Chapter 10 – Racing the Clock

Emily sat patiently inside the waiting room. She had been here too many times recently. She hated the hospital more than her last visit. Last time there was no real connection between her and Carina. She was the one who saved her life, yes, but until recently there hadn't really been a bond; A kind of mother daughter bond that makes people strong and want to live life. Emily's whole life now, was lying inside a hospital bed with a gash on her head and no explanation as to why. Watching the white floor tiles Emily's eyes were glazed. She had never felt like this before. Hotch, Reid, Garcia, she felt for all of them, she felt sadness, anger, wonder, grief and then, at the end, complete happiness. This however was something she had not felt before, something so new to her that it shook her to her core. Her heart felt like it weighed a tone inside her chest, her lungs were trying to fill with air but they kept refusing. She felt love, the love that a daughter would share with a mother and one that she never had with her own.

Hearing the sound of shoes clicking against the tiles she knew who the arrival was before she felt them. A simple hand was placed on Emily's shoulder making Prentiss look from the floor and to Garcia, her normally fun loving friend who now wore a face similar to her own. "Have you heard?" Emily shook her head slowly from side to side. "She will be okay Em."

"Emily Prentiss," the doctor called making Emily and Garcia stand from their seats and look to the young male doctor. "Yes," Emily answered. "How is she?"

"She's awake and stable. We have given her something to eat and drink." Emily felt a wave of relief wash over her. "Are you aware that Carina has epilepsy?" Emily looked to the doctor and shook her head. "No I was never told her full medical history."

"It would appear that she has been having seizures since she was ten years old but they stopped when she was thirteen and haven't returned. Today was the first one she has had for over four years."

"Is it possible for it to resurface like that?" Asked Garcia stepping next to Emily.

"Epilepsy is a treatable condition that can resurface for unknown reasons. According to her history she took medication to stop having them but it hasn't been needed until now. I am going to consult someone about the dosage and get them to order her some more just to be safe and make sure this doesn't happen again. "

"Good," Emily sighed. "Can we see her?"

"Of course, she is still a bit weak, her brain is trying to help recover after the shock but she should be okay."

"Will she be discharged tomorrow morning?"

"If it all goes well tonight then yes she should be out early tomorrow." The Doctor answered before he walked them into Carina's room opened the door, waited for the two agents to enter and then left them alone to talk. Emily sat next to Carina "hey," she greeted, Carina turned her head to look to Emily as Garcia sat next to her. "I'm sorry, Em."

"You have nothing to apologise for," Emily replied sternly. "Don't you dare apologise for something that's out of your control."

"I should have told you," Carina sighed. "I should have told you that I had them."

"It's okay," Emily smiled. "What happened?"

"I was practicing for tomorrow when it hit, I could not move my hands at first and then I started to shake. I fell off the chair and knocked my head on the cupboard and that was it."

"You knocked yourself out for a while. You could have a concussion." Garcia pointed out.

"I'll be okay Garcia," Carina smiled. "Will I be able to play at the competition tomorrow?"

"The doctor said that if everything was okay they you would be allowed to," Emily replied. "But right now you need to rest up. I'm going to go home and get a change of clothes for both of us and I'll be straight back."

"Okay," Carina replied. Emily stood from her seat and left leaving Garcia smiling toward Carina. That was the last thing Carina saw before she closed her eyes and got some sleep.

The next morning Carina opened her eyes to see Emily had changed into a pair of jeans, her black boots, a white t-shirt and a black leather jacket. Garcia was still wearing the same things from the previous evening and was sleeping next to Em. She could have gone home but secretly Carina was glad that she was there. Sitting up in her bed she saw a bag at the end with her new clothes for the day in it. Taking the bag Carina stood and walked to the bathroom and began to get changed. It felt good for her to be out of the clothes from the day before and in something clean and fresh. Placing her old clothes into the bag Carina brushed her hair before she exited the bathroom and sat on her bed again noticing that Garcia was missing. She guessed it was for a coffee run and another two minutes later Garcia arrived with a cup for each of them. "Are you sure I'm allowed to drink that?" Carina asked taking the cup.

"It will be better than their breakfast service trust me," Garcia chuckled making Emily wake from her sleep. "Morning sleepy head," Carina smiled. Emily laughed slightly before she thanked Garcia for the coffee and took a sip. "When does the competition start today?" Garcia asked.

"10:00am," Emily and Carina both replied at the same time. Garcia looked down to her watch for a moment and saw that it was 8:30am. "Okay so we have an hour and a half."

"Oh man I forgot!" Emily sighed putting her hand to her head. "Garcia can you ring Derrick and JJ they said that they would come to the competition."

"Why?" Carina asked.

"You are part of the BAU family now," Emily smiled as Garcia exited the room and the doctor entered. "Good Morning Carina, how are we feeling?"

"Good thanks," Carina replied as Emily stood next to the teen.

"Any dizziness or soreness?"

"Nothing," Carina answered. The doctor took a note on the clipboard at the end of the bed. "The gash on the forehead should heal within a few days; keep the small strips over it until it does to keep the wound closed." Carina nodded to show that she understood. "There is still one test that we need to do before you leave, it's a brain scan just to make sure that I prescribe the right medication."

"How long will that take?" Emily wondered. "We need to be out of here by 9:30am at the latest."

"Our radiologists and specialists don't come in until 9am so we'll have to wait for them." Carina sighed and looked to her sheets, Emily placing a hand on her shoulder to help comfort the teen. "I will put you as the first priority."

"Thank you," Emily replied as the doctor exited and Garcia walked in. She saw the two sad faces and looked between them for a moment. "Bad news?"

