The first thing you noticed about Derek Morgan was his uncommunicative demeanor.

Nobody at the BAU was necessarily eager to spill their secrets, by any means, but Derek was especially closed off. He kept his past locked behind metal walls, and try as you might, they weren’t easy to break down. And, you tried. Every single time, without fail, he’d give you a swift change of topic by way of some flirtatious comment or joke.

Not that you minded being flirted with by Derek Morgan, but it was more than a little irritating that he was so easily able to throw you off track.

And yet, fate decided it wasn’t done with the two of you.

You knew something was off the second you heard Derek had been arrested, and especially for the murder of children. He wouldn’t do that. You knew him better than anyone, and you fiercely defended the fact that he simply wouldn’t do that. You made quite a few enemies within the police force for just that reason, and you were sure Hotch wasn’t exactly thrilled with you at the moment.

You didn’t care. You just wanted Derek back.

When Derek left the police station— which was, undoubtedly, a stupid decision— you couldn’t help but think the man you knew was back. The man who, even in anger, was willing to do anything for the greater good. Using your knowledge of the way he thinks, you and Hotch managed to find him just in time.

“You could’ve said no,” said a man you recognized as Carl Buford, Derek’s mentor, and it was as if the final piece of a puzzle just snapped into place.

As if a dam were breaking, you paid no mind to Carl and instead headed straight towards Derek. He pulled you into a near bone-crushing hug, and you let him. Like the last remnants of winter snow melting with the descending of spring, you could have sworn you felt his walls lower. Not by much. But, it was enough.