Chapter Text
For the first time since you joined the team, you are left alone with Emily. Well, you’re not entirely alone. She sits in the boardroom with you while Hotch glances over at you from the main area of the precinct.
“I hate feeling like a toddler,” you comment.
“Yeah, I noticed that he’s been keeping a closer eye on you. What happened?”
You shrug. “There are quite a few stipulations on my return.”
“And you broke one of the rules?”
“In my defense, I didn’t know it wasn’t his rule.”
“Oh, so you were fine breaking a Hotch rule?”
“Of course.”
She chuckles. “You’re a braver woman than I.”
“Maybe so, but so far, I’ve never had him too mad at me. Honestly, this is the worst punishment he’s ever given me.”
She hums in response, obviously thinking about something, but you don’t know her well enough to ask what. Aaron walks into the boardroom. “Prentiss, Garcia got an address, we’ve got to go.”
“Yes, sir.”
“(L/N), you work with JJ for a statement. We think we’ve got him.”
You frown. This all seems entirely too easy. You’ve only been here for a day and a half. “You sure?”
“We’ve got his DNA at the crime scene.”
“Still, it seems a bit too easy.”
“That’s not for you to worry about.”
You nod. “Yes, sir.”
His glare tells you that you’re treading a bit too close to the edge.
“Stay safe.”
His gaze softens but not enough to tell you that you are out of the woods. You aren’t entirely sure what you did this time, but you’re sure you’ll hear about it tonight.
However, when the team comes back, without a suspect, those thoughts are pushed away. You and JJ share a look before Hotch speaks up. “We’ll be leaving in the morning. I need the two of you to give a statement. Suicide by cop.”
You nod. JJ luckily has a statement prepared, just needs to fill in the names.
“I’ll give it,” you say, already making your way to the reporters that have already gathered outside.
“Good luck.”
You mutter a short, “Thanks,” before opening the door.
“The suspect, Carl-”
“Agent (Y/N) (L/N)?” a voice calls, startling you. “Have you returned to the FBI?”
You stiffen but continue your statement. You barely manage to make it to the end before someone yells, “Agent (L/N), is there any news on the Dayton Butcher?”
The name alone is enough to cause you to panic. Luckily, you make it inside the precinct doors before you start to cry, scaring most of the officers. Spencer, despite his poor athletic skills, is the first to reach you. He wraps his arms around you before pulling you into his chest. “I’m here. I’m here,” he whispers. “Everything will be okay.”
JJ is already reviewing the interview to see what set you off. When the rest of the team hears his name, they immediately know what happened. If you weren’t sitting in front of the door, you are quite certain that Morgan would already be out there.
Hotch joins you and Spencer on the ground. “(Y/N), that-” the words die on his tongue. You know it was out of line and unexpected. “I never would have sent you out there if I had known,” is what he settles on, and it still doesn’t seem like enough.
“C-can we go back?” you manage.
“Of course,” he assures you, standing up.
You aren’t entirely sure what happens next. You think you go to sleep at some point. When you wake up, you’re still in Spencer’s arms.
“Spence?”
“I’m here, dovie. It’s okay now.”
“The team is going out for dinner in thirty minutes if you want to join?”
“I think I just want to stay here.”
He nods. “I thought so. I’ll let them know we won’t be there.”
“Thanks. I’m sorry.”
He kisses your forehead. “You’re fine, (Y/N). I think there was a pizza place on the corner. Want something from there?”
You nod. “I think I’m going to take a bath. I feel gross.”
“Take it easy tonight.” He kisses you one last time before heading out the door. “I’ll be right back.”