as they are told and they will do it now. 

This poor man would be fighting not to let his fear show but he'd be seen clenching his fists over and over and taking long deep breaths in front of the mirror in the bathroom in an attempt to ground himself and get his head on straight. 

He's no good to you if he lets himself fall apart. His team - and more importantly, you - are counting on him.

You know he’s blaming himself and you’re both going to need therapy once this whole experience is over with. 

He would go into his hyper-rational mode, focusing on making plans and ignoring anything that isn’t getting you back safe and sound - which means no sleep. None. He’s running on fumes and caffeine - even after you’re found. 

It would take days for him to feel secure enough to close his eyes and be able to trust you’ll still be there when he opens them again. 

Also you best believe he is breaking out his old law text books and ensuring this UnSub goes down for a lonnnnnng time… if they even make it to trial that is. This man is a trained sniper and knows other trained snipers… just saying… 

David Rossi 

He may like to remind you all of his passionate Italian nature from time to time but it’s impossible to miss when he hears what’s happened to you. He’s an emotional mess, staggering between horror and rage to a frighteningly cold determination that is rare for the eldest team member.  

He’d try to act in control, pulling rank on everyone - including Hotch, which obviously doesn’t work. 

“No offence, Aaron, but I was chasing down Unsubs when you were still in diapers. I know what I’m doing.”

However, they know him well enough to see that despite having years of experience under his belt, Rossi is terrified of making some kind of mistake. 

Once they do find you, he’d be one of the first through the door, too concerned with checking you’re ok to worry about anything else. 

He’d also be sure to pay for the best medical care money could buy, if you needed it following the ordeal.

He also knows people and has no problem paying for you to see a counsellor of some sort if the situation required it. He just wants to take care of you now that you’re back in his arms again. 

Derek Morgan

This man is like a whole military unit in himself at the best of times, but he’s a whole other level of lethal when it comes to protecting the ones he loves. You do NOT want to be on the wrong side of Morgan, and that’s exactly where the Unsub who took you would sit. 

There isn’t a door he wouldn’t be willing to kick down to get you - and everybody knows better than to say a word about it. (Hotch is already mentally filling out all the paperwork he’s going to need once this rescue is done, but he doesn’t exactly mind, given the situation).

Also, Morgan may have trained you himself, drilling you in self-defence and marksmanship so you’d known how to protect yourself out there in the field, but none of that matters now. You may have the Unsub at your mercy already, or you may be at theirs, but he doesn’t know and that’s what’s killing him: the not knowing. 

It’s why Penelope is basically glued to his side the whole entire time, telling him everything she finds out the very second she finds it.  

“We’ll find them sugar, I promise. They’re just as tough and strong as you are, so don’t give up on them, ok?”

He’d be leading the pack once you are found though, tearing through anyone and anything that stood in his way. All he cares about is seeing you with his own eyes and getting you as far away from danger as possible. 

“I’m so sorry, baby. It’s my job to keep you safe and I failed you.”

He’d be beating himself up for weeks after and it would take an entire team intervention to get him to let you go back out into the field again without him being glued to your side. After all, he’s not making the same mistake twice. Any Unsub wants that wants to get close to you will have to get past him first. 

Emily Prentiss

This woman is a super spy and a lethal weapon on an average day but if you were taken? Then she would be the most dangerous woman in the entire United States. 

She knows people in every agency and on every continent so you best believe she will be calling in favours left, right and centre. (Even Rossi is terrified by how quickly she was able to get the Pentagon on the phone…)

She would also be action-focused, needing to do something rather than sitting around wasting time. Every minute spent talking was one more minute the Unsub had to hurt you - and that thought makes her feel physically sick. 

This would end up causing her to explode, taking it out on whichever unfortunate soul is closest. Like, you know she would definitely have to be reminded by Hotch that they actually need the local law enforcement to work with them, if they want to get you back alive, after she is seen screaming at an unfortunate officer for their ‘utter stupidity’. 

Thankfully, she gets to turn that rage on the Unsub after they find you. I mean, let’s be real. It would take Morgan physically holding her back to stop her from beating their face in. 

This frustration would ultimately then be transferred to you, once she knows you’re safe. 

You almost can quote her ‘You almost died’ speech by this point, but you know it makes you both feel better to hear it so you let her rant and rant until she’s calm enough to crawl into your arms and squeeze you close. 

“I love you so much. I can’t lose you.” 

You’re also pretty sure she now has people following you at all times, watching over you when she can’t, so that this never happens again. 

JJ

JJ is every bit as lethal as Emily is when those she loves are at risk. If anything, she’s more terrifying because she’ll hide that murderous rage behind a ‘butter-wouldn’t-melt’ smile before deciding to strike. 

However, it would take everything in her not to just charge in and go on the offensive. After all, she was willing to run into a bank full of armed robbers after Will. 

It would probably end up with the team having to physically holding her back to stop her - usually accompanied by a well meaning pep talk about how she needs to get her head on straight if she actually wants to help get you back. 

You know this woman would follow you everywhere afterwards, never letting you out of her sight. In fact, she hits ‘super Mom mode’ where she is constantly fussing over you and seems to have the world in her go-bag. 

You need tissues, pain-killers, chocolate: she got it.

“Hey, it’s ok. You know I’ve got your back, right? I won’t let anything else happen to you. You’re safe now.”

She would also call you out on all your BS, if you tried to downplay what happened to you or if you were still affected. 

One twitch of her eyebrow is all it takes for her to have you pinned to your chair and spilling your guts about your emotions. You know better than to make her ask twice. After all, she may be the first to downplay it when she’s hurting but when it comes to her team and her family, she’d do anything to take care of you. If that’s driving your ass to therapy or just holding you, she’ll do it without complaint.

Penelope Garcia 

Would immediately panic as soon as she hears what’s happened to you. Like, we’re talking SO much panic.

Poor girl is spiralling and needs the team to help ground her so she can get back to the lair and do her thing. It would probably be down to Morgan or like JJ to get her to actually remember to breathe and not make herself pass out. 

But once she’s up and running? Well, she’d be all over the Unsub like a bad rash. Every teeny tiny detail of their life is suddenly unearthed and splashed on the 

board for everyone to see. (No one dares ask how she found certain items, but knowing her history with the dark web it’s probably for the best). 

Also, she would be begging for constant updates once the team is out in the field.  Any other day, it would drive the team insane to have a constant running Penelope monologue in their ears, but they’re surprisingly tolerant in this case. 

“Guys, do you see them? Are they ok? What’s going on? I need to know people! I have no eyes here!” 

Would be all over you once you’re safe and insists on installing tracking software on everything. She wants a digital link to you, 24/7 so that this NEVER happens again. It’s simultaneously flattering and slightly terrifying how much power this angel has at the end of her glittery, manicured fingers. 

Dr Spencer Reid

Depending on which season-Reid you’re with when you’re taken, you would have a distraught super genius who makes it his life’s mission to get you back. Or, you’d have a prison-hardened super genius with a slightly grey-er view of the world on a mission to find you. 

Either way, there’s probably no one you’d want more to be in charge of locating and rescuing you. 

Like Hotch, I feel he would become obsessed with nothing other than finding you. He wouldn’t eat. He wouldn’t sleep. Hell, no one on the team has even seen him leave the briefing room long enough to go pee, let alone take a break. This results in the team all taking it in turns to be parental figures and coax (and eventually threaten) him into pausing long enough to down a glass of water and eat some snack bar. 

Between Morgan’s physical threats, JJ’s guilt-trips, and Hotch threatening to bench him from this case, they’d eventually succeed. 

“You guys don’t get it. They need me. I have to figure this out - they’re counting on me. I can’t fail them. I won’t. So either help me or get out of here and let me think.”

We all know he would probably harass any medical professionals charged with caring for you, once you’re back. He doesn’t trust them - especially when it comes to your welfare. 

He’d also confine you to the couch and force you to rest, queueing up endless re-runs of Doctor Who and whatever shows you find most comforting to have playing in the background. It’s selfishly what he needs too, being able to sit and hold you long enough to quell any fears he may have about you and your wellbeing. You’re here and you’re real and you’re safe. 

Masterlist

[lust444men]

Reid: I want someone to take me out.

Derek: like on a date or with a sniper?

Reid: ...surprise me.

Hotch: Reid, no.

[0and0its0doctor0]

Hostage kisses

Aaron Hotchner X Fem! Reader

Warnings: None. Except Hotch has facial hair. I feel like that should be a warning. Because hot damn.

Summary: He didn't mean to kiss you....No that's a lie. He totally did.

Word Count: 272

Aaron’s huge hands were tight in your hair holding you close and all you could smell was him. He was earthy and a little sweet, just exactly what you expected him to smell like the very first second you met him. Honestly you never thought you would be here, pressed tight against your boss, his lips hesitantly pressing against yours, feeling his beard scratch against your cheek and chin. You had just been a part of a hostage situation and you honestly weren’t really expecting to make it out alive. But the sniper had managed to take out the person that was holding you hostage and Aaron quickly grabbed you, taking you away from the current situation and throwing you into a new one. He pulled away and looked down at you, you were just a puddle in his arms at this point. “Your lips are so soft. It’s like kissing a cloud.” He muttered, nuzzling his nose against yours and you tilted your head to the side with a smile. There was a scoff and you turned your head to see Derek standing there with Emily and Spencer and JJ, all 4 of them staring at you. “I mean. I’m glad you are okay.” The tone of his voice changed to total authoritarian but his hand on your lower back was still gentle and soft. “Shouldn’t you all be doing something?” He questioned. He helped you out of your bulletproof vest and if he guided you to his SUV for the ride home well no one else was going to say anything about him holding your hand the entire ride back.

