A/N: Here's the next chapter. I hope everyone likes it!
Special thanks to jenny crum, snuggleUP, HotchRocks, Jareau37 and Christiangirl!
I don't own criminal minds!
Chapter 66: Life or Death
JJ walked through the warehouse, her rhythm steady but silent as she proceeded to the next door. Her gun was pointed ahead as she kept moving through the building, hoping to find a trace of Hotch. She recognized the building from the times she had been there with Christian, and she knew it was his purpose to catch her off guard. She was probably getting closer to him with each step she took. She hoped she was. She couldn't let the man she loved die, because of her past with a criminal. It wasn't going to happen. But her emotions had never been so high that she knew it could make her weak. It might be her downfall but for Hotch she'd do anything, even give up her own life. Which was what she was doing. She was going to make the trade. She was sacrificing herself.
JJ hurried to a wall and turned her back to it for cover, she peaked around the corner and saw it was clear. So she stepped forward, putting one foot in front of the other. Her heart was beating faster than she had ever felt before. The adrenaline was making her jumpy and her heart made her worried. She was filled with concern and pain as she kept moving ahead. But she suddenly stopped when she heard moans coming from her left. She turned to the other side and noticed a big metal fence with a shadowy figure behind it. The figure was tied to a chair and was struggling to get free. JJ immediately ran to the fence, opening it in panic, knowing Hotch was there. It had to be. She ran inside and was about to kneel down in front of Hotch when she heard the click of a gun behind her. She whirled around, her gun pointed at Christian, who had a grin on his usually joyous face. Now his expression was filled with rage and hatred and JJ knew exactly why. She was the reason. ''Let him go!'' JJ begged, but her voice didn't show her plea. Her voice was steady and calm.
Christian stepped forward, ignoring her orders. ''Drop the gun!'' he said flatly and the gun hit the floor with a loud thud. He searched her body for more weapons because he knew she came prepared. He noticed she had at least two more guns on her and a knife in her boots. ''Take the gun from your back!'' he went on. ''And empty your boots.''
JJ proceeded to do as she was told. She dropped all her weapons on the ground, right in front of her feet. She knew he'd discover each of them, but she didn't want to be unprepared in case she had a chance to escape. ''What now?'' JJ asked as she looked behind her for a second, shocked by the amount of calmness on Hotch's face. She thought he would look shocked, surprised even. But he was an FBI Agent so a part of him was trained for situations like this.
Hotch forced himself to stay calm, to keep breathing steadily, but every part of him wanted to burst out of the restraints and give the stranger a beating. And every other part of him wanted to yell at JJ. What the hell was she doing? How did she end up there? What was her history with the maniac?
He didn't know how to answer any of those questions as she stood before him. She looked nothing like the person he knew. She was different. Her face was tight, no emotions traceable and her body was rigid and tense. And her clothes. God, her clothes. This isn't like her… He thought to himself. But even in that moment he couldn't deny that she looked amazing. It was a different kind of amazing. She was wearing all black. Her hair was pulled up in a high tight ponytail and her upper body was covered by a black tank top with a leather jacket over it. She wore tight black leather looking jeans with combat boots. She was a completely different person. And as he sat in that chair, he forced himself to focus on the person he knew, instead of the woman who was standing before him with a gun pointed at her heart. But in that moment he had no time to really consider old memories. They were stuck in a life or death situation and bringing the past into it wouldn't help either of them.
''Put the gun down, Christian!'' JJ said coldly. ''You have me here. Now let him go!''
Christian raised his gun and stepped closer to JJ. He suddenly pushed JJ out of the way and shot Hotch in the shoulder. He knew it wouldn't kill him, but it would make a statement to JJ. ''You're not in charge anymore, dear!'' he whispered as he tackled JJ to the ground when she tried to run to Hotch.
Hotch hissed out in pain when the bullet tore through his flesh. But his focus was quickly turned back to JJ when she fell to the ground. He fought against his restraints so hard that he felt them cutting deep into his skin, but he didn't stop. JJ was never going to survive the maniac so he had to fight. But he suddenly stopped when he saw something he never expected to see.
JJ rolled over on her back, putting her feet and hands on the ground. She swung herself up on her feet with all the power she had. And she was once again facing the gun that was pointed at her. ''You don't have to do this. Let him go, Chris!'' she begged and this time the emotions were poured into her voice. ''Let him go!''
''You should've known that was never going to happen, but your emotions for this guy clouded your objectivity!'' he snarled. ''It's over, Harrison.''
She took the moment he focused on Hotch to slam her elbow into his face. The gun fell to the ground and moved across the cement floor. JJ leaped forward but was stopped when she felt a kick to her back. She tried to recover from the force of the blow to her back, but she didn't have enough time. Within seconds, she felt a wire wrapped around her throat and she was pulled back against his body.
Christian pulled JJ back with force as he tightened the wire around her neck. He smirked when he heard her fighting for air and the look on Hotch's face made him enjoy it even more. ''Looks like our girl has given up.'' he said to Hotch, smiling when he felt JJ's body weaken against his body.
