[Criminal Minds] The Waiting Behind

Michelle stood not far from the court entrance, watching Hotch quickly walk up the stairs, raised her hand to decline the microphones of the media, and quickly walked in with the help of the security guard who stopped the reporter.

Noticing that the girl next to her was following the figure of the man in black's boss almost without blinking, Reid tilted his head and scratched his brow helplessly. It seems that this feeling of helplessness has been common in him after meeting Michelle... It seemed that he was right to invite Michelle after Emily reminded him, although he still felt that the courtroom was not a good place for a date.

"Let's go in too, Michelle. The court is coming up in a minute."

The decoration of the courtroom is always very well-behaved. The wooden tables and chairs are painted with brown-red paint, and combined with the tall judge's seat, it is extraordinarily solemn and solemn.

Michelle looked around, no matter how curious she was, as soon as she came in and sat in the auditorium, she immediately restrained her expression, respectful and solemn.Judges and juries, plaintiffs and defendants were seated one after another.

Michelle sees the serial killer who just woke up from a coma and claims to have forgotten the crime he committed.To be honest, now it seems that he looks like an ordinary person, not at all like a pervert who killed several young women, his face is full of bewilderment and bewilderment, like an innocent person who was wronged and imprisoned.

As if seeing the unbearable and suspicious look on Michelle's face, Reid whispered, but stared straight ahead:

"He may forget the crimes he committed, but the evidence won't. That doesn't take away from the fact that he did them."

Words that came out of nowhere.

But Michelle understands Reid's unfinished words, which is Reid's style of comfort and enlightenment.

"Aaron Hoter, are you willing to swear that every sentence you say in court is in line with your professional content and quality, and that every sentence is true?"

Seeing Hotch sitting seriously on the witness stand, with one hand on the Bible, he answered firmly: "Yes, I promise."

For some reason, Michelle suddenly felt a little touched.This kind of oath reminded her of the phrase "I will" unconsciously.Obviously the occasions are different, but the feelings expressed are the same, making people feel beautiful. Michelle felt as if she had seen the same firm and pious promise made by Hotch when she got married. At that time, Hotch, who was full of longing for the future and anticipation of happiness, must have never had a tenderness on his face.It's just a pity that good things are often short-lived...

The most beautiful love is perfection, but how can it be so easy to be perfect?How many detours have to be walked and how many tears have been shed before a person can learn to be unselfish, love so much that he is willing to let go, and regard the other person's happiness as his own.

Michelle thought to herself that Haley's love was far inferior to Hotch's love, so no matter how reluctant Hotch was, she finally agreed to Haley's request and chose to fulfill it.Give happiness to the other party and leave the pain to yourself.But what did Hotch, who was so forbearing, got?The heart that is tortured by reality is becoming harder and harder, or is it the thicker and thicker protective shell, or the distance that is getting harder and harder to approach?

Obviously this was just a very common scene, but Michelle felt that she couldn't be more sad.He had never felt so sorry for Hotch like this moment, and never felt so jealous of Haley like this moment.

Obviously got the best happiness in the world, why choose to abandon it?

Michelle felt that her eye sockets were a little hot. She was afraid that she would lose her composure on such a solemn occasion, and she was also afraid that she would be noticed by Reid, who was listening carefully to the interrogation. She quickly stood up, told Reid in a low voice, and walked out quickly to calm down her over-excited mood. .

The mood of a woman in secret love is really strange.

Michelle couldn't help laughing at herself like that.

Sentimental, worry about gains and losses.

If someone had predicted that he would become a glass heart, he would definitely scoff: Impossible!

But reality is so absolute and not absolute. Michelle never thought that she would become another person because of one person.

I don't know how long it took for Michelle to slowly sort out her mood, and the moment she walked slowly into the trial court, she happened to see the other party's public defense lawyer aggressively questioning Hotch and the accuracy of the so-called profile.

Michelle raised the corners of her mouth, and all the complicated thoughts just now were swept away.

He is absolutely finished!

Of course he wasn't referring to Hotch.

The job of BAU or even profiler is simply the opposite of Hotch.He can accept other people's doubts about himself, but he will never let this job bear the same responsibility.

Sure enough, when faced with the contemptuous ridicule of the opposing lawyer, Hotch would never guess what color socks he was wearing today.

Hotch, who has been silently bearing the other party's suspicion and even ridicule towards him, finally spoke:

"Charcoal grey."

The opponent is not a rookie who has never experienced a big scene, so he naturally wanted to regain his advantage immediately, and continued to mock Hotch for just guessing right by chance.

Michelle sat down in the last row silently, propped her chin with her hands, and smiled at Hotch's calm and composed expression.He is always so confident. Hotch presented all the evidence almost overwhelmingly, one by one calmly, exposing the other party's financial crisis and even reading horse racing text messages during the trial.

The other party's arrogance went from arrogance to panic to pretending to be calm, and finally to the appearance of embarrassment and anger. It was really like a defeated rooster!

