A/N: Here's next chapter. I hope you all like it!
Special thanks to jenny crum, HotchRocks, snuggleUP, lovecm, Jareau37, Jadee, Christiangirl and GottaLoveCM!
I don't own criminal minds!
Chapter 65: True Nightmare
Most of the lights in the offices of the BAU had been turned off. Emily was the only one left behind her desk as the time was ticking away. She had nothing to go home to, so finishing her work was what she usually did late at night. It also gave her the perfect opportunity to keep an eye on the Unit Chief. Emily had noticed that he spent most his nights in his office. He seemed to have no personal life, and work seemed to be his entire life. She realized it probably had a lot to do with JJ leaving DC.
But as she looked into his office, she didn't see any of the lights on. She knew the blinds were closed but there seemed to be no presence in the office. So she jumped up from her chair and quickly walked the staircase and stopped to knock on the door. ''Hotch?'' she called out. ''Hotch?'' she repeated but there still was no answer. She opened the door and the office was completely dark, and then she suddenly realized she hadn't seen Hotch since they returned to DC from their latest case. She turned around in a hurry but nearly ran into Rossi who was coming her way from his own office. She was startled but quickly found her composure. ''Rossi, have you seen Hotch?''
''Uhhm, no.'' he responded with ease. ''He got a call when we returned today and he took off immediately. It is probably something personal.''
That's when the panic bells started to ring in Emily's head. This wasn't good. Something was definitely off and she couldn't believe that she left him slip through her fingers. She immediately turned her back to Rossi and rushed back to her desk where she grabbed all of her belongings. ''I'm going home. Have a good night!'' she said quickly before she stormed out of the bullpen. Once she reached the elevators she took an encrypted phone from her purse. It was the one she would only use in real emergencies to contact JJ. And Emily felt that the moment had finally come to warn her friend that Hotch might be in danger. So she picked up the phone and dialed the only number on speed dial.
Across town, JJ was sitting at the end of the plane while Adrian was making sure that the pilot was going to prepare them for take-off. It had been an exhausting day and JJ couldn't wait catch up on some sleep and return to work with a fresh outlook. But at the moment the anger and disbelief was still keeping her awake. And when Adrian walked across the plane towards her, she knew he was probably going to play boss for a moment. She knew he had to after what had happened, but she still didn't feel like talking to someone who was her boss. She knew they had probably become friends, but they would always be boss and subordinate first.
And just like she thought, Adrian sat down across from her and leaned on the small table between them. ''How are you doing?''
JJ leaned back in her chair, smiling at him because she had known exactly what he was going to say. ''Is this between friends? Or are you being my boss?''
''I wish I wasn't your boss, JJ. Believe me.'' he began. ''But yeah, I have to know how you're holding up. Jill wants the doctor to check you out once we get back to SOD, and I agree with her.''
''I understand, Adrian. Don't worry about it.'' she assured immediately. ''We all have jobs to do and I appreciate all that you have done for me.''
''Good, I'm happy to hear that.''
A calm silence fell between them for a moment, but it was interrupted by the sound of JJ's phone. She immediately took the phone from her pocket and when she saw the number, her face instantly went blank. She looked up at Adrian with terror. ''Stop the pilot from taking off.'' she said and he immediately jumped up from his chair.
JJ answered the phone and put it to her ear as her hand began to shake. ''Hi,'' she greeted with fear.
''JJ, it's Emily.'' she announced quickly. ''I haven't seen Hotch in a few hours and I think something is wrong. I'm on my way to his apartment now.''
JJ forced herself to keep calm and focus all her energy on the conversation she was having. ''I'm in DC so I'll meet you there, Em.'' she said in a rush. She hung up the phone immediately and walked across the plane in a hurry. Thinking of Hotch in actual danger made her knees go weak and she nearly fell to the ground when she reached Adrian as he walked out of the cabin. ''Emily Prentiss called me. Something is wrong.'' she croaked out. ''We need to get to his apartment.''
Adrian immediately took a hold of JJ's arms and helped her off the plane. They hurried like maniacs for the SUV and Adrian jumped behind the wheel with JJ right by his side, ready to give directions. The apartment was only about ten minutes away from the airstrip. But it was more than enough time for JJ to assume the very worst about what could've happened to Hotch. She couldn't even imagine the thought of losing him forever. Being without him for five months had been the hardest thing in her life, and if he died. She couldn't even think it. It would destroy her. She'd never be the same person again.
Adrian was driving as fast as he possibly could while he could sense JJ falling apart next to him. He knew that JJ loved the man fiercely, and in the way she was looking in that moment her feelings were confirmed. JJ's happiness was something Adrian would fight for any time. She deserved to be happy and he would help her with anything. ''You have to stay strong, JJ.'' he encouraged. ''Falling apart isn't going to help you right now.''
JJ just nodded and fought to keep the tears away as they drove into the right street. Within a few seconds the SUV pulled up in front of the apartment building and JJ made a beeline for the entrance. She ran as fast as she could while retrieving the gun from the waistband of her jeans. She didn't take the risk to wait for the elevators. Instead, she quickly ran up the four flight of stairs because her life was depending on it. When she reached the right floor she ran to the end of the hallway and noticed that the door was already opened. When she stormed inside she noticed the familiar figure of Emily hovering above something on the floor.
