New York City never did know how to be quiet.

You walked briskly alongside Morgan and Reid, heels clicking over concrete as you entered the NYPD precinct. The hum of fluorescent lights and hurried voices filled the stale air. You’d been with the BAU longer than half the detectives in this room had been out of diapers, but none of that seemed to matter.

A double homicide. High-profile. The NYPD was floundering and called in the FBI—well, more like tolerated the BAU’s involvement. You weren’t unfamiliar with this routine. The cold shoulder. The dismissive glances. The mansplaining.

But today? Today was different. Today it felt like your entire soul was grinding its teeth.

You opened the case file and laid it on the table. “Both victims were found posed. Hands folded, eyes closed. There’s ritualization here. This isn’t just about control—it’s a performance. He wants them to be seen this way.” Detective Branning didn’t even look at you. He turned to Morgan. “So what’s your take, Agent Morgan?”

You blinked. “I just said—”

Morgan glanced at you, hesitation flickering across his face before he echoed your exact words. “It’s ritualistic. He’s putting on a show. Wants to control the narrative.” Branning nodded, finally scribbling something in his notebook. “Makes sense.” You could practically hear the snap in your spine from holding back.

The precinct’s conference room was empty now, the team getting ready to leave for the new crime scene, save for the faint hum of the overhead lights and the stale smell of burnt coffee. You stood at the whiteboard, capping a marker with more force than necessary.

Spencer lingered in the doorway, watching you. “That went… tense.”

You laughed — sharp, bitter. “That went predictably.”

“Meaning?”

“Meaning I walked in with a fully formed profile, case connections, and geographic projections, and the lead detective still looked at me like I was giving him my grocery list. Then Morgan walked in, said one line from my notes, and suddenly the guy’s nodding like we’ve cracked the Da Vinci Code.”

You turned to face Spencer, heat in your chest. “You know what I’d be if I were a man? I’d be a fearless leader. I’d be an alpha type.”

Reid stepped into the room, closing the door behind him.

“When everyone believes ya…” You shook your head, the words coming out low. “What’s that like, Spencer? What’s it like to walk into a room and not have to prove you belong there before you can even do your job?”

He didn’t answer right away. Instead, he crossed the space between you, his voice quiet but steady. “It’s… easier than it should be. And it’s not fair that I get that and you don’t.” You laughed again, this time softer, sadder. “Not fair. That’s one way to put it.” “I’d call it wrong,” he said. “Because I’ve seen you lead without hesitation, without fear — even when no one’s given you the benefit of the doubt. You already are what they pretend to respect in me.”

You felt the sting in your eyes, but you didn’t look away. “Then maybe someday they’ll actually see it.”

“They will,” he said. “Or they’ll have to answer to me.” He said with a small, shy smile.

Later, when the team came back to the hotel, you grabbed your go bag from the SUV with a little more force than necessary. Spencer trailed beside you, glancing your way. “You okay?” he asked. You slammed the SUV door shut. “Fine.” “You don’t seem fine,” he said gently. You gave a hollow laugh, crossing your arms. “If I had a dollar for every time a man repeated what I said and got credit for it, I could buy this city.” Spencer didn’t speak, but his eyes stayed on you, calm and waiting.

You sighed. “You saw that, right? I laid out a valid profile. Gave good tips in what to look for in the unsub, and Branning asked if I could print him a summary, but Morgan's version. Just to be sure it's right. He looked at me like I was the secretary. One of his officers asked if I was Hotch’s assistent.” Reid nodded. “And to make it worse, he asked Morgan, not me who has more experience, to lead the interviews on the scene.” “I saw.” “I’ve been at the BAU longer than Morgan. Not that it should matter. But I walk into a room and I have to prove I’m worthy of oxygen before I even open my mouth. And to top it all of, Detective Branning called me “Sweetie” infront of his officers when i tried to talk with him about this morning. Now none of the officers will take me serious.” You turned to him, anger simmering behind your eyes. “If I were a man, I’d be the man.”