[hotchfiles]

↪ day five. fbi — #marchhotchness

What are some of your headcanons for his FBI career, do you have any?

these aren't headcanons mostly, but i spent a lot of time trying to make sense of hotch's backstory because it's a bit of a mess. criminal minds writers aren't serious people and they just be saying things either it fits or not to the timeline they themselves created. i hate them. i hope they spend their whole lives stepping on legos. anyway.

i've talked about this already, but i don't think aaron was a gifted sports kid, i think he was good enough, which means i also think physically he was just that, good enough. being in a physically challenging career wasn't his main plan anyway.

so, aside from fights during his school years and lifting a bit of weight and doing a bit of cardio, before the academy, he wasn't the most prepared guy for the job.

but he's goddamn determined, so from the moment he applied he started working out, we've seen him in action, and that's him as a middle aged man, so he went from this geeky bookworm boy to someone who worked out every single day so he wouldn't be a liability on the field.

as for gun handling, i think that was never difficult to him, his father probably had guns at home and taught him how to shoot and properly handle them. as a prosecutor i'm sure he already had guns in his home for protection.

his efforts in the academy got him a spot in the crisis negotiation unit, first as a swat operator, he's a prolific sniper. then as a profiler as his intentions were always set to be the one who finds and catches the criminals, as we know, the bau is an elite unit, so before being promoted and transferred, he want from the cnu to the seattle field office as a profiler and worked two years there.

these experiences gave him enough expertise to teach crisis negotiation, and then he was transferred to the bau as profiler. in 1998 he was promoted to lead profiler, his first case was the reaper, as we already know.

we don't have a fucking clue of when, but he was also communications director for a time, i like to believe it was somewhere between 2002-2005.

in 2005 he was promoted as unit chief in gideon's absence, but kept this title even when gideon came back.

aaron is focused, he is determined and he is honest. that should be good, but actually that makes him target of many people who see his drive as a threat to their careers, so he is used to having to deal with higher ups trying to step on his toes and swipe the rug out off his feet.

if the godforsaken producers of this show weren't a fucking JOKE (jeff davis when i fucking GET YOU) i'm sure there would have been more conflicts of that sort, because the position for fbi director is not out of reach for him, if he wanted that, he could definitely be up for the task easily.

but, i like to think he wouldn't want it. it's better pay, better hours and he would be able to make important decisions, but he would be out of the field and out of the bau, i don't think he would be able to do it. he loves the bau, being a profiler, catching serial killers, way too much. it's his passion and his purgatory.

and to quote him: "why would i ever leave the bau?"

[hotchlove]

Trustworthy | Reader X Aaron Hotchner

hi!!! welcome to my first one-shot fanfic :) i had a blast writing this and hope u'll have even more fun reading it.

• i take requests! plsss dm me or leave them here if u have anything fun you'd like me to write. it can be angst, anytype of trope, smut, etc. • PLZ NOTE: i ONLY do oneshots. they differ from long to short depending on the character and story. i do not write series! • trustworthy - 3.1k+ words (i got carried away D:) • desc.: - quite a bit of angst - probable inaccurate description of readers job - happy ending ♡

• • • • ~ ʚĭɞ ~ • • • • ~ ʚĭɞ ~• • • • ~ ʚĭɞ ~• • • • ~ ʚĭɞ ~ • • • •

it's been about five or six months since i've joined the behavioral analysis unit in the fbi. it's not like i've been counting the days...

who am i kidding? it's been exactly 191 days - whereas like 2 of those days my boss, SSA Aaron Hotchner, was actually nice to me.

those being my first two shifts.

on the third day, i had to make a spontaneous choice whilst on a case - one that, sure, was reckless and stupid and to quote hotch "unprofessional", but i managed to save many unpredictable lives with that choice.

we were on a case in miami, a state the team hasn't visited yet up until that day.

it was a 3h flight but it was a big case, so those hours flew on by as garcia briefed us. a 36 year old mother recently lost her teenage child to the hands of a drunk and supposedly has had hallucinations of her late child telling her to kill other kids, as revenge, i'm guessing - spooky, right?

i suggested manic schizophrenia - clear symptoms and obvious manic signs (the killings). that suggestion kind of cleared the foggy air on the jet. hotch gave me a nod of approval and i felt pretty damn proud of myself, it was only my third day after all.

on the third and last day, we finally cornered the woman on a traffic free highway. she had no where to run, agents were surrounded all around her - but she was holding a shotgun. the simple way out would've been having one of our federal snipers shoot her - but i couldn't let that happen. she killed the children of many, and letting her die a painless and simple death just didn't feel right.

i swatted the snipers away, the red laser that was planted on her forehead now gone. i throw my gun on the floor and pretend to surrender, hands up. "you remind me of my mother." i tell her, my arms up.

"Y/N." hotch warns me. his eyebrows furrow as he sees me now weaponless, basically staring the shotgun in it's eyes. i don't turn to him, i don't even acknowledge him. "she tried so hard to protect me." i say and walk tiny steps towards the woman, who now walks backwards to avoid me.

"stop! one more move and i-i'll shoot." no she won't. "she basically devoted her life to making sure i remain scratchless and pure." i chuckle.

"well, look how that turned out. i've got scars all over my body and a fun memory to come with all of them." i get even closer to her. "i know how you feel. i know how much you miss him." the woman cries and nods.

"i do. i really do. what did i do wrong?!" she yells and she points the shotgun at me. "i protected him like he was made out of glass, whilst other mothers - bad ones - let their kids wander everywhere alone."

hotch jumps a little seeing the woman point her hefty gun at me. "Y/N. move." he warns, his tone as stern as his expression.

i shake my head but don't look back. "other mothers - bad ones - still have their kids. and mine," her tears fall. "my baby boy got swept off his feet the only time - an exception - when he got to walk home alone from school." she cries.

"you're right. you did everything right," i reassure her and walk even closer, only 10 meters standing between me and the shotgun barrel.

"except you forgot one thing," i scoff. "teaching him to grow the fuck up."

bang.

the gun drops to the floor shortly after she shoots. morgan runs towards her, putting the metal cuffs on her wrist. he reads her rights and takes her to the sheriffs wagon that was parked just 2 minutes away.

the bullet didn't hit me - she had no idea how to take an accurate shot. god, she barely even held that shotgun - the weight of it almost holding her instead of the other way around.

"agent Y/L/N!" hotch runs towards me, i pick myself up. "we got he-" i get interrupted by him. "what is wrong with you?!" he yells.

"are you actually insane? i gave you a direct order to move. do you think of me as a fool?" he yells, his voice basically growling.

"excuse me? i just basically handed her to you." i say, offended he's yelling at me for doing my job. "and in the process you almost got your head blown off." he's even angrier as i talk back.

"head blown off?" i scoff. "hotch, the woman couldn't even hit a giant red target if she tried. it was a risk i had to ta-" he interrupts me again.

"no- no, agent. it wasn't. you put your life on the line to appear macho infront of everyone here." he puts his pistol in it's holder and crosses his arms, taking slow but sure steps towards me. "you took control of the case like you're a veteran - but actually, you're just a rookie that will probably quit in the span of 2 months because you'll realise you can't do this." he growls again. that one hurt. "badge and gun. you're flying back to quantico tonight. i'll put in a request for a two week suspension as soon as i am back." he holds out his hand, waiting for me to hand him my gun and badge. my eyebrows furrow. "what?" my mouth parts - speechless. "you can't be serious." i say, unsure if he is. he's silent for an entire minute.

so he is serious. i give in - i have to, he's my boss, so i hand him my badge and my gun. without saying anything, i walk away. leaving the crime scene, wasn't authorized to be there anymore anyway. and ever since that day, 188 days ago, aaron hotchner has got it in for me.

--

everyones sitting in the briefing room except me and garcia. i walk in 2 minutes late and excuse myself, "sorry, lost track of time." JJ nods and hotch says "you own a watch, don't you, agent?" his angry expression once again tainting his face.

god i'd pay a ridiculous amount of money to punch him just once. "yes, sir. will not happen again." i reassure.

no one calls hotch sir except me. it's kind of a unspoken rule - the others are close to him, which i am not. which i will probably never be, considering he still judges my mistake as a way to not trust me with anything.

garcia walks in just a minute after me "sorry, guys, kevin was blabbing and blabbing and i could not get him to shut up." she says and smiles awkwardly. "it's fine" hotch says. "everyone's allowed to be late - once." he raises an eyebrow and looks at me.

just one punch.

JJ briefs us on the case and tells us the local police department doesn't want us there - so she's going to have to convince them, which can take a day or two. i don't mind - i was honestly not in the mood for a flight today. everyone goes back to their every day business. files, reports, coffee and smalltalk in the kitchen - or for morgan and garcia, friendly flirting in her office.

me and spencer are both stirring a fresh cup of good ol' joe in the kitchen, talking - or well, he's talking - about some new physics crap. i just nod and pretend i understand.

the color of the beige wall behind him looks particularly interesting today. he keeps explaining and suddenly goes "BOOM!" his hands wide and i jump a little at the noise - spilling coffee all over my pink blouse. i look at him annoyed, "oh my god. i will murder you." he can't contain his laugh and bursts, "i was just demonstrating!" then goes running out of the kitchen before i can get to him. i sigh and look at my now brown blouse - this would be awfully devastating if i didn't have a go-bag. i place my almost empty mug in the kitchen sink and head towards my tabe - emily giving me a curious stare. "what happened to you?" she scoffs, "physics." i reply and take my go-bag, fishing out the only blouse i have - a white one.

