Criminal Minds x Reader

Sheets [A.H]

A bigger-than-usual smile lit up your face that morning. Perhaps it was the sun shining outside the large windows of the BAU or maybe it was the smell of coffee filling your nostrils as you sat in front of your computer.

"Good morning, pretty girl" Derek said, planting himself across from you on the edge of your desk, one eyebrow arched in a question, his smirk teasing. "Did you have a good night last night?"

You glanced up at him, biting back the grin that threatened to take over your face, but it didn't matter. It was too obvious. "Yeah" you admitted, the word slipping out softly.

"I can tell". His voice carried a lilt of amusement, and he tilted his head, studying you with the affection of a big brother.

You nodded, basking in the lingering warmth of last night's comfort. You couldn't help the way your lips curved even more as you reached for the coffee cup he was handing you.

"I like to see you happy" Derek said, ruffling your hair playfully, his grin widening at your mock annoyance.

"Oh, shut up," you protested, swatting at his hand, but your tone betrayed the genuine joy coursing through you, "I'm always happy"

He chuckled, rising from the desk and backing away slowly. "Sure, right. Tell that to the pout you had yesterday. Sometimes you remind me of Hotch"

Hearing his name made your heart thud in your chest. It was as if the air in the room shifted, heavy and charged, though you tried not to let it show. You weren't together, not officially, not even close. In fact, you were dating someone else. But that didn't stop the unmistakable pull you felt toward Aaron, a connection that had woven itself so deeply into your life over the years that you didn't even know how to untangle it.

You inhaled deeply, schooling your features into calm neutrality as you turned back to your computer. "Hotch and I are nothing alike" you said, your voice measured.

"Sure, whatever you say, Y/N" Derek teased as he walked away, leaving you to the quiet buzz of your thoughts.

The morning flew by in a blur of case files and paperwork, the usual routine that never seemed to end. Your mind, however, drifted to the night before. The feel of Aaron's arms around you, his hand stroking your hair, his steady presence as your emotions spilled over from the weight of a particularly brutal case. He hadn't left until you'd fallen asleep, wrapped in the solace of his embrace.

It wasn't the first time it had happened. It wouldn't be the last. But it wasn't... More. Or at least, not enough.

As the thought lingered, you shook your head, trying to focus. You stood, smoothing your blazer as you prepared to head to the briefing room. Just as you reached the glass doors, you spotted him — your boyfriend, approaching from the other side. A smile instinctively spread across your face at the sight of him, but it quickly vanished when you caught the look in his eyes. His expression was dark, anger rippling off him in waves.

"Hey" you said cautiously, stepping forward. "What's going on?"

He didn't bother to greet you. Instead, he strode closer, closing the distance between you with an intensity that set you on edge. In his hand, he held something.

"I went to your apartment this morning" he began, his voice low but sharp, barely masking the fury simmering beneath the surface. He raised the object in his hand. A tie. Not just any tie. Aaron's tie. "Care to explain this?"

Your stomach dropped. The blood drained from your face as recognition hit you. You knew exactly where that tie had come from and whose it was.

"Wait-" you started, lifting your hands defensively, but he cut you off before you could say another word.