A beat.

spencer stepped closer. “You know you’re right. About the profile. About the bias. They didn’t dismiss your idea—they dismissed you.” You looked away, jaw clenched. “It’s exhausting. Having to walk a tightrope between confident and not ‘too aggressive.’ Being assertive gets you labeled ‘difficult.’ You speak your mind, and suddenly you’re hysterical or hormonal. Morgan can kick down doors and flirt with half the precinct, and they love him for it. I stand my ground and I’m ‘moody’ or ‘bossy.’”

Spencer nodded. “Double standards are poison. You’re navigating a rigged game.” You let out a sharp breath. “This entire day sucks, the NYPD sucks, this world sucks. I’m so done with today. Let’s go to our room, Spencer.”

The hum of the hotel air conditioner was the only sound between you and Spencer. He sat on the far side of the bed, reading over the autopsy report, while you nursed the last inch of a lukewarm coffee. You finally set the cup down and broke the silence. “You ever notice how a guy can have a laundry list of ‘complicated’ in his past and people call him fascinating?”

Spencer glanced up from the file. “You mean, like our unsub?” You laughed without humor. “Yeah. Him. And about half the male agents in the NYPD.” He stayed quiet, waiting.

“I would be complex,” you said, eyes fixed on the coffee. “I would be cool. They’d say I played the field before I found someone to commit to, and that would be okay for me to do.”

Spencer closed the file.

“Every conquest I had made,” you continued, your voice low and even, “would make me more of a boss to them. More impressive. More… alpha. But me?” You looked up at him. “If I had that history, I’d be the cautionary tale. The one they ‘warn’ rookies about.”

He set the folder aside and leaned forward, elbows on his knees. “They’d turn the same behavior into a success story for a man and a scandal for you.” You gave a dry chuckle. “Exactly. Same story, different headline.” Spencer studied you for a long moment. “For what it’s worth… I think being complex is a strength. You’ve lived enough, learned enough, fought enough to be more than one-dimensional. That’s why you’re good at this job.”

You smirked faintly. “And here I thought you liked me for my sparkling personality.” “That too,” he said, smiling softly. “But mostly because you’re unapologetically you. Even when they don’t know how to handle it.” For a moment, you let yourself hold his gaze. You weren’t sure if it made the double standard easier to live with — but it made tonight a little less heavy.

It was a couple hours later now, somewhere around 2 a.m. The desk chair creaked under you as you leaned forward, elbows braced on your knees, eyes locked on the mess of case files spread across the table. Spencer yawned and closed his laptop with a soft click. “You’re not actually going to pull an all-nighter again, are you?” “Not planning to,” you muttered, flipping another page. “But if I don’t, I’ll be behind tomorrow, and God forbid I be the one dragging my feet while everyone else gets to look decisive.”

Spencer tilted his head. “You’ve been carrying this tension since we got here. It sounds like its more than 'normally'. Want to tell me why?” You stopped mid-page turn. The words came before you could stop them.

“I’m so sick of running as fast as I can,” you said, voice low but sharp. “Wondering if I’d get there quicker if I was a man.”

Spencer’s gaze didn’t waver.

“I’m so sick of them coming at me again,” you continued, your hand tightening around the file folder, “’cause if I was a man—” you met his eyes, heat rising in your chest— “then I’d be the man.”

You leaned back in the chair, almost laughing, but it was humorless. “I’d be the man, Spence. The one they trust instantly. The one they don’t question. The one who gets to lead without having to prove they should be leading.” He stood, moving until he was in front of you, crouching so his eyes were level with yours. “And instead, they make you run harder for the same finish line.”

You nodded once.

“You already are the best at what you do,” he said. “The title, the credit… they’re just catching up to what’s been true for years.” You held his gaze, feeling the sharp edge of your anger soften just a fraction. “I’m tired of waiting for them to catch up. The reason I'm feeling worse than 'normally', atleast I think, is because it's almost the anniversary of me starting at the Bureau. It's been almost a decade now. How much longer do they need.”

“They will, eventually. ,” he said simply. “And if not, make them.”

