JJ stared at her reflection in the mirror. She had thought that she had covered up the bruise on her cheek well, but in the harsh fluorescent light of her workplace, she saw that the makeup did little to hide the damage.

The door swung open and she whirled around to see who had joined her, hastily wiping a tear off her cheek. "Agent Jareau, is everything all right?"

Strauss was looking at her in concern, and JJ wished that the floor would open up and swallow her in that very moment. "Everything is fine, Ma'am. No need to worry about me."

JJ could tell that Strauss knew she was lying by the way she reached out and touched her shoulder lightly. "Jennifer?" She nodded. "I know that we haven't always gotten along and that I haven't proven myself worthy of your trust, but I do know when a woman is lying. Especially to herself." As she watched, Strauss blinked rapidly, as if trying to hold back tears, and she felt like she had to deny everything, if only to reassure the woman she was all right.

"No, really, everything will be fine. It was just something stupid. Henry spilled his juice on the floor and I didn't see it and slipped, running my cheek into the doorknob." To her horror, more tears began to roll down her cheeks and then Strauss was reaching out, wiping the offending tears away.

"Why don't we head out to my office. You look like you could use a safe place to hide for the moment." She nodded, letting Strauss take control. It was so easy to let her lead her away, to ignore the looks she received from Blake and Reid. "I'm sure your friends will want a full report on why I led you away. Especially Alex, since she…well, let's just say that not all amends are accepted." JJ nodded as they walked down the hall. Most of the other agents ignored them, and she had wondered if this was how Strauss was always treated. If so, it would explain why she was the way she was.

Strauss's assistant looked up at them, confusion wrinkling her brow. "Is everything all right, Ma'am?"

"Yes, everything will be fine. But please, hold all my calls until Agent Jareau and I have finished our meeting. We have some rather delicate things to discuss and cannot be disturbed." Her assistant nodded and Strauss ushered her into her office, closing the blinds to the outer office. "Would you like anything to drink? I have a coffee carafe and bottled water. Or I can send Helen to get us sodas."

The fact that she was trying to make her feel comfortable somehow both distressed and calmed JJ. After all, everything else in her life was turning on its head, why shouldn't how she viewed her boss follow the same course. "Some water might be nice." Strauss nodded and went over to one of her cabinets, opening the door to reveal a small refrigerator and taking out two bottles. JJ sat on the couch and curled one arm protectively around her stomach before accepting the bottle from her hands.

Strauss sat next to her, opening her own bottle and taking a sip before clearing her throat. "So, would you care to tell me what is really going on at home, Agent Jareau?"

"JJ." She had no idea why she was letting the woman call her by her nickname, but she felt like she could trust the woman for some reason. "And I wish that I could. I don't even know where to begin."

"Is Will hitting you?"

JJ took a deep breath, holding onto the bottle tightly. "Maybe. But he's been under such stress lately at work, and the PTSD doesn't help anything. He won't get any help, says that's for sissies, and maybe he's right."

She began to cry once more, and opened the bottle, gulping at the water in an attempt to calm herself down. "Alan used to hit me, too." The admission was soft, and JJ looked at her out of the corner of her eye. Strauss was looking at the bottle in her hands, as if by staring at it, she could find all the answers. "I've always been driven, had an abrasive personality. And I thought he understood that."

JJ nodded slowly before setting the bottle on the table. "He's changed so much since the bank heist. We were fighting a lot before we got married, and then he almost died, and I realized that I couldn't live without him. Now I'm questioning that decision."

Strauss reached over and placed a soft, cold, hand on her arm. "You love him, you share a child, and you want to make things work between you. But he's hurting you, JJ. You have to decide what you can handle. I was lucky, Alan only hit me a few times when I got him angry enough with me. But then, he was also stepping out on me. He left before things could get worse or better. I can't tell you what to do, but I can be an ear for you. An impartial listener, if you'd like."

JJ nodded. "I think I might need that, Chief Strauss."

"Erin, please. When we're here, behind closed doors, you needn't rest on formality." They looked at each other and she smiled gently at Erin. "But, you need to leave here with a smile on your face. How's Henry?"

She was grateful for that suggestion, her smile widening. "He's doing really well, all things considered. He still has a few nightmares about the mean lady who was trying to hurt Mommy, but those are coming fewer and father between. And someone at his daycare taught him how to read."

"Already? He's only four, right?" JJ nodded. "Then again, my youngest was like that. She picked it up from her older siblings, wanting to be like them. It will be a blessing to you in the long run that he's started so early."

JJ felt a warm wave of contentment sweep over her as she listened to the woman prattle on about her children and how proud she was of them. She fell under the spell of her voice, the lilting quality of it letting her relax and focus on something other than how her life was going down in flames.