Chapter 50

After checking with the team and making sure everything was set up to try and trap whoever was listening through the bug, Hotch and Kahlan went to Walter Reed. Hamill was already in Joey's room and she turned a smile to them as they walked in. "She should be waking up any time, but she may be a little out of it for a little while. Once she's fully awake, I want to make sure she she's up and eating, drinking, and can go to the restroom before you can take her home."

Kahlan smiled and squeezed Hotch's hand. "So we just have to wait?"

Hamill nodded but fixed Kahlan with a look. "Yes, but you need to give me another blood sample. I still don't like your liver enzyme levels, and I want to check a couple more things."

Kahlan shoulders slumped, and Hotch shot her a worried look. She patted him on the chest. "I'll be fine. You sit with your daughter, and I'll go let the vampires have another feeding," she told him with a smile.

He shook his head at his wife as he walked over and pulled a chair up beside Joey's bed. He fixed Hamill with a look. "I want to know what the tests say."

She nodded and squeezed his shoulder as she led Kahlan out of the room.

Hotch sighed as he watched them leave. I really don't want any more bad news! He picked up Joey's hand and a big smile spread across his face as she squeezed his hand back. He leaned up and moved the hair from her face. She scowled as his hand brushed across her cheek. He laughed because he imagined he looked just like that when he was waking up.

"Daddy?" She asked weakly.

"Right here, Angel," he told her as he squeezed her hand again. She smiled but didn't open her eyes. "How are you felling?" he asked her gently.

"Tired," she told him without looking at him.

He stroked her hair. "You sleep as long as you want. I'll be right here when you wake up."

"You sleep wit me?"

He stood up and picked her up. He smiled again when he saw Daddy Lump clutched tightly in her hand. "Anything for you, Angel." He laid down on the bed and she snuggled up to his chest, so he wrapped his arm around her. "You sleep. Mommy and Daddy will be right here."

"K" is all she said as she snuggled down closer and he knew she was out again. He smiled as he rubbed a hand up and down her back. I could do this all day. He sighed contently and smiled again.

Once Kahlan was done, she walked into Joey's room and smiled at the sight of her husband holding her daughter. He looked like he was asleep, too, so she quietly sat down in the chair next to the bed and waited for Joey to wake up.

About an hour and a half later, Joey reached up and rubbed her eyes. Hotch rubbed a hand down his face, too, and noticed Kahlan sitting next to him. She smiled a smile that said 'I told you so'. He shrugged and smiled back at her. "If half of my family would ever decide to wake up, we might be able to go home," Kahlan told them jokingly.

Joey opened her eyes and looked up at her father. "Hey, Daddy," she told him with a smile that showed her dimples.

"Hey, Angel," Hotch told her with his own dimples showing.

She reached up and hugged his neck tightly. He returned the hug as a tear escaped the corner of his eye. She pulled back away from him and looked at him. "You ok, Daddy?"

He smiled again. "I am now."

She looked around and finally remembered where she was. She pushed up off him quickly and almost fell out of the bed. "You can't be in here!"

Kahlan jumped up and stopped her from falling by putting a hand to her back. "It's fine, Pumpkin. He won't get sick," she told her quickly once she realized what had upset her.

She looked up at her mother suspiciously. "Are you sure?"

Hotch smiled and pulled her back to him. "Yeah, Angel. We're sure."

She looked back and forth between them; she finally relaxed and turned and reached out to Kahlan. Kahlan grabbed her and hugged her tightly as Joey hugged her neck. "I'm so glad you're finally awake," Kahlan told her as she too, shed a tear of relief.

Joey leaned back and gave Kahlan a strange look. She reached up and removed the sunglasses that were blocking her mother's eyes. She got a strange look on her face as she took in Kahlan's eyes. Hotch got up and put a hand on Joey's back. She looked at her father again and then looked back at her mother. "Did I sleep 'til Halloween?"

They both laughed. "No, Angel. Halloween is still a while away," Hotch assured her.

"Then why are your eyes like that?" She asked Kahlan.

Kahlan smiled. "Know how the powder made your tummy hurt?" Joey nodded. "Well, it did this to me." She figured that was a lot easier than explaining what had really caused all of the blood vessels in her eyes to rupture.

"Do my eyes look like that, too?" She asked excitedly.

Hotch laughed as he shook his head. Only Joey would think it was cool. He sighed. No, Kahlan thinks it's cool, too. "No, Angel. Your eyes look normal." He wasn't sure but it looked like she was disappointed.

"Does it hurt?" She asked Kahlan as she ran a hand over Kahlan's eyes.

"Nope. I don't feel a thing."

"Do you see everything in red?"

