A case takes place in your hometown and you run into your old bully who outs you to the team.

(H/T). Of all the places a case had to take place. You are the teams newest member and haven't exactly figured out how to tell them, if you really want to at all. You want that knowledge to be revealed on your own terms, but you know that it wouldn't now.

You can feel your hands shaking. You're restless. More than usual.

"You alright, (Y/N)?" Hotch asks and you nod. "I left home at 18. Never went back. I guess i'm a little nervous." 

He nods. "If there's any issues at all, let me know." You nod and let out a breath you didn't even realize you were holding. 

The plane lands and you all head to the police department to be briefed. Your hands begin shaking again in the car. Spencer leans over and grabs them gently. 

Don't worry, it'll be okay." He says quietly. But it wasn't. Not one bit.

Once inside the station, you look around and inwardly cringe. Its really like you never left. 

"I'm Sheriff Winters, thank you all so much for coming." You hear that voice and freeze. You'd been gone so long, you thought he must've retired by now. 

You try to hide behind Spencer but he catches your eye and the words die in his throat. 

"Is that you, Ty?" You freeze at that name. Its been a while since anyone called you that. 

"A-Actually i go by (Y/N) now." you stutter, looking down at your shoes. Silence for a moment, then Hotch speaks up. "Do you mind showing us where we'll be setting up?" We walk with him and you feel eyes boring into your skull. 

You know without glancing around that more than one of those pairs of eyes are on you. You keep your head down, hoping that if you don't make eye contact you can pretend that no one sees you. 

Everyone gets to work, but every time you look up or say anything to the team you see the questions. You almost forgot how piercing the stairs can really be. 

That evening you all go to the motel you'll be holed up in until the end of the case and you finally do it. 

"Can i speak to all of you once you are settled?" They look at each other and nod. 

The secret burns hot in you as you wait. Eventually one by one they all trickle in. You remain silent until Spencer comes in. 

You take a deep breath. "When i heard we were coming here i knew that my secret getting out was inevitable. I wanted to be the one to share that information when i was ready but i'd much rather tell you all at once and get it over with then to have to say it again and again."

"I was born Tyler (Y/L/N). And the doctors said i was a boy. But from an early age i knew that wasn't true. Its the kind of knowledge where you have no explanation really as to how you have it, you just do. Of course, the doctors and psychiatrists would explain it to me over and over again throughout my life."

"I told my mom first, then my dad. I was lucky enough that although the far from understood, they loved me enough to just support me first and understand later. I began hormones when i was a teenager, and finally got my last surgery a couple years ago."

You feel your eyes watering and turn away. "Even though my parents may have been supportive, my community was not so easily accepting. This place tore me down over and over."

You look up at them and sigh. "I feel comfortable telling all of you this because i trust you implicitly. Its not an easy subject."

The first one to speak up was Spencer. "I don't see you any differently now than i did 10 minutes ago, (Y/N). You're my friend and teammate, and i love you." He got up and gave you a big hug. 

That's when the waterworks started. You felt the first few tears run down your cheeks and you just let go. 

They all gathered around to give you a hug, murmuring words of love and support. 

In that moment, it didn't matter what would happen, not tomorrow not ever. You had friends surrounding you that loved you.