After all, for all people knew, Sam Brooklyn was a man living a comfortable single-dad life of early retirement in Boulder City, Nevada, and only helping the older ladies of the neighborhood with their gardens for some extra cash. Which, in a way, wasn't all that far from the truth since Aaron had had to give up his degree in law, not being allowed anywhere near a job even remotely related to the government or law enforcement. But, considering that was all Aaron had ever done in his life - it was pretty much all he even knew how to do -, when he was given his new identity as Sam Brooklyn, he decided not to pursue a new career. He wasn't all that young anymore and, deep down, he still had that hope that, maybe, his time away would be short.
Besides, in the witness protection program, the government did help Aaron pay for most of the stuff that he and his son needed and, considering how much he had actually done for them, it was fair that he would indulge now on the help that they offered him now, right?
So, yes... Maybe, for someone on the outside, Sam Brooklyn looked like a man wasting away his potential, but Aaron Hotchner didn't, and, as long as Jack was happy, he didn't particularly care.
Disclaimer: some of the characters aren't mine. All rights go to their rightful owners.
Spencer Reid has finally lost the love of his life for good...or so everyone thinks. After taking a bullet for her ex-boyfriend, the team believes their unit chief to be dead but Spencer knows different. He also knows that the only way to ensure Amanda, the team, and his own safety, he has to pretend that she's really dead.
Now, with the addition of a new team member, the team has to learn to get along without feeling like Dr. Blake isn't replacing their fallen comrade. Meanwhile, Spencer has to keep Amanda's secret, mourn his lost relationship, and deal with the hallucination of his first love that won't go away no matter how hard he tries, how many vitamins he takes, or how many women he screws.
Will Spencer cave under the pressure and tell everyone about Amanda? Will the younger Hotchner succeed in finding out who was after her family? Or will Spencer actually go crazy as he tries to be someone that he still recognizes while accepting the fact that even if she comes back, he may never get to be with Amanda again?
Find out in the next installment of The Story of Us: Dark Paradise.
All my friends tell me I should move on...Loving you forever can't be wrong...And there's no remedy for memory your face is like a melody, it won't leave my head. Your soul is haunting me and telling me that everything is fine. But I wish I was dead. Every time I close my eyes, it's like a Dark Paradise. No one compares to you. I'm scared that you won't be waiting on the other side. ~Lana Del Rey