So I feel like a jerk for taking so long to get this posted, but I just couldn't find time to write this past week! I promise I will make every effort I can to keep updating this story! Don't give up on me yet!

Enjoy! -J

Chapter 6

Alex knew when she went to bed that night that she would have nightmares. She knew this because she missed her mom and JJ, and because she couldn't stop thinking about everything she was keeping from the two women. Knowing she would be forced to dream about things that scared her, the young brunette had a difficult time falling asleep; spending several hours tossing and turning before finally drifting off.

When the teen was eventually awoken by a nightmare, she was grateful for the fact that she didn't yell out; something, which she often did when at home. Having dreamt about Parrilla taking both her and Emily, Alex had a difficult time letting herself relax, spending the rest of the night clutching her pillow while glancing around the Hotchner guest bedroom to ensure that no one else was there.

Alex was feeling her lack of sleep the next morning, doing her best to remember that she was a guest, and therefore needed to be polite and not become annoyed or grumpy with Haley. And while the older woman hadn't asked many questions the night before, she had apparently decided to save them for that morning, beginning as she handed Alex a plate of pancakes.

"How'd you sleep?" Haley asked, pretending not to notice the bags under the fourteen-year-olds' eyes.

"Good," Alex replied, doing her best to smile as she picked up her fork. "I mean I don't sleep the greatest when I'm not in my own bed, but it was fine," she explained, knowing that her exhaustion was obvious on her face.

"Well hopefully the team won't be gone too long," Haley smiled, placing a bowl of cheerios in front of Jack before sitting down in front of her own plate of pancakes. "You usually stay with your friend Spencer when your mom's away right?"

"Yeah," Alex nodded. "She lives across the street. I guess I've gotten pretty used to sleeping there too since I'm usually there a couple nights a week."

"Understandable," Haley replied, pausing while she took a bite of her breakfast. "So Aaron didn't really tell me what happened," she eventually continued, finally asking the question Alex had been dreading. "What happened for you to get grounded? If you don't mind me asking that is."

"Oh uh…well I kind of broke the rules," Alex replied, immediately feeling her cheeks begin to flare. "I uh…I had Logan over when mom and JJ weren't home and they kind of caught us," she explained. "I mean we weren't doing anything…well we were kissing but nothing else happened. But he wasn't supposed to be there when they weren't home."

"Ah of course," Haley nodded in understanding. "I think we've all been there," she smiled, not wanting the teen to be embarrassed. "I mean I can definitely remember being grounded for similar reasons when I was a teen. This weekend must have been tough, not being able to spend any time with him."

"Oh…well not exactly," Alex replied, receiving a confused look from the blonde. "We kind of broke up. He…he broke up with me."

"Oh Alex I'm sorry," Haley was quick to apologize, reaching out and putting a hand over the teen's. "I had no idea. I mean no one mentioned anything. That must have been really hard."

"It's okay," Alex said, shaking her head. "But my uh…my moms don't know about the breakup. I haven't exactly told them yet," she said, looking down at her plate. "I mean I'll tell them eventually…I just…I wasn't ready to talk about it yet."

"Well that's okay," Haley nodded, suddenly understanding Alex's unusually quiet behaviour even more now. "I won't say anything," she assured her. "But you know if you need to talk at all I'm here."

"Thanks Haley," Alex replied with a small smile, unsure if she would take the woman up on that offer, but definitely appreciating it.

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"Are you okay?" JJ asked Emily that morning while the pair got ready for the day in their hotel room; watching as the brunette dropped her clothes on the floor for the third time.

"I'm fine," Emily sighed, picking up her blouse off the floor before pulling off her pajama top and putting on her bra. "I just didn't sleep all that well," she admitted, pulling on her red blouse and beginning to work on the buttons; fumbling slightly.

"I thought your conversation with Lex went well yesterday," JJ said, moving over to the brunette and immediately pushing her hands out of the way, beginning to button the blouse for her.

"It did I'm just…I don't know Jen," she sighed once again. "I just know there's something else going on and I'm worried, because I don't know how to get her to talk to me and I hate being away from her when things are like this," she explained. "I just…I want to fix it but I don't know how."

