Chapter Text
Aaron Hotchner sat at his desk in the dim glow of the BAU’s hotel room lamp, meticulously going through the latest case files. His team was scattered across different rooms, getting what little rest they could before another grueling day of tracking down an unsub. Sleep eluded him, as it often did. The weight of responsibility pressed down on his shoulders, but at least the quiet allowed him to work without distraction.
At least, until he heard it.
A small, distressed whimper.
Hotch’s brow furrowed. He set his pen down, listening intently. The sound came again, muffled but unmistakably pained. He turned toward the other bed in the room, where Spencer Reid lay tangled in the sheets, his face twisted in anguish. He was murmuring softly, but whatever dream he was trapped in wasn’t a pleasant one. His fingers clenched at the blanket, and his breathing was ragged and uneven.
Hotch stood immediately, moving to Spencer’s side.
“Reid,” he called softly, placing a careful hand on his shoulder. “Spencer, wake up.”
Spencer flinched violently at the touch, a sharp gasp tearing from his throat as he bolted upright. His chest heaved, eyes wide and unfocused as if he was still caught in the nightmare. His whole body trembled.
“Hey,” Hotch said gently, keeping his hand on Spencer’s shoulder. “It’s okay. You’re safe.”
Spencer’s breathing remained erratic, his mind clearly struggling to catch up with reality. His hands twisted in the blanket as he fought to ground himself.
“Just breathe,” Hotch coached, his voice softer than usual. “In through your nose, out through your mouth. Just like that.”
Spencer squeezed his eyes shut, following Hotch’s instructions. He took a shuddering breath in, then slowly exhaled. Hotch felt the tension in his shoulders lessen just slightly.
After a few more moments, Spencer’s eyes fluttered open again, meeting Hotch’s gaze. They were still glassy, still haunted.
“I—I’m sorry,” Spencer stammered, his voice barely above a whisper. “I didn’t mean to wake you.”
“You didn’t,” Hotch assured him. “I was still working.”
Spencer nodded numbly, but he didn’t seem fully present. Hotch hesitated before sitting on the edge of the bed, making sure to keep a respectable distance while still offering a comforting presence.
“Do you want to talk about it?”
Spencer’s fingers twisted into the fabric of his pajama pants. “I don’t know. It—it was just… it felt real. Too real.”
Hotch knew better than to push. Instead, he waited, giving Spencer the space to decide if he wanted to share. After a long moment, Spencer sighed and whispered, “It was about Tobias.”
Hotch’s chest tightened. He didn’t need Spencer to explain any further. They all carried scars from past cases, but Spencer’s encounter with Tobias Hankel had left some of the deepest wounds.
“I know it’s been a long time,” Spencer continued, voice thick with emotion. “But sometimes it still feels like I’m back there. Like I never really escaped.”
“You did escape,” Hotch said firmly, his voice steady with conviction. “And you’re not alone. You never have to be alone in this, Reid.”
Spencer swallowed hard, blinking rapidly as if trying to hold back tears. “I know. But sometimes, when I wake up like this, it’s hard to remember that.”
Hotch gave him a moment to gather himself before speaking again. “Would it help if I stayed here until you fall asleep?”
Spencer looked up at him, surprised. “You—you don’t have to.”
“I know,” Hotch said simply. “But I want to.”
Spencer hesitated for only a second before nodding, his expression softening just slightly. Hotch reached over and pulled the blanket up around Spencer’s shoulders, a small gesture, but one that made Spencer relax a little more.
Hotch settled back against the headboard, watching as Spencer curled onto his side, his breathing slowly evening out. The tension in his frame gradually melted away, his fingers no longer clutching the sheets in distress.
Just as Spencer’s breaths became slow and steady, he mumbled sleepily, “Thank you, Hotch.”
Hotch exhaled, a rare smile ghosting over his lips. “Get some rest, Reid.”
He sat there for a long time, listening to the soft sound of Spencer’s breathing, making sure that, this time, he slept peacefully.