Sorry this took so long. Don't own CM! Enjoy.
As soon as the black SUV stopped, JJ was out the door and running. Before she got far, someone grabbed her by her bullet-proof vest, stopping her in her tracks. She turned around, ready to chew out whoever had stopped her, when she came face to face with Hotch. He looked stern, "Wait." He then gathered up the surrounding police officers and the rest of the team and tried to come up with a plan. They decided to storm the cemetery because they were positive that there was only one dangerous person, and because Reid might need medical attention.
Hotch and Gideon led the way, with JJ, Morgan and Emily right behind, followed by a few police officers. They arrived at a small shack and surrounded the door, noticing that a light was on inside. All was silent as they waited, listening for sound. Before they heard anything, Gideon yelled, "GO!"
Hotch whipped open the door and Morgan jumped through, "FBI!" Hotch followed behind him and they both cleared the area. Emily had followed Hotch through the door and JJ was right behind her. A strong smell of rotting flesh hit her nostrils as she heard both Morgan and Hotch yell that the shack was clear.
"What's that smell?" Emily asked.
JJ pointed to a mass of raw meat that was piled on an oven-type object. Emily grimaced. Hotch took a quick glance around and then motioned to go outside, "Let's spread out, they have to be on foot. Go!"
Running to the nearest door, JJ took her torch out and started canvassing the area. She started a little to the right of where Hotch took off from and moved her flashlight over one headstone after the next. JJ was getting antsy and looked around to see if anyone had found anything. No luck so far.
A gunshot rang out through the woods and JJ immediately started running towards the sound. They were too late. JJ was sure that she was about to come across Reid's body. Lifeless. Or even worse, so close to death so that nothing they did would matter.
Suddenly, she heard Morgan shout out to Reid and arrived at the scene moments after Hotch and Emily. Reid was sitting on the ground next to a freshly dug grave and a freshly shot unsub.
Hotch was at Reid's side in seconds and helped him up. Reid had a ghost of a smile on his face as he gripped Hotch's shoulders. "I knew you'd understand." He sounded like he was fighting back tears.
JJ was right behind Hotch, ready to be of help. Reid and Hotch let go of each other and Hotch stepped back enough to let JJ see Reid. On closer inspection, he really did look like shit, but that they could fix. She finally could breathe a sigh of relief. It felt like she had been holding her breath the entire time Reid was missing.
Reid was a little unstable on his feet so JJ caught him before he could fall, wrapping her arms around him and burying her face in his shoulder, closing her eyes. They rocked back and forth and bit because of Reid's balance, but eventually straightened up.
"I am so sorry," She said, fighting back tears. JJ hugged him even tighter. He was back, she didn't know in what condition, but Reid was back. Spence was back.
Reid very softly rubbed her back, "Its ok. It's not your fault." Then, he let her go to take Gideon's hand.
JJ swiftly turned around, wiping the tears in her eyes. Morgan was staring at her with a pitying look on his face. She just looked down at the ground and tramped back to where the SUVs were parked. Gideon would take care of Reid for now.
On the way back she had to pass Emily, who had the same look on her face as Morgan did. By now, Emily knew better than to reach out for her, so she just let her pass. JJ was still wiping her face on her sleeve when she got to the vehicles. An ambulance was just pulling up to the driveway. Hotch was discussing something with the Sheriff, but turned to her when she walked up.
"Someone should ride with Reid to the hospital. I think it should be you." JJ nodded and mouthed a 'Thank you' before heading off to talk to the EMT. Hotch stopped her, "We'll meet you there and good job on this case, JJ. I mean it."
JJ shrugged and climbed into the back of the ambulance and started answering the medics' questions about what had happened. A few minutes later, Reid finally got in with Gideon's help. He laid down on the gurney and one medic hopped out to drive, shutting the doors after him. She sat on a bench next to Reid's head, looking at his arm and the tell-tale signs of drug-usage in spots down his arm. JJ looked away and put her face in her hands.
How was Reid going to forgive her? He had said it wasn't her fault, but would he still hold to that thought after he came down from the shock?
A hand reaching for her shoulder brought her out of her thoughts. She looked down at Reid and saw that he was looking up at her. "Talk to me,"
JJ pursed her lips together and sighed as the medic put in an IV to flush out his system. She took Reid's hand and tried to smile, "I missed you. We all did."
Reid squeezed her hand, "I knew you guys would figure out where I was. We're the best team there is, right?"
"Supposedly," JJ said, turning towards the front again.