emily just nods at my remark and goes back to her file as if it was the most normal thing ever. considering it's me - it probably was. i change in the ladies room and scrunch my coffee splattered blouse into a ball. standing infront of my mirror i realise how see-through this blouse is - especially with a pink bra that i wore just for the pink blouse. "you have got to be kidding me." my eyes widen. it's really not that bad, but it's noticeable. so noticeable HR might force us all into a "appropriate clothing" seminar tomorrow. i really don't have much of a choice so i walk out like that, hoping or praying no one notices. my hope is diminished when i meet garcia in the bullpen, holding her palm to her hand so she doesn't burst out laughing. "not a word, garcia." i look at her, my eyes shooting arrows. thank god for kevin, as he comes and pecks her lips, her surpressed laughter now gone like the wind. saved by the bell. or well, by a kiss. i sit down at my table and keep working on my reports - if i slouch down enough you really can't see it. i'm a great problem solver. a rough, deep voice calls my name from a distance, "agent Y/L/N, my office, please." hotch says standing in his doorway. my head drops in defeat - i really have no luck today. i grab the file i was working on and hold it on my chest, basically hugging it - it makes me look weird but not weirder than having my pink bra open for everyones eyes. i stand infront of his door, mumbling to myself about how i hate my life and knock twice. "come in" hotch says, his eyes glued to his computer. "sir. you wanted to see me?" he nods and tells me to sit down, still not looking up. and so i do, i sit down and keep hugging my file like it's gonna grow legs and walk away. he finally raises his head and looks at me. his eyebrows furrow at the sight of me holding for dear life on the file, "is that for me?" he asks. "huh?" the file. "oh, no- i just really like this file." i smile awkwardly and his mouth parts as if he wanted to say something more, but he doesn't. the embarassement i'm feeling right now could wash half the population off of the earth. "you're gonna have to be transfered to a different unit." he says and coughs, his throat sounding almost dry as he barely speaks that sentence. my eyes widen to 3x their size, "what? but i didn't do-" i take a breath. "i didn't do anything wrong? you're just gonna transfer me? just like this? wh- i don't get it." i rise from my seat not realising i let my file drop. he stares at my chest and then back to my eyes like 10 times till i realise. i heastily grab the file again, sit back down and cover my chest back up, "i spilled coffee on my other blouse." i explain. hotch sighs, "it wasn't my decision. strauss wants you gone." he coughs again. "i tried to convince her, agent." i scoff. sure he did. he was probably the first one to agree to the transfer. "you're joking, right?" i stand up once again, file still in my embrace. "i know you want me gone. i just know you were the first one to agree with strauss decision." i raise my voice slightly. "wanting me gone is one thing, so is transferring me - but lying about it? you're pathetic." hotch's eyebrows furrow. he doesn't seem angry, he just seems.. apologetic? "agent, listen to m-" this time i interrupt him, "i'm done listening," i drop the file on his table "here. it's yours now." i exit his office but notice in my peripheral vision that he stood up, as if wanting to follow me. all eyes are on me and how i storm to my desk, either that or my pink bra. but i don't care. i grab my bag and jacket, my files still scattered around my desk - but they're not mine anymore, so why should i care? "Agent Y/L/N." hotch calls and exits his office, i ignore him and just keep walking. "Y/N." he calls me by my first name now. i notice the elevator is about to leave so i ask the person in it to hold it, a hand splitting the doors as i manage to walk in just in time, aaron standing 10 feet away looking defeated. --

i took a cold shower as soon as i got home to calm my nerves. didn't help much but pretending it did helps. got myself dressed in a large shirt and some raggedy pyjama pants and poured myself a glass of red wine. then another one. i'm reliving today in my thoughts - why did i get fired from the bau? and why did aaron - sorry, hotch - lie? everyone knows he despises me and wanted me gone as soon as possible, and he did so, why lie then? i gulp down another sip of wine and hear a knock at my door. if this isn't the chinese food i ordered i'll be heavily disappointed. i open the door without checking who it is and see hotch standing infront of my apartment door, the arms of his dress shirt folded up to his elbows and his jacket held on his shoulder by his hand. he looks pissed. like always but worse. "what are you doing here? i don't need to transfer to another apartment, do i?" i mock him and cross my arms. "can i come in?" he asks with a stern expression. "why?" i look at him, awaiting an explanation. i'm not just gonna let my asshole boss into my apartment with no plausible reason. "we need to talk. please." his expression changes and my heart breaks a little. i don't know why. i hate him. he's rude and selfish and made me doubt my career. but i let him in anyways. i take a seat on a bar stool at my kitchen island, sipping on my red wine waiting for him to say what he has to say. "i didn't request your transfer. i didn't agree with strauss either." i scoff but he keeps talking before i can, "but i couldn't disagree either." i knew it. god this motherf- "you got offered a unit chief position." he says and my eyes widen. "it's gonna be great for your career. it's a better pay and everything." he walks towards me and chuckles, "you'd be in a higher department than me, and that within just 6 months of working at the fbi." my eyebrows furrow, he better not be playing with me because i'm believing every second of it. "i didn't want you gone. you're an amazing agent and we," he gulps. "i was so lucky to have you. but i can't deny you a promotion out of my own selfish reasons." my mouth parts as i inhale a small breath. this is.. unexpected, to say the least. "hotch, i'm so sorry for going off at you like that." he shakes his head, "don't apologise. i know how i've been treating you and it was unfair. and totally unprofessional." he takes small steps towards me, stopping just infront of me. he swipes a strand of hair behind my ear and my body freezes - his warm fingers slightly touching my ear, his gaze so soft. i've never seen him so vulnerable before. "i care for you. and even though i handled it poorly, i thought i'd lose you on just your third day." he exhales and his arms now cross. "i couldn't let that happen. so ever since, i thought going hard on you would cause you to be more careful, less reckless." his head drops and his eyebrows furrow. "i know it was selfish, and god did i hate seeing you on the verge of tears everytime i had to discipline you." he looks me straight in the eyes, they no longer shoot fire arrows, they shoot soft looks and quick smiles as his mouth curls a little. "i'm sorry, Y/N. and i hope you'll find it in your heart to forgive me." he closes his eyes and leans forward, placing a kiss on my cheek. i stand there, still frozen. i don't manage to say anything but i notice him moving. leaving. he grabs his jacket and twists the doorknob on my door without a word. "wait -" i manage to blurt out and he turns around, surprised. i walk towards him in a very quick manner, basically sprinting. if me two hours ago was put in this position, i'd finally take swing at the punch i've been begging for. but i don't. instead, i cup his cheeks in my hands and kiss him.

he doesn't react at first, the kiss starting slow, but then he grips at my waist tightly and pulls me towards him. he grins into the kiss and it feels like he just wants to eat me whole. he's greedy, unwilling to share, like he's wanted this for a while. i break the kiss so i can take a couple of breaths, he doesn't let go of my waist and looks me in the eyes. "i'm really sorry" his thumb carressing my left cheek. "you've said that."

"not enough." his lips land on mine again, this kiss shorter, more like a peck. his strong arms embrace me and my head lays on his broad chest. "isn't this unprofessional? a boss and his subordinate?" i ask as he hugs me tightly, "you're not my subordinate anymore, though, uniet chef Y/L/N." i chuckle into his embrace and pull myself away from him, looking into his eyes. "what if i don't take the job?" his eyebrows furrow and he shakes his head, "you have to, it's an amazing offer." i shrug and look up at the ceiling. "maybe. i kinda like my current work place though, i'd be willing to go back. unless of course my snarky boss won't take me." i grin playfully and he kisses my forehead. "monday 8:00 o'clock. don't be late this time."

[hardlyinteresting]

I have no idea if this make sense but I saw a tiktok clip today of Kylie Kelce who's married to the football player Jason Kelce and she was joking about how well her husband can read the field and the game but he can't find his keys when they're probably in his own pocket sooooo I was thinking about hotch being an expert profiler but losing stuff all over the house and reader knowing exactly where everything is

The funniest thing is that I absolutely DO know exactly what you're talking about because I'm fairly certain I sent that TikTok to my friend yesterday. (If I can find it I will link it at the bottom here for those of you who have no idea what we're talking about)

Shamefully, I did not immediately connect that energy to Hotch, but I'm so glad you did! You're absolutely correct.

Aaron Hotchner can tell when someone is lying. He can read body language and pick apart people's phrasing. He can predict the future actions of a serial killer and catch them. He's an expert marksman with sniper training. He can scan a room for hostages and targets in seconds flat. His instincts are well honed, and after so many years of profiling, and staring down some of the worst people on the face of the planet, it all comes second nature to him now.

But, Aaron Hotchner can hardly ever find his keys. Sometimes he leaves them in his pocket. Sometimes he tosses them down on his desk in his home office. More often than not they end up on the kitchen counter when he steps into the room to greet you or Jack. But regardless or where they end up he's almost always on a scavenger hunt for them in the morning. When he's lucky, you're his saving grace; clearing your throat behind him to catch his attention, a travel mug of coffee in one hand, his keys dangling off your index finger on the other.

I also think in the same vein as this thought, as organized as Aaron is, I don't think any of his organization systems would make sense to many people other than him. At work he has his filing cabinets and everything is alphabetized (though I think he'd prefer it if everything was sorted by year, and then alphabetically). At work he adheres to a standard, completes tasks, and paperwork especially, the way he was trained to. But at home he's free to sort his files, and his books as he pleases. His office is still extremely organized but it's more intuitive, there's no real structure to explain but he could tell you from another room exactly where a specific book is. His home office is a peak inside his brain.

He still can't find his damn keys though.

The TikTok

Send more requests!

