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

36.0: Closure & Anger

A/N: Continuation of 6x10 What Happens at Home...

"A bend in the road is not the end of the road...Unless you fail to make the turn."
― Helen Keller

Crystal looked towards the door as Morgan and Prentiss walked into the church, Morgan looked at the team when they made their way up on the stage. "We just came from the last victim's house, the unsub used the garage for access. Maybe a remote door opener made to be universal." 

Emily nodded, "Police are saying it's random, but how can you randomly find a woman who's vulnerable? Garcia's going over backgrounds again trying to highlight anyone with a tech background."

"She's also doing a full workup on Brinkman and Ruiz, they had that kind of access around the compound." Hotch stated, "Has anyone seen Ruiz?" Rossi shrugged, "I saw him a little while ago."

Reid nodded, "He set up everyone filling out forms, but I haven't seen him since." Crystal hummed, "Should we go look for them?" Hotch shook his head, "No, hopefully they'll show up soon. We need to ask for help in a different way, tell people that we're looking for someone who might have seen something rather than someone who did something."

Crystal nodded, "No one thinks their friends or neighbors are capable of this."

"We should get started." Hotch stated and the team nodded with Crystal, Seaver, Morgan, and Prentiss walked further on the stage while the rest walked down. Hotch stayed on the stage as well, once everyone was settled he cleared his throat. 

"We're hoping that someone may have seen something and not even realize it, maybe you have a neighbor who takes their trash out late, works on his car in the garage, anything that might put someone outside at a weird hour. This would've given him the opportunity to see something."

Seaver tensed next to Crystal and Emily noticed, "Is there anything that we can help you look for?" She whispered and Seaver took a deep breath, "It won't be overt, the kids probably aren't afraid of the dad." Morgan raised an eyebrow, "They won't? These guys have explosive tempers."

"They do, but the dad won't let their children witness it. Anger wasn't normal in my house, usually when it happened it was an anomaly." Seaver gave them a sad smile, "If anything my father was overprotective, he was too nice."

Crystal hummed, "He was trying to please you," Seaver shook her head, "No, he was trying to hide the truth," Seaver smiled sadly, "If I wanted anything, he would give it to me. Bicycles, toys, dolls, anything as long as I asked for it."

Emily looked out at the crowd, "Does anything stand out?" Seaver looked and swallowed, "My dad would always hold my hand, he never held me in any other way. He held my hand tight like he was afraid of me being taken away from him." Morgan nodded, "Because he knew what was out there, men like him."

Seaver started to play with her fingers, Crystal gently put her hand on her shoulder. "You okay?"

"Yeah, yeah just thinking that this man might've recently bought gifts for his kids." Seaver stated and Emily raised an eyebrow, "Gifts?"

"My dad used to buy me gifts all the time."

"Anything specific?"

"Anything I wanted-" Seaver took in a sharp breath, she stared at a dog a family in the front had. Emily looked at her worriedly, "Ashely?"

"A dog."

"What?" Emily asked and Seaver looked over at her, "A dog, or really any pet, but I would beg my dad for a dog and he would always tell me no. It was the one thing I wanted and never received from my father."