A/N: Here's another one! By the way...you think this story is already intense? You ain't seen nothing yet.
Disclaimer: I don't own Criminal Minds or any of its characters and affiliates.
~In three words I can sum up everything I've learned about life: it goes on~ - Robert Frost
February 14, 1990
When the ambulance had arrived at the hospital, JJ had been taken straight up to Ward 3B after being examined by an ER doctor, who had ascertained that the cause of the bleeding was indeed a calling card for platelets.
JJ had been admitted to 3B by Doctor Nick, Gabby's oncologist. After immediately taking her counts, he started a blood transfusion, as it was a no brainer that she needed one. JJ had drifted in and out of a drug induced sleep; she had had a mild blood thickener introduced via her central line to stop the bleeding, as well as starting a steroid regime to help deal with the side effects of treatment, and pain relief, as abdominal pain had set in on the ride to the hospital.
"Well JJ, I can safely say I have never seen someone's platelets tank so quickly after chemo. Your file says that Neil checked your counts yesterday before you had the vinc infusion, and they were at 47. The platelet count I just got says 1," Nick announced as he walked back into the room, two bags of platelets in his hands. He shook his head, grinning as he did. "While serious, I have to say it's quite impressive"
"Is it bad that they dropped so fast?" Sandy asked as he moved over to JJ's IV pole and started hanging up the life saving fluids.
"It's not great, but it does mean the chemo is doing exactly what we want it to, which is to steamroll everything in its path," Nick replied, connecting the tubing from the first bag of platelets to JJ's line. "We'll get these two bags in, leave you for two or three hours to make sure you don't react, then we'll check your counts. The bags should give them a kickstart to climb on their own"
JJ gave him a tired smile as he turned and spoke quickly to Sandy before leaving the room.
"Mom?" she mumbled, her eyelids drooping.
"Yeah monkey?" Sandy replied softly, reaching over and taking JJ's hand.
"Am I gonna be ok?"
Sandy swallowed thickly, knowing JJ was simply asking about that night's episode. But it always made her wonder if in a year's time, JJ really would be ok.
"Of course you are hon. It's just your platelets. Get some rest and hopefully we can go home in the morning," she said softly, leaning down to kiss JJ's forehead. JJ smiled sleepily, her eyes falling closed as she drifted off to sleep.
Not once did she let go of Sandy's hand.
"I feel GREAT!"
Michael looked up in surprise before bursting out laughing as the sight of his eleven year old coming into the kitchen, holding tightly to her mom's arm, her eyes wide and bright with excitement.
"Do you now?" he asked with a chuckle, setting the papers he had been going over down on the table.
"She's a vampire, I told you," Sandy teased, making James laugh as he entered the room behind them. "A few bags of blood and she's bouncing off the walls"
"JJ, last night you looked like the kid from The Exorcist and today you look like a puppy waiting for its favourite toy to be thrown," James joked as he reached up to the cupboard to grab a glass.
"What's The Exorcist?" JJ asked, tipping her head back to look at her mom.
"A film you are not watching for as long as you live under this roof, because you'll end up in my bed shaking and crying every night," Sandy replied with a grin.
"Can I watch it in the backyard?" JJ asked cheekily. James laughed, reaching over and high fiving his sister as Sandy rolled her eyes.
"You are way too cheeky for your own good, miss," Sandy told her seriously, holding JJ tightly as they walked through to the lounge room.
"I know," JJ giggled as she reached the couch and lowered herself onto it. It didn't take long for her to have made herself comfortable with her pillow, her blanket, and the TV remote. Once she was, Sandy stood for a moment in the archway, simply watching her youngest child.
"God I love her," Michael murmured as he stepped up behind his wife, wrapping his arms around her. "We really lucked out with our three"
Sandy nodded, smiling as she leant back into her husband's embrace.
"We really did"
By nightfall, the seeming high from the blood and platelet transfusions had worn off, and JJ was back to feeling miserable from chemo effects.
She had vomited four times before going to bed, and every single time it had been bile. Her mouth was full of ulcers and sores, and her throat was burning. Her pain had increased to the point where she had cried for two hours before falling asleep.
Sandy had fought every instinct that arose telling her to take JJ back to the hospital for a pain pump. She just wanted her daughter home for one night. Reasoning that she would check on her every couple of hours and take her back if she was still bad in the morning, she had administered JJ's regular pain medication and stayed with her, soothing her to sleep with gentle words and whispered promises.
Falling into bed beside Michael, Sandy sighed, resting her head against her husband's shoulder.
"I hate seeing her in so much pain," she murmured, her hand coming to rest on his chest, just over his heart.
"I know. It's horrible to watch her suffer like this," Michael replied softly, running a hand through Sandy's hair. "I just can't believe that when I look at her, I'm looking at the same child who six months ago had life in her eyes, a head full of beautiful blonde hair that was so much like her mother's, and was playing attack on her school soccer team. She's practically a wisp of a child who used to be"
Sandy sighed, tears cresting her eyes. "She'll get there again...right?"
Michael nodded, kissing the top of Sandy's head. "With her stubborn attitude? Of course"
Sandy chuckled, lifting her face to give her husband a quick kiss. "I love you"
Smiling, Michael wrapped his arms around his wife, pulling the covers up over them as he did.
"I love you too"
