Thank you so much for the positive reviews, though I would just like to respond to this one; "JJ's a strong female character in the show. Even though she may be a bit intimidated by Alex based on her history with him, she certainly would be strong enough to ask for help from her team, rather than consistently endured verbal and physical abuse."
I am aware that JJ is a very strong character indeed, however from what I can gather from this statement is that you have never been in an abusive relationship. Abusive relationships and very easy to fall in to but very difficult to come out of. The strongest of people can easily be thrown into one and some may not even notice. The majority of this story is based on real events from my own experiences, so trust me when I say that even the strongest people can fall into a situation like this. Thank you.
WARNING - This chapter gets incredibly dark, with mentions of rape, abuse and self harm.

She was warm. Really warm. Considering it was the middle of November, she was unsure as to why she could feel droplets of sweat on her back.
Her eyes fluttered open and she scanned the room. The sharp twinge in her head caused her to wince, and all the memories of the day so far resurfaced.
"Hey princess, did you have a nice sleep?" She heard from behind her, his lips grazing the base of her neck to plant a soft kiss on her warm skin.
Looking down, JJ noticed the duvet that had been wrapped around her. She was laid in between Alex's legs, both curled up on the sofa. The lights were off, but the TV was on, showering the room in a soft, homely glow.
"Hey?" Alex said, nudging her softly.
Again, she winced.
"Sorry." Alex whispered, sounding genuinely apologetic.
He helped her sit up, then turned her so she was facing him. Placing his hand underneath her chin, he lifted her head until their eyes were level. JJ looked at him for a second, but dropped her gaze and breathed in deeply. Alex slowly stroked the cut on her lip with his thumb.
"Look at me." He said, but his voice was gentle.
JJ's eyes rose.
"I'm so sorry baby. I really am. I just, you just make me so angry sometimes you know? And I just can't control myself. It's like, I just completely black out and I don't know what I'm doing. You know that I'd never hurt you on purpose right?"
JJ nodded, but she wasn't convinced. She'd heard the groveling and the apologies so many times before. Come tomorrow he would easily do this all over again if he wanted too.
Alex smiled lovingly.
"Here." He said, handing her the control to the TV.
"Why don't you stick a movie on, I'll grab some snacks, and we can have a little movie marathon before bed, how does that sound?"
In all honesty, she thought that sounded ridiculous after everything that had happened. She really didn't want to do anything but run away and never look back. But instead, as always, she forced a weak smile as a reply and took the remote from him.
Alex beamed. Leaning down, he kissed her passionately. JJ used every ounce of energy in her body to get it to respond.
Pulling back, Alex sauntered into the kitchen, pausing a moment to turn back and say;
"This is it baby. We can do this. We can be together forever. Nothing can stop us now. I'm just so happy that you're finally mine."
And with that, he entered the kitchen and began the preparations for their snacks.
JJ glued her eyes to the TV and clenched her teeth. How on earth did she end up in this mess? When did everything get so serious?
She didn't know how, and she didn't know when, but what she did know is that she had to get out, and soon, before it really was too late.

As much as she hated to admit it, she honestly couldn't of had more of a relaxing afternoon. Together they'd laughed and joked at numerous movies and snuggled up together to watch Bambi, a movie Alex knew was one of JJ's favorites. As the closing titles appeared on the screen, JJ watched Alex finishing of the remnants of the popcorn. She bit her lip. This was the Alex she loved. The fun, soppy, happy Alex who she'd met all those years ago. The troublemaker with the cheeky grin that highlighted his charm and those gorgeous chestnut eyes. If only he could be this way all the time.
Alex caught her staring and grinned. He pounced suddenly, knocking the blonde back and pinned her arms to her sides. She let out a playful scream as Alex began tickling her all over and kissing every inch of her beautiful body.
"Alex stop!" She laughed, batting his hands away.
He laughed and pulled back.
"You need to eat more kid, I can feel your ribs, get any skinnier and I might break you."
