The Academy Days VIII
Aaron Hotchner x Reader
Summary: It was well known within the team that there was one other person that had captured their team leader's heart. You knew Aaron back when he and Haley took a break from their relationship and he went to the academy and met you. What the team doesn’t know is that you have been with the FBI ever since, working the west coast mainly until you get requested to join the BAU.
series list word count: 6.5K
an// the timeline is a little different in this from the show, Aaron spent longer as a prosecutor before going to the academy and joining the FBI for this to work and to make the reader younger than Aaron. This is also a world where Foyet never happened and Haley is still alive.
-
Aaron barely remembers walking back to the apartment and getting his cell phone to dial 911. His heart was pounding in his ears, racing at the severity of the situation. The first officer showed up and you had been gone for less than ten minutes.
This was a moment when he hated being good at his job. All of his instincts were screaming the same things at him over and over. This was organized, targeted, and planned.
Which meant whoever took you had likely been preparing for this for a long time. That made him grip his phone a little tighter. It only lessened when Rossi appeared. There were a dozen officers in your apartment and surrounding the area combing for anything.
“What do you need?” He’s watching Aaron fall apart in front of him while trying his best to keep it all wrapped up inside.
“Get the team together.”
It was two o’clock in the morning, but without hesitation Rossi steps out into the hall and starts making calls. The team wasn’t happy to already have their phones ringing when they landed less than three hours ago but as soon as he uttered your name your name they were on their feet.
The offices were dark, most of the building was empty at this hour. Everyone was wearing varying combinations of sweatpants, jackets, and whatever could be hastily thrown on. Garcia looked paler than normal and wasn’t cracking any of her usual jokes.
“What happened?” Morgan asks, his fists balled up at his sides.
Aaron shifts into unit chief mode. He knows that he needs to in order to get you home.
“Y/n was abducted from her apartment approximately fifty minutes ago.” He swallows, he takes a second to choose his words carefully “I was there.”
That got everyone’s attention instantly, heads snapping in his direction. There’s a million things they want to say but they know this isn’t the time.
“They have to be organized, maybe even professional. No signs of entry and they pulled it off silently. Gone within a minute.”
“Who would do this?” JJ asks, flicking away angry tears from her waterline. She crosses her arms in front of her chest protectively.
“That’s what we need to find out.” Rossi nods.
“I got a partial plate and gave it to the police, but I want you to look into it too.” Aaron nods at Garcia and she opens her laptop eagerly, “We also need to look into every single case Y/n has worked.”
Garcia blinks a couple times before looking up at him.
“Sir, every-”
“Everything.” He nods, “Before the BAU.”
Los Angeles. Human trafficking, kidnappings, violent crime, organized crime, cold cases, everything.
“We start with motive.”
Morgan nods, “Enemies.”
“Exactly.” Aaron looks around the room with a serious look on his face, “Who benefits the most from taking Y/n?”
The silence that followed was uncomfortable because everyone knew the answer. A lot of people. You are exceptional at your job, which unfortunately means you’ve spent the last decade ruining very dangerous people’s lives.
Garcia frowns while typing, “Her file list is enormous, there’s hundreds of possible suspects.”
Both Morgan and Prentiss speak up at the same time.
“Give it to Reid.”
Everyone gets to work quickly, eager to find a lead to get you home. It isn't lost on anyone at the table the grim expression on their boss's face. Rossi doesn't say a word as he reaches out a hand to his shoulder, giving it a careful squeeze causing Aaron to look over.
"We'll get her back, Aaron." He reassures.
It takes a moment for him to reply.
"I love her."
"We know."
-
Ten years ago.
The snow started sometime after midnight. You knew it because Aaron had snuck over to steal you away to his apartment for the night. He was very convincing. The big flakes had just started to fall. By six o’clock that morning, Quantico had effectively shut down.
Outdoor drills were postponed. Roads were buried, leaving instructors stuck at home. Training exercises canceled. The academy looked like someone had dropped it inside a snow globe. You celebrated by stealing one of Aaron’s sweatshirts and staying in bed all morning. Aaron got up to make each of you a cup of coffee and to open the curtains. The snow is still falling, the room glows brighter than normal with the sun reflecting off the snow.