JJ's eyes were on the ground as she felt the energy leave her body, but the sounds of Hotch struggling made her look up. She looked into his eyes, knowing he was asking her to fight so she did. She had been trained in martial arts and she knew she was a good fighter but Christian had the advantage in this case. But she wouldn't give up. She slammed her elbows against his stomach. One time, then two, and another blow to his face when she was freed from his grip. She turned around, regaining her strength. ''Never mess with me!'' she groaned as she kicked him backwards against the fence, but he quickly got up. So JJ leaped forward and delivered two blows to his face, and another one, but was stopped when she received a powerful blow to her knee. She fell to the ground and grabbed her knee in response, seeing his feet coming closer. So she crawled backwards until her back was against the fence. She got up and waited for his next move, but he stopped in front of her, saying nothing for a few seconds.
''Your emotions make you less of a fighter, Alex.'' he smirked happily. ''You're not as good as you used to be!'' he said as he formed a fist. He stepped towards JJ and stretched his arms, but JJ pulled herself to the right and avoided his fist.
JJ dove across the floor towards one of her guns, trying to grab one of them. She was about to pick one up when she felt the cold barrel pressed against her neck. So she held up her hands and turned around to face the cold stare of the man who wanted her dead.
''Another move and I put a bullet in his skull!'' he warned as he picked JJ up violently. ''I didn't have my fun with you yet, Jennifer.'' he groaned out in frustration, using her first name for the very first time.
JJ stared over his shoulder into the brown eyes, filled with questions and confusion. The pain in his eyes made her feel sick. She felt her heart break, knowing he was about to discover what she had done to Christian's wife. Not to mention that she had slept with him for her job. No one would ever understand that, and she never wanted Hotch to find out, especially not from the man himself. ''I am sorry.'' she mouthed to him. And all she got in response was a death stare.
What's going to happen to us? It was all that was going through Hotch's head, and for the first time in months he realized why JJ had turned down his marriage proposal. It was to protect him from the man standing before him. To keep that exact moment from happening. Hotch knew JJ had left to protect him from someone, but he never really imagined the threat she had mentioned, and now he was experiencing it with his own eyes.
JJ didn't make another move as Christian put her hands in the cuffs hanging from the ceiling. Her arms were pulled above her head and she was nearly lifted from the ground, but she was able to keep her toes on the ground as support. ''What do you want?'' JJ whispered in defeat. Her body was aching from the blows she had received. But her pain was her very last concern. ''Just tell me!'' she yelled when she didn't get an answer.
Chris walked towards Hotch and pulled the tape from his mouth as he smiled widely at JJ. ''I have to get some nice tools to torture you.'' he replied easily. ''I'll give you two some time to catch up. He probably has some questions for you!'' he said before he left the room.
JJ started pulling at the restraints as best as she could but nothing was happening. She was only hurting herself more than necessary. But the voice inside her, yelled at her to keep trying. To fight. But as hard as she tried, nothing worked and she stopped when she saw the blood running down her skin from the cuts she caused on herself. This can't be happening. He can't be here. I don't want him to find out. I have to get him out of here before Christian returns.
Hotch watched JJ closely as she pulled herself up on the chains and she tried to pull them from the ceiling, but it wasn't working at all, yet she kept going. ''JJ, stop!'' he yelled frantically. ''It isn't working!''
JJ stopped and let her feet touch the ground. She lifted her eyes to meet his, and a shiver went through her body by just looking at him. ''I am so sorry. I am so sorry.'' she repeated. She didn't know what else to say to him. She didn't have anything to justify her lies, except that she was ordered to lie. It was her job. ''I never meant for this to happen. I was trying to protect you from this, from my job.''
''Was that man an assignment? Is that the guy who was involved with the bomb?'' he asked simply. ''And who is Alexandra?''
She wasn't going to avoid his questions. She was just going to answer all of them. For the sake of their situation. ''That guy is Christian Ward, a Russian weapons dealer. The CIA suspected him of working alongside a Russian mercenary group, but we never found any proof.'' she explained, feeling her shoulder ache badly. ''I was in deep cover when I met him, and I spent seven months trying to get intell on his contacts, but I didn't gather anything.''
''He's doing this for revenge, JJ. It's his only motive.'' Hotch explained quickly. ''What did you do?''
''Aaron, this isn't the time to talk about this!'' JJ shot back, the panic still coursing through her body. ''We have to get you out of here!'' she said, and a tear of concern fell down her cheek. ''You can't be here. I never wanted you to get involved in my world. I never intended to drag you into this. I am sorry. I'm so sorry.''
Hotch could see JJ falling apart right there in front of him, so he once again fought against his cuffs to no avail. His eyes were desperately searching his surroundings, but the simple truth was that there was no way out for either of them. ''JJ, look at me!'' he ordered, his voice calm and bossy to get her to listen and focus. ''We will survive this!'' he encouraged. ''I never blamed you for turning down my marriage proposal, JJ. I never did. Yes, I was angry and hurt. But I never stopped loving you. Not even for a second! I've been waiting for you all this time. I couldn't move on. I didn't want to.''
