AN: Thank you for all your kind reviews! Just FYI, I am just now getting PMs sent to me back in April of 2019. I have no clue what is going on; if you have sent one and I have not replied, just leave a comment in your review.
Hotch stood on the airstrip, his hand protectively on JJ's shoulder as the jet was readied. She had a coat and a blanket on but Hotch saw that she was still shivering. He reached down into a bag and brought out an thick jacket, an official jacket with the yellow letters printed on the back side of it.
"Garcia might have stumbled across an extra one for you." Hotch rolled his eyes as he draped the oversized jacket over his agent.
JJ smiled softly and looked at the letters, her fingers tracing them. "I am not FBI anymore, Hotch." She whispered; knowing full well she would never work as an FBI agent again.
"I disagree. Right now you may not be able to go into the field, but I still consider you to be an agent on my team; I am still your supervisor. Not one person has mentioned you leaving the FBI." He explained, looking up as Morgan and Rossi approached them.
He wanted to protect JJ, wanted her to know she was safe, but how could he protect from something so vast? She had reveled a significant amount of information the team had never even considered; and now Hotch realized how much danger JJ was truly in.
This was not just Doc or Leaff. This went far beyond them. And the way JJ described it; they were just pawns. He had stopped her in the middle of her recall, he didn't trust the hospital and wanted JJ as far away as possible before he interviewed her again.
It was Morgan Hotch asked to go with JJ. Morgan and Ross. And only they would know where JJ was going.
"Hotch, where are you sending me?" JJ asked as a cold wind blew her hair.
"JJ, I promise you are going somewhere safe." He reassured as he began pushing her wheelchair towards the jet. "I don't want to tell you yet but…" He stopped and grabbed a pen before turning her hand over and writing the location on her palm. He waited until she read it before he grabbed the hand sanitizer and told her to erase it.
"Seriously, Hotch?" She groaned looking at the location.
"Believe it or not Agent Jareau, it is one of the safest places in the country." He knew she would despise it, but also felt it was someplace nobody would consider looking for her. She was his priority and as soon as he knew she was safe on the jet, his focus would be solely on taking down the group responsible for this.
"Wait, Hotch…" she suddenly looked alarmed.
But Hotch was a step ahead of her, "they are nowhere near you, JJ. Henry and Will are somewhere completely different. I took care of them."
JJ nodded, relief sweeping over her knowing her family was safe. She was silent as the three men helped her onto the jet and get her seated. She was long past holding her pride and easily accepted the help. She knew her limits and didn't waste precious energy arguing with someone about helping when she knew she was not strong enough to do the task on her own. Not yet anyway.
She sat back as Hotch again covered her with the warm blanket and sat down next to her. "I'm escorting you to your next location," He smiled warmly.
"Wow, I get two FBI agents and a doctor?" She joked and Hotch couldn't help but laugh. He was beyond thrilled to have her back.
"Three. You have to count yourself." He encouraged.
"You are coming with me because you want the rest of the information." JJ eyed him, feeling the jet begin to taxi down the runway.
"There is truth to that, I won't deny it."
JJ nodded, feeling exhausted. "Can it wait until we get there?" She yawned. The rocking motion of the jet and the warmth of the blankets, coupled with the feeling that she was safe made her exceptionally tired.
"Of course, do you need anything?" He asked, seeing her eyes shut.
"No, I'm good." She whispered, leaning her head against the window. Hotch sat beside her for an hour before Ross came over and looked at a sleeping JJ and the back to Hotch.
"She hasn't moved, I think she is probably exhausted." Hotch whispered.
"I wouldn't doubt it; go talk with your team. I will stay with her." Ross said.
Hotch nodded, grateful for the doctor.
Quietly, the two switched seats and Hotch stood up to stretch his legs. He scratched his head as he took a seat next to Morgan.
"You want to tell me what has you so rattled?" Morgan raised an eyebrow.
Hotch scratched his head, "She told me a lot more detail; we were nowhere close."
"Hotch, please, don't do anything stupid…" JJ warned him, knowing once she reveled more information, her boss would only have a one track mind.
"JJ…" Hotch shook his head, "I am going to bring them to justice; you deserve that."
JJ smiled, "Hotch, I know. I know you will, but you need to know what you are up against." She felt a twinge of anxiety about revealing more information; she knew her team would immediately launch into action.
"JJ, we can handle it." He promised.
JJ shook her head, "Hotch; when they first took me, I knew you were coming. I just knew it. And I fought, I fought them the entire time… I promise."
"I know JJ, we know." He reassured her; gently squeezing her hand. "JJ, we found a room, a bunker where they held you."
JJ shook her head, "No, I wasn't there the majority of the time. They had just moved me there a few hours before…"
Hotch looked at her, "JJ, we found evidence of blood, vomit…"
"I don't remember much from that room; I remember Leaff telling me that I was too sick and that he didn't want me to die in the compound…"
"Do you remember anything about the compound? What happened there?" His stomach hurt, he knew JJ was about to reveal some horrific information.
"Yes," She nodded. "But before get to that Hotch…"
"And she told me about Maggie and Doc; she told me about the microphones and cameras. She begged me to hide Will and Henry." Hotch sipped his hot coffee and he spoke to Morgan. "Reid and I went over as Emily stayed with JJ." He took a deep breath. "I found the cameras immediately, exactly where JJ said they would be. I couldn't let her come back there…"
Morgan nodded and looked back at JJ. "Damn. She's a bad ass."
Hotch smiled as he turned around to see JJ. "Strongest woman I have ever met."
There was silence for a few minutes before Morgan stood up and walked over to JJ. He sat down next to her and gently shifted her so that her head now rested on his shoulder instead of the window. "She's out cold." He laughed.
Ross nodded. "Her breathing is normal, I've been watching her." He knew they were all on edge, waiting for JJ to become sick again. "She's the most stable I have ever seen her."
Morgan smiled again. "We will get them JJ; we will get them. And you will be there to cuff them when we do."
