AN: Here's the next update. Hope you are enjoying it so far.

JJ had already packed, showered, dressed, ate breakfast in the hotel's dining room, and brushed her teeth. Despite all of this, it was only 6:30 in the morning. You seriously need to learn how to sleep in, Agent Jareau, she thought to herself. She sat at the edge of the bed in her room, waiting for her escort to knock and say that it was time to go catch her flight, which was scheduled to takeoff at 8:20. She normally hated waiting. She was young, energetic, and used to scurrying around and getting things accomplished. However, she was rather happy to wait this time. It gave her a chance to collect her thoughts, and there were plenty of thoughts to collect. The last few days had been chaotic, and though she hated to admit it, she was sore, tired, and a bit shaken. Prentiss had noticed this at the resort, and there was no doubt in JJ's mind that Hotch and Morgan had also noticed. Three quick knocks broke her concentration. She looked over at the alarm clock and realized that half an hour had flown by.

"Coming," she said, moving to the door. She was expecting Hotch, but was instead greeted by the smiling face of Emily Prentiss as she opened the door.

"Morning," Prentiss said, "I asked Hotch if I could be your taxi driver. He didn't seem to mind, so here I am."

JJ looked a bit perplexed, but managed to muster a smile for her friend.

"Come in," she said, moving out of the way, "My bags are over there."

"You ready to go," Prentiss asked.

JJ sighed. "Yeah, I guess."

Prentiss cocked her head to one side. "You don't sound ready."

"We'll talk in the car, 'kay?"

Prentiss nodded and grabbed a bag. JJ grabbed the other, and they walked out to the SUV, JJ closing the door behind her. They tossed the bag in the back, then hopped in with Prentiss in the driver's seat. She drove up to the front of the hotel and parked so that JJ could return her key. She got back a few minutes later, and Prentiss took off down the road.

"So," Prentiss started after she had been driving for a few minutes, "What happened?"

"What do you mean? Don't you know?"

"Not really. I mean, I know there was an avalanche and I can see that you have a broken arm, but no one has told me what went down and I haven't had the time to ask."

"I got caught up in the avalanche," JJ said, a shiver going down her spine as she recalled her near-death experience. It wasn't her first encounter with possible death, but it wasn't something that you got used to. "I threw my arm up in hope to give Hotch something to find me with. He did, he rescued me. However, the snow hit my wrist hard enough to break it."

"So that's why you froze at the resort?"

"Yeah, I guess. I'm surprised no one told you."

Prentiss shrugged, eyes still on the road.

"They probably just didn't want me all worried," she said.

JJ sighed. They were getting closer to the airport, and she wasn't ready to let go of this case just yet.

"You know he is sending you home for your own good," Prentiss said.

"Yeah, I know," JJ said, "Still doesn't make it feel any better."

"Jay, you of all people don't have anything to prove. You do a very tough job and make it look easy. Even though you are hurt, you've been working your tail off since me and Morgan got here. But you need rest, and you'll be safer back at DC. Just try to relax and let us take it from here."

JJ sighed again, but this time wasn't quite as drawn out. "Ok."

"And think of it this way, you have an entertaining ride with Garcia awaiting you," Prentiss said, shooting a quick glance and grin in her friend's direction.

JJ chuckled, but there was still a question that she was itching to ask. "Why did you volunteer to pick me up?"

"Umm… well, for one I wanted to talk to you about some things that we've already covered, and two… umm…"

"What is it?"

"The second reason was that I didn't want you killing Hotch while he drove for making you go home."

JJ laughed, something that made her feel a lot better.

"Oh, don't tell me that you wouldn't have done it if he was here instead of me."

"Fine, fine, point taken," she replied. The rest of the drive was spent casually talking and listening to whatever tune came on the radio. Before they knew it, Prentiss was parking the car again. Fifteen minutes later, JJ was waving goodbye to her friend and boarding her flight back to DC. Least Hotch paid for me to fly first-class, she thought as the plane took off.