[commack-to-bsu-pipeline]

Jason Gideon is so dad coded and here are my reasons:

dad shaped - this truth is self-evident and self-explanatory

special interest - some dads like model trains, this dad likes birds

gives generously to his kids - in s1e5 "broken mirror", he peels an orange and Elle snatched the first piece and then like any good parent he passed out the rest to the kiddos without keeping any for himself

protective - in s1e6 "ldsk", there's a sniper shooting and his first instinct is to throw himself on top of JJ to protect her. in s1e8 "natural born killer", when that organized crime agent is yelling at Hotch, Jason comes and checks on him, makes sure he's okay.

proud dad - the little proud smile he gives Spencer when the boy declares checkmate in s1e4 "plain sight". in "ldsk" he specifically tells Spence that he's proud of him while consoling him about having to shoot the unsub

comforting - the whole scene in "natural born killer" where he undoes Hotch's tie with the whole "undo your tie for once in your life". plus the way Morgan sends him directly to Gideon over his nightmares in s1e10 "the popular kids" AND THEN JASON GIVES HIM THE PHOTO, absolute chefs kiss. especially too when he pulls Spencer close when they're pulling the girl's body from the water in s1e12 "what fresh hell?".

elle explicitly calling him "dad" in s1e9 "derailed" and the terrified little run he does when the shot goes off with Spencer inside the train

[notsopersonalcharlie]

Hotshot

Aaron Hotchner x Fem!Army!OC - Kinda angsty at some points 

Warnings: Haley’s death, mentions of terrorism, sniper shots, military stuff, normal criminal minds stuff, LMK if there are more 

Tags: @hotchnerxo @arsonhotchner @whump-town @eldrai @hotchgan​

Note: feeding everyone’s sniper!hotch fantasies. I was recently watching the ep where there was a mass shooting and they profile the case and at the end Hotch shoots the unsub from the victim’s balcony and from that a new head canon grew. The mall thing is stolen from that one episode from season three . This is extremely long... I got into it... There will CERTAINLY be a part two which will be more about the past and maybe several several parts after that. Please let me know what you want to see out of future parts, I’m happy to make it happen. Also sue me I fucking love beard Hotch. Gif is not mine, enjoy it tho

Part 2: Irreplaceable

Aaron was staring. He was not usually one to be slack-jawed and shocked, so when Derek saw him staring he turned. Coming through the bullpen was a woman in uniform, Army from what he could tell, with a slicked-back ponytail and a stack of folders under one arm. She was walking right toward him.

“Are you just going to stare, soldier?”

“I- I never thought I would see you again, Willow. I’m just surprised.”

“Well, good thing we have paths to cross. Your office?” Aaron nodded, putting out an arm for her to go in ahead of him. He closed the door behind him, unable to stop staring.

“I really never did think I would see you again.”

“Me neither, Aaron. But this is more important than whatever happened between us. We have intel that there’s going to be an attack on a Northern Virginia mall and we need your help. Well, your team’s.” Aaron nodded and took a seat as the woman he thought he was going to marry two decades ago laid out several folders.

“We have a source that gave us information about a potential attack on a mall in Northern Virginia. This guy says that the threat is getting more real by the day and the goal is to hit as busy as possible.” Aaron frowned, looking at the first file she handed him. It took a moment to focus himself back to work mode when he could smell the perfume she used. It was the same as back when they were teenagers. 

“I’ll get my team on it today,” he said, taking the file and heading toward the office door. 

“Aaron...” He paused, waiting for her to finish the sentence. She didn’t. He opened the door and stepped onto the catwalk. 

“BAU, table.” The group scrambled from where they had their heads pressed together in a circle. Even Rossi was down there, listening from just outside their little ring of gossip. Willow was walking out of his office when he turned. 

“I have to get back to the base, this is my number and my boss’ number just in case I’m not at my desk.” 

“Let me give you my cell number,” Aaron replied, pulling a pen and business card out of his pocket. Willow’s lips quirked into a smile, but she schooled her expression. She had plenty more to do on the case. He handed the card over to her and she slipped it into one of her pockets without looking. His team of agents each walked past pretending not to look at her. 

“Thanks, Hotshot. I’ll let you know if we get any more information.” He wanted to roll his eyes over the name. He felt a little bit like he was back to 18 years old, buddying up with the only girl in their unit because he was still a wimpy little kid.  

“Will do, W- Sergeant Cutler.” Aaron couldn’t help but watch her walk away. The last time he had seen her walk away in that uniform was the day he told her he was leaving service to finally finish what he joined the Army to start. The last time he saw her walk away from him at all was when he had told her he was going to law school, that there was no way they could get married. He could almost see the back of her floor-length navy dress as it disappeared from view. 

“Aaron.” He blinked and turned to Rossi, who was standing about a foot away from him. Willow was gone.

“Sorry, yeah.”

“I’m guessing that’s her, the girl from the Army?” Hotch nodded.

“First time you’ve seen her since you left?” 

“She was invited to the wedding. I found out from a buddy that she was in Afghanistan.” 

“Aaron, as your friend, I’m going to tell you, she definitely wasn’t going to come to your wedding.” Aaron let out a little laugh and then took a deep breath, refocusing on the job at hand. 

Willow let out a sigh when the elevator doors closed, her eyes falling shut so she could focus on just breathing. She hadn’t expected seeing him to be so hard, and it had been even harder to walk away from him again. She reached into her pocket and looked at it. Supervisory Special Agent Aaron Hotchner. She flipped it over and scrawled in Aaron’s surprisingly neat writing was his cell number with Hotshot written next to it. She laughed, shaking her head as she stepped out of the elevator. 

-/-/-/-/-

“I got him,” Garcia called over the phone, “Address in your texts. Be safe my special agents.” They had been at it for two days, pretty much straight through Hotch had slept for a few minutes at most. Based on the information that they’d been given, an attack was imminent.

“Thank you, baby girl,” Morgan said. Hotch dialed Willow’s desk number and got an answer on the fourth ring.

“Sergeant Cutler.”

“It’s Hotch, we have a name and an address, so you-“

“Send it to me. We have a strike force waiting.” Hotch waved his arm at his team to sit back down while listing off the address and the name.

“I’ve got it. Thank you so much, Aaron.” She hung up and Hotch stuck his phone back in his pocket.

“We’re off the hook for the takedown. I don’t think I need to tell anyone, but this is not information that is to leave this room.” The team mumbled their agreements.

“Get out of here. Take tomorrow off,” Rossi commended. The team shuffled out, but when Aaron looked up Dave was still there. He began to gather up the paperwork to shred it.

“What can I do for you, Dave?”

“You should call her.”

“I didn’t get her number. She has mine.” Dave gave one of his famous little sighs, indicating his disapproval.

“Well, I’ll be inviting the team over for dinner so, if you have an interest and she calls, always have an extra seat.” He left the room and Aaron finished cleaning up, hoping his phone would ring. 

It still hadn’t rung by the time he stepped outside to walk to his car, the bright sun shocking him. He forgot it was midday, all sense of time had been drained out of him. He pulled his phone out to check the day. Saturday, Jack should be up by now. He dialed the home number for the apartment. 

“Hotchner residence,” Jess’ voice came. 

“Hey Jess, I’m headed home.” 

“Sounds good, see you soon. Here’s Jack.” Guilt was sitting like a weight in his chest now, guilt over leaving Willow, over not saving Haley. Abandoning the women he loved seemed to be a theme. 

“Hi, Daddy! Did you solve the case?” All of the sorrow that had begun flooding him washed away. Jack was the greatest thing that could have ever happened to him. Guilt be damned.

“Yeah, buddy. We solved it. I’ll be home soon. What do you want to do first?” 

“I don’t know! Can we watch cartoons?” Aaron smiled, climbing into the driver’s seat of his car, the call automatically connecting to the console. 

“Sure thing, bud. Sounds like a plan. I love you.” 

“I love you too, daddy.” He hung up and started on the drive home, a country radio station playing quietly over the sound of the wind rushing by through the open windows. He was almost home when an unfamiliar number appeared on the screen, ringing and interrupting the music. 

“Hotchner.” 

“Hey Hotshot. We got him. Your profile was spot-on. He was a coward, he surrendered right away. Couldn’t face anyone bigger than him.” 

“Glad we could help.” A long silence permeated and Aaron pulled into the parking lot, stopping in his spot and turning the car off. 

“Aaron, I was ho-” Her words overlapped with his, “Willow, would you want to-” They both laughed. 

“You go,” Willow said. 

“Would you want to come to dinner with my team? We can grab coffee or drinks before.” 

“Today?” 

“Yes.” He felt like a giddy teenager again, like the first time he had pulled her in for a kiss in the parking lot after their first week of boot camp. 

“You sure do work fast, Hotchner.” He was tempted to say out loud ‘you remembered’. That was what she had said the first time they had sex, after a drive-in movie in the back of his pickup. 

“I don’t know, seventeen years seems like a bit longer than most people would say is fast.” She laughed, the sound overtaking Aaron in memories of the moments during training that they had snuck away, the evenings when the heat in Kuwait gave way to the cold evenings and they would sit with their backs to the truck and watch the sunset, the calls he would make long-distance when he was at school. 

“Is that a yes?” 

“Yes, Aaron. You know I could never say no to you.” Jess and Jack appeared by the door, coming toward him and Jess’ car parked beside him. 

“Daddy!” 

“I have to go, Willow. I’ll text you the details?” 

“Sure thing.” He hung up and Willow looked down at her phone. Had the child’s voice in the background been a coincidence? He hadn’t been wearing a ring, but she had come across his wedding invitation when she got her stack of mail months after the date on it. She got up from where she was laying on the couch and began to shed the uniform. Something clinked in her pocket when she dropped the pants onto the bathroom floor and she sighed, reaching in and taking out her challenge coin, setting it on the counter next to her watch and jewelry. It was from their group in boot camp, the little sniper symbol smack in the middle. 

When she got out of the shower, there were two texts from Aaron, one with an address and another saying it was a casual affair and she didn’t have to dress up. Either way, she stared at herself in the jeans and shirt for a few minutes too long, wondering if he would like it, if he still liked her. He hadn’t commented on her work fast memory. She rationalized though, why else would he invite her out? 

Aaron stood outside the bar, fiddling with his phone. He had left Jack at JJ and Will’s for the night, given Will was going to be keeping an eye on Henry and Michael it wasn’t a stretch. He had gotten a few hours of sleep on the couch with Jack wrapped in his arms. They had built part of his Lego set in the afternoon and had McDonalds for lunch as a treat in addition to the fact that Aaron hadn't gone grocery shopping in days. 