“Nice.” He smirks, pulling at the neck of his hoodie, effectively pulling you lightly onto his side of the bed. He sets both mugs of coffee on his nightstand and slides back under the covers. Aaron never gets away with a lazy morning lie in, but here he is getting back in bed and wrapping you against his side.
“Finders keepers.” You argue.
“That’s a poor argument.” He shakes his head, a small grin gracing his face.
“Mmm.” You hum to disagree and his fingers tickle your waist under his hoodie.
“You steal things.”
You grin, “You love me anyway.”
The words come out completely casually on your end. A joke, a throwaway comment. At least until you feel Aaron freeze. The apartment suddenly gets very quiet, his TV playing softly in the background. He stares down at you and you sit up to get a good look at him.
“Oh my god.”
He looks away, which is a confession by itself.
You gasp, “Oh my god.”
“Y/n-”
“You do!”
Aaron closes his eyes briefly and you feel absolutely delighted. He was already regretting everything, it wasn’t how he planned this happening.
“You are enjoying this entirely too much.” He mumbles.
You were grinning so hard your face was starting to hurt. Aaron reaches out toward his nightstand to grab his coffee and take a long sip.
“Say it.”
“No.”
“Aaron.”
“No.”
“Aaron.”
“I love you.”
You move closer to sit on top of his lap, “Really?”
He snorts out a laugh and shakes his head in disbelief, “After all of that and now you question it?”
You laugh softly and reach out a hand to run through his hair. It’s more casual than normal, loose strands falling down on his forehead. He looks the least stressed that you’ve ever seen him.
“I love you.” He repeats, his eyes looking deeply into yours.
“I love you too.”
The words come out easily, Aaron stares back at you with a widening smile. You lean down to press a quick kiss against his lips. His expression has softened in a way you had never seen before. For a moment neither of you speak, just looking into each other's eyes.
He pulls you down against his chest, his arm wrapping around you so you can both look out the window at the snowstorm. You can hear his steady heartbeat beneath you.
The rest of the morning disappeared, movies played but neither of you paid much attention. The morning was spent lazily making love and never leaving the bed. Aaron has been absentmindedly playing with your hair for nearly twenty minutes, neither of you mention it.
The snow kept falling.
The apartment stayed warm.
Eventually you sit up a little, “We should go outside.”
He frowns, “No.”
“Why?”
He gestures toward the window.
“Snow.”
“Exactly.” You turn in his hold to look up at him.
“It’s cold.”
You roll your eyes, “You sound eighty.”
He pinches your hip lightly making you squeal.
“I sound smart, they closed down class today because of the snow.” He reminds, but you grab his hand and start to slowly pull him up out of bed.
"Who said anything about driving anywhere?"
He gives you a look.
“C’mon.”
He lets out a groan.
“Please?” You give him the biggest puppy dog eyes you can muster.
“If the two of us leave this dorm, one of us is going to get kicked out of the program.” He teases.
“I didn’t say we should go have sex outside.” You laugh.
His ears turn red, “That’s not what I meant but I know you’re creative enough to come up with something. I never know with you.”
You lightly smack his shoulder and roll your eyes.
“It just looks so pretty out there.” You turn back toward the window. He hesitates and you look back at him. You can see your stare is working, his brows soften and he sighs.
“Why do you always win arguments?”
“Because I’m hot.”
“That’s not how arguments work.”
“It is with us.”
Ten minutes later the two of you were outside. Obviously.
You practically bounded down the stairs, Aaron followed less enthusiastically. His hands instantly got shoved deep into his coat pockets. It had snowed nearly a foot and a half overnight. The academy grounds remain untouched, it was quiet and beautiful.
You spin in the middle of it, laughing. Aaron can’t stop watching you. You look happy. Really happy. The kind of happy that made his chest ache and he wanted to burn it to his memory for the rest of his life.
The two of you walk around looking at the trees that look like they came straight out of a Hallmark movie. The two of you make a very small snowman, the lack of gloves for either of you makes it short and sweet.
“Ooh, a snow angel!” You cheer, finding a clean spot of snow to lay down in. Aaron shakes his head with a smile he can’t hide standing over you while you fan your arms and legs back and forth.
