Chapter 10

This is it! I really hope you enjoy this final installment :)

"As long as I am breathing, in my eyes, I am just beginning."
- Criss Jami

...

The waiting room was now filled with the team. JJ and Reid had driven over from the station as soon as they had heard, JJ now helping Garcia look through the tape.

"Wait, go back." JJ said suddenly, grabbing the attention of everyone in the room. "Is that him?"

"That looked like a nurse—" Reid said as Garcia began running his face through her software. Seconds later, the grainy hospital photo was next to a picture of James Brooks in his uniform. "That's him."

"So he dressed up as a nurse and fooled the guard." Rossi stated. "How did he get scrubs?"

An officer knocked on the door before entering the small room. "Agent Hotchner? We've checked every nook and cranny in the hospital. He's not here. They did find these—" He held up a clear plastic bag with what they identified as scrubs. "in the basement. He's gone."

"Shit…" Derek mumbled.

"We need the tape from every security camera you have. Inside and out." Hotch said.

"Of course. I'll pull them now." The older man left and the agents were alone again.

Nobody spoke for a moment. How James managed to fool everyone in the hospital baffled them. "Dave, did you get anything from the security guard?"

"He's a rookie, just assigned to her case a couple days ago."

Hotch's eyes widened, the shock and anger clearly visible on his face, shocking everyone. The unit chief never wore his emotions this clearly. "A rookie? They assigned a rookie to guard a federal agent?"

Before Hotch could bite off someone's head, a nurse came into the room. "Emily Prentiss?"

JJ stood up quickly. "That's us. How is she?"

The nurse sighed and their hearts fell into their stomachs. "She's still in surgery. They've lost her six times but got her back. Sir," she spoke directly to Hotch, "You're listed as her medical proxy. if her heart stops again, would you like us to continue resuscitation? She's received multiple blood and platelet transfusions as well."

Hotch couldn't find the words to speak. How was he supposed to make this decision for her? "What would you do?" He asked when he finally found his voice.

Morgan was shocked. Was there even a question?

The nurse smiled apologetically at them. "They have her stabilized for now, but as you probably know, resuscitation takes a toll on the body. Her brain may have been deprived of oxygen—"

Derek couldn't take it any longer. They weren't talking about some random person, they were talking about Emily Prentiss, for Christ's sake. "Hotch, they save her. That's the answer."

"Morgan, we've seen the effects of repeated resuscitation, not the mention the effects of oxygen deprivation. Prentiss wouldn't want to live like that."

"Aaron…" JJ sobbed. "We can't give up on her."

She had swung and hit her target. They'd already given up on her before and he was not about to give up on her again. "Do what you have to. Save her."

The nurse nodded. "I'll let them know. Someone should be out again soon to update you."

The next five hours were spent pacing, sitting, standing and even some praying. Nobody really spoke, they just kept to themselves yet the presence of each other was enough to keep them relatively calm. As long as Emily was in surgery, they knew she was alive and fighting.

The calm before the storm.

…

Rossi sat in the chair next to the hospital bed, checking his watch periodically. Emily's surgery had taken a little more than seven hours due to the complications. She had undergone an MRI and her brain function seemed to be normal, thankfully. They'd all been near tears when the doctor told them. Hotch, Derek and Reid were back at the stationing trying to work with what they had, which was very little. He and JJ had taken the first shift with Emily. Hotch wasn't taking any more chances and decided two of them would be with her at all times.

He looked at his watch. 5:30am. Four and a half hours since the surgery had ended. On a normal day, he'd be heading into work right now. But these last nine months had been anything but normal. He turned and peered over his shoulder at the blonde who'd been sleeping on the small couch under the window. How the woman survived caring for a newborn on top of their workload, he'd never understand.

A soft moan from the bed captivated his senses.

"Emily?"

The woman in the bed stirred slightly, a grimace dancing across her face as her eyes squeezed shut just before they opened.

"Hey, kiddo. How do you feel?" He asked, intentionally raising his voice a bit louder to wake the sleeping blonde.

Her eyes were unfocused and cloudy, yet he was unable to read her face. "Hey, Em. You gave us quite the scare there." JJ said, relief evident in her voice.

Emily hadn't given them any sign she was aware they were present, uneasiness quickly washed over the two agents. JJ grabbed Emily's hand. "Emily, squeeze my hand."

Nothing.

The whimpering began growing louder and more intense until it was nearly a scream. "JJ, go get the doctor." Rossi said. JJ made no efforts to move, instead she stared wide-eyed at Emily. "JJ! Now!"

JJ blinked and looked at him. "Right." She breathed as she ran out into the hall.

