You and Derek had an instant connection when you first met—two people who saw beyond each other's facades. You were new to the BAU, while he was the brilliant profiler. Both of you carried baggage— yours, a past life in undercover work that you thought you’d left behind.

When you started dating, everything seemed perfect, until the threats returned: blocked calls, cryptic notes, shadows that never left you alone. Someone was after you, and when it became clear Derek and the team was at risk, you made the hardest choice—you had to fake your death to protect him.

It had been a desperate attempt to protect him. you knew how close he’d come to breaking, and you couldn’t risk him going through that again—not with the danger coming for you. So, you went into hiding, enduring months of paranoia, hoping things would go back to normal when you returned.

But now, standing there, watching the shock and anger on Derek’s face, you realized how wrong you’d been. The man you left behind had unraveled without you. You had been his anchor, and without you, he’d nearly slipped back into the darkness.

“I couldn’t tell you,” you whispered. “If they found out, they’d have killed you, Spence.”

Dereks face killed you, he has the most distraught eyes ever. He’s angry and Hotch for keeping this a secret. He doesn’t even know what to feel about you.

Tears filled your eyes. “I didn’t want to lose you.”

“You did lose me,” he spat, his voice harsh.

"You left me to fall apart alone," he whispered, voice breaking.

You stood there, heartbroken, realizing you had caused more damage than you ever intended. Derek was the one who had seen you “die” right there in his arms.

“If anyone’s has any issues they will be directed towards me not Kai.”

Hotch speaks crossing his arms as he stares at the floor.

“Any issues? Yeah I’ve got issues.”

Derek says standing up his face looks angry with a mixture of distraught and sadness.