A/N: Thanks to everyone who has read, reviewed, favorited or followed this story!

This is the first chapter where JJ will see one other team member. I promise that the others will be present in the following chapters.

Special thanks to jenny crum, Jotchprossi18, dino-dog83, arjemma, guest, Jayda Jareau-Hotchner and Twilightangell!

I don't own criminal minds!

Chapter 9: A way out

November 10th 2012

Hotch had stayed beside JJ's bedside all night. He hadn't closed his eyes for a single second. He could only keep wondering what was going to happen next. He had no idea how JJ was going to recover or where she was going to go. He preferred her to stay with him, but that was probably the last thing she would consider after everything that happened to her. They needed to talk to the doctor first because he hadn't said anything about it.

Hotch rose from his chair when the door opened softly. Rossi stepped inside, signaling Hotch to come outside. Hotch followed him into the hallway where he immediately saw JJ's parents standing. His anger showed on his face when he stepped towards them.

''Hello.'' he greeted as politely as possible.

''Agent Hotchner.'' Sandy responded kindly. ''How are you?''

''Excuse us.'' Hotch said to his team. He turned to the Jareau's. ''We should talk somewhere in private.''

''Of course.'' Bill agreed.

Hotch took JJ's parents into the already familiar waiting room. He kept standing while JJ's parents both took a seat in the chairs.

''How is she?'' Sandy asked.

Hotch looked at her. She looked a lot older than the last time he had seen her. ''I don't know.''

''How can you not know?'' Bill asked angrily.

Hotch finally sat down. He didn't know how to talk to these people. The last time he had seen them was about five years ago. He informed them about another lead when they told him to stop calling them. They said they had given up hope and they couldn't deal with it anymore. They just gave up on their daughter. And he just couldn't believe how they could possibly do that. ''I don't know. And I don't think you have the right to know anymore.''

''I know you're mad at us.'' Bill said defensively. ''But every single time you called us, we thought JJ was coming back. But every time that didn't happen. Do you have any idea what it feels like?''

''Yes I do!'' Hotch answered.

''No, you have no idea what it's like. No idea!'' Bill said angrily. ''Our children were taken from us!''

Hotch knew they Bill had every right to be mad. But that comment was unfair to everyone who loved JJ. ''I know that. What happened to you is not fair.'' he started. ''But JJ wasn't just taken from you. She was taken from me. She was taken from the team.'' he went on. ''Do you have any idea how my team has been doing for the past six years?''

''What are you talking about?'' Sandy asked.

''Emily Prentiss, JJ's best friend, spent the past six years of her life blaming herself for what happened to JJ. But she was there through all the new leads. She was there when we needed to identity bodies. After two and a half years of looking for her friend, she moved away because she couldn't stand more heartache. But she was there every single day! She was with us when we searched the woods. She never gave up!'' he explained angrily. ''And then there's the rest of my team. They all wanted to give up, but they never did. Not once! So, don't ever underestimate what these people have been going through for the past six years when you decided to walk away! You don't get to tell me or them how it feels because they never gave up when you did. You walked away after a year! You gave up on JJ after one year! How could you?''

''We didn't want to! But the calls and the new leads were tearing us apart. We needed to shield ourselves from it all. And I hope you can find a place in your heart to forgive us.'' Bill said, realizing that he made a big mistake five years ago.

''You don't need my forgiveness. You need JJ's forgiveness.''

''Is she awake?'' Sandy asked carefully. She wanted to see her daughter. She wanted to hug her and tell her how much she loved her.

''She's probably still asleep, but she was awake last night.'' Hotch replied. ''But she's not doing so good.''

''What happened to her?'' Bill asked as he took his wife's hand in his. They hang on to each other for live, hoping the news wasn't going to be bad. But Hotch's expression was one of horror and defeat.

''I don't know much. JJ didn't want to talk about it, so we don't know many details. But the doctor found evidence of rape and abuse.''

Hotch watched as Bill and Sandy broke down in tears. Sandy was in a panic at first when the words came out of his mouth, but it turned into cries. Bill held her as he fought his own tears while trying to console his wife in the process.

''I'm so sorry the news wasn't better. But I promise that I'll do anything to bring down the people who did this. They won't get away and the police is already working on it.''

Hotch stayed with them while JJ's parents took in his words. But Hotch knew there was no way it was ever going to make sense to them. Their own daughter had been hurt in the worst way possible and there was no cure for it. There was no way to instantly heal JJ from her past.

Hotch was pulled from his chair when Emily walked into the waiting room. Hotch rose and walked halfway to meet Emily.

''Hey.'' he greeted sincerely, noticing the pain on her face. It never left and he wondered how long it would take for it to ever leave. ''What's going on?''

''JJ is awake again. The doctor just told us. They tried to examine her, but she fought them off. Dr. Phell thinks it is best if someone she knows goes in to calm her down.''

''Can we see her?'' Bill asked.

''Please.'' Sandy pleaded.

''It's not my choice.'' Hotch said simply. ''But I'll go with you.''

The three of them walked to JJ's room. Hotch stopped before they all stepped inside. He wanted to warn JJ's parents about her condition and distant behavior. They needed to be prepared as much as they possibly could. It would give them less of a shock.

