Disclaimed!
I haven't updated in a while, so they'll be a double update.
Let me know what you think.
...
JJ chuckled quietly to herself as she watched the two nurses, struggle with Aaron Hotchner as he flapped his arm, trying get away from the fussing man and woman.
"I can get in the damn chair myself!" Hotch groaned grumpily.
JJ stepped further in the room with a scowl. "Special Agent Hotchner, don't be grumpy at the two medical practitioners'. They're just doing their jobs."
"Fine." Hotch grumbled quietly, the grey haired female nurse flashed the blonde agent a grateful look.
JJ smirked at the Unit Chief's pout. "Why are you in a mood? I thought you'd be happy to be going home?"
The bruises had begun to fade and the swelling was going down, but with a few broken ribs, a fractured wrist, readjusted dislocated shoulder and a twisted knee, Hotch was still in immense pain and as he was on lower doses of pain relief, and it was affecting his mood. "I'm just uncomfortable."
"He needs to relax. No driving, heavy lifting or anything too exertive." The male Asian nurse directed his information to JJ with a small smile as Hotch rolled his eyes.
JJ lifted the strap of Hotch's go bag to her shoulder and stood next to Hotch as the nurses' escorted them both to the elevator. "Don't worry, he'll behave."
The male nurse helped them to JJ's car after the older nurse waved goodbye. Hotch listened as JJ asked the nurse some questions about prescriptions and his the time period for recovery and physiotherapy.
Wincing as he was helped into the car, Hotch nodded his thanks to the Asian man, closed his eyes and waited until JJ was sitting next to him before turning his head to face her. "Thanks for picking me up."
"Well seeing as it was my work with State that got you abducted and beaten, I thought it was the least I could do for you." JJ smirked as she switched on the engine.
Hotch chuckled sorely and adjusted the seatbelt so it wasn't sticking into his sore chest. "Where are the boys?"
"Rossi is with them, waiting for us back at your place." JJ stated while concentrating on trying to negotiate with the hospitals car park.
Hotch nodded once. "Morgan came to see me yesterday. He's still pissed off."
"I know." JJ replied distantly. "Do you want to stop at the pharmacy on the way back?"
Hotch tried to profile his driver, but her blank face and evasiveness added to his injuries, was proving difficult. "JJ, you know none of this is your fault right?"
JJ scoffed disbelievingly. "It was my fault."
"No it was Holcombe's." Hotch retorted firmly.
JJ glanced at him sideways as they waited at the red light. "So do you want to pick up your prescription now?"
"Sure." The drive to the store was quiet and slow as the car moved through Friday's lunch traffic. JJ ran into the pharmacy while her supervisor stated put in the car, listening to the radio.
Nearly half an hour later, JJ returned with an exasperated expression. "Sorry for being so long. I had the most talkative person in front of me in the queue."
"It's okay." Hotch smiled thinly, suddenly feeling awkward as JJ stared at him instead of starting the car.
The blonde tilted her head and frowned. "Are you sure you're okay?"
Hotch grinned widely. "You're so hot when you're concerned."
"Okay I think it's time for your tablets. I think the pain has got to your head." JJ chuckled, shaking her head as she turned the key in the ignition.
They made small talk on the short journey to the lead profiler's apartment.
Hotch had been in the hospital for nearly a week, in that time neither he, nor JJ had discussed the kisses they shared after he was admitted to the ward.
Hotch had made affectionate or mischievous remarks towards JJ and in return she batted her eyelashes and kissed his cheek before leaving the room.
Now as they pulled in to Hotch's street, the pair both wondered how things were going to change.
JJ parked in a space behind Rossi's car, and got out of the stationary vehicle first. She juggled Hotch's go bag and prescription bag, while helping Hotch out of the SUV, grateful that he was accepting her help as he leaned onto her shoulder.
They walked gingerly up to the building's elevator and waited in silence for it to reach the ground floor. By the time the pair reached Hotch's front door the male profiler was already out of breath, something he was attempting to hide from an all knowing JJ.
JJ paused before opening the door and met his tired eyes. "Do you want to take a few deep breaths before we go in there?"
"I'm fine." Hotch retorted a little too harsh.
