A/N: Here's the next chapter. I am really excited about this one and I hope you all like it. The next chapter will be Griffen/Hotch.

Special thanks to Lexis4MorganPrentiss, jenny crum, Sohpia0665, Christiangirl, Westie80, CM Fan, red2013, Snowbeardolphin and BAUMember!

And a huge amount of thanks to my friend, CriminalCrazy!

I don't own criminal minds!

Chapter 36: Moment of truth (part 1)

One month later…

An agonizing month passed by and JJ still didn't know more about the person behind the set up. She had no access to Parker & Watson and everyone from the firm seemed to believe she was behind it. Griffen hadn't returned her calls and Tracy did talk to her, but she avoided every subject that had something to do with it. She didn't want to be in the middle so JJ decided to respect that choice. She understood Tracy's reasoning. JJ never wanted to be in the middle of Tracy's friendship with Griffen, but she felt left out. Her life had become one big void without a job, friends and a reason to live. She missed everything about her old life. But the worst was that she actually missed Griffen. She never imagined she would, but somehow she did. It were the little things as well as the big ones. She missed his incessant smile when he was right about something, his passion and most of all his compassion when they were in private. He was the man she had been falling for at the wrong time. She thought nothing could ever repair the damage that had been done to their relationship. Especially because he didn't defend her. He made a choice. His choice was to not trust her and believe she was behind the stunt of reporting Griffen to the bar. It had definitely torn a hole in her ego on more than one occasion. She was still embarrassed to think about it, let alone talk about it with Tom or Sara. Tom had told JJ multiple times to drop her obsession because they hadn't found anything to suggest who it was. Tom gave up and told JJ to do the same, but she couldn't. It wasn't easy because she lost everything. Her life was destroyed.

And today was going to be the hardest on her. She had a meeting with the bar. Well, she was going to be questioned by the man who headed the investigation. JJ knew very well it was going to be hard for her to hold herself together. The allegations were untrue, but she knew they still had grounds to revoke Griffen's license without her statement. They could state that she was coerced to lie on Griffen's behalf. It could spin either way. All she wanted was for Griffen to be out of the mess and to find out who was behind all of it.

JJ stood nervously in the hallway of the offices. She was asked to come to the DA's office, still not knowing who she was meeting with. She honestly didn't care about that. She just had to answer some questions. She tried to keep herself together as she searched the space for someone who was looking for her.

Hotch came walking up from behind from the other side. He already saw her from behind. He noticed her hair was shorter than before and she looked a lot thinner. He could think of several reasons why. He had heard from Lauren Parker that they decided to fire JJ and he tried everything he could to change her mind, but Lauren only wanted to keep JJ at the firm if he revealed his source and he couldn't. That one person was the only way of taking down Griffen and showing everyone who he truly was. He hoped JJ would come to see his true colors sooner than later.

He kept walking and stopped a few steps away from her, clearing his throat to let her know he was there. She turned around with a stunned face. Hotch could see the confusion in her eyes so he decided to explain what was happening. ''Hey,'' he greeted quickly. ''I'm the one handling this case for the bar association, JJ. I'll need to ask you some questions on the record and I'll try to get this over with a soon as possible.'' he said clearly.

JJ couldn't believe what she was hearing. It seemed to be too much of a coincidence. ''You're kidding me, right?'' she asked. He shook his head. ''Did you do this? Was this your plan?''

''No, JJ. It never was.'' he began. ''Someone at Parker & Watson came to me and reported the problem and asked for my help.'' he went on. ''I didn't report him to the bar. This wasn't my plan.''

JJ didn't reply. Instead, she followed him into a small conference room where another man was sitting. She knew him as well. He was a colleague of Hotch. Another ADA of course and she suddenly felt the hairs in her neck stand up. JJ sat down in the chair with shaking hands. She had no reason to be nervous but she had no idea what kind of questions were going to be asked. This was the last thing she wanted to do because it was all for nothing.

Hotch sat down across from JJ and next to his colleague. He put the camera on record, knowing JJ realized how it all worked. She had probably done countless of depositions. ''Could you please state your name and job for the record?'' Hotch asked as he opened a folder with information. He looked at JJ professionally, trying to distance himself because the case was quite personal.

JJ sat up, knowing it was important to look confident. ''My name is Jennifer Jareau and at the moment I'm unemployed.''

''Could you tell us about your former position as an associate at the law firm Parker & Watson?'' he asked politely, his voice steady and low.

''I worked side by side with senior partner, Griffen West. We worked on cases together and occasionally I dealt with a case alone.'' she answered simply. ''I was Griffen's associate.''

Hotch knew he needed to dig deeper. He needed information about the relationship JJ had with her boss. ''What was he to you?''

JJ knew what he was doing, but she wasn't going to fall for it. ''He was my mentor, my boss.''

''Okay,'' Hotch said, going to the next question. ''When did you first meet Griffen West?''

JJ sighed deeply as she went back through the years. ''After graduating from Berkeley I came back to New-York and found a job as a waitress at a restaurant.'' she started. ''I was supposed to go to Harvard Law School but I didn't get accepted so I had no idea what I was supposed to do with my life…'' she said but she was interrupted.

