Disclaimer: See chapter 1

Author's Note(s): As always, a huge thank you to my readers. Especially those of you that took the time to review, namely rogueandkurt, Dr. Cameron, bumblebee917, TV-Hottie, Angelus-Summers, smokeylove and tearbos. Thank you again and I hope you enjoy this chapter!

Easier to Lie
Chapter 5

Together they made their way painfully slowly to where they knew there was shelter. Spencer and JJ clutched at each others arms as though they feared that if they got lost, they would never find each other again. The snow was coming down so heavily that it was difficult to see more than a few inches in front of their faces. The bitter wind took Spencer's breath away as he struggled to wade forward through the now calf deep snow.

Suddenly, JJ stumbled forward and landed face down on the ground. Spencer was almost dragged down with her, his fingers where actually frozen in their position around JJ's arm.

"Come on, JJ," he shouted over the howling winds, "You need to get up."

She didn't say anything but staggered to her feet and together they dragged each other towards the barn.

In a brief moment of panic, Spencer forgot which direction they were supposed to be going in. What if they had already walked past the building and missed it? He looked around wildly, causing JJ to stumble again as he stopped dead in his tracks.

"What's wrong?" she yelled.

"I don't know where we are!" Spencer shouted back.

Even though his vision was severely impaired, Spencer didn't miss the look of utter horror on JJ's face. So he pulled her forward and kept on walking. They couldn't possibly go back to the car now. It could be buried under ten feet of snow for all Spencer knew.

After a couple more minutes, Spencer felt a sharp pain in his right arm as he walked into the corner of something solid. He sent a silent prayer of thanks to anyone who might be listening and pulled JJ around to where he knew the door would be.

They had to use their combined strength to pull the big wooden door open, then again between them they had to use their body weight to pull the door closed from the inside against the battering snow. Spencer and JJ were plunged into complete darkness. Spencer fumbled for a lighter in his pocket. When he found it he held it up and lit it. A dull glow filled the room. Spencer liked to keep a lighter with him at all times, it was the fastest way of sterilising a needle if he could get nothing better.

The floor was strewn with hay but nothing else. Whatever this had one been for, it was no longer used. At least it was mildly warm though. Warmer than the car at least. Spencer glanced at JJ, she had a look of mute terror on her face that was impossible to ignore. There was a far away look in her eyes, almost as if she was reliving something.

"JJ?" Spencer said softly. She didn't respond.

"JJ," he said more loudly.

She jerked her head around to look at Spencer with wide eyes, "Did you say something?"

"I said, let's gather up some straw to put in the corner so we can sit on it," Spencer lied.

Nodding, JJ took a step forward and froze. Or at least she would have been frozen if it weren't for the uncontrollable shaking that racked her body. Spencer bit his lip and moved forward to put his arm around her shoulders. He did not miss the way she flinched away from his touch.

"JJ, what's wrong?" Spencer asked, refusing to let go of her despite her subtle foot shuffling away from him.

"I can hear…" she trailed off, looking around as though she expected to see something lurking in the shadows.

Spencer had no idea what she thought she could hear, "JJ," he said firmly, "There is nothing and nobody here but us."

She looked at him uncomprehendingly, "What?"

"There is no one here except us," Spencer said, pausing briefly between every word to make sure she understood. JJ nodded slowly but her shaking did not abate.

The lighter wasn't going to last much longer. Spencer glanced around and his eyes fell on an old fashioned oil lamp. Praying that it would work, he walked over to it and picked it up off the floor. There seemed to still be some oil in it but he didn't think it would last very long. He stood it up though and lit it. He was grateful for the amount of light it gave off, which still wasn't very much, but was better than his lighter.

Wrinkling his nose at the musty smell in the air, Spencer turned back to JJ, who still stood rooted to the spot in the middle of the floor.

"Come on," he said, ignoring the way she startled, "Help me move some of this hay."

She obeyed and together they pushed the yellow straw to the back wall to create some padding. Spencer set down the oil lamp in front of them and then sat down in it. It was awfully prickly and uncomfortable. JJ hesitated but soon sat down next to him and hugged her knees to her chest.

"It's still freezing in here," she remarked.

"I know," Spencer replied, secretly delighted that she seemed to have calmed down enough to speak properly.

"I hope the others don't worry too much," JJ said sadly.

"You know they will," said Spencer with a bitter smile, "I can practically hear Emily having a nervous breakdown as we speak, with Hotch trying to calm her down while Morgan will be scowling at the wall."

JJ tensed at Emily's name and Spencer frowned. To pry or not to pry, he thought.

