I'm Back!

AN/ we do not own Criminal Minds. Please enjoy.

Chapter 20

At the park, JJ had set up a little picnic. She wanted to make sure Dave knew she going to try to make them work while she was recovering. So she was planning on what she was going to tell him when he got there. She was thinking until she was distracted by a couple in the park. They were fighting. JJ couldn't help but watch.

"I told you that I wasn't ready. Why did you need to do that?" The young lady was yelling.

"I'm so sorry that I wanted to kiss my girlfriend!" He yelled back.

"You told me that you would wait. Wait until I was ready. Was that a lie?" She pulled away from him.

"No! But Ellie, it was over a month ago. He's dead! He can't hurt you again. You should be happy." He says, trying to reason with this upset young lady.

"Gees Jim, you act like he bumped into my car. He raped me. My bruises are just fading. God! You get irate when someone looks at you wrong. Try having someone force themselves on you." Ellie walks toward JJ direction. JJ stood up and waited for Ellie to get close.

"Excuse me. I don't mean to intrude, but I couldn't help but over hear your argument. Did you say that you were raped?" JJ asks as nicely as you really can anyone that could have been raped.

"Yes. Sorry, but why do you care?" Ellie asks, a little uncomfortable that someone she doesn't know would ask her that personal of a question.

"I care because I was raped too. And I was just wondering if you might have been raped by the same guy. Do you know his name?" JJ asks.

"Yes. His name was Frank. He raped me a month ago." Ellie says, tears building at the flash of memory.

"I'm so sorry. Did you hear he's dead?" JJ hoped that this would help her in some way.

"Yes, I was told he was dead. The person who killed him needs a metal. But how would you know?"

"He raped me twice. In the last couple of days. I was the one who shot him. When we were at his house, we found some evidence that he raped some other people. We wanted to get a count of how many and if they are still alive. He was a murderer. So you might be contacted. We have numerous DNA samples." JJ keeps rambling. Little did she know that Dave was watching out of view.

"You killed Frank? God bless you. I'm sorry you were raped by him. He was a gross man. He tried to rape his niece. She still was talking to him." Ellie's face was distorted in disgust.

"Who was his niece?"

"Lauren." Was all Ellie would say.

"Does she live on the same land as Frank. In the house behind his?" JJ asks, thinking that she knows Lauren.

"Yeah, how did you know?" Ellie looks confused.

"Because when he was holding me and my friends, he took us there for dinner. She didn't seem afraid of him." JJ was starting to get mad at Lauren for letting this happen.

"She forgave him. He never tried again." Ellie could see the anger in JJ's eyes. Jim walks over.

"I'm sorry to interrupt, but Ellie, we're late for our appointment." Jim tries to pull Ellie away.

"Oh yeah. Sorry. I have a therapy appointment. Here's my number. Call me and we can talk more about this." Ellie grabs JJ's hand and pulls a pen out of her purse. "It was nice to meet you…?"

"Jennifer Jearau." JJ smiles.

"Ellie Mason. I can't wait to talk to the wonderful lady who killed that bastard. Later!" Ellie says, being pulled away. JJ watched with humor. Dave walks toward her.

"Hey there. You seem to make friends wherever you go." Dave laughs.

"Yeah. Another victim of Frank. I have her number too." JJ holds up her hand with the freshly applied ink.

"Well, that's great. Know what did you want to talk about?" Dave knew, but it was the ice breaker he needed.

"Come and eat. I know you didn't get anything when you stormed out." JJ motioned for the blanket with the spread of food.

"I didn't come here to fight Jen." Dave's voice raised.

"Dave, I need to tell you what's going on. And I need you to listen." JJ says really fast.

"Ok, I'm listening. What is it?"

"I love you Dave. I know that I have been mean and distant. I know you want to help me and you feel helpless with getting me better. I don't want to lose you over this. I am still very scared of the physical closeness you want. But I want to try to hold your hand. Go slow that way. Maybe I can get used to holding hands and soon go to the next step. Just remember though that if I say to stop, you stop. And the reason I haven't wanted you to touch me is because I thought your touch and Franks touch would mix. I didn't want to taint your touch with his." JJ was looking at the ground. Too afraid to look at Dave for fear of seeing disappointment.

"Jennifer, I can understand your fear. You need to tell me how you feel. Don't ever be afraid to tell me. We can work slowly at this. Just don't push me away again. I don't think I can take that again." Dave says, holding out an open hand waiting for her to place her hand in his. JJ slowly places her hand in his. He slowly closes the fingers and waits for JJ to pull back or say no. But she didn't. They held hands through their time together.

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