The way he said it — steady, certain — made you think maybe you already were

After having to repeat yourself multiple times, and eventually letting Hotch do the talking, did the NYPD do their job and found your first suspect.

Branning already tried a couple times, letting his officers try before the BAU. Now Hotch asked if you wanted to try talking to the suspect before they sent in Morgan. Walking into the room it smelled faintly of burnt coffee and sweat. You sat across from the unsub — hands folded, voice calm but unyielding.

“You think they’ll understand you if you don’t explain it?” you asked quietly. “You think they’ll see the meaning without you telling the story?”

He’d been stonewalling for hours. But now, he looked at you — really looked at you.

Ten minutes later, he was confessing.

By the time you stepped out into the hallway, every cop in the precinct was staring.

Detective Branning gave a low whistle. “Well, whatever you did in there worked. He wouldn’t even look at me, but with you? Open book.”

You were still pulling off the latex gloves when the next comment landed.

“Was it the outfit?” one of the younger detectives asked with a smirk. “Y’know, distracting him a little?”

The glove in your hand made a sharp snap as you yanked it free.

Morgan, standing nearby, froze mid-step. Spencer, further down the hall, stopped dead.

You took one step toward the smirking detective. “No,” you said, voice icy. “It was because I know how to talk to people who think they’re smarter than everyone else in the room — which is why you and I have never had a real conversation.”

The smirk faltered.

“If I were a man,” you continued, “you’d say I hustled. Put in the work. You wouldn’t shake your head and question how much of this I deserve.”

The hallway had gone silent.

“You wouldn’t ask what I was wearing,” you went on, “or if I was rude. You’d separate all that from my good ideas and power moves.— because if I were a man, you’d already be telling your friends you want to work like me when you grow up.”

The detective’s mouth opened, then shut.

You didn’t wait for a reply. You just turned on your heel, walking past Morgan — who muttered under his breath, “Damn,” — and Spencer, who gave you a look that was equal parts pride and quiet fury on your behalf.

Once you were back in the BAU’s temporary office space, Reid appeared in the doorway. “You okay?”

You met his eyes, heat still buzzing under your skin. “I will be. I’m just… done pretending those comments don’t matter.”

He gave a small nod. “Good. They should matter. And they should be ashamed.”

You smirked faintly. “Shame requires self-awareness. Not sure they’re there yet.”

“Then,” Spencer said softly, “we’ll just keep reminding them.”

The precinct felt colder than it had an hour ago. It was like a quiet before the storm. But the storm alreay happened, this was the after-storm storm.

You sat at the long table with your laptop open, trying to focus on your case notes. Outside the glass walls, you could see Hotch striding through the hallway with that quiet, lethal calm that meant trouble for someone else.

Spencer slipped into the chair next to you. “He knows.”

Your eyes flicked to him. “Knows what?”

“About the… outfit comment.”

You shut your laptop. “Spence—”

The door opened. Hotch stepped in, Morgan on his heels. Behind them trailed Detective Bryant and the younger detective who’d made the remark.

Hotch didn’t sit. He just stood at the head of the table, hands clasped in front of him. “We’re going to address something before this case goes any further.”

Branning looked uneasy. “Agent Hotchner—”

“This won’t take long,” Hotch said, voice like granite. “One of my agents — my Supervisory Special Agent — successfully extracted a confession from your suspect today. This was a result of skill, training, and experience.”

The younger detective shifted in his seat.

“And yet,” Hotch continued, “instead of acknowledging that professionalism, a member of your department implied her success was due to… her outfit.”

Branning started, “I’m sure he didn’t mean—”

Hotch’s gaze snapped to him, and the man fell silent.

“That kind of insinuation,” Hotch said, “is not only unprofessional, it undermines the credibility of the Bureau and the work we do here. More importantly, it shows a lack of respect for one of the most capable agents I’ve ever worked with. I won’t tolerate it from my team, and I certainly won’t tolerate it from yours.”

The room went so quiet you could hear the hum of the overhead lights.

“You are fortunate Agent [Last Name] has chosen to continue working with your department for the remainder of this case,” Hotch finished. “I strongly suggest you treat her accordingly.”

