Change My Mind ~ Criminal Minds (Aaron Hotchner x OC)

106.0: Fighting Doubts

A/N: Continuation of 8x10 The Lesson

TRIGGER WARNING: TORTURE, D*ATH, PTSD, M*NTAL DISORDER

"Building bridges is the best defense against ignorance."
― Aaron Lauritsen

Crystal sipped her water and pouted, she really missed tea. Hotch caught this and smiled, "You know you don't have to give up tea right now, right? You're not pregnant, yet." Crystal smacked his arm for the cheeky comment and he chuckled, she smiled at him and shook her head. "I just wanna be cautious. Doc said caffeine isn't good for a baby, so it's better to stop now before I keep drinking it without realizing I'm pregnant one day." Hotch kissed her head, "I can stop drinking coffee to not have you be tempted."

"Aw, that'd be sweet if I actually liked coffee." Crystal told him as they walked to be with the rest of the team, they were ready to give the profile out. "Due to the sophistication of the crimes, we believe that we're looking for a male unsub who's at least 30 and who's torturing his victims. We think he's trying to perfect a delusion at which he's failed at 3 times already." Hotch told the officers in front of them and Rossi spoke next, "As with most fantasy based crimes, the reality never lives up to the perfection of what the unsub envisions."

"Because of the truth of reality, this leads him to try again with new victims." Crystal explained and Blake took over, "This fantasy involved the torture and stretching of his victims, including men that have had their hair dyed black by the unsub." Reid motioned to one of the photos on the board, "But before he kills them, our unsub fixes their hair and paints their nails." Morgan nodded at this, "He's now escalated to crucifying his latest victim, driving holes into his hands and feet. Crucifixion is reserved for serious crimes historically, and this makes us believe that he feels as if he's been wronged by his victims in the past. Now, he's performing some sort of inquisition."

JJ crossed her arms as she looked at the officers, "Whether he's getting his victims to repent or adhere to certain religious beliefs, he's hanging them as though they were victims of religious tribunals of the 1100s." Hotch shook his head, "But something in his fantasy isn't working, because he's discarding the men." Crystal sipped her cup of water, "Even when the man's hair is naturally black, it didn't satisfy him. He kills them and then ritualistically places them in a box with tissue paper." Rossi sighed at this, "Now this is the odd part, is initial behavior dehumanizes them. That means he values those victims when they're dead rather than alive."

Reid cleared his throat, "So far we believe he has spared one woman that he still has in captivity. She's either witnessing these horrors or being forced to participate in them." Hotch gave a nod before continuing the profile, "Crucifixion is sadistic, and watching is the ultimate torture. Consequently, we believe that the killing will continue to escalate as the unsub strives to achieve his perfection. Our main focus right now is that a male will be taken next, thank you." The officers left after that and Crystal finished her cup of water, Morgan looked over at them. "I'm gonna head to the shop where the clothes were sold with JJ now, we'll call if we find anything."

Hotch nodded and they both left, Crystal was staring at the board and let him take her empty cup. "It doesn't feel like a religion thing, does it? In what religion do you get stuffed into a box with tissue paper?" He hummed and moved her hair to be tucked behind her ear, "That could be his own M.O, but we can't rule out religion just yet. Do you want more water?" Crystal smiled and nodded, "Yes please, I think this is the most hydrated I've ever been." Hotch chuckled and kissed her head before leaving to grab her more water, and she turned to see that Reid was still there like she thought. The others had already left when both Morgan and JJ went to check out the shop and this left them alone, "Penny for your thoughts?"

"About the case, or..."

"Which ever you're willing to share." Crystal answered and he seemed to think about what he wanted to say, and she let him without trying to prompt an answer. "Blake knows." Reid told her and this did shock her, "You told her?" He cleared his throat, "Remember how I told you me and Maeve communicate?" She nodded and he continued, "I had her drive me to a phone booth last night, and she questioned why I asked her to drive me instead of Morgan. I told her it's because I didn't want anyone else knowing about 'her' just yet."