"I know baby," JJ replied, buttoning the last button before leaning forward to place a kiss against her girlfriend's neck. "Look don't hate me for suggesting this but maybe you should go home," she said. "I mean you're obviously struggling with the whole thing. Why don't you go home and talk to Alex. Try to make things right. Hotch will understand, and the team will manage without you this one time."

"I can't," Emily was quick to reply, shaking her head as she wrapped her arms around the blonde's waist, pulling her closer and resting her head against hers. "Don't get me wrong, I want to, but Hotch is getting enough trouble from Strauss without me running off in the middle of a case," she explained. "Plus I honestly think it will only make things worse with Alex if I just show up. She let me in a little more last night, but if I show up wanting to talk she'll probably just push me away again."

"Okay," JJ nodded, turning so she could place a kiss on the brunette's cheek. "But if things get harder promise me you'll at least consider going home," she said. "I know how hard it's going to be for you to stay focused on the case. I just don't want you to stress yourself out."

"I won't, I promise," Emily replied, leaning down to give her girlfriend a proper kiss. "We better finish getting ready. We don't want to keep the team waiting, they may start talking," she said, feeling the blonde smile against her lips as she kissed her again.

"Well we wouldn't want that," JJ laughed as she pulled away moving back to her suitcase across the room so they could both finish getting dressed. "Hey Em," she called as the brunette pulled off her pajama pants.

"Mmm hmm?"

"I love you."

"I love you too," Emily smiled, happy to let her worries go, even just for a little while.

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"Hey Lex do you want to practice our songs for tomorrow before lunch is over?" Zoey asked her friend from across the table, breaking the brunette from her daydreams. "We could give each other pointers and what not."

"I don't know Zo," Alex replied scrunching up her nose since she really didn't feel like singing. "I think it would be better if I just rest my voice till tomorrow," she said. "I'll come listen to you if you want though."

"Oh we can all go," Spencer suggested even though she currently had her nose in a textbook. "I wanna hear your song Zo."

"I need to stay here and finish this." Olivia said, looking up from the homework she was frantically trying to finish by the next period. "But what play are you guys doing this time? Am I doing backstage stuff again?" She added, looking towards Spencer who nodded, having signed them both up to help.

"It's Mary Poppins," Zoey replied. "Which I am super excited about. Lex is going to make an amazing Mary."

"We haven't even auditioned yet," Alex sighed. "You don't know that I'm going to get the lead."

"Oh please," Spencer scoffed, finally looking up from her book. "You're going to get it! There's no one better! Basically you just have to go up there, sing your song and it's yours."

"Spencer's right," Zoey agreed. "No one's even close to being as good as you. You'll get it for sure."

Not really knowing what to say Alex simply shrugged, knowing it was pointless to argue with her friends since they would just continue to insist that they were right. The last time Alex auditioned she was a little nervous but mostly she felt confident, knowing she was a good singer and okay with whatever part she would be given. But now that she had been the lead in the last play, people expected her to get this lead as well and it was making her anxious. The teen was having a hard enough time dealing with everything else going on in her life and she was beginning to think that the play may be more pressure than she could handle at this time.

"Hey listen I'm really not feeling well," Alex lied, suddenly not wanting to have to think about auditions the next day. "I'm sorry Zoey, but I think I'm going to go see the nurse. Maybe we can practice tomorrow sometime?"

"Yeah sure," Zoey nodded, looking slightly confused. "It's no problem. Feel better Lex."

"Thanks," Alex replied with a small smile, gathering up her lunch. "I'll see you guys later," she said as she stood, not waiting for a reply before heading out of the crowded cafeteria.

"Lex wait," Spencer called out when Alex was halfway down the hallway; the taller brunette practically running in order to catch up with her. "Hey are you okay?" She asked, looking concerned. "I mean I know you said you don't feel well but what else is going on? I mean…is there something else?"

"I'm fine Spence," Alex replied, picking at her nails. "I just think I'm getting a migraine. I think I'll just see if Haley can come get me. I'll be fine tomorrow."

"Okay," Spencer nodded, her hesitation obvious on her face. "Are you sure though? You just really haven't been acting like yourself Lex and don't take this the wrong way, but you look like crap…like you haven't been sleeping or something?"

"I…" Alex began, biting her lip in thought, knowing there was no point lying since her friend would know as soon as she did. "I've been having nightmares," she admitted quietly. "It makes it hard to sleep, but I'll be okay."

