The sound of machines beeping drove JJ crazy. Her heart jumped with every foot step she heard, but it fell when they passed her room. It felt like days since Emily was admitted, despite it being just hours. JJ was told an hour ago that the results be would be back quickly, but instead only nurses had been in the room. Emily was still unconscious and no one would tell JJ why. The machines just sat there beeping, the IV bag dripping, and Emily's eyes stayed closed.
JJ had fought to be allowed in the room. Emily was in the ICU, and the nurses had argued that only family was able to visit. Surprisingly, the BAU's section chief Erin Strauss was the one who convinced them that Emily would recover best with JJ by her side. When Hotchner had told the two that he and Rossi would handle Strauss when they first admitted to dating, JJ didn't expect their relationship to be welcomed with open arms.
Strauss never acknowledged it, though. She treated Prentiss and Jareau exactly the same as before they began dating, never mentioning that she knew they were in a relationship. But she used every pull and connection she could find to have JJ treated as Emily's spouse by the hospital. It was gesture that JJ was grateful for, but never expected.
JJ left the room every half hour to update the team, who was waiting nervously down the hall. Even Garcia had flown in when she heard what had happened. From JJ's understanding, the bullet that hit Emily's vest had broken two of her ribs. One of those ribs then punctured her lung, which they re-inflated with a chest tube. JJ had gone into shock when Emily lost consciousness in the cellar, her lips filling with blood as it spilled from her mouth.
But that wasn't the injury that was most concerning. When Emily was shot, her head broke her fall on her way to the floor. They were waiting for the cat-scan to show if any serious damage had been done. JJ had also informed them about her recent headaches, and they were worried over the idea that a pre-existing condition could have worsened by the trauma.
Emily didn't look like herself with the wires and tubes controlling her skin. Her nose and mouth were covered by an oxygen mask, and heart monitor stickers were stuck to her chest. The nurse said the monitor was there to be sure Emily's heart didn't fail as a reaction to respiratory distress. Just in case, there was a crash cart sitting menacingly in the corner. IV's covered Emily's arms and wrists, but the nurse had thoughtfully left one hand free for JJ to hold. She clung to it, the only piece of Emily that she could touch without fear of disturbing a wire or needle.
The nurse had smiled when she last visited to check Emily's vitals. She told JJ not to give up hope, and that Emily could wake up any moment. The nurse gave JJ a look of pity, though, introducing the idea that Emily may be better off asleep. Because of her punctured lung, she wasn't able to be given pain medication at the risk of worsening her breathing. The strongest thing she could have was Tylenol, and the nurse sincerely doubted that Emily would be able to rest once she woke up.
Still, JJ hoped it would be sooner rather than later that the brunette agent opened her eyes. Sighing, she rubbed her face and gently placed Emily's hand on the side of the bed. She was careful to close the door without making a sound, just in case Emily could hear.
Garcia stood as JJ entered the waiting room. "Oh honey, how is she doing?" Her eyes were filled with JJ's pain.
JJ forced a smile and stifled a yawn as Rossi left to get her coffee. "No change, yet." She said sadly. "We're still waiting on the CT results."
She sat down between Morgan and Penelope, and Morgan put a hand on her lap. "I don't know anyone who's more of a fighter than Emily." He smiled, meeting JJ's tired gaze, "She'll make it through this."
Garcia looked to Hotchner, "But if she wasn't actually shot, I don't understand. Why is she so hurt?"
Hotch sighed and dropped his head to his hands. He partially blamed himself for this; he had told the first ambulance to take the woman they found, since Emily had a vest on when she was shot. He kept playing it over in his head, questioning whether or not she would have been okay if she'd taken the first ride.
Reid, aware that Hotch wasn't going to answer, went into detail about broken ribs and punctured ribs and spouted off statistics about head injuries. It didn't help Garcia understand though, and it made JJ burst into tears. Reid sunk back in his chair, knowing he had said too much.
"JJ, we're here for you. You can cry all you need to." Morgan wrapped a firm arm around her. "But you need to hold it together. Emily is going to pull through this, and when she does she's going to need you. You need to look after yourself so you can look after her, okay?"
Garcia rubbed JJ's back soothingly. "And anything you need- either of you- we'll be here. All of us." She looked around at everyone, receiving nods in agreement.
Hotch's voice cracked, "Prentiss will never give up, JJ. Not when you're here." He did his best to smile.
JJ nodded, doing her best to keep her sniffles from turning back into sobs. Her body trembled, shivering from the sheer overload of emotion. Rossi returned, handing her the cup with his attempt of a smile. He patted her arm before sitting down.
"Thank you, guys. I appreciate you being here, and I know Emily does too." Letting the coffee warm her hands, she whispered. "But you don't have to stay. I know it's been a long day for everyone, and sitting out here can't be fun."
Garcia stared her down. "Jennifer Jareau, I did not spend the last four hours on a plane in order to leave your ass alone in a hospital. My butt is going to make best friends with this chair, and you're going to like it."
Morgan, laughing at Garcia's outburst, said, "The same goes for me, JJ. I'm not going anywhere." The others nodded in agreement.
JJ smiled a thank you towards her friends. "I appreciate it, guys. You know I love you." Sighing, she pulled her tired body from the chair and forced her legs drag themselves back to the room.
She leaned over the bed and kissed Emily on the cheek. "I love you, pretty woman." JJ lingered, tracing the details of the brunette's delicate face. "Please, please come back to me." She whispered.
She sank down, her back aching from the uncomfortable cushion. She took Emily's hand in her own, kissing the top of Emily's fingers. She rested her forehead against the rails of the bed.
When Emily's hand twitched, JJ thought she was dreaming. She'd just drifted off, and she smiled at the thought. But then she felt it again. She raised her head, praying with her entire being that Emily had finally come back.
Two hazel eyes stared back at her as she met Emily's gaze. "Oh, Em." JJ began weeping, her hands trying to find some part of Emily to hold. "Oh god, thank you." She cried. Emily's arm tried to reach for her, but she whimpered with pain. "Oh, baby. It's okay. I'm right here." JJ kissed Emily's hand.
Her smile was interrupted by an alarm that sounded through the room. Emily's head snapped back, her body rigid. A blue light started to flash in the doorway, an intercom blaring "Code blue."
JJ was pushed out of the way by a swarm of doctors and nurses, her body numb as someone yelled, "Clear!"
A/N: I know y'all hate it when I do that, but stay tuned... as always, let me hear your suggestions and your predictions for what comes next :)
