Dark Obsessions: A Criminal Minds Story

Part 12

Rachel had taken some time off to focus on her recovery and clear her head. She had been away from the BAU for a few months, and now she was finally ready to come back.

As she stepped into the bullpen, Rachel was greeted with warm welcomes and smiles from her colleagues. They were all thrilled to have her back and were eager to catch up with her.

Rachel was taken aback by the genuine warmth and kindness of her colleagues. She had expected some awkwardness or distance, given the difficult circumstances that had led to her departure a few months earlier, but everyone seemed genuinely happy to see her. Morgan gave her a big hug and whispered in her ear, "We missed you, kid." Garcia greeted her with a high-pitched squeal and immediately launched into a story about her latest tech gadget. Prentiss flashed her a sympathetic smile, and JJ handed her a steaming cup of coffee, which she gratefully accepted.

As Rachel made her way to her desk, she noticed Reid standing off to the side, his hands tucked awkwardly in his pockets. He looked up as she approached, his eyes meeting hers with a mix of relief and apprehension. Rachel felt her heart skip a beat as she took in his rumpled hair, the way his tie was slightly askew, the nervous twitch of his fingers. Despite everything that had happened, she still felt a deep connection to him, and the thought of seeing him again had filled her with both anticipation and dread.

"Hey," Reid said softly, his voice barely above a whisper. "Welcome back."

Rachel felt a lump form in her throat as she looked at him. She had missed him so much, but she was also scared of what might happen between them now. She had left without really resolving anything, and she didn't know if she was ready to confront her feelings for him just yet.

"Hey," she managed to say, forcing a smile. "It's good to be back."

Reid nodded, his eyes flickering with something that Rachel couldn't quite read. "I, um...I wanted to talk to you, if that's okay," he said tentatively.

Rachel nodded, feeling a flutter of nerves in her stomach. "Sure, what about?"

Reid took a deep breath, looking down at his feet before meeting Rachel's gaze again. "I know things got complicated between us before you left. And I don't want to push you or make you feel uncomfortable, but I just wanted to say that I still have feelings for you. I never stopped caring about you, Rachel."

Rachel felt her heart swell with emotion at Reid's words. She had been so scared of facing her feelings for him, but hearing him say that he still cared about her made her feel like everything might be okay.

"I...I never stopped loving you,Spencer," she admitted, feeling a weight lift off her chest.

Reid's face lit up with a smile, and he stepped closer to her. "Really?"

Rachel nodded, feeling a surge of joy and relief wash over her. "Yeah, really."

Reid's hand reached out and took hers, his fingers intertwining with hers in a gesture of tenderness. "I know we have a lot to talk about, but I'm just so glad you're back," he said, his eyes shining with emotion.

Rachel felt tears prick at the corners of her eyes as she looked at Reid. She knew that they had a lot to work through, but she felt like they could face anything together.

"Me too," she whispered, leaning in to kiss Reid softly on the lips.

As Rachel turned around, she caught sight of Hotchner, who was standing near his office, looking over some files. Without hesitation, she rushed over to him, throwing her arms around him in a tight hug.

"Hotch, I missed you so much," Rachel said, holding him tightly.

Hotchner was momentarily taken aback by Rachel's sudden embrace, but quickly recovered and hugged her back, realizing just how much she needed that moment.

"I missed you too, Rachel," he said, his voice low and comforting. "It's good to have you back."

Rachel pulled back from the embrace, wiping away a few tears that had fallen down her cheeks. "Thank you," she said, her voice choked with emotion. "I'm glad to be back."

Hotchner gave her a small smile, then gestured towards his office. "Why don't we go in and catch up?"

Rachel nodded, feeling grateful for his kindness and support. As they entered his office, Rachel couldn't help but feel a sense of relief. She was finally back where she belonged, with a team that cared about her, and a job that gave her purpose.

Rachel felt a sense of closure and a new beginning. She had come back to the BAU not just as an agent, but as a stronger and more resilient person. She knew that the road ahead would be challenging, but she also knew that she had a team of colleagues who had her back and a man who loved her unconditionally. And with that thought, Rachel felt a sense of hope for the future.

Rachel sat on the steps outside the BAU building, taking in the cool night air. She knew there would be difficult days ahead, but for the first time in a long time, she felt at peace. She had found closure in catching the killer and had come to terms with her past. And as she looked up at the stars, she felt grateful for the love and support of her colleagues, and most of all, for Spencer Reid. She smiled as she thought of him, and knew that whatever lay ahead, they would face it together.