"Okay," Spencer nodded, knowing from the look on her best friend's face that she really didn't want to talk about it, but appreciating the fact that she had at least answered honestly. "If you need to talk about it I'm around okay? I know you can't call me or anything, but I'm here whenever you need me."

"I know Spence," Alex smiled, reaching out to give the other brunette's hand a squeeze. "Thank you. I'll see you tomorrow okay?"

"Okay, feel better," Spencer replied, leaning in to give Alex a quick hug before letting her go, hoping her friend would get back to herself soon.

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"Thanks for picking me up," Alex said quietly, as she sat in the car next to Haley, the pair almost back at the Hotchner home; Jack asleep in the back seat. "I'm really sorry if I ruined your day."

"It's fine sweetheart," Haley quickly assured her. "You didn't ruin anything and it's not your fault you're not feeling well," she said. "We'll get you some aspirin when we get home and you can lay down. I know how hard migraines can be. Your best bet will be to sleep it off."

"Thanks," Alex replied with a small smile, resting her head against the window and falling silent.

It was only a few more minutes before they pulled up in front of Haley's house, Alex slowly grabbing her bag and exiting the car, waiting as Haley came around the car to lift Jack out of his car seat. Since her hands were full, Alex took the house key from the blonde, unlocking the front door and letting Haley in before her.

"I'm just going to lay Jack down," Haley whispered. "There's aspirin in the cabinet beside the fridge," she told her before making her way upstairs.

Though she had originally used having a headache as an excuse to avoid having to talk to her friends, the teen could feel her head beginning to throb, figuring she could probably use the medication. Grabbing the bottle of tablets, the young brunette went to collect a glass from a different cabinet, taking it over to the sink and filling it with water so she could take two pills.

"I'm just going to text your mom and let her know that you left school early," Haley called as she came down the stairs, having placed Jack in his crib. "I just want to make sure she knows."

"Okay," Alex nodded, placing the aspirin back in the cupboard. "I'm going to go lay down," she said, immediately heading for the staircase, not really feeling like talking to anyone.

Climbing the stairs and making her way towards the guest bedroom, Alex quickly changed out of her uniform, opting for pajamas since she intended to spend the rest of her day in bed. Grabbing her favourite teddy bear, which she had brought with her from home, the teen was just about to climb under the covers when there was a soft knock at the door.

"Lex, sweetie," Haley called as she opened the door just a crack. "Sorry hun, JJ's on the phone. She wants to talk to you."

"It's okay," Alex replied, prompting the blonde to open the door the rest of the way. "Thanks," the teen said, taking the phone from the blonde with a smile. "Hi JJ," she greeted as she put the phone to her ear, Haley leaving to give her some privacy.

"Hey kiddo," JJ's reply came through. "I heard you weren't feeling well. Are you okay?"

"Yeah, I just have a really bad headache," Alex explained, sitting on her bed cross-legged. "It was starting to make me feel nauseous so I went to the nurse. I didn't think I would really be able to focus in class so she let me call Haley."

"Did you take something?" JJ then asked, clearly concerned.

"Yeah I took an aspirin a few minutes ago," Alex replied, picking at the blanket underneath her. "I was just going to lay down for a bit," she explained. "But I'm glad you called. Where's mom?"

"She's following a lead with Morgan," JJ said. "She called me when she got Haley's text and asked me to check in," she explained. "We just wanted to make sure you were okay. I mean everything else is going okay right? You're getting enough sleep?"

"Yeah I'm sleeping," Alex replied, hoping her hesitation wasn't too obvious in her voice. "May…maybe not as much as I should be, but I'm sleeping."

"Is there any reason why? Are you having nightmares?"

"I'm…" Alex began, unsure whether or not she should tell the truth. "I've been having some dreams," she eventually said, figuring she would at least be half honest. "They're not bad, they're just…strange I guess, so they've been keeping me up. I'm really okay though. It's just hard sleeping in someone else's house. I'm not used to it here."

"I'm sorry honey," JJ replied, sounding sad. "Hopefully we'll be home soon and you can get back to your own bed," she said. "You're sure you're okay though? I mean we can talk if you want, I've got some time."