“You’re gonna freeze.” He warns.
“Aren’t you gonna warm me up?” You smirk.
You reach out a hand so he can help you up without destroying it. You pull against him to reach out a crooked halo at the top of your creation. You lean into his side after you're done, both of you looking down at your work.
After a little while the wind starts to pick up. A sharp gust cuts across the open grounds and your smile vanishes.
“It’s cold!” You shriek.
Aaron stares while you shiver dramatically.
“Oh my god, it’s so cold.”
Aaron starts laughing, he doesn’t waste a second. It was the hard kind of laugh that almost never escapes him.
You point a finger at him, “Don’t.”
“You wanted this.” He holds up his hands, still chuckling.
He looks absolutely delighted.
“Shut up.”
He laughs even harder and wraps his arm around your shoulders a little tighter. The heat pours off of him and he blocks some of the wind.
“Have you gotten your fill of the winter wonderland?” He asks, raising a brow that says ‘I told you so’.
“Almost.” You smirk, by the time he catches the look in your eyes it's too late. A handful of ice cold snow gets tossed in his face. You run from his hold, the smile on his face becoming dangerous.
The two of you slip and slide in the fresh snow while he chases after you. Your heart is racing, cheeks growing rosy from the cold air. The two of you looked ridiculous, but neither cared one bit.
"I love you."
"I love you, too."
For one perfect day, the future didn’t matter. The choice of where the two of you would end up was not yet a thought. Two people so hopelessly in love you couldn’t imagine a world where you wouldn’t always be together.
-
The lightbulb overhead was still buzzing, your head pounding. Every heartbeat sent a wave of pain through your skull. The concussion wasn’t helping, and neither was the metal chair you had been tied to for hours.
Brendan had left you alone for stretches of time, each time one of his minions would check in it would confirm that he wasn’t interested in killing you. At least not yet. Somehow that was worse.
The heavy mental door groans as it opens, you don’t bother looking up.
“Back already?”
Brendan’s steps echo in the large room.
“You know, most hostages aren’t this sarcastic.”
You finally raise your head, “Most kidnappers aren’t this desperate for attention.”
He lets out a deep sigh and squats down in front of you to be at eye level.
“Still trying to get under my skin?”
“Well. If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.”
His jaw tightens, his fingers flex into fists at his sides. This older version of Brendan was more dangerous than the one you had known before. The teenager that was arrested had been angry and impulsive. The man in front of you was surprisingly patient and restrained.
He holds up a bottle of water in front of your face, cracking the seal on it before holding it to your lips. You couldn’t take the bottle into your hand if you tried, the ropes are still biting into your wrists. After you get a few large gulps he takes the bottle back. Brendan grabs a chair and sets it up directly across from you. He slowly lowers himself to sit on it while watching you closely.
“What?” You eye him.
"Just admiring." He holds up his hands before leaning back, “I was just thinking.”
You ignore him, letting him continue.
“My father would’ve killed you already.”
You look around the room to stretch your neck, “Well, your father wasn’t exactly known for thinking rationally.”
He smiles, completely ignoring you.
“He would’ve made it messy.” He continues, “He would’ve enjoyed you in every way possible and then killed you right here. Paid someone to bury you somewhere your family would never find you. Somewhere your team would never find you.”
“And?”
“I’m not my father.”
That made your stomach tighten. The calm ones were always worse.
“I have a plan.”
There it is.
“Well, let's hear the speech you’ve been practicing.”
His brow wobbles.
“This isn’t a joke.” His grip tightening on the bottle making it crinkle, he suddenly stands. You remain calm, even while having each instinct screaming at you that this is bad.
“I had years to realize that this better be worth the wait.” He studies you, “Killing you is easy, it’s quick…”
His breath shudders, he’s enjoying this too much. It sends a chill deep into your bones. He's so excited he's actually getting himself worked up in front of you.
“It’s not what you deserve after taking away my family. You’ve done this to countless people-”
“Countless criminals.” You correct.
He sucks his teeth and shakes his head, "I should rip out your tongue."
He takes a quick step forward and grips your face tightly in one hand, your cheeks being pulled tightly.
"You and I both know it's your biggest asset." He licks his lips and your skin crawls, "No more sharp comments? That's a Y/n I think I could grow to like."
