Haunted By Our Past

AN/ Sorry, the first chapter I posted earlier was the wrong chapter. Please, accept my apology and reread this chapter. I am sorry to my beta and for all the confusion. THank you all for understanding.

Chapter 1

"Hey, JJ. Would you like to go out for a drink tonight?" Rossi asked JJ innocently..

JJ didn't bother looking up from her paperwork that she was currently buried in. "Sure. Who else's going?" Not hearing a response, JJ glanced up at his dark face..

"I was hoping that we could go alone. I wanted to talk to you about something," Rossi replied, shifting on his feet.

JJ was a little shocked. Rossi has never wanted to talk to her alone outside of the office. "Okay," she drawled. " Do you mind telling me what this is about?" JJ asked, curiously.

"I'm actually late for a consult right now. We'll discuss it this evening. Can you be ready to leave at 5:30?"

And before JJ could say anything, Dave Rossi was gone. Staring after him, JJ looked at her now empty doorway that Dave Rossi had just stood in. JJ smiled as she refocused on her work. Though she had to admit, she was pretty curious as to what he wanted to talk about. But, once again, her mind was quickly drawn back to the scattered files on her desk.

***

Later at 5:35, JJ was still working hard on those files and reports. Then Dave darkened her office doorway, yet again. "Didn't I tell you 5:30 Agent Jearau?" Dave asked sarcastically. Jumping in her seat, JJ glanced up from her seat.

"Sorry. I just need a few more minutes. I hate to leave something so close to being finished until Monday. I just need o get these papers copied and get these reports signed. Is Hotch still in his office?" JJ asked, looking up at Dave.

"Actually, he just left. Looks as though with the fraternization rule abolished, the whole team has gone crazy. And it's only been gone for a few days." Dave grinned. He knew that he's just as crazy as everyone else. He's ready to hop on the band wagon with JJ, if only she'd cooperate.

"Did I miss something?" JJ asked, confused.

"Hotch and Prentiss left for a date. And since Garcia and Lynch have called it quits, Morgan and she have been spending a lot of time alone together. Even Reid and that nerdy girl from cold case unit have been going out on the town. Tell me that you haven't noticed all the changes." Dave replied, watching JJ's distracted face closely.

"Uh, yeah. Well, kind of. I've been busy moving. So I've been distracted," JJ yawned.

"What do you mean, moving?" Dave asked, more confused than before.

"Will wouldn't leave me alone. And that apartment was too full of memories, good and bad. So, I figured it was time for a change. A new address with a new chapter of my life. I even changed my house phone number. Will wasn't taking 'no' and 'leave me alone' for an answer. I just finished moving the last of my stuff last night. Now, I need to unpack. So let's keep tonight early, ok?" JJ requested, putting away the paper work and grabbing her purse.

Thank God it was the weekend.

"Sure. But why hadn't you told us about all this? The problem with Will and moving? The team could've helped you move." Dave replied, a little hurt that she didn't trust him enough to have confided in him. To any of them, really.

As they walked toward the elevators, JJ explained, "I kind of did this on the down low. I didn't even move things. I hired movers. They took care of all the heavy lifting. I thought there was a possibility that Will might be watching. I didn't want him to know I was moving. I was afraid he might follow me if he knew. I had a college friend at my new condo, telling the movers where things go. And, I didn't tell you about Will because it was my problem. I knew you all would worry. And you all have your own lives to worry about." JJ said, as she remembered the last memory she had of her former boyfriend.

*Flash Back*

"Will, I said we are done! Through! I want you out of my life!"

"Jen, please! Listen to me!" Will grabbed her arms tightly and shook her violently. "You said you would love me forever!" he yelled as JJ struggled in his arms.

"Will! Stop! You're hurting me!" Stopping his assault, he still held on to her arms. Pulling her to him for a kiss, she fought his grip. Finally, not knowing what else to do, she bit his lip.

"Ouch! You Bitch!" Will yelped, letting go as JJ moved across the room. Following her, Will backhanded her viciously. JJ could taste the blood inside her mouth. She also noticed the blood dripping out of the corner of the left side of her mouth. She felt her cheek already swelling up. Shocked at this turn of events, she felt her fear building. Quickly grabbing her cell, she dialed 911.

By the time the police arrived, Will had already fled the apartment. Looking at the police officer as he said, "Ma'am, all we can do is write up this report. I would recommend you get a restraining order. You should really go to the hospital, too, and have your injuries documented. It's the best way to prove your need for the restraining order."

"I guess as long as no one else finds out. I mean I am a freaking FBI agent. This could really be embarrassing for me at work." JJ replied as a her cheeks flushed in embarassment.

"Don't worry. It will stay in a sealed file. The only way your colleagues would know is if you decide to tell them or it goes to court," the female officer explained.

JJ had thanked the officer for her help and ushered her from the apartment.

*End Flash Back*

"JJ! Jennifer, are you ok?" Dave asked, watching her closely.

"Yeah, sorry. Just can't shake old ghosts," JJ sighed.

"Care to share what they are?" Dave asked, placing a comforting hand on JJ's shoulder. The elevator door opened and Dave and JJ stepped inside. Alone on the elevator, at least for the moment, JJ began to tell Dave about the last showdown with Will.

"I was breaking up with Will. He wasn't taking it too well. Most of our time together was yelling. A few times he raised his hand to hit me, but thought better of it. Until that night," JJ said unsteadily, pausing briefly to keep from letting her fear and embarrassment show.

"He hit you?" Dave asked, his temper rising inside the small lift.

"Yes. But first, he grabbed my arms. Just below the shoulders. He started by shaking me." Closing her mouth abrubtly as the car stopped and several people entered the elevator, JJ decided this discussion could wait until they were alone.

It wasn't until they were in his car that JJ continued. "I tried to stop him. He stopped shaking me, but didn't let go. Even though I told him he was hurting me. He tried to kiss me. And here was a stupid move on my part. I bit his lip," JJ shuddered as those old feelings of pain and degradation overwhelmed her.

"JJ, you can't say that was a stupid move. If you didn't get away from him, he could have sexually assaulted you," Dave replied carefully, trying to make JJ feel better. Unfortunately, his words had the opposite effect.

"OH MY GOD! I never thought of that! He back handed me across the face. I called the police, but he left before they got there. But I was bleeding, my cheek was swollen. I was taken to the hospital. I had pictures taken and got a restraining order. So he's not allowed near me. I haven't heard from him. But I really want to forget the nightmare that was Will LaMontagne. But it's going to take a long while before I'll trust another man," JJ said, looking out the window as Dave drove silently.

Dave looked over at her a few times. Though he can't see her face, he could tell by her defensive body language that she's tense and pretty sullen.

"You know, if you would have told me what was going on, Will would have never have had the chance to hit you. He would've known that he would have had to deal with me," Dave said quietly reaching a hand over and covering JJ's. Sighing as she jerked her hand away and clutched it to her chest, Dave realized quite a bit more damage had been done to the woman beside him than he anticipated. Dave knew that JJ trusted him and that it was the memories making her nervous.

"JJ, I'm sorry if I over stepped the bounds or scared you." Dave whispered in the dark stillness of the car, hoping she'd talk to him. Sighing, he only hoped he could salvage their evening as he pulled into 'Patty's Bar and Grill'.