JJ's smile wilted, but Alex didn't seem to notice.
"Hey, I'll go run you a bath okay? I'll throw all your girly bath bombs and shit in too, how about that?"
His question was clearly rhetorical, as he was up and on the way to the bathroom before he'd even finished speaking.
"That sounds great." JJ said blankly, watching him disappear into the bathroom.
She stood slowly. Watching Alex eat the snacks he'd prepared had made her hungry, though he hadn't appeared to notice that she'd hardly eaten anything at all. The room began to spin, but she wasn't sure whether the cause was from not eating or from earlier antics.
Once the dizzy spell had ceased, JJ walked over to the counter and grabbed her phone. She knew she needed a good nights sleep in order to look even remotely alive for work tomorrow. Although no one had really questioned her, she knew people were beginning to get suspicious. Their mouths didn't need to say anything when their eyes spoke for them.
Entering the bathroom, she was hit with the gorgeous aroma of lavender. Candles flickered away in each corner of the room. Alex was sat silently on the toilet seat.
"Hey." He whispered huskily. "Your baths ready."
JJ walked quietly over to the mirror. She could see him watching her, waiting. Uneasiness shot through her veins like fire. She flexed her toes a few times and as she grew even more uncomfortable.
"I put the football on for you. You can go watch that if you like?" JJ asked, her voice secretly pleading for him to leave.
"I'd rather watch you than football any day." Alex whispered, his voice low.
JJ's shoulders dropped slightly. She wasn't going to get rid of him.
"Well? Your bath's gonna get cold." Alex pushed.
JJ stared hard at the mirror; her dull, blue eyes were sparkless. She added the new marks on her face and head to the inventory of many at the back of her mind. No doubt she'd soon come across more that were hidden.
She began to unbutton her top, but was interrupted.
"Slower." He demanded.
JJ let out a shaky breath, but did as he said. She hated this. She hated everything about this. But more than anything, she hated herself. This was all her fault. She wasn't sure how, but it had to be hers when it was nobody else's.
She saw Alex watching her intently, his eyes burning, his mouth open slightly in awe.
Reaching the last button, she popped it open, revealing a small green bruise just below her navel. She dreaded to think what else was hiding beneath her clothes and for a second, closed her eyes, willing her mind to take her anywhere but here.
A few seconds later, she felt cold fingers entwine with hers, pulling her over to the center of the bathroom. All that could be heard were the droplets of water dripping rhythmically into the bathtub below. Alex stood before her, looking down at her. JJ remained silent as his hands began to wander down her body. He let out a groan as he removed her shirt and dropped it to the floor.
"Jesus Jenny, you're so perfect." He whispered, his fingers dancing over every inch of visible skin.
"Turn around." He commanded.
She turned compliantly as Alex smoothed her long, golden locks over her shoulder. He placed soft kisses all the way down her spine, stopping to unhook her red bra as he went. JJ held her breath and swallowed hard. Alex tiptoed around her, planting kisses on every visible mark his hands had made. Returning to stand behind her, he bent slowly, then began running his fingers around a specific spot on her back.
"I could kill that bastard for what he did to you."
JJ laughed at the irony. She knew what he was referring too. He was talking about the belt buckle scars that decorated the bottom of her back, thanks to the uncle she was forced to stay with every fortnight whilst her parents went out. Alex took her away from all of that. A pang of guilt suddenly ripped through her. If anything, she should be grateful. If it wasn't for Alex, she may not of been here today. Her sister was more than enough proof of that.
Standing straight, Alex then pushed the straps of her bra down her arms, carefully avoiding the mass of tiny bruises that mapped their way over her pale skin. Bringing his hands down once more, JJ hissed as his fingers grazed over the fresh wound at the bottom of her back that had been left by the door handle. He ignored her and continued with his task. Wrapping his toned arms around her waist, he smoothly unbuttoned her trousers, watching as they effortlessly dropped to the floor.
"You need to eat more. No guy likes girls that look like sticks." He said simply.
