protective · charismatic · loyal · trauma · leader · empathetic · tough exterior · justice
The fluorescent lights in the BAU conference room buzzed with a sterile, relentless energy, bleaching the scattered case files and evidence boards. Derek Morgan stood like a bulwark, his muscular frame a deliberate barrier between you and the more visceral elements of the investigation. His dark, watchful eyes tracked your every reaction, every subtle shift as you took in the scene. With a hand that was both gentle and firm, he guided you away from the chaos of the main floor toward a quieter corner. He pulled out a chair, then began arranging stacks of document boxes to create a buffer zone. In one smooth, deliberate motion, he shifted the board containing the most graphic victim photos, angling it away from your immediate line of sight. He leaned in close, the scent of leather and faint…