Wow, so finally finished. I had a lot of fun writing this story. Thanks so much to everyone who's stuck with it. Check out my other stories, I have a new JJ centred 3 arc up that I'm working on. Thanks so much guys! WARNING; mentions or rape.
For some reason my stories aren't uploading properly, so this is my third attempt. Sorry if you've been spammed with emails.

She awoke to the pressure of someone's hand shaking her shoulder. Groggily, she came too and glanced out of the window. The moon was beautifully shining down on her.

The moon?
How long had she been asleep? It had to have been a couple of hours at least.

Glancing sideways, she found Hotch, eyes cast forward and unwilling to look in her direction.
JJ bit her lip and desperately tried to halt the fresh, salty tears that threatened to spill.
She didn't want him to act like this around her. Out of every person on the team, Hotch was the one she trusted most. She had no idea what she'd do if he was that angry he'd never look at her the same again. This is why she never wanted this to happen in the first place. This is why he couldn't know. None of them could.
She spent a few more seconds staring at his unmoving features before blinking and turning away.

"I didn't want to wake you. So I drove around for a while. I needed time to think anyway. I picked up some gauze for your head too. The cut's not so bad, it was just to be safe."
His voice was lifeless and monotone.

Confirming what he'd said, JJ fingered the bandage lightly. She winced when she found the source of her ever growing headache.

"I got you some painkillers too. Thought you might need them."

Hotch reached out his hand to pass her the packet. As she moved her hand forward to receive the pills, he grabbed her wrist tightly.
Taken aback, JJ gasped and moved as far back as she possibly could whilst still belted into the car seat.

Hotch had no issue with eye contact now. He stared at her, unblinking, with furious eyes.

"What in the hell did you think you were doing? Well, obviously you weren't thinking at all. Do you have any idea how badly you could have messed up this case? Do you! Do you have any idea at all! You could have been killed! Did you not realise that! You really have no idea how much trouble you may have gotten us all into, as well as yourself! DAMNIT JENNIFER!"

With that, he harshly dropped her arm, slamming his hands angrily against the steering wheel.
The use of her full name was enough to release the tears that threatened to spill a few minutes earlier & were now plummeting to the ground.

JJ decided it was time to do what she always did in situations like this.
She went to run. Fast.

But Hotch was faster.
The door locked just as her hand reached the handle to free her.
She hated being trapped.
"Let me out. Please." She said meekly.

Hotch felt his heart plummet to his stomach at the sound of her broken, child like voice.
He hadn't meant to say those horrible things. But she could have been hurt, and he had no idea what he would have done had she been injured on his watch.

He looked up and locked eye contact with the beautiful young woman sat next to him. His heart dropped that little bit more.
Her hair was still damp from the previous downpour. The little make up she had been wearing had been totally erased, either by rainfall or tears.
Hotch saw nothing but a broken, little girl.
How had he let this happen?

He unlocked the doors, opened his and got out, walking around to let JJ's side. Breathing in deeply, he opened the door. She was out in a flash, just like he'd expected.
He shut the door quietly and walked with her slowly to the front of the building.
This was it. Time to face the music.

Hotch stepped a few paces forward, immediately realising JJ was no longer next to him. He turned and found her stood still, staring ahead.
He re traced his last couple of steps and returned to her side.

He knew what JJ was thinking. He knew she was scared at having to finally tell them what the hell was going on. About the never ending nightmare she'd been living.
Hotch stared at her. This girl was the biggest mystery he'd ever encountered. Far more complicated than any case he'd ever worked before.
JJ stared back.

"I'm scared." She whispered to him after a few moments of silence.

Hotch said nothing. Instead, he reached for her shaking hand. Grasping tightly, he lead her into the awaiting chaos.

**************************************************************************
As it was so late, the police department was relatively quiet, but JJ knew that wouldn't last.
In a matter of seconds questions would be thrown her way, left right and centre.

Walking slowly into the room her team occupied, the air grew incredibly uncomfortable and suffocating. Still, JJ sat. But she didn't let go of Hotch's hand. He quietly sat down next to her.