Kahlan laughed again. "While that would be cool, no, it's no different than normal. I even forget they are that way until someone looks at me like I'm a monster."

Joey nodded as she considered it. "It would look cool with your skull mask," she told her with a smile.

Hotch pulled her from Kahlan. "Come here, you," he told her as he hugged her again. She giggled as he nuzzled her neck. He finally held her out and looked at her seriously. "How do you feel?"

She licked her lips. "Thirsty."

They heard a laughed and they all turned to see Mark walk in the room. "I figured," he started as he got closer to them. "Juice or water?" He asked as he handed out a bottle of each for her to choose from.

"Juice, please," she told him with a smile.

Hotch sat her down on the bed and Mark let her take a few drinks. "Are you hungry?" They had been feeding her intravenously, but he knew that kind of nutrition never really satisfied anyone's actual hunger.

Joey squinted her eyes as she considered the question. "Not really," she finally told him with a shake of her head.

Hotch shot Kahlan a concerned look, but Mark smiled. "Don't worry. You'll be starving in no time. How about you get up and walk to your mom for me?"

Joey smiled and put the top back on her bottle of juice. She jumped from the bed expecting to land on her feet, but she stumbled and fell forward. Hotch grabbed her quickly before she hit the floor and stood her back up. "You ok, Angel?"

She gave him her Hotch stare and squared her shoulders. "I'm fine," she insisted. Kahlan giggled.

"You need to take it easy. You have been lying down for a while," Mark told her.

Joey huffed and walked a little unsteadily over to her mother. Kahlan picked her up with a smile. "That's my tough girl."

"Yep," Joey told her with a smile.

"Well, when you can walk around the hall without any help, then you'll be allowed to go home," Mark told her as he took the juice to her. "Drink this. You need it."

Joey smiled and took the juice. After she took a couple more drinks she pushed her way out of Kahlan's arms and held her hand out to Hotch. "You walk wit me, Daddy?"

Hotch smiled as he took her hand and let her lead him toward the door. "Just go slow. You don't need to hurry."

She huffed again and he glanced over his shoulder at Kahlan. 'She's just like you,' he mouthed. Kahlan just smiled and shrugged.

XXX

After an hour or so, Joey finally got hungry enough to eat, and went to the restroom, so Hamill finally gave her the green light to leave. Kahlan picked her up and headed for the door. Joey smiled over her shoulder at her father. Hotch smiled back at her, Daddy Lump was hanging from one hand and the little, scrub wearing, teddy bear was hanging from the other.

Hotch stayed back and looked at Hamill. "So how is Kahlan, really?"

Hamill watched as Kahlan disappeared with Joey around the corner and then looked at Hotch. "She's on the mend. I think she will be fine if she just takes it easy for a little while. She needs to let her body heal."

Hotch nodded as he looked toward the door. "I just hope I can get her to do it."

Hamill smiled and patted his arm knowingly. "Tell her she has to stay with Joey. Maybe if she concentrates on her daughter, she won't feel the need to do whatever it is that she does."

Hotch chuckled. "I wish it were that easy." He stuck out his hand and Hamill took it with a smile. "Thank you, Dr. Hamill. I don't know what I would have done without you and your team," Hotch told her sincerely.

She smiled. "Just keep those two out of trouble, and you'll be fine."

Hotch chuckled again and went to catch up with his girls.

"Good luck with trying to get all of this tied up," Hamill called after him. Hotch nodded as he went out the door. Hamill sighed and hoped it was the last time she had to see him.

XXX

"How's my girl?" Chuck asked as he threw Joey up into the air.

She giggled and landed in his hands. "I'm good."

"It's about time! I was getting tired of waiting. I almost picked another chess partner," he told her as he took her to the SUV.

She giggled again. "You wouldn't pick someone else. I'm your favorite."

"That's because you're the only one who will let him win," Hotch told her as he came up behind them.

"Hey!" Chuck yelled in mock offense and Joey giggled.

"Let's get out of here before Hamill comes up with another test she wants to run on me," Kahlan told them as she held open the door for Joey.

"What? Feel like a pin cushion?" Chuck asked as he put Joey in the back seat.

"More like a host and they were the parasites," Kahlan joked as she showed him the insides of both elbows were bruises marked where they had drawn blood several times throughout the ordeal.

"Damn, it looks like you might be a couple of quarts low," Chuck joked as he got in the driver's seat.

Hotch climbed in the front and Kahlan got in next to Joey. Chuck took them to Donna's and after Kahlan explained to Joey that they would be spending a few days at her aunt's, Joey didn't care; she just wanted to see her brothers.

Chuck had assured Hotch and Kahlan that discreet surveillance at Donna's house hadn't shown any unusual activity or interest from any source, so they all agreed it would be safe for Hotch to go at least for the rest of the day and night.

