The Prisoners' Game

This is the fourth chapter! Enjoy!

Chapter 4 - Healing

(In the ambulance...)

The young paramedic was trying to undo the buttons of the shirt of the blond woman to pose the electrodes on her breast and her stomach to take her pressure and her pulse. The first aid worker yell to his partner to go faster, the young woman was having a pressure failing. As soon arrived at the hospital, there was already a doctor waiting them. When he opened the back door, the sound of the machine making a neutral tone indicated him the heart of the patient wasn't beating anymore. Rushing himself to get the woman out of the ambulance with the help of one of the rescuer. ''We're gonna loose her!'' exclaimed the doctor. ''Defibrillator hurry up!'' ...

At Hotch's office... (6h18 am)

It was early morning, Hotch had come at the bureau pretty early as always to end up some reports who was supposed to be done last night. He was spirited to write one of his last reports when his phone rang. When he picked up, a male voice asked if was speaking to Agent Aaron Hotchner. The agent agreed and asked at his turn who was on phone and the reason of his call.

The male voice took few seconds before answering. ''I am Dr. Cooper. The agent Jennifer Jarreau was admitted to emergency an hour ago.'' His tone was the same as when a doctor had to say something went wrong during a medical intervention. His tone made instinctively Hotch worried.

''What happened? Is she okay?'' The questions were hustled in his head. As he tried to questioned the doctor again all he could find to say was only parts of questions. ''But... Do.. Is...'' He cut himself off surprised about his losing control. That didn't sound like him at all. He wasn't the kind of man who could lose control as easy as that but that phone call had taken him by surprise.

''You should come agent Hotchner.'' The doctor said without any explanations. has heard the profiler taking a deep breath and exhaled at the other end of the phone before saying he was coming right away.

Hanging up, he immediately called Rossi. ''Aaron, I thought you said you wanted us at 9:00 at the bureau? It's only 6:30, you got something?'' Rossi spoke teasingly then he paused and took a tone a little more concerned. ''Hotch, what's the matter?''

''Something happened to JJ...'' He answered him in a worried tone as he asked him to prevent Morgan and Prentiss. ''I'll call Reid and Garcia''. Rossi accepted and hung up. As worried as his supervisor he called the two profilers to let them know what was happening. Whereas Hotch took his stuff and got out of his office heading to his car he called Reid and Garcia. His voice was shaky on phone but he tried not to get noticed. As his team, Hotch couldn't help but wonder what had happened to JJ. They were all worried about JJ.

At the hospital... (9h20 am)

Garcia was pacing from one end to another in the waiting room. ''Where are they?'' Garcia said in an annoyed tone to try to hide her envy to cry. She turned her head in every senses to see if the doctor was coming but gave up after a minute and continued to walk one end to another forgetting she wasn't alone in that room.

As Prentiss was trying to calm Garcia she wondered out loud why they were taking so long to let them know what happened to their friend. She tried to compartmentalize her feelings like always but this time she was inwardly completely freaked out. She was afraid to lose her friend like everyone else here.

''JJ is strong, no matter what happened to her, she'll get by!'' Rossi said by trying to relax the atmosphere what didn't really worked out. He turned to Reid who remained completely silenced fixing the floor. Rossi shared a sympathizing look with the young doctor hoping that everything would be alright.

Morgan was as shaken up as the team but hidden it behind a sort of anger mixed with culpability. She was alone when it happened. Whatever has happened and he wasn't there to help her. He knew it wasn't its fault but it was stronger than him. ''Hotch?'' Morgan said trying to know more. ''What the doctor told you on the phone?''

''All they told me was that she had been admitted at the emergency.'' His supervisor replied as he sat up in front of Morgan and Rossi.

No one had the slightest idea what had happened to JJ. Was she okay? Was she conscious and was she in great pain? That was only couple of questions they were wondering inwardly among hundred others. There has been a short silence then Garcia took a free chair and began to say ''she'll get by'' and repeated herself till losing her control. ''Damn it! Where the hell is this doctor?'' Checking every two seconds if a doctor were coming.

''Hey calm down baby girl, take a deep breath.'' Morgan said trying to reassure Garcia. ''Come here, we go sit down.'' He was as panicked and terrified as her but didn't showed it.

''Derek, I don't want to lose her.'' Garcia added, who couldn't help to let trickle few tears as Morgan passed his fingers on her cheek to remove the tears. She made him a quick grin then returned to her anxious state.

''The doctor should no longer delay.'' Reid finally said to Garcia after fifteen minutes of silence. His leg was shaking and he knew it was because he was nervous. He shot a look at the door where the doctor was supposed to arrive but no one came.

William Lamontagne rushed into the waiting room with Henry, a little panicked and confused. Hotch went toward him and put a hand on his shoulder. ''What happened? Is she okay? I want to see her!'' The young father couldn't help to glance the team with a sad look.

''The doctor should show up shortly'' said Hotch sorry for him and his son to have to live this. He knew how he felt, this was a pretty painful memory and it will always be. Losing the woman you love, the mother of your son, the woman who managed to make your heart beat, yeah he knew exactly how he felt but he also knew there was still a chance for JJ.

