Disclaimer: I don't own Criminal Minds or the characters
A/N: There is no torture in this chapter. However, there will be actual physical torture in the next chapter, so just a warning.
XXX
When Emily quietly informed Hotch, Rossi and Morgan that JJ was re-dressed and had shuffled up against a corner of the room, they solemnly joined Garcia and Reid at the computer.
"Please tell me you've got something," Garcia begged, her fingers crossed and eyes squeezed tightly shut.
Their downcast eyes gave them away, and she groaned. "No…we were this close to him. We had five suspects!"
"We brainstormed from scratch. And we talked over it for like, half an hour," Morgan said, frustrated. "And we still keep coming back to the same damn profile."
"There has to be a mistake somewhere," Reid stated firmly, chewing the top of a pen as his eyes skimmed over the whiteboard. "We're just not seeing it. But there has to be a mistake."
"Then where the hell is it?"
"Morgan, not helping," Rossi chided, aware of the mounting tension in the room. His gaze fell on JJ, who had started to unfurl and was stretching forwards to rub her ankles, where the angry red rope marks were clearly visible, even in the dim light of the window.
"I wish we could talk to her," Garcia sighed mournfully, her fingers brushing over the screen in a desperate attempt to give her friend some comfort. As if she had felt it, at that moment JJ glanced up and looked directly at the camera, before picking herself up off the floor shakily and stepping closer to the camera.
"Uh…" Her eyes darted left and right for a second, no doubt searching for any sign of the unsub; when none came, her shoulders relaxed and she reached out for the tripod, moving it across the room, into the light of the window. Then she pointed the camera downwards, so that she was able to look at it while seated comfortably- as comfortably as she could, on a hard stone floor.
The frame displayed a blank grey wall for a second, before JJ dropped into the shot, waving awkwardly. "Hi, guys," she whispered, and gave a small, ill-at-ease laugh.
Immediately, all five profilers crowded around the computer behind Garcia's chair, elbowing each other for the best spot.
"Oh," Garcia breathed, her eyes shiny with tears. "Hang in there, sunsh- gumdrop, I mean, gumdrop. We're doing our best."
JJ couldn't hear her, and she continued shakily. "I don't know…I don't know where the profile was wrong. I'm not saying it's wrong," she added hastily. "But…I mean…it has to be wrong, doesn't it? He wasn't one of the suspects."
"Honey, stop worrying about offending those profilers," Garcia scoffed. "They can take it. They're too full of themselves anyway."
JJ carried on obliviously. "I wish I could tell you more…I don't know what any of his behaviour means, and you can't see his face or micro-expressions when he's talking to me." She blew out her breath in frustration. "He's just really, really average-looking." She laughed bitterly. "Guess the profile was right on that. Not that it helps. I'm average looking. Hotch is average looking."
"Oh no you're not!" Garcia cried, both palms now against the computer screen, stroking the image of her friend. "You're both gorgeous people…no offense, boss-man."
"Why would I find that offensive?"
"Hey, stop." Emily pushed Garcia's hands off the screen in annoyance, but gave the analyst a smile to lessen the blow. "We want to see her too."
"Everyone be quiet-she's speaking," Rossi ordered.
"I can try to describe him," JJ was offering, looking forlorn. "Um, he has quite small-ish blue eyes- same color as mine, but more…like a gray. Kind of blue-gray. So I don't know if he'd be put down as blue or gray." A pause. "He…he's white, yeah, you know that. He, uh, he has a kind of pointy nose- it's not too long, not too short. Some people have a ball-shape at the end of their nose; he's not like that. Don't take this the wrong way, Emily, but like yours, except less…pronounced. And, uh, his height is about right- 6'2", I'd say, more or less, so same as what we- you- profiled."
"We," Emily and Morgan repeated fiercely at the same time.
"He's got crow's feet around his eyes, and- God, this is really desperate." She shook her head, rolling her eyes at the camera. "See what you've reduced me to? Describing the wrinkles around an unsub's eyes."
