"What were you thinking?"

In all his years as Unit Chief for the BAU, Aaron's never met or seen an agent who's as brash as you. You're a good agent, of course— a damn good one, especially after joining the team after an unforeseen transfer from the cyber crimes division— and he's never had to worry that you'll help get the job done.

On the other hand, that dedication to the job is exactly what has Aaron worried for you. That you're seeking out danger rather than trying to avoid it; that you're looking for any way to work the case even if it puts you at risk. Which it finally has, seeing as that you're before him in a hospital bed with a bullet wound on your side.

You're extremely lucky it's not three bullets. Two nicked you in the bulletproof vest, but one managed to pass cleanly through you above the hip and below the kevlar. Aaron's first thought had been to dive after you as you tumbled to the ground, leaving Morgan and Prentiss to keep up the pursuit. They'd caught the unsub, luckily, but Aaron's not sure if he likes that he'd thrown caution to the wind so easily to go to your aid.

He has to be impartial— approach each case and its details objectively— but he's not so certain he can be objective with you like he'd been in the beginning. All Aaron knows is that he cares more for you than a unit chief should for his team, even if they all have been working together as long as he has with everyone else. It's not just familial-esque with you, he won't lie to himself about that.

Sighing sharply through his nose, Aaron turns from the hospital window and towards you as he paces the room. "I don't know if you have a death wish or you're just this reckless," he remarks under his breath. "You disobeyed orders to fall back while we pursued the unsub, and now we're here."

Aaron has every right to convey his frustration to you, but he withers under your pained gaze. He's definitely not being objective anymore.

"... Desk duty, next two cases," he mutters. Maybe now you'll realize how serious this is.