Author's Note: This is a story about the emotional fallout after a horrific experience. For JJ, this experience was very long. My point in writing this is that often times while the traumatic event ends, the emotional baggage that goes along with it takes a lot longer to get over. I hope you'll enjoy this story, if not then don't read. Let me know if you'd prefer shorter chapters, but updated more often, or longer chapters and updated once every week or two.

Warnings: This story will contain references to traumatic events. The situations depicted in this story may be horrific, but similar to most of my other stories I will in no means engage in graphic descriptions in an attempt to disturb you or make you feel squeamish. There will be references to situations involving rape, gang rape, torture, starvation, suicide, and more. While I will not graphically describe most of these situations, the emotional fall-out will be immense. As such, I've decided to rate this as mature. The "M" rating is just to be safe, but there will be complex emotions for many of the characters to deal with.

Disclaimer: I don't own CM.

"Director Strauss, Aaron Hotchner is here." The secretary announced as she ushered Hotch into the Director's office.

"SSA Hotchner, please have a seat. How was the funeral?" Erin Strauss pointed to the chair across from her desk without looking up from the file labeled SSA Jennifer Jareau—MISSING.

Since being appointed Director of the FBI, her former detest for the members of the BAU was immediately forgotten. Sometimes, Hotch wondered if she were more interested in finding JJ than he was.

And that was nearly impossible.

"It was a lovely service. David and Becky Jareau were kind people, they'll be sorely missed." Hotch nodded politely, hoping he didn't already know where this conversation was headed.

"And their deaths were completely accidental?" She asked, still not looking up from the file. "Agent Jareau has been missing for three years, it does seem suspicious-"

"A full investigation was launched." Hotch interrupted quickly. "There was absolutely no evidence of foul play. Icy roads and poor visibility caused them to slide off the road. Both of them died on impact." Hotch grimaced at the thought of the demise of two people he had come to greatly respect over the last three years. Hotch and Jack had become regular sights at the Jareau family gatherings, he and his son drawing closer to JJ's parents as Hotch continued the search for their missing daughter. Will had welcomed the additional company, and JJ's entire family seemed starved for any morsel of information they could glean about JJ's case.

"Good." Strauss nodded, lost in some tidbit inside the file he knew all too well.

Holding his breath, he prayed that this was not another lead—at least, not another lead that led to him trying to identify a cold body on a steel slab. "I assume you called me in here for—"

"We've got another possible in Southeastern Arizona. Crossroads Mercy Hospital reported a woman in her mid to late thirties admitted into the ER for injuries consistent with a car accident an hour ago." Director Strauss handed the paperwork over to him. "I assume you and Agent Prentiss will be taking the jet as soon as possible?"

Hotch nodded, groaning inwardly. At first, these leads were the only source of hope in a dismal situation, but now—he had spent too long getting his hopes up, only to be relieved when it wasn't her. But that relief came at a price. Every trip to ID another body wore on his already threadbare strands of hope. But every lead...every miniscule chance that it could be her...sometimes that was all that let him sleep at night

Furrowing his brow as he read the report, he made to leave—hoping to get this over with as soon as possible.

"Oh, and Agent Hotchner?" Director Strauss stopped him before he opened the door. "This one is alive."