A/N: I don't know how I feel about this chapter. It started off great and then it turned to some rushed...what's it... I don't know. Anyway, it's my birthday! My Twitter gave me little balloons and I am over the moon! I am butterflyjareau on Twitter, so go to my profile to see them! And, without having further ado, this is the chapter you have all been waiting for.


Blue.

Her body was blue when he found her at five thirty two in the morning. At first, he didn't know what had happened, but one look at her surroundings told him everything. He didn't know exactly what was going on, but he knew it wasn't good.

"JJ?" He said as he turned her over. Her body was slumped beside the couch. Fluid and vomit surrounded her. He shook his head and picked her up slowly. Her body was so light that it didn't even pose difficulty.

"I should've stayed down here," he said to himself as he flicked on a light. He carried her to the bathroom and put water on her face.

"You better be breathing."

He checked her neck for a pulse and then he checked her mouth for air. She was okay. He moved her hair back and washed her face with lukewarm water. A million thoughts raced through his mind. Did she mean to throw up like this? What was she doing? What had she done to herself? He knew it had some involvement with alcohol; he could smell it on her. It wasn't even faint, either. It was terribly strong.

"No..." Was the next word that escaped his lips.

It was then when he realized what had happened. She'd mixed alcohol and sleeping pills, and the very first thing the doctor tells you when they prescribe such medication is: "don't mix with alcohol".

Maybe she hadn't realized. Or maybe she did.

"You're alright, you're okay."

His heart beat against his chest faster than it ever had. Sweat beads began to form on his forehead. He looked down at his wife and pushed her hair out of her face. For the most part, she was clean. He turned the tap off and flicked off the bathroom light. He left the room and carried her out to the sitting room again. She had choked and vomited, that was clear. He took a rag from the table beside the arm chairs and placed his wife onto the clean sofa. He began scrubbing the floor and making sure it was clean. It didn't take long. He had placed her in a position where she could breathe properly. Her airway seemed to be clear, and her breathing rate seemed to be normal.

He finished cleaning up what his wife had thrown up. It was alcohol, medication, and worst of all, stomach acid. JJ hadn't eaten in ages, and when she did, she couldn't keep it down for long.

"Okay, come here," he said as he picked her body up. "You're alright."

He turned the last of the lights off and proceeded upstairs with Jennifer's almost lifeless body. The walk up the stairs was tough, and holding JJ's light body made his heart very heavy. He reached the top, and when he did, he took a deep breath. He swallowed thickly and carried her down the hall, to the master bedroom.

"Here we go," he told her, gently pulling off her clothes. He slipped his sweatpants and sweatshirt off of her body. She began wearing his clothes recently, to hide how thin she was. They hadn't touched in ages, and to see his wife like this for the first time in a long time, he had no words.

"Oh my God."

The blue on her body was beginning to return to her regular colour. She still didn't look alright. Her hair was thin, falling out, and her eyes had dark circles under them.

Carefully, he covered her with blankets and climbed into bed beside her. It didn't take long for him to move over to her and wrap his arms around her frail upper body.

"Come here," he whispered, stroking her hair out of her face. "It's okay, you're okay."

Tears began to spill down his face, collecting on his wife's head as it rested on his chest. What had she done? What were they going to do?

"I'm so sorry, Jen. I'm so sorry."


"What the hell do you mean she overdosed?" Sandy asked in shock. She looked at Emily to her left and said, "did you know about this?"

The brunette shook her head.

"What did she look like?" Sandy followed up with.

"She had hallucinations last night...I think she saw Grace. She wouldn't calm down about it and we ended up screaming at eachother–"

"You screamed at her?" Sandy asked.

"Sort of," Aaron said, studying his hands. "I was so frustrated. Anyway, I scared her. After we sorted it out, she agreed to come back to bed with me, but she wanted to take her medication first. I don't like hovering over her–"

"You should've," Sandy said.

Hotch shot her a look and took a deep breath and continued.

"She never came back to bed. And at five, I came down and found her. She'd thrown up alcohol, sleeping pills, acid...so I cleaned her up and got her back in bed with me."

"How is she?" Emily asked.

"Sleeping, but I think she'll be okay."

"What about that service dog you're getting?" Sandy questioned. "Jen mentioned it on the phone a few months ago."

Hotch sighed and sat forward. "We're going to the seminar in a few weeks to meet him and get used to him."

"Without Grace?"

"No!" Hotch exclaimed. "We got a call last night, actually, and they believe they have Grace's location. I'm actually supposed to go over to the police station later to help out."

"She's okay...?" Sandy said unsurely as she folded her hands.

"Think so," Aaron said quietly. "Hope so."


With Sandy due to drive back to Pennsylvania in two days, everyone felt lucky that Grace had been found. They had all gotten into their cars at five in the evening to go and get Grace, who had been taken to the local police station. Hotch drove, with Emily being the passenger. JJ sat in the middle row by herself, while Jack and Henry sat in the back. Sandy drove her own car with Tyler and Benjamin in the back.

"Okay, boys?" Hotch said, looking into the rear view mirror. "Please don't crowd your sister, yeah? She might be a bit shaken up."

"What does that mean?" Henry asked.

"Like, she might be nervous to see you," Emily said. "Don't forget, it's been a month since she last saw you."

"But, we're her brothers!" Jack exclaimed.

