She woke up alone.
Rays of shimmering sunlight shone through the blinds, engulfing her room in a calming light. She laid still for a few minutes, staring numbly at the ceiling. Her entire body ached, though the throbbing in her head had now been replaced by a dull headache. JJ sat up slowly. Looking down, she closed her eyes at the sight of the fresh bruises printed around the inside of her thighs. Slowly, she picked up her discarded jacket from the floor and pulled her phone from her pocket. It was early morning. Her stomach began to rumble in confirmation. She was surprised she'd slept so long, though after the antics of the previous day, she wasn't surprised.
After pulling on a tank-top and some gym shorts, she made her way to the kitchen. Her bare feet patted gently across the floor. She grabbed a bottle of water from the refrigerator, then an apple, which she took one bite in to before discarding it into the trash.
Next, she went to the bathroom. Opening the cabinet, she began to search for some aspirin. She closed the door and dropped the container into the sink in shock of her appearance. Bruises and blood red bite marks trailed across her collar bone, stopping at the base of her neck. She grimaced.
Stepping into the steaming shower, the young profiler scrubbed her body until her skin was raw. She could still smell blood. The hospital. Him.
Stepping out into the empty apartment, she shivered. The shrill ringing of her cell phone made her return to her room, droplets of water splashing behind her.
"Hello." She said blankly, her voice hoarse.
"JJ, it's Hotch. I know your probably not feeling up to it, but Strauss wants to give a full team briefing at 8. We still don't have any set cases, so you'll probably be able to return home after, but she wants everyone here, no excuses."
"Okay." Was all she said.
Hotch paused for a moment.
"Okay." He repeated, hanging up.
After putting on fresh clothing, she stood silently in front of the mirror. Make-up in hand, she did the best job she could do at hiding the darkening bruises on her porcelain skin. The more make-up she applied, the worse it looked. Eventually she gave in and headed out of her apartment, throwing the door closed behind her and not bothering to look back.

"Well well well you naughty girl, is that a love-bite I see!?" Garcia nudged JJ playfully as she entered the bullpen, not noticing the slight whimper that escaped the blondes lips.
Morgan smirked.
"About time, if you know what I mean." He laughed.
JJ remained quite. Hopefully she wouldn't have to be here much longer. She was simply here to attend the meeting. After that she would go home and crawl back under the duvets and, fingers crossed, disappear forever.
"So JJ, who's your new boyfriend. Is he hot? Does he shave? Do I know him? What's his name?"
Hotch scowled as he approached upon hearing the topic of the conversation.
He too had noticed the peaks of the bruise JJ was undoubtedly hiding beneath her shirt. He hated to admit it, but jealousy rushed over him like a wave in the ocean.
"Board room." He ordered, watching as each member slowly made their way up the stairs.
He paid particular attention to the small woman in front of him. He followed, and watched unhappily as she simply threw herself into a chair and bowed her head, saying nothing to anybody. A small pang of sympathy for the girl shot through him. Perhaps she felt worse than any of them realized. It was unfair for Erin to demand she come back to work so soon. But as she tilted her head to the side, those thoughts were erased as he again noticed the mark that seemingly mocked him from beneath her shirt. He raised his eyes upwards, refraining from saying anything about professionalism and self-respect, instead shooting her an unpleasant look when she glanced in his direction. She dropped her gaze quickly.
Garcia's questions were unrelenting.
"Is he nice? Does he have a beard? Does he work here? Does he have a brother?"
The rest of the team giggled and smiled in all directions, but taking his place at the front of the room, Hotch noticed that a smile didn't even grace her lips.
"I don't get it." Spoke Reid. "I just don't get what the attraction is for having bite marks on display on your body.
"Spoken from someone who's clearly never been given any." Morgan retorted.
"I still don't get it." Reid mumbled in reply.
Then Hotch silenced them all.
"Could we focus please, Chief Strauss will be here any moment."

The meeting was mediocre and over fairly quickly. Hotch stood at the end of the briefing, permitting his team to continue with their dull and tiring tasks.

