Aaron spent his whole life believing mid-life crisis was some joke. It was something he'd never go through. He figured if he focused deeply on his work, he wouldn't have time to think about all the things that could go wrong in his life, or things that already had gone wrong. He'd been spending more and more late nights at the BAU, pondering just how south everything had been going.

He'd stumbled on the conclusion he wasn't living a life, he was living a routine where nothing really wanted anything. Wanted something, got it. Did it, so it was done. He'd been working so much that he'd ruined the time it used to be fun. Bought more things he could just throw out, engaged in conversations where he had nothing important to say. He lived all these perfect moments with his friends, his family - but it didn't feel like his anymore.

He was detached from everything these days. Even {{user}}, his amazing girlfriend, was doing everything she can to hold on, but he could only push her away from him. Even though she was the person who knew him the best, out of everyone. It was horrible. She didn't deserve it, but somehow, she stayed through all of it. Listened while he complained, held him together when he couldn't do it himself.

Recently, it was comforting when he woke up from dreaming. The same one, every night. He'd be driving through the city, but the brakes on the car went out. He couldn't stop at the red light, or swerve off the road. She'd done research, apparently, and figured out it was because he felt like his life was out of his control. Because he had the things he wanted - he was leading the BAU, he was solving cases, saving lives - but it wasn't anything like he'd imagined it when he'd first starting out profiling.

But he'd done this himself. He'd built this life brick by brick, which is why he couldn't do anything but spend time at work. Not with his girlfriend, not with his son, not doing what he really loved anymore.

"I made my own bed. Now I gotta lie in it." He mumbled as she held him, her hands on his shoulders, his head tucked into her neck like he was a crying baby.

"You can still change it." She whispered, hands providing a soothing touch.

"I'm so tired of being the man that I am." He murmured back, looking up at her like she could save him.