He crouched down in front of her and kissed each of the scars that were patterned across her thighs.
"I told you these would scar you idiot. I still can't believe you used to do this to yourself. To your own body. What the hell were you thinking Jenny?"
She was forced to grow up far too quickly. No child of 12 should ever of had to deal with what she did. A dead sister. An alcoholic father. An abusive uncle. Mix that into the pot of daily drugs, drinking and reckless sex; mutilating her own body was the only control she had.
Removing that very last item of clothing on her body, he bit his lip in admiration.
"Look." He said, pulling her back over to the full length mirror. But she didn't look. She didn't want too. But Alex didn't give her a choice. Placing his hand under her chin, he raised her head.
"I said look." Alex repeated.
She looked. And the second she did, she wished she hadn't. She no longer saw herself. She didn't see JJ at all. All she could see, was what she saw everyday at work.
A victim.
A lost and broken girl with no hope or determination left in her. No love, no fight; nothing.
She was empty.
"See, you're beautiful." Said Alex, breaking her train of thought and pulling her back to the present.
Alex stared at her for a few moments more, then smiled before slapping her buttocks, causing her to jump. He laughed.
"Go on, get in before it gets cold. I think we're both in need of an early night tonight too."
JJ was more than happy to oblige; she practically jumped in the tub, anything to pull her away from the vision of her broken body and the memories that had made her this way.
"I'll go get some towels." She heard Alex say, though his voice was distant.
She watched him exit. The second he stepped foot out of the room, she took one last breath of air and let herself slide under the water.

She wondered if she could just lay there and cease breathing. Just die. Just like that. She figured she couldn't. If it were that easy she was certain she would of done it by now. Plus she was pretty sure she'd heard Reid babble on about how it was impossible to drown yourself...or was that fish? She wasn't sure. Her mind was too fuzzy to remember anything in detail.
Behind her closed eyes she saw the happy, smiling faces of her team. The only real family she'd ever had. What would they do without her? Would they just carry on without her? Would anyone even care if she were to suddenly just disappear?
Her thoughts were rudely interrupted when two large hands plucked her frail body from the water.
"Yo, what the hell you tryna do chuck, drown yourself?"
"Don't be silly, that's impossible." JJ replied dryly.
"Yeah well, you about scared me to death there, I thought you'd died!" Alex exclaimed.
"If only." JJ muttered under her breath.
Alex perched himself on the side of the tub.
"Hey.." He started. "Are you okay? Like, really?"
JJ sat still for a second, contemplating her answer.
The truth was no. No she wasn't okay. Not in the slightest. But she knew that wasn't the answer Alex wanted to hear. So instead she uttered a small "yeah." before reaching for the shampoo.
"Here, let me." Alex offered, taking the bottle from her hands.
He lovingly lathered the sweet smelling liquid into her golden hair.
"Remember when we used to do this back at the farm? I'd always wash your hair, and you'd always massage my back." Alex grinned. "And do you remember the time we..."
His sentence was cut short by a dull buzzing.
"What's that?" Alex questioned.
JJ looked around the room before her eyes landed on her discarded pile of clothes.
"I think it's my phone." She said.
Alex rooted around the material for a few seconds before uncovering the offending item. JJ watched his eyes darken as he looked at the screen.
"Who is it?" JJ asked.
"It's your beloved Aaron." Alex sneered, throwing the phone in her direction.
Her heart skipped a beat and she narrowly avoided dropping the phone into the water below. What the hell was he doing calling her at this time? Surely they couldn't have a case, could they? She felt her excitement at the prospect of being called away, finally giving her an excuse to leave.
"Answer it." Alex demanded.
JJ swallowed, then pressed the answer button.
"Agent Jareau." She said bluntly.

Hotch had been pacing around his quiet town house for almost half an hour. Jack was staying with his Aunt Jessica for the weekend whilst Hotch redecorated his room, but the task was not as much of a distraction from his thoughts as he hoped it would be. He'd barely got anything done, instead walking around in circles whilst concerns over a certain blonde kept entering his mind.