JJ cracked a small grin and cleared her throat, aware without being able to see them that her attempt at a joke probably hadn't succeeded in lightening the mood. "So, back to my pitiful description…crow's feet around the eyes. His hair's brown, darker than Reid's but a lot lighter than Emily's. That's not very specific , is it? Um…it's a really nice kind of chocolate brown…Let me think…" Suddenly, she snapped her fingers. "Got it. Exactly like Cooper's! Same color, same length. And, uh," she looked over her shoulder, "I'm pretty sure he wouldn't want me describing him to you, and I'm also pretty sure he has a way of listening in to the room, so he probably has a job that's keeping him away."
She looked uncomfortable for a second, but quickly replaced it with a poised mask before starting to speak in a clipped tone, similar to the way she delivered press conferences. "He knows what he's doing, sex-wise, so the part about him being a fully-functioning member of society is right. I can almost guarantee that he's not a recluse. He's had lots of experience, in that department."
She started playing with the sleeve of her blouse, a sign they all, save Garcia, immediately recognized as nervousness. "And don't…it's not…he hasn't," she swallowed, "he hasn't been too bad…not compared to the others. I'll be fine here for a while. Just…be as fast as you can?" She shuddered, glancing suddenly at the door from which her captor had exited. "He's coming back. Bye."
Deftly picking up the tripod in one hand and righting the position of the camera with the other, she darted across the room and replaced the equipment.
XXX
Creeeeeak.
The huge metal door slid open.
Demise was furious, a vein throbbing on his forehead, pulsing to a quick, steady beat.
"What were you telling them?" His voice was deadly calm.
"Hi, nice to see you- where were you?" JJ asked sarcastically, edging away from the door, her nails scratching the wall as she backed away. "It's great to see you too."
"Answer the question, Jennifer."
Her eyes slid sideways to the camera across the room, a steady, constant reminder that they were there, they were looking for her right now and they were coming. The knowledge gave her courage.
"I was describing you to them, actually. What, did you think I wouldn't?"
"I thought I told you not to communicate with anyone!" He was shaking with barely-controlled anger, his hand half-raised and ready to strike out at the slightest trigger.
Her heart thumping erratically, JJ raised her eyebrows, shaking her head. "Don't communicate, don't communicate…nope, sorry, doesn't ring a bell."
Demise's brow furrowed in confusion, and if he wasn't a sick twisted sociopathic bastard- no, psychopathic bastard, JJ corrected herself, smirking- she would have found the expression on his face utterly adorable.
"I didn't give you instructions not to address the camera, sunshine?"
"Not that I can recall."
"Hmm," was all the reply he gave, but the tension had evaporated in an instant and he relaxed against the door frame, appeased by the knowledge that she had not undermined his control.
"So..." JJ threw out into the silence when he said nothing for five minutes, one eyebrow raised in question.
"So," he repeated, grinning suddenly at her. "What do you want to do today, sunshine?"
"Well I was thinking a nice torture session, you know, ropes, chains, whips, gags-"
"Jennifer!" Demise gasped, exaggerating with one hand covering his mouth in mock-astonishment. "I had no idea you were into that type of thing!"
"I…what?" JJ floundered. "No! I didn't mean it like that! I meant, you know, actual torture!"
His eyes were sparkling with a boyish mischief and if she didn't know better, if she didn't know that he was probably trying to get her to loosen up for God-knows-what purpose- something freaky, no doubt- then she would have thought he was teasing her for fun.
"So you're not into that sort of thing?" he asked casually, eyeing her beet-red cheeks in amusement.
"I…no, I mean…yeah, but not…" Her boss was watching this, for crying out loud! "No, yes, I mean, I don't know…"
A shrug. "That's okay. You can make up your mind later."
No prizes for guessing what that meant.
He continued, "You know what, I like talking to you. We're going to just talk for a little while."
JJ glanced worriedly at the camera at this new development. He hadn't talked with any of his other victims. He hadn't teased, or borderline flirted.
It's better than torture, though, right?
"Uh, okay," she agreed cautiously.
"I wasn't asking," Demise replied matter-of-factly. "Stay there, sunshine. I'll come sit next to you." He approached JJ and slipped down beside her, studying her, his head cocked to one side, body sagging against the cold wall.
XXX
"What the hell is he doing?" Rossi murmured. "He's completely changed his pattern."
"Maybe he's developing feelings for her?" Emily suggested, although she looked dubious as to its validity.
Hotch nodded, also uncertainly. "This doesn't seem to fit with his previous behaviour. I'd say at the moment, the most viable option is that he likes her."