''Emily?'' JJ croaked out, putting her gun away while walking towards her friend. She looked around the apartment, and her nightmare was confirmed. The entire place was touched and it looked like a struggle had taken place in the living room and the kitchen.
Emily turned around and hurried towards JJ. ''I found this!'' she said as she handed JJ a white envelope with her name on it. The envelope was covered in several blood stains.
She immediately took the envelope and ripped it open. The envelope only contained an USB drive, and JJ rushed towards Hotch's office where his laptop was. She dropped down in the chair and opened up the laptop as she heard Adrian calling out her name from the living room. But she was so focused on seeing what was on the drive that she didn't respond to him or Emily. She opened up the files and only saw one file on the computer. She opened it, her heart beating in her chest as her hands were clenched together.
A video started playing and the person on it caused a chill to go through her body as she just sat frozen in the chair to watch the video.
''Hello Alexandra,'' Christian said with a smirk. ''You might want to listen to this because a life is at stake.'' he went on and JJ shifted in her chair uncomfortably. ''You see when you betrayed me, I couldn't let it go. I looked into your alias at Chemicaltech Industries and I found someone by the name of Jennifer Jane Allen. And from there it was easy.'' he smirked. ''You see, I needed something or rather someone to lure you out of hiding.'' he said as he patted on the shoulder of the masked man beside him, causing JJ's heart to race. ''I couldn't find anything because you did such a great job at hiding your tracks and I didn't put you under surveillance because I made the mistake of trusting you. But one day, against my associate's advice, I went to Chemicaltech and asked a former colleague about you and she showed me pictures of you at a gala, but you weren't alone were you?'' at his last sentence JJ jumped from her chair in fear. ''I found a picture of you kissing a man. This man!'' he said as he pulled the mask off. And then JJ was faced with an unconscious Hotch. ''Yeah, I know he's not responsive. A little trick I would call tranquillizer. I will kill him if you don't give yourself up.'' he said with a wide smile on his face. JJ knew that Ward had gotten exactly what he wanted. He had found the perfect way to blackmail JJ. ''Come to the warehouse. You'll know where.'' he said at last and then the video stream just stopped.
Tears were streaming down JJ's face and she immediately made her way to the door, but Adrian blocked it to keep her from taking off. He needed to know where she was going. They needed a team to go in. They couldn't risk JJ going in on her own.
''Adrian get out of my way!'' JJ warned, her voice shaky and unstable. She started to slam her fists against his chest without avail. He kept pushing her back gently as she began to fall apart.
Adrian turned his attention to the brunette who had started dialing her phone since the video had started. ''Call in every contact you have!'' he ordered. ''We're going to need a local strike team.''
JJ wasn't about to waste another second as Adrian was calling the shots. So she pushed him away with force and slipped past him. She ran into the master bedroom and began pushing the bed against the wall to clear out the space underneath the bed. She sank to her knees in the middle of the bedroom and moved away a small carpet, revealing a safe underneath. She typed in the code and opened it up as she heard footsteps coming up from behind her. She took out a few guns, knives and even tasers. She put them all down on the floor and began to arm herself with more weapons, knowing she was about go into a dangerous situation without any back-up. She secured a gun on her ankle, another on the waistband of her jeans. She also put two knives into her combat boots. And when she finally rose from the ground, Adrian was once again blocking her path.
''JJ, where do you think you're going?'' he asked as he watched her load one of last gun. He stepped to the side when she tried to pass him by. He wasn't about to let her go on a suicide mission. ''Do you realize you're going in there to die?''
JJ stepped back and looked up at him. ''Yes,'' she stated clearly. ''I would do anything to keep Aaron safe.''
''You would die to protect him?''
''Yes, I would!'' JJ repeated. ''If going in there means keeping him and my friends safe, then yes I am willing to die.'' she went on. ''If it comes down to it I would die for the people that I love.''
In response, he closed the gap between them but she immediately retreated backwards. He was trying to keep her from killing herself. ''You just want to let yourself get killed after everything you've been through.''
''Yes, Adrian!'' she shot back. ''I would do anything to keep him safe. To keep you safe!''
''You're being a martyr, JJ.'' he said angrily. ''And I am not about to let you be one!'' he said to let her know she wasn't going to do anything on her own.
JJ turned her back towards and took a gun from her jeans. She then turned back around and pointed the gun at Adrian. ''Don't make me shoot you!'' she begged. ''I know you're trying to keep me safe but it's too late for that now.''
''JJ, don't do this!'' he pleaded with her as he began to move away from the door as she kept the gun pointed at him. ''Don't throw your life away like this.''
''I am so sorry, Adrian. But I have to do this!'' she said. She stepped in front of him as a look of regret and sadness filled her face while looking at him. She took the keys from his back pocket and slowly began to walk out of the room. When she was standing in the hallway, she turned around and made a run for it, knowing Adrian would follow her. But she really couldn't hurt him, so she ran as fast she could until she reached the SUV. And luckily she was faster. She jumped in the car and drove off when Adrian ran onto the pavement. She looked into his eyes as she drove away, expecting to never see him again. But it would be for a reason.