He turned to leave, then paused at the doorway. “Oh, and Detective? If you have any questions about how she got the confession, I suggest you ask her directly. And take notes.”

The door shut behind him.

Morgan let out a low whistle, grinning at you. “Remind me never to get on his bad side.”

Spencer glanced over at you, his voice soft but warm. “Told you they should be ashamed.”

You smiled faintly, leaning back in your chair. “Guess Hotch just made sure of it.”

The team was packing up at the NYPD precinct, boxes of files stacked by the door, evidence bags ready for transport. Outside, a few of the local detectives were laughing, shaking Morgan’s hand, slapping him on the back.

You leaned against the edge of a desk, arms crossed, watching the scene. “You know what would happen if I were a man?” you said under your breath.

Spencer looked up from where he was coiling a power cord. “What?”

“They’d toast to me,” you said, a wry smile tugging at your mouth. “Oh, let the players play. I’d be just like Leo in Saint-Tropez — untouchable, charming, some kind of golden boy who can do no wrong.”

Spencer’s lips quirked, but his eyes stayed serious. “And instead…?”

“Instead,” you said, glancing toward the glass-walled conference room, “I get polite nods, the occasional side-eye, and at least one person wondering if I was too ‘tough’ in my interviews or too ‘soft’ with the unsub.”

Reid set down the cord and came to stand beside you. “You know, I’ve read a lot about Leonardo DiCaprio. He doesn’t actually spend most of his time in Saint-Tropez.”

You shot him a look. “Spence.”

He smiled faintly. “What I mean is… they can keep their champagne toasts and their yacht parties. You close cases. You save lives. You don’t need the performance.”

You exhaled, the smirk turning genuine. “Still… a yacht wouldn’t hurt.”

“I’ll make a note,” he said, as if it were a real Bureau expense request.

And just for a moment, you let yourself imagine it — not the yacht, but the version of this job where you got the same cheers without having to fight for them first.

It took a total of four days to close the case. These four days were an attack at your health. More times than not did your smartwatch show an elivated heartbeat. Listening to all of those sexist remarks gave you a migraine that lasted 48 hours.

The unsub was a grief-stricken funeral director with a god complex, projecting purity onto his victims like they were broken dolls he could fix with embalming fluid. You had connected the ritualistic posing to his work. You had narrowed down his psychological triggers. You had found his pattern. But you weren’t the one the NYPD thanked during the press conference.

That honor went to Morgan and Hotch.

Back at the precinct, you sat alone at the corner of a cluttered desk, flipping a paperclip between your fingers like it might keep your temper tethered. “Agent,” Branning said as he passed. “Can you make sure the evidence logs get back to your—uh, your boss?” Your fingers stilled.

He didn’t mean Hotch. He meant Morgan. Again.

Before you could respond, Reid appeared beside you with two cups of coffee. “Didn’t know how you take it, so I guessed wrong twice.” You smiled weakly, accepting one. “Thanks.” Brenning left the papers at your desk and excused himself. Spencer sat on the edge of the desk beside you. His shoulder brushed yours, warm, steady. You stayed quiet.

“You know,” he said, eyes on the floor, “I read a study once that showed female professionals have to display competence nearly twice as often as their male peers to be rated equally intelligent. Especially in law enforcement. It’s systemic.”

“Yeah?” you muttered. “What a comfort.” “I’m not trying to fix it,” he added quickly. “I know I can’t. I just… I see you.” That made your chest pull tight.

You took a sip of the coffee, grateful for the bitterness, then scoffed softly. “They don’t want to hear me. I mean, God, Morgan says the exact same thing I do and suddenly it’s revolutionary.”

“You’re not imagining it.” You finally looked up at him. “I know I’m not. But it doesn’t make it easier when your own team gets the spotlight and you’re… background noise.”

He frowned, forehead crinkling. “You’re not background noise.”

“I feel like it,” you admitted. “And I know if I were a man, I’d be getting promotions and interviews and probably a damn street named after me. But instead I’m just the ‘intense’ one. The ‘hard to work with’ one.” Your voice cracked—just a little—and you turned your head. You smiled, barely.