"Thank you, heavens above." Garcia took a deep breath. "That means she has more time, right?"
"We'll see," Morgan answered. "We'll see."
XXX
"What do you want to talk about?" JJ asked him, trying to shuffle inconspicuously away from him- he was too close, and she didn't like it.
"My life," Demise replied easily, oblivious to her discomfort.
His reply threw her for a loop. "I guess that's okay."
Immediately, his face was close to hers, his fingers gripping her chin tightly and forcing her to look at him. "You need to stop saying that."
"Saying-"
"Saying 'okay' like I'm asking you a damn question," he snarled. "I'm telling you. Do we need another recap of who's in control here, Jennifer?" The threat was clear.
"N-no." He released her chin roughly and she rubbed it, feeling a bruise forming.
"Good girl." His anger was gone just as quickly as it had appeared. "Now, I'm going to tell you about my life and family and you're going to listen. And then you're going to tell me about your family and your life, and I'm going to listen. Clear?"
"Crystal," came the sarcastic reply. Demise glanced warningly at her but said nothing about it.
"I was born exactly- oh, whoops, your agents are listening in, aren't they? I was born between twenty-five and forty years ago. My family was your typical cookie-cutter American family, and I was the perfect son." At her sceptical look, he added "No, really. I got good grades but wasn't a nerd, was popular but not a bully, went to parties all the time but I never touched drugs."
"Wow. Sounds like you were an angel," JJ mocked.
"I was, I was. But I was born with the…urges, you could say. You know, the ' Early Signs of a Serial Killer' you profilers are so fond of quoting?"
"I'm not a profiler."
"I know you're not, sunshine. Anyway, it was in my freshman year that things changed." He stared off into the distance, lost in a memory. "See, I had this best friend. His name was Matt. He was…he made me feel like I was a good person, like I was the best person in the world, despite all my flaws, you know? Got someone like that in your life, Jen?"
"Yeah," JJ murmured. "Six of them."
"I'd never had a best friend before. All of the people I hung out with were shallow jocks, and outside of school all we did together was hit different parties. It was different with Matt…once, we spent the entire day of school egging different teachers' cars; we had a points system and everything. Getting caught meant immediate disqualification." Catching her look, he shrugged. "What? We were freshmen, only fifteen. Only fifteen…" The faraway look appeared in his eyes again. "That day, we made plans to meet after school, in this little hidden place only we knew about. We were supposed to bring our bikes, and go biking for a whole weekend. I was so excited…"
JJ waited for him to continue, sensing something big.
"When I got there…" his voice hitched, "When I got there, I saw Matt lying on the ground. He'd cut his wrists, and there was blood everywhere, JJ, you can't even imagine…He'd left a note for me, saying he just couldn't take it anymore…"
"I'm sorry," she told him sincerely. "That must have been awful."
"It was my fault, too," Demise said mournfully. "I knew something was up with him that day- I could have stopped him! I should have done something. I just…I was just an idiot and because of me my best friend died."
JJ shook her head, her hand reaching out to touch him of its own accord. At the last second, she pulled back. "It's not your fault. You couldn't have done anything to stop it."
"Yes, I could have! You know I could have, so don't you fucking dare tell me any different!"
"Maybe," JJ half-agreed to appease him. "But do you think Matt would have wanted you to do what you're doing now? Would he have wanted you to become a monster? Don't you want to make him proud of you?"
"No, JJ," Demise said bitterly. "It's too late for me now. I committed my first murder when I was fifteen, and nothing anyone says can change that."
JJ was silent.
He turned to her suddenly. "What about you? What's your story? All FBI agents have a reason for becoming one."
"Nothing," she replied, looking uncomfortable. "I applied for a soccer scholarship, got in, saw one of the men who is now my superior lecturing at Georgetown, and it inspired me so I applied to the Academy."
"That's it?" His eyes bore into hers, some hidden knowledge floating beneath the surface. "I think you're lying to me, sunshine. You know I don't like liars…"
"I wasn't aware of that, actually," JJ replied snarkily, making him glare at her.
"What was it? Boyfriend beat you up? Got picked on at school? Mom abused you? Took drugs? Juvie? Uncle stuck his-"
"No!" She sighed. "Jeez. Nothing like that. My sister killed herself, alright?"
