Disclaimer: I do not own Criminal Minds

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She woke up to a shortness of breath, it scared her endlessly and she didn't know what to do but gag against the tube. Morgan having heard the noise shot awake and called for help, the group of people heard the commotion and exchanged worried and excited glances.

'Baby girl you need to stay calm, the doctor's just coming.' He saw the terror gaining in her eyes as she struggled against the tube and her back arched slightly as she couldn't get the breath she needed.

'Mr Morgan you need to step outside.' Garcia's hand wrapped around Morgan's even tighter at the fear of being alone.

'Can I stay? It might keep her calm.'

The doctor saw the death grip Garcia had on Morgan's hand and nodded before getting to work. 'Okay, right Ms Garcia I'm going to count to 3 and then you going to feel a major shortness of breath.' He said, noticing Morgan taking a place at her head, he was facing the door now, everyone was looking in. He removed the tape that was keeping everything in place and began to count down. '1... 2... 3.' He pulled the tube and Garcia felt the shortness of breath she also felt the overwhelming pains in her chest. She coughed against it and then it was gone and a mask was placed over her face. Garcia continued to cough, her eyes remained closed as the bed was raised slightly and more drugs were put into her central line IV coming from her chest. 'Keep her on oxygen, and pain relief, if there are any problems page me to get down here.' The doctor spoke to the nurse that was in the room and then he left after giving Garcia a quck check that everything was okay, he was soon followed by the nurse.

Morgan remained close, brushing back hair to make her face clear. 'Baby girl...' She opened her eyes to look at him, the realisation of everything hitting them both now.

'It really hurts now.' She whispered and coughed more, her drawn in breaths shaky and laboured like they were warned.

'I know it does... want me to get the nurse back?' She shook her head. He stood worryingly, her breathing too odd and uneven for his liking, she closed her eyes as she seemed to suck in the pure oxygen as if it were a new lease of life into her body. He looked up at the awaiting mass of people and smiled at them, a genuine smile.

Hotch edged in and then approached, taking Garcia's hand in his to show his support. 'Ever the hard head eh Garcia?' She laughed slightly at him, her eyes just remaining closed, the odd tear escaping. 'I think you need to give in... That's not an option that's a command.' She nodded and listened, her eyes remaining closed. Both men left the room after Morgan had kissed Garcia's head and approached the gathering outside.

'Is she okay?'

'Yeah... well she's being too brave at the moment; I think it scared her waking up like that.' Morgan said.

'Like it scared you?' Morgan looked at Prentiss with shock filled eyes. 'Look Morgan... I know you, we all know you, we can all see how this is eating away at you.'

'I just need some enforcement that's she not going to just be snatched away from me.'

'Well I think if you turn around and look at the woman in the bed you'll get that.'

'I won't.'

'And why?' JJ asked confused.

'Because... I won't.' He said sitting down evidently on the verge of happiness and worry, it all getting overwhelming

Rossi sat down on left of him, Hotch said on the other and everyone encircled him, all not letting this go. He needed to get this out once and for. 'Morgan... let it out.'

'It's not enforcing it because I can't take her away from it all.' Everyone stood there dumbfounded at the admittance of the words. 'I was there... don't tell me not to blame myself, I was there, I was the agent that was meant to protect her, I didn't do that and that was one of the main things of this case, to protect her!'

'Morgan, what did you say to her when you felt the door was locked?'

'For her to stay there, that I would check and then come back.'

'How long were you gone?'

'2 maybe 3 minutes I don't know.'

'Doesn't that tell you something?' He looked at Hotch. 'The Unsub chose to do that, he knew that as a cop you had to follow protocol and get in that house and I bet you told Garcia to tell anyone to stick back didn't you?' He nodded. 'You did your job, she did hers, at the end of the day we can't know other people but neither of you walked yourself into it willingly.'

'But...'

'No buts Morgan. I'm going to take a guess here but I'm going to say that Garcia doesn't blame you in the slightest...'

'It's okay to say that but what if she does, I mean she looked at me to protect her, didn't I kind of fail her?'

'No... it could've happened to any of us in that situation. There is no blame game to play here so stop making one.' Morgan sighed and rubbed his hands over his face before nodding, they all knew then that he had realised the truth of the matter. Hotch then stood. 'Right I think we need to find a place to stay.'

'Stay where me and Pen are.' Morgan said looking up, Sean immediately agreed. 'It's a 6 bedroom place; one bedroom is taken so there are 5 other rooms.'

'6 bedrooms?'

'It usually a place used for stop over cops and the like but the chief thought it would a good place for Derek and Penelope to stay seeing as it was close.' Sean said.

'Okay well let's go there, get freshened up and rested... Morgan?'

'I don't want to leave.'

'Baby you haven't left this place since yesterday.'

'I know and I don't plan to.'

'Okay we know not to argue, we'll bring your stuff and you can have some fresh clothes.' Morgan nodded his head and everyone separated, Fran and the team and Sean and Morgan.

'Go in there.' Sean urged. 'I'll go and get some drinks.'

'Bring some juice up please?'

'Juice?'

'Pen... she's not a major fan of water but she needs to drink and I'm guessing something flavoured may get her to drink it more.'

'Ah she's one of those types is she? Drinks it but doesn't enjoy it much?'

'Aren't we all like that?' Morgan asked, Sean laughed slightly and nodded an answer. Then went towards the elevator, Morgan entered the room and reclaimed the seat that he had spent the most part of nearly 30 hours in. He was staring out of the hospital window at the late afternoon sun when he heard her take in a deep breath and it hitch.

'Hey sleep head.' He said with a smile and leant in, pulling the chair even closer, a hand placed on her head, another still in her hand. She smiled at him. 'How you feeling?'

'Well remember I told you its not better the second time?' He nodded. 'Let's just say that's a major understatement.'

He laughed and looked at her. 'Thank you.'

'For?'

'For coming back to me.' He said kissing her hand. 'You kept your promise once again.'

'I always try.' She said with a sore throat, she then looked at the door as Sean hovered hesitantly.

'Come in Sean.' Morgan said turning around with a smile. Sean passed him the packet of cartons and he ripped one off. 'Thanks.' He said and looked at Garcia. 'You going to drink some of this?' She nodded and raised a hand slowly to pull the mask off, immediately they noticed her breathing difficulties. Morgan put the straw to her lips and she sucked slowly and almost carefully. When she was finished he put the carton on the side and helped her put the mask back on. Sean relaxed into the chair on the farther side of the wall and watched, realising that if she hadn't pulled though Morgan would have been a truly broken man, now all they need to do was get her better.