JJ raised her eyes motherly. "I'm just concerned, Hotch."
"I know." Hotch squeezed her side, where his hand had rested for support.
Nodding, JJ opened the front door not surprised to find Jack and Henry eagerly waiting on the other side.
Rossi chuckled as JJ and Hotch entered the living room slowly. "Hey look who made it from the car up to his apartment."
Hotch shot him a glare but his face quickly lit up as Jack came running over to him. Expecting Jack to jump straight on his injured father, JJ quickly stepped in between the pair and whispered something into the little boy's ear.
Jack took hold of Hotch's hand and led him to the couch. Once the single dad was sitting, Jack climbed onto the couch next to his dad and wrapped his arms around his neck loosely. "Love you daddy."
"I love you too buddy." Hotch kissed his son's cheek and hugged the small boy back.
JJ and Rossi were talking softly to each other as they wandered into the kitchen. Henry was in JJ's arms as the two adults talked. "I made lasagne and it's in the fridge along with a prepared rocket salad and the rest of the shopping Jessica did this morning."
JJ nodded, glancing into the living room where Jack and Hotch were in a tight embrace. "He's going to be okay, isn't he?"
"That man's indestructible. Beside's your here with him, I'm sure that will make him feel loads better." Rossi sniggered while placing his coat over his shoulders.
JJ groaned in annoyance. "These quips of yours and the rest of the team's are starting to get old."
"We're profiler's JJ. You can't just turn off a button and not be able to observe behaviours." Rossi hovered next to the blonde and her son before patting Henry's head.
"I'd prefer to figure out my own feelings rather than the rest of you telling me what I feel." JJ quipped.
Rossi kissed her cheek and smirked. "Well I'm off."
Hotch turned his head as the elder man joined them in the living room. "You're leaving?"
"I'll be over tomorrow for the next shift." Rossi stated in amusement as Hotch rolled his eyes. "See ya later Jacko."
"Bye Uncle Dave!" Jack stood on the couch next to his dad and watched the older man open and close the door behind him.
Flopping back down on the couch, Jack looked up at his dad seriously. "Are you sure you're feeling better?"
"Jack I'm fine. I'm even better now that I'm home." Hotch smiled warmly at his son's worried gaze.
Jack bit his lower lip in concern. "Are you sure, because Uncle Dave said JJ and Henry are staying with us tonight, so JJ can put on her nurses uniform."
"What?" JJ gasped as she entered the room with Henry in tow.
Hotch chuckled at Jack's confused expression. "Did I say something wrong?"
"No buddy, I just think JJ is going to cause Uncle Dave some pain." Hotch smirked, watching as Henry climbed onto the couch next to Jack happily.
Jack tilted his head in confusion. "I thought JJ was an agent like you, not a nurse?"
"I am an agent and your Uncle Dave needs to learn to keep his trap shut." JJ huffed as she placed a tray of drinks and popcorn onto the coffee table in front of the couch.
The conversation was quickly turned to picking out a DVD to watch and once that was decided the four of them quickly turned their attention to the TV.
Half way through Jack's choice of 'Mighty Ducks,' JJ disappeared into the kitchen and placed the lasagne in the oven.
By the time the lasagne and salad had been demolished and the second film of the evening, Henry's choice of 'Cars,' was finished the two boys were out flat with both of their heads resting on a dosing Hotch who was sitting in the middle of the couch.
JJ was sitting on the chair next to the couch watching the three of them. Smiling warmly, JJ reached for remote and switched off the TV, however a mumble caused the blonde to freeze. "Is the film finished?"
"Yeah, it ended the same way it did, every other time Henry forced us to watch it." JJ replied in a whisper.
Hotch smiled at her with tired eyes. "I had fun."
"Me too," JJ stated with a soft smile, "but I think it's time for the boys to go to bed."
Hotch nodded, his eye line falling on Jack and Henry's fair haired heads. "I think I'm stuck."
"It's okay I'll get them, you just sit here, okay." JJ stressed as her behaviour still on edge after Hotch's last trip to the bathroom when he stumbled over one of Henry's car toys.
JJ carried both boys to Jack's room in two trips. While she tucked Henry under the covers, the blonde sensed the profiler in the doorway. Looking back at him she smiled warmly and kissed her son's head, who was sleeping in the bottom bunk.