''JJ's body is covered in bruises, cuts and scars. It's best to not look at them with shock because she can become self-aware. She probably already is, but it's the best way to reconnect with her. There's also a chance that she will behave cold and distant. So, don't be shocked when that happens.''

As Sandy and Bill listened to Hotch, they just couldn't believe it. Reconnect? That wasn't fair to any of them. They had to be careful in order to see their daughter. They didn't even know if they could hold their own family.

''Okay.'' they said in unison.

Hotch finally opened the door. He immediately saw that JJ was shivering and shaking. Her eyes were big and filled with fear again. The calmness he had seen before was gone.

''JJ, there are some people here to see you.'' Hotch stated softly. He opened the door further, showing her parents.

JJ felt her heart race as she looked at Hotch opening the door. She suddenly saw her mother and father. The tears were in their eyes as they looked at her. She felt so ashamed. She felt dirty and like she didn't deserve to live. She wanted to shield herself from everyone in the room, but there was nothing she could possibly do.

''JJ?'' Sandy called out, stepping next to the bed. She didn't recognize the woman in the bed. She didn't look like JJ. She was nothing like the bubbly personality JJ had. Nothing like it and it scared her.

''JJ?'' Bill asked, putting his hand on JJ's shoulder without realizing what he just did.

JJ backed away immediately. But her reaction wasn't just backing away. Her body started shaking even more.

Bill only wanted to comfort his daughter. So, he touched her shoulder again and this time the reaction from JJ was explosive.

JJ leaped from the bed and duck away in the corner of the room. She could still feel the touch as a burning sensation in her body. It scared her more than anything that she was so scared of her own father. But she was so terrified. She didn't feel safe anywhere.

Hotch couldn't watch the situation unfold. It was a huge mistake to bring JJ's parents into her room. It only worsened JJ's panic. He turned to her parents. ''I'll take care of her. It's best if you two leave. She's too scared right now.'' he explained quickly while he still had his back turned to JJ.

''JJ, don't!'' Sandy yelled out at once. ''Don't!'' she pleaded.

Hotch turned around to JJ. She had a scalpel in her hand. She was about to cut her left wrist. ''JJ, don't do it!'' Hotch yelled as he ran towards her.

The yelling caused Emily to run into the room as well. She saw Hotch standing a few feet away from JJ while she had scalpel on her wrist. ''You two need to get out of here.'' Emily ordered as she pushed JJ's parents backwards. Their cries and yells weren't going to help this situation. When Emily was in the hallway she saw Derek running around the corner. Apparently, everyone had heard the loud screams coming from the room.

''What's going on?'' he called out.

''JJ has a knife.'' she replied, trying to keep JJ's parents away from the door.

As everything went down, Hotch was kneeled down in front of JJ, trying to talk her down. It was the second time this was happening. He couldn't stand to see her so scared. It tore him apart.

''JJ!'' he pleaded. ''Drop it.''

JJ's hands were shaking and she just couldn't stop it. She didn't want to live. She wanted to be free from all the pain and suffering. She wanted it all to just end. But as she looked into Hotch's eyes she just couldn't. Something stopped her. She had to try. She couldn't just give up. But she couldn't let go off the knife. She kept it pointed at her wrist.

''JJ, don't!'' Derek called down as he sat down next to Hotch. ''I got it!'' he said to Hotch.

Hotch wasn't about to leave, but he moved a few feet backwards to let Derek try. He watched as Derek sat down on the ground.

''Derek?'' JJ asked softly. It was really him. The guy who was like a brother to her. The person who always protected her.

''It's me, baby girl.'' he said as his heart was breaking. She looked so bad. He just still couldn't believe what he was seeing. He partially knew what JJ was going through. He had experienced abuse in his childhood.

''I know what you're going through, JJ.'' Derek began. ''It happened to me when I was still a kid. And for years I thought about hurting myself because I felt so ashamed.'' he said, pointing at JJ's wrist. ''The shame and hurt was too much and it tore me apart.''

JJ let the scalpel slip as Derek's words were getting to her. What he described was exactly how she felt. She never thought Derek would've been a victim like her. There were probably many differences, but she just couldn't believe it. ''I'm sorry!'' she cried out.

''It's okay.'' Derek whispered, handing the scalpel to Hotch who looked at him with disbelief in his eyes. Derek gave him a nod. It was an apology and a token of his appreciation. ''I never let him beat me, JJ. I never gave him that satisfaction.'' he explained. ''I want to make the people pay who hurt you. They need to be put in prison, but we need your help. I promise you that no one will ever hurt you again. I promise!''

JJ nodded her head slowly. ''Okay.'' she whispered.

Derek let out a sigh in relief. He did it. He talked her down. He couldn't believe that it all just happened. It seemed like a nightmare he needed to wake up from. The past six years had been a big nightmare for everyone.

Hotch watched from the doorway as Derek helped JJ up from the floor and put her back into the bed. He knew they still had a long way to go filled with struggles and this was just a beginning. But they were patiently reconnecting with JJ and that was the most important thing for now.