He lowers his face closer to yours, enough so you can feel his breath hit your face.
"Don't worry, I meant it when I said it's your biggest asset. People with money will buy anything.”
Your stomach drops, not following where he's going with this. He can see it on your face and for the first time since being abducted he feels like he actually has the upper hand.
“I'm putting you on the open market.” He finally lets go of your face but his hand moves to tuck your hair behind your ear, “For the highest bidder… The cartels, gangs, crime syndicates? All of the people you’ve put away. All of the families out there that you’ve destroyed. People out there would love the chance to return the favor, and I can’t wait to see who you end up with. I will give them ideas, no doubt.”
You force your eyes to remain steady on his, “You’re just as pathetic as your father was.”
He lets out a frustrated huff, you can see him fighting the urge to hit out. Fighting to stay in control, with a couple deep breathes through his nose he manages. He runs a hand back over his hair, plastering on a false smile.
“I wonder if you’ll choose the coward’s way out like he did.”
That does it. You officially strike his last nerve and he raises a hand to your face with a closed fist. Your cheekbone explodes with pain at the contact, your head falls to the side. You let out a pant and he fights to catch his breath.
He runs a hand over his hair again, trying to regain control.
“Okay!” He claps, “Let’s get you ready for the camera.”
-
Hours passed and sleep had become totally irrelevant to the team. The sun came up hours ago and no one even flinched. Everyone is following different leads or old cases that could be relevant.
Reid has been working the list and eliminating the cases that weren’t likely. Morgan and Prentiss went back to your place to try and figure out how they broke into your apartment without a trace. JJ coordinated with the local law enforcement.
Aaron was working on everything. Every lead, profile, and possibility. Nobody tried to tell him to take a break, no one would be bold enough to suggest it right now. Not even Rossi. Everyone had seen Aaron determined before, but they had yet to see it with such personal fear underneath it.
Real fear.
That scared them too.
“I focused on offenders with demonstrated fixation behaviors and cases where she testified with the most involvement.” Reid states, finally done filtering through hundreds of cases, “I’ve landed on a trafficking case, a cartel, and two serial killers.”
“How lovely.” Garcia shivers.
Aaron thinks for a second, his gut screaming at him.
“Tell us about the trafficking case.”
“It passed around several agents before Y/n got it, she was the one who decided to go undercover.” Reid informs and everyone sinks with the realization about why this is so personal. You went undercover and betrayed someone, that’s why they are coming after you now.
“It was five years ago, a multi-state operation with major convictions and dozens of victims were rescued by Y/n.”
Silence falls over the room and Aaron recalls your speech from all those years ago. That was two years after this case, it’s clearly what pushed your career forward. He strains to remember the details you talked about, he had been so nervous to see you.
“What would have happened if you weren’t there when she was taken?” Rossi asks him, the look on Aaron’s face tells them the gears are turning.
Aaron shrugs, “It would’ve been hours before anyone knew she was missing.”
“Exactly.” Rossi nods, “Even then, you can’t even file a missing police report until it’s been twenty-four hours.”
The case details flash in Aaron’s mind. They got their victims without a trace due to how they broke in. Being on the inside was how you had discovered they would watch their target’s routines before abduction. They would break in while the victim was away and take them directly from t
“Morgan, Prentiss.” Aaron looks over at them, “Go back to her apartment and look for places someone could lie in wait.”
They both nod and grab their jackets before quickly leaving the room.
“You think the unsub was there when the two of you came home?” Rossi asks.
“That would explain how they took her silently.”
“One of the defendants from that trafficking case was a juvenile.” JJ reads from the file.
“Name?”
“Brendan Thomas.”
“Garcia.”
“On it, sir.” She types away, “Brendan Thomas has been in Lawrence Correctional Center for the past five years, he was just released early for good behavior four months ago.”
“That’s him.” Aaron says confidently.
“Sir, we should-”
“That’s him.”
-
You’ve gotten used to the damp smell of the concrete in the room. It’s clear that it’s getting dark out from the small windows along the far wall.
Brendan walks in carrying a laptop and two men follow in behind him. That’s new.
“Ooh, has the evil villain speech evolved to the point of having a power point?”
