AN: Enjoy!

You have walked the distance from the parking garage to the ICU for months now, and never really considered how long it takes to get there.

Right now, you are cursing yourself for not knowing exactly how many steps, how long it could take to get to JJ.

Because, even with you running as fast as you can, it still takes nearly five minutes to close in on the ICU room. And by the time you reach the door, security is already stationed outside.

Morgan is inside, his back to the window, his gaze focused on a sleeping JJ. You know the stance, he is making sure nobody can see in through the window, protecting JJ with his body from a potential sniper.

And JJ. JJ is sound asleep, blissfully unaware of yet another threat on her life.

"Hotch!" Morgan sees you as soon as you walk in. "Nobody has come in here man; it's been quite." He explains, not moving from his spot.

You nod, letting out a small breath.

"What did he say?" Morgan asks, and winces when he sees JJ start to stir in the bed. You watch as he approaches the wounded agent, and kneels at her bedside.

"Shh, baby girl." He whispers and places his hand on JJ's forehead. "Hi there." He smiles and you do as well when you see her eyes blink open.

But something is different this time, you know that instantly. The look in her eyes, she is scared, upset..

"JJ." Morgan must see it too because he tries to get right into her line of sight. "It's okay, baby girl." He hushes her, trying to calm her down. It's obvious that she is quickly growing anxious and you know that at any second, a nurse will be in to help calm her down.

This has happened more than once before, and you now know the routine.

Dr. Molly explained it to you, that every time JJ wakes up, she might not know where she is at, or what is happening. And you have learned to trust Dr Molly on what she says.

You step over to JJ and grab her left hand as you see her start to go to one of the many tubes still attached to her body; the last thing anyone needs is for JJ to pull something out.

"Leave it alone, JJ." You tell her softly, not wanting to scare her anymore. You hope she can recognize your voice because she doesn't appear to be seeing you at the moment.

It comes and goes, sometimes she recognizes you and sometimes she doesn't; you never know. Right now, it's apparent she does not. Because she is fighting with you as hard as she can- which is nothing.

You think Jack has much more strength that what JJ possess now, and she is using everything she has. The once strong, vibrant FBI agent who could disarm a man twice her size, is having trouble lifting her arm to shove you away.

She is growing increasingly agitated, and is shaking her head back and forth, moving as much as her body will allow.

"Okay, okay." Morgan is whispering to her. "Are you hot?" He asks and gently removes the blanket that has been become tangled around her body. The struggle continues and you see tears start to build in her eyes.

She has to be frustrated, scared. You touch her skin, making sure she doesn't have a fever and find it to feel normal.

"Is she in pain?" Morgan asks, and all you can do is shrug.

As an awful thought enters your mind. Is this going to be JJ for the rest of her life? Crying and frustrated and unable to communicate..

Is this the life JJ would want?

And you know the answer to that.

You know she wouldn't, wouldn't want this. To be dependent on medical equipment, unable to communicate, trapped in her own body.

"JJ?" You hear one of the nurse's' voice and are so grateful for it. "Oh sweetie." Rosie walks in and straight to your agent. "What's going on pumpkin?" She looks at her charge and you see something in Rosie's expression that you cannot place.

"JJ." She reaches over and grabs JJ's left leg, holding it down. "It's okay, it's okay." She repeats over and over again. She reaches down and presses the call button and then tells the nurse to send in Dr. Molly.

Now, you know something is happening.

"What is it?" You ask, still holding JJ's arm down.

Rosie licks her lips and gently turns JJ so that she is flat on her back. "We just need to wait for Dr. Molly to get here."

Two minutes later, Dr. Molly arrives, and you know that whatever is wrong, Molly sees it instantly.

"JJ." She walks over and without a word to you or Morgan, looks to her nurse.

"What happened.."

"Saw her wake up from the nurses station.."

Immediately, you and Morgan look at each other. You know JJ's room is close to the station but not near enough for someone to be sitting there and then see JJ wake up.

"Gave her a bit, but she became increasingly agitated. Came in and saw this, called you."

Molly nods and approaches JJ. "Hi JJ." She smiles softly, taking over Rosie's spot on her hand. Molly sits down next to JJ and begins talking to her; her voice soft and calm. And you watch JJ begin to relax.

Molly sits next to her, letting Rosie talk, but observing JJ. She is watching something, but you do not know what.

"That's it." Rosie says softly. "Oh honey, I bet you are so uncomfortable. How about we get you some clean clothes and sheets, huh?" She asks, running her hand through JJ's blonde hair. "Get your hair brushed and a bed bath?" JJ has calmed considerably by now, enough for Molly to let go of her arm. "There ya go, let's get you untangled okay?"

Molly stands up and smiles at JJ before turning to you. "A word?"

You nod and follow her out the door, knowing Morgan is with JJ.

"Agent." You know when she address you by your title, she is about to issue a hard blow. She shakes her head. "This is a complication of her brain injury.."

"What is?" You look into see Rosie singing to JJ and Morgan smiling.

"The entire episode, she never moved her right side agent. She has not moved it since waking up; she fights us with her left side, and can move her left leg; but has not moved the right side.."

You interrupt her. "She's paralyzed.."

Molly closes her eyes. "Yes." She pauses. "I am confident she is, but I will have the nurses continue to monitor her through the camera and if she makes any movement.."

You stop. "Camera?"

She nods. "Yes, there is a camera in her room, it's one of the ways we are able to constantly monitor.."

Your blood turns to ice as you realize what is happening. As you realize how he has gotten to JJ- he was correct, he was there. He had been watching her for God knew how long; he had seen JJ and the progress she had had been.

And he had seen her acknowledge that she knew who had shot her.

"Turn it off!" You command before grabbing your phone and dialing the one person who may be able to finally get to the bottom of all of this.