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Special thanks to jenny crum, dino-dog83 and Jotchprossi18!

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Chapter 14: Untold truths

November 10th 2012

Hotch stepped inside the interrogation room where Charlie was still sitting. The team was getting more evidence by the hour, but there was still no one who knew where Steven Hicks could possibly be. The one man who probably hurt JJ the most, was gone. Hotch needed to find him. He wanted to arrest him himself.

''I need to ask you some questions Charlie.'' Hotch announced as he sat down across from the man. ''It'll be best if you help me for your own sake.''

''How is JJ?'' Charlie asked with worry in his voice. He really did care about her.

Hotch couldn't believe he was actually asking about JJ. He didn't have the right ask about her. ''You don't need to know anything about JJ. I am going to ask you some questions and I need you to answer them.'' he ordered impatiently.

''What's your problem?''

''My problem is that my agent has been missing for six years! And I want to catch the person who is responsible for her disappearance.''

''Steven Hicks!'' Charlie stated.

''I know his name, but we have no idea where he is. We already but out an APB.'' Hotch explained, trying to stay calm. ''What can you tell me about him?''

''I don't know anything about that guy.''

Hotch rose from his chair in anger. He needed answers. There wasn't any time to mess around. ''You went to his business every single day of the week for four years. You know something!''

Charlie leaned back in the chair. Hotch was intimidating him, but there wasn't much he could give him. ''I know that Steven had a personal interest in JJ. No one was allowed to touch JJ or do anything to her.''

''But why did you get time with her?''

''Because I never had sex with her. I only talked to her.''

''So you are telling me that you didn't go to the warehouse to get some action?''

Charlie shook his head. His arms were folded in front of his body. ''Yeah, I was until…'' he tried to say but Hotch interrupted him.

''Until what?''

''Until I saw JJ.'' he replied. ''There was something different about her. The look in her eyes and the intensity in her expression. I couldn't hurt her and I never did.''

''What happened afterwards?''

''Steven knew that JJ and I only talked.'' he began. ''After four weeks he gave me a deal.''

''What kind of deal?''

Charlie sighed deeply. It was a long story and sometimes he wondered why he kept going back to JJ. He always wondered what it was that drew him in. Maybe he just felt a need to help her. ''I would be the only one who could spent time with JJ during the week and no one would hurt her on the weekends. So she was safe for four years.''

''No, she wasn't Charlie.'' Hotch stated sadly.

''What? What are you talking about?''

''Steven raped JJ on the weekends. He kept her to himself. But JJ told us you left after four years and that everything became worse after that. Do you have any idea what happened? Why did you have to leave?'' Hotch asked, hoping everything was going to make more sense.

Charlie shook his head again. ''I don't know.'' he answered. ''Steven came to me one day and said JJ didn't want to see me anymore and if I ever came back that he would kill me.''

Hotch realized Charlie really didn't know anything. He seemed to answer all the questions with honesty and that was enough for now. Hotch rose from the chair to exit the room, but he stopped when Charlie named a name that had been haunting him for six years.

''Maybe Julia knows something about what happened to JJ.'' Charlie called out before Hotch left the interrogation room.

''Julia?'' Hotch asked desperately as he turned to Charlie. ''Julia? As in J-U-L-I-A?''

''Yes. Why?''

''The name has been mentioned before, but we don't know who she is.''

''She is JJ's best friend. JJ told me that she and Julia talked to each other all the time and that she was one of the people who helped JJ hold on.''

''Thank you, Charlie. This is something we need to talk to JJ about.'' Hotch said before leaving the room.

In the hospital JJ was laying the in the bed, replaying the past six years over and over again. She knew the memories were going to haunt her for the rest of her life. There was no way she could ever erase the images.

JJ's body responded to the door that suddenly opened. She saw Garcia's face appearing in the room. She looked really sad and JJ had no idea what she was supposed to say to her former friend.

''Hey,'' Garcia said softly. ''I wanted to check on you. I just came back from the police station.''

''Hi,'' JJ mustered. It was all she knew how to say. ''I'm glad you're here.'' she added.

Garcia smiled when JJ finally said more. She had missed the blonde so much. It was still like a dream. ''I had to sneak in because the doctors wanted you to rest. But I thought you could use some company.''

JJ stayed silent while Garcia sat down in the chair at her bedside. ''I've overheard the team talking about what happened to you.'' she explained. ''I'm so sorry, JJ. I wish I could go back six years and safe you.''

JJ's eyes started to water when a tear ran down Garcia's cheek. ''You can't.'' JJ said angrily.

''Are you okay?'' Garcia asked.

''No,'' JJ answered and Garcia's heart clenched at that answer.

''Do you want to be alone?''

JJ considered her question. ''I don't know.'' she finally said at last.

The door suddenly opened and an angry Hotch stepped inside. He saw Garcia sitting next to the bed with tears in her eyes. ''I'm sorry Penelope but I have to interrupt.''

''Of course, sir.'' she said, standing up from the chair. It seemed like no one was allowed to have some time alone with JJ. Everyone was interrupted. But she could see in Hotch's expression that it was something important.

JJ watched as Garcia left the room and Hotch stepped closer. There was an urgency on his face. He also carried a look of distrust. ''What do you want?'' she asked coldly.

''I want to help you, JJ. I really do, but I can't when you keep details or names from us.'' Hotch explained.

''I didn't even talk to you!'' she began. ''I talked to Rossi. It's none of your business.''

''It is!''

''Why do you even care?''

Hotch felt the anger rise in his body. But he couldn't explode. The entire situation was pushing his boundaries. JJ was different. The team was tense and there were no leads to find Steven Hicks. ''Really? That's your question?'' he asked with disappointment. ''Why do I care?'' he repeated before actually answering. He couldn't wrap his head around that question. It was unfair. ''JJ, the past six years have been the worst years for everyone who cares about you. We want to do anything to help you, but we can't do that if you're not honest with us.'' he explained. ''With me!''

''I just don't want you to see me like this.''

''Why not?''

''Because this is not me. I don't want you to look at me with pity, Hotch.'' she cried out.

He stepped closer and hovered over the bed to pull her into a hug. Her head rested on her shoulder as he held her tightly. ''I would never do that, JJ.'' he whispered into her ear. ''I know you went through hell and I can't change but I do want to help you. I want to be there when you start to heal.''

JJ pulled away. Nothing about him changed. He was still the same comforting man she met years ago. ''Heal?''

''Yes.'' he replied. ''I hope you find yourself again.''

''The sweet innocent girl you had an affair with is dead!'' JJ stated. ''The girl you once knew isn't coming back.''

Hotch was shocked by the intensity of JJ's words. It broke his heart a little more. ''It was more than an affair, JJ. You know that.''

''No, I don't know! And I don't care about that anymore. It happened and it'll never happen again. I'll never have an affair with you again.''

''I'm not married anymore, JJ. I filed for divorce about a month after your disappearance.'' he replied. He didn't want to have discussion which caused him to get right to the point. ''Who is Julia?''

JJ was about to say something about his divorce when the name fell from his lips. Julia was the last person she wanted to think or talk about. Just thinking about the name made her body shake. Those were memories she wanted to keep buried forever.