"Please, just be gentle with Grace," JJ said softly, wiping her tired eyes.

"Okay," both boys said.

The drive had been mostly silent, and they pulled up at the police station fairly quickly. The boys jumped out of the SUV and held onto Emily's and Sandy's hands, while Aaron helped Jennifer out of the vehicle. Everyone went into the building and the officers immediately recognised them. They were brought to a room with many lights and a few sofas to sit on.

"Wait here one second," the officer said. He then slipped down the hallway.

"You okay?" Hotch asked Jennifer as he put his hand on her thigh.

She nodded and blinked slowly. "Yeah, I guess."

The officer walked in with Grace by his side and approached JJ and Hotch. He had tears in his eyes as he watched the couple crouch down to her level.

[Mommy!] Grace signed. A huge smile occupied her face as she threw her arms around her mother.

"Oh my God, Gracie!" JJ said as she began to break down. "Gr...Grace..." She stammered. "Grace."

Everybody stood around JJ and Grace and watched them hold each other. Grace then pulled away and looked at her dad.

[Daddy!]

She hugged him tightly and they stayed like that for a few seconds.

[Are you alright?] he asked her.

[Yes,] Grace replied.

She looked as though nothing had happened to her. Her hair was the same strawberry blonde as before, her height hadn't changed, and her clothes were the ones she was last seen in.

"Ben?" Emily asked, bending down to his level. She grabbed his hand. "Wanna see your sister?"

Benjamin had clearly been crying. Tears stained his cheeks and he kept on sniffling.

[Grace,] he signed shakily. He tapped on her and resigned it.

The little girl smiled widely and signed his name to him.

[I...missed you,] Ben signed. He put his arms out and pulled Grace in closely. [I missed you.]

[I missed you,] Grace signed back as they broke apart.

An officer came to the door. He smiled at everyone and JJ and Hotch went over to him.

"How is her health?" Hotch asked. He turned back to see Grace hugging her grandmother.

"Very low blood sugar when we found her. She ate candy, but she hasn't had a proper test yet. She is scheduled for an overnight stay tonight at the hospital, though."

"Is she...is she okay?" JJ questioned. "Is there anything that seems wrong?"

"Not that we know of," the officer said. "She seemed fine to us. The hospital can run tests if you would like further verification."

"Can we take her there now?" JJ followed up.

"Go right ahead. She's all yours again," the man said. "Good luck."


The ride home the next day was short. For the most part, Jennifer kept Grace quite close to her. The young girl slept for a large portion of the ride. Her time at the hospital went well and her blood sugar was brought up quickly. She was given insulin vials and a few notes that JJ would have to bring to multiple doctors. They hadn't spoken to Grace much since they reunited with her. She had chosen to sleep, and they didn't want to disturb her, but it was mostly because there was a lot of tension in the air.

"This is all because of us," Jennifer told her husband as she stroked Grace's hair. "It's not the kids, yet they have to suffer."

"We're all frustrated," Emily said. "But we've all gone through a lot to get to where we are."

"Can we not argue for one night?" Aaron asked. "At least until your mother's gone?"

"Yeah," JJ said with a sigh. "She's pissed at me as it is."

"She's upset," Hotch said.

JJ rolled her eyes.

They arrived home and got out of the car. Hotch woke Grace up and carried her inside, while Emily helped JJ out. Sandy made sure the boys went inside before stopping beside her daughter and her husband, who had come back outside.

"Jennifer," she said softly.

JJ turned to Sandy and bit her lip in nervousness. She was waiting for a screaming match, if she were being honest.

"Uh huh?"

"Take it easy," was all Sandy said.

JJ nodded and grabbed Aaron's hand tightly.

THAT NIGHT

"Aaron?" JJ called from the bottom of the stairs. Within a few seconds, her husband had exited the kitchen and met with her.

"Need help?"

Jennifer nodded softly and wrapped her arms around his neck as he picked her up. He carried her upstairs and put her down and helped her to the master bedroom.

"Bed?" He asked.

"Bath," Jennifer responded.

Hotch nodded and brought her into the master ensuite. He ran the bath and helped her undress. She held onto him as though it were for dear life.

"Come with me?" She asked.

"Let me tuck Grace in first, okay?" He said.

JJ nodded and Hotch went behind her and tied her hair up for her. After that, he helped her pour different scents into the water.

"Go and tuck Grace in," she told him. "Don't worry about me."

"You sure?" Hotch asked.

"Yeah."

"Please call me if you need me," Hotch told his wife as he left the bathroom.

He went upstairs to the attic and approached his daughter's bed gently. She was sleeping quite soundly. He climbed into the bed with her and wrapped his arms around her. He pressed a small kiss to her head and went close to her ear.

"I am so happy to have you here again," he whispered to her. "I am so lucky. You are the most beautiful little girl I have ever seen. You only deserve happiness, and I will try to give you as much as I possibly can. I missed you a lot, Gracie. I missed your laugh and your piano-playing, but most of all I missed your hugs and kisses and the way you smile when you enter a room. Goodnight, Bubby."


A/N: There we go. I don't know how to feel about this chapter. Part of me is glad it's over so I can focus on another aspect of the story, but part of me is disappointed in it. Maybe it's just me. But I'm telling you right now, it's not my best work, and I am not afraid to admit it. Anyway, feedback is welcomed and valued!