"Has something happened between you and Emily?" he asked slowly.

JJ looked up sharply, "What makes you say that?"

Shrugging slightly, Spencer replied, "You haven't spoken to each other in days. You barely even look at each other anymore."

Looking down at her knees, JJ let out a small sigh, "It's nothing. Really."

"It doesn't seem like to nothing," said Spencer tentatively. He didn't want to force her to talk to him if she didn't want to.

"It's just me being stupid…" she said. Her eyes became glassy and she let out a deep shuddering sigh.

"I'm sure it isn't, JJ," Spencer said comfortingly, "Please, just talk to me."

"She knows," JJ all but whispered.

Spencer frowned, "What do you mean?"

"I mean…" JJ's voice was thick with emotion, "She was there. When…When people ask me if I'm okay, I say I am. But she's always there. And she always knows that I'm lying. I try to act like everything is fine. But I can't, because she knows it's not true. I just want to forget what happened. But I can't because Emily is always there to remind me."

Two tears slid down JJ's face and Spencer suddenly felt ashamed for the way he had been acting. He gently placed an arm around her shoulder and moved closer. He felt her tense up at the contact but after a few moments she relaxed. He waited until she had regained control of herself and the silent tears had subsided before going to speak. But she beat him to it.

"I just don't understand how she's okay already," JJ said in a shaky voice, "I wake up every single night while it's still dark outside because of nightmares. I haven't slept through a whole night since you rescued us. But Emily is fine. Why is she okay when I'm not?"

Spencer briefly debated assuring JJ that Prentiss was in fact just as messed up as she was, but this was obviously something JJ had been holding in for a while. So instead Spencer opted for simply comforting his friend.

"Shhh," he said consolingly, "Don't worry, JJ. We'll get you through this. Everything is going to be okay."

Her shaking increased again as more tears worked their way down her face. He pulled her even closer to him and she rested her head on his shoulder. He stroked her hair softly and did his best to try and keep her warm.

"I'm sorry," JJ said after a while, "I'm being stupid."

"No you aren't. Don't be silly," Spencer reassured her.

"I am. I don't recall you sobbing like a big baby almost a month after you were taken by Tobias," JJ sniffed.

A pang of guilt clutched Spencer's heart. If only she knew. If only she knew that even now, because of that day Spencer was ruining his whole life by taking dilaudid. Maybe she should know, Spencer thought. She had opened up to him, so maybe he should do the same. Yes, he was going to tell her. Now. On the count of three. One…Two…Three… Spencer still didn't speak. He felt as though something was actually clamping his lips shut. He couldn't do it.

"Are you okay?" JJ asked, and Spencer suddenly became aware that she was expecting a reply.

"Of course I'm okay," he said with a weak smile.

"What do you think–"

"JJ, I'm a drug addict."

For a moment neither of them said anything. Spencer held his breath and prayed desperately that she would not condemn him.

"Sorry?" JJ said, as though she didn't fully understand.

Spencer took in a deep breath, "After Tobias injected me with dilaudid…I became addicted. I can't stop JJ. I need help."

He was aware how pathetic and needy he sounded as he said these last sentences. Tears filled his eyes in anticipation of her rejection, but he refused to let them fall. He wouldn't make her feel bad for doing what they both knew she had too.

"That explains a lot," was all she said. Her voice was neither kind nor disapproving. She was merely stating a fact. Then, "Oh Spence, I'm so sorry."

"Sorry for what?" Spencer asked, knowing that she was going to leave him and that he deserved it.

"I'm sorry I didn't realise sooner. I should have known something was wrong," said JJ, her voice one of utter devastation.

Spencer was stunned. Did that mean she wasn't going to abandon him?

"No, JJ. This is in no way your fault," Spencer said firmly, "This is my own doing."

"No it is my fault. I should never have let us split up in the first place. Then you never would have been taken…"

"Stop. You don't know that," Spencer said, placing a finger on her lips for emphasis. He felt her let out a long breath. In a moment of clarity Spencer suddenly realised why the blonde woman had been so terrified of this place. It must have reminded her of that day.

She rested her face on his shoulder again and Spencer could feel a fresh wave of hot tears soaking into his shirt. He wrapped both of his arms around her and held her close and together they sat out the storm, comforted in the knowledge that neither of them were alone anymore.

Author's Note(s): Well, writing this was an ordeal. I did my best to get their emotions as realistic as possible.

Next chapter I think will be Prentiss' point of view. I haven't quite decided yet though.

Thank you again to everyone who is reading:)