AN: YAY! I actually got a second chapter up! Let me know what you think:
Your worry only increases when JJ refuses to take any ice chips, and instead, falls back asleep.
"Hotch?" It's Morgan's voice, he has worked with you long enough to know what you are thinking.
"Something's wrong." You speak as Morgan turns down JJ's street. Morgan nods, apparently in agreement with you.
"I've talked to Will, he knows what is happening. He thinks he maybe able to convince her to go back to the hospital."
"I'm not going back to the hospital." You turn to see JJ holding her head in her hands.
"Do you need us to pull over?" You ask, Morgan is already steering the vehicle to the side of the road.
"No. I just want to get home." The pain in her voice is now evident, and you rack your brain trying to remember the conversation back at the hospital. Bruce had told you that the pain meds would last until at least tomorrow afternoon- right now, it doesn't look that way.
Morgan looks to you, wondering, like you are, what you should do. And you do not have an answer; JJ looks as if she is getting worse, not better.
"Do not even think about it; please. I just need to sleep." JJ says and you realize you cannot force her to go to the hospital- the only thing you can do is talk to Will.
Five minutes later, Morgan pulls up to the family home, as Will runs over. He is in the backseat before you can even get your seat belt off; he really does love and care for JJ.
"JJ, chere, I've told you to be careful." He says softly and lifts her into his arms. He plants a small kiss on her head and gestures for you and Morgan to follow him.
"Henry wants to see you guys." Will explains as you enter the home, smiling as you see Henry come rushing down the hallway. "I'm going to put her to bed." He nods to JJ, "Make yourselves at home."
"Uncle Hotch!" You have no time to react before you are body slammed by Henry. He isn't the small little boy you remember anymore, he is now a kid and he is strong. You feel like you have been hit by a pint sized linebacker.
Morgan laughs then quickly scoops up a laughing Henry in his arms and spins him around playfully. "Again, again!" Henry shouts once Morgan puts him back on his feet. You have to smile, watching as Morgan, apparently dizzy, reaches out to the wall to stabilize himself.
"How about you show me what you got from Santa?" You step in, giving Morgan a reprieve.
"Okay!" He takes off down the hallway, just as Will reemerges.
"She's out, didn't move a muscle." He tells you as the three of you head into the living room. "What did the doctor's say? I mean- I know what Morgan told me..."
You nod and hand him the discharge paperwork, keeping care to make sure they are turned upside so that certain information is kept private. "We called the hospital on the way back; she started vomiting, was confused. The nurse said he thinks it is a reaction to the medication, but to monitor her for a fever. He also suggested trying to get her to take some ice chips."
Will shakes his head. "JJ is stubborn when she is feeling fine; but when she is sick- you have a better chance of leading a cow down the stairs."
You grin and nod in agreement, that is defiantly JJ. You and Morgan stand and talk with Will for a few more minutes before Henry comes running back in.
"You promised you'd come see what Santa brought me!" He tells you, his hands on his hip.
"Uh-oh Hotch, I think you may have offended him." Morgan snorts into his coffee mug.
"I'm sorry Henry, let's go see." The child quickly runs off and you follow him, right into his room. Toys liter the floor, and you take caution not to step on and break one of the tiny things.
"And this is a Lego set, and this is a star wars toy, and this..." He goes on and on, and you smile, Henry defiantly had a good holiday. And then, without warning, his exctiment vanshies and he looks like he is about to cry.
"What's wrong, Henry?" You sit on the floor with him, as he crawls into your lap with his teddy bear.
"Momma's hurt." He says, playing with one of the buttons on your shirt.
"She is."
You don't see the sense in lying to him, JJ's injury is visible, and will be for at least a few weeks, if not longer. "But she will be okay, the doctor made her feel all better."
He bites his lip. "What if she needs help and daddy isn't here?"
You look at him, wondering what in the world was going on in his mind. You knew JJ and Will took care to make sure that at least one of them was always there with the boys. But you also see that you are not going to try and make sense of it right now. So you reach into your pocket and pull out your business card.
"Do you know what this is?" You hand him the card and point to a series of numbers.
"Yes, it's a phone number."
"So, if you ever need me, you call that number and I will come and make sure your momma is safe."
He smiles up at you, and you wrap your hands around him as he leaps into your chest. If only everyday work was this simple
It's three in the morning when you hear your phone ringing. Groaning, you reach over and answer it without looking at the caller ID.
"Hotch." You rub you hands over your eyes, knowing that most likely, you will be having to get up.
"Uncle Hotch!" Instantly you are wide awake, scrambling for your shoes and keys. The tiny voice is crying and you recognize it immediately.
"What's wrong Henry?" Your heart is racing.
"Daddy won't wake up!" He screams and in the background, you hear the baby crying.
"Henry, go get your mom." You direct him, and all you hear is sniffles.
"Mommy's gone!"