"JJ. My office."
"Ooooo someone's in trouble." Emily sang as JJ followed her boss out of the room.
Entering his office quietly, she sat daintily back in the chair and remained silent.
Hotch watched her for a few moments more. He didn't understand what was going on, but he knew for sure that something wasn't right.
"JJ...are you okay?"
"I'm fine." She answered quickly. Too quickly.
When he said nothing in return, she continued.
"I just have a bad headache, that's all."
"Have you eaten today?" He asked, silently noting the way her collar bones were beginning to protrude slightly.
The question threw her.
"Not yet." She answered truthfully.
"JJ, look at me."
The higher she lifted her head, the more apparent the purple patch beneath her white shirt became.
"Well, professionalize aside, if anyone of us deserved to have a fun night it was you." He smiled, nodding towards her chest.
He expected her to laugh, or at least smile in relief. Instead, she shifted uncomfortably and re-trained her gaze to the floor.
"Come on, come with me."
JJ's head snapped up at the offer.
"Where are we going?" She asked quietly
"Well, considering we've all been stuck in the office with Strauss complaining we've been neglecting our roots so to speak, Garcia suggested we give a little back to the community and go grab lunch together at the diner."
"Oh." Was all she said.
The thought of food made her feel queasy. She remembered Alex's comment about her weight and the instant hunger pangs quickly went away.
"I had a big breakfast this morning, I'm not all that hungry." She lied. "Thanks for the offer though."
Hotch furrowed his brows in concern.
"But JJ, you just told me you hadn't eaten yet."
Shit. She thought
She looked up at her boss. He could see the sudden look of panic in her eyes, but decided not to question it.
"Come on, even if you just have a coffee." He suggested.
Walking back out into the busy bullpen, she smiled back at the grins that were being shot in her direction.
"I guess a coffee would be okay."
Together they joined the rest of the team, split themselves between two SUV's and went on their way.

They all sat at a window seat in the downtown diner, Hotch and Rossi both making their way to the counter to order on behalf of everyone.

"JJ, are you certain you don't want anything?" Hotch asked
"I'm fine, honestly." She replied
Garcia looked at her friend accusingly
"I haven't seen you eat anything the past couple of days. Are you sure you're okay? Oh my God...you're not baking a bun of your own are you?" She gasped.
"Baby girl!" Morgan laughed, watching the tinge of pink flush across JJ's cheeks.
Hotch's head shot up, listening intently for her answer from where he stood.
"No I'm not pregnant Pen." JJ smiled, "I told you, it's these painkillers, they're just making me feel a little off, that's all."
"Hmm. Whatever you say pumpkin. I'm keeping a close eye on you though. Be warned." Garcia threatened playfully.
The team quickly changed topic, and relief flooded over Hotch's face.
"That was lucky. You still have a chance." Rossi said smugly at the change in his friends demeanor.
"Shut up Dave." He said simply, grabbing the drinks and carrying them over to their table.
As he approached, he heard the vibrating of the blonde agents phone once more, begging her for her attention. This was the third time in the past 20 minutes it had rung. She had ignored both previous calls from the car, saying her service would most likely cut out if she answered whilst they were on the move.
"Someone's popular today." Morgan winked.
"Is it lover boy?" Emily asked, making kissy faces to her friend from across the table.
JJ glared. She didn't even need to check to see who it was.
"Excuse me." She mumbled, sliding gracefully past Hotch and walking outside.
Reid watched her carefully, then looked at Hotch, sharing the knowledge that he too thought something strange was going on.