Then, more softly, “I’m just so tired, Spence. Of having to play chess every time I open my mouth. Of watching men get gold stars for showing up while I bleed for this job.” He nodded slowly. “You shouldn’t have to shrink to be respected.” “I don’t want to be ‘likeable.’ I want to be heard.”

Spencer leaned in slightly, voice low and sure. “Then I’ll listen. Always.” You stared at him, throat tightening. “You already do.” There was a long pause. The kind that stretches out like elastic, taut and thin with everything unsaid. “Y’know,” you added, trying to lighten the mood, “if I did everything he did, I’d be a legend, not a cautionary tale.” Spencer tilted his head. “Then maybe it’s time to become a legend anyway.” You laughed — genuinely this time. “What, are you my hype man now?” “More like your very biased, extremely loyal research assistant.”

A warmth bloomed in your chest. Spencer Reid, loyal to you. It shouldn’t feel as big as it did. But after days of being diminished, it felt like sunlight after a blizzard. “You know,” you said softly, “sometimes I think about walking away. Starting over somewhere I don’t have to shout to be seen.”

He nodded. “If you ever do… I hope I get to go with you.” You looked at him — really looked — and for the first time, saw not just support, but something deeper. Something waiting.

So you reached for his hand. Not dramatically. Just… a quiet gesture of thanks.

And he didn’t flinch. He just folded his fingers between yours like it was the most natural thing in the world.

For now, it was enough.

You weren’t going to stop being angry.

But at least you weren’t alone.

You weren’t even out of your seat of the jet before Hotch called you into his office.

The New York case file had barely cooled. Debriefs were usually procedural — efficient, clean, clinical. But Morgan and Spencer were already seated inside, both with unreadable expressions.

Your stomach dropped.

“Close the door,” Hotch said.

You obeyed, spine stiffening. Hotch folded his hands on the desk. His voice was measured. “We need to talk about New York.” You raised a brow. “If this is about the report, I filed it by—”

“It’s not,” Morgan cut in, voice low. “It’s about what wasn’t on the report.”

There was a pause.

Reid glanced your way — steady, supportive — but stayed silent. Hotch leaned back. “Before we left, Reid came to me. Then Morgan. Independently. Both had concerns about how you were treated by the NYPD.” Your throat tightened. Morgan exhaled. “Look, I should’ve said something sooner. I saw it. Every time you spoke, they ignored you. Then turned to me and parroted the exact same words. I knew it. You knew it. Hell, Reid practically vibrated with rage every time it happened.”

You blinked. “Then why didn’t you say anything there?” “I was trying not to derail the case,” Morgan admitted. “Trying to get us through it clean. But that was a choice I made that protected me and not you. That’s on me.” You stayed quiet, fists curled in your lap.

Hotch’s tone stayed even. “You’ve been at the BAU longer than Morgan. You’ve led field arrests. You’ve developed successful profiles in record time. You’re a vital part of this team.” You scoffed under your breath. “But when it comes to the credit—” Hotch didn’t flinch. “—you were sidelined. Yes.” You stared at him, surprised.

“I’m not going to insult you by pretending I just noticed this,” he continued. “You’ve been carrying more weight than most of the team for years — especially in how you present yourself. You’ve been working twice as hard to be seen as half as capable. That’s not a personal failing. It’s a systemic one. And it's our failing too.” You felt heat rush to your face, but not from embarrassment. From anger. Long-held. Buried deep. Finally surfacing.

Morgan’s voice was quiet now. “You were right. If you were a man, you’d already be a unit chief by now.” You shook your head. “But I’m not. I’m the one who gets called ‘pushy’ when I’m assertive. Who gets side-eyed for not smiling through murder scenes. I have to charm cops into listening to the profile while you just have to walk into the room.”

They both went quiet.

Hotch gave a slow nod. “Which is why I want to make something very clear. I’m recommending you for the next Senior SSA slot.”

