Blake winced as she very carefully sat down in the passenger's seat of JJ's car. The blonde woman shook her head.

"Are you absolutely sure you're well enough to leave the hospital?"

"That's what the doctors said."

"Did they, really? Or did you nag on them until they felt like they had no choice but to let you have your way?"

"There may have occurred some pressure from my side," she admitted, and JJ laughed.

"Fine, but please don't overdo anything. I'll be watching you like a hawk."

"I know you will," Blake sighed, but her annoyance was mainly acted. She was grateful that JJ had volunteered to stay at her place a couple of days; she wasn't sure how well she would cope with seeing James's belongings, not to mention the surroundings where she had used to curl up in fear and pain. The kitchen island where he had once raped her from behind while she was making dinner. The couch in the living room which held the faded but not completely invisible stains of blood from that time when he had closed her hand around a glass she had accidentally broken. The bookshelves that had been dotted with her blood after he hit her in the face one of the first times, causing a nosebleed (but not a broken nose; now she had that experience to add to the long list of familiar pains). She was afraid that her own home would feel like a haunted house with old ghosts in every corner, and yes, she was grateful that JJ would stay with her. Especially during the nights. Even in the hospital she had woken up several times each night from nightmares. She didn't expect it to be any easier now, at least not yet.

Blake was mentally going through every single beating she had ever taken; every detail was burned into her memory. As they parked outside her home, JJ gave her a side-glance and said;

"Don't go there. You're revisiting the past. Stay here with me."

She made an almost visible effort to return to the present, and nodded.

"Could you help me get out of the car, please, I don't think I can do it on my own."

JJ was tempted to ask Alex if she had finally changed her mind about accepting help when she needed it, but decided that asking it flat out might scare her into denial. The thing about this woman was that you always had to tiptoe around her emotions. She was tough as hell when she had to be, but emotionally, she was extremely fragile. So JJ simply got out, walked around the car and helped her colleague and friend step out. She was in pain, very clearly, but JJ knew the painkillers had been wearing off already when they left the hospital.

"You okay?" she asked as she steadied her on the way to the door. Blake shook her head.

"No, but I will be, in time."

Yes, I actually think you will. I didn't think so when I saw you with your own gun to your head, but you're going to be fine.

She smiled and stroke Blake's shoulder. To her surprise, instead of recoiling at the touch, the other woman leaned into it. JJ's smile widened. Alex was damaged, but not beyond repair.

Later, as JJ had made them some coffee and insisted that the other woman took her painkillers instead of suffering through the pain to show how resilient she was - that part of Alex would probably always remain, JJ thought - they both sat down in the living room. JJ had noticed the faded stain and seen the way Alex looked at it; as if it was going to come alive and attack her, so she had simply sat down on it to keep it hidden. Once she did that, the older woman seemed to relax.

"I spoke to my lawyer… well, our lawyer, but technically he's mine now. Given that there were no official records of us… separating, and most certainly no divorce, I will inherit everything. I just wanted my own money back, what was on the accounts he took down, you know?"

"Mhm," JJ said. She feared where this was going. Perhaps James had been a gambler or wasted his money on hookers; perhaps Alex was broke now. But the truth turned out to be something else entirely.

"Turns out, he's been investing money everywhere. Or, should I say, everywhere he could profit from it." She chewed her lip a little before continuing; "I inherit 4.2 million dollars."

"Oh my God Alex!"

"Yeah," she said and sighed softly. "I don't know how that makes me feel. Part of me feel like…" she paused and searched for words. "Like a whore, to be completely blunt. I feel like he paid me off to get away with treating me like that all these years."

"Don't…"

"But," she went on without acknowledging JJ, "on the other hand I'm pleased. That son of a bitch couldn't take anything with him and now it's up to me to spend his money any way I see fit."

"Will you stop working?" JJ couldn't help being a little worried about this. Blake scoffed.

"And do what? Spend my days shopping? No way. Besides, I haven't even decided what to do with the money yet; I'm not sure I want to keep it. I'll have to take some time and think about it." She smiled. "And figure out where to go with my life from here."

"Well, you never have to be alone unless you choose to. I hope the team have convinced you of that," JJ said, returning the smile.

"Yes. And I want to thank you all, for everything. Actually, I'm inviting the whole team over here this weekend. I know I've never been much of a socialiser, but I had my reasons. Now, I have no secrets to keep, and that's a relief."

JJ leaned forward and gave her a gentle hug. Alex returned it without going rigid even for a moment, which told JJ everything she needed to know. The healing process had started, and not just the physical.

A/N

There. The story is finally done. And yeah, the money came as a complete surprise for me too, hahaha! XD

Thank you everyone for your support, it wasn't an easy story to write and I suppose it wasn't very easy to read either, given its horrible nature. But… I've said it before, I don't do sad endings. There has to be hope.