"Not good enough. I want details."
"No."
His jaw clenched. "I'm only going to tell you one more time, Jennifer. Details."
"No," she repeated, staring defiantly at him.
"Alright then, I feel like sex. Let me just get the ropes and I'll be right-"
"Fine, you twisted perverted freak!" JJ yelled, glowering. She folded her arms across her chest. "I was eleven. Back then I used to think my sister hung the moon. She was amazing."
"Tell me about her," Demise said, surprisingly gently.
"Why?" JJ asked tiredly, knowing she had no choice.
"Just do it."
She closed her eyes as the memories washed over her- memories of a different time, a different JJ. A happy, care-free JJ.
"Anna! Mom's calling you!" Eleven-year-old JJ burst into her sister's room, having volunteered for the task of calling her sister just to get a chance to catch a glimpse of the teenage gathering on the bed.
"Got it, Jayje. Now get out."
JJ ignored her, bounding up to the bed and waving shyly at the other girls. "What are you doing?"
Anna sighed, but moved over to give her sister space. "Painting our nails."
"Really?" JJ was impressed. It wasn't everyday she was allowed to watch them do their teenager stuff.
One of the girls, a pretty brunette, giggled at her awed expression. "Oh my God, Anna, your sister's adorable!"
"Hey!" JJ said, irritated. "I'm eleven."
Anna laughed at that, pulling JJ away from the bed. "Come on, let's go see what Mom wants. Lauren, I've got dibs on that gorgeous purple color!" She closed the door behind her and started down the stairs, taking them two at a time, before JJ's 'Hey!' stopped her and she turned back. "What?"
"I'm not adorable, am I?"
Anna raised an eyebrow at her worried sister. "What's wrong with that? You're cute."
"Yeah, but I'm not adorable, right? I'm not like a little kid?"
"Aww, don't worry, Jayje. You're an adorable, cute, pretty almost-teenager, how's that?"
JJ grinned. "Much better."
"She was just amazing," JJ said finally.
"Tell me about the day she died," Demise said.
XXX
"She saw you at Georgetown?" Emily asked. "You never told us that."
"I never knew myself," Rossi answered.
Reid was hurriedly scribbling notes on the whiteboard. "Okay, so we know he's early- to mid-thirties now, we know his best friend Matt killed himself when he was fifteen…Garcia, you got anything?"
Her keys clacking furiously, the self-proclaimed tech goddess shook her head. "I'm trying, I'm trying. There are just way too many suicides by fifteen-year-olds called Matt, Matthew or Matthias during the decade-long time frame you gave me!"
"Hold on a second," Morgan said slowly. "What if he was lying?"
"What do you mean?" Hotch asked sharply.
"JJ's sister killed herself. He seemed to know that, and his story…it mirrors hers too much. I mean, why choose JJ to tell that particular story to? Why not any of the others?"
"Because he's trying to gain her sympathy," Emily realized. "He's not torturing her because of that, too."
"And I think he's going to try to make her feel guilty about the suicide," Reid added uneasily. "It just felt off when he was talking about his own guilt. Most people would have a long, well-thought out reason for their guilt, but he didn't. He's going to try to make her feel about her sister's suicide like he claims he feels about his friend's."
"Yes, but why?" Emily asked in frustration. "It makes no sense. He doesn't get any control from it, not like he would with torturing her. What's the point of all this?"
Hotch swallowed, looking uncharacteristically nervous. "I think I know."
Five pairs of eyes turned to him in question.
"He's trying to give her Stockholm Syndrome."
XXX
A/N: Cribellat got it last chapter! Well done :)
Now, as most of you have figured out, although there is definitely going to be some physical torture in this, much of it, at least the long-lasting part, is the emotional torture, which starts full-swing next chapter or the chapter after that, depending on whether I split it into two chapters or not. My take on the Stockholm Syndrome is not just going to be JJ-likes-Demise-as-more-than-an-unsub, it's going to get worse than that. He is going to use it to give himself complete control over her.
And yes, the Morgan-Reid-JJ thing will come back. It is not forgotten, don't worry.
Review, please! They make me update faster (and I did, right? This was a quick update) =D
~Maddie =D
