A Criminal Minds / Demily Fanfiction: Blast From The Past

Chapter 32

Lauren's Pov

   The drive back to the precinct was uneventful and almost completely silent. I asked JJ to drive since I was shaking too much to focus. I had so many thoughts swirling around in my head that I didn't even notice that the car had stopped moving.

   "Lauren, you don't have to be the one to tell them; me and Garcia can do it if you want?" She was only trying to be helpful, but we both knew that this was something I had to do it myself.

   "I know. I want to. I owe them this much after all of the secrets I've been keeping." She nodded showing that she understood.

   "Okay." JJ unbuckled her seatbelt, but I remained still. "Let's go." Her smile made me feel stronger and when she clutched my hand in hers, I knew that I couldn't wait any longer. It was now or never.

*****

   A few minutes later and the two of us were stood outside the conference room. JJ had called Hotch as we left the hospital and told him to gather everyone, and they were already inside waiting to hear the explanation I was about to give them. I was so nervous; my hands were shaking and I was having flashbacks to when I testified in court.

   Hotch peered out at us. "You ready?" I nodded and followed him back into the room, with JJ not far behind me.

   "JJ, stay with me?" I asked of her as Hotch took his seat. She smiled and remained stood by my side. I closed my eyes and moved to stand at the head of the table, near Garcia to face the team.

   "Okay. So, by now you've probably figured out that this whole case is somehow connected to me and now I'm going to tell you why." I had been staring at the floor the whole time, and only looked up now so that Garcia knew to start the little presentation she had put together. An image of Christopher Rimmer appeared on the screen. "You all know this man as Christopher Rimmer; our unsub, but I know him as Christopher Royal; my ex boyfriend." Every single person in the room, except JJ, was in total shock. "We dated my senior year of High School and Freshman year at college, but he wasn't too happy when I ended it. He kept trying to get me back and I kept refusing, which is when he started to get violent." I looked around at all the expectant faces and as my gaze landed on JJ's, she saw just how scared I was.

   "You can do this." Was all she said. I clenched my fists and let out a deep breath, preparing myself for what I had to do next.

   "He showed up at my door one night about two months after we broke up, and he was shouting and screaming; calling me all the derogatory names under the sun. He even woke my daughter up, but sent his friend Jamie to keep her quiet. As soon as Jamie was out of the room, Christopher grabbed be the throat and threw me down onto the sofa. I fought back as hard as I could, but once he threatened my daughter, I gave in. He used my fear of losing her against me and it worked." I tried to keep my focus on the back wall, but it was impossible not to notice the looks on their faces, like they knew what was coming. I opened my moth to continue, but nothing came out. It was the moment of truth and I couldn't say it. A single tear rolled down my cheek and it was then that a voice caught me off guard.

   "Did he... Did he rape you?" Garcia asked. I nodded; that single tear turning into a steady stream.

   "He dragged me through to the bedroom where he forced me to have sex with him." I found my voice again. "He said he'd kill my daughter if I didn't let him, so I just took it." I felt a hand on my shoulder and another take hold of my hand. I couldn't see through the tears but I knew it was JJ. "I testified against him and got him sent to prison. There was insufficient evidence to convict him of rape, but he got five tears for Assault and Battery." I wiped the tears from my eyes, only for them to be replaced by new ones.

   Everyone began gathering around me, trying to comfort me; their smiles gave me hope that we could catch him and I held on to that. How could I ever think that they wouldn't support me.