He ignores your quip. The two men bring in a small table and they set it up a few feet in front of you. He sets the laptop down and connects a small camera to it. Your stomach tightens involuntarily.
“Brendan.”
He looks up, “Yes?”
“What is this?” You ask.
He smiles, “I told you. Now, let's make some money!”
Your pulse starts to kick harder. Brendan claps before rubbing his hands together, his two henchmen smiling at his side.
He adjusts the camera until it frames you perfectly. Your bruised face, tied hands, and dried blood along your hairline are clear as day. The dingy warehouse behind you is visible, but he tries to keep as little in as possible.
The image was deliberate. It was clearly proof of life. Proof of possession. Proof that he had successfully taken a FBI profiler.
“You’re out of your mind.” You eventually spit.
He looks up from the laptop.
“You're finally going to lose.”
He continues to type away.
“You know what surprised me?” He says like it’s any other normal conversation, “How many people were invested when I started asking around if there was any interest in you.”
You stay silent and he grins.
“Cartels. Gangs. Crime groups. All of the countless people you’ve put away.” He looks genuinely impressed, “You’ve been very busy over the years.”
You let the cold resolve settles in your chest, “You don’t care who buys me.”
“I told you before, I hope it’s someone terrible.”
He focuses back on the laptop and after a few seconds the camera’s red light glows. His eyes light up.
“And we’re live.”
-
Back at Quantico Garcia’s fingers fly across her keyboard. The team is now chasing any potential leads on Brendan since he got out of prison. Upon a second look, Emily and Morgan found footprints in the entry closet that match the scene. The unsub was hiding in the closet waiting for you to come home from the case. They had no way of knowing Aaron would come home with you, meaning they were waiting in the apartment while the two of you were together.
“I found something weird in connection to one of the trafficking forums.” Garcia says quickly, “It’s encrypted, invitation only, and connected to several accounts linked to the Thomas organization.”
Aaron was already looking over her shoulder.
“Open it.”
Garcia swallows, her finger hesitating to click ‘ACCEPT’.
“I don’t have a good feeling.” She openly admits, but she clicks it anyway. Her screen is shared with the large monitor so everyone can see what it opens. You stare back at them from the monitor, bruised, tired, and tied to a chair. An active live video feed.
Garcia makes a broken sound in the back of her throat, “Oh my god.”
JJ’s hand flies to her mouth, and Emily goes pale. Morgan’s face instantly reveals murderous anger. Aaron doesn’t move a muscle.
He doesn’t blink. He doesn’t breathe.
You were alive.
The relief hit Aaron so hard it almost hurt, but it didn’t last long before the terror replaced it. Beneath the video feed text scrolled across the screen.
‘FEDERAL ASSET AUCTION. LIVE IN ONE HOUR. OPENING BID 1,000,000 USD. STATUS ALIVE (CURRENTLY).’
Tears stream down Garcia’s face.
“He’s selling her.” Emily looks sick.
“Not just selling her,” JJ adds quietly, “He’s advertising her specifically as an FBI agent.”
“Can we trace it?” Morgan frowns.
“I’m trying, but it’s bouncing through too many relays. He’s hiding it between six different countries.”
On screen they can see you talking to someone off screen. The feed is muted so they can’t hear anything, but it’s clear you’re still fighting.
Aaron forces himself back into motion but he can’t pull his eyes away from you, “Who has access? Who else has this invitation?”
Garcia pulls up a scrolling list of usernames that are all encrypted.
“Old cartel contacts, gangs, anyone with money connected to cases Y/n worked.”
Derek looks ready to punch through a wall. Aaron’s heart slams painfully against his ribs.
Rossi steps closer to the monitor, “Can we bid when it opens?”
The countdown has already started, less than an hour until you were up for sale on the black market.
“No,” Garcia shakes her head immediately, “Not like this at least. We’re not actually inside the network, I found a viewer access point. We can’t interact without exposing ourselves.”
Emily folds her arms against her chest, “So we’re just forced to watch criminals bid on one of our own who will do god knows what to her?”
“No.” Aaron says quietly.
Everyone looks at him. His expression had changed, he looked more focused now. Colder.
