Thank you all soooo much for the reviews. This chapter is another set up for a relationship between characters. It is quite a difficult one to write, because I haven't exactly been certain as to how to show that each character wants to be there for Emily and JJ, but also not to over crowd.
Also for Demily fans, I have started a story about them, which I'll write between this and the sequel to give my mind a bit of breathing space. ( :
25
When Emily was 100 percent certain that JJ was asleep, she allowed the doctor and nurse to help her back to her own bed. Lister told the nurse to go and get the rest of the team, because there was no reason for Emily not to have the company.
On her way out, the nurse fully pulled back the curtain revealing JJ to anyone that wanted to look. Heading out, she made her way to where the team were waiting. Her presence was met by the entire team silently and respectfully standing up.
"You can come back in now."
She turned on her heel and made her way back to the room, leading the precession of FBI Agents. At any other time she would be glad that they were finding out what had happened to their friend. But now, it just wasn't quite the same.
Entering the doorway, everyone's gaze immediately went to JJ. They were relieved when they saw that her eyes were closed, so that they all had a bit of time to talk and to process as a group.
Moving over, they congregated around Emily, so that she could be a part of any conversation too. But before one could begin, Lister moved over to Hotch and asked "May I speak to you in private?"
With wary looks from everyone else, the pair moved just outside the glass doors, while the nurse continued to rally around JJ, checking the IV, heart monitor and making sure that she wasn't cold. It was nice to watch, because even though she didn't know the agent personally, she made certain that she would be okay. With a nod of her head, and a half smile at the team, which was graciously returned, she made her leave, taking the contraption with her which had muddled the thoughts of some of the profilers.
They didn't know how it worked and while they could easily figure it out, they chose not to.
Outside Doctor Lister led Agent Hotch to a seat just outside the double room. She had had this talk many a time before, but it never got any easier. She had thought of ways to say it lightly, but with the looks she was getting from one Aaron Hotchner she could tell that he knew something.
"She was, wasn't she?"
"I… yes. But there were also many more lacerations since the first time that I saw her, some that required stitches. The best I can gather is that a sharp object was also used to assault your agent. And likely not just once or twice. There is no doubt that she is going to be sore for a while. Like I believe Doctor Sittin told you earlier, the basic things will become a chore. And none of it she will be able to do herself. She will need a follow up with her gynaecologist, but that can wait until her stitches come out of her feet, to make the whole process a little more bearable. I can't tell you how she is going to react to this emotionally, but physically she is going to have a lot to overcome. I think you may have been told about a long term care facility? These are great, and if that is where you all agree is best, by far, do it. But just know that as healing goes, the people that come back to thank me, they always talk about how they couldn't have made it without the love and support of their family and friends."
Hotch had taken all of this in and thanked the doctor before heading back in to break the news to his team.
When they all saw him, they knew. They could tell. Derek went to punch a wall, but Penelope stood between him and it, taking his fist and pulling him into a hug.
"Hotch…?" Emily asked from her bed.
"Yes, but also a sharp object was used for multiple assaults. Internal stitches. Lister also talked about long term care facilities-"
Reid jumped in here "I don't think that that will be best for JJ. Statistically, people are-"
Morgan butted in too "Yeah, I agree with whatever pretty boy is about to say."
Penelope came and stood next to Emily's bed nodding "I agree with them." Emily nodded and said "Yes, me too." And Rossi brought the round of butting in full circle by saying "I'll help pay for whatever it is that she needs."
Hotch was momentarily speechless. This team was a family.
"I was never going to say that that was necessarily the right avenue for us to take. And you'd know that if you'd let me finish…" seriousness turned to a smile, and his friends reciprocated this.
"But seriously, what are we going to do? I had a call from Straus earlier, and we are officially on stand down with two of our agents out. For the period of time that will extend I am uncertain. Where will JJ live? Who with? Who will get her to her appointments? It's not just like we are going to be looking after a lost puppy. Our friend will be vulnerable and hurting, and she is going to hate the endless help that she will require."
