AN: Again, this is short and I have come to see that I just write short chapters. Yes, at the the end of this chapter, I am out of character for a second, but think about what JJ has gone thru and it might make more sense:

Hotch ran his hand over his chin for what seemed like the umpteenth time that morning. It had only been a few hours ago that he had been startled awake by multiple voices yelling, machines beeping, general chaos. Nurses were trying desperately to calm a fighting and only semi conscious JJ who only appeared to becoming more agitated, more frightened.

He hadn't even thought about it and had immediately jumped to her side, caressing her hair, grabbing her fists and gently forcing them down so that she couldn't hurt anyone, including herself.

"JJ, I'm here, you're safe," He wasn't sure how many times he repeated it, but slowly she had stopped fighting, enough for him to let go of her and wipe the tears away. It killed him seeing her like this, so scared. so… lost.

He had watched as she had calmed, and slowly drifted off back to sleep, the nurses reassuring him that she was okay, that her body was exhausted and recovering. He had nodded and watched the the doctor came in and checked JJ over, satisfied with the promise that JJ was recovering.

So now, hours after JJ had first woken up, Hotch stood over her watching her sleep. He had wiped the tears from her eyes as she slept, shushed her when she cried and talked to her to reassure her that he was had refused to allow any discussion of JJ's case in the room, if an agent or officer needed to talk with them, it had to be outside the protective ICU walls.

It was a deep sigh that brought his attention back to JJ, her eyes were slowly fluttering open. It was a very small thing he had noticed but everytime JJ opened her eyes, he saw more of the beautiful blue and less of the grey that seemed to have taken them.

"Hi JJ," He whispered, making sure she could see him, doing everything in his power not to frighten her.

"Hotch?" She seemed surprised every time she woke up, but this time, Hotch noticed, she seemed more and more aware. She wasn't panicked, or frightened, instead something else scared him- her voice. It was completely and totally flat, with no emotion.

"Hi, JJ. Welcome back."

"Hotch." He felt his heart drop and he knew what she said next would forever haunt him. "Next time, let me die."