AN: I apologize for the delay! I had surgery yesterday and am just now awake enough to write a few. This chapter is short, but it sets up for a lot. Enjoy!
She was safe, warm, and safe. And even without opening her eyes, JJ knew that. She had become so accustomed to feeling fear all the time, that when she didn't feel it, she knew she was safe. She didn't know where she was, and didn't really care but she knew she wanted to stay here, away from the evil she had become so used to. And so, even with the commands, the pleas, for her to open her eyes, JJ couldn't. She didn't want to, she was afraid that if she did that this wonderful feeling of safety, of warmth would disappear.
Adalene Connor watched her patient with concern. Agent Jennifer Jareau had been rushed up to her ICU unit a week before and had yet to regain consciousness. While the doctors had not mentioned it yet, she could tell they were all beginning to think the word "coma." Originally, she had been sedated, the staff and her family had both agreed they did not want her running off again.
But the sedation should have worn off days ago, and so far Jennifer had shown no signs of wanting to wake up. They could force her to do so that wouldn't be a problem, they just prefered her to wake up on her own. Of course, that decision had been made three days ago, now nearly a week in- Adalene was hoping they were reconsidering.
The ICU room was advanced, and allowed for families of their loved ones to stay around the clock. A full bathroom was available, including a shower and bath, a pull out couch and a flat screen TV. And right then, just as Adalene walked in, she saw one of the FBI agent's curled onto the couch, hugging a pillow.
She laughed to herself before grabbing an extra blanket and tucking the young man in. She had seen a few of them, the FBI agents. From the information she had gathered, her patient was a FBI agent who had been abducted months before and recently rescued. The group was extremely productive of this woman, guards stood outside the door at all times, and nobody got in the room without prior clearance. Apparently, even a badge wasn't enough and the FBI had requested the names of every employee on the ICU staff to run a background track. They were serious about protecting this one.
THis one, Adalene realized her mistake as soon as she thought it. "Jennifer." She said out loud, and walked to the bed. She carefully rearranged the sheets and pillows before grabbing a soft towel and washing her patient's face. "Jennifer, I know you can hear me, hon. It is time to wake up now. You are safe, nobody is going to hurt you anymore." Adalene continued as she slowly bathed her patient, taking the utmost care to be extremely gentle. "There is a young man here who seems to care an awful lot about you, he is sleeping on the couch right now." When the heart rate monitor picked up a tick, Adalene continued. "I think his name is Aaron, and he has not left your side for more than a few hours. He is determined not to let you go again. So how about today, in a few hours, you open those eyes for us, alright?"
Adalene knew it was wild shot, to tell a patient to open her eyes in a few hours, but Adalene was one of the few who truly believed in talking to her patients. She left the room, satisfied that JJ was stable, was not going anywhere and was clean.
Eight hours later, Adalene sighed as she stuffed her pen into her scrub pockets. It was finally time to go home, she just had to do her bedside rounds with her replacement.
"This is Jennifer, she goes by JJ." Adalene explained as the two nurses stood outside the door, the guard eying them carefully.
"Still nothing?" The other nurse asked, obviously have taken care of JJ before.
Adalene shook her head. "Nothing." It was a bit of a disappointment, Adalene really thought today would be the day, JJ opened her eyes. And when she entered the room, her smile stretched as far as it could go as she rushed to the woman's bed side.
"JJ! Open your eyes hon," She placed her hands gently on JJ's shoulders and was not prepared for the fight she got. In an instant, her patient had shot up in bed and was fighting, throwing punches, desperately trying to protect herself the only way she knew how.
"JJ!" Adalene shouted, getting the attention of four other nurses who rushed inside along with the guard. "JJ, look at me, look at me!" Adalene tried, her heart breaking as she saw the fear in her patient's eyes. She didn't want to do it, to sedate her to stop the fighting but she wasn't sure how long she could continue to allow JJ to fight. The woman was surprisingly strong and was not hearing their commands.
"JJ!" The lone male voice in the room, instantly stopped the fighting. Adalene looked to see Aaron at JJ's side, his hand stroking the blonde hair. "JJ, it's okay, you're safe." He reassured, gently forcing JJ's hand down, and pushing her back down in bed.
"Hotch?" JJ's voice was soft, scared as she seemed to finally make eye contact with him.
"I'm here, JJ, I'm here." He whispered, squeezing her hand and wiping tears away as they fell down her cheek. "I'm here."