“Hey there, you come here often?” He turned and he guessed he probably looked like a lovesick puppy. Willow was wearing light wash jeans and a navy shirt that had a neckline reminiscent of the dress she had worn to that gala. 

“No, but if I knew you were going to be here all the time I sure would be.” 

“Witty as always, hotshot,” she laughed. Aaron wrapped her in a hug, longer than was probably appropriate, but she didn’t let go either. 

“What have you been up to the last two decades?” she asked jokingly as they found seats towards the end of the bar. It was busy, but not loud. A group of what looked like college students were on the other end of the bar laughing. Aaron had taken a look around the room, not having to note anyone for looking suspicious. He noticed Willow doing the same. 

“After I finished law school, I was a criminal prosecutor for a few years before joining the Seattle field office as an investigator. After that I moved to the BAU and I’ve been here since then. You?” The bartender took their orders and quickly left them with their drinks. 

“Army to Intelligence. CID for a while and now Homeland Security. Never used your skills again?” Aaron smiled and took a sip of his drink, looking into the dark liquid. 

“I still use them, taking out unsubs. Only a few times, but enough to know I still have them. It... I try to be the one who does it if we have to. I’ve done plenty before, a few more for the really bad guys doesn’t hurt as much.” 

“It always hurts, Aaron. Sticks to you.” He nodded. He knew that, he just told the team that so they wouldn't try to take the burden from him. 

“Your team, they seem like they’re... close to you.” Aaron snorted, a little uncivilized, but something he used to do as a kid. 

“Yeah, we spend almost all of our time together. We’re practically family. I’m mom, according to the kids.” Willow smiled. She missed having family. Aaron had been her family for a long time, a little brother for a while and then much more. 

“You were always a worrier.” A long silence held as they drank, neither of them looking at each other. There was so much to talk about that it was hard to know where to start. 

“Do you have a kid?” It was the first thing she could think of to say. Aaron’s face lit up a little bit and he pulled out his phone. 

“Yeah, Jack. He’s seven. He loves soccer.” He added the last detail because he knew she did too. There were a few things about Jack and Haley that brought back memories of Willow throughout his life. That was one of them. He often wondered what she would have been like with their kids. He pulled up a recent picture of Jack playing soccer with Rossi in the yard. 

“He looks just like you did.” 

“Yeah, that’s what Haley always says-said.” 

“Haley? High school Haley?” Willow remembered the photo of Aaron and a pretty blond girl from high school. She felt a pang of jealousy, especially know he had gone back to her after the near decade they were together. Aaron scratched his head and downed the rest of his drink. 

“Yeah. She... she was killed a few years ago.” 

“I’m sorry to hear that. I’m sure that hasn’t been easy for you or Jack.” 

“No... it hasn’t. We get by though. What about you? Partner, kids?” Willow shook her head, leaning back in the barstool. She thought about lying.

“I- Truth be told, Aaron, I never found anyone else like you.” Aaron’s guilt returned, but before he could try to formulate a response, his phone rang. 

“Hotchner.” 

“Hey, Aaron. I need to know if I need to set another place.” He looked at her. She was watching him expectantly. He hadn’t met anyone like her either.

“Yeah Dave, another spot. We’ll be there in a half hour or so.” 

“Coming together are you?” 

“Bye Dave.” 

“Nosy friends?” 

“Very, like I said, family. I can drive.”

“You can pay too because I have-” She was in the process of getting the challenge coin out of her jeans when he put his own matching one down on the table, pulled from his jacket pocket. She blinked in surprise. 

“What? Old habits die hard. Plus Dave was a Marine and he’s tried to pull that on me.” He paid for their drinks anyway and led the way to his car. Willow was still watching him in surprise until they got to the car.

“Not a blue pickup anymore?” Willow asked, sliding into the passenger seat of the SUV. 

“Wasn’t so practical after I moved to the city. Not the country boy anymore.”

“Clearly, I was surprised that I couldn’t hear an accent anymore. Pity you got rid of the truck, loooots of good memories.” Aaron smiled and turned on the car. The radio kicked on and it was the same country station it was always on. 

“Good to know not everything about you has changed,” Willow said quietly, looking out the window as Aaron started towards the house. 

“Not everything,” Aaron agreed, reaching over the console to take her hand. He started to sing the lyrics to the song, the South Carolina twang entering his voice as he did. She smiled and shook her head, squeezing his hand. 

By the time they arrived at Rossi’s house, they were both singing and laughing. A few cars were already in the driveway and Aaron led the way up to the front door, not bothering to knock. 

“I’m here!” 

“Heyyy, Aaarrrooonnn!” Emily came down the hall, clearly stumbling. 

“Hi Emily, do you need some help there.” 

“Uh, no. Who- O M G you’re the army lady.” 

“Yeah, that’s me.” Aaron helped her back down the hall, Willow trailing while looking around the house, amazed. The house was enormous. 

“She’s been here a while,” Dave supplied when they arrived in the kitchen. Spencer and JJ were sitting at the counter talking. 

“We’re here!” Garcia’s voice called. Derek and Penelope arrived in the kitchen, rounding out the group. 

“Everyone, this is Willow Cutler, she was in my unit in the Army.” All of them stared.

“You were in the army?” Penelope exclaimed, “You never told us that.” Aaron helped himself to a bottle of white from a fridge and poured some for Willow too. 

“Oh please, he doesn’t scream Army to you? Crisp suit as a uniform, early riser. He’s always been regimented,” Willow laughed, “He was the worst. We would all agree to be late to something and he would be early, and all the rest of us would get in trouble.” Aaron rolled his eyes. The rest of the team was watching out of entertainment. Few people were able to poke fun at Aaron, and much less at this extent. 

“He was the best out of our entire group though.” 

“Best at?” Willow looked at Derek, who was watching her inquisitively. 

“Sniper. His call sign was Hotshot, close to Hotch, and he also almost never missed his target.” 

“Uh, no I always hit my target,” Aaron shot back, “You were the one who almost never missed.”

“Modest,” JJ laughed, “I guess it makes sense why he always takes those long shots without an issue.”  

“He was being modest. He’s in the top twenty marksmen in the Army and he left almost twenty years ago.” 

“Why did you leave, Hotch?” Spencer asked, his feet were tucked up criss cross on the stool, “If you were so good you could have stayed. Probably lived a different life.” Aaron caught Willow’s eye when Spencer said that, a very different life indeed. 

“I only joined the Army so I could leave the small town I was from and go to college and get law school paid for. I stayed... longer than expected, but I paid my dues, and I got to go to law school.” 

“Military takes a lot out of you,” Dave said, “That’s why Willow gets the first plate.” 

“What? We’re the ones who stayed up for two days!” Spencer exclaimed. The group devolved into yelling at each other. Aaron smiled and raised his eyebrows at Willow, unspoken conversations had become easy over their seven years together, especially on deployment. This looks said ‘What do you think?’ She flashed him a smile and took a seat at the counter next to Emily, who was now drinking water out of a wine glass. She fit seamlessly into to the group. Maybe she would fit seamlessly back into his life. 

[boldlyvoid]

hotch being the one to take down the sniper in 9x3 is so sexy I'm sorry i know big weapons are scary but the fact he can use one so well has me weak in the knees

[dr-spencer-reids-queen]

Lo-Fi: Part Three

Pairing: Spencer Reid x Female!Reader

Word Count: ~2.3k

Warnings: canon violence, canon language, canon talk of death, methods of kill

Author’s Note: I do not own anything from Criminal Minds. All credit goes to their respective owners. If there is any warnings that exceed the normal death/kills from the show, I will list them. If you’ve seen the show, then it’s the same level of angst unless otherwise stated

You head to the hotel close to the FBI building, and you notice that there are newspapers about today's shooting already printed. Emily grabs one to read it, and you pause when you notice someone waiting in the lobby.

"JJ," you whisper and gesture to her visitor.

She turns to see Will sitting there, and when he sees her, he immediately heads over.

"Will, what are you doing here?"

"I took a shot and flew to DC, but that didn't work out. I figured a train ride to New York was only a few more hours. I'm sorry for showing up like this. I know you're working, but I can't stand you being on this case and me not being there. Not with what's going on."

He's talking about her pregnancy, which she has yet to tell the team about. Will's words are enough to plant concern in Hotch's mind, and she'll have to come clean now.

"Is there a problem?"

"I'm pregnant," JJ says after a beat.

"Oh, my God! JJ! Congratulations!" Emily grins and hugs her.

Spencer and Hotch are happy for her, and you grin because you've known before everyone else.

"We'll give you both some privacy," Hotch says, a bit upset.

He walks off, and JJ follows after him to talk. He might be upset that she didn't tell him because he would have understood, but he'll get over it soon. When JJ returns, you give her a warm hug.

"When we have time, I'm definitely taking you shopping. Will, she's all mine then," you joke.

Everyone leaves them to talk, and you and Spencer head to your shared room. Hotch trusts you two to share a room since you've been dating for two years, but hotel walls are thin. You're not confident they won't hear anything if you two decide to get rowdy in the sheets.

Instead, you two change into pajamas and settle comfortably in bed.

"What if I got pregnant?"

There is nothing but silence from Spencer, and you look at him who sports wide eyes and a gaping mouth.

"What?"

"I asked, 'What if I got pregnant?', but based on your reaction, it's clear how you feel about it," you laugh. "Don't worry, I'm not. I'm actually on my period now, but good to know where you stand."

"I'm sorry," he laughs with you. "If you were pregnant, it wouldn't be the worst thing in the world."

You lean up and kiss him, eager to get to bed since you have a big day tomorrow.

Like Hotch requested, Derek and Emily are at the NYPD precinct to give the profile out while you, Spencer, and Rossi are at the FBI office to give it to the agents.