Your eyes shot up. “What?” “You’ve earned it,” Hotch said simply. “But more than that, you’ve been deserving of it for a long time. The only reason I didn’t recommend you sooner was because I didn’t see how often you were being forced to compensate for other people’s bias. That’s on me. I see it now.” You weren’t sure what stung more — the injustice, or the fact that it had taken this long to be acknowledged.

“I don’t want a promotion out of pity,” you said quietly. Hotch’s gaze sharpened. “This isn’t about pity. It’s about overdue recognition.” Morgan stood, walking over to you. “And I’m sorry I didn’t back you up in the moment. That’s not the kind of teammate — or friend — I want to be.”

You exhaled, tension releasing by inches. “I appreciate that. I just don’t want to keep surviving this job by swallowing my own voice.” “You shouldn’t have to,” Spencer said quietly.

Hotch nodded. “We’re going to start making sure you don’t.”

He handed you a thin folder — internal. Confidential. Your jaw tightened when you saw the heading: Internal Feedback: Gender Disparities in Field Dynamics. It had Hotch’s signature. And Morgan’s. And Reid’s.

“We’re using our leverage,” Hotch said. “And we’re starting with this.”

Something cracked inside you. Not in a bad way. In a necessary way. Like a window finally opening after years of being stuck. You looked at the three men — two who had failed you momentarily, one who had never stopped seeing you — and gave a slow nod. “Thank you,” you said.

Then, with more fire: “But I’m not going to be quiet anymore.”

Reid smiled faintly. “Good. You were never meant to be.”

Later that night you found yourself in Spencer’s office, seated on his couch, knees tucked beneath you. A steaming mug of tea rested in your hands. “You didn’t have to go to Hotch, y’know,” you murmured.

He shrugged. “Yes, I did.” You looked at him, soft and vulnerable now. “Why?”

Spencer leaned forward slightly, elbows on his knees. “Because I couldn’t watch you get erased. Not when you’ve built half the spine this team stands on.” Your throat tightened again.

“It’s like you said 'Cause if I was a man. Then I'd be the man,”

You stared at him for a moment, then set the mug down.

“I don’t want to be ‘the man,’” you said. “I just want to be enough without having to change who I am.” Spencer looked at you, serious and sincere. “You already are.” There was no witty reply. No more speeches.

You leaned over and kissed him. Softly. Slowly. Like the weight of everything you’d held in had finally shifted just enough to make room for something else. And when he kissed you back, you knew — for the first time in a long time — that you were finally being seen.

Fully. Unapologetically.

6 months later.

The Quantico bullpen looked the same, but everything had changed.

Your nameplate now read SSA [Last Name], Interim Unit Chief , etched in clean silver. There was a second chair beside your desk — not a spare, not for drop-bys. It was meant to be there. For her.

“Okay, walk me through it again,” you said, flipping through the tablet on your desk. Agent Jodie Lin, fresh out of profiling training, sat forward, brows knit. “I’m thinking the unsub isn’t escalating, just adjusting. The cooling off period isn’t shorter — he’s just getting better at hiding.” You glanced up, suppressing a grin. “Good catch.”

She beamed. Nervously. “Really?” “Really.” You leaned back. “That kind of insight? That’s how cases break open.” She exhaled a breath she’d clearly been holding. You remembered that feeling. Too well.

Jodie was sharp — second in her class. But every time she entered a room full of male detectives, she practically shrunk into herself. You saw the fear behind her eyes — not of failure, but of disbelief. Of not being allowed to own her voice without being accused of arrogance.

You had lived that fear. Every damn day.

So now? You made sure she had someone who wouldn’t just see her — but push her into the spotlight where she belonged. Across the bullpen, Spencer appeared, coffee in one hand, his own stack of files in the other. His hair was a little longer now, his cardigan sleeves pushed to his elbows.

He caught your eye, smiled — a small thing, but private. Yours.

You gave him a quick wink, then turned back to Jodie.

“Let me ask you something,” you said, folding your hands. “When you offered that theory last week in front of the D.C. liaison, what did he say?” Jodie shifted. “He said I was ‘reaching.’ Then he asked if Agent Torres had a different take.”

