[Criminal Minds] The Waiting Behind

Hotch, who didn't pay attention to the knock on the door, replied without raising his head, but he didn't hear anyone's voice other than the knock on the door for a long time. He looked up suspiciously, but saw the girl lowered her head awkwardly, playing with her hands. Poor plastic bags.

Hotch pursed his lips slightly, "Evans?"

"Uh... oh... Hey, Hotch! Emily ordered takeout for you, and here's your share."

Holding the packing box solemnly in both hands, Michelle handed it over, took the opportunity to sneak a glance at Hotch, and found that he looked obviously tired after not seeing him for a few days.It seems that there is still no progress in this case, so Hotch has been so busy. Michelle thought about it, feeling a little distressed in her heart.

Hotch used to be able to at least see the smiling faces of Haley and Jack when he returned home from a busy schedule, but now he can only face a cold room, and even curl up in an empty office alone.

Hotch stood up and took the takeaway box, ready to walk around to the other table to eat his own lunch and take a break.

Michelle lowered her head, still not daring to look directly at Hotch's penetrating eyes, but she still couldn't hide her inner concern, and chattered: "This sandwich may have been a little cold when it was delivered. If you haven't eaten for a long time, why don't you eat?" Reheat it before eating, lest the stomach suddenly eat cold food and cause convulsions..."

Michelle, who was explaining the details to herself, suddenly found a black figure turning towards her, her pupils shrank suddenly, Hotch! !

Without thinking too much, she immediately pressed her back against the opponent's body, struggling to hold on with all her strength, and screamed in panic—"Are you okay? Hotch?"

"It's okay... I'm just a little dizzy all of a sudden..." Hotch suddenly felt his heart skip a beat just now, his eyes went dark, and he didn't seem to know anything for a moment.When she came back to her senses, she realized that Michelle was desperately using her petite body to support her.Seeing the other person's obviously tense body, the slight trembling of the muscles, and the worried look in his eyes as he struggled to scan whether he was healthy or not, a warm current flowed in Hotch's heart. It has been a long time since anyone has expressed worry about himself so bluntly.Even Haley, every time he sees him in these years, he either has a disappointed and questioning look, or an angry and angry look.Because of the relationship of mutual respect for privacy, colleagues and friends often don't show such feelings so obviously. It's been too long, too long since he has seen the expression of pure concern and worry about himself.

In Michelle's eyes, Hotch's pensive and dazed look seemed to be unresponsive to the outside world, and Michelle was even more anxious, "Hotch, can you hear me? Now I'm going to help you to the sofa." Lie down and rest, I can't move you by myself, so try your best."

This time before Hotch could respond, Michelle quickly grabbed Hotch's bracelet around her neck to support her, and slowly moved towards the sofa beside her. Hotch also tried his best to mobilize his legs, which felt extremely heavy, to cooperate slowly.The soft touch against his chest was the girl's pink face.A few mischievous strands of hair ran out of the tied hair, and were slowly rubbing along the place where the two touched.

Hotch shifted his steps while looking down at the girl in his arms.Looking at it like this, it was like being held in my arms.You can also see the slight beads of sweat on the girl's forehead.It must be extremely difficult for this petite girl to support the weight of a grown man like him. Hotch's eyes gradually softened, like a pool of deep spring water, quiet and warm.Fortunately, the girl in Hotch's arms was so devoted to the great job of being a porter that she didn't see this beautiful scene at all, otherwise she would definitely go crazy with her brain.

"Huh—" finally arrived.It was only a few steps away and Michelle felt as if she had been walking for half a century. It was impossible for her small body, which does not like sports, to support the whole weight of Hotch. Fortunately, Hotch took care of part of it. weight.Michelle, who took good care of patients in her previous life, skillfully supported Hotch to find the most comfortable position to lie down on, and worriedly suggested to Hotch with her eyes closed, "I'll tell Man and let them arrange an ambulance to take you to the hospital. "

Michelle, who was about to turn around and leave, felt a cold hand grabbing her sock. Michelle was startled, but the moment she turned around, she regretted that Hotch had let go of her hand, "Don't tell them. My own body You know, I’m just temporarily dizzy due to irregular rest and diet, I’ll be fine after lying down for a while.”

Michelle knows that Hotch does not want his colleagues to see his vulnerable side, and also knows that he is afraid of being hospitalized at this moment, which will prevent him from following up the case at any time and disturb the pace of the investigation.Looking at Hotch's firm eyes, Michelle finally compromised, "Okay. But you have to promise me that you will at least rest for a few hours and get a good night's sleep."

Until seeing Hotch obediently nodding in agreement, Michelle didn't notice the tough attitude in her tone, she was just too used to dealing with such disobedient patients.Picking up the takeaway box that fell on the floor just now, Michelle carefully reminded Hotch not to get up in a hurry, and didn't realize that she and Hotch looked like a wife telling a sick husband.But Hotch figured it out.Is it because I miss my family life too much?I and Haley have also been so happy before, and at that time I felt that being together was a touch of happiness.

Hotch came back to his senses, just in time to hear Michelle's question before leaving, "Is there anything else you need to prepare for you?"

"Black coffee. Thank you." Habitual answer.

But saw Michelle who had already walked to the door rushing back, pointing at herself anxiously and shouting loudly, "Black coffee? You want black coffee even after you look like this? You already know why you would The reason for the fainting, why didn’t you pay attention! You ignored what I said just now! Tea and coffee are absolutely forbidden! I’ll help you pour boiled water.” Michelle rolled her eyes angrily. He rushed out with the same momentum.