''Daddy? Mommy's sick?'' Henry asked to his father on his softly voice. Holding the hand of his father, the little boy wasn't sure why they were here. He knew that when someone was very sick they had to go here. He looked out his dad and began to feel sad to see his father like that. ''You sad daddy?''

Will looked his son with a sad look and leaned to face him. ''I don't know buddy. We have to wait the doctor. He will say if mommy is sick. Don't worry little man, everything will be fine.'' He hugged him and gave a kiss on the head of his son. Everything will be fine was the phrase he was repeating in his head. He was afraid but he had to be strong for Henry.

Ten minutes later, the doctor finally came into the waiting room saying the name of the blond agent. The whole team stood up and went toward him, relieved because he was finally here, but also terrified of what he had to say. The doctor had a worried look and shared it with everyone as he introduced himself. ''She had a rather serious car accident.'' The doctor Lorman began. ''She has two broken ribs and her left arm too and some superficial injuries but she also made a significant internal bleeding after her accident...''

Will's eyes was full with tears and with a shaky voice he said: ''But... She's okay? She... She'll be fine.'' He looked away completely afraid of the truth.

''We manage to stop the bleeding but she lost a lot of blood.'' Dr. Lorman explained as they seemed even more worried. ''She's stable now but she'll need another blood transfusion in the next hour. She's in the recovery room, you can go see her but not too long, she's still very weak from her operation.''

The panic disappeared on the faces to make way for a lightly smile of relief. The doctor walked away and they all headed to JJ's room. Before entry Will turned to the profilers team. ''Go see her, we'll wait.'' Hotch said. ''You need some time in family.'' Will smiled him and came into the room with his son.

As they reached back the waiting room to give some time alone to JJ's family, Dr. Lorman came back there too and made a sign to Hotch and said he had to talk to him. Hotch nodded and then listened to what the doctor had to tell him. The doctor explained him that she had marks that were not consistent with wounds usually caused by a car accident.

''What kind of marks?'' Hotch asked, perplexed. He narrowed his eyes and raised his chin. ''You mean she could have been attacked before and the accident was a cover?''

''I don't know if it was a cover I'm not the profiler agent Hotchner, you are. But she has several bruises in the neck as if someone had tried to strangle her.'' Dr. Lorman answered him in a very serious tone.

Hotch frowned and turned to Rossi who went to him and asked if everything was fine. Rossi felt that something went wrong by the look of his boss who was worried and a bit confused. ''Someone tried to kill JJ.'' He said him looking straight in his eyes. Rossi found back his worry for JJ too and asked him if it could be possible that this killing attempt was connected to their current case or it was just a coincidence. They both shared a look of understanding and headed toward JJ's room.

(In JJ's room...)

William came into the room as JJ saw him and his son, she got up painfully and made a grin of pain. He laid the back of his hand on her cheek and gave her a kiss on her forehead. He wiped the tear who trickled with his inch. ''I was so afraid to lose you!'' Will said passing his hand through her hair. JJ has shed few tears and said she loved him. He smiled at her and replied back that he loved her too. JJ held out her arm towards Henry. His son climbed in the bed to lay next to her. At this moment, she was more than happy, she was with her two men. She wasn't dead. JJ took Henry's hand and kissed it. Will grinned seeing this beautiful moment.

''Mommy? You gonna be okay?'' The little Henry asked worriedly to his mother. Behind his innocent eyes was hiding a little boy completely terrified of losing his mother. His soft voice was shaking inwardly but as his father he tried to remain strong.

The blond gently pushed away the wick on the face of his son and then laid her hand on his cheek. ''I'll be okay buddy. Mommy will be okay. The doctor are here to heal me.'' She comforted him with a smile and a kiss.

Ten minutes later, Hotch knocked on door. William went to open the door and let him come in. ''Sorry, I don't want to bother but can we talk with JJ?'' The unit chief asked to Will. Hotch looked out Henry and JJ. ''Are you okay?'' He questioned to the blond agent.

''I am.'' She simply said as Will reached her, he softly took Henry in his arms adding he will be in the cafeteria. JJ gave a kiss to both of her men and watched them leaving the room whereas the rest of the team came in. They were all happy to see JJ. The team stood at the foot of her bed and stared at her wordlessly.

''How do you feel?'' Reid asked breaking the silence. He was a bit nervous of that situation but obviously he was happy that his friend was here, alive. He couldn't help but wonder how it happened and why. These questions was bothering him.

JJ smiled and replied she was feeling better. Garcia reached JJ's bed and took her hand to ask what happened. JJ looked away like she didn't want to remember what happened to her. As she didn't answered Garcia's question, she glanced Hotch and realized that he was aware. JJ looked away again and took a deep breath. Prentiss looked them and asked if there was something they should known.