"Hey, Emily, look at me." He guided gently. Dave placed his hands around her head, letting his right hand stroke over her forehead and into her hairline. Attempting to soothe her he whispered 'shh' into her ear, trying to ignore her screams, pleading for her to calm down enough to speak. She finally blinked and looked into his eyes. "Emily, what's wrong?"

"Hurts." She groaned.

"What hurts?"

She let a sob escape her mouth. "Everything!"

Doctor Nelson walked briskly to the side of Emily's bed, with JJ only steps behind him. "What seems to be the problem?"

"She woke up screaming, I—I think she's in pain." JJ said.

Doctor Nelson's face fell. "That is to be expected for someone who declined any pain meds—"

"Declined pain meds!?" JJ said, her voice raising closer to a yell.

Rossi sighed. He understood her reasoning, but it didn't mean he had to like it. Dave looked down at the woman. There was a sheen of sweat above her eyebrows and her breathing was rapid and uneven. "Emily, you don't have to do this."

She shuddered as she took in a breath, closing her eyes momentarily before reopening them. "Y—yes I d—do."

…

"Spencer," Emily forced out, "it hurts." She finished as her voice cracked.

The genius grabbed her hand, allowing her to squeeze it as she needed. She was lying flat on her back and had a clear oxygen cannula pumping air into her nostrils along with a cool, damp washcloth over her sweaty forehead.

"I know it does. But you, you can do this."

How could he be so sure? It was known that the human body heals faster when it's not experiencing so much damn pain, and god knows Emily was nearing a human's maximum pain threshold.

"I—I want it. Please, please," She cried, "I want it."

Spencer shook his head. Although he'd do anything to make her pain go away, he also knew how terrible the world of addiction was. He'd been in her shoes only a few years earlier and was thankfully beating it. But if she relapsed now, god knows what would happen. She'd been taking it for months longer than he had, making her addiction relapse even worse than his own had been. He had to be sure.

"Emily, I know it hurts. But trust me, relapse is worse.

"I—I can't…I can't do this. I'm no—not—"

"You're the strongest person I've met. You can do this. Just let it out. Scream, cry, do whatever you need to, but you will get through it."

She scanned over his face, locking her eyes with his before she let the tears roll down her cheeks freely as if water had finally broken through a damm. Sobs wracked her body as the pain engulfed her.

"Shh.." Spencer soothed as he gently dabbed the damp cloth over her face.

"Hey, kid. Hotch needs your genius back at the station." Morgan said as he leaned against the door frame. "I've got it."

As much as Spencer hated leaving her, he knew the team needed him in order to find the son of a bitch who was responsible for everything.

All Emily could feel was the pain. She barely registered the switch of visitors until she felt a body slipping in the bed next to her. For a split second she panicked and tried to scoot away from the intruder. But a combination of the new pain waves and the sound of a familiar, soft voice stopped her.

"Shh…it's just me. It's okay." Derek whispered into her ear as he laid on his side, moving his arm above her head and stroked the sweat-soaked hair away from her face. "Here." He held out his hand, which she quickly grasped.

"I've got you." He said as he planted a small kiss on her hairline.

…

"JJ, I need you to set up a press conference."

JJ looked at him, confusion evident in her blue eyes. "For what?"

"Emily. We need to announce that she survived the attack. Publicly."

Reid's mouth dropped open. Hotch had said to avoid the media, not spill everything to them. Not to mention, Emily was a private person. Spencer knew she wouldn't want the word to know about what had happened.

"Hopefully it'll draw Brooks out of hiding. He won't be able to let her live, he expected her to die." Rossi stated.

Hotch nodded in agreement. JJ nodded slightly, understanding yet still felt uneasy about the whole idea.

Less than two hours later, JJ had just wrapped up the press conference. News that the Federal Agent, Emily Prentiss, had survived an attack by James Brooks, former Police Chief, and was now recovering in the hospital. JJ thanked the media who then attempted to follow her and spewed follow-up questions at her as he quickly slid back into the precinct.

"Now we wait." Hotch said, his eyes staring at the cream colored walls.

"You think it'll work? Would he really risk going to the hospital again?" JJ asked.

Rossi sighed. "He's got nothing to lose at this point. We just have to be ready."

In order for their plan to work it, unfortunately, meant they basically had to allow him to walk into the hospital and into Emily's room. Derek had explained their plan and although he could see through her mask of confidence, she had agreed.