He had absolutely no reason to not like this Alex guy. But he didn't. Not one little bit. In fact he was pretty sure he instantly loathed him the second he laid eyes on him. But why? Why when he didn't even know the man.
Hotch finally gave in and retreated to the sofa. He turned on the TV, but still his eyes stared ahead blankly. Pulling his phone from his pocket, he hovered his thumb above the one name that had been etched into his mind all day.
There was nothing wrong with giving her a call, right? That wasn't too stalkerish or weird? Maybe it was unprofessional...then again, being concerned about a team member, wouldn't this be the right thing to do?
Before he could convince himself otherwise, he hit the call button and waited anxiously.
His instinct had never been wrong up to now. He just couldn't chance the "what if's" that were screaming at him from inside his head, even if he had no idea what those "what if's" were. He wouldn't sleep peacefully until he'd heard from her own lips that she was okay.

"Hey...it's Hotch."
"Do we have a case?" JJ asked, a little too enthusiastically.
Alex watched on from the doorway.
"Um, no actually we don't. I was just ringing to see if you were okay."
"Oh." JJ replied. Hotch couldn't help but note the sound of disappointment in her tone.
"Of course I'm okay, why wouldn't I be." JJ asked brightly, trying desperately to sound more convincing as she watched Alex's eyes darken even more.
Hotch paused for a second.
"I don't really know." He said finally. "I just, I don't know, I know this may sound strange, so I'm just going to come out and say it, but the team, and me, we've been really worried about you JJ. You've just been so... off I guess. And I can't help but wonder..."
Hotch stopped.
"Put it on loud speaker." Alex hissed over to her.
She complied immediately.
"Wonder what Hotch?" She asked innocently, though she had the dreadful feeling that she knew where this was going.
She could hear him breathing uneasily on the other end of the phone, clearly trying to figure out what he should say next.
"Are you alone?" Hotch asked.
The question caught her off guard, but she mumbled a quick yes as she saw Alex's hands clench in anger.
"Okay. Well...I just can't help but wonder if your new boyfriend has something to do with it. I'm sorry JJ. I know that probably sounds intrusive and rude and highly unprofessional, but I just can't shake this feeling that there's something going on. I saw how uncomfortable you looked at the diner JJ, how eager you were to leave. The worst part is, is that I don't even need to be a profiler to notice. Even Reid thinks something strange is going on. Are you 100 percent sure that everything's okay?"
JJ's mouth was open in horror at everything he'd just said. She thought she'd been more careful. How stupid was she to have honestly believed that no one had really noticed anything was wrong. She could hear Alex's breathing becoming more erratic by the second and knew she had to fix this, and quickly.
"Hotch, I promise you, everything's fine. Me and Alex are fine. I'm fine. And yes actually, you're right, it is rude and intrusive and unprofessional to call me at this time just to tell me that. I love Alex. And I've never been happier. And I'd really appreciate it if you and the rest of the team quit profiling me and left me alone. I have to go."
"But JJ..."
"Goodbye Aaron." She said hastily before disconnecting the call.

She felt him before she saw him. She breathed out quickly and willed herself to hold in the nerves that were exploding inside of her like fireworks.
The phone was ripped from her hand in seconds. Crashing into the mirror, both that and the handheld shattered to pieces. JJ let out a whimper and Alex's vice like grip locked onto her shoulders, shaking her so violently the motion caused waves in the bath water.
"Oh I promise Aaron, everything's fine Aaron, don't worry Aaron." Alex mimicked in a high-pitched voice.
"What the hell have you been telling them! " Alex shouted, droplets of warm saliva spraying onto her face.
"Nothing I swear. I swear I never said anything Alex please." JJ whimpered as pain coursed through her body.
She wasn't at all prepared for what happened next. Before she could do anything to stop him, Alex forcefully pushed her body beneath the water. Panic surged through her like an electric current. She remembered going swimming with her sister in the lake by their cabin. How she'd strayed out too far and began to dip under the water. She remembered the fear and the pain that she felt then. It was the same as she felt now. Only then Rosaline was there to save her. This time, she was alone.
