Disclaimer: Criminal Minds is owned by CBS. I own nothing but my imagination.

Every 40 Seconds-Chapter 9


Dave, Jason and Hotch made their way to Jane's room. True to her word, Dr. Adams had informed the staff that the agents could visit whenever they wanted and there were no hassles on the way to the room. Once there, they found the entire team, except for Garcia, waiting in the hall.

"What's up guys?" Hotch asked, trying to pretend that everything was OK.

"How are you Hotch?" Emily asked.

"I'm all right; the day just caught up with me is all." He replied.

"Agent Hotchner, I was just telling the team that you are all on a two week stand down effective immediately. I don't want to see any of you in the office for at least a week, am I clear?" Strauss informed the team.

"Crystal clear, ma'am," JJ replied.

"Good. Aaron, you are on an indefinite personal leave, effective immediately. Dave will run the team while you are taking care of Jane, I don't want to hear that you've so much as checked your voice mail for the next two weeks. After Jane is out of the hospital and has recovered some at home, we will discuss you consulting on cases, but that's it while Jane recuperates. Is that understood?"

"Yes ma'am, and thank you." Hotch said. The team could tell that he was anxious to get into his daughter's room.

"Hotch, why don't you go into Jane's room? I have a couple of things to discuss with the team and then we'll be in." Dave told him.

Hotch didn't need to be told twice, he raced into Jane's room.

The team watched as he bent down and kissed her sleeping forehead, and then Dave suggested they move into the waiting room.

Once there Dave started to speak, "It goes without saying that everyone did a great job on this case, I know it was hard because it was personal for us and you all did a wonderful job. I know that Hotch would not have made it through this without all of us."

The team took a minute to think about that before Dave continued. "I know that none of you will want to go too far from here until Jane is awake and doing better. I also know that none of us live closer than half an hour from here, so since we are on stand down for awhile, I will go ahead and reserve rooms for us at the Melrose hotel, my treat. It's about a five minute walk down Pennsylvania Ave. This way we can all be nearby and not have to waste an hour on the commute. Since Jane will be asleep for awhile, you should all go home and pack. Once you get to the Melrose, just give the front desk my name and they will give you your room keys. Needless to say, you each have your own room."

Thanks were given all around by the team as they scattered to go home and pack. Dave caught JJ as she was leaving. "JJ, I'll reserve a suite for you so that Will and Henry can be with you and you all will have some comfort."

"Thank you so much Dave, you're a good guy." JJ said, kissing him on the cheek. After she left, Dave turned to Strauss who was still in the waiting room.

"I hope you realize that the hotel invitation was extended to you as well, Erin." Dave said.

Strauss was floored, "Me?"

"Yes, you and Jane have a bond and I know you are as worried about her as the rest of us. I hope we can put our differences aside for awhile for her sake." Dave said.

"I would like that as well, David." Strauss said. "Thank you for including me in this."

After Strauss left, Dave turned to Gideon, "We are going to need you here for awhile, old man. Are you up for it?"

"I don't have a choice," he said, "My family needs me. Of course I'll stay."

**********

As soon as Hotch entered Jane's room, he went to her bed and kissed her sleeping forehead. He then turned and saw Garcia sitting in one of the chairs. She stood up when she saw him watching her. He crossed the room and pulled her into a hug.

"Thank you, Garcia. Thank you for watching all of those horrible things happen to Jane, thank you for getting the address of where she was being held, thank you for staying with her in the ER and thank you for loving her like you do." Hotch whispered.

The emotions of the four days were catching up with Garcia, she knew she was about to lose it and she needed to get out Jane's room to do it. She pulled away from Hotch.

"Excuse me, Hotch." She said, running out of the room. Hotch knew what was happening and didn't follow her, knowing that she wanted to be alone.

**********

Garcia took off down the hall, trying to find a private place, the tears already pouring down her face. She burst into the waiting room, hoping she would find it empty. It wasn't, Dave was there looking over some paperwork. She stood frozen at the door.

Dave looked up when he heard the door open. Penelope stood in the doorway, frozen to the spot and shaking. Dave could see tear tracks on her cheeks and tears in her eyes and he knew that this was just the beginning, that she was going to lose it just like Hotch did. He knew that while Hotch needed privacy, Penelope needed a shoulder to cry on.

"Garcia," he said, coming over to her and grabbing her hand. He led her to the couch he had been sitting on, sat them both down and then put his arm around her shoulders. "It's OK Penelope, if anyone deserves to cry, it's you." With that, Garcia started sobbing into his chest.