Hotch touched his nose with his fingers helplessly. The image of this girl has really changed too much. She has always been gentle, shy, and occasionally mischievous and cunning, but suddenly her momentum is overturned. Impression, suddenly pointing at him and yelling so loudly.

Thinking of the scene where the girl had blown her hair just now, a faint smile slowly appeared on Hotch's face.Obviously it still had the same sharp-edged face, and when it was usually stern, it was particularly serious and intimidating, but now it seemed that the whole face was lit up because of the smile.Although there are faint fine lines at the corners of the eyes, they look extraordinarily gentle. Although Hotch was still a little dizzy, he felt a faint warmth in his heart, so he closed his eyes and fell asleep with the corner of his mouth raised slightly.

Michelle saw this scene when she came in with a hot sandwich, but she felt a little sad for no reason. What Hotch pursued was actually such a simple happiness.After quietly watching Hotch's relaxed sleeping face for a while, Michelle retreated with some reluctance.

This time I fell asleep until the evening. When Hotch woke up from a deep sleep, he felt as if he was lying on something soft, warm, and at the same time, a pair of gentle hands were gently pressing his temples, slowly and forcefully, to his exhausted body Brings great relaxation.With a sigh of nostalgia, Hotch slowly moved his stiff head, only to find that the hands shrank back suddenly as if they were frightened.

Can't help but sigh from the bottom of his heart, Hotch opened his eyes and found that he was lying on Michelle's lap, and Michelle was putting his hands behind his back in embarrassment, moving his eyes from side to side in a panic but not looking at him.

"Thank you, Evans. I feel much better now." Hotch knew where the girl's uneasiness came from, so he naturally didn't mention it, but sat up naturally, and separated a distance from Michelle without any trace .

Michelle naturally saw the other party's seemingly inadvertent movements, and her eyes darkened. Does Hotch really want to have a relationship with her?

He opened his mouth, but said nothing. Michelle calmly took the thermos on the side, "Your body is not suitable for eating sandwiches and the like. I'll go back and make some porridge for you to eat."

Seeing Michelle open and hand it over with a natural attitude, Hotch froze for a moment, but finally took it and took a spoonful and put it in his mouth.The fragrance is soft and glutinous, and the heat is just right.The faint taste is eaten in the mouth, and I can't help but whet my appetite.It was warm, and my stomach felt a lot better after a day of protesting with myself.

Hotch looked at Michelle who got up to visit her office with complicated eyes, and it took a long time before she lowered her eyes and continued to drink porridge.Of course he understood what she wanted, but he hadn't paid attention to it before.He thought it was just a momentary infatuation or illusion, and it would naturally dissipate after a long time.But……

Hotch tasted the incomparably delicious porridge in his hand, and could tell that her heart was full of it.This kind of relationship can't be just a young girl's fascination, Hotch thought with certainty, in the face of his suspicion and alienation, she always waited and watched from afar, silently appeared by his side when he needed it, and cared for him ,support him.

Such sincere feelings are too precious, and Hotch doesn't know if he can afford it.The failed marriage with Haley made him reflect a lot. Although he consciously gave everything except work to his family, the sense of security he could give his wife was still not enough after all.He didn't want to see a girl's face change from anticipation to gloom to anger, and he didn't want Michelle to be a second Haley.

Looks like he needs to find a time to talk to Michelle and really stop wasting time on him. Hotch admits that he doesn't have the thought and energy to start a new relationship yet.But...Hotch bowed his head and tasted the porridge again, let's forget about it today.Let him selfishly feel this kind of warm and caring moment again.

Michelle felt that the heat on her face subsided a little, so she didn't continue to visit the office that she had seen many times, and turned her head to chat casually:

"Is your case so difficult this time? I heard from Emily that you can't go home and rest until you solve the case..."

"Well, this time the matter is quite special, so we need to solve the case as soon as possible." Hotch really didn't say much.

"I saw the news report before, it seems to be a few movie theater fires before. I really can't figure out what the murderer is thinking. Such a good entertainment facility will be burned down. Now we young people have no place to relax. , dare not go out..." Michelle didn't care about the details of the case that Hotch refused to disclose, anyway, according to the current direction of public opinion, after the case is finally solved, the media will always publicize it.

"Wait, what did you just say?" Hotch was just listening to Michelle's complaints, but suddenly his eyes lit up, staring at Michelle.

Being stared at by such focused and nervous eyes, Michelle even had the illusion that she was the only one in his eyes, and wished she could quickly drown in these deep eyes.

"Michelle?" The girl really has a mind-wandering mind, and Hotch finds it beyond his control.

"Oh, uh, which one?" I found out that my nymphomaniac appearance turned out to be the object of my nympho, so I might as well let her be killed by a piece of tofu... Michelle gave up on herself and stopped thinking about this aspect, "I We were talking about the movie theater fire incident just now, we young people have no place to relax, and now we dare not go to crowded entertainment venues..."

"Yes! Young people...entertainment places..." Hotch suddenly thought of something, stood up and walked out, this look of facing a big enemy made Michelle stand up nervously involuntarily. Hotch walked to the door, paused, and looked back at Michelle, with a particularly unpredictable expression against the light, "If my guess is correct, then I really want to thank you."