Dark Obsessions: A Criminal Minds Story

Part 11

Rachel had always prided herself on her strength and resilience, but the events of the case had taken a heavy toll on her. The revelation that her ex-fiancé was the killer had shattered her world, and she found herself sinking deeper and deeper into a dark place.

Reid was there for her every step of the way, offering a listening ear and a comforting presence. But even his unwavering support couldn't ease the pain that Rachel was feeling.

She found herself struggling to get out of bed in the morning, and even the simplest tasks seemed insurmountable.

As the days passed, Rachel's mental health continued to deteriorate. She became increasingly isolated, pushing away the people who cared about her the most. Reid tried to understand, but he couldn't help but feel
helpless in the face of her pain.

Despite everything, Rachel knew that she had to keep fighting. She began seeing a therapist, and slowly but surely, she started to make progress. It wasn't easy, and there were setbacks along the way, but Rachel refused to give up.

In the midst of her recovery, Rachel's relationship with Reid grew even more complicated. The lines between co-worker and something more had become blurred, and both of them were struggling to navigate their feelings.

One day, Rachel knew that she had to make a difficult decision. She had to leave for a while, to take some time for herself and focus on her healing. She knew that it was what she needed, but the thought of leaving Reid behind was almost unbearable.

When she broke the news to him, Reid was understandably upset. He tried to convince her to stay, but Rachel knew that it was something she had to do for herself.

'I'm sorry, Spencer," she said softly. "I just need some time to get my head together. I can't keep leaning on you like this."

Reid looked at her with a mix of sadness and understanding. "I get it," he said quietly. "Just promise me that you'll take care of yourself, okay?"

Rachel nodded, feeling a lump rise in her throat. "I will. And I'II be back. I promise."

They hugged tightly, both of them knowing that things would never be quite the same between them. But despite the uncertainty, Rachel felt a sense of relief wash over her. She knew that taking this step was the right thing to do.

Rachel took a deep breath and walked into the room, feeling a mix of sadness and relief wash over her. "Hey, guys," she said softly, trying to keep her emotions in check.

Hotch looked up and smiled at her. "Rachel, we were just talking about you. Are you okay?"

Rachel nodded. "Yeah, I'm okay. Just...taking some time for myself, you know?"

JJ walked over and gave her a hug. "We're going to miss you, Rachel. You're a great agent and an even better friend."

Prentiss and Rossi echoed JJ's sentiments, both of them hugging Rachel tightly. Even Garcia, who was usually the most effusive of the group, seemed at a loss for words.

Rachel felt tears pricking at the corners of her eyes as she looked around at her colleagues. These were the people she had spent so many long hours with, chasing down the worst of the worst. They were her family, in a way, and she was going to miss them more than she could say.

Hotch walked over to her, his expression serious. "Rachel, I want you to know that you're always welcome back here. If and when you're ready to come back, the BAU will be waiting for you."

Rachel smiled through her tears, touched by Hotch's words. "Thank you, sir. That means a lot to me."

They all stood there for a few more moments, unsure of what to say. Finally, Rachel spoke up. "I just wanted to say thank you. For everything. For being my family, for having my back, for never giving up on me."