Lifting her weight onto the balls of her feet, JJ pressed a kiss to Jack's forehead and backed away from the bed, dodging the minefield of toys that littered the floor.
The two colleagues hovered outside of the boy's bedroom awkwardly. JJ tilted her head, deep in thought keeping her gaze fixated on Hotch's chest. "You need sleep."
"I'm fine." Hotch brought his fingers up to JJ's face and lifted her chin so their eyes could meet.
Lowering his head down, their lips met in a brief chaste kiss, taking the breath out of both of them. JJ placed her hands on the supervisor's chest and sighed. "We shouldn't do this now."
"My room's right here." Hotch nudged his head in the direction of the door opposite Jack's.
JJ chuckled at his wide eyes. "That won't be happening."
"You're so beautiful." Hotch whispered as they continued to waver in corridor.
JJ blushed under his gaze. "You should rest."
"We need to talk." Hotch tried to read the look in her eyes, but he just become frustrated what the blonde was becoming so good and hiding her true emotions.
J bit her lower lip slightly beneath her teeth. "I know."
"You promised that we would." Hotch countered sensing the tension flow through the younger woman's body.
JJ scrunched his t-shirt up between her fingers. "And we will, but not yet."
Hotch stilled her hands and sighed. "JJ I just want..."
"We'll talk in the morning, okay." JJ pressed a soft kiss to his jaw. "It's getting late."
Hotch rolled his eyes as JJ pulled away from him. "It's just gone nine. It's not that late to talk, not by our standards."
"I don't want to ruin this." JJ whispered pleadingly.
Hotch raised an eye, seeing fear sweep over her face. "What?"
"If we talk then feelings will be explained and expectations and hopes will be made and I'm not sure I know what I want yet. I do know the last thing I want is to hurt you." JJ blurted out.
Hotch dangled his arms limply at his side and breathed deeply. "We're going to have to talk at some point."
"In the morning, now please get some sleep." JJ smirked opening the master bedroom door for he injured agent.
Returning to the living room, JJ organised the blanket and pillow that Hotch had placed by the couch a few hours earlier after arguing over who was going to take the couch for the night.
JJ's stubbornness won.
Happy with the arrangement, JJ turned her attention to locking up the house before grabbing her go bag and heading to the bathroom. She quickly got changed into her grey slouch bottoms and white vest top and placed her hair in a neat bun while she washed her face and brushed her teeth.
Walking back to the living room, JJ switched off the light and walked past the bedrooms. "Jayje."
JJ frowned at the urgent whisper. Waiting outside Hotch's room, she tapped lightly on the door. "You okay?"
"I need a little... help." Hotch grimaced while looking at his still closed door.
JJ tentatively opened the door and froze. Hotch was tangled in his t-shirt and his bandage that was covering his ribs was scrunched up.
Stepping forward, the blonde couldn't help the little chuckle that escaped her lips. "You should stop wiggling about."
Hotch stared back in frustration, his arms stuck next to his ears. "I'm..."
JJ closed the distance between them and smoothed the bandage down before dragging the T-shirt back down slowly. Meeting his eyes to see if he was ready, Hotch nodded slightly and watched JJ's fingers rumple up the bottom of his shirt.
Carefully she brought the material up and helped the profiler take each of his arms out of the sleeves one at a time. JJ folded the grey t-shirt neatly and smiled at the still agent besides her. "Do you need any more help?"
Hotch blushed slightly, glancing down at his jeans. "Erm, I should be fine."
"I meant with you PJ top." JJ chuckled at the nervous look crossing his face.
Closing his eyes, Hotch groaned in embarrassment, but when he faced JJ's gaze once more, he didn't see amusement.
JJ had her bottom lip between her teeth after taking in the sight of his cuts, bruises and scars that covered his broad muscular chest. "I'll be fine."
"Okay." JJ cleared her throat and slowly backed towards the door. "I'm just on the couch if you need me."
Hotch felt his body tingle in a way that it hadn't in a long time as he stared at his bedroom door and sighed in frustration at his body's inability to control his urges. "I'm screwed."
...
Shout outs coming up!