"We'll just have to wait and see," Emily sighed.

An hour passed and at nine o'clock Carina was finally taken for her scan. Emily waited behind in her room as Garcia received a text message from Derrick. She laughed slightly when she read the words before she replied. Emily looked to the watch on her wrist and saw it was 9:30 already. They needed this to end quickly or they weren't going to make it on time. Another ten minutes and they were still waiting. Emily turned to Garcia "Can you go and meet JJ and Derrick at the competition?"

"I could but who would give you a lift?" Emily looked to her purse and opened it to check she had enough for a cab. "I'll catch a taxi, I need you to go to the competition and I'll call you. It looks like we are going to be late and if she isn't there to check in there will be trouble."

"Okay I'll go," Garcia replied. "Call me..."

"If there is anything you can do," Emily finished. "I know, we'll see you there." Garcia nodded before she took her bag and scuttled down the hallway and toward the elevators. Carina was wheeled back into the hospital room even though she could walk without a problem. "Agent Prentiss," the doctor that followed her greeted. "I am Doctor Knight the epilepsy specialist."

"Of course," Emily smiled holding out her hand for the doctor to shake.

"I have the scans and it looks like Carina will be okay. The seizure that she had can be prevented with medication. I will need to see her every couple of weeks just to make sure that everything is okay. If there is a problem before then, or if you have any questions, than please don't hesitate to contact me," He explained holding out a copy of his business card which Prentiss took into her hand and placed in her purse.

"Thank you."

"Here is Carina's prescription. There is a pharmacy downstairs. I will send you the appointment times by mail."

"Thank you," Emily replied before she shook his hand again. Carina stood from her wheelchair and began walking out toward the elevators when Dr. Knight stopped them. "Agent Prentiss you need to sign the discharge papers." Emily quickly signed them before she followed Carina down toward the elevators as quickly as possible.

Garcia pulled into the driveway of where the competition was taking place and saw that Derrick and JJ's cars were already there. Quickly walking in she saw Derrick sitting next to Will, no doubt talking about who would win the next game. JJ juggled Henry on her lap as he tried to look above the other people to the stage decorated in various instruments and people all trying out and warming up. Rushing into their line of chairs Garcia sat next to JJ and said a cute little hello to her godson. "Where are they?" JJ asked.

"Still caught at the hospital." Garcia replied.

"Hospital?" JJ pondered, "you didn't say anything about that in your text."

"I'll let Emily explain later but right now they are stuck there for a while and its, 9:50, this thing starts at 10am and if they aren't here soon they'll take her off the list."

"Can't you just say they are coming and are stuck in traffic or something?"

"No they want to see her personally," Garcia replied before she noticed the judges table and then two strategically placed cameras. "I think I just had an idea," she grinned.

Emily and Carina sat inside the cab that was creeping slowly through traffic. The light turned yellow and then red making the cab stop again. Emily was high strung, Carina was nervous began wiping her hands together. Emily placed her right hand on Carina's trembling ones. "It's okay, we will get there."

Garcia rushed to her car and unlocked the boot before she removed her laptop and then started back into the hall. JJ gave Henry to Will and followed Garcia around the back of the building and toward their main systems. Creeping through the back they both made their way to the main computer supply hidden behind the stage before JJ pulled the light switches covering them in darkness. Garcia plugged her laptop into their main system and began typing madly as JJ looked over her friends shoulder. They heard a few people talking before it sounded like someone was coming to check on the system. Typing as quickly as possible Garcia hit enter once again and the load bar appeared. "What is that?" JJ asked.

"I am loading a virus into the system. It will shut down their cameras and electric equipment for twenty minutes. That means that they can't watch the footage or record the show and they need that for the judging purposes. Plus the kids instruments like guitars need electricity to run. This should buy them enough time to get here."

"What the hell are you two doing?" Asked Derrick as he followed the only glow in the dark backstage. "Buying Em and Carina some time." JJ replied. "Can you keep the crowd busy, tell them that the electricity shut off but you are an electrician and you are getting it fixed."

"I can't just lie to a room full of people," Derrick protested.

"Oh come on Derrick!" Garcia whispered harshly. "You run into unsub's homes without a bullet proof vest and only your gun as a line of defence but you can't talk to a room full of civilians. What is wrong with you?"

"Wrong with me?" Derrick debated. "What about you, hacking into the system is not the best thing to do. What if they find out what you're doing you could ruin it for Carina."

"At least she'll have a chance to show her talent. She needs this Derrick, she really needs this." JJ watched the debate before Derrick finally gave in and walked out the front and onto the stage.

"Everyone!" He announced getting the attention of all the audience members and participants alike. "The electricity has gone down but I'm getting it fixed. In twenty minutes it will all be ready to go. I suggest going outside until it's finished." The crowd all began to disperse, only a few people remaining behind before Derrick stood behind JJ and Garcia again. The bar had finished loading. Twenty minutes left.

The cab driver stopped at another set of lights making Emily sigh and try to remain calm. Carina was still nervous as hell before she began to open her hands and close them to try and get the feeling back in her fingers. This was impossible. Emily looked down to her watch, 10:00am. The show was starting. "We didn't make it did we?" Carina asked. Emily was about to shake her head to say no when her phone rang. "Derrick?"

"You have ten minutes to get here."

"What?" Emily asked.

"Look Garcia hacked the system and put everyone in the dark. You have ten minutes to get here can you make it?" Emily looked to Carina as Garcia and JJ looked to Derrick. All of them were waiting for a decision, waiting for a response, waiting for one word.

AN: So will they make it in time? The final chapter for this fic is up next.