Before she even had the chance to say hello, questions were being fired at her from the other side of the phone.
"Where the hell are you? You didn't tell me you were going anywhere. I was gonna make plans for us and you've just totally blown me off? And don't lie to me and tell me you're at work when we both know damned well you're not with it enough to be there."
Once his rant had finally finished, JJ spoke.
"I got called in to a meeting. It was too important to miss." She said dryly.
"So where are you now? Are you on your way home?"
"Not yet." She replied.
"Not yet? What the hell is that supposed to mean?" Alex cried. JJ noted his frustration, but currently couldn't give less of a damn at his tantrum if she tried. She wasn't going to let him control her. She'd had enough of that already.
"It means not yet. I'm out."
"Out where?"
"Just out." She replied.
"With who?" Alex asked suspiciously.
"With friends. From work."
"Where?"
JJ sighed tiredly, what did it matter where she was? Avoiding argument, she gave him the briefest answer she could think of.
"Just a small diner downtown. I'll be home later. Bye."
"Hey I don't think so, I'm not finished. Don't you dare hang up on me JJ I swear too..."
She swiftly disconnected the call, turned off her phone and placed it in her back pocket. Turning, she saw her boss watching her like a hawk. Gulping uneasily, she made her way back into the diner and resumed her place.
"That looked like a fun conversation." Reid said. Emily and Garcia both smiled, but Reid was looking at her questioningly.
She opened her mouth to speak, but thanked her lucky stars when Morgan interrupted with some story about the pancakes his sister used to make.
Sipping her coffee, she could feel her bosses piercing eyes burn into her. She made an attempt to be a bit more enthusiastic with conversation, but she soon grew bored and stared aimlessly out of the window.

The team grew silent as their food arrived, only making the odd comment here or there about how delicious their meals were. JJ did her best to ignore them, and continued observing her surroundings. Out in the parking lot, a car began to pull up.
That's odd. That's the same make as Alex's car. Same color too.
JJ thought to herself. She turned to look over at the counter, contemplating grabbing another beverage. The diner was relatively empty, though that wasn't very surprising for mid morning on a weekday.
The bell above the door jingled, announcing another customer. JJ glanced over her shoulder and almost dropped the remnants of her coffee all over her. She spun around quickly, unnoticed by Hotch, as a very smug looking Alex made his way into the diner.
Walking to the counter, he smiled flirtily in the waitresses direction.
"And just what can I get you today sir?" The young brunette behind the counter said playfully, curling a strand of loose hair around her finger.
"I'll have one..." he started, then stopped to turn around and shoot a smile in JJ's direction, "actually, make that two, coffee's please. One with sugar, one without."
The waitress peeked over his shoulder, spying the young blonde he'd just looked at. The waitress, who's name tag read 'Jade' huffed slightly, charged him, then scuttled off to get him his drinks.
"Well, well, well, what a coincidence! Fancy bumping in to you here." Alex said loudly, approaching the table.
JJ desperately hoped he hadn't seen her, and that if he had, she could suddenly turn invisible. But it was wishful thinking. Alex bent down and gave JJ a small peck on the cheek. Aaron clenched his fist tightly around his mug of hot chocolate and slowly swallowed his food to refrain from saying something he might regret. Rossi raised an eyebrow in his direction.
"Well, well, well who are you?" Penelope smirked, a twinkle in her eye. JJ looked at both Garcia and Prentiss and felt a surge of disappointment in seeing how his charm had already cast them under his spell.
"Well Jenny, aren't you going to introduce me to your friends?"
"Yeah Jenny, aren't you going to introduce us!?" Morgan mocked.
JJ cringed at the use of the nickname he'd given her as kids. With it resurfaced a bunch of memories she didn't care to remember.
Without looking up from the table, JJ spoke quickly.
"Alex this is my team. Guys this is Alex."
"Well hello Alex." Emily smiled, winking at JJ.
But JJ wasn't looking. Hotch could feel JJ's foot shaking nervously under the table.
Is she nervous of us meeting him? Or is she nervous OF him?
Hotch speculated silently.
"Here are your coffee's sir." Said the waitress, handing Alex two steaming Styrofoam cups.
Alex threw a coy smile in JJ's direction.
"Care to join me princess?"
For the first time since he'd arrived, JJ looked up. But she didn't look at Alex. She looked straight at Hotch. The rest of her team seemed none the wiser and were casually continuing with their meals.
"Well, I would, but we only just..."
"Oh no no, seriously sweetie, don't bail out on your hunk of man meat because of us, between me and Emily I'm sure we can handle the boys." Penelope laughed, throwing a sachet of sugar at Morgan.
"Hey!" Morgan retorted, mouth full of pancakes.
"If she's going to feel bad for anyone it's certainly not going to be you two." Rossi said.
"Well that settles it then." Alex said. "Come on, I have something real important to tell you anyways."
Without waiting for a reply, Alex swiftly grabbed on to JJ's wrist and pulled her from the table. Hotch felt the flurry of anger engulf him, though looking around at the rest of the whom he was sat with, he noticed their lack of concern and wondered if he was over-reacting. Reid was currently attempting to scoot his way under the table as an all time sugar sachet war had broken out.
"Children please." Rossi said. "Were none of you ever taught manners?"
A sachet full of sugar to the face however quickly silenced the older man.
Though his colleagues were fully occupied by their childish antics, Hotch couldn't help but cast continual glances over at the pair, who were sat at a table a couple of booths away from the door. He didn't know who this Alex guy was, but he sure as hell didn't like him.

