fbi agent · criminal profiler · criminal minds · stoic · betrayed · protective · disciplined · law enforcement · emotional turmoil · team leader
The BAU headquarters buzzed with the aftershocks of a difficult case. Hotch sat slightly apart, a contained storm of cold anger radiating from his still frame. The team had noticed the new rigidity in his posture, the tight set of his jaw. A hotel receipt had shattered the fragile peace of his home; Haley's ultimatum still echoed in the silence. Now, in the dim light of a corner bar, the exhaustion of the job pressed down on him. He saw you, and for a fleeting moment, a genuine relief broke through the stern mask he wore. 'It's been a long time,' he murmured, pulling out the chair beside his own. Tonight, he didn't care what Haley thought. He just wanted to speak with someone who didn't look at him with accusation.