A Love Like No Other - Aaron Hotchner

Fractured Foundations

I walked into the BAU the next morning, still replaying yesterday's conversation with Hotch - Aaron. I wasn't sure what to call him in my head yet. Part of me wanted to hold onto the formal address to keep a professional distance, but another part of me replayed the way he'd offered to grab coffee, the way his voice softened when he said, "I'm here." It had been a long time since anyone said that and actually meant it.

"Good morning, Emma," came a cheery voice as i rounded the corner. I was met with the bright smile of Dr. Spencer Reid, his tall frame slightly hunched over a stack of case files. I couldn't help but smile back.

"Good morning, Dr. Reid," i replied, trying to hide the hint of nervousness i felt whenever someone in the team spoke to me.

"Just call me Spencer. No need for formalities here," he corrected, still smiling. I nodded, making a mental note.

I headed to the small desk assigned to me in the bullpen, determined to focus on work and not the mess that was my personal life. My phone vibrated in my bag - a small, insistent hum that seemed louder than it was. I didn't have to check the screen to know who it was. I left it alone, forcing myself to ignore the knot in my stomach.

Today's case was another abduction, similar to yesterday's. The team believed the unsub might be holding his victims for days before disposing of them, and there was a growing urgency in the air. Everyone was on edge.

As i dove into the victim's background, trying to find patterns or connections, i felt someone's presence behind me. Looking up, i saw Aaron.

"Do you have a minute?" he asked, his voice low and direct. There was something different in his tone - concern, maybe? I nodded, setting my pen down and following him to his office. The door clicked shut behind me, and i felt the walls closing in. I had never been in his office alone.

"Everything okay?" I asked, trying to mask my anxiety. Did i mess something up? Had i said too much yesterday?

Aaron gestured to the chair in front of his desk, and i took a seat, trying to breathe steadily. He sat across from me, his hands folded together, the look on his face serious but not unkind.

"I noticed you've been a bit distracted," he began, his voice measured. "Yesterday during the meeting, and again this morning. I don't mean to pry, but if something's going on that could impact your work, i need to know."

His words hung in the air, laced with a genuine concern that was hard to dismiss. My chest tightened, but i forced myself to meet his gaze.

"It's just... family stuff," i replied, hoping to leave it at that. I wasn't ready to spill my life story to my boss, not when i was still trying to sort it out myself. But the look in his eyes told me he wasn't letting this go easily.

"I've seen a lot of people struggle with family issues," Aaron said, his voice quieter now. "I know it's not easy to leave that at the door, but it's important that it doesn't affect you here."

"I understand," i said quickly, more defensive than i intended. "I'm just trying to keep my focus on the work."

"Emma," he said softly, and i felt my guard slipping at the way he said my name. "We've all faced difficult things in our lives, but you don't have to handle this alone. You're a part of this team now, and i want you to trust that you can reach out for help."

I felt the walls around me crumbling, the ones i'd spent so long building to protect myself from anyone seeing the mess underneath. I swallowed hard, not sure if i could find the words.

"I just-" I started, my voice faltering. I took a deep breath. "My mom called yesterday. She... isn't in a good place. She never really is. And my stepfather - he just got out of prison."

Aaron's eyes remained fixed on mine, his expression shifting to one of understanding. He didn't press for more, didn't ask the details. He simply nodded, as if acknowledging the weight of what i'd said without needing every piece of the story.

"I know you're still finding your place here," he said. "But if you need to take time, or if you want to talk more about it, i'm willing to listen."

It wasn't a dismissal or a directive. It was an invitation, one that felt rare and sincere. I felt a mixture of relief and discomfort. I wasn't used to someone offering understanding so freely, without demanding something in return.

"Thank you," i whispered. "I just need to keep moving forward."

Aaron gave a small nod. "We all do. And we will, together."

When i left his office, i felt different. Lighter, somehow. I headed back to my desk and tried to lose myself in the case details again, but his words stayed with me. Together. The idea of facing anything as part of a team felt so foreign, but also, i had to admit, comforting.

Later that afternoon, as the team gathered in the conference room to go over updates, i found myself feeling more present, less detached from the world around me. They were discussing geographic profiling, and i noticed something odd on the map - an inconsistency in the locations of the abductions. I tentatively raised my hand.

"Emma?" Spencer prompted, his eyes encouraging.

"I noticed the locations form a loose perimeter around a central area," i said, pointing to the map. "It's almost like he's protecting something or keeping it hidden. Maybe he's operating out of the center?"

The room went silent for a moment, and I felt my pulse quicken. But then, Aaron spoke.

"That's a good observation," he said, a hint of admiration in his voice. "Reid, let's focus on the areas in that central radius. Garcia, cross-reference any properties or locations in that zone."

The rest of the team sprang into action, and i felt a small spark of pride. I had contributed something meaningful. I caught Aaron's eye, and he gave me a small nod, almost imperceptible, but it meant more to me than he probably knew.

By the time i got home that night, i felt exhausted but satisfied. My phone buzzed again as i set my keys down, and i hesitated before looking. It was another message from my mother.

"You've changed your number, haven't you? You never answer anymore. You think you're better than me now?"

I stared at the message, the familiar resentment bubbling up. The accusations, the guilt - it was always the same with her. She could never see past her own pain, and it had been a long time since i tried to make her see mine.

Without thinking too much about it, i blocked her number. I felt a pang of guilt, but it was followed by a sense of relief. Maybe Aaron was right - maybe i didn't have to do this alone. Maybe i could start drawing boundaries for myself.

As i sat in the dim light of my apartment, my mind drifted back to him - his voice, his concern, the way he said, "You don't have to handle this alone."

In a world full of uncertainties, he felt like something solid, something constant. And despite the part of me that screamed to keep my distance, to protect myself from getting too close, i couldn't help but feel that maybe this time, letting someone in might not be so dangerous after all.

Maybe, just maybe, it could be the first step towards leaving the shadows behind.