Torn - A Criminal Minds Fanfic

Chapter 9

•••Hotch's POV:•••

"Come in," I smiled at my two friends stood before me. Emily came first and then JJ. I couldn't help but gasp when I saw her. Her eye was black and bloodshot, her lip was bust and she had the word 'mine' carved into her collarbone. Not to mention the obvious pain she was currently in.

"Hi Hotch," she smiled at me faintly.

"I'm so sorry JJ," I said sympathetically and she just mouthed thank you. "Do you need anything?"

"Just some water for my pain killers," she said, me returning a confused glare. I could see she was in pain but couldn't see enough injuries for pain killers.

"He used a belt on my back," she laughed, although it was a cold, emotionless laugh.

"Okay. Well the guest room is just down the corridor and then I'm afraid one of you will have to take the sofa," I replied, voice full of pity.

"Jayje you can take the guest room," Emily told her, yet JJ shook her head.

"No, I'll be fine on the sofa, honest," she smiled up at the brunette.

"I don't care, you're in the guest room whether you like it or not." Emily winked, gaining a small laugh.

"Okay, whatever," JJ replied, shrugging her shoulders. As they both parted for the destinations I went into the kitchen and turned on the kettle. I couldn't help but let a sigh escape my mouth at the image of JJ in his hands, her small, fragile frame. Vulnerable. I mean, I know she is a strong agent in the field but in the hands of him? She wouldn't retaliate.

"Hotch?" I heard her say from behind me. Her voice was small, almost like a whisper.

"I'm so sorry JJ," I replied with my head still in my hands.

"It's okay, it's not your fault-"

"But I saw the signs!" I shouted back, making her jump at my raised voice. "I saw the signs," I repeated, letting a tear escape my eyes.

"Stop it. You can't blame yourself for this! The only person to blame is him, it's Will! I don't want your pity, please. Just support," she replied, walking over to me and placing a hand on my back. After a moment I stood up and stared at her, looking at her bruised face and arms.

"How'd you get those?" I asked, signalling to the two bruises around her wrists.

"He handcuffed me to the bed," she whispered, not wanting to go into detail.

"Here's your water," I smiled, handing her the glass.

"Thanks. And thank you for letting us stay, really. We both appreciate it," she said, speaking on both agents behalf. I just smiled in response.

"Always."

"Hey, what you guys talking about?" Emily said as she entered the kitchen.

"Nothing much, what do you want to drink?" I asked her, not wanting to repeat mine and JJ's topic.

"Just a tea please," she smiled, walking over to the table to sit with JJ.

"So what did he do? At your place I mean."

"Trashed everything," JJ answered, "and wrote on the wall that he would be '/seeing me soon'," she added, putting quotation marks around the last three words with her fingers.

"What about the texts? Emily mentioned them on the phone."

"He said that both Emily and I need to watch our backs, that's why he carved this into my collarbone," she pointed. I returned her reply with a confused glare. "He thought that we had a thing."

"So he was jealous?" They nodded. "You aren't going to work tomorrow."

"What? Why?" JJ argued, raising her voice.

"You can't, not in your condition."

"My condition? You haven't even seen my condition! Only Emily has, so you can't have a say in whether I go or not."

"Well JJ, judging from the number of bruises on your face I can only imagine what he has done to you and your body. And you said he used a belt on you, it's too dangerous. We can't risk you getting knocked about in the office. Or what if we get called on a case. You're not going," I said angrily.

"She stood up to walk out the room and stopped at the door, "you can't stop me. I'm not a victim. So don't test me like one. I will be seeing you both tomorrow morning, for work," she spat, sending daggers in both our directions bee didn't argue back so she left to go to her room.

"She'll be okay," Emily said to me, stirring sugar into her tea.

"Will she? You saw what her condition was. How bad was it?"

"Very. But come on Hotch, it's JJ. No one can argue with her. If she wants to go to work, she's going to work," she laughed. Listening to what she just said I laughed too. She was right, JJ only ever got her own way.

"Okay. I'll see you in the morning," I smiled at her, leaving her in the kitchen to finish her tea.

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A/n

Sup lads. Kinda hate this chapter, I think this story is going quite slow and isn't really progressing. But oh well. I can't really skip parts out. Thank you all for your nice comments, I really appreciate it(: xoxox enjoy his chapter!