JJ sneaks out of Alex's room. Outside in the hallway she finds an open store where she gets herself a turkey sandwich, coke and Cheetos. She eats her late lunch alone. No one from the BAU is at the hospital right now. They're all working, but she got
/a half paid leave as long as Alex needs her. Right now that time expands with several months more than any of them expected. She hasn't been home the last month, only to shower, sleep, eat and unpack and pack and to feed their cat. Someone have been
/trying desperately to contact her and Alex, but they're journalist and even though it's been a month since the whole kidnapping, it's still hot news and if they hear about him wakingup, but not remember anything… Well, it'll make her apartment
a

target for journalists for days.

Sitting back, JJ slowly dozes off as she re-lives the most horrible day of her life.

"They've heard shots. Several. JJ, they don't know who's shot or who's shooting."

"What? No, no, it can't be him. Emily, we need to get people in there now. What are we waiting for?" JJ's hysteria and panic have reached a new top and she jumps to her feet.

"The team's mapping out every exit. And Garcia's doing her part: hacking into their phones and the surveillance cameras and laptop. Then we get an inside eye."

"I don't care if we're blind! I know what's going on, I know the guys in there have my son and his girlfriend! And someone's shooting up the whole place. If you don't get in, I'll go in alone."

"JJ, NO!" Emily runs after her friend, grabbing her shoulder and drags her back to the van where they're waiting for new orders. "JJ, please, listen. It doesn't do anyone any good of you go in there alone and get hurt. How do you think Alex will feel if you die or get shot?"
"I DON'T CARE! Maybe he won't be able to feel anything if we're just staying here all day. Let me go, Emily."

"I can't." And then she whistles and an officer in fully body armour and equipped with a rifle looks up. "I need you stay guard here. Don't let her out of your sight while I'm gone. If I see her inside of that building, I'll have your shield before dawn. Got it?"

The officer nods and takes stand close to JJ. She's fuming, but Emily can't let her friend go inside and ignores the angry looks she gets from her. Instead she heads to the rest of the team and other FBI agents. They're getting ready as soon as every search team give them a green light, and Garcia needs to map out the place in 3D, also Reid wants to calculate their chances.

"How's JJ?" Hotch asks when he sees Emily coming. She only shakes her head.

"We need to go in now," Morgan spits out between gritted teeth. He's just as worried as JJ. They all are.

"Alpha team, this is Delta, we're ready. Over."

The sparkling comes from Hothc's radio. He picks it up, presses a button and speaks to it.

"Roger. Bravo and Charlie, what is your status? Over."

"This is team Bravo, we're just clearing out the south side. Two cars are parked here. Fifty seconds top. Over."

"Charlie to Alpha team: we are ready to go. Over."

Suddenly another series of shots can be heard from the inside of the building.

"Everyone, go, go, go!"Hotch yells in the radio and he and the BAU team take off, accompanied by the four other FBI agents. Reid and Morgan take the door as the team stands by, holding up their guns. The team run in, flashing flashlights around and cover each other as they move further in the dark building. Hotch and Morgan pair up and lead each group of agents through a hallway.

"FBI, don't move! You're under arrest!" Rossi cocks his gun at the perp's head as two agents wrestle him on the ground. "Prentiss, there are at least two more. See if you can find them."
Emily takes off. She goes left and signalizes to Reid to follow her.

"The door," she mouths to him. He nods, creeps forward and kicks it in. He and Emily do lower their arm until they clear the whole room. It's dark. Only a single light bolbehangs from the roof.

"Mabel!"
Emily hurries over to the girl.

"Reid, give me a hand."

She takes the girl's pulse and swears.

"Call it in," she says defeated to her partner. Reid, with sorrow written in his face, clears his throat and finds his walkie-talkie.

"This is Agent Reid, we need a medics right away. We found the girl."

Penelope has gathered them all to come at the exact same time. She wants them to all receive the news – either they're good or bad.

"Oh, there he comes."

The same doctor that has treated Alex for the last few weeks comes up to them. He looks quizzically at the whole bunch, but gives them a polite smile.

"What can I do for you all?"

"Doctor Wallace, I'm the BAUs unit chief SSA Aaron Hotchner. We'd like to get an update, the very same as Jennifer Jereau got."

Dr Wallace's face turns into a grimace. "He's…better. But he hasn't woken up yet. I assume you're referring to the amnesia?" They all nod. "Well," the doctor inhales some air, "then I'm happy to say that I'll bet my next pay check that he's going to be
/okay. The swelling on his brain has faded completely, he's no suffering from other injuries that we don't know of and those we know of are all under control. He's healing well and that faster than anyone else I've seen during my last eight years as
/a doctor."

"Mom?"

JJ reacts immediately. She jumps up, smiling broadly.

He remembers! Her heart skips a beat and the pulse rise while she pushes a button to page the nurses and Doctor Wallace.

"Hey, honey. How are you feeling? Do you know where you are?"