"Hey, Jayje," Reid grabbed her, stopping her from turning away from him. "It was my idea to split up. I remember that after all I've been through, don't you? I went against basic training. It was my fault. Don't beat yourself up over this."
A lone tear streaked down her face and landed on Reid's hand that was holding on to her knee. "It was awful…watching you from that house…seeing him torture you…and…not be able to do anything for you…"
"You were doing something. You found me."
JJ scoffed, "After you almost died."
"Well, almost only counts in horseshoes, so all's fine." Reid squeezed her knee before the medic had to examine his arm.
Coming to a jerky stop, the back doors opened and two doctors stood on the other side. This time, they wouldn't let Reid walk, so they wheeled him out and into the hospital. JJ didn't know whether to follow the gurney or wait for the team, since they weren't there yet. A nurse made her decision for her when she asked JJ to fill out some paperwork for Reid. She was his emergency contact after all, along with several other members of the team. After filling out those forms, she waited in a little room down the hall from where doctors took Reid. JJ hated waiting. Her heels tapped on the ground every few seconds and she glanced at her watch almost every minute. Finally, after about 15 minutes, a doctor came out of a room about halfway down the hall.
"Spencer Reid?" He asked her.
"How is he?"
The doctor looked at his clipboard, "He's still in shock, for the most part. We're flushing out his system right now and trying to pump him back up with nutrients. He's also dehydrated and suffering from withdrawals from the drug that was used on him. There is minor bruising and his lungs will be a little sore for a while but, other than that, he's fine."
JJ nodded, "When can I see him?"
"He's resting right now, so, as long as you're quiet…"
She darted to Reid's room and slipped through the door as quietly as she could. Reid looked peaceful on the bed. The worry lines gone on his forehead and the exhausted expression nowhere to be seen. JJ pulled up a chair and sat on the opposite side of the bed from the door. She finally relaxed and leaned up on the bed, her chin resting on her hands, just watching Reid sleep. He had gone through so much in so little time…She didn't think he would ever be the same.
JJ had no idea how much time had passed before a noise at the door made her jump. Hotch had cracked open the door to peek in and she could see Morgan and Emily right behind him. JJ nodded and smiled as a signal for them to come in.
Hotch pulled up a chair opposite her and sat down with Morgan standing right behind her. Gideon and Garcia filed in after them. Emily crossed the room and stood next to JJ, put her arm on her shoulder and squeezed in reassurance. JJ leaned on her for support and closed her eyes. She suddenly realized how exhausted she was.
Morgan started talking quietly, "We just talked to the nurse. " JJ sat up and sighed.
Hotch stared at her, "He's going to be OK, JJ."
She shrugged and looked down at the sleeping form lying between them, "Maybe physically…"
Garcia interrupted her, "And we'll help him in the other areas. He'll bounce back from this. We all will, eventually."
Looking down at Reid, JJ really wanted to believe that, but she just couldn't. Reid is so young and vulnerable…the years that she'd devoted to this type of job gave her knowledge that she'd rather not have right now. JJ knew how people changed after traumatic events.
Gideon moved over towards the bed, "JJ, you should go back and get some sleep. Go to the hotel. One of us can stay with him." He nodded his head towards the rest of the team.
"No. I want to be here when he wakes back up."
Gideon went to reply but one look from Hotch silenced him. The team sat in silence for a few minutes contemplating what had gone on the past few days. Hotch broke the silence, "The nurse said he would be ready to fly in a day or two. Everyone ok with waiting until then?" Everyone looked around at each other.
"Good with me. Anyone want coffee?" Morgan asked.
Emily nodded and turned to go before turning back, "JJ?"
She hesitated but Hotch answered for her, "Go, JJ. We'll come get you if he wakes up."
Nodding she got up and left the room with Garcia behind her, leaving Gideon and Hotch to watch Reid. The four of them walked down the hallway towards the waiting room that had a coffee machine. Morgan started the pot while JJ and Emily sat down next to each other and Garcia got mugs down from a cabinet. JJ slumped in the chair and rubbed her eyes.
Morgan sat down beside her and put an arm around her shoulder, "Hey, chin up. How about after genius boy wakes up, we go back to the hotel. You need some sleep. We all do actually."
JJ looked up at him, "As long as someone stays here with him…I don't want him to be alone…" She trailed off, not knowing if the others would think her overprotectiveness was uncalled for.
Emily squeezed her knee, "I'll stay if no one else does, but I don't think we'll have that problem."
