Her past catches up with her

I don't own Higher Ground, Criminal Minds or Crossing Jordan. Might not be suitable for young children. Some mild swearing and intended sexual violence.

Chapter 16

"If we cut the power to his house, then they can't use lights to see us enter." JJ's cell phone rang. She picks it up, "Jearau."

"Finally we talk after ten long years. Do you still feel me inside you?" Josh says, trying to get JJ to react.

"What's it going to take to get you to release the rest of the hostages?" She asks, professionally.

"You."

"And that's it?"

"I'll release all the hostages but Jess. She's for my man, Walt. Well, you are too. But you're mostly mine. I'll call back in ten minutes so you can talk it over with your people." He hands up.

"What'd he say?" Hotch asks.

"Me."

"Nope, sorry. It's not happening. I already have one agent unaccounted for in there."

"He's going to release them all, except Jess. I can handle him sir. I learned from the best." Talking about Peter and then Hotch.

"You go in with a hidden gun. I'm not taking any chances." The phone rings again.

"Jearau."

"Where in the hell did you get that stupid name?"

"You have a deal. I want them to slowly walk out of the garage. Once their far enough away, I start my way into the garage. But when I'm in, I want to see Jess." JJ says.

"Fine. You have a deal. But if I see any cops close to the house, I shoot."

"Fine. You have five minutes to get all the hostages together and then send them out. FIVE MINUTES!" JJ says and hangs up.

"JJ, I don't like this. Are you sure there isn't another way to do this?" Hotch asks.

"Hotch, you have no authority over me. Right now I'm on leave. So I'm technically a civilian. This has been long awaited. I want to see my little sister and hold her again. I've missed her so much." JJ says, looking at the ground so Hotch couldn't see the fear in her eyes.

"I guess. I'll see you when you get back." Hotch says, hugging JJ. JJ slowly puts her arms around Hotch.

Josh unlocks and goes downstairs to collect the ladies. Josh unlocks the door to the room the ladies are in.

"You ladies are leaving. So it's your lucky day. Now move!" Josh yells. Sophie, Kate and Daisy rush out of the room, up the stairs and then wait for Josh to lead them out." You ladies know where the other two left. You're leaving the same way. Now Go!" Josh yells. Now he's got to find that black guy. Josh heads upstairs.

When Josh disappeared, Sophie stops the girls. "We can't leave without Jess and Agent Morgan."

"But Soph, we have no idea where anything is in this house. We'd get lost and be in trouble ourselves. Agent Morgan can take care of himself. As for Jess, Agent Morgan will protect her." Kate says.

"Okay, let's go." Sophie says, reluctantly. So the ladies exit the house and then the garage.

Just before JJ starts to walk toward the house, Shawn says, "Jen, make sure you come back in one piece. Take care." Shawn gives her a hug and a peck on the cheek.

"Thanks Michaels. I'll try." JJ says. She walks a few steps then stops. She turns to look at everyone one last time. She turns back to the house and sees the three ladies come hurrying out. JJ continues forward. When the ladies and JJ meet, JJ asks, "Where's Morgan?"

"He went to find Jess." Sophie says.

"Shelby!" Daisy yells and hugs her.

"Oh Das, we have to sit down and talk when this is all over. I've missed you so much. Same with you Kate. Hank and Peter are out there waiting for you two. I'll see you all soon. Now go!" JJ says, then transforms into an emotionless, determined agent. Daisy knew what she's doing. Sophie, Kate and a slow, reluctant Daisy finish their walk to the authorities. Sophie and Peter hug each other as do Hank and Kate. Daisy just watches as JJ disappears into the garage. Reid comes over to Daisy.

"Are you okay? He didn't hurt you or anything, right?" Reid asks.

"I'm fine. Thank you for asking. No, he just locked us back up. How are you feeling?"

"Still, a little fuzzy, but I'm getting there. Would you like to sit down and maybe have some water?"

"I'm concerned about Shelby right now. I…I'm sorry. I didn't mean to be rude. It's just been ten years since I saw Shelby and now she's throwing herself to the lions, so to speak. Oh, what those men did to her. I use the word men loosely." Daisy says, tearing up as she stares at the house, lost in thoughts of year long since past.

Once JJ enters the house, she tries to calm her heart. She slowly enters and looks for a sign of anyone.

"Hello? Anyone here?" She knew they're there, but it's the first thing to come out of her mouth. Then she hears some scuffling noise above her. She rushes to the next room in search of the stairs to go up and check out the noise. She has to travel through three rooms to find the staircase and heads up as fast as she can. Then she has another set of stairs to climb as the noise gets louder. When she gets up there, she heads to the room the noise is coming from. But before she reaches the room, Josh and Derek come flying out of the room, entangled in a scuffle. JJ breaks them up.

"STOP IT! DEREK!" Both guys stop and look at JJ. "Where's Jess and Walt?" They both just stare at her. "I will NOT ask again!" They both point to the room. JJ slowly walks. She has a feeling something bad is happening. She felt like she's watching a movie. As she turns the corner and into the room. JJ sees a grown Jess lying on the bed. Walt's on the other side of the bed holding onto Jess' hand. He's crying.

"Why's Jess sleeping?" JJ asks angry.

"Hey Kitten."

"Don't call me that! Why's Jess sleeping? What did you give her?"

"Nothing." Walt says. Morgan walks in.

"JJ, she's dead. By the time I got to her, Walt had killed her."

"WHAT?" JJ yells. She starts crying.

"Baby girl, she's dead. I'm so sorry. I let you both down." Morgan says, his head hanging down in shame.

"No Morgan. You didn't let anyone down. You did what you could. Thank you for trying. Can you do me a favor?" JJ asks, calmly.

"Sure Angel."

"Will you carry my little sister's body out to the barricade?"

"Sure, as long as you come with us." Morgan says.

"NO! That wasn't part of the deal. Sorry that she's dead, but we have a deal." Josh says, getting antsy.

"That's right, Josh. We have a deal. Just take Jess out of here. Tell everyone I'm fine. I'll see you and everyone soon enough." JJ says, hugging Derek and kissing him on the cheek.

"Are you sure?" Derek asks.

"Yes. Take care of my little sis. At least until I can see her at the morgue. Make sure they know of her condition." JJ says, raising her eyebrows.

"Okay. I love you baby girl. Remember what you've learned." Morgan whispers to her. JJ just nods. Morgan gently scopes Jess' lifeless body up off the bed.

"Let me show you out. Shel or JJ or whatever, stay here. I'll be back." Josh says, leading Derek downstairs to the exit. While Josh's gone, it's just JJ and Walt.

"What happened?" JJ asks calmly.

"she sassed me. I slapped her and she must've hit her head on a piece of furniture. I didn't mean to hurt her. Kitten, please believe me."

"Walt, why did you hurt Jess and I for all those years if you didn't mean to hurt her? I want and deserve an answer. I don't think it's too much to ask for." JJ asks, still eerily calm. Before Walt can answer, Josh comes back into the room. He's carrying a bottled water.

"I thought you might want some water. Here." Josh hands the bottle of water to her. She totally forgets that Morgan and Reid had been drugged with water. She takes it, opens it and drinks. But this time it's laced with GHB. JJ starts to get dizzy and not able to hold her own body up. Josh and Walt move her body over to the bed. They laid her down.

"What are you guys doing?" A groggy and dazed JJ asks.