"No, no I'm fine," Alex insisted, knowing talking would help, but resisting anyways. "I just really want to get some sleep."

"Okay love," JJ replied with a slight sigh. "Rest up baby and your mom and I will call you when we can," she said. "I love you."

"Love you too JJ," Alex replied, suddenly wishing she could spend her day curled up with her mothers. "Give mom a hug for me."

"I will," JJ said, wishing she could stay on the phone just a little longer. "Talk to you soon honey."

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Opening her eyes Alex was surrounded by darkness, barely able to see her own hand in front of her face; beginning to shiver from both fear and the cold. Feeling slightly groggy, the teen tried to remember where she was, unable to come up with anything.

Putting her hands on the ground, Alex began feeling the floor around her, searching for any clue as to where she was; finding only a cold, hard surface beneath her. Suddenly hearing a noise, the teen jumped in fright, a light filling the room as a door was opened across the room.

"Oh good you're awake," Parrilla's eerie voice filled the room, sending another shiver down Alex's spine. "I thought perhaps you hit your head just a little too hard. Thought we'd have to start our fun without you."

"W-we?"

"Yes…we," Parrilla said, turning on a light to reveal Emily and JJ in the corner, both tied to chairs.

"Mom! JJ!" Alex shouted, struggling to get to the two women, suddenly finding that she was chained to the floor. "No! Let me go! Let them go! Mom!"

Watching as the young brunette struggled to get to her mothers, Parrilla laughed evilly, moving towards Emily and JJ; knife in hand. "Sorry kiddo, I'm not going to do that," he sneered. "I've been waiting a long time to do this. And I really think I'm going to enjoy this," he said, lifting his knife, preparing to strike.

"Mom! JJ! NO!"

"Alex! Alex wake up," Haley yelled, frantically shaking the teen, trying to rouse her. "Honey it's just a dream."

"Mom! JJ!" Alex shouted once again, before shooting up in bed, her breathing panicked, as Haley grabbed her by the shoulder in an attempt to keep her calm.

"Lex you're okay, it was just a dream," Haley assured her, watching as the brunette searched the room as if she was trying to figure out where she was, her breathing beginning to slow down. "It was a nightmare honey. You're okay."

"A nightmare," Alex muttered, nodding her head. "Right it was a nightmare. I'm okay," she said, meeting Haley's eyes as she tried to hold back the tears that were so desperately trying to escape. "I'm sorry."

"You have nothing to apologize for," Haley said, brushing the teen's hair out of her face. "It's perfectly fine, but are you okay?"

"I'm okay now," Alex nodded, her cheeks reddening in embarrassment.

"Do you want to talk about it?"

"It was just a dream," Alex said, shaking her head. "I'm fine. Really," she insisted, seeing the disbelieving look on the blonde's face.

"Okay," Haley nodded. "But I could stay for a while if you want. Or I could get you some tea, or water. Anything you need."

"Oh no that's okay," Alex replied, hesitating a moment before sighing, realizing she really didn't want to be left alone just yet. "But uh….maybe you could…could you stay? Just for a little?"

"You got it," Haley smiled, moving so she could sit back against the headboard as Alex curled up beside her, allowing a few tears to fall down her cheeks. "It's okay honey," Haley said, running a hand over the teen's head, hearing her sniff. "You're okay."

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It had taken a while for Alex to fall back asleep, Haley eventually slipping out of the bed and returning to her own room, hoping the young brunette would be okay on her own. It was late, and the blonde was exhausted, but she struggled to get back to sleep as she continued to worry about Alex.

The teen's shouts had been loud and frantic during her nightmare, and Haley had been convinced that someone was in the house as she ran down the hall, finding Alex thrashing around in bed, still yelling. While the blonde wasn't sure exactly what the nightmare had been about, she knew it must have been bad; suddenly understanding why Alex had seemed so unlike herself lately, obviously struggling to sleep.

Knowing she needed to do something about all of this, Haley was up early the next morning, deciding to give Alex a little extra time to sleep as she made her way downstairs to start a pot of coffee before Jack was up. Still worried about Alex, Haley grabbed her phone on the way to the coffeepot, hoping she wouldn't be waking anyone up as she dialed, before placing the object against her ear, waiting for a reply.

"Emily hi," Haley greeted when the brunette finally picked up. "We need to talk."