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

92.0: Welcome Home

A/N: This is a continuation of 7x20 The Company

WARNING: THERE'S SWEARING

TRIGGER WARNING: THIS WHOLE CHAPTER IS A TRIGGER WARNING SINCE IT TALKS ABOUT SEXUAL ASSAULT, R**E, KIDNAPPING, MANIPULATION, SLAVES, AND DEROGATORY LANGUAGE TOWARDS WOMEN. PLEASE READ WITH CAUTION IF ANY OF THESE MAKE YOU UNCOMFORTABLE.

"Some of the most beautiful things we have in life comes from our mistakes."
― Surgeo Bell

The search at Malcom Ford's house was a bust, Cindi and him were no where to be found and there were documents burnt in the fireplace. Crystal could tell that Morgan was frustrated, she walked over to his figure leaning against the counter and handed him a mug of coffee. Morgan glanced at her and sighed, he took the coffee and took a sip before talking. "Why would she run away with him, why wouldn't she wait to see if someone came to help her?"

Crystal sipped her tea, she wanted to give him a well thought out answer since he seemed to be struggling with the idea that his cousin willingly left with her captor. "Derek, your cousin Cindi has most likely been through...a lot with Ford. In her mind, it's become second nature to follow him and to do what he says. You know this, even if you want to believe that Cindi would never do this, you know that this isn't the old Cindi anymore. This Cindi...she's been through things and it's changed her."

Morgan sighed and rubbed his face, "I know, I do know this. I just- there were things at that house Crystal. The things at the house that he'd do to my cousin, that he's done for years." Crystal looked over at him, he was gripping his mug tightly. "She signed something...she signed a slave contract with that son of a bitch."

Crystal cringed at this, that must've been terrible for Morgan to be the one who found it.

Poor Cindi.

"Just because she did, doesn't mean she did it willingly."

"I know, that's what makes it worse." Morgan replied and he took another sip before sighing, "I have to go talk with my aunt, Hotch thinks we'll get a better feel on Ford if we know when he met Cindi." Crystal nodded and patted his shoulder, "Don't worry Morgan, we're here now." Morgan relaxed his shoulders and patted her hand on his shoulder, "I know, thanks Crystal."

Morgan walked away and she watched him leave, she pushed off the counter before walking back towards the board. JJ looked over at her, "How is he?" Crystal smiled wryly, "How'd you expect, he's frustrated and wanting answers that we can't give him right now. Are we ready?"

Reid nodded and handed her a file, "We're giving the profile." Crystal flipped through the file and went after the team when a hand stopped her, she turned to see Hotch staring at her. "Are you okay?" Crystal smiled up at him, "Are you going to ask this every time we have a kidnapped case?"

"Yes." Hotch answered and moved her hair from her face, "Because I care." Crystal hummed at this and gently kissed the hand that held her face, "I'm find Hotch, promise." He smiled at her and went to walk after the team, Crystal followed and didn't miss the way that Rossi put away his notebook again and Crystal smiled to herself.

You'd think a profiler would hide a secret better, especially one that I'm not supposed to know.

___

"After eight years in captivity at the hands of Malcom Ford, we believes Cindi's ego has been shattered." Emily informed the officers in front of them, "As a result, he could afford to give her some degree of freedom and trust that would allow her to stay with him." Hotch gave a nod, "It's going to be very difficult to get Cindi away from her captor, we believe she's suffering from an extreme form of Stockholm syndrome."