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

61.0: Little Changes & Building Our World Up

A/N: Continuation of 7x02 Proof and the title is based off two songs that will be played later in the chapter~

Important: There is another language used (Hmong) because Crystal knows her native tongue, translations are in italics and in parenthesis

TRIGGER WARNING: TALKS ABOUT SEXUAL ASSAULT, CHEATING, AND BULLYING

"You can't crush ideas by suppressing them. You can only crush them by ignoring them. By refusing to think, refusing to change."
― Ursula K. Le Guin

Crystal and Reid dried their eyes before walking back into the station, it would be night time soon and they needed to focus on the case instead of their emotions. 

They walked back to the team who looked at them worriedly, Reid cleared his throat. "I don't think we're dealing with the typical homeless person, he's good with chemicals, owns a car. I think the only mistake in our profile was assuming there was something wrong with his physical composition, reducing him to some stereotype."

Rossi raised an eyebrow, "You think it's his mental state?"

"I think this guy is smart enough to use his disability to his advantage so he comes across harmless."

Morgan nodded, "Then when he's alone and the victim rejects him, he goes off." JJ looked at the team, "What if he's in a halfway house?" Hotch took out his phone, "Garcia, I need a list of halfway houses and mental health centers in the unsub's comfort zone."

"Five are being sent to your phones."

"Which of those were around in the 80's babygirl?"

"2 in your area sexy."

Hotch gave a nod before hanging up, "Morgan and Prentiss take the first, Dave and I will take the second. Archer, Reid, and JJ stay here to check VICAP for similar MO's" The team nodded and got up to leave, Hotch looked over at Reid. "Reid."

Reid turned to look at him and Hotch walked over, "If you're going to be mad at someone, be mad at me."

"I can't, I didn't come over to your house crying for 8 months." Reid walked away and Crystal watched from the board, Crystal turned to see Hotch staring at her. Crystal sighed before looking away, she felt a hand on her back and looked at JJ.

JJ gave her a sad smile, "You should be angry at me instead."

"I'm not, besides I think you already have your hands full with Reid being angry." Crystal smiled at her and JJ swallowed, "I know he needs time, but I feel awful and I want to fix this." Crystal hugged her, "Give it time JJ, let him get out all of his emotions he's feeling right now over the unresolved things that's happened."

JJ nodded and hugged her back, Crystal relaxed in her hold as she let her own words sink in.

Give it time...

___

A/N: Listen to this song as Hotch and Crystal interact in the board room~ (So I Don't Let Me Down - Clinton Kane)

Hotch hung up his call with Morgan, they had found 11 names and Morgan had 19 more. Rossi looked over at him as they walked, "So how's Reid?"

"Frustrated."

"Archer?"

"...Betrayed. I'm surprised the whole team isn't." Hotch answered honestly and Rossi shrugged, "Some of us had a hunch." Hotch gave Rossi a look, Rossi smiled. "What? I'm good at my job."