Chapter 20: MY LITTLE STAR

Will walked into Winslow hospital quickly, carrying Henry who fast asleep. He was tired himself as he had been travelling for at least the past twenty-four hours. He turned round to see two young women being wheeled into ER, one restrained to the bed and the other unconscious, covered in blood and having many tubes connected to her.

He then saw Blake, Morgan and Rossi running in after them. Will grabbed Morgan's arm and pulled him to side.

"Morgan, what's going on?" He asked.

"We caught the person who shot JJ but the hostage the UnSub had is in critical condition. We only found them about half an hour ago," Morgan said.

"Was the woman that was covered in blood the hostage?" Will asked.

"Yes. She's lucky to be alive. She managed to shot the UnSub in the shoulder before we got out of the cars but not before she sustained a gunshot wound to the stomach herself."

"The other one is the person that shot JJ?"

"Yes."

Will would have gone and killed the UnSub there and then for hurting his wife but he thought against it. Henry was still in his arms and it wouldn't be that psychopath going to prison for hurting all those people. It would have been him for killing her. But the woman going to prison was good enough for him. She'd never see the light of day again.

"Where's JJ?" Will asked.

"She woke up about an hour a go. Reid is with her. She's in a lot of pain but the morphine helping with that. She's going to be okay Will. There was no internal bleeding. She's lucky," Morgan replied. "I'll take you to her."

Will followed Morgan still carrying Henry. The little boy hadn't stirred at all and that surprised him. The hospital was noisy and you could barely hear yourself think.

"So, here's the thing that's been bothering me. A vest is supposed to protect you, I didn't realise there was a chance of hitting one of the weak points by accident," Will said.

"I don't think it was by accident," Morgan said. "Shannon Larson, the UnSub, is a highly trained Marine. She probably knows the weak points. She was aiming for there."

Will nodded. He was still in shock that his wife had gotten hurt but he had to get past that and help her recover.

"Here we go," Morgan said, gesturing towards the door to a private room. "I'll be round later man. I've some things to take care of."

"Thanks, Morgan."

Morgan left leaving Will and Henry alone. Will opened the door and found a very pale looking JJ. Her blue eyes met his and she smiled. Reid was sitting in the corner looking at a case file.

"I'll give you three some privacy," Reid said leaving.

"Hey," JJ said. Her speech was slurred slightly and she sounded weak.

"Hey sweetheart, how are you feeling?" Will asked gently.

"Like hell," JJ mumbled.

Henry started to stir in his dad's arms and slowly opened his eyes. "Mommy?"

"Hey Henry. How's Mommy's little boy?"

"I'm okay. Daddy told me you sick," The little boy said.

"Mommy's okay. She just needs to rest in hospital for a bit. Do you want to come sit with me?" JJ said.

Henry nodded and Will set him carefully down next JJ. JJ pulled him into a rough hug on her right side as her wound was on the left.

"Thanks for coming," She said to Will.

"No problem," Will smiled kissing her gently on the head.

"Can we give Mommy her present now?" Henry said, bouncing up and down slightly.

JJ flinched slightly but hid it quickly so she wouldn't scare Henry. She was in pain but didn't want people to worry about her.

"Present?" JJ asked.

"Yes, mommy!"

Will laughed and pulled the bag off his shoulder. He opened it and pulled out a large teddy, a card, a storybook and a drawing.

"Mommy, we brought you a teddy because they always make me feel better when I'm sick. I drew you a picture on the plane too and helped Daddy chose a card for you. We also brought you Little Star because you read it to me when I was sick the last time," Henry said.

JJ picked up the picture as Will set the Teddy beside her and the card on the table. The picture was of the three of them and was drawn with crayons in bright colours. JJ smiled.

"It's beautiful," JJ said.

"Can you read the story now?" Henry asked.

"Of course," She said taking the book of Will as he sat down on the chair beside the bed. "Are you ready?"

Henry nodded.

"Once there was a baby star.

He lived up near the sun.

And every night at bedtime that baby star wanted to have fun.

He would shine and shine, and fall and shoot and twinkle oh so bright.

And he said, 'Mommy, I'll run away if you make me say good-night.'

And then his mommy kissed his sparkly nose and said,

'No matter where you go, no matter where you are,

no matter how big you grow and even if you stray far,

I'll love you forever,

because you're always

my baby star.'"

JJ looked over at Henry and found he was fast asleep.

"Thanks for coming. You didn't have to," JJ said quietly feeling sleep tugging at her.

"Like I said no problem. And I did have to. You are my wife. You are hurt. And I want to be here as you get better. I want to help you get better," Will said pushing her hair out of her face.

JJ smiled as she fell back to sleep. Will now knew that everything was going to be okay. They were all together. They were all safe. And that's what counted.