CHAPTER 3

The ambulance arrived first on the scene. Dave had called them from the parking garage earlier.

This did nothing to calm JJ's fraying nerves. Especially considering the EMTs weren't even getting out of the vehicle. She assumed they had strict orders to be on standby until some official told them they could move in on her later. That instantly made her think about "later" again, what condition would she be in by the time they were able to reach her? Would they even be able to help? Was this even Anthrax? Would they have an antitoxin for the strain she was infected with? What if they couldn't get it to her in time, she will have inhaled an awful lot of the stuff by then?

At 8:23, exactly 18 minutes after she had called Hotch, she saw the black SUV from down the street moving at a ridiculous speed over to her location. Her heart skipped a couple of beats and she let just a couple of the tears she had been saving fall. 'Out of relief' she told herself. 'Relief ONLY'. She had to be strong today, not like the last time, not like while they were on the case and she had called home. She always told herself she did what she had to do, damn the consequences. To her surprise there hadn't been any. She's not stupid, she knows there is no way she could've made that kind of call, during that kind of lockdown without someone notifying Hotch. She was just thankful that her boss pretended it never happened, probably because she never got a hold of Will.

By the time she realized she had gotten lost in her thoughts and had been staring off again, she heard a bang on the window, it was Hotch. It startled her and she gasped. In doing so it forced a few coughs, not quite a fit, but not insignificant either. By the time she said Hotch's name she realized her throat was already scratchy.

JJ: "Hotch...How's it goin'?" She forced a sarcastic smile. 'Here we go' she thought to herself. The beginning of the biggest fake out of her life. She could do this.

Hotch: "JJ! How are you feeling?"

JJ: "Been better. OK for now." She gave him a thumbs up and forced a crooked half smile.

They each spoke loudly through the window glass.

EARLIER, IN THE SUV

Garcia: "How much longer til we get to my girl?"

Hotch: "Maybe 2 minutes out, we're right around the corner, we'll get to her Garcia, she'll be alright." he said with his calm, monotone exterior.

Morgan: "Yeah Baby Girl. The Pennsylvania Petite can handle more than this, I've seen her take down some guy twice her size!"

Reid: "Yeah but UNSUBs she can fight, this she just has to sit there and kind of…get sick progressively and wait. Who knows how JJ will deal with that. If she panics it could make her condition worse. Statistically, 84% of all Inhalant Anthrax victims…"

Dave: "Kid!" He scolded to shut him up "Listen guys, I've only ever seen that girl panic once, and it wasn't in concern for her OWN well being. She can deal with whatever comes her way in the moment as long as her family is safe. Afterwards, on the other hand, we'll probably have to give her some space so she can process."

Hotch: "There's the car."

They had been speeding ridiculously the entire trip, and once Hotch saw the car he just went faster. The ambulance was parked on the street near her vehicle but the EMTs were still inside, as instructed. He knew she'd been going half crazy sitting alone, knowing Will and Henry were right inside and they were down the street.

As they pulled to a stop the wheels screeched. They wound up almost on her sidewalk, Hotch was not worried about parking etiquette.

They all hopped out, he was the first to her window, at first glance he noticed her forehead and face were sweaty and kind of pale. She was staring at her hands in almost a daze, or daydream. He knocked on the window and she jolted her head up to look at him and gasped, letting out a number of coughs. He knew right then that this was definitely Anthrax, but didn't let his expression change.

JJ: "Hotch!" she said in a raspier voice that normal.

Hotch: "JJ! How are you feeling?" But he already knew the answer.

JJ: "Been better, OK for now."

He could tell she had immediately put on a strong front. That was how she was going to cope, he thought. He would let her for now. Hotch knew he'd have to probe her later, after the crisis was over. Hopefully he'd get a chance.

No longer than it took JJ to answer, Garcia and Reid were at his sides pushing Hotch away.

Garcia: "Sugar Plum, are you ok? What happened? Don't worry we're all over this like Chocolate Thunder on me after a few drinks!"

JJ couldn't help but smile. As she ran her hand through her hair she realized she was sweating. Which means the team must've noticed as well. She almost got embarrassed but then realized she didn't really care. She just wanted to get out of there.

JJ: "I'm alright Pen, holding steady, no worries ok. Now, what's my ETA on getting out of this?" as she let out a slight cough.

Garcia: "Not sure yet, the Dr. that treated Reid, will be here in about 40-45 minutes. The CDC is coming as well, probably to set up one of those crazy tent things so they can get you out of the car."

Reid: "There going to hose you down. It's only fun if you enjoy being naked in public."

JJ: "Well you know me." She sniffs.

Reid: "What do you need from us?"

JJ: "Well I need Garcia to stay here and tell me about her trolls or something, and I need you to go inside and explain everything to Will."

Garcia: "I already gave him the Cliffsnotes version in the car, but Reid can give him the details, play with Henry, make sure they are safe."

What she meant was, 'Make sure they don't start showing symptoms as well.'

JJ noticed the wording and Garcia's facial expression. She is a profiler after all.

JJ: "Reid I want updates every ten minutes on my boys." She said while knocking on the inside of the window and pointing at him. If she threatened him, she knew he'd do it.

Reid nodded in a solemn understanding. Garcia just stared at them wondering what between the lines dialogue she was missing. 'I hate working with profilers'.

In the meantime, Morgan and Rossi were over at the ambulance giving them more instruction and telling them about what to expect. 'Coughing, fever, sweating, respiratory distress at varying degrees, aphasia, confusion…'. When they were done, they walked back around to the car, looking at each other with a fearful understanding before stepping forward to the window to see JJ.

Morgan: "Heyyy Mama. How do you like bein' in the car?"

JJ: smiles "It's awesome, outside is overrated anyway" sniffs. As she wipes her nose with a tissue from her purse. Everyone looks at each other concerned.

JJ notices immediately and can only force another smile, if she's giving them a hard time then she's not crying or falling apart in front of them. She knew they'd see right through it, but she's dealing with it the only way she can right now.

JJ: "Alright guys, well what do you expect? Did you think it was powdered sugar? I'll be alright as soon as the CDC gets here and that Dr. whatever her name is gets me the antidote thing."

Seeing she clearly wanted to keep it light, Garcia was crying but smiling at her.

Garcia: "Wouldn't it have been nice if it was powdered sugar though? My Sugar Muffin all covered in sugar. Will would have a ball!"

JJ straight up laughed at this, as did Morgan. Dave just raised an eyebrow at the immaturity and excused himself from the 'kids table' to go see what Hotch was doing. He wasn't there to see what the others saw, which was when JJ had to immediately stop laughing to go into a slight coughing fit. Garcia put her hand on the window as a substitute for being able to hold her friend's hand. JJ noticed this while she was coughing and did the same. Morgan squeezed Garcia's other hand, shot her a look that said 'Let us know if anything changes', then walked over to join Hotch and Rossi.