“And?”

“Torres repeated what I said — like exactly — and the liaison called it ‘insightful.’” You leaned forward. “Do you know what that means?” She blinked. “That I should’ve let Torres speak first?”

You barked a laugh. “No. That you were right.” Jodie hesitated. “I don’t know how to push back without sounding… defensive.” You nodded. “I know. But here’s the truth — the game is rigged. You can be quiet, and they’ll call you weak. You speak up, they call you loud. You lead, they say you’re bossy. You wait, they say you lack initiative.”

“So what do I do?” she asked, exasperated.

You smiled. “You stop playing their game. You build your own board. And when they call you names? You let them. You keep winning anyway.” Jodie grinned, this time with a spark of steel in her.

“Now,” you added, tossing her a case file, “go make the rounds. Tell Torres he can read your profile this time.” She nodded, stood a little taller, and left with purpose.

A moment later, Spencer appeared beside your desk, setting your coffee down like he’d been doing it for years. Which, he had. “She’s got potential,” he said, watching Jodie go. “She reminds me of someone,” you murmured, sipping your drink. “Oh?” he asked, pretending to be oblivious. “Anyone I know?” You smirked. “Someone who used to bite her tongue to be liked. Now she signs off on profiles and doesn’t care if her name makes people uncomfortable.”

Spencer gave you that look — the one he reserved just for you. Admiration, affection, a little awe.

“You know,” he said, “they’re going to talk about you.” You arched a brow. “They already do.”

“No, I mean really talk about you. New agents, old brass, everyone in between. You’re becoming one of those names. A woman who changes the way the room works just by walking into it.” You looked at him, quiet for a moment. “I used to want to be the man. You know — so they’d listen. So they’d respect me.” “And now?”

You shrugged. “Now I want to be the one they fear a little. The one they can’t write off. The one who pulls the next woman up before the old guard even knows what hit them.”

Reid leaned down, pressing a kiss to your temple. “Mission accomplished.”

One Week Later — FBI Press Briefing

The media flooded the hallway. Cameras, reporters, flashing bulbs. Another high-profile takedown. The BAU had been flawless.

“SSA [Last Name], a word?”

You turned. The reporter — young, eager — lifted her mic. “This is the third case this year you’ve closed with a female-led team of profilers. Do you think that’s coincidence?” You smiled. Sharp. Unapologetic.

“I think it’s overdue.” The woman grinned. “How do you handle being in a male-dominated field?”

You glanced at Spencer in the background. He gave you the tiniest nod.

“I don’t handle it,” you said. “I outlast it. I outperform it. And I make sure the women coming up behind me don’t have to ask that question anymore.” The reporter blinked. Then smiled, stunned. “That’s… thank you.”

You walked away before she could follow up, steps steady, heart full. Spencer met you halfway down the corridor, offering you his hand without words. You took it. “You good?” he asked. You nodded. “I’m more than good.” “You’re a legend,” he murmured. You squeezed his hand. “Took them long enough to figure it out.”

The team, and you with your new title, were back in New York.

The streets, the sirens, the boots of the NYPD officers stomping through the precinct hallways — it all echoed in your ears, but not as much as the silence that followed every time you spoke.

You stood at the front of the squad room, files in hand, posture confident. Hotch was away on personal leave. That made you Acting Unit Chief.

And still, Detective Branning was looking over your shoulder — literally — to Morgan.

“Agent Morgan,” he said, as if he hadn’t just interrupted you, “anything to add before we move forward?” Morgan’s eyes flicked toward you. His mouth tightened. “She just said what needed to be said, Detective,” Morgan replied flatly. “If you were actually listening.”

You gave Morgan the tiniest nod, but your jaw was clenched so tight it ached.

Reid, across the room, was watching you carefully. The kind of careful that meant furious but calculated. You could practically hear his brain running simulations of every response you could give.

Branning cleared his throat. “We’ll get the warrant based on Agent Morgan’s assessment.” Your control snapped.

You stepped forward, voice low but lethal. “I’m sorry, is that how this works? You ignore the briefing when I give it, and only act when a man repeats my words back to you like a human echo chamber?”

