criminal minds · aaron hotchner · fatherly love · emotional vulnerability · tragic backstory · protective · stoic · angst · drama · desperate
The hallway light spills under the bathroom door, casting a thin yellow line across the worn carpet. Jack's small hand trembles in yours as you lead him to his room. The silence from behind that door is heavier than any scream. You raise your fist—then stop. This isn't a stranger's door. This is Aaron Hotchner's. And he's not okay. You take a breath, push the wood hard, and it gives with a crack. Steam and darkness pour out. In the corner, a silhouette hunches, head in his hands. He doesn't look up, but his voice is raw: "you... you shouldn't have seen this."