"What the hell is your problem?" JJ spat angrily as Alex directed her to the empty booth.
"Funny that. I didn't think I was the one with the problem." Alex retorted.
"You're such an ass." She said.
"And you, are so dead." Alex smiled, though the anger behind it was evident.
At that comment JJ ceased talking completely. Alex pushed the cup of coffee in her direction.
"What do you say?" Alex sang, as though talking to a 4 year old with table manners to be desired.
JJ looked directly into Alex's deep brown eyes. She didn't want to say anything. In fact, what she actually wanted to do would probably end up having her own team arrest her there and then.
She swallowed, then offered an insincere "thank-you." before taking the drink before her.
She longed to be back at the table with her friends. She felt highly uncomfortable with Alex just sat across from her, staring silently. She knew the second they got home however, he'd let loose every emotion he was feeling in any way he could think of.
The thought of going home with this man made her feel uneasy. Her stomach churned nervously, and her foot resumed it's twitching.

Time seemed to pass fairly quickly, and before he knew it, the bill had been paid for and everyone had risen, picking up bags and jackets from their sides. Hotch glanced over at the couple once again, noticing how they'd rarely said anything to each other the entire time they'd been sat there.
He told the team he'd meet them outside. Everyone threw a wave in JJ's direction, with Alex shouting how happy he was to of met them in response. JJ said nothing.
Hotch approached the table slowly. The feeling of concern and uneasiness grew as he neared the table. He saw how uneasy JJ looked, just as well as he saw the unrelenting face of thunder Alex had on him. Notching his arrival however, Alex was suddenly all smiles and grins. Hotch scowled.
"JJ. The rest of us are heading back to the office now if you want too..."
"Yes." JJ quickly interjected, standing in a flash by her bosses side. Alex's eyes narrowed dangerously.
Hotch closed his mouth, stunned by the young profilers sudden movement.
"Okay." Was all he said.
"Do you really think that's a good idea baby, especially after everything that happened yesterday?" Alex said through gritted teeth.
JJ didn't really know which part he was referring too, but the warnings that were laced in his voice made her re-think her current decision. Either she could go home and face whatever outburst Alex was likely to have, or she could go back with her team, do an insane amount of boring paperwork, and then go home to even more trouble.
Alex stared JJ down hard.
Her blue eyes clouded over with defeat, resuming her position in the booth opposite Alex.
"Actually Hotch, I still don't feel to good. I'm gonna go home if that's okay?" JJ asked, silently begging for him to say that it wasn't okay, and that she had to come into the office straight away.
Obviously her luck had long since run out.
"Sure JJ, that's fine." Hotch said scanning Alex over suspiciously. He didn't trust this guy as far as he could throw him. But again, what if he was genuinely concerned, and it was his own emotions that were twisting the truth?
"Well, I guess I'll see you tomorrow then." Hotch said, smiling at JJ and nodding his goodbye in Alex's direction.
Alex waved happily, and sat smiling to himself for a few moments after, however once he was sure the parking lot was clear, his stone cold eyes shot straight to the woman before him.
"Get in the car. Now."

