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

And thanks to CriminalCrazy for being my beta!

I don't own criminal minds!

Chapter 24: Standing up

January 21st 2013

Hotch angrily closed his laptop. It had been two months since he had last seen and spoken to JJ. There hadn't been a call or email. He had tried to call her multiple times, but it didn't seem to help at all. He knew that the rest of the team also hadn't been in contact with JJ. Hotch was worrying every single day. Now he realized that knowing where she was didn't even help him move on. He couldn't concentrate on his work. His mind was with JJ every single second.

Emily walked passed Hotch's office. She saw he was just staring off into the distance. He had been like that every single day. She decided to step inside with his permission. He didn't even flinch. ''Hotch?'' she asked in a whisper.

Hotch looked up at the brunette who had decided to rejoin the team after they left Seattle. Blake's husband had a job offer she couldn't refuse, which gave Emily a spot at the BAU. At first it took a lot of convincing, but he knew it wouldn't be a mistake. ''Is your consult done?''

Emily shook her head she approached his desk. She sat down in one of the chairs. ''Are you alright?''

''I'm fine.'' he lied easily, realizing Emily knew him better.

''I know I haven't seen you in a long time before I came back, but I know you Hotch. You're not fine.'' she began. ''You haven't been yourself in the past six years and no one will ever blame you for that. JJ just needs some time.''

Hotch felt like yelling in anger. Not Emily. But at the world. How did everything get so messed up? ''How much time?''

''I don't know.'' she answered.

''I am just wondering if anything was ever real to her.'' Hotch questioned, hoping Emily could put those thoughts at rest.

''Hotch, JJ loved you. Of course it was real to her.''

''She loved me! That's the point. I don't know what she feels for me now. I might be waiting for something that will never happen anyway.''

''We all wear masks, Hotch. I think JJ needs someone to remind her that she has people who love her.'' she started. ''She might not believe it at first. But I truly believe that's what she needs right now.''

Hotch suddenly rose from his chair. He put on his coat and turned to Emily. ''You're right!''

Emily was shocked by his sudden reaction. ''Where are you going?''

''I'm going to East Allegheny.'' he answered. ''Do you want come with me?''

''You should go alone. But say hi to JJ for me.''

''I will, Em.'' he said with a thankful expression.

Emily couldn't help but smile. He was still fighting for the girl he loved. That brought shivers to her body. Hotch's love was loyal and deep. ''Good luck!''

''Thank you.'' Hotch said before storming out of the office.

The ride to East Allegheny was filled with doubts and hesitation. Hotch just needed reassurance that JJ was safe and doing well. It wasn't like JJ to not make contact after she promised to do so, and that was the one that worried Hotch the most. His calls always went straight to voicemail. Not even JJ's parents picked up her phone.

After a four hour drive Hotch finally pulled up in front of JJ's childhood home. It looked like every house in the neighborhood. The big front yard led to the porch. Hotch stepped from the SUV and made his way to the front door. He had seen a car in the driveway. It meant that someone had to be home. He rang the bell two times before he heard movement on the other side of the door. He saw a shocked Sandy Jareau on the other side of the door.

''Age…agent Hotchner?'' she stuttered. ''What are you doing here?''

Hotch saw the fear on her face. ''I'm here to visit JJ. I've been calling and mailing for the past two months, but I haven't heard anything. I'm worried.'' he explained.

Sandy stepped in the middle of the doorway, stopping Hotch from entering her home. ''JJ is out with a friend right now. She won't home until tonight.''

''First of all, I know you're lying.'' he analyzed. ''And JJ told me she didn't have any friends in her hometown.''

''I…I…'' Sandy stumbled.

''Where is JJ?''

''She's upstairs.'' Sandy answered.

Hotch carefully pushed his way into the house. He ran up the stairs and opened the first door to his right. It was empty. He moved on to the door on the left. He gently opened the door. He walked into the room and he didn't see anyone. He inspected the room and he suddenly heard a sound coming from behind the door. It was a soft cry and he his sense remembered that sound. He would never forget JJ's cries. They were still stuck in his head. He closed the door, revealing a scared JJ.

JJ looked up from the floor. There hadn't been any visitors since the first night she came home. Every sound in the house scared her. Every voice made her flinch. Her head was in overdrive every single second of the day. She couldn't close her eyes for a moment or she would relive the rapes she went through.

