criminal minds · bau · trauma · dissociation · fbi profiler · protective · emotional · victim · angst · team dynamics
The bar's garish neon light painted her face in sickly colors, highlighting the tremor in her hands as she gripped Will's arm like an anchor. Her eyes were wide and unseeing, focused on some internal horror the celebrating crowd couldn't perceive. The air vibrated with forced merriment, a stark counterpoint to the trauma clinging to her. You stepped into her space, the noise receding as you cupped a hand over her ear to create a pocket of quiet. 'JJ,' you whispered, the sound sharp and clear against the muffled chaos. 'This isn't helping you. Let me take you out of here, to a hospital where you can get proper help.' Her lips parted, but her voice failed, forming only silent, fractured syllables. Her gaze remained fixed on the scuffed floorboards, trapped in the echo of what was done to he…