Disclaimer: I do not own Criminal Minds. All the characters are not mine, either. I'm simply writing fictional stories about my favorite show. I do not make any profit from them. The stories are only for those who also love this show and want to read different material. All rights of the show belong to CBS and the production company. Thank you and enjoy this story.

Author's Notes: As you can probably tell, I'm a huge fan of the show. I love all the characters/actors in the show. The storylines are amazing. I'm an English major and a writer in the making. I also happen to be a huge shipper of Elle/Derek Morgan. I think they have a great chemistry. They had some sparks in the episode, The Broken Mirror and other episodes as well. This is a romantic story that gives the readers a glimpse to who Elle really is and what happened to her in the past. I hope all of you guys enjoy my story. Please don't hesitate to post comments on it. Thank you.

EXTRA NOTE: This story is written in a sort of a script format. So think of it as a possible future episode rather than just a story. The format is intentional on my part. And I'd like to say thank you to all those who have posted such nice comments.

Previously on Unexpected Feelings…

Gideon: We don't have much time left. It looks like we can use a miracle right about now.

Chapter 8

Back at the hotel, Elle was busy packing. She decided that it would be wise for her to leave. She could not be involved in this case because it brought back too many horrific memories for her. Elle felt ashamed of herself for running away from the bastard, but she felt that she had no choice. She had full faith in the team and hoped that they would be able to save Natalie in time. This was the first time in her career that she was walking out on a case. Her thoughts were interrupted by the nock on her door.

Elle: Morgan, I already told you. I don't want to talk to you. Just go away.

JJ: Elle, it's JJ. Please open the door.

Elle opened the door, and JJ walked in.

Elle: Let me guess, Morgan already told you and everyone else about my past. And he asked you to check up on me.

JJ: Actually, Gideon asked Garcia to look into your past more thoroughly. You see, we were going over Natalie's files all night. And we couldn't find anything. So we had no choice, but to research your past. Morgan actually asked Garcia to hold off telling us anything. He wanted to talk to you first.

Elle: Yeah, remind me to thank Morgan the next time I see him.

JJ: I'm sorry, Elle. No one wanted to spy on you or go behind your back. But we, honestly, had no choice. You've got to understand. We have a serial rapist/murderer on our hands, and the only link we have is you. You are our only connection to him.

Elle: Not anymore. I'm leaving Canada. I can't be involved in this case, JJ. You've got to find another connection.

JJ: We've tried. We've looked everywhere else. But there are no clues that can help us find Natalie. Her life is in your hands, Elle.

Elle: No, don't say that! Just because I was once that rapist's victim, it does not mean that there is anything I can do to help Natalie. I only know how she feels. That's all.

JJ: Maybe, you can remember something.

Elle: It was over 16 years ago, JJ. I was just a kid back then. What could I honestly remember, huh?

JJ: You have to keep trying.

Elle: No, I don't have to do anything. I just want to get out of here.

JJ: Running away is not going to help you in any way.

Elle: Great, so now it's your turn to profile me. Well, that's what I get for having profilers for all of my friends.

JJ: I'm just trying to help you.

Elle: You know, that's exactly what Morgan said.

JJ: He really cares about you.

Elle: Yeah, that explains him going behind my back. Now, all of you are going to look at me differently. You won't see the strong Elle anymore. Now all you will see is some defenseless victim.

JJ: That's not true at all. In many ways, our pasts make us stronger.

Elle: How do you know that?

JJ: We all have skeletons in our closets. Believe it or not, my past was anything but peachy.

Elle: You didn't have to go through what I did.

JJ: No, I didn't. But someone that I really loved was brutally murdered when I was just a kid. That broke me into a million pieces, too.

Elle: A friend of yours was murdered?

JJ: No, not a friend. It was my mother.

Elle: I had no idea. I'm really sorry, JJ.

JJ: Like you, I didn't want anyone else to know about it. I just didn't want anyone's pity. You can understand that, I bet.

Elle: Yeah, probably better than anyone else. What happened to your mother?

JJ: She was a journalist who was not afraid of anything. That was her biggest strength and weakness, at the same time. You see, she was doing this story about a mole in the government. My father was worried about her and told her to drop the story. She had gotten a lot of threats. Someone was sending warnings to her, but she didn't listen to them. She kept doing her story. It's like she was digging her own grave. I remember that she once told me to never be afraid to fight for what you believe in. She was proud to be a journalist and felt it was her duty to let the public know what was going on. So she published this article that made a lot of people in the high places angry, very angry. The next morning, she was found murdered in her office. Next to her body, there was that article. I was only ten years old when I lost my mother. Her death destroyed my father's spirit. He isolated himself from the world. He just could not let go of her death. He never wanted to talk to anyone about how he felt and what he was going through. He thought that he could fight his own demons. I, on the other hand, knew that I needed help. And so I confided in my grandparents. I learned from an early age that it was important to be open with the people that love you. I also learned that you couldn't survive on your own. My father tried doing that and failed. He ended up dying alone.

Elle: I'm so sorry, JJ. I don't know what else to say.

JJ: I learned a lot from my past.

Elle: Like what?

JJ: My mother's death made me realize how precious life was. Life is our gift, Elle. I have this bright disposition because I value my life. I didn't take the road that my father took. Instead, I learned to live my life to the fullest. I woke up each morning and looked forward to each day. You never know how much time you have on this earth. But you have to treasure the time that you do have. And most importantly, you have to open yourself to other people. There is no shame in needing others. It does not make us any weaker.

Elle: I had no idea that you went through all of that. You just have this light around you. You're like a ray of sunshine on our team.

JJ: That's because you choose your own destiny, Elle. Life can throw bad surprises at you, but, in the end, you choose how to live your life. Every person deals with tragedy in his or her own way. But no matter how you deal with it, you've got to let people in. Do not do what my father did. Don't shut us out, Elle. And, most importantly, do not run away from your problems. No matter where you will go, your past will always follow you. You just have to deal with it. You've got to put it behind you and move on with your life.

Elle: So you're saying that I have to deal with this psycho right now?

JJ: I can't think of a better time. Natalie needs you. We need you to help us find her.

Elle: I just don't know how I can help, JJ. I mean, what can I possibly do?

JJ: You'll know what to do. I'm sure of it. How about I help you unpack your suitcase? And then maybe you and I can both go back to the Colemans' house and save this girl.

Elle: Let's unpack later. I don't want to waste any time. We've got a rapist to catch.

JJ: Now you're talking. Let's go, Elle.

Elle: JJ?

JJ: Yeah?

Elle: Thank you.

JJ: What are friends for, right?

JJ gives Elle a big hug before they head out.

To be continued…

Coming up… As time is running out for Natalie, what shocking decision does the team make? Stay tuned.