Ok, here goes...

First of all, I apologize for the delay. I'm way further ahead than chapter 17, in fact I am at chapter 21 now, but I try not to update too quickly.
Because I am updating things I have written quite some time ago, I feel that my newest chapters are way better than this one, but okay. That's probably also why you'll see some changes in the coming chapters...

Oh, and as usual it's not mine, and I'd like to think everyone why review :). You make me feel useful xD

Enjoy this chapter!

While they stayed in the police station, waiting for the sign that the storm had ended, Hannah came in. She looked at JJ before looking at anyone else, and Emily, now knowing what the connection between Hannah and JJ was, watched curiously. She was wondering how JJ would act with someone from her past around her – especially someone the others couldn't know she knew.

But nothing said that Hannah and JJ shared a history: Hannah walked towards Hotch and talked with him for a while, discussing the unsub's psychological state. Emily listened to them, interested for the opinion of a non-profiler.

When there was nothing more to discuss, Hannah sat down on a chair, obviously content with spending her free time with the BAU. Slowly everyone else sat down, eventually forming a circle. They talked about everything, from their job to their private lives. Emily hadn't enjoyed herself like that in a long time, and she liked talking like this with people she shared the worst of the world with.

When things got a little personal for JJ, she excused herself to go to the toilet. She wasn't surprised when she looked up in the bathroom mirror to find Hannah standing behind her.

"So," Hannah said casually, moving next to her to wash her hands. "You told her?"

JJ turned to her, surprised. "Why do you think that?" She didn't think it had been that obvious.

"The way you interacted," Hannah stated simply. "I know you, Shel. Plus, I'm a woman, I can see when you use make-up to hide the fact that you've been crying."

JJ stared at her, speechless. At least Hannah already knew it, she wouldn't have to explain everything to her again.

"We talked at lunch," JJ finally admitted, looking down. A part of her very much regretted telling Emily.

"Hey," Hannah said softly to get her attention. "It's good. It means you're healing."

JJ looked up again, seeing Hannah's kind look. "No, it means I am breaking down."

"Which is a part of healing," Hannah finished, and JJ couldn't find an argument against that.

"I shouldn't have told her," she nevertheless said. "Now everything will change."

Hannah stepped forward and engulfed her in a hug, surprising JJ. "Change doesn't have to be bad. It got you away from Walt and away from the streets," she whispered into her hair. "Maybe this change is good as well. Don't be afraid, Shelby. Those people really care for you."

She stepped back and reached into her pocket. Handing JJ her business card, she said: "Call me if you need me. Day or night, doesn't matter."

JJ nodded, keeping her eyes downcast. "Thanks."

"No problem," Hannah responded quite cheerfully, already walking out of the bathroom.

--

They took the plane back to Quantico the moment the storm had ended. Everyone was eager to go back home and unwind for a bit. They hadn't had too much time to do that last time. The paperwork on their desk had prevented them from relaxing too much.

Morgan sighed, not looking forward to another evening full of paperwork. He knew he'd have to do it someday though, so he figured he might as well do it now.

He sat down on his chair, mentally preparing himself for a boring evening. Before he could open the first file though, JJ caught his eye.

She was sitting by an empty desk across him, having her own things to sort out. Morgan tried to keep himself on focus, but he found his thoughts drifting to every place but the stack of files in front of him.

Morgan didn't have the patience Reid had displayed. He just wanted to know who or what had caused JJ to be like this. He wanted to make sure that whatever it was wouldn't hurt her any longer.

He'd seen her behaviour change over the past few days. It wasn't much, but it was enough to make him think.

He had a couple of ideas. If they were true, he knew things would change like they had with him. He just couldn't stand seeing her struggle with things that lately seemed too heavy for her. He knew the feeling of having to handle things that were too much: he thought he had an idea of what to do about it.

He'd respected her privacy so far, but he just couldn't resist this opportunity. They'd teamed up in paperwork and she was staring into the distance, oblivious to the looks Morgan was giving her.

JJ's panic had somewhat subsided by now, but she still wasn't happy about what she had done. Emily knew now, it would only be a matter of time before everyone else knew. And while Emily had accepted her anyway, had even comforted her, she had no consolation that the others would do the same.

If she thought with logic rather than emotion, she knew the team would listen, help and accept her. Their job consisted of trying to identify with murderers, so they were quite tolerant and they had seen a lot.

JJ was just afraid to tell them. Afraid of their reactions, afraid that maybe they would turn her down. She had thought she could trust her mother, one of the most important people to her, and her own mother hadn't believed her, had thought she was a liar.

Morgan interrupted her thoughts. "JJ?"

"Hmm?" JJ replied, looking up at her colleague. "I'm sorry, what did you say?"

"I asked whether you were alright," Morgan repeated.

"I wish everyone would stop asking me that question! I'm fine,' JJ snapped, harsher than she'd meant.

Morgan looked surprised: then, his expression changed into something more subtle.

"Hey, don't get angry at me," he said, keeping his eyes locked with JJ's. "I'm worried, we all are." He moved forward, his chest leaning against the table. "You know they'll still accept you if you tell them," he said softly.

JJ was shocked, but she was careful not to show it. "What?" she replied, as though she didn't know what he was talking about.

He knew. Another one of her friends knew what had happened to her. She could just see it in his eyes.

"I'm serious. It's safe to tell them," Morgan said again, not fazed by her faked confusion.

"There is nothing to tell," JJ said weakly, though she knew it was useless to say. "I'm okay."

"No, you're not. Who was it?"

She'd be offended if it hadn't been Morgan, if they hadn't been in this situation.

"Why do you think what happened to you happened to me?"

Morgan leaned back again, many emotions going through his mind. "You just gave me the answer to that. JJ… I'm sorry." Knowing someone else had gone through what he had gone through, probably even worse, made him feel horrible. "For how long?" He didn't know what to say. For once, he was at a loss for words.

"Too long," she said roughly. "Just stay out of my business, okay?" She stood up and walked away quickly, doing what she had done all those times before: try to run away from everything.

Morgan watched her run away, but didn't follow her. He knew what she felt like. She was doing what he had tried to do, and he knew that eventually she'd come back.

I just thought Morgan should have a say in this. He is like that, so it's rather unrealistic that he's being kept out of this. Also, I recently watched Profiler, Profiled (which is seriously one of the best episodes), and it occurred to me that they wouldn't leave someone on their team alone if they were dealing with a problem.

Well, anyway, after my rambling I only have one request... Please review!