"Okay, let's start with what we know. With these unsubs, it's not personal. It's not about sex or greed, which is why we think there's something bigger at play here. This isn't random. There has to be a motive," you begin.

"Our first theory is that we're dealing with a team. In the case of the DC snipers, there was actually one intended victim. John Muhammad wanted to kill his ex-wife, but he knew if he did, he'd be the prime suspect, so he created a spree in order to mask his primary motivation."

"Muhammad and Malvo also left a death card at one of their scenes, just like this unsub," Kate adds.

"We believe our unsubs have studied that case. They're opening a line of communication."

"Hold on," an agent interrupts. "Now we got these guys playing games just because you're here?"

You sense some resentment from him, but you keep a professional front.

"We're just saying the unsubs are sophisticated enough to study other crimes."

"That doesn't answer the question."

"Easy, Joe. Hear them out," Kate backs you up.

"This whole city's about to go off, and we all need to deal with that."

"You're right," you speak up. "If the card was left because of us, then they are playing games. What that tells us is that one of them has some intelligence. Like I said, they know about other cases. They've also studied the placement of the surveillance systems well enough to avoid detection."

"Most teams have a dominant and submissive member. Because of the relative intelligence of these unsubs, and the fact they stick to a set time pattern, we believe at least one of them has a steady job," Spencer says.

"We've asked the police to canvas their precincts and check businesses that open and close around the time of the shootings. We're hoping someone will be able to identify a father-son or coworkers that fit the dominant-submissive profile. They will be going undercover as well." Rossi says.

"What's the other theory?" the agent says.

"It's less likely, but it could be some sort of gang initiation," Spencer answers.

"These are all of the known gang members in Manhattan," Spencer says, passing out the files that were printed last night. "Most of them are out of Chinatown and Clinton. We'd like you to study these and keep an eye out for anyone who looks suspicious."

"I'll also be detailing a number of you as well. Stay behind when the agents have finished and I'll give you your assignments," Kate says, retreating to her office.

The police officers and undercover agents canvas the streets, and Derek makes his way back to the FBI building. Kate doesn't want to put you on the streets, so the only thing you can do is wait and hope that one of the officers grab them before they strike.

Fate is not on your side because as soon as it hit midday, another murder happened. Penelope calls Hotch immediately, but it's too late.

"Does it look like he could be one of our guys?" Hotch asks over the phone.

"What's going on?" Derek asks.

"We've got eyes on one of them. He's on the subway platform at 59th and Lex."

"59th? We could have been right there!"

Derek is getting pissed, and it won't do anyone good if he exploded on anyone here. Kate leaves her office to join Hotch as he talks to Penelope. She grabs the phone and dials someone, clearly not in a good mood.

"Where the hell are the police? This is Kate Joyner with the FBI. We have a murder suspect on the subway platform at 59th and Lex."

"He's getting away," Penelope says over speakerphone.

"Garcia, can you get eyes on him above ground?" Rossi asks.

"He's heading west on 59th Street."

"If he makes it to the park, we've lost him," Kate sighs.

"Are the police on the scene?"

"Negative."

"We could have had that guy," Derek scoffs.

"Even if we were on that platform, odds are he would have moved on to somewhere more isolated."

"Maybe, but it was worth taking a shot."

"We had every available man on the street."

"I suggested to you that you use this team," Derek glares at Kate.

"Second-guessing doesn't do us any good right now," Hotch tries to diffuse the situation.

"Hotch, how am I supposed to look these cops in the eye and tell them that we're actually here to help them?"

"We're here to present a profile. That's what we need to do."

"I said to put us at express stops which are at 14th, 42nd, 59th, and that's exactly where they hit."

"It's not your place to have this discussion. You need to back off," Hotch warns.

"My place?" Derek asks, offended. "We have seven bodies!"

"Which is exactly why we need to stay focused."

"Focused? From where I'm standing, all your focus is on her," Derek glares, and Kate looks down in shame.

"Take a walk. Now," Hotch says, leaving no room for arguments.

Derek has no choice but to listen. He's clearly frustrated because no one is listening to him, something you're very familiar with. Rossi is about to go after him, but you silently tell him you're going to do it instead. He knows you're more than capable of doing it, so he lets you go.

You follow Derek to a nearby bar, but he isn't drinking. He ordered a beer, but he hasn't taken a sip of it. You take a seat next to him, rejecting the bartender from taking your order.

"I know," Derek sighs. "I was out of line. I just felt like Hotch was taking her side."

"Yeah, I know how you feel. It's frustrating knowing the best possible way to do things, and no one listens. I feel that on a daily basis. It's hard knowing you know all the facts, but because you can't count your 'feelings' into evidence, then no one wants to listen. I see everything, Derek, and it's hard for me to make you guys see what I see and feel what I feel. I understand."

"How do you do it, then?"

"Take this case for example. Brustin and Cooper didn't believe me when I said we could be dealing with two people. I had to let them come to the same conclusion I did on their own. Sometimes, people are like that. If Kate wants to keep her men out of the field and not utilize us, then that's on her. They have to learn for themselves sometimes."

"That doesn't mean I like it any less," Derek sighs.

"Plus, I hear they are considering you for Kate's job if she gets fired. So, would you take the job?"

"I don't know. it might be nice to finally be the one making the calls."

"Yeah, it would be. You want to know where I see you in a year, maybe five? Out in the field taking down the bad guys. An office job is not meant for you."

"The BAU wears people out, Y/N. Look at Gideon. That man was the best, and in the end, he simply ran away. I mean, Hotch hasn't even thought about cracking a smile in over a year. That man has to take a personal day just so he can have a conversation with his own kid. What about you? The amount of death and destruction you see has got to mess with your head. You're lying if you said it doesn't."

"You're right, it does. If I'm being honest, I hate it. I love that I can help people, but I hate how I have to help them. It's draining, but whether I'm walking in the park or investigating a murder, it's all the same. I can't run from it.

"You know damn well Gideon gave it his all. Frank stripped him down to nothing, and then he took the one person who mattered most to him. If Gideon wanted to truly leave, he'd have left the pictures behind. Hotch has always been intense, and I think he carries the BAU on his shoulders when he shouldn't have to.

"My point is, a desk job is not meant for someone as great as you. The fact that you haven't touched your beer tells me you want to get back out there. Derek, there are times when you have to apologize even though you weren't wrong. Kate is overwhelmed and is scared, and she did what she thought was best. Don't beat her up over that.

"Apologize to her, and see where that gets you."

Derek knows you're right, so he abandons his untouched beer to follow you back to the FBI office. Hotch, Rossi, and Kate are in her office, and you can tell by her somber look, that whatever she is going to say, it's not going to be good.

"Listen, about before--"

"You spoke your mind," Kate cuts him off. "I respect that."

"Where are the others?" you ask.

"JJ, Reid, and Prentiss went to the crime scene with the detectives. This is the first time they've killed two days in a row. They're speeding up."

"Your analyst went over the latest footage. This is a different shooter from the last two," Kate reveals.

"There's three of them now?" you gasp. "Who the hell are these guys?"

"I want you all out on the street tomorrow," Kate says, locking eyes with Derek who appreciates that.

"What are we missing?" Rossi asks.

"When we first saw this case, what did it remind us of? The Son of Sam. This is the same kind of unsub with random shootings, not need-driven, and no sexual component."

"True, except that the Son of Sam admitted he would return to the scenes of his crimes days later to masturbate."

"Exactly. Get Garcia to study the footage and see if the same person keeps returning to the crime scene in the days following the shootings. All we've been looking at are the immediate aftermaths of the crimes."

"It's worth a shot."

"We'll hit the street tomorrow. Dave, will you grab Reid and go over the profile to make sure we didn't leave anything out?"

"Are we absolutely sure this isn't an act of terrorism?" you suddenly ask.

"It's a possibility, but let's not come to that conclusion just yet."

The following day, much like Kate said she'd do, she put every available person on the street including the BAU team. You're paired with Cooper, of all people, but you don't mind him much. Spencer and Rossi are the only ones left at the FBI office with Detective Brustin to go over the profile.

"Okay, people, talk to me," Penelope says over your earpiece. "Roll call time. 14th Street?"

"Check," you say and look at Cooper who nods.

"Herald Square."

"Check," JJ and Derek confirm.

"Chambers Street?"

"Check," Emily and Hotch say.

"72nd Street?"

"Check."

Penelope goes down the line to every FBI agent and officer on the street. With this many people out in regular clothing, you're hoping to catch one of the guys doing this. If there are three, then there could be more. If this is an act of terrorism, then there could be dozens more.

The only thing bugging you about this whole case is that the Son of Sam constantly checked in with the police, and played mind games with them. The only form of communication these unsubs made is through a Tarot card left on one of the bodies. Just one. Nothing else.

It doesn't fit the profile. The unsubs are organized, use pre-surveillance, and strike in the middle of the day. Yet they haven't done anything to seek out media attention. You profiled the card that was put there is to tell your team they know you're here. If their goal was to create panic with the card, then they didn't achieve this.

