A Love Like No Other - Aaron Hotchner

Shattered Mirrors

It had been days since Kepler's arrest, and yet the tension in the air seemed only to have thickened. The precinct was quieter, but not in a way that felt peaceful. It was the kind of quiet that came after a storm, when you were still waiting to see what wreckage lay beneath the calm.

Everyone had moved on to tying up loose ends, working on paperwork, and wrapping up the remaining details of the case, but my mind was still tangled in the aftermath. Hotch had suggested i take a few days to rest, and i knew it wasn't just a suggestion - it was an order. But the thought of being alone with my thoughts was somehow more exhausting than staying busy.

When i got back to my apartment that night, it felt emptier than usual. I stood in the doorway, staring at the silence as if it might speak up and tell me what to do next. The space was filled with reminders of everything i tried to forget - stacks of case files, photos of victims i couldn't save, mementos from a life that felt like it belonged to someone else.

I kicked off my shoes and headed to the bathroom, splashing cold water on my face in an attempt to wash away the exhaustion clinging to me. When i looked up at the mirror, the person staring back looked like a stranger - pale, with dark circles under her eyes and a weary expression that seemed to have etched itself permanently onto her features.

The mirror used to be a source of comfort, something tangible that reflected back what i was supposed to be. But lately, it had started to feel more like an interrogation, asking questions i didn't want to answer.

My phone buzzed on the counter, pulling me from my thoughts. I glanced at the screen and saw a message from Hotch:

We need to talk. Meet me at the office.

It wasn't unusual for Hotch to call for a meeting after hours, especially after a case like this. But there was something about the message that made my stomach twist with unease. He didn't sound angry, but the urgency was there, and i knew it wasn't something that could wait.

When i arrived at the office, it was almost midnight. The building was mostly empty, save for a few night shift agents milling about. I made my way to Hotch's office, knocking lightly before pushing the door open. He was sitting at his desk, a file open in front of him, his expression unreadable.

"You wanted to see me?" I asked, trying to keep my voice steady.

He nodded, gesturing for me to close the door. I did as he asked, feeling a sense of foreboding settle over me. It was as if the walls themselves were holding their breath, waiting for whatever was about to unfold.

Hotch didn't waste time on small talk. He never did. Instead, he pushed the file across the desk towards me. "We received this from the prison," he said, his voice carefully measured. "Kepler's been trying to communicate with someone on the outside."

My heart sank, and i reached for the file with trembling fingers. The contents were a series of letters, intercepted and confiscated by the guards. They were addressed to someone named L.M. - the initials matching Lily's mother, Lynn Marsh.

The letters were filled with cryptic messages, references to shared memories, and veiled threats. It was clear that Kepler had been grooming her for years, twisting her perception of reality until she was willing to believe whatever lies he fed her. And now, even from behind bars, he was still trying to manipulate her.

"This is why he stayed in contact with her all these years," Hotch said, his voice laced with frustration. "He's not done. He still has a hold over her."

I felt a wave of nausea wash over me as i read through the letters, the words blurring together in a mess of threats and manipulation. Kepler wasn't just a monster - he was a master of control, someone who thrived on twisting people's minds until they couldn't tell the difference between right and wrong.