"Why are you so pissed at me, I haven't done anything!" JJ asked, her knuckles turning white from how hard she was gripping on to the door handle in-case of an unplanned escape.
"Your boss is an absolute jackass." Alex said, ignoring her question completely.
"Hotch isn't a jackass. Hotch is the best boss I've ever had. And a damned good friend too." JJ replied in his defense.
Without warning, Alex slammed his foot angrily on the brake. The blonde shot forward and then pack again, her hand instantly flying to her shoulder where the seat-belt had dug in. She hissed in pain.
"What the hell Alex!?" She shouted.
He said nothing. Simply stared at her with an emotionless blanket across his face. JJ rubbed her shoulder, watching him, but not knowing what to say.
Out of nowhere, Alex began to laugh. JJ looked at him as though he'd grown two heads.
"Of course. That makes perfect sense." Alex laughed, shaking his head as he did so.
JJ continued to stare at him ,confused.
Alex stopped laughing and turned dangerously serious.
"You're in love with your boss, aren't you?"
"What?" JJ spat out in shock. "No, no I'm not. He's just my boss, he's like a father-figure to me. He's..."
"Yeah what ever, don't sit there and bullshit me. You think I didn't notice the way you looked at him. The way you smiled at him? The way you said his name? Pretty pathetic if you ask me. He clearly has no interest in you what so ever. He probably thinks you're like an annoying slutty schoolgirl who follows him round like a little lost puppy that he can't get rid of. Jesus JJ. Can you get any sadder than that?"
Alex continued his driving whilst JJ silently willed the tears not to fall from her sea blue eyes. Those words had really hurt. Probably a hell of a lot more than even he'd intended.
"Though it makes perfect sense." Alex continued later as they neared her apartment.
"I mean, there's only one way someone like you could have gotten a job like the one you have. And let's be honest, it certainly wasn't your brains." He laughed.
JJ said nothing. She simply continued to stare out of the window. It was beginning to rain. The clouds above began to turn a deathly shade of black. She found it funny. It was as though the weather were mirroring exactly how she felt on the inside.
"Get out. We're home." Alex said, interrupting her day-dream. He grabbed her bag from her side, pulled out her keys, and slammed the door behind him.
For a second she contemplated just staying there. Or running. She always ran. Whenever things got too hard. She ran. But they always had a way of catching up with her somewhere along the line. After all, wasn't that exactly what had happened now?
Stepping out into the howling wind, JJ walked sullenly back to her apartment.

She was cold and shivering by the time she reached her door. She'd taken the stairs rather than the elevator, and although it wasn't that long of a way to go, she was exhausted. Turning to lock the door, she gasped in shock as two strong hands latched onto her frail shoulders and spun her round, throwing her petite frame against the strong wooden door. She winced in pain as the door handle jammed viciously into the bottom of her ribs. At the release of his grasp, JJ looked up to face the man that towered above her, but she instantly regretted that decision as the back of his hand connected sickeningly with the side of her face. She tasted blood before she saw it.
Grabbing her by the collar, Alex threw her into the door once more.
"Don't you ever, EVER, make a fool out of me like that again, do you hear me?" Alex began. "Pining over your damned boss whilst you're sat there with me, making me out to be an absolute tool. You're pathetic." He shouted, throwing her body backwards and forwards so violently she could swear she could just about feel her eyes rolling around her skull.
"You're pathetic. You're nothing. Not to any of them. You don't think at least one of them would of noticed something by now if they did!? Face it Jenny, you're a joke. You always have been, and you always will be. And if you ever, EVER dare disrespect me again the way you did tonight, then you'd better plan your funeral now because next time I wont be so forgiving."
And with that, Alex threw her frail body violently to the floor, made his way to the bedroom and slammed the door angrily behind him.
She wasn't sure how long she laid there for. Long enough for the skies to darken even more and the rain to pelt down. Streaks of lightning shot their way across the darkening sky. JJ simply continued to lay there, closed her eyes, and wished that she'd never been born.