JJ nodded and sighed, "Do you think he'll be the same?"
"Like I said, we'll help him. We're a family. Families lean on each other for support." Garcia flashed her a reassuring smile. That was so Penelope. Always seeing the bright side.
The coffee machine dinged and Morgan got up to pour it out. "Em, Jay, baby girl? Sugar?" The three of them nodded and he started stirring. JJ looked down the hallway of hospital rooms just in time to see Hotch step out and look down at them. He caught her eye and motioned for her to come over.
JJ jumped up and hurriedly walked to the door, "What's wrong?"
Hotch put a hand on her shoulder, "Nothing. Relax. He's just waking up." She peered through the little window next to the door and saw Reid start to rub his eyes. Opening the door, she walked through and took up her position next to the bed. Gideon nodded to her and left the room, leaving the two of them alone.
Reid blinked a few times and looked around. He glanced down at his arm, seeing the IV that was attached there. He visibly tensed. "Hey, Spence." JJ said with a smile, trying to distract his attention.
He looked over at her, as if just noticing she was in the room. Relaxing, he brushed the hair out of his face, "How long was I sleeping?"
"Not very long, probably about an hour. How do you feel?"
Reid stretched his arms and legs out, testing his sore body, "Not too bad. Are the others here?"
JJ looked down, "Yeah, they're out in the hallway. I wanted to be the first to see you…I can go get them if you want," She started to rise out of her seat when he grabbed her arm.
"Don't. It's nice just having you right now."
She smiled at him and sat back down, holding his hand by his side. She felt some blisters that were probably caused by him having to dig his own would-be grave. Shuddering, she was glad that he never had to use it.
Reid brought her out of her thoughts, "Do you think I'll recover from this? I mean, statistically trauma patients suffer from…"
She cut him off, "You have us. Remember that. A woman that I greatly admire had to remind me that we are a family. We'll get through this. I'll be here for you, whenever you need it. We all will." She squeezed his hand in reassurance.
Reid grinned a little, "Garcia?" JJ nodded. "How is she holding up?"
JJ shook her head, "We're all worried about you, genius."
He adjusted himself on the bed, "Well, you don't have to worry anymore. I'm fine."
A nurse came in, interrupting their small talk. "Dr. Reid? I have a few things to discuss with you, now that you're awake and on the mend." Her smile was genuine.
JJ squeezed his hand one more time, then let go, "I'll go."
Reid understood, "Go get some rest, for both of us." He cracked a smile. She nodded and headed out the door to her team waiting on the other side.
Morgan handed her a mug of coffee. "Drink up, its decaf. Then we can go hit the hay." She nodded and started to drink, the hot liquid warming her body from the inside out.
Garcia was leaning against Morgan's side. "How is he?"
JJ shrugged, "He seems fine for now."
Gideon peered in the room, "He's a strong kid." Everyone agreed.
The nurse popped out of the room, "He should be good to go tomorrow. There will be some medication he'll need to take, mostly for pain, but that shouldn't be a big deal."
Hotch nodded and thanked her. "Jason and I can stay for the rest of the night. You guys can go get some sleep." The two of them entered the hospital room again as the other four walked to the exit.
Before going to the hotel, they decided to go back to the Hankel residence and collect their things. JJ, Emily, and Garcia headed upstairs to grab their go-bags while Morgan tidied up the first floor. He gathered up all of Penelope's computer gear and was loading it into the SUV. They were done within ten minutes.
JJ put her go-bag in the passenger seat of the SUV and then went to go back inside the house. She looked around on the dark porch and into the night, remembering the first night she had stayed here. Cold, bleeding, and alone. A shiver went down her spine as she hurried back up the stairs to join the others. In her haste, she didn't see Emily open the door and come out, almost causing a collision.
"Hey, are you ok?"
JJ nodded, "Yeah I was just thinking about some things."
Emily guided her back down the steps and to the car, "Well, they're almost ready to leave, let's go. Then we never have to look at this place again."
Morgan and Garcia shortly followed them to the SUV and then they were off to the motel for the first time all week. Derek checked them in and they went to find their rooms. The team had two joined rooms with two beds in each. Morgan and Garcia took one while Emily and JJ took the other. The doors were left open in between so they could talk while they were getting ready for bed.
JJ changed her clothes and collapsed on the bed, her exhaustion finally taking over.
I got bored with this story so that's why it took forever and a day to do. I'm thinking about doing another JJ story though. Any suggestions about which episodes?