AN: Please review! I am LOVING this story; I will say if you don't like it, please don't read it. It does get wilder and it starts to focus more on how JJ really fought hard against Doc, how she did not give up :) Another chapter will be up tonight!

JJ shivered in the freezing emergency room; chills racketed her body as she tried to sit in the bed. It was useless of course, she was unable to do it herself. Swallowing her pride and rolling her eyes, JJ looked over to Hotch and Ross who were standing in a corner of her room, talking.

"JJ, do you need something?" Hotch was at her side in a moment; saw her shivering and teeth chattering. And as he looked down, he saw her blanket on the floor.

"I'll grab her another one," Ross smiled at JJ before stepping out.

"Sorry, JJ. We are getting you a warm blanket." Hotch explained as he slipped off his own bureau jacket and gently draped it over JJ's shoulders. The shivering slowed considerably.

"Thank… you." Her voice was soft, hardly audible. But it was there. JJ was speaking.

Hotch could only nod at her; his guilt over Maggie and what had been happening flooding his body.

And JJ picked up on it immediately. While her physical body struggled with every task, her mind was as sharp as ever. And the more the drugs withdrew from her overtaxed system, the easier it was for her to think. To talk. And it felt amazing.

JJ's intuition had always been good and when coupled with her skills as a profile; she was phenomenal. And despite the pain she was in, the situation she was in and everything else going on in her life; she knew Hotch was worried about her.

Slowly, carefully, JJ reached out her hand and grabbed Hotch's, squeezing it as hard as she could. She knew it was nothing more then a slight touch to Hotch, but it felt good to her. To touch someone she knew without a shadow of a doubt, was safe.

"What is it JJ?" Hotch's eyes immediately went to the monitors.

"I…" She stopped momentarily as her muscles strained to speak for the first time in weeks. "I'm good." She forced out. And then seeing the look on his face, JJ continued. "I.. sit up?"

"Are you sure?" Hotch asked; not wanting to harm JJ.

"Yes." JJ nodded, wanting to do as much as possible for herself before Doc figured out how to get back to her. She needed to tell Hotch everything; and she had to do it quickly. But she was not naïve and knew her limitations, knew her condition would not allow her to speak everything she needed. She had to buy some time, somehow.

"Alright, how do I…" Hotch looked over at her, trying to figure out how to get JJ sitting without hurting her. And while he tried to maintain his stoic expression, deep down, he was panicking. He didn't know how to help JJ up; but he had to! She had finally asked for help and he wasn't going to let her down.

JJ smiled and for the first time in weeks, she laughed. "Won't hurt…me." She reached out her hands and gestured for Hotch to hold out his arms. Without saying a word, JJ grabbed his arms and attempted to pull herself into a sitting position; just as her physical therapist had been working with her on. It took much longer then it should have, but JJ beamed with pride as she sat herself up.

Hotch stared at her, his mind racing at what JJ had done. And not regarding the sitting up; he was proud of her for that, but for everything else she had done. "JJ," He shook his head and smiled at her, "You snowed us, didn't you?"

JJ nodded, "Yes… had to… protect you." She confirmed.

Hotch's stomach lurched at the very notion that JJ was trying to protect them; after all, it was them who were trying to protect her. "You had us all fooled." JJ laughed again, her body growing tired from the strain of sitting up. "JJ, we were worried that you were regressing; that you were not making progress…"

JJ rolled her eyes, "I can speak," she paused needing to regain some strength, "I heard everything you were saying…" Hotch closed his eyes and nodded. "Hotch," she stopped as the door swung open and Ross walked in with a blanket.

"Look at you!" Ross voice hit a high that neither JJ nor Hotch had ever heard; he rushed over and then stopped as the realization hit him. "Oh. Oh damn." He shook the blanket out before he and Hotch spread it over JJ. "I was told you were intelligent and not to underestimate you; I should have known."

Hotch laughed, "I think Agent Jareau fooled us all, isn't that right?" JJ winked at him and nodded.

"So you can sit up without assistance," Ross arched his eye brow.

"Sort.. of…" JJ shrugged. "Hotch.. helped." Hotch nodded slowly.

"How long have you been sitting up?" Ross glanced at the clock.

"About six minutes." Hotch answered proudly. "Apparently, she is quite capable of many tasks; we just severely underestimated her and what she was up to."

Ross rolled his eyes and then reached behind him and grabbed a wheelchair. "Can you transfer into a chair by yourself?" His voice became soft and sincere, not wanting to pressure JJ if she was not able to do this task yet.

JJ shook her head, "Not.. yet." She explained. "Soon… not… now." And Ross nodded.

"Well, good news is you look great. No concerns with injuries or…"

JJ rolled her eyes, "I.. told you so."

"We just had to make sure, JJ." Hotch said softly before looking to Ross. "Can she be discharged now?"

Ross nodded, "I don't have any privileges at this hospital, but let me see what I can pull." And he left the room without another word.

There was silence for a brief moment before JJ spoke again. Her sentences were still clipped but Hotch knew that would improve as well.

"Hotch… we… have to… talk." JJ grunted in pain, sitting cost her an enormous amount of energy.

Hotch nodded. "Of course, JJ. What do you need?" Hotch was expecting JJ to ask for something, a glass of water or another blanket.

JJ paused for a moment before looking at the door. Hotch immediately got the hint. "Give me one minute." He said before standing up. JJ heard her boss talking to the officer outside; told him to not allow anyone in the room for the next half hour.

And then Hotch walked back to JJ, making sure the door was shut before sitting down next to her. "Alright, its just you and me." He had a feeling he knew what was coming and he was more then ready for it. Ready to hear exactly what JJ had been holding in for so many months.