"Yeah…I'm in a hospital obviously, but I don't know which. And I'm…sore, got a headache from hell too. Are you okay?"

"Me? Yes, I'm fine. I'm more than fine now when you're awake and remember."

"Remember what?" Alex asks. He can only whisper. "Can I get something to drink? My throat is killing me."

"Of course. Do you want water or juice?" She reaches over to fill a cup.

"Water, please. Where's everyone? I am the only one who got hurt?"

"Honey, I'll explain everything after the doctor's been here. He needs to check you out, and then he'll talk to you and then we two will talk."

Alex accepts the water and while he drinks, each of the BAU team enters the room. They're smiling and look more than relieved when Alex smiles back; he remembers them and they know it. A nurse and Doctor Wallace follow right behind them.

"Good to you see you awake, man," Derek says, fist bumping Alex.

"I'm was really worried, you know," Emily laughs. "And so were Hillary and Henry. They can't wait to see you again."

"Understandable. I'm the best and only godfather they have, and I'm doing a damn good job with keeping them alive when you're too busywith your man." Alex gives her a wicked grin and the whole room explodes in laughter. Even Emily laughs more.

"Okay, everyone, you have no idea how glad I am to hear you talk like that." Penelope bubbles, and she smiles like a child on Christmas.

"Yeah, you had us all worried," Rossi chime in.

"Sorry, guys. If I knew you'd all go ballistic whenever I got hospitalized, I'd never step a foot outside of my room."

Doctor Wallace and the nurse move forward through the crows of FBI people.

"Alexander, hi, I'm Doctor Wallace. This is your nurse, Leanna. We have to run a few checks on you, but first I have to ask: do you remember everything? Do you remember what happened to you and why you're here?"

The whole room becomes quiet, and the mood changes so fast as if someone flipped a switch.

"Uh… I know why I'm here. I got hurt, and I know who did it." Alex turns to look at his mom and his brows knit together. "My…father did it to me. And some others. They took me and… MABEL! Where's she? Is she okay? Why…"

But the doctor cuts him off.

"Okay, okay. Don't press yourself too hard. So you remember, and that's good. You woke up a couple of days ago and you suffered from a serious, but short amnesia due to a swelling on your brain. But apparently it seems like that isn't the case anymore,
/which is good. I have to ask everyone to leave the room as we continue with the procedure. That means your mom, too," he adds and cast a glance at the blonde woman.

"Fine." JJ stands up.

"Okay, everyone out," Hotch orders quietly. The room empties, not counting the medical staff.

JJ sees the nurse pull down the blinders. Now they can't see what's going on anymore. She feels a hand on her shoulder and knows immediately it's Emily's hand.

"Hey, you okay?"

"Yeah…" she breathes. "Actually I think I am. Now I'm just so happy he's himself and remembers. But at the same time… He'll never forget this. And what about Mabel? How do I tell him? He's going to suffer even more."

"Mentally, yes, he will struggle," Emily says, "he'll have flashback and trouble with sleeping, lack of appetite. But that's normal, JJ, you know that. Worst case in scenario: he'll be diagnosed with PTSD after this."

"I hate him for this. I'll always hate him."

They both know JJ means William.

"We understand."

The two of them walk back to the chairs in the hall where the receptionist sits. None of them sits, though, and they all turn to see if JJ's going to have a breakdown or not.

"I'm fine, guys. Really, I'm just so relieved he remembers. Thank you, everyone, for everything. You've been very kind and supportive, all of you." She tries to give them a big smile, but only manages a small one.

"If you need anything," Hotch speaks up, "you know you only need to ask and we'll help."

"Thank you."

The silence makes the next fifteen minutes almost unbearable. Then Reid asks the question they all want to ask.

"What do should we tell Alex when he asks about Mabel?"

"I think I have to tell him."

"Of course, JJ, that's for the best," Rossi nods. "But be careful with how you say it. I know you're an ex-liaison and know how to talk to people under such circumstances, but this is your son. Don't tell him that it wasn't something he could've done
/because he'll think that's a lie and will constantly blame himself. Even more than he's going to do."

"He's going to be… He'll blame himself. And hate me," JJ whispers, her voice is small. She looks crushed. Heartbroken.

"Alex won't hate you, JJ," Penelope insists. She steers her friend down on one of the chair and claims the one next to it. "And we'll be here, all of us, you know, to help and support you. I know some very good therapists that I know will help him if
/he wants to go. And you. You too have been through something traumatic."

"At least I'm not shot," JJ says ironically.

"No, but that doesn't mean this past few weeks has been extremely tough for you. They've been your worst, I imagine, and that's understandable. This would take a toll on anyone. Don't be ashamed of asking for help."

"I'm not," JJ says fast, "but I'm not going to feel sorry for myself now when my son's in there, having bullet holes in his body and not knowing that this might be his second worst day."

Can anyone guess what's going on? :)

Next chapter will be up within this week.