''Are you getting to the point, Ms. Jareau?'' Hotch asked impatiently, realizing JJ was annoyed by his interruption.

''I am.'' she answered calmly. ''I met Griffen West while I was working and he offered me the job.''

''What position to be exact?''

''A position as his associate at Parker & Watson.'' she replied.

Hotch leaned forward, his hands clutched together on the glass table. He looked intensely at JJ. ''His associate? His?''

Hotch waited for JJ to reply but she never did so he moved on. ''How did the meeting take place?''

''He approached me.''

Hotch knew he was going down the right path. He heard it in JJ's voice. She was starting to doubt herself and that was what he needed. ''Did you want to talk to him?''

JJ was sick of answering all the questions. She never truly knew why Griffen offered her the chance of a lifetime. And now it sounded like he just wanted to get into her pants and nothing more. But she couldn't show her confusion. No matter what happened, she didn't want him to get disbarred. ''Not at first.''

''Why not?''

''Because he seemed arrogant and because I wasn't looking for a relationship since some loser in my past broke my heart.'' she added, hoping it would throw him off.

''Why did you think he was arrogant?''

''Well, he was very persistent man in a ten thousand dollar suit, pushing me to give him my number.'' she revealed. ''But…'''she was about to continue when he interrupted her again.

''So you thought he was just an arrogant man in a ten thousand dollar suit?''

''Yeah, I did.'' she said honestly. ''But not since I've gotten to know him.''

''What did he offer you?'' Hotch asked.

''He offered me the position as associate after finishing Yale Law School.'' she replied. ''The firm paid for my school.''

''Was the offer in exchange for sex?''

''No!'' JJ said instantly, feeling judged by Hotch. She couldn't believe the questions he was asking her and the way he treated her. It was obvious he wanted dirt on Griffen no matter what the cost would be. Even if it would hurt her.

''Did you have a sexual encounter with Griffen West before you started working with him? At any point?''

JJ was at a crossroads. She didn't know if she should lie or not. She was under oath so lying could come back to haunt her, so she went for the truth. ''Yes,''

Hotch didn't expect that to happen. He didn't want to know. Well, he did. He just couldn't believe JJ had been so stupid. ''So anyone could see it as a payment for the offer he presented to you! The offer you easily decided to take him up on.''

''No, it wasn't like that.'' she tried to say but Hotch took a stack of photos and put it in front of her.

''I believe Griffen West wanted sex from you in exchange for the offer and he got that three years ago.'' Hotch went on, taking one of the pictures where JJ pushed Griffen away. He put it in front of her. ''But now he wasn't getting anything so he confronted you, kissed you and you pushed him away in response.''

JJ couldn't believe that there were actually pictures. It disgusted her. ''Oh my god.'' she croaked out. ''I pushed him away because I didn't want to be caught at the office.''

''Of course.'' Hotch said in a laugh, knowing he had a strong case. Small pieces were falling into the place and he loved it. ''Did you have to interview for the job?''

''No, he gave it to me.''

''Why?

JJ shrugged her shoulders. ''I don't know.'' she answered. ''You should ask him that.''

''I'll ask him tomorrow.'' Hotch smirked. ''But what do you think?''

JJ leaned on the table. ''I think Griffen West is a professional lawyer who has dedicated his life to his job and I believe…I know he doesn't deserve this.'' she replied. ''He never harassed me. Everything that happened between us was consensual.''

''Professional?'' Hotch repeated. ''Sleeping with a subordinate doesn't sound professional to me.''

''That's your problem.'' JJ whispered, knowing Hotch couldn't hear it.

''Would you say Mr. West has always been interested in you?''

''No!''

''Are you interested in Mr. West?'' he asked. He decided to ask the question close together so JJ would slip up somewhere while answering the questions.

''No!''

''Really?

''No,'' she said with defeat. She was sick of it. It wasn't right. Any of it. They were accusing a man who had never done a wrong in his life. It was crazy and stupid.

''So you would do anything to protect him? Even lie for him?''

''I've worked closely with the man for five months and he isn't capable of anything you're insinuating. This is absolutely crazy.'' JJ said angrily.

''From your story I can conclude you used think he was an arrogant and immodest person and now you seem to think the world of him.'' Hotch summed. ''It looks like you're in love with him.''

That was the final straw for JJ. She had more than enough. ''I don't condone this!'' she said as she rose from the chair in anger. ''This is the worst thing I've ever seen you do, Aaron.'' she began. ''Of everything this is the lowest thing you've done. Right now I don't care about our history or our break-up. I care about the man whose name you're dragging through the mud!'' she yelled. ''A man who doesn't deserve this. No matter what I think of him!'' she yelled. ''He's real, he's compassionate and he is honest. He didn't do this. If you don't believe him, believe me!'' she yelled before leaving the room in anger. The conversation drained her energy and she needed a warm bath and a glass of wine. She just needed to forget the feeling of dread. It seemed like Hotch had a strong case against Griffen. It was up to Hotch whether he believed them or not. He held the faith of Griffen's job and JJ's sanity.