Hotch looked at Chuck questioningly. Chuck noticed him looking. "Nothing yet," is all he told him, and Hotch nodded with disappointment clearly on his face.

XXX

With all of the commotion surrounding them as they got out of the SUV, Hotch couldn't tell who was more excited, the boys or the dogs. While the boys hadn't seen their mother for a few days, they knew she was basically alright because she had talked to them on the phone and had texted them. They were still relieved to see her in person, though, but they couldn't hide their excitement at finally seeing their little sister again either.

Wyatt dropped to his knees and held on to Joey so tightly that Hotch almost stepped in to make sure Joey could breathe. They all watched as tears made their way down Wyatt's cheeks. Joey patted him on the back and let him hold her as long as he wanted.

Jack wrapped himself around Kahlan, but Sampson soon pushed his way between them and Kahlan laughed as she rubbed the Doberman's face and neck affectionately as he jumped up and put his paws on her shoulders. "You miss me, Boy?"

"I brought Daddy Lump back. Just like I promised, Wy," Joey told Wyatt as he finally wiped his face and pulled away from her.

"It's a good thing, too. Cause I would have hated to see what I would have done to you had you let something happen to him," Wyatt told her with a feigned stern look.

"You better take 'em, so nothing happens to him," she told him as she handed the stuffed elephant back to its original owner. Wyatt accepted it with a smile and stood up to let the eagerly waiting Jack have his turn at their little sister.

She smiled at Jack and he pulled her into his chest. Jack had to wipe his face, too, before he let her go. She looked to see where her mother was and pulled Jack's shirt down to get his ear next to her. "Did you feed Fuzzy?"

"Of course. He'll be glad to see you, too," he told her in a whisper.

Her dimples showed with her delight. "I knew I could count on you."

"That's what brothers are for," he told her matter-of-factly and took her hand to lead her to the door. Wyatt quickly grabbed her other hand, and they all went into the house together.

Hotch had put his arm around Kahlan as they watched their children.

"God, it's good to have the whole family together again," she told him.

"Yes it is. Come on," Hotch told her as she wiped her face and let him lead her into the house, too.

XXX

After a dinner of Donna's signature meal of homemade hamburger steaks, mashed potatoes, and broccoli, the Hotchners, the Miltons, and Chuck relaxed around the dining room table and family room. Jack and Wyatt disappeared for a moment and then came back in wearing brand new football jerseys with their names on the back. "We made the team," Jack told them proudly.

"Of course you did. Did you really have any doubts?" Kahlan asked them as she got up and pulled both of her boys into a hug.

"No, but it still felt good to actually see our names on the roster," Wyatt admitted with a grin.

Hotch took his turned at hugging them. "I am so proud of you guys. Donna and Mike have both told us how hard you guys have worked at practice."

"Guess what positions?" Wyatt asked with a giant grin.

Hotch studied him for a moment. He figured that Wyatt had made the starting lineup because of his size, but he was worried about Jack because he knew sixth graders usually didn't get the chance to start. "I bet you're on defense," Hotch finally told him.

"Nope," Jack told them with a grin that stretched from ear to ear.

Kahlan and Hotch exchanged looks. "Ahhhh, offense?" Kahlan joked.

"Seriously, what positions do you think we have on the starting line up?" Wyatt asked them with a glance at Jack.

Kahlan looked at Donna and Mike, but they just smiled. She then looked at Hotch and he shrugged. "Just tell us."

"Jack is the starting quarterback," Wyatt told them proudly.

"And Wyatt is my leading running back," Jack finished.

"Oh my God, that's awesome guys!" Hotch yelled and got up to congratulate them again.

"We got ourselves a regular Danny White and Tony Dorsett," Kahlan told Hotch with a grin and she put an arm around each of the boys.

Hotch balked. "More like a Joe Theismann and John Riggins."

"No. I don't think so. You may like the Redskins, but I bet they play like Cowboys, but if you want newer, I'll say Troy Aikman and Emmitt Smith," she insisted.

"I don't think so," Hotch started.

"Exactly," Wyatt spoke up.

"See?" Hotch told her with a grin of satisfaction.

"No, Dad. More like Drew Brees and Mark Ingram," Jack insisted with Wyatt nodding his agreement.

"What?!" Hotch and Mike both asked at the same time. Mike was also a diehard Redskin fan.

"You get that idea from your Uncle Will?" Kahlan asked them. They all knew that Brees and Ingram were current players for the New Orleans Saints.

"No. They're awesome," Wyatt told her.

Hotch and Kahlan shared a look.

"Don't you just hate it when they grow up and start to develop their own opinions?" Donna asked the wounded couple, and everybody laughed.