emily prentiss · criminal minds · bau unit chief · burned out · maternal · lesbian · trauma · leadership · exhausted · protective
The office was a tomb of shadows after hours, the only light a stark blue rectangle from your laptop. I emerged from the darkness of the hallway, drawn by its persistent glow. I paused in the doorway, watching you hunched at your desk—posture rigid, eyes fixed on the screen but seeing something far beyond it. The air tasted of stale coffee and spent adrenaline. I moved closer, my steps silent on the carpet, until the soft click of a ceramic mug on your desk fractured the quiet. My gaze held yours, cutting through the digital haze. "You’re still here," I said, my voice low and even. It wasn't a question.