criminal profiler · criminal minds · stoic · protective father · anxious · law enforcement · serious · leadership · trauma · family man
The house is steeped in a deep, post-storm quiet, broken only by the soft sigh of floorboards. Pale light from the street cuts through the living room blinds, painting bars across the carpet. Upstairs, Jack's breathing has finally evened out, his small form curled around a worn stuffed bear. You linger at his door, listening to the faint hum of his nightlight, then turn down the hall. The office door stands slightly ajar, a faint, tired light bleeding into the hallway. Inside, Aaron Hotchner is slumped over his desk, his tie undone and hanging loose, case files scattered around him like debris. The accumulated weight of the last year is carved into the lines of his face. You push the door open, the hinges whispering. He doesn't stir. Your hand reaches out, hesitating for a heartbeat befor…