These unsubs are more disciplined than the Son of Sam. The fact that they haven't tried to contact the police means the Tarot card is meant for the FBI and only the FBI. These unsubs are ramping up to something, and they want your team to know that they're watching you.

x

Follow my library blog @aqueenslibrary​​​​​​​​​​ where I reblog all my stories, so you can put notifications on there without the extra stuff :)

[sp1rit-realm]

EPISODE THREE YOU KNOW THE DRILL

oh! bombing!

hotch hotch hotch hotch hotch hotch hotch hotch hotch hotch hotch hotch hotch hotc—

BARK BARK BARK BARK BARK BARK BARK

“BOOM. see you later unsub”

I HEART PENELOPE GARCIA

bumping into somebody and then apologizing when it’s not his fault? pookie! me too

hotch explaining things is so hot

i need him to explain to me how to do basic things

ELLE BATK BATK BARK BATK BARK

NO YHE LITTLE GIRL

IM SO GLAD THEYRE OKAY

HOTCH ON THE PHONE JUST GRABBING THE FILE LIKE THAT DHRDJSJSKAJDJFJSJDHDHDHDHRHRHDJHD HES SO FINE

he had an email address?????

sexy willing teen hot for inmate XXX 😭😭😭😭😭 penelope is so funny i cannot

of course it’s another white man

NO NO NO NO

GUYS HES A BOMB MAKER HES NOT TINKERING AROUND IN THERE HE MAKES BOMBS GUYS HE MAKES BOM—

HE JUST HIT HIS WIFE??????

garcia and morgan’s dynamic is so cute

i hope that poor woman is okay

noooo he seems so sweet

i hope they get the bomb off of him :(

SNIPER THIS IS JUST LIKE FORTNITE

sorry guys bad joke

HOTCH IS SO FINE I CANT BREATHE

IM S(CREAMING)

HIS HANDS OH MY GOD HIS HANDS

why does he want a passport and a helicopter 😭😭😭

no! i want out of prison :(

like bro if you want out of prison maybe you shouldn’t have killed all those people????😭😭😭

THIS WAS A GOOOOOD EPISODE

Not enough hotch, but whatever every scene he was in, he was fine as hell

@mrsaluado

[wonderinglostsoul]

Chapter 2: Criminal Minds fanfic

Here is the continuation of my fanfic. All chapters are available on wattpad

Pairing: Aaron Hotchner x Fem!Reader

Synopsis: You are an FBI agent with a past and you were about to enter the BAU.

Trigger warning: BAU stuff like killing, violence, assault, mention of rape and suicide. I tried not to get too graphic with the description

Master List

You arrived in the BAU. Hotchner told you to follow him in his office. He opened the door for you. You enter the office, still holding your bag. You seated on the chair infront of his desk while he seated on his chair. He just looked at you. His eyes curious, he put his hand on his face, index finger stretched to his temple while the rest of the fingers closed on his cheeks.

“I am sorry, I know I should have followed orders and…” Hotchner stopped you from talking.

“I wanted to know why being a sniper was not part of your resume. What is real and what is not in the information that you provided us.” His eyes furrowed

“I cannot disclosed any of it because I did not even write what’s inside that folder.” You told him

“Then what can you tell me?” He asked.

“Since you already know, I am a trained sniper. I go to that building to do have a full view of the suspect and his targets. I was not supposed to shoot, but I saw that our men started to go down so I made the decision by myself and shoot. I take full responsibility.” You put your badge and ID on his desk and stand up.

“Where are you going?” Hotchner asked. You were puzzled by his question. Isn’t it that he is the one who is eager to get rid of you?

“I am not dismissing you yet. So you can take this for now. You did a great job on this case and I think we can use your skills on our advantage. But I cannot unforeseen what happened today. You will not act on your own. If you have an idea like surveillance or snipping you have to ask for my permission. You will be on desk duty and will be under my supervision during the case. That is until I know that you learned your lesson. Do you understand?”

“Yes, sir.” You answered. Sheepishly.

“Good and you can call me Hotch. You can go home now and rest. There are some paper works that I want you to finish as soon as possible.” He gave out a small side smile.

“Thank you, Hotch.” You answered, standing up. You stretched out your hand and he shakes it. You can feel a low electricity but you think it was just your imagination. You went out of his office and saw everyone looking at you. You go down and talked to everyone. Telling them the same thing you told to Hotch. Reid made a comment about snippers and the distance that they can shoot and you mentioned that you were able to shot a target that far before. They were curious about your job before but you cannot disclosed much of the details.

They move on to the next topic like what they will do during the weekends. Morgan will be renovating a new home. Reid will be seeing some play that was almost 5 hour long. He is asking everyone to come with him but everyone is turning him down. He also asked you but you also made an excuse. You are not much into theater play anyway.

During the weekend you just do the same routine. You go for a jog in the morning. Have a breakfast at home if there are leftovers, if not you grab a coffee at on the way home. Then you will clean the house, read a book or ran some errands. It is rare to have you meet up anyone during this time.

During this weekend there were no urgent case which is so rare that everyone cannot believe it when you all arrived on Monday. Everyone was happy because a whole uninterrupted weekend. When Hotch arrived he was smiling ear to ear. The dark circle under his eyes minimize as well. You can see that he was well rested. He called you to come to his office so you followed behind him.

“Please sit down. I need your help to run through some case files. You have to find out which case needs our urgent attention.” He ordered you and you see a high stock of pile beside his desk.

“Sure.” You answered. While getting some files you thought of having some small talk. So you asked him about his weekend.

“Such a nice weekend huh. I heard that it was a rare thing in BAU.” You asked studying him.

“Yes it is, a one whole day is a miracle enough but a whole two days? I could not believe it either.” Hotch said while getting a pile on his own.

“So how do you spend your weekend.” You asked.

“I spend it with my son, Jack. We went to his soccer practice, then go to the zoo then the amusement park. The little guy had a blast.” He said while opening one of the case file.

“It sounds nice.” You said. You headed to the couch with your pile and settle it to the table.

“How about you.” he said peaking through the case file he was reading. “How do you spent your weekend.”

You were startled with the question, you did not expect that he will have interest with what you do.

“Ahhmmm, Just the usual. Jogging in the morning, cleaning the house, doing the laundry running some errands and then I capped it with a wine and good book.”

“Thats it? You should have just come to Reid’s play.” He said smiling.

“Hmmm, If I want to sleep I’ll do it at the comfort of my own couch and not on those steep theater chair.” You smiled. And another rare thing happened, Aaron Hotchner actually laughed on that. You gave a small laugh as well. And then opened one of your case file. From there you both worked silently. As time past you feel a sudden ache at your back. It is because of slouching. The desk on the couch is too low. So you sit on the floor to level with the table. Hotch saw this.

“You can work in your desk if this is uncomfortable to you.” He said.

“Oh no, I am fine. And it is faster to consult you if I am here.” You answered him

“Alright” He said going back to examining some more files. You work like this for almost an hour when he suddenly called you to look at the case he was examining. when you were about to stand up, you legs got cramps.

“Aaahhh!” You said while you were in pain, holding your cramped up leg. Aaron got worried and suddenly stand up to help you.

“Are you ok? What happend?” He asked while approaching you. He hold both of your elbow to help you seat on the couch. Then he asked you to raise your legs and started to massage it. While doing this the door suddenly opened and Garcia saw that Aaron was massaging your calf. She let out a shriek and all of you got surprised.

“I am sorry, Sir. I did not know. I will comeback later.” She said, confused of what was happening.

“Garcia!” Hotch said to stop Penelope. You put down your feet at the same time

“What is it?” Hotch asked authoritatively.

“Las Vegas PD called and they have a case for us.” She said sheepishly.

“Alright, lets meet on the conference room.” He said. When Garcia, was about to go, Hotch called him again. Garcia froze at the door again.

“[Y/N] had cramps sitting here on the floor thats why I helped her to stand up and put pressure on his cramps.” He explained slowly to her. He paused for a few second and continue. “I hope it does not caused any rumor between us. Is that understood?” He said with authority again.

“Yes, Sir.” she answered, a little bit scared.

“Let’s go” Hotch said, standing up. The 3 of them headed to the conference room. Hotch called everyone to come too.

When everyone arrived at the conference room, Morgan noticed that Garcia was a little bit frantic.

“Baby girl, what happened?” He asked worried.

“Me, I am ok, I dont know anything. I did not see anything. Lets just look at the case file.” She said rapidly that you cannot understand some of the words.

Pictures of 3 girls flash in the screen, they seems to be in your age bracket as you. The crime scene was shown and the 3 girls were all wearing red dress and red stiletto. All of them was badly beaten with ligature mark on the hands.

“It seems that they were all tied up with there hands raised like this. “ You put your hands together and look at everyone. They were all looking at you.

“What?” You asked.

“Newbie, the victims look like you.” Morgan said.

“He is right, the age, hair color and some physical features matches you. Garcia, what is the height of the victims?” Reid said. Garcia mentioned a range and you are in between the range.

“Thats a stretch. I dont think that I am…”

“Rossi, what do you think?” Hotch asked Agent Rossi. You looked at Rossi and he seems contemplating as well. They were hesitant to have you join this case since you can be a possible victim.

“Its like putting a steak at the middle of a lion’s cage.” Rossi remarked.

“Come on, Hotch. I am an agent, I can protect myself and beside I am on desk duty so I will always be strapped on your side. We are also using buddy system so we can protect each other.” You said. Pleading. “And beside, I am a sniper, I dont have to be on the actual crime scene. I can be as faraway as you want. I do not even own a red dress or an stiletto” You were looking at everyone still pleading. Everyone was smiling.

“Fine.” Hotch said smiling. Teasing you “You always needs to be accompanied by other agent whenever you have to go out of the station. Wheels up in 30.”

[wintergreen28]

Darkness in Colorado (2)

Aaron Hotchner x Fem!Reader, Aaron Hotchner x Fem!OGCharacters

Summary: They’re reeeeally going to hate Colorado after this. 

Word Count: 2.2k

Warnings: canon-typical violence and injuries, profanity, PAIN

A/N: Ok look. I know it’s been a while. Take me to court, I don’t give a flying kerfuffle. I apologize, but I hope this part makes up for it. 

All Aaron could think about was how tired he was. Rob Parsons had died a while ago, his blood staining the snow red. Liz was near unconscious from exhaustion and exposure to the cold, and he had a feeling he would follow suit as well. They could only hope that the voicemail sparked a search for them. He stood up on his shaky two feet, moving closer to her.

“What are you doing?” She asked groggily, barely making eye contact with him. He started to move her backwards, propping her up against a tree near them. 

“Trying to help you, you stubborn woman.” He replied, plopping down next to her, gathering her closer to him. “You took off your coat. Why?”

