the jet hummed softly as it cut through the night sky, carrying the team home after a particularly exhausting case. everyone was tired, but the silence between you all was heavy with the weight of the lives you couldn’t save, and the ones you had.

hotch sat across from you, his eyes focused on the case file in his hands, but you could tell he was no longer truly reading it. his usual composure, that quiet strength he always exuded, seemed a little worn down after days of relentless work. the lines around his eyes were deeper, his posture just a little more slouched than usual.

you were sitting beside him, close enough to feel the warmth of his presence, but still trying to stay within the unspoken boundaries that always seemed to surround him. hotch was careful with those boundaries. never letting them down in front of the team, always the leader, always in control.

but as you sat there, your exhaustion started to overwhelm you. the low rumble of the plane, combined with the late hour, was lulling you into a drowsy state. your head felt heavier with each passing minute, and despite your best efforts to stay awake, your body had other plans.

without thinking, your head gently drifted toward him, and before you knew it, you had leaned against his shoulder, the comforting scent of his cologne surrounding you as sleep began to pull you under.

hotch noticed immediately, his body tensing slightly as your head came to rest against him. He glanced down at you, surprise flickering across his face for a split second, but it quickly faded, replaced by something softer. his gaze lingered on you, on the way your face had relaxed, the tension from the case melting away as you succumbed to the exhaustion.

for a moment, he seemed unsure of what to do. his instinct might have been to gently wake you, to offer you your own space, but instead, he simply... let you rest. his body relaxed beneath you, and though the movement was slight, it was enough to let you settle more comfortably against him.