The tears kept forming in JJ's eyes and when another fell, she looked away in anguish. She couldn't stand the situation. He was restrained across from her. Shot and beaten all because of her. ''How could you not hate me?''
''Our first kiss…'' he began. ''Not the kisses on the cheek or the quick peck on the lips, but our first real kiss.'' he explained. ''I closed my eyes and kissed you, and it was as if my entire life snapped back into place, JJ. I had never felt anything like that and from that moment I knew I wanted to spend a lifetime with you.''
JJ didn't say anything. She just listened to his words and she realized he was telling the truth. He spoke with so much love, and she realized his feelings for her hadn't changed, even after what she had done to him.
Hotch look at her closely and watched as her expression softened and he saw the JJ he remembered. The girl with the big heart who believed in love and in their relationship.
''And as our relationship progressed, I started to wonder how someone like you could ever love a person like me. I couldn't believe that someone so beautiful and sweet like you could ever be with me.'' he went on. ''But when you told me you loved me, I just knew nothing could ever be more right.'' he said with his heart poured into it. ''All that was left to ask you was to become my wife.''
''I wanted to say yes, Aaron. There was nothing else that I wanted more, but I couldn't.'' she said in tears, her throat was closing up from all the feelings and emotions that were surfacing. The tears were streaming down her face. She knew she was going to die. She didn't know how she could ever live through this. She didn't know how.
Hotch fought against his restraints again, trying everything, but nothing happened. The pain in his shoulder was only getting worse and he knew he didn't have long before he would bleed out. ''JJ, look at me!'' he asked her as her eyes were on the ground. And then he met her gaze and he felt the hope return to his body and mind. He had to fight for her, no matter what. ''We're going to get out of this.'' he promised. ''We're going to live that life we always wanted together.''
JJ was about to respond when the noise of footsteps stopped her. She saw Christian walking inside with a grin on his face. ''How touching.'' he commented as he walked towards JJ. ''I guess you love him more than I expected.
JJ decided to ignore him, because she had to say her last words to Hotch. She had to say goodbye. ''Please remember the person I used to be. Remember the girl you loved.'' she cried out. ''Please remember the life we planned out, the family we wanted to raise, the house we wanted to buy and remember how much I love you!'' she said and she finally closed her eyes, knowing the torture was going to start. And she was right. The first punch was delivered to her stomach. The second to her face. And it kept going.
Hotch yelled as Chris kept beating JJ. He begged him, to let her live, but nothing stopped him. ''JJ, open your eyes!'' he yelled. ''JJ, come on! Come on, JJ! Do it for me.'' he went on but her body looked weak and her eyes were closed. ''JJ, I love you! I never stopped loving you.''
Christian suddenly stopped beating her. He knew that hurting JJ would never give him what he wanted. He would never get the real satisfaction if he kept on beating her. She would never beg for her own life, so he turned to Hotch. ''Let's try something else.'' he announced. He took a knife from the bag he had placed on the floor and walked around Hotch, and stopped right next to him so JJ had a clear view. He dug the knife into his skin and made quick and long gash across his chest.
''No!'' JJ screamed. Never in her life had she screamed so loud. She was screaming her lungs out. ''No! Leave him alone!'' she screamed. This wasn't happening. It couldn't be happening. Hotch was covered in blood, and it was all because of her.
Christian leaped towards JJ and put the knife at her throat. ''You're going to pay for what you did to me!'' he whispered. ''I am going to take away everything that matters to you!''
''I didn't know!'' JJ cried out. ''I was doing my job. I had an assignment and I did my job.'' she went on. ''I never knew she was your wife! I was just a young agent and I was doing my job.''
''You were doing a job?'' he yelled angrily, his fist colliding with JJ's cheek. He pulled back and stepped right in front of her, coming face to face, his hatred boiling in the pit of his stomach. ''You ripped away my life.''
''Really?'' JJ asked as she looked up at him weakly. ''Then why were you sleeping with me so soon after I killed her.'' she challenged him, knowing it would have consequences, but acting weak would be her downfall so she was ready to fight him.
He put the knife to his side and suddenly moved it forward, stabbing JJ in her side as he held his other hand on her throat. He felt her lean forward as her breath hitched, her head on his shoulder. ''I am going to let you live so you can watch me kill him!''
''JJ!'' Hotch yelled as her eyes closed. ''JJ! JJ!'' he repeated, but she didn't respond. She had lost consciousness. He saw the blood dripping from her wound and it started to form a pool before her feet. ''Let her go!'' Hotch ordered. ''Don't do this to her. Just kill me and let her go!''
''How could you love someone like her?'' he asked with hatred. ''She's a coldblooded killer.''
Hotch didn't respond, knowing that no answer would be good enough for him. And his suspicions were confirmed when he received several punches to his body. At one point the pain got so bad that he blacked out. His eyes closed and the last thing he saw was JJ hanging forward, not responding to his voice. And then it all went black.