“I need a list of everyone Brendan invited.” Aaron looks back at Garcia, his eyes leaving the screen for the first time since it went live. “Cross reference it with people still in prison that Y/n put away.”
She gets to work, working the list down to five.
“Get me everything on Luis Castillo.” Aaron pulls the name from the list.
“He’s serving life in California.”
“Good.”
JJ frowns, “Hotch, he’s a cartel leader.”
“Right now, he’s our best lead.” He reaches for his jacket and puts it back on, “I need a secure line with the attorney general in California.”
“Sir-”
“Now.”
Forty minutes later Aaron is standing in his office on a call with the U.S California Attorney General. He sounds exhausted and Aaron doesn’t sound any better.
“You want me to negotiate with a cartel leader that is serving life?” The AG rubs her forehead, “What are you offering him?”
Aaron doesn’t hesitate, “Transfer to a lower security federal prison with improved visitation privileges."
The AG frowns, “For information?”
“For Y/n Y/Ln.” Aaron corrects, “Which if I can remind you, without her he never would’ve landed in your possession."
That changes the tone of the call. The AG straightens at her desk on the other side of the country.
“You’re serious.”
“Very.”
She goes silent for a moment as she thinks it over.
“Give me twenty minutes.”
When the call ends Aaron finally lets himself look back at the feed. Everyone else is still in the conference room working together with it pulled up, but he has it on his laptop now too. You still have a stubborn look on your face like you’re refusing to give him the satisfaction of seeing fear.
“That’s my girl.”
The team watches Aaron alone in his office. It was jarring seeing how scared he really was. Every second closer to the auction it was closer to you potentially disappearing into a world where they may never find you again.
Everyone was focused on the timer that only had ten minutes left until the open bidding would begin. Reid and JJ were cataloging every warehouse in a fifty mile radius. Aaron’s phone rings and he answers it, putting in on speaker for the room to hear.
“Hotchner.”
The voice on the other end belonged to the AG of California.
“We’ve got him."
Aaron straightens.
Luis Castillo. One of the highest ranking cartel leaders that you had helped convict years earlier. Currently serving multiple life sentences.
“He’ll accept the deal, but he’s requesting to hear it from you directly.”
Aaron looks around the room, everyone is focused on the call too.
“Fine.”
A minute later Garcia has him on a secure video call in a prison interview room. He looks older than his case file, prison has clearly been hard on him. His eyes remain sharp.
“Do you remember Agent Y/LN?”
He smiles faintly.
“She’s a hard woman to forget.”
Aaron fights to keep his voice even, “That’s not why I’m here.”
Castillo leans back in his seat, “I know the organization.”
“Brendan Thomas?” Hotch clarifies.
“That kid always dreamed bigger than his Pops.” Castillo actually sounds impressed, “I heard he was rebuilding what his dad had.”
Aaron voices the question everyone wanted answered.
“Can you get us access to the auction?”
“Yes.”
Four minutes later the auction opens and Garcia is logged in with the information Luis provided.
“I cannot believe I’m about to pretend to be a cartel accountant.”
“Focus, Garcia.” Aaron reminds.
Morgan squeezes her shoulder, “You’ve got this, babygirl.”
The secure credentials flash across the screen. Verified and authenticated, the auction page immediately changes. A private bidder portal opened and new information appeared. There was an encrypted chat of people talking and discussing shipping preferences that Garcia pretended not to read.
“Bid.” Emily nods.
Garcia looks up, “It’s already at eight million.”
“Bid.” Rossi stands, “I’ve got the money.”
Everyone looks at him.
“What?” He shrugs, “The government's slow, I can mortgage the beach house.”
Morgan blinks, “You’d spend all your money?”
“For one of our own?” He looks almost offended by the question, “Without blinking.”
Aaron gives him an appreciative nod before looking back at Garcia.
“Keep bidding.”
-
You had lost track of time, once the auction opened a new gleam started to shine in Brendan’s eyes. He watches the numbers climb on the screen, total delight on his face.
“You’re popular.”
The bids keep climbing.
Nine million. Nine point five. Ten.
Each ding signaled a new bid, your stomach twisting. Not because of the money, but because each time it represented someone who wanted to hurt you. A new fate you would have to face.
