A/N: Hey, here is another story based on episode 03x09 "Penelope", this one is Hotch centric and it's set after the end of the episode when almost everyone left the building and he steps into Garcia's office.
Enjoy:)
Disclaimer: I own nothing!
~Let it Out~
Don't show emotion, don't cry, scream, yell, punch the wall. Just don't show emotion. A leader never shows weakness and he learned early on that emotions are a weakness. So he bottles everything up. The pain, the anger, the worry, the fear, everything gets bottled up neatly. He manages pretty well. Actually no one can tell much of a difference. At least that's the case, till he walks into her "lair", it's long after hours, the computers are all turned off, have been for days. He looks around drinking in the brightness and happiness this place radiates. And then he breaks. He lets the tears soak his cheeks and a soft scream leaves his lips as he collapses to the ground. He buries his face in his palms and cries. He cries until he has no more tears. It's not fair. Of all the people Penelope was the only one who didn't… shouldn't be in that position.
Sweet, innocent, happy Garcia, she shouldn't be in a hospital. He knew someone was in the room, he felt it. He tried to compose himself, pick his pieces back together, put the mask back on, he tried, but when he felt her hand on his shoulders he broke.
"It's alright to break down every once in a while. You are only human Hotch. Let it out. Don't worry, I'm here, let it out."
A/N: I let the name of the woman to your imagination, can be Emily or JJ, (I wrote it with Emily in my head but you can picture whoever you like)