To her right, JJ saw the room behind the two way mirror currently holding her friend. He was so scared. Just like she was. She could tell.
It wasn't his fault. He was a couple of years older than JJ, but still had the mind of a child. He thought he was helping.

"He's been asking for you." Reid said, breaking the silence.
"Because of his mental status chances are he'll be able to plead insanity." Rossi also added.

Hotch pulled his hand free of JJ's and headed over to the door. He stopped and turned.
"Come on." He said to JJ, nodding his head in the direction of Charlie.
JJ stood shakily and entered the room next door.

She knew this was against protocol. But she finally had the chance to thank the man who saved her life all those years ago, so she wasn't going to pass it up.

"Jenny. Jenny. Hi Jenny. Hi." Charlie said enthusiastically, happy to see a familiar face. Hotch pulled out a chair for JJ and she seated herself quietly.
"Hey Charlie." JJ replied. She was thankful that he didn't really appear to have any idea what was going on or how much trouble he was in.
"Hello Jenny. Hi." He repeated, smiling happily to himself.

JJ knew she wouldn't have very long before Charlie was taken away, so she decided to get straight to the point and finally say what she needed too. She knew her team were behind the glass window, watching and listening intently, waiting to see what she'd say and do next. JJ didn't really know if Charlie was even capable of remembering what had happened that night so long ago, so instead, she laid her hands on his, and simply said; "Thank you Charlie."

"You are welcome Jenny. You are welcome." Charlie replied in his usual, upbeat tone.
JJ couldn't help but let out a small giggle. He was so innocent. Knowing that the man before her was actually a serial killer confused her so. How could he be. He was so caring and happy with the world.
But JJ knew, as did the rest of her team, that this was the guy they were after, whether or not he remembered what he'd done.

JJ gave Charlie's hand a squeeze and threw him a small smile before glancing up at Hotch. Two other local detectives stood in the room, ready to take Charlie away once they left the room.
Hotch made his way to the door and JJ followed.

"He was going to kill her."
JJ was almost out of the room when she stopped suddenly. His voice was no longer the happy, cheery tone it had be merely 3 seconds ago. She looked at Charlie, who's uneven grin had also disappeared.
"What did you say?" JJ asked.
"He was going to kill her." Charlie repeated, this time in a high pitched sing-song voice.

Now it was JJ's turn to be confused. She had no idea what he was talking about. Hotch looked at JJ, not understanding. Regardless, Charlie continued.
"They had a rope. A big rope. A big, big rope. And a knife. A nice big knife. A big, big knife."

"What's he talking about?" Hotch directed at JJ.
JJ dismissed him and stepped forward towards Charlie.
"What are you talking about Charlie? I don't understand."

Charlie seemed to no longer be in room. His mind was elsewhere. Still, he continued.

"They were going to kill her. That's what they were going to do. That's what they said. Let's kill her. We'll kill her. That's what they said. It'll be fun. We'll tie her up and take her to the woods. We'll drown her in the stream. We'll drown her. And if she screams, we'll slit her throat. We'll slit her throat and throw her in the stream. We'll kill that little whore and no one will know. No one. We'll kill her. That's what they said. That's what they said. They were going to kill her. I had to. They were going to kill her."

Charlie was frantically muttering to himself by this point.
JJ didn't understand.
"Kill who Charlie? What are you talking about? "

Charlie seemingly ignored JJ's questions. He didn't even seem to acknowledge her anymore.
She stepped closer, Hotch was alarmed and alert, obvious by his sudden change in body posture.
"JJ" Hotch said in a warning tone.
She didn't listen. She walked straight up to the table and leant in near Charlie's face. She lifted her hand and pulled his head gently sideways in an attempt for him to be brought back to the present.
Calmly and clearly, JJ spoke again.
"Who Charlie? Who are they? Who were they going to kill?"

Charlie's endless muttering came to an abrupt stop.
His eyes flashed upwards and locked with JJ's instantly.
"Who were they going to kill?" She repeated.

"You."

****************************************************************
JJ jumped back as though she'd been hit.
She could feel everyone's eyes on her.
She didn't understand. Was he talking about what she thought he was talking about?
That night in the woods so long ago?
Did they plan to kill her all along?