He laughs loudly, “The Castillo cartel really wants you.”
You look away.
“Didn’t you bring down that whole ring? Half of them are in prison now and the others fled the country.”
He was right. You had made enemies. Lots of them.
“Are you scared yet?”
You turn to look back at him slowly. Your voice comes out dry, you haven’t had any water in hours.
“I always figured I’d be expensive.”
He barks a laugh, “There she is.”
“You could’ve at least brushed my hair.” You sigh, rolling your neck to the side.
-
“It’s slowing down.” Garcia watches the bid timer closely.
“Who’s left?” Aaron’s eyes study the names left on the screen.
“Just us and one anonymous account.”
Aaron looks over at Rossi before back at her, “Keep going.”
Fourteen million.
The room held its breath. Ten seconds. The other bidder answered fourteen-five.
Garcia groans, “They’re not stopping.”
She clicks to up the bid again, putting it back in their hands. The timer counted down, three…two… one… Everyone stared as the screen went black.
WINNING BID CONFIRMED.
“We got her!” Garcia cheers, standing up from her chair and throwing her hands up in the air.
Morgan actually picks her up in a hug, Emily smiles and JJ laughs in relief. Rossi lets out a long breath, but Aaron doesn’t celebrate. Not yet.
“Wait.” Garcia leans to type on her keyboard again, “I have buyer access now.”
“What do you see?” Reid asks.
“I can see system information, he was routing through multiple servers but someone got lazy. They didn’t apply it to the auction winner after the auction closed.” Her voice shakes with excitement, “I’ve got the metadata.”
Reid moves in closer, “Can you isolate the origin?”
“I’m trying.”
Lines of code race across the screen and the team continues to hover over her shoulder.
“I’ve got it, she’s outside of Annapolis.”
“Notify the Baltimore field office, I want tactical support.”
“Yes, sir-”
The team was up and moving before Garcia could even finish her sentence.
“Let’s move.”
Rossi claps him on the shoulder, “Let’s go bring our girl home.”
-
Five minutes later the rhythmic beat of the helicopter blades fill the air. The team sits shoulder to shoulder, meeting SWAT on the ground. Nobody said anything, there wasn’t anything left to say.The warehouse was in a rough neighborhood, most of them abandoned in the area. It was remote for being in a city.
Several armored vehicles were positioned around the perimeter as the helicopter lands in a parking lot. The SWAT commander jobs over as the team files out, weapons in hand.
"Perimeter's secure, we’re ready to breach.” He points to a blueprint and Aaron looks over his shoulder, “Thermal imaging is showing at least twenty individual heat signatures.”
“Small army.” Derek mutters.
The commander looks at Aaron, “Ready?”
Aaron looks back at his team and everyone nods. No hesitation.
“Let’s go.”
The warehouse doors explode inwards, “FBI!”
“Federal agents!”
Chaos instantly breaks out. Everyone reaches for their guns, but SWAT is faster. Two drop quickly, but the noise alerts the others. Two flee toward the exit only to be met with another tactical team, they surrender. They clear room by room, still no sighting of you.
Aaron never stops moving, his finger pressing firmly on the trigger and a flashlight in his other hand.
There’s a heavy steel door at the end of the hallway, the team gets in formation before entering. The second they do, they see how large the room is. At the very center of it you’re still tied to a chair. Bruised, exhausted, and very much alive. Aaron’s entire world narrows to you, his heart pounding in his ears.
Brendan is standing directly behind you, men flanking his left and right side. He has one hand holding your shoulder tightly, the other is holding a gun aimed straight at your head.
“Don’t come any closer!” Brendan shouts, the barrel of the gun pressing harder against your temple.
SWAT spread across the room, you look up and see your entire team ahead of you. The moment you see Aaron your expression changes from fear to slight relief.
“It’s over.” Aaron steps closer.
Brendan shakes his head, “No, I don’t think it is.”
One of Brendan’s guys looks toward a side entrance, just for a second. It’s enough for them. Two shots echo almost simultaneously, both gunmen drop to the ground. Brendan jerks in surprise, looking at both men writhing on the ground.
It was the exact opening Aaron needed.
One precise shot lands squarely in his forehead. He slowly falls backward, landing motionless behind you. Aaron is running toward you before Brendan actually hits the ground.
