A/N: Ok so this is the first time I have ever done anything like this. Please be nice or I cry. There’s probably some mistakes. I’m very new to this. Anyways, here’s a lil story.
Also, shoutout to @agenthotchner for help and support!
Warnings: blood, gore, mentions ptsd, hallucinations
You jolted to an upright sitting position. The screams and blood still flooded your dreams every night. Your eyes scanned the darkened room as you huffed heavily trying to calm your heart beat. Your whole body was coated in a cold sweat. A movement to your left startled you but as you turned the bedside lamp on , you saw the familiar body of Penelope Garcia. She stirred in her sleep, mumbling something about the light being on. It had been five weeks since you’d been released from the hospital and you still needed someone to be with you when you slept. If you slept.
Slowly, you reached for your phone and noted the time: 2:14 am. You carefully lifted the covers and exited the bed. Your hands trembled with post-nightmare anxiety. Entering your bathroom, you closed and locked the door as you usually did now a days even in your own apartment. The light already shone brightly above the mirror and sink. Hands still shaking, you gripped the sides of the sink. You couldn’t get the images from your dream out of your head. Picture after picture, you saw more vivid details flash in your mind. You shook your head trying to escape the violent depictions. Your skin was clammy and you felt like you were going to pass out. You turned the water on and grabbed your water glass but your eyes wandered to the mirror for a split second. What you saw made you drop the glass . It shattered and shards flew into the sink and scattered on and around your bare feet. But you didn’t even notice the glass as you held your breath and your eyes widened. Your gaze didn’t leave the reflection.
The reflection of your face was completely covered in blood. Blood poured from every opening. You were crying tears of crimson. It dribbled from your nostrils and ears. Your lips blended in with the blood flowing from your eyes.The whites of your eyes pierced through the mirror in a river of red. Still not daring to take a breath, you shakily lifted your arms and hands only to see several long gashes that bled with warm, fresh blood. Finally, a breath came out of your lungs but it was actually a bloodcurdling scream. You shoved your forearms into the running water , scrubbing and scouring but the water did nothing to rid your skin of the mess. You panted hysterically as you ran to the shower, steeping on the fallen glass. Throwing back the curtain, you turned the shower head on. You didn’t care that the water was icy cold, only about washing away the madness. You tried and tried to clean the blood away as you helplessly cried. Your pajamas becoming heavy as they became soaking wet with the cold water. You suddenly heard banging on the bathroom door and you screamed and cried louder.
“Sir, it’s me…” Penelope rapidly said into her phone. “I’m so sorry to call you this late but…I think she’s locked herself in the bathroom and she’s crying and yelling and…I don’t know what to do… Yes, I’m trying to talk to her but I don’t think she can hear me… Okay, thank you. Please hurry.”
More and more blood seemed to pour from your arms and head. It dripped furiously and diluted in the water sitting stagnant in the tub. Nothing stopped it.
Abruptly, loud banging came from the door and you screamed for him to get away. You knew it was him coming to hurt you. The door burst open with a powerful force and a tall man entered the small bathroom . It was him. His face was twisted with hatred. His probing blue eyes bore into you. You screamed and threw anything you could find at the horrible creature.
“Get away! Get away from me. No!” You yelled, chucking a conditioner bottle.
“(Y/N), it’s me! It’s Aaron…it’s okay, it’s me.” He approached with his hands up.
His face morphed into a familiar one. You looked from his face to you arms again. They were free of blood and only the raised skin from the scars you bore ran down your forearms. There was no evidence of blood anywhere around the bathroom. You sank to the bottom of the bathtub, hugging your knees to your chest. You sobbed as the stream of water pelted your face. The man slowly approached and turned the faucet off. You shook from the cold and anxiety. The man descended to his knees and leveled his face to yours. You shivered again fiercely. You completely dissociated, not registering the man or woman now hovering in the bathroom doorway. The man slowly reached his hand out to help you out of the tub. At first you didn’t noticed it startled you but then you saw his soft umber eyes. You held out a wobbly arm and the man hoisted you out of the slippery tub but as soon as you were out, you collapsed with exhaustion. The man, you now seemed to recognize as Hotch, caught you. He grabbed a towel from the rack with one hand as he steadied you on the toilet seat lid with his other hand. He wrapped you tightly in the soft towel but you continued to tremble.
“Penelope, will you help get her into some dry clothes?” He looked to Garcia who was still frozen, staring from the doorway.
“Ye…yes, sir.” She rushed to the dresser, flinging the drawers open and collecting an oversized t-shirt and pj shorts.
Hotch stared into your pale face but you barely noticed him as you eyed distantly at the hand towel ring. You rocked back and forth on the lid of the toilet. He rose and retrieved a small first aid kit and began to tend to the glass in your foot. He bandaged the foot. He then left the bathroom letting Garcia assist you in getting dressed. He cracked the broken door on his way out.
Penelope peeled off the soaking pajama shirt and slid the new dry shirt over your head. She helped you stand up and into dry underwear and shorts. Then she led you past the broken glass, to your bed and tucked you in. Hotch stood by the bedroom door until Garcia had you settled in. He walked over and kneeled down next to your bed.
“(Y/N), we need you to take this sedative. It’ll help you sleep. Can you do that for us?” He said gently.
You nodded a slight nod. He handed you the tiny pill and a plastic cup with water. Once you swallowed the pill, he set the water on your nightstand and began to rise.
“I’m…sorry.” You squeaked out.
“Don’t be, it’s okay. Get some rest.”
You nodded again. He turned to speak to Garcia.
“Penelope, thank you for taking care of her. I can stay if you wish to go home. Jack’s at a sleepover tonight, so I’m free.”
“Okay, that’s fine. I’m just two floors away if you need me.” She gathered her overnight bag and Hotch walked her out, then locking the door after.
It was now just after 3:00 am. Hotch returned to the bedroom, approaching your nightstand and saw that the sedative had worked. You were now asleep and curled up in a ball. Aaron turned out your light and walked out of your room, cracking your door. He made a bed out of your couch for the night, already thinking about what he would make for breakfast in the morning.