Suddenly out of no where, Charlie began shrieking. JJ took another step back and Hotch supportively grabbed on to her upper arm.

"HELP! HELP ME CHARLIE!"
Charlie shouted.

Oh my God. He's mimicking me.JJ realised.

"HELP. HELP ME CHARLIE. PLEASE, PLEASE STOP. HELP, PLEASE. PLEASE CHARLIE, CHARLIE HELP ME PLEASE!"
Charlie then let out a blood curdling scream before silence took over.

JJ let out a shaky breath she didn't even realise she'd been holding. The rest of her body unwilling followed suit and before she knew it she was shaking violently from head to toe.
She felt sick.

Hotch signalled for the detectives to take Charlie away and quickly lead JJ's distressed form back into the room next door. He sat her down and asked Reid to pass him a glass of water.
JJ didn't touch it.

Morgan voiced the question that was running through everyone's minds.
"What the hell just happened?"

**************************************************************************
She had no choice. There was no where left to run. She had to tell them.
They were waiting. All of them.
It was now or never.

Just as she was about to open her mouth, Hotch took place next to her and grabbed her hand.
JJ had no idea why, but the small gesture gave her a wave of confidence.
Ever so quietly, she began.

"My sister died when I was 11. After her death my family crumbled to pieces. My brother went to college, my mother walked out. It was just me and my dad. He started drinking. Heavily.
I couldn't deal with it on my own. I couldn't be around him. So I started staying out late, hanging out with people a lot older than me. I started drinking and smoking and doing stupid, stupid things."

JJ paused, and took another shaky breath.
No one interrupted her. So she continued.

"A girl a few grades above me was having a house party. Her parents were away for the weekend and I was invited to go. A guy came up to me, Danny. He was 18. He said he wanted me to be his date to the party.
He was real popular. I hadn't spoken to him much before, but I'd noticed him watching me. Maybe he thought I was older than I was, I don't know...
On the night of the party he picked me up. Charlie was in the back. So was another guy, Danny's friend Adam. He was supposed to drive me to the party and then back home once it'd finished."

"But he didn't, did he?" Emily asked quietly.

"No." JJ whispered.
"It was getting dark, but I could tell he was going the wrong way. He said he had a better idea for a first date than a stupid house party. He drove down to the woods and asked me if I'd ever been camping.
It was fun at first. We set up tents and made a camp fire. I didn't think anything was wrong. I felt safe. Danny asked me if I wanted to go for a walk with him. I didn't see any reason not too...

We didn't go too far. He stopped me not long after we left. He started kissing me. I guess I was so caught up in the fact that the most popular guy in school was kissing me I didn't hear the footsteps behind me..."

Again, JJ paused. Still no one said a word, nervous as to what JJ would say next.

"He pulled back. I didn't realise what was going on until it was too late. He hit me and I stumbled backwards. Then someone..then Adam grabbed me.
Danny said I was a whore, a worthless little slag that no one wanted. I tried to scream, but Adam threw me onto the floor.
I don't know where Charlie went. I couldn't see him. But it was dark, so..."

The tears had began to fall now. JJ didn't even attempt to stop them this time. Emily looked at her friend longingly, wishing she could give her a big hug and take her out of this situation.
Derek now realised the reason for JJ's outburst that day he snuck up on her in the forest. Guilt flushed across his face.
JJ's eyes focused on her feet. This was the part she was dreading.
Although he wasn't looking at her, Hotch squeezed JJ's hand for reassurance.

"Adam pulled my arms above my head. He kneeled on my hands, I couldn't move. I tried, I tried so hard but I couldn't.
Danny sat on my stomach. He told me to keep screaming, because no one could hear me. He pulled a knife out of his pocket. He cut my cheek."

JJ's hand subconsciously made its way to her cheek. The scar had long gone, but the memory was still as vivid as though it happened yesterday.