''This wasn't an accident.'' JJ said after few seconds of silence. She made a wince of pain as she tried to lift herself of her bed. She was still in shock. She could have lost her son, her boyfriend, her friends. She looked out Hotch again as if she was looking for his approval to let them know. Reid came closer to her and asked worriedly what really happened. He cleared his voice in a nervousness sign and waited a reply from JJ like the others.

''The van came out of nowhere.'' JJ started. ''And I...'' She stopped talking as she felt her tears in her eyes. She couldn't help to let them trickled. She didn't want to cry but it was stronger than her. A powerlessness feeling has taken her as she tried to take back her speech.

Prentiss went beside her to put her hand on her shoulder as a reassurance sign. She let out a ''Take your time'' in a friendly tone and made her a smile as JJ put her hand on the one of Prentiss.

''Thanks Em'' JJ added, raising her eyes toward the brunette and made her a little smile too. ''When the car was upside down, I tried to call the police but I didn't find my phone. I also tried to undo my belt but... It was... I remember that I was shaking so hard.'' She made another break to try to remember all the details. She resumed where she left off and spoke of the man who tried to strangled her.

''OMG!'' Garcia said as she felt the tears up in her eyes. She didn't really know how to react. Should she be calm and reassuring or should she be freaking out that her someone has tried to kill her friend. She took a sad look while having a strict tone.''We will find that son of a bitch!'' JJ made a wan smile to her friend and as she tried to straighten herself up she regretted it right away causing her a pain in her broken ribs.

''Penelope's right, we're gonna catch him.'' Morgan added joining the conversation. ''He will not get away like that!'' He raised his voice and gave her a comforting look to make sure that JJ knows they will always be there for her.

She thanked her partners and narrowed her eyes trying to remember what she was about to say. ''It's still fuzzy, but before he...'' JJ began without finishing her sentence. ''He put a piece of paper in one of my jacket's pockets.'' She finally managed to say.

Rossi glanced the room looking for JJ's clothes. ''Where did they put them?'' He asked to the blond as she pointed a plastic blue bag on a table behind him. Prentiss who was closer went toward it and took the piece of paper in the bag. She unfolded it and as she read it her face changed right away. She shared a concerned look with her partners. ''That's him!'' She exclaimed raising her eyes and staring at her boss.

Morgan narrowed his eyes. ''Emily, who you're talking about?'' The black agent asked as the brunette held out the paper to him. As he took it he then read it too. His face suddenly seemed as angry as Prentiss and then he added ''Does it remind you of something: is it too late to save him?'' He raised up the paper brandishing the evidence and gave it to his boss.

''Why writing ''him'' instead of ''her''.'' Hotch said frowning of misunderstanding. He already had suspicions on who had tried to kill JJ and now his suspicions were confirmed. The only thing who was still hard to understand was the message the suspect always left after his crime. He knew it was his signature but the fact that he had no idea of the meaning of it, inwardly freaked him out.

''Can we consider it as a change in his MO?'' Morgan added as confused as everyone else. Something was wrong but he didn't know what yet and that thing pissed him off. He let out loud a ''Son of a bitch!'' as he put a hand on his forehead.

(10 minutes later...)

William was back into the room with Henry. He thrown a smile to the team then headed to JJ's bed. The team remained silently looking the little Henry climbing the bed and lying down next to his mother. Hotch turned to the blond agent and said that they will leave them in family. ''JJ, if you need anything you can always count on us.'' He stated.

As they all nodded of Hotch statement, Garcia added. ''Rest well darling.'' JJ smiled and thanked them. The team went out and leaving William, Henry and JJ alone. Out of the building Hotch asked to Reid and Morgan to follow him to the first crime scene and asked to Rossi and Prentiss to return to the second crime scene as Garcia was heading back to the BAU to find more informations about the two victims.

BAU – The morning after ( 11h15 am)

Has Hotch came into the conference room his phone rang. Checking the phone ID he answered. ''Officer Gordon. do you have any news about the murders?'' He asked. ''Mmmhmm... Okay we're on our way.'' Hanging up his cell phone he pocketed it as he saw Reid heading to Him. ''This was the officer. Gordon'' Hotch said him . ''We have another victim.''

''He keeps the pace. He claimed a new victim every day'' Reid said. Suggesting they should give a profile to the police the sooner. They all shared a nod in agreement as Morgan took back the word.

''We need to catch him as soon as possible. He's now in its fourth victim … Counting JJ.'' Morgan couldn't believe that someone had tried to kill her friend. He could felt the anger deep in him going up. He took a deep breath to calm himself as he heard Rossi asking to Hotch if the Officer Gordon told him the gender of the victim.

''This time he killed a woman'' Hotch answered as Prentiss stated that it wasn't the first female victim of the suspect. She shared a look with her partners referring her words to JJ. The unit chief frowned and nodded as he was trying to figure out where this case was going.

Reid suddenly made a remark who seemed to discourage the team. ''If we rely on his MO, tomorrow he will probably kill a man.'' They gave a nod in agreement and remain silently as they seemed overtaken by events.

To be continued...

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CalleighJ Xx