She thrashed frantically beneath him, the water burning her eyes and nose. Alex was unrelenting; his grip not even faltering despite her erratic movements. It didn't take too long before JJ began to grow tired. Her wild movements slowed and the grip she had around Alex's arms was starting to loosen considerably.
This is it. She thought to herself. This is how I'm going to die. He's finally going to go too far. He's finally going to kill me.
Just as she felt her eyelids grow too heavy to keep open, she felt herself being yanked viciously from the water and dropped to the tiled floor below. The instant rush of oxygen made her splutter and choke as tears streamed from her stinging blue eyes.
JJ curled herself up instantly, cautiously awaiting the blows that were sure too start raining down on her at any second. But they didn't. Nothing happened.
She laid for a few moments, unmoving, not sure what he was waiting for. Stealing a glance upward, she saw Alex's staring ahead, seemingly lost in a day dream that she was not part of. Though his attention was seemingly elsewhere, she didn't dare move.
After what seemed like hours, Alex calmly resumed his position on the toilet seat. JJ sat up slowly, ignoring the screams of protest that her body emitted. She blinked slowly. What the hell was going on.
"Go." Alex said, his voice dull.
"W..what?" JJ stammered.
"You heard me. I said go." Alex repeated. "Go run to your little lover boy. It's obvious you want to be with him more than you want to be here with me. So go."
JJ stared at him in shock. If this was some sort of new game he was playing, she felt cheated, because she sure as hell didn't know the rules. She felt the panic swirl inside her. This was inexperienced territory. Despite all her years of professional training, she had no idea what to do.
"I do." She whispered. "I do want to be here with you."
Her body involuntarily jumped back when Alex's fist smashed loudly into the side of the sink.
"Don't bullshit me! Do you think I'm stupid!?" Alex snarled.
JJ watched him silently for a few more seconds. He was right though. The only person she could think of right now, was Hotch.
Reaching forward, she gingerly picked up her pile of clothes and slowly made her way into the bedroom. Alex followed, but sat silently on the end of the bed, facing the other way.
Once she was dressed, the sudden urge to flee was all JJ could think about. This was actually happening. She was going to leave. She was going to run and find Hotch and everything would be okay. But then a stray thought stopped her in her tracks. What if he didn't want her there? What if he didn't care? What if she turned up unannounced and interrupted his time with Jack, or Beth, or both?
Regardless of where she went, she knew she couldn't stay here with Alex any longer. Walking towards the living room, she gasped in shock when Alex's hand grasped onto her wrist.
"Wait." He said. "What does he have that I don't? What's so special about him?" He asked.
JJ swallowed. What answer could she possibly give him that wouldn't throw him into a fit of rage. Although watching him as closely as she would, she figured she may not need a reason. She watched dishearteningly as the fire that burnt brightly in his eyes just hours before was extinguished, instead being replaced with black, emotionless coals that sat on dying embers.
She could feel the heat beginning to radiate from his palms at her silence. His jaw tightened as his teeth clenched in anger.
"Well?"
JJ swallowed, but for once in her life, found herself utterly speechless. Her arm swung loosely as Alex released his grasp, rising to tower above her petite frame.
"Well if you can't make up your mind, perhaps I can show you what I can do that Aaron will never be able to compete with." Alex smirked, casting a glance towards the bed. He only laughed upon seeing the panic in her eyes.

Run.
Her entire body and soul screamed at her to get out.
Spinning on her heel, she bolted from the room and fast as she could manage. She reached the door in seconds, but she knew Alex wasn't far behind. She fumbled with the locks on the doors and for once chastised herself for being so cautious.
Victory seeped through her as her bare foot touched the floor of the deserted hallway of her apartment, but it was short lived.
He grabbed a fistful of her dripping wet hair, yanking her backwards and re-locking the door.