Hotch froze when he looked into her eyes. She looked even worse than two months ago. Her face was pale and she looked exhausted. Even though the bruises had disappeared, her condition was worse. She looked more scared than before. And her eyes. God, those eyes killed him. They were empty. He couldn't find a trace of JJ in the person he saw in front of him.

''JJ?'' Hotch asked. He turned around when he heard a knock on the door. He didn't even pay a attention to the person who walked in. He was so angry. He knew JJ's parents weren't capable of giving JJ was she so desperately needed.

''Is everything alright?'' Sandy asked softly, standing behind Hotch.

JJ wasn't responding to Hotch or her mother. Hotch turned to Sandy. ''What the hell happened to her?''

''We tried to help her, but she wouldn't let us. She hasn't been talking to any of us.'' Sandy said defensively.

''There has to be a reason because JJ was doing better when she was still in the hospital.'' he said angrily. ''What happened?'' he repeated.

''We threw her a surprise party when she came back home. An old friend of us approached JJ from behind and lifted her up.'' Sandy answered.

''I can't believe you!'' Hotch said. He wanted to yell at the woman, but JJ was still in the room with them. ''Your daughter needed more from you. I explained to you that she wouldn't get better magically.''

''JJ's behavior is the reason why we wanted no involvement a year after she disappeared. We were afraid that we would never get out real daughter back!'' Sandy yelled out, realizing the mistake she made when Hotch's expression changed.

''Your daughter has been fighting for six years to stay alive!'' Hotch yelled. He couldn't stop his rage any longer. JJ's parents had gone way too far. This was just the last straw. ''You don't deserve to have her in your life!''

JJ overheard the entire conversation. She had never seen Hotch so angry with anyone and she wished he would stop. But when she heard her mother's comment, her heart broke into pieces. She never knew her own parents gave up. But that wasn't the worst of it all. Her own mother actually thought she chose what happened to her. ''Aaron?'' JJ called out.

Hotch immediately turned around when he heard her voice. He saw that JJ was trying to stand up, but she probably didn't have enough energy to do it by herself. Hotch tried to help but JJ cringed. ''I am not going to hurt you, JJ.'' he promised.

JJ barely looked at him. She couldn't face him. She was too terrified. Her body was weak and her mind was replaying her trauma over and over again. ''Don't.'' she warned, knowing she couldn't deal with a single touch.

JJ took some time to get up on her own, but she did it. She ignored Hotch and stopped in front of her mother. She needed to say what she thought. Even if it was the last thing she would ever say to her.

''Are you okay?'' Sandy asked.

JJ looked into her eyes. ''Are you kidding me?'' JJ mumbled.

''No, I just want to know how you're doing.''

''This is the first time I've actually seen you in four days. You avoid me every chance you get. You don't even care!'' JJ yelled as hard as she could. ''You're just trying to cover your own ass because someone from the FBI is here.'' she added, but she was far from done. ''You stopped caring about me after a year? What kind of parent does that?''

''We thought we would never see you again, JJ! You should consider that!'' Sandy yelled back.

JJ tried to keep her balance the best she could. Her body was weak and she knew her legs couldn't hold her much longer. ''Don't use a defense with me!'' she said. ''Not after everything I've seen an been through. That's not fair. I shouldn't have to explain myself to my own mother.''

''JJ, please!'' Sandy begged. ''Don't be mad!''

JJ couldn't believe her mother was actually pleading for her forgiveness. ''I can't even look at you. Let alone talk to you!'' JJ began to explain. ''Everything it came down to was faith, but you couldn't even try. Could you?''

''It was too hard. We lost one daughter and we couldn't hold onto hope. We did the same with Rachel and it didn't work.''

''I don't want an explanation.'' JJ started. ''I was hoping that you would at least try to understand my side in all of this.'' she went on. ''And if you want to know how I am you should just ask!'' she yelled out. ''I am ripped apart. Okay!''

''JJ…'' Sandy began, but JJ interrupted.

''I'm not going to give you closure. I am not going to understand you and I sure as hell won't talk to you again.'' JJ said, turning to Hotch.

Hotch just stood by and let it all happen. He felt proud of JJ. She showed her mother exactly what she thought and that was amazing to watch. ''You can stay with me.'' Hotch suggested immediately.

''Okay.'' JJ agreed, dropping to the floor. All her energy was really gone.

Hotch helped JJ up again, supporting her. Hotch heard JJ's mother yelling frantically as he helped JJ out of the house, but he ignored her. JJ needed a lot more right now and he hoped he could give it to her. But this was just a start of it all.