The room went still. You weren’t yelling. You didn’t have to. Your voice hit harder than volume ever could.

Branning opened his mouth. “Don’t bother,” you cut him off. “This isn’t a request for validation, Detective. It’s a federal directive. If you won’t get the warrant, I will.” “Agent—” “Acting Unit Chief,” you corrected, sharply. “And if I were a man in this role, I bet you wouldn’t still be trying to talk over me.”

He fell quiet. Not from respect — from being caught. You walked out of the room before you said something that would cost you your badge.

Outside the precinct, you leaned against the brick wall, chest rising and falling fast. You weren’t crying. Just shaking. Anger wasn’t new. Being dismissed wasn’t new. But doing everything right — commanding the team, presenting the profile, anticipating the unsub’s next move — only to be treated like a placeholder for a man? That still hit somewhere deep.

“Hey,” Spencer's voice came gently from your right. You didn’t turn to look. “I know I shouldn’t say this,” you muttered. “But I swear to god, if I were a man, I’d already have my own team.” “You’re not wrong,” he said softly. “I’d be getting awards. Promotions. A damn autobiography deal. But I’m just out here working twice as hard for half the credit. Even with the title of Acting Uniet Chief they don’t listen to me.” “You’re still doing the job better than most men in the Bureau,” he said, stepping closer. “But you shouldn’t have to prove it every day.”

Your throat burned. You finally turned to Spencer, eyes hard. “If I acted the way they do, I’d be called a bitch. But they act like that, and they’re ‘assertive leaders.’”

Spencer let out a sigh, one from the exaustion that comes with having to deal with sexist people like Brenning. You nodded. “And let’s not forget the old standby — ‘You’re just not as commanding as Hotch.’ As if the problem is me not being him, and not them refusing to accept a woman in charge.”

Reid stepped beside you, his shoulder brushing yours.

“You know what I’d call you if you were a man?” he asked. You raised a brow. “Enlighten me.”

“A prodigy. A powerhouse. A leader.” “And since I’m not a man?”

He looked at you. “Still all of those things. But the world just doesn’t have the guts to admit it.”

The heat in your chest didn’t disappear, but it cooled. A little.

You turned your body to face him. “You don’t have to play therapist, Spencer. I can handle this.”

“I know,” he said. “But you shouldn’t have to.” His gaze lingered on your face — raw and open in a way he reserved only for you. “I see what you carry. What you swallow. How much harder the job is for you because of them. And I see how damn lucky this team is to have you.”

The way he said it — quiet but definitive — made your throat tighten. You exhaled, long and slow. “Thanks.” You stood there in silence for a beat. Then: “I’m not going to forget what Branning did.” “Good,” Spencer said. “Don’t.” “I don’t want to be seen as angry all the time, but…” You paused. “I’m angry.” “You should be.” “I just want to be taken seriously without having to work twice as hard to prove I belong.”

He looked at you, something steady building behind his eyes. “You already do.” You gave him a long look. “I know.” And for the first time in a while — you meant it.

Later that night in your shared hotel room, you sat cross-legged on the edge of your bed, laptop open, case report half-written.

The door clicked. Spencer entered quietly, holding a cup of decaf and a warm croissant from the café downstairs. “I brought sustenance for the unjustly overlooked Acting Unit Chief,” he said.

You smiled. “My hero.” As he sat beside you, he glanced at the screen. “Writing your report?”

“Yeah,” you said. “Trying to figure out how to tell the story without softening the parts that matter.”

“You’re allowed to name what happened.”

You nodded, eyes narrowing thoughtfully. “I think I will.” You paused. “And maybe… maybe I’ll talk to Hotch when we’re back. Not just about me, but about making it easier for whoever takes this job after me. Whoever’s next.”

He leaned his head against your shoulder. “You’ll be the one to change it,” he murmured. You set your laptop aside and turned to face him. “I don’t want to be ‘the man,’ Spencer.” “I know.” “I just want to be the woman they can’t ignore.”

“You already are.”