or what, sir? |a. hotchner| ✔️

two

warning: mentions of/hinting at sexual assault as a child.

We had finished my first case being back, but Hotch and I hadn't talked once since. After I made that little scene, and after he walked away, the two of us stayed away from one another. I felt a little bad for snapping at him, but the fear of losing Spencer and Emily in that place was all consuming.

We were back at the office, everyone either home or leaving. I was still doing some work, I was going to be there for a while longer. I felt someone put their hand on my shoulder, making me look up a little. There stood Spencer, who took his hand away from me. He licked his bottom lip out of pure habit,

"I'll see you tomorrow?" I nodded,

"Goodnight" I responded,

"You too, V" and then he left, causing me to eye my papers once again. That was until I noticed the lights were still on in Aaron's office. I stood up, seeing everyone had left. It was just the two of us in there, and I felt the need to apologize about earlier.

I left my stuff at my desk, walking up the stairs and to the door of his office. He was doing his work, not paying attention to the fact that I was in his doorway. I knocked two times on the wall, and his head shot up. He stared at me for a moment,

"Yes?" He asked, and he seemed slightly annoyed. I shut the door behind us, letting myself in as I walked towards the two seats across from him. I sat in one of them,

"I wanted to apologize. About the other day" I revealed, "It was unprofessional, I didn't mean to lash out on you like that. The case was way too personal for my first one back, and I..." I bit my lip. I really didn't want to say this, "I'm sorry" I flinched a little.

Sorry's weren't my thing, I had a hard time saying it.

"You're sorry?" He sounded surprised, and I nodded. "I was going to apologize to you, you were right" He admitted, "I should have listened to you, I knew you were right. But like you said, the case was too personal. I was working irrationally" I felt as though a weight had lifted from my shoulders, I was relieved that we both agreed.

I stood up,

"I'll let you get back to working" I told him, and I started to walk out.

"Veronica, wait" he told me. I turned to eye him, "I do take you seriously" He ensured, "You're a really important asset to this team, you always were. I'm sorry if I made you feel insignificant" I was so surprised by the words spewing from his lips that I almost laughed.

"Thank you, sir" I began walking out again, but then I stopped in the doorframe. I held onto it and smiled, "Night, Aaron"

"You too, Veronica"

000

"He apologized to you?" Reid asked as the two of us walked into the office, making me nod. The glass doors shut behind us as we made our way over to the coffee machine.

"You know what's crazier?" I started, grabbing a cup, "He even told me I was important to the team. Apparently he takes me seriously, has he ever told you that?" Before he could answer, someone spoke,

"Who takes you seriously?" It was Derek, putting his elbow on Reid's shoulder. He shot an intrigued smile, resting his head in his hand. Reid nudged him off, shooting him a stank face. I chuckled, putting the cup under the coffee maker. It started pouring out coffee,

"Hotch"

"Of course he takes you seriously" Derek acted as if it was obvious, but then Spencer raised both his brows. Derek took a sip of his own coffee, and Reid smirked a little,