“I’m here.” Aaron cries, he reaches into the back of his vest to pull out a knife. His hands shake as he cuts away the restraints at each wrist before moving down to your ankles. The second the last one falls away you try to stand.
Your legs give out and Aaron catches you before you hit the floor, you bury your face into his shoulder and wrap both arms around him. Holding onto him with everything you have left. He holds you back just as tightly.
Aaron closes his eyes for several seconds, he takes in a deep inhale. Somehow your hair still smells like your shampoo from last night. He’s confident it’s the same shampoo you used ten years ago too. For several long seconds neither of you speak, the room just disappears behind you.
Nothing else matters, you’re both alive. He can feel your steady heartbeat, you pull back just enough to look at him.
“You look terrible.” You joke, trying to lighten the energy in the room.
"I love you." Aaron blurts.
You blink, “What?”
"I love you and I never stopped." He runs a hand back over your hair with tears in his eyes, "You've never been my almost. You've never been anything other than my always. I'm always going to love you."
He closes the gap between the two of you, not caring about the team being mere feet away. You push through the pain of your split lip to kiss him back, letting him deepen it. Eventually the two of you pull back, he presses a couple more pecks to your lips. He can't help himself.
"I love you, too." You admit, a small smile growing.
He lets out a sigh of relief, "I am never letting you out of my sight again."
He presses a kiss to the top of your head and pulls you tight against his chest.
"Otherwise you'll call in a full tactical operation?" You nod to the SWAT agents sweeping the rest of the building and a laugh escapes him. Half relief that you can crack a joke already.
“I missed you too.”
You reach up carefully, brushing a thumb across his face, “I know.”
He leans down to rest his forehead against yours, “I thought I lost you.”
Your smile softens to a kinder one, “You’ve got to stop thinking like that.”
Before Aaron gets the chance to answer Morgan’s voice booms next to the two of you.
“Can we interrupt the reunion?”
You both pull back, neither of you thrilled about it.
JJ steps forward to reach out for a hug, you laugh and hug her back. Everyone steps up, checking in one by one. Rossi lingers the longest, he would deny the tears later but everyone sees them. You end up getting two hugs from him, Aaron still close by your side. You have a feeling he won’t be leaving it for a while.
“You scared the hell out of us.” Rossi sighs.
You smile weakly, “Sounds like someone cares.”
“You think?”
“Rossi was gonna put up the beach house!” Morgan calls.
You raise a brow, “Wow, now I feel special.”
Reid looks relieved enough to have forgotten his usual displeasure for physical contact, he also manages to bend down in an awkward hug.
“You let them get the drop on you, superstar?” Morgan throws a careful arm over your shoulder to pull you into a side hug.
“To be fair, I blame the concussion.” You shrug, “Or the sex. That was kind of distracting too.”
“Y/n.” Aaron sighs, shaking his head but it’s clear he isn’t embarrassed or surprised.
Rossi lets out a groan, “Now this takes me back.”
JJ grins, “Hotch you’re looking at her like she hung the moon.”
You cover a laugh, watching the team look between the two of you.
“Yeah, look at him still holding her.”
Aaron looks down and sure enough his arm was still firmly around your waist. He hadn’t even realized he was gravitating toward you. You look up at him with a teasing smile.
“You can let go, I can stand now.”
He looks down at you, not moving a single muscle.
“No.”
The entire team erupts, Morgan doubles over laughing.
“I knew it!” Emily points triumphantly.
You lean into him a little more even though you’re feeling better. Stretching your legs helped, your cheek still aches slightly.
“Okay, get me the fuck out of here.” You nod toward the door.
“Let's go.”
The team heads back toward the door. Hotch leads you out carefully, you look back once to where Brendan still lays dead. This could’ve ended so poorly, but it didn’t.
You have the team to thank for that.
You have Aaron to thank for that.
He intertwines his fingers with yours. He wasn’t going to let go, and neither were you.
-
an// YOU GUYSSSS OMFG JUST THE EPILOGUE LEFT NOW! please give me all your thoughts on this and thank you for letting me live out my ultimate exgf!bau!reader moment. it is all i could have dreamed of and more
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