“Because, however unfortunate it may seem, everyone deserves a chance to be saved. I took an oath, and I have to stay true to it.” She said quietly, reluctantly letting his little warmth seep into her body. “I may have taken that oath in desperate times to help my brothers overseas, but that doesn’t mean I didn’t take it.” Aaron was silent for a moment, letting the quiet of the forest be the facet for the conversation while he gathered his thoughts. 

“You don’t talk about it much.”

“Talk about what?”

“Before you got here. Serving in the Army, being in NCIS.” 

“To be honest sir, it never felt like you were interested.” She looked forward, not wanting to face him at that moment. “I do talk about it, just never really around you.”

“I think you can drop the sir, Liz.” Another beat of silence sat between the two of them, creating an awkward atmosphere. “I didn’t know if I could ask, y’know?”

“I’m not as fragile as you think I am, Hotch.”

“I know that now.” What Aaron would give for her to call him by his name. He was getting sick of being called Hotch, especially by a woman he had grown to care about. Even if he didn’t show it the right way. He turned to look at her face, but she was still avoiding looking back at him. Her eyelids were drooping lower and lower.

“Tell me about it.” He said, trying to keep her awake. “Tell me about everything you’re comfortable with.” 

“I joined the Army as soon as I could as a combat medic. They needed more doctors and surgeons than medics at the time, so I got taught through experience while overseas, essentially doing medical school online. They certified me through the board as soon as they could, and I got right to work. It was really, really awful things that I had to operate on. I got offered a position higher up, in a special forces unit.”

“Where you trained to be a sniper?”

“Yeah. It was a good time. Or as good of a time as it could be. When I got out, medicine seemed like the natural pipeline that I would take, but an agent from NCIS got hurt and I took care of him. They recognized whatever it was they were looking for in a new agent in me, and I essentially got hijacked from the hospital. Classic Gibbs.” She let out a weak chuckle, and Aaron smiled, leaning his head against hers, face buried in her hair. 

“I worked there for a while. And then I decided I needed something new. Loved the psychology bit of the whole criminal justice process, so I started researching different units. And then Gibbs wrote me a recommendation to, um, the FBI. Yeah! The FBI.” Her voice got more strung out, as she was continuously getting confused from exhaustion. “And now–” She left a long pause, her breathing becoming more even. “--I’m here.” Her eyes finally closed, and Aaron rubbed her arms, trying to bring back some feeling into them. Her hands fell to her sides in the snow, and he quickly picked them up and folded them into his jacket, trying to avoid frostbite. They were going to die out here. They were. Liz could have very well been his only hope of tracking out of the forest and now she was essentially on her way to death. He wished it didn’t have to be this way, as he gripped her tighter towards him. 

If he did something right in his life, it would be making sure Liz was warm enough to survive for the two of them. He stripped his jacket off, wrapping it around her shoulders and zipping tightly to preserve what warmth she had left. He leaned on her, soaking in what he could before closing his eyes as well. 

Whether it had been hours or minutes, Derek finally found them. Emily’s advice had proven right about going to the high ground, and the scene in front of them was horrifying. A dead man in the snow sprawled out, blood seeped into the snow, and the two people that they loved unconscious and blue, clinging to each other against a tree. Derek rushed towards Aaron and Liz as Emily checked the man’s pulse. He shook them, doing his best to shake them awake, but to no avail. 

“Prentiss, I need you to call the med team.” He said hurriedly, trying to pry them from the snow that had fallen around them, and get them into a more temperate environment. She called for help through her radio, and ran to help Derek. Aaron’s eyes slowly opened, confusion evident. 

“You found us.” He groaned, lolling his head to the side. 

“How were we supposed to negotiate our days off if our boss was dead?” Derek joked, gripping his shoulders, pulling him forward and off the tree he was leaning on.

“No no no no no no, you gotta get her first.” Aaron protested, trying to shove Derek off of him.

“Em will get her, don’t worry.” He pulled Aaron up off of the ground, looping his arm around his shoulders, carrying his weight back towards the SUV. Emily moved to carry Liz off the ground, still unconscious, lips blue. They started to hike back towards the parking lot, fighting against the rough winds and the snow still coming down on them. It would be a while before any of them would want to see Colorado again. 

By some luck, they make it back, and as Aaron closes his eyes again, ignoring the yelling for him to stay awake, he knows that they’re finally safe.

Liz had trouble opening her eyes hours later against the harsh hospital lights. It felt like there were ten pound weights holding down her eyelids, and even moving her fingers required a great deal of effort, her muscles straining against the movement. The smell of the sterile environment around her was familiar and comforting, and the beeping of her heart monitor was starting to get on her nerves. If she strained her ears well enough, she could make out the whispering of what she could only assume was her team from the hallway. Gossips, they all were, no matter how well meaning they could be. 

She finally won her battle with her eyes, slowly fluttering them open, and groaning at the light. Looking down, she could see she was covered with a warming blanket, and could assume that the IV in her hand was hooked up to warm saline. Frostbite and hypothermia procedure. Damn it. She knew it had been a mistake taking off her jacket to try and preserve the unsub’s life, but ending up having her hospital protocol used against her was disheartening to say the least. Looking around, she found that she was alone in the room. Aaron. Where was he? Did they both make it out? She would be okay if she could see him, and know that they were going home far away from the snow for a long time. Where was her team? She didn’t want to be selfish, but she didn’t expect to wake up entirely alone. 

A knock sounded at the door and Liz jumped a little, before relaxing at seeing Derek. He came to approach her bedside, dragging over one of the uncomfortable plastic chairs to sit next to her. 

“Hey hot stuff.” He said softly, gently gripping her hand. “How are you feeling?”

“I mean, I didn’t get hit by a truck, did I? That’s how I feel.” Derek chuckled. 

“No sweetheart, you didn’t.”

“Is Aaron okay?” She almost felt scared to ask, dreading the possibility of bad news. 

“Yeah, boss man is fine. He’s been asking about you too.” Liz’s face got a little hotter, and Derek gave her a sly, knowing grin. “A lot. He’s been asking about you a lot.” Liz groaned and turned her head away from him. 

“So we both had hypothermia? Maybe some frostbite?” Liz tried to change the topic, and Derek let her. He nodded in response, glancing up at the saline bag behind her, trying to gauge whether he should ask the nurse if she needed more. Her hands were still cold after all of this, and he could only assume that the rest of her was too. “And Rob… he’s dead right?”

“Yeah. He bled out long before we got there.”

“How long was I out?”

“Hours. Five at least.” She was lucky to be alive, and so was Aaron. She was sure that the rest of the team was sitting in his recovery room, especially if he was awake already. With how early he got up every single day, she had no doubt that he would get up earlier than her in this circumstance as well. 

Commotion came from the hallway and protesting from familiar voices as the most stubborn man in Liz’s life came into view. Aaron Hotchner, in all his glory, in a hospital gown, bringing his attached IV pole, a blanket around his shoulders, shuffling into her room, trying to fight off Spencer and Emily. Behind them, JJ was giggling at the open back of the hospital gown, and trying to contain her laughter. Aaron came into the room, a weak smile on his face as he beheld Liz, and came to stand at the other side of her bed. Liz peeped a hand out from the blanket to reach out for him, and he took her hand, gently. 

“You’re okay?” He said quietly. She nodded, smiling a little. 

“And you?” She replied. He nodded in response, his smile getting a little wider. He rubbed the back of her hand in small circles with his thumb, and her entire body relaxed. She was keenly aware of the other people in the room, but all she wanted to focus on was Aaron and the fact they both made it out okay. She shuffled over more to the side, patting the space beside her. He sat down next to her, making to lean back against the bed, and she draped her blankets over his legs as well. 

To Derek and Emily, this was very similar to the position that they found them in the forest sitting like. Together. Conserving warmth and comfort. 

Liz gingerly settled into Aaron’s side, leaning on him with what little weight she could. His tense demeanor finally subsided, and the ease that the team was hoping he would find, came at last. The team all suddenly found other places more interesting to be than the suddenly stuffy hospital room, murmuring wishes of “Hope you feel better!” and “Glad you’re okay!” but Aaron and Liz were already in their own little world. Their hands intertwined, resting on Aaron’s lap, and she leaned her head on his shoulder tentatively.

“I was so scared.” His voice broke. “You went under, and I knew that we might not make it out.” When his voice broke, a small part of Liz crumbled and she squeezed his hand tighter.

“I figured that if we weren’t getting out of there, I was okay that it was with you. After all the shit that I’ve gone through in my life, I knew that going out with someone who cared just enough was one of my better outcomes.” 

“But you shouldn’t have felt that way. Dying in the freezing cold isn’t a ‘better outcome,’ no matter what.” 

“Trust me, Aaron, it is.” She lifted her head to look into his eyes, and she smiled a little bit. “I would have rather it been you than anyone else on this team and I mean that.” Aaron’s face finally cracked from its usual permanently concerned expression, into something of comfort.

“I’m glad it was you too.” His eyes darted to her lips, then back to her eyes. Now, as a profiler, or even just a human woman, this didn’t go unnoticed by Liz. 

“This might sound really, really stupid.” Liz started, looking at his mouth in turn.

“None of your ideas are stupid.”

“Your previous case reports would say different, but I digress.” He huffed, before leaning in a little closer. “Can I kiss you, Aaron?” He nodded, and their lips met softly, and it felt like Liz’s world was complete. The warmth that came over her as they kissed was indescribable, and wanted to make her peep up on her toes and pop her foot like the Princess Diaries. They broke apart shortly, and a shit-eating grin was on Liz’s face.

“Oh god, what?” Aaron asked, still smiling but leaning his head back against the pillow.

“You don’t hate me.”

“I never did.”

“But you know what this means, right?”

“Do I even want to know?”

“I could tell everyone you’re a god-awful kisser, and it’s my word against yours. I just happen to be voted most-loved at the office.”