Their plan, as Hotch had explained it, involved the entire police force. They would announce to the press, yet again, that they had a 'very promising' lead and would have the power of the police force plus the FBI agents to take down the man terrorizing the town. This would allow James to believe the focus would be on the lead and not Emily, giving him his chance to strike. However, they knew otherwise. Garcia would be monitoring the security tapes along with the regular hospital security guard for any sign of James while the others would be stationed at different points around the hospital, with one agent hidden in Emily's room. Derek had eagerly volunteered.

"Let's roll." Hotch said as he signaled for the dozens of SUV's to start going, sirens blasting towards the outskirts of the city as if they were leaving.

Little would James know, Hotch and the team were already stationed in their positions.

"Morgan?" Emily's shaking voice whispered through the room for the third time since Derek had arrived.

"I'm still here." He said soothingly from the dark corner near the door.

"Okay." She sighed and closed her eyes, wincing when she pulled at her stitches.

"He won't make it near you, I promise." He reassured her, earning a quick nod from her.

Hotch's voice cracked through the microphone in his ear. "He's here, two floors down. Morgan, stay alert."

He held the small mouthpiece up his mouth, "got it."

"He's here?" Emily asked nervously from the bed.

"He is."

He heard her release a strained breath and he cursed at James under his breath for making her this uneasy. She knew Morgan was in the room, yet she kept needing his reassurance. Was it because she didn't think they could protect her? He didn't know but it still upset him that this pathetic man still had this strong of a strong grip on her life.

Emily gasped and Derek knew he was just outside. She seemed to be completely frozen on the bed when the doorknob began to twist. He drew his weapon, ready to step out from the shadows and face the man who'd caused their team to suffer for months.

The door opened and closed behind the man. "It's good to see you again, Emily."

Just as James took a step closer to Emily, Derek came out from the shadows. "FBI, do not move." Derek said sternly, his eyes narrowed at the shocked man. He'd clearly not expected to see Morgan here.

Emily simply froze on the bed, her eyes glued to James' figure and her breathing was heavy. Derek focused his gaze on the man in front of him.

"I just wanted to visit my favorite girl, now is that a crime?" He said, a sadistic grin spreading across his face.

"It is when you held her captive for eight months." Derek spat back, tightening his grip on his gun. It was taking everything in him not to shoot the bastard right here. But he knew he couldn't. Hotch had made that extremely clear. If she shot him in cold blood, his job was on the line. For a moment, Derek weighed in on the idea. Surely, he'd either lose his job or go to prison. Possibly both. However, the idea of James rotting away in prison for the rest of his life made him almost giddy.

James made a tentative step towards Emily's bed and Morgan stepped closer to him, his finger squeezing the trigger just a bit. Not enough to fire, but enough to make it very easy to fire if necessary.

"Don't move." He placed emphasis on each word.

James looked at Emily, whose face was contorted in fear as she tried to sink deeper into the bed to put as much space between herself and James as possible.

James stopped and reached to his coat pocket.

"Don't do it, James!"

Just as James brought the gun up towards Emily, Derek fired three shots. Three chest shots. James grunted as the bullets entered his chest, losing his grip on the gun as he fell backwards. Derek quickly walked over to him and kicked the gun away, despite knowing the man was dead before he even felt for a pulse. Still, he bent down as placed his two fingers on the man's neck. Nothing. He closed his eyes for a brief second as relief washed over him. It was over.

Moments later, Hotch and the rest of the team came sprinting into the room, out of breath from running through the busy hospital after hearing the gunshots. The agents stood in the door, each looking at James' lifeless body.

"He pulled a gun on 'er."

Hotch exhaled and nodded. He understood and if he was completely honest, he was relieved James was dead. It meant Emily wouldn't have to sit through a painful trial.

Derek stood up and looked at Emily whose wide eyes were still glued to James' body. "Hey…"

Her eyes remained fixed on the man. "He's dead."

Morgan couldn't tell if she was asking or stating it to herself. Either way, he nodded. He noticed the tears in her eyes and he slowly walked to her side. He sat on the edge of the bed where JJ joined him while the other gave her some space, not wanting to overwhelmed their shocked friend.

JJ reached for Emily's hand and squeezed. "He's gone. It's over"

Emily finally broke her gaze away from her now dead captor. "It's over." She said as a smile spread across her face and she briefly tilted her head back and looked at the ceiling. "I'm free."

I think this is it. The last chapter, we made it! I may write a short epilogue, but I'd honestly be happy leaving it like this where there is room for a little imagination and interpretation on your part as to what happens next. Thoughts?

I'd also like to thank everyone who read this story and reviewed! It really means a lot to me and I'm glad we've made it to the end together. I'll probably start another story soon, who knows. Hopefully.

Until then, xoxo