"He was so heavy. I couldn't..I couldn't breathe properly. He pushed my face to the side. It had been raining. It was muddy. I could feel it. He started kissing my neck.
Then he bit me, and I screamed. And he laughed. He laughed, he found it funny. They both did. They both started laughing.
He ripped my shirt open with the knife. He cut up my stomach. It was deep. I could feel the blood running down my side.
They were still laughing. Always laughing. They didn't stop. It was a joke to them...
but then he got annoyed. I kept screaming. He didn't like it.
He gave the knife to Adam and he held it to my throat. Said if I screamed again he'd kill me.
And then..then he started to..Danny, he, he started pulling off my shorts.
It started raining. It was so, so cold. But he carried on. He didn't care.
He unbuckled his belt. And he unbuttoned his jeans. And then...and then he.."

"Stop." Reid interrupted.
A sob caught in JJ's throat, startled at the sudden noise.
Everyone turned to look at Reid. He looked distraught.
"I can't. I'm sorry, I just.."
With that Reid pushed past Morgan and made his way out of the room. JJ's eye's followed him, watching the door slam shut behind him. JJ glanced at Hotch, looking for some sort of signal as to what should happen next.
Should she carry on?

Hotch couldn't bear to listen to what was coming out of JJ's mouth, and she hadn't even finished her story yet. He felt sick. Sick to his stomach that someone could do that to a 13 year old little girl. That someone would so callously trick a child into such a vile trap. Especially his JJ...
His JJ.

Emily wasn't sure what everyone else was thinking, but she knew the question she had lingering in her mind couldn't go unanswered.
"Did he.." Emily began, unsure of how to phrase such a delicate question.

That caught Hotch's attention.
He wasn't sure if he even wanted to know the answer, but he looked to JJ anyway.
In fact, what he did want, was for her to say that vile monster didn't do anything. That he let her go. That she managed to get away.
But no such reply came.
Her silence was the answer they'd all been dreading.

Morgan's head tilted back, his eyes shutting in anger.
Emily and Rossi stood silently, shocked, trying to digest the confirmation of the worst news possible.
Hotch removed his hand from JJ's and covered his face in despair.
How could he not know this? How had he let her go through this on her own for so many years? How badly had this nightmare affected her?
So many questions ran full force thorough Hotch's mind with no sign of stopping.

The silence was unbearable.
JJ had no idea what to say. So she didn't say anything .

It didn't take long for Rossi to put two and two together.
"The boy, Danny. He's the same on Garcia found, the one who was shot, and his friend..Adam..."

"He started to strangle me. Danny. Afterwards..he grabbed me by my throat.
Adam let go of my hands. I tried pushing him off. He was far too strong.
Everything started spinning. I tried shouting out for Charlie. I don't even know why. I didn't even know him.
Then I saw him. It was dark, but I know it was him. And I saw the gun. It only took him two shots. One for each.
Danny's body fell on mine. There was so much blood. So much.
Charlie helped me. He gave me his jacket. He told me to run. So I ran. I ran and I didn't stop. I've never stopped."

"You mean you've kept this a secret? All these years?" Derek asked
JJ nodded slowly.

The room returned to silence again.
JJ found herself wishing for Hotch's hand to be back in hers.
She didn't know why, but it soothed her somehow.
That didn't happen.
Instead Hotch stood and walked quietly from the room.

He made his way outside the building. Reid must have left to go back to the hotel .
As for himself, he desperately needed some air.
He heard the door open and close. Probably Rossi coming to check on him.
He was surprised when a small, tender hand slipped into his own.

He looked down at her. At this wonderful, beautifully strong woman.
In the moonlight, he could see the tears glistening in her eyes.
"You don't hate me do you?"
He heard her ask timidly.

Hate her? What an absurd question.
"What on earth would make you think I hated you?" He asked.
JJ replied with a small shrug.

Without warning, Aaron pulled the small blonde into a warm, protective hug.
With one hand holding her back, the other cradling her head, he held her close in the chilly air.

"Nothing you ever do could make me hate you. Ever. Do you understand me?"
He felt her nod against his chest.

"You're the most amazing woman I've ever met Jennifer Jareau and you'll never have to go through anything like that again. Not ever. I promise."

"You promise?" JJ whispered.

Hotch, for the first time that night, smiled genuinely, and held out his hand.
"I promise."

Bit quick, but I wanted it finished. Sorry for the lame ending, I'm rubbish at tying things off. Anyway, thanks so much for reading this story guys! xox