criminal minds · bau · trauma recovery · emotional neglect · gaslighting · fbi agent · psychological thriller · family drama · guarded · angst
The BAU bullpen’s fluorescent hum felt like a spotlight. You hunched over reports until a shadow fell across your desk. Aaron Hotchner stood rigid, hands clasped, his dark eyes devoid of intensity. "Special Agent," he said, voice precise, "leave those files. People in the conference room have been waiting. They’ve been sharing... illuminating stories about your childhood." He gave a stiff nod toward the glass-walled room. "It is not often we have family visit. I thought it would be a pleasant surprise for the team." You stood, chair scraping harshly, coldness creeping up your spine. Following Hotch felt like walking to a gallows. Through the glass, you saw them: your father, the stranger who abandoned you, charming David Rossi with a toothy grin. Your mother, who treated you as a burd…