AN: I hope this chapter meets your expectations; you know there will be more drama coming :)
Hotch watched silently as the skilled team silently approached the cabin; they were the ones in gear; the ones who would expertly slip monitoring devices into the cabin. Audio and video images would soon be showing up at the make shift command center; less than 1,000 feet from the cabin, yet still far enough away that they wouldn't be spotted if someone else were to come out.
It was Ross who spoke first; "Hotch, Grace just let me know that a medical chopper is on the way but they will not be able to lift JJ out if the snow storm continues like this," he paused before taking another breath, "I have asked that they leave all of their equipment with me. I cannot guarantee that JJ is even stable enough to get to a chopper; this way I can have medications and equipment to keep her going until we get clearance to fly out."
Hotch nodded and smiled. "Glad you are here, Ross."
"I wouldn't be anywhere else," he responded, mentally preparing himself for what he was going to need to do. He knew it wouldn't be pleasant and his prayer was that the medical chopper had brought everything he had requested.
Hotch nodded and again before refocusing his attention on the small monitors. He watched as the SWAT team snaked a minuscule wire through the dog door; that wire would send back audio and images of what was in the cabin.
The remaining SWAT members stood close behind but with a device in their hands, and Hotch watched as the images came back on the screen.
"There is someone inside," one of the techs said, "there is a heat signature;"
Hotch took in a deep breath as he saw the image being projected. "That's a deep shade of red," he commented, "are we sure it's a person?" He had never seen that red in a heat sensor before.
The tech nodded, "Yes; I have only seen it once before, in a child actually. The device is picking up on heat; and this person is really red because of heat stroke or fever. I am not seeing a fire, I am not seeing any animals; that is absolutely a living person.
JJ was alive; he knew it. It wasn't Doc or Ian or Leaff or Talia in that cabin and as the SWAT member guided the device around the cabin, Hotch watched as the video streamed back.
It was a small cabin; the camera slowly creeped along the walls streaming back everything in a perfect image. Hotch watched as the images flooded back; he saw a small bedroom with a unmade bed; he saw discarded medication and medical equipment. He watched as the images continued, as the device continued its journey, as it explored the bathroom and then pulled back and headed to the kitchen.
"The heat signature is coming from a room next to the kitchen; we think she is there. We have to clear the house first," the tech explained to Ross. Ross nodded and then everyone went silent.
The device had picked up noise; "What is that?" Hotch leaned in closer to the image, pressing the headphones closer against his ears.
"I don't know," the tech responded, trying to enhance the audio quality.
But it was Ross who spoke up, "its her breathing," he replied softly, "she's really struggling. I can tell you already she has pneumonia," he explained as he kept his glance on the video.
Hotch nodded but remained silent; at least JJ was breathing.
And then, suddenly, he watched as another image appeared on the screen. A figure was on the couch; a petite figure who was shivering. It was JJ; they had JJ.
"Agent Hotchner," he heard a voice over his radio, "we have a female in sight; is this Agent Jareau?"
Hotch nodded, "yes, it is." He spoke softly.
"Agent, she is talking but we cannot make out what she is saying."
Ross looked to Hotch, "her fever is too high; she's delusional."
Hotch licked his lips; he knew JJ was of no threat to them; but he did not know what was in the cabin. Now that he knew she was there he directed SWAT to keep their camera where it was; they could listen to, and watch JJ.
"We need to have Hazmat enter;"
"Hotch," Ross spoke up, "she doesn't have the time. We need to get to her. Now." The two men paused, they heard JJ's voice, soft and weak; and only a few words, broken sentences.
'Will… no…" she shook her head, "they… coming…"
Ross shook his head and turned away, "Hotch, her airway is not stable; we have to get to her. Now."
Hotch turned to the gathered group, staring at the SWAT officers in full gear, staring at the other bureau agents, the police. It was only fair if he warned them.
"Agent Jareau needs medical attention, she needs it now. Dr. Ross will start working on her as soon as it is clear; we need to get her to the hospital as soon as we can. Ross has the supplies and I know we have two tactical medics with us; together they should be able to get to her. However, we are concerned there is an unknown chemical in the cabin; possibly being pumped in. It's a risk to exposure you to it; we know what is has done to JJ.. If you don't want to risk the exposure, we understand. We cannot wait until Hazmat gets here, JJ cannot wait."
Hotch watched as everyone was silent and nobody moved; not until the SWAT team began pulling down their masks, the other officers began drawing their guns. Nobody was leaving; everyone was willing to take the substantial risk to get one of their own back.
And Hotch smiled his gratitude before grabbing his own gun; they were about to get JJ back.
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JJ shook again as a cough ravaged her body; she didn't understand what was taking so long. Why hadn't she died already? She closed her eyes for a brief moment, before opening them again to complete darkness.
And then she heard voices; male voices; all outside. She heard them talking, heard loud sounds that she could distinguish and heard yelling. They had found her, they were coming back to save her life and complete the transfer. She knew they would kill her in the end, but first they would bring her back to hell and keep her there ; before finally deciding she wasn't worth it anymore.
She heard footsteps coming towards her, but it was so dark and she couldn't see. She heard them yelling her name, yelling for her and her body tensed as she waited for the touch that she knew was coming.
"We've got her!" She heard someone yell and she felt the cold metal in her hands. She had no strength left; and as she tried to life the weapon, it took everything out of her. Lifting the weapon and taking a deep breath were her choices. Her body couldn't do both.
She waited until they were closer, waited for a beam of light, a flashlight, anything to help her aim the gun. And nothing came, she was going to have to fire in the dark.
"JJ!" A voice called, "JJ, put the gun down." She didn't know that voice, didn't recognize it, but it had authority. And she refused to do as ordered; she held onto the gun, her hand shaking as her strength vanished.
Oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo
Hotch closed his eyes briefly as he stood behind the SWAT team member; they were taking the door. And then, in a flash, they made entry.
"JJ!" Hotch called, keeping his eyes out for any other threat. He saw nothing, smelt nothing… and he ran to the living room and stopped.
On the couch, was JJ.
And JJ had a gun; her eyes were open but she wasn't focusing, she was aiming the gun but her hand was shaking. He knew she was going to drop it at any minute; but he also knew JJ. And he knew she had a hell of a shot; and as he approached her he heard shouting.
Men were shouting at her to drop the gun, surrounding her, their own guