Violent Desires

The Mark on Her Wrist

The sterile hum of the BAU offices was a soothing lullaby to the weary souls that inhabited them.
The clock on the wall ticked away the interminable minutes of another long day, the hands inching closer to the witching hour.
Special Agent Jennifer "JJ" Jareau sat at her desk, poring over case files, her eyes scanning the pages with a practiced intensity.
She was no stranger to the late-night grind, but tonight, something felt... off.
Emily Prentiss, her trusted friend and colleague, was usually long gone by this hour, retreating to the quiet sanctuary of her home.
Yet tonight, JJ could hear the faint rustling of papers coming from Emily's desk in the bullpen, a soft, rhythmic sound that seemed to echo the agent's own restless energy.
Concern gnawed at JJ.
She knew Emily was going through a tough time, though her friend was tight-lipped about the details.
JJ had noticed the subtle changes—Emily's usually impeccable appearance slightly disheveled, her eyes shadowed with exhaustion, and her once-vibrant smile now a rare and fleeting sight.
She wanted to reach out, to offer a listening ear and a supportive shoulder, but she also knew Emily well enough to understand that pushing the issue would only drive her friend further into her shell.
As JJ stood to stretch her legs and grab a cup of coffee, she heard the office door creak open.
She turned to see her friend emerging, her head bent low, her arms crossed tightly over her chest.
Emily's usual grace was replaced by a slight hunch, as if she were trying to make herself smaller, less visible.
JJ's heart ached at the sight, but she forced a casual smile.
"Hey, Em. Still at it, huh?"
Emily looked up, her eyes widening in surprise.
"JJ, I didn't realize you were still here. I thought everyone had gone home hours ago."
"Yeah, well, you know me. I can't resist a good puzzle."
JJ gestured to the stack of case files on her desk.
"What about you? You've been burning the midnight oil too."
Emily offered a weak smile, her eyes darting away from JJ's gaze.
"Just trying to catch up on some paperwork. You know how it is."
JJ nodded, but her gaze was drawn to Emily's wrist as she tucked a stray strand of hair behind her ear.
A dark bruise, partially hidden by the sleeve of her blouse.
JJ's heart skipped a beat, and she fought to keep her expression neutral.
"Emily..."
JJ began, her voice barely above a whisper.
"What happened to your wrist?"
Emily froze, her eyes widening in alarm.
She quickly tugged her sleeve down, covering the bruise.
"It's nothing, JJ. I just... I bumped it on a filing cabinet earlier. Clumsy, I know."
JJ's eyes narrowed, her gaze sharp and probing.
She knew Emily well enough to recognize the telltale signs of a lie— the stutter, the evasive gaze, the nervous fidgeting. But she also knew pushing the issue would only drive Emily further away.
"Okay,"
JJ said softly, holding up her hands in surrender.
"I believe you. But Em, if you ever want to talk... about anything... you know I'm here for you, right?"
Emily's eyes shimmered with unshed tears, and she nodded, her voice barely audible.
"I know, JJ. Thank you."
As Emily hurried away, JJ couldn't shake the feeling of unease that settled in the pit of her stomach.
She knew something was wrong, something deeply troubling, and she was determined to get to the bottom of it.
But she also knew that pushing Emily too hard, too fast, would only drive her friend further into the shadows.
For now, JJ would be patient.
She would watch, she would wait, and she would be ready to offer her support when Emily was finally ready to accept it.
Because that's what friends did, they stood by each other, through the darkest of times, and they never gave up hope.
As JJ turned back to her desk, her eyes fell on the stack of case files, and she knew that she had her work cut out for her.
She would find a way to help Emily, no matter what it took.
And she would start by digging into the dark corners of her own past, searching for any clue that might lead her to the truth.
Because when it came to the people she loved, JJ never gave up.
Ever.
Emily clutched her phone, her knuckles turning white as she read the latest text message from her husband, Daniel.
The words on the screen seemed to pulse with an ominous energy, each letter a stark warning of the storm that brewed on the other end of the line.
Daniel: Where are you? I thought you'd be home by now.
Emily's heart pounded in her chest, her mind racing as she struggled to formulate a response.
She knew she should tell him the truth, that she was still at the BAU offices, buried under a mountain of paperwork.
But the words refused to come, trapped behind a wall of fear and uncertainty.
Emily: I'm out with some colleagues. We're just grabbing a quick drink. I'll be home soon.
She hit send, her thumb trembling as she held down the power button to darken the screen.
She took a deep breath, trying to calm the storm of emotions that raged within her, but it was no use.
The anxiety was already clawing at her insides, its icy tendrils wrapping around her heart and squeezing the air from her lungs.
As she waited for Daniel's response, she could feel the weight of JJ's gaze on her, heavy with concern and suspicion.
Emily knew her friend had seen the bruise on her wrist, had noticed the subtle changes in her demeanor.
She knew JJ was worried, and she hated herself for being the cause of that worry.
But she also knew that she couldn't burden her friend with the truth.
Her phone buzzed, and she looked down to see Daniel's response, the words sharp and accusing.
Daniel: Come home now, Emily. We need to talk.
Emily's heart sank, and she felt the familiar sensation of dread wash over her.
She knew that tone, that cold, calculated anger that simmered just beneath the surface of his words.
She knew that once she stepped foot inside their house, she would be trapped, at his mercy, with no one to hear her cries for help.
But she also knew that she couldn't disobey him, not without facing the consequences.
She had seen the dark side of Daniel's temper before, had felt the sting of his wrath on her skin.
She couldn't risk pushing him too far, not when she was still so vulnerable, so alone.
Emily: I'm on my way. Give me 10 minutes.
She stood, her chair scraping loudly against the floor, and grabbed her coat from the back of her chair.
JJ was by her side in an instant, her eyes filled with concern.
"Em, are you sure you're okay?"
Emily forced a smile, her heart aching at the genuine concern in JJ's voice.
"I'm fine, JJ. Really. It's just... it's just been a long day, you know? I just need to get some rest."
JJ's eyes narrowed, and Emily could see the wheels turning in her friend's mind.
She knew JJ didn't believe her, that she could see right through the flimsy facade she was trying to maintain.
But she also knew that JJ would respect her wishes, for now.
"Okay,"
JJ said softly.
"But if you need anything, anything at all, you know you can call me, right? Day or night."
Emily nodded, her eyes stinging with unshed tears.
"I'll see you tomorrow."
As Emily walked out of the BAU offices and into the cool night air, she couldn't shake the feeling of dread that clung to her like a second skin.
She knew what awaited her at home, the silent accusations, the cold, calculating anger that simmered just beneath the surface of Daniel's calm exterior.
She knew that she was walking into the lion's den, and that there was no turning back.
But she also knew that she had to be strong, that she had to find a way to escape the nightmare that had become her life.
She had to do it for herself, for her own sanity and safety.
And she had to do it before it was too late.
As she drove home, her hands gripping the steering wheel with white-knuckled intensity, she made a silent vow to herself.
She would find a way out, no matter what it took.
She would find the strength to stand up to Daniel, to leave him and never look back.
And she would do it, not just for herself, but for the woman she used to be, the one who was brave and strong and unafraid.
Because that woman was still inside her, buried beneath the layers of fear and uncertainty that had become her daily existence.
And she would find her way back, no matter what it took.
Emily stood in the doorway of her home, her heart pounding in her chest like a caged animal desperate for escape.
The words she had rehearsed in her mind on the drive home now felt heavy and foreign on her tongue, but she knew she had to say them, had to make a stand and reclaim her life.
"Daniel,"
She began, her voice steadier than she felt,
"I can't do this anymore. I'm leaving, and I'm not coming back. I want a divorce."
The room seemed to freeze, the air growing thick and heavy with tension.
Daniel stood in the kitchen, his back to her, his shoulders rigid and unyielding.
For a moment, Emily thought he might not have heard her, that he might simply ignore her words and carry on as if nothing had changed.
But then he turned, his face a mask of cold, calculated fury.
"You're not going anywhere, Emily,"
He said, his voice low and dangerous.
"You belong to me."
Emily's heart skipped a beat, and she felt the first tendrils of fear begin to snake their way up her spine.
She knew that look, that chilling, predatory gleam in his eyes.
She had seen it before, in the moments before he had struck her, before he had left his mark on her skin and her soul.
But she also knew that she couldn't back down, not now.
She had come too far, had fought too hard to reclaim her sense of self-worth and agency.
She wouldn't let him take that away from her, not again.
"I'm not yours to own, Daniel,"
She said, her voice stronger than she felt.
"I'm my own person, and I deserve to be treated with respect and kindness. I can't stay here, not with you."
Daniel's eyes narrowed, and he took a step towards her, his hands clenching into fists at his sides.
"You think you can just walk away, Emily? After everything I've done for you? You think you can throw it all away and start over?"
Emily stood her ground, her chin lifted in defiance.
"I don't care what you think, Daniel. I know what I want, and I know what I deserve. And it's not this, not this twisted, toxic relationship that has almost broken me."
Daniel's face contorted with rage, and he lunged at her, his hand striking out and connecting with her cheek with a sickening crack.
Emily staggered back, her hand flying to her face, her eyes filling with tears of pain and shock.
But she refused to back down, refused to let him see the fear that threatened to consume her.
She took a deep breath, steeling herself for the battle to come.
"I said I'm leaving, Daniel. And I mean it. You can't stop me."
Daniel's laugh was cold and bitter, and he took a step closer, his eyes filled with a malevolent glee.
"You think you're strong, Emily? You think you can stand up to me? You have no idea what I'm capable of. You have no idea what I have on you, what I can use to destroy you."
Emily's heart skipped a beat, and she felt a shiver of unease run down her spine.
She knew that Daniel was capable of anything, that he had a dark side that he kept hidden from the world, a side that he had used to manipulate and control her.
But she also knew that she couldn't let him see her fear, that she had to stand her ground and fight for her freedom.
"I don't care what you have, Daniel,"
She said, her voice steady and sure.
"I won't let you control me anymore. I won't let you hurt me again."
Daniel's eyes flashed with anger, and he lunged at her again, this time driving his foot into her ribs with a force that stole her breath and sent her crashing to the floor.
She gasped in pain, her body curling in on itself as she struggled to draw in a breath.
But she refused to stay down, refused to give up without a fight.
She pushed herself to her hands and knees, her body shaking with the effort, and looked up at Daniel with a defiant glare.
"I said I'm leaving, Daniel. And I mean it. You can't stop me."
Daniel's smile was cold and cruel, and he raised his foot again, ready to strike.
"We'll see about that, Emily. We'll see how far you get on a broken rib."
As Emily braced herself for the blow, she knew that she had to find a way out, had to fight with every ounce of strength and courage she had left.
The BAU offices were bathed in the soft glow of the early morning sun, the world outside still quiet and peaceful.
But inside, the atmosphere was anything but serene.
Emily sat at her desk, her body wracked with pain, her mind a whirlwind of fear and confusion.
She had made it to the office, had collapsed into her chair and tried to lose herself in the familiar rhythm of work.
But the bruises on her body, a fractured rib and the memories in her mind refused to be silenced, and she found herself caught in a nightmare, reliving the horror of her confrontation with Daniel.
As she struggled to push the memories away, she heard the sound of footsteps approaching, the soft click of heels on the tile floor.
She knew who it was without even looking up, could feel the weight of JJ's gaze on her like a physical touch.
"Em?"
JJ's voice was soft, concerned, and Emily felt a fresh wave of guilt and shame wash over her.
She didn't want JJ to see her like this, didn't want her friend to know the truth about the hell she had been living in.
"Go away, JJ,"
She said, her voice barely above a whisper.
"I-I don't want to talk to you."
JJ hesitated, and Emily could feel her friend's eyes searching her face, and the haunted look in her eyes.
"Emily, what happened? Did Daniel do this to you?"
Emily flinched at the sound of her husband's name, and she felt the tears welling up in her eyes, threatening to spill over.
She couldn't talk about it, not now, not with JJ.
She needed to be alone, needed to figure out what to do next.
"Please, JJ,"
She said, her voice shaking.
"Just leave me alone"
JJ was silent for a moment, and Emily could feel the weight of her friend's concern and confusion.
But then, mercifully, JJ nodded and turned away, leaving Emily alone with her thoughts.
As the minutes ticked by, Emily tried to lose herself in her work, to focus on the case files that lay scattered across her desk.
But her mind was elsewhere, caught in a whirlwind of fear and uncertainty.
She knew she had to do something, had to find a way to escape the nightmare that had become her life.
But she didn't know where to start, didn't know how to break free from the chains that bound her.
As she sat there, lost in her thoughts, she heard the sound of footsteps approaching again, this time accompanied by the deep, commanding voice of their team leader, Aaron Hotchner.
"Prentiss, JJ said you were in here. We've got a case, and I need you to-"
Hotch's words died on his lips as he took in the sight of Emily, her face pale, her eyes filled with fear and pain.
He stared at her, his expression unreadable, and Emily felt a fresh wave of shame and embarrassment wash over her.
"Emily,"
Hotch said finally, his voice gentle and concerned.
"What happened to you?"
Emily felt the tears spill over, and she shook her head, unable to meet his gaze.
"Stop it Hotch, please just stop."
Hotch was silent for a moment, and Emily could feel the weight of his concern and his frustration.
But then he nodded, his expression resolved.
"Okay,"
He said.
"We'll talk about it later. But for now, we've got a case, and I need you to be at your best. Can you do that?"
Emily took a deep breath, steeling herself for the challenge to come.
She knew that she had to push her personal demons aside, had to focus on the task at hand.
She had to be strong, not just for herself, but for the victims who needed her help.
"Yes,"
She said, her voice steady and sure.
"I can do that."
As she stood and followed Hotch and JJ out of the office, Emily knew that she had a long road ahead of her, a road filled with fear and uncertainty and pain.
But she also knew that she was stronger than she thought, that she had the courage and the determination to see it through.
And she would, no matter what it took.
She would find a way to escape the nightmare that had become her life, and she would do it with her head held high and her heart filled with hope.