Michelle felt that today was really the right time. A serious court trial made her see too many jokes, which was really funny.Moreover, Hotch is also so handsome!

Sure enough, a man who is good at what he does and takes pride in it is so charming that it's outrageous! Michelle covered her somewhat hot face, after all, the corners of her mouth raised higher and higher uncontrollably.

Even in the end, the self-proclaimed most successful criminal lawyer in the state refused to admit it all. Hotch raised his eyebrows and looked down at his watch:

"If I'm not mistaken, the result of the fifth game will come at any moment."

The audience was silent, everyone held their breath, this debate was so exciting!

"Buzz—" the phone on the table vibrated.

Even the judge couldn't stand it and sighed.

However, Hotch still refuses to let go of this lawyer who insulted his favorite job: "If you change your luck, why don't you let us share it?"

General.

Wonderful! Michelle stared at Hotch with bright eyes, bit her lower lip, desperately resisting the urge to applaud.This is a court, so be serious.Until even the judge couldn't stand it and stopped the lawyer who was trying to defend——

"What do you want me to do? Show us your phone or stop chasing him. Lawyer?"

"Pfft..." Michelle finally couldn't help laughing, this judge is really cute and jealous.Quickly sticking out her tongue and covering her mouth, she still couldn't hold back... Michelle looked around annoyed, but found that everyone was smiling kindly, and didn't pay attention to what happened in this corner, so she secretly breathed a sigh of relief.

After the adjournment, Reid took Michelle and found Hotch on the side of the corridor, where he was discussing the details of the three court trials tomorrow morning with the beautiful blonde prosecutor.

After waiting for a while, Hotch came over.

Reid praised without hesitation: "Good Job!"

"Thank you." Michelle turned to the side.

Michelle didn't see a reaction to her presence in Hotch's usual poker face.Confuse?be surprised?understand?Still don't care at all... A little frustrated, she gave up the idea of ​​seeing his mood from the expression on her face. Michelle once again secretly slandered the role of the profiler in her heart. She was very happy when watching the play, but she was still unhappy when she faced it , nothing can be seen.

"Hotch, congratulations. Today's performance was wonderful and handsome!" Michelle blushed and said the last sentence.

Hotch just thanked calmly as usual, did not miss the disappointment that flashed across the girl's face, and looked calmly at Reid who was standing aside as a 123 wooden figure, "Reid, if you allow...?"

Reid was taken aback for a moment, but suddenly felt blessed and realized that Hotch wanted to talk to Michelle alone.Wow, so much progress?Rarely, Reid, whose emotional intelligence has improved a lot, naturally nodded, left, and stood not far from the corridor - he could see the two of them, but couldn't hear what they were talking about.

Looking at the girl whose head was getting lower and lower due to his attention, Hotch could clearly see the blush on her face due to the difference in height.Heartbroken, Hotch looked at the girl's soft hair reflecting a little light in the sun, and finally said:

"Thank you for coming to this trial today."

Before Michelle could say something like you're welcome, Hotch's second sentence had already come out——

"But you don't have to do that anymore."

Michelle raised her head abruptly, looking in disbelief at the man who was almost a head taller than herself.It was still the same calm face, but inexplicably exuded a kind of coldness and chill.Is this provocative?Let her stop harassing him...

Michelle thought bitterly, tried to say something, her lips twitched a few times, but nothing came out.

This is the second time.Last time, if Hotch was just a hint of action, then this time it was a direct rejection in words.But she didn't confess twice, this is really the saddest and most funny rejection in the world.

You don't need a profile to see the unacceptable sadness and shock on the girl's face. Hotch put his gaze out of the window and said slowly, "I'm not a good man. Look, I'm divorced and have a child. Girls as young as you have more and better boys waiting for you. And for me, I can never put family first. It's been a long time, you..."

"Enough!" Michelle didn't want to hear what Hotch said next, even if she didn't listen to herself, she knew what he was going to say.

"You think I don't know about you and Haley!" Ignoring the other's sharply narrowed pupils, Michelle stubbornly tried to find her own image in the other's eyes, "You're wrong! I know you better than you think Many! But you can't deny my feelings for you just because you don't know me well..."

The choked tone made it impossible for Michelle to continue.Her lips trembled violently, as if she was enduring some unspeakable heartache and sadness.The pale face, the tears that flowed, everything implied her uncontrollable sadness.

Hotch couldn't bear it, but he still had to say something.He tried his best to maintain his calm face, lowered his head and tried to convey his determination to the sad and tearful girl:

"You'll find someone better than me."

"Maybe."

Michelle fiercely wiped away the flooding tears on her face with the back of her hand, regardless of how bad her image was, she kept taking deep breaths to calm down her unsteady breath from crying.

a long time.

Trying to pull a smile on his face, the tears that he had held back for a long time slowly slid down his face.

Michelle said slowly through blurred tears——

"But I'll never be this nice to someone again."