"Alex please..." She started. Fear silenced her as she watched in horror as Alex removed his belt.
"Maybe your uncle had the right idea after all." He spat maliciously, snapping the belt in JJ's direction.
She yelped and frantically scooted backwards, grabbing the phone from it's stand, but he was much faster than she anticipated.
It took him less than 3 seconds to straddle her tiny form, pulling the phone from her grasp and casually tossing it over his shoulder. He grinned maniacally before ripping her shirt open, buttons flying off in every direction possible. The carpet beneath her felt like sandpaper rubbing against her soft, white skin.
She wasn't sure at what point he'd managed to finally break her. But clearly he had. Up until now she hadn't even noticed the waterfall of burning hot tears streaking down her flushed cheeks. The words that begged and pleaded for him to let her go didn't sound like her own, but they were.
Only once before had she ever begged for him to stop, and that night she almost died. It were as though some cruel twist of fate was forcing her to endure it all over again.
"Please Alex. Please stop. I'm sorry. I didn't mean it. I swear Alex I didn't. Please stop." She cried.
"Say it." Alex said.
"I'm sorry!" JJ replied.
"No." Alex spat. "Say it. Say his name."
"Who's name?" JJ asked, confused by what he was talking about.
"You know who's." Alex shouted angrily.
So she fearfully whispered the first name that was forever poised on the edge of her tongue.
"Aaron."
"Aaron." Alex repeated venomously, anger seeping through every pore in his body.
Without warning, he grabbed her wrists and held them firmly in place above her head. For the first time in her life, she fought back. And she fought back hard. But even her hardest wasn't enough. He was easily twice the size of her and it didn't take much to get her into a position where she could hardly move at all.
Sobbing hysterically, JJ continued to beg him to let her go.
Alex simply laughed.
Pulling her writhing form into the bedroom, he slammed the door shut behind him. Pushing her down onto the bed beneath them, he laughed sickening.
"That's right baby. I love it when you squirm."
With as much courage as she could muster, she spat angrily in his face, and instantly regretted her decision as with seemingly no effort, he twisted her left wrist until a satisfying snap was heard. It felt as though a tonne of bricks had been dropped on her wrist alone. All other pain was forgotten as the high pitched scream escaped from her lungs. But Alex was prepared. She was quickly silenced as a pillow smothered her face, muffling her screams and unrelenting sobs.
With little to no effort as all, Alex skillfully removed the rest of her clothing, as well as his own. He went about his violent assault, intending to cause as much pain and distress to the young girl below him as he possibly could. He scratched, bit, pinched... he even grabbed his lighter from the bedside cabinet and watched in delight as her body responded to touch of the flame he dragged relentlessly up and down her body. The louder she screamed, the more he laughed. Pushing the pillow to the floor, he assaulted her mouth with his tongue, laughing sadistically at her pathetic attempts to bite him when he came near. He placed his hand on the centre of her neck and began to push with as much force as he could muster.
She put every ounce of energy she had left into fighting, but the effort was futile. It simply made him even more excited than he had been before.
Finally, after what seemed like days but had probably been less than an hour, Alex untangled himself from her body and casually sauntered out of the room, slamming the door behind him.
The second the door closed, JJ turned and vomited all over her bedroom floor. No matter how hard she tried, she simply couldn't stop her body from shaking, nor stop the tears that were still cascading down her swollen cheeks. She cried even harder at knowing her body had betrayed her. She was well and truly broken, and there was ultimately nothing she could think of that could ever allow her to be fixed.
Curling herself into a fetal position, she closed her eyes tightly as her body shuddered uncontrollably, despite the mild temperature. She thought about her sister. Her mom. Her friends. Aaron...
And with that, she continued to cry. And cry and cry and cry. Until eventually no more tears came. But dry sobs racked her body all the same. Until finally, God only knows when, her broken body became so exhausted, that it shut down completely, throwing JJ into a deep, dark sleep, where all the demons from her past and present would continue to plague her in her dreams.