All stopped and thought about this for a moment. Hotch was right. Everything he was saying was very, very true.
"What about if-" Reid started but Prentiss butted in.
"I own a house."
"You what?" Morgan asked looking at her.
"Strictly for income purposes, but as of a month ago the tenants left. I have been meaning to get around to getting new ones, but got lazy. It would be really good. One story, with a stair here or there if my memory serves me. Four or five bedrooms, two with en-suites. One bathroom, living room, dining room and kitchen as well as a study. The main en-suite would be big enough for JJ to get a wheel chair in, and it already has rails etc, I think an elderly couple were there before. Big hallways and it is spacious so we could move her around easily. A garden if she needed time out, and a pool which could be useful for rehab. What do you think?"
Everyone nodded. "Yeah great idea. We've got the where. Now the who and how long."
"Four bedrooms right?" Morgan asked.
"Yup."
"Well, I'll put in for some leave. I'll stay with Em and JJ at least until the stitches in her feet come out, probably longer. There's going to be a lot of lifting her and moving her around to get places. That and Em is out of the game with only one arm."
"And she said four or five rooms-"
"Actually five now that I think of it, one used to be a second living room."
"Okay, five rooms. I'll go too with my baby boy and I can stay some nights if I need to and help with stuff around the house etc. And there is a fifth room so that if we need another person for one night, or even in-home help if we get to that stage, we'll have a room."
"Well I guess that seems like a viable option. Everyone agrees?"
A round of furious nodding.
"Okay then. It is settled. We just have to make sure that it is okay with JJ first."
Hours passed and the amount of team members had slowly dwindled down. No one wanted to leave, but they had to close the case at the station and pack up, and also head to the hotel to get a bit of rest.
Morgan had fought to be the one that stayed the night. Penelope didn't understand why until she saw the shame in his eyes. He was angry that he hadn't stopped JJ from going to the meeting. That's why he wanted to stay.
Giving him a hug and kiss on the cheek, she left, hoping that her baby boy could find some of the inner peace that he was desperately searching for.
Emily and Derek had sat talking for a while, but when her eye lids started to droop, she realised that she needed to sleep just as much as JJ.
So Derek had sat between his two friends, eyes flicking back and forwards, watching one then watching the other.
Derek himself had become tired too, and was allowing his eyes to close for short periods of time before he jolted himself awake.
After doing this a few times, he stood up and moved around the room, making sure that he stayed awake. Not long after making the decision to do this, with his back turned to his friends, he heard some thrashing sounds. Spinning quickly he saw JJ moving. She was moving to the best of her abilities, which basically meant that her shoulders were moving in hayward directions, and her head lolled from side to side.
She kept on doing this, and Derek quickly made his way to her. Looking her over, there were very few places that he could touch her without fear of hurting her. He decided on the shoulders and placed each of his hands firmly on them, giving her a thorough but gentle shake. To his relief, it worked only after one try.
The eyeballs that had furiously been moving behind closed eye lids were now exposed and all he could see was angst and fear emanating from them. Keeping his hands in place at an attempt at grounding her, he tried to soothe her. Making calming sounds, and telling her that it was only Derek.
About 10 seconds in, the penny dropped and she relaxed.
"That's it baby girl. See it's just me." Moving his hands he brushed the stray hair from her face and he noticed the beads of sweat that covered her forehead. Touching the rest of her face, he found that that also radiated heat.
"Are you too warm?"
One blink.
"Okay. I'm just going to take a couple blankets off you. After he removed them, she seemed a bit more comfortable, but her face was still pink, and she was still sweating.
"Hold on a sec Jayje. I'll be right back."
The look of petrification in her eyes told him that she didn't want him to leave.
"It's okay JJ. I am just going into the bathroom; see." He waved and made eye contact as best as he could. "I am just ducking around the corner but I am still here. See, still talking just looking for… Aha! Found it. Now I am just turning the tap on. And it's running, running, running and it's done. Now I just have to grab a… got it."
Derek came back out, and put a bowl of water on the side table with wheels which would normally be used by a patient to eat. He wheeled it up to her head and looked down at her. "I am just going to try and cool you down a bit. Are you okay with that?"
One blink.
Derek dropped the cloth into the cold water and picked it back up wringing it out with his hands. Slowly he moved his hands toward JJ's face, looking for any sign to stop. But there wasn't one.
He dabbed the cloth on her face, wiping away the sweat, and absorbing some of the heat that her skin was radiating.
He did the same on her neck, and the skin seemed to become less angry, returning somewhat to its original colour. "Does that feel a bit better?"
One blink.
Derek put the cloth back in the bowl and stood looking at her.
JJ felt such relief when the cold had hit her skin. It seemed to cool her entire body down. But as soon as Derek stopped the heat returned, making her feel flushed.
JJ looked up at Derek and saw him smiling down at her. She looked at the bowl then back up at Derek. Before she had the chance to do anything further, Derek was already wringing out the cloth again, and continued dabbing her face.
It was simple, but it gave her a small sense of relief and some comfort. Enough so that she was again able to slip off to sleep.
When she was out, Derek placed the cloth on her forehead in hopes that it would help keep her asleep, and he settled back into his chair.
The next morning arrived quickly, leading to Morgan being woken up by the hustle and bustle of the team arriving.
"Morning sleepyhead." Penelope cooed.
His eyes opened fully and he took in his friends sitting in various places all around the room. Even Emily was awake. "Sorry, you should have woken me."
"It's okay Derek." Rossi interjected. "What's with the cloth?"
Morgan looked at JJ then at the rest of the group. "She woke up because of a nightmare. She was too hot so I took off the blankets and she was sweating so I tried to cool her down. She didn't want to me stop, so I kept re-dampening the cloth until she fell asleep."
"I see, was she okay?"
"I don't know. She didn't like the idea of me leaving when I went to the bathroom, so I had to keep calling out to her."
"Right."
"Do you think she'll be okay with us hovering over her the next few weeks?"
"I think she is going to have to accept it."
Before anyone could say anything further a 'plop' was heard as a slightly damp cloth hit the floor. Immediately Morgan stood up and felt her forehead, she was a lot cooler than she had been the last time she woke up.
Rossi headed out to the nurse, completing what was asked of him by telling her JJ had woken up.
"Feeling better JJ?"
One blink.
"That's good."
Rossi returned, followed by a Nurse named Angela and Doctor Lister. Lister made her way over to JJ, checking various tubes and bags. "So JJ, how do you feel about this piece of plastic being removed today?"
JJ perked up, eyes bulging at the prospect of being able to talk.
"I'll take that as a 'hell yes.'"The doctor said smiling down at her patient.
The team watched on as JJ was prepared. She took a deep breath in, and blew out as hard as she could until the tube had been successfully extracted.
Straight away she began to cough, and Angela handed her a cup of water. "Here drink this. It will help." JJ tried to say thank you in return, but all that came out was a hoarse half sigh. JJ looked momentarily frightened.
Before she could properly drink, Angela took the cup away again, and her and Lister aided JJ in moving to a position sitting up. A grimace on her face silently let everyone know that it was painful, but she was also thankful to be able to look at everyone without them having to hover above her.
Taking the water again, she did drink. It felt amazing running down her dry throat. She coughed slightly, and gasped as the water went down the wrong way. It sent her into a coughing fit which could only be helped by firm pats to her back by Angela. Struggling to breathe she was beginning to go red and the team were ready to pounce wanting to help.
Eventually the coughing subsided and JJ slumped back against her pillows. Lister gave the team a reassuring look after comforting JJ one more time and left with Angela telling them to call if they needed anything.
All eyes followed the duo out the door and then turned back to face JJ. She felt them staring and she could finally say something; anything. But what was she going to say?
She didn't know, so she settled for a raspy "Hi."
Hey, so only one or two more chapters after this for real this time. Please let me know what you think about this chapter. I'll try to update ASAP ( :