Change My Mind ~ Criminal Minds (Aaron Hotchner x OC)

63.0: Pranks & Prizes

Reid looked over at Emily, "The unsub would've broken his hand beating Chelsea to death, was there anyone in the interviews that had a cast?"

"No." 

"I might know why then, I don't think this unsub feels any pain."

___

"There's a medical condition called pain asymbolia-"

"Patients register harmful stimuli, but aren't bothered by it." Crystal answered and the team looked at her, "What? Nick needed a study partner for the MCAT." Hotch's lips twitched and Reid caught this, he smiled before continuing. "They've been documented holding their hand over a flame because their brain doesn't send pain signals to the central nervous system."

Rossi nodded, "Sounds rare, you sure our unsub has it?"

"The crime scenes prove it, the unsub displayed an unusual level of savagery towards his victims. He smashed through a glass display case, but there were no cuts on Jerry. The unsub most likely punched through it from anger, only way a human body could withstand that level of pain is if he couldn't feel it at all."

"Must take a major toll on someone's emotional development," Rossi said as Reid's phone started to ring and buzz, he frowned and hung up. Morgan smirked before clearing his throat, "A significant contributor to our sense of empathy is the way we personally experience pain."

Hotch gave a nod, "The unsub didn't develop his sense of empathy because it was cut off, does every person with asymbolia have this?"

Reid shook his head, "Most feel empathy just fine which makes me think the rest of our profile is still accurate for the loner, invisible, outcast, boiling rage-" 

Reid's phone rang again, "Son of a bitch! Hi! This is Dr. Spencer Reid, I actually can come to the phone right now with a very special message that your mother is-"

"Reid." Hotch cut him off with a frown, Crystal took in a deep breath to contain her laughter and Reid cleared his throat. "Sorry, I'm really sorry. I don't know what got into me, where were we?" 

"I'm gonna have Garcia check medical records, what causes asymbolia?" Hotch asked and before Reid could respond, Crystal let out a small giggle.

Crystal couldn't help the small laugh that escaped her and put a hand on Morgan's shoulder for support as he coughed to hide his chuckle, Reid narrowed his eyes at Morgan. "Ss..Severe trauma produces lesions in the insular cortex, usually after a stroke but this unsub's so young it's most likely caused by an external factor."

Rossi raised an eyebrow, "Like a bomb going off next to him?"

"Yeah like a bomb going off next to him." Reid stated firmly and stared at Morgan, Crystal cleared her throat to stop herself from laughing again. Hotch raised an eyebrow at her before leaving with his phone, Reid picked up his files. "I will crush you." Reid whispered and Morgan smirked, "What?"

"What?" Reid asked innocently, he looked over at Crystal. "Koj paub?(You knew?)"

"Tej zaum. (Maybe)" Crystal ruffled his hair and Reid smiled at Morgan, "Kuv yuav pauj kuv qhov pauj kua zaub ntsuab (I will have my revenge)" Reid said it to Morgan before walking away, but Crystal knew he was also declaring it for her to know he had a plan.

"What'd he say?" Morgan asked amused and Crystal shrugged, "Who knows." Crystal turned to see Hotch walk back over to them, Hotch moved her hair out of her way. "You're keeping secrets."

"Am I?"

"You and Reid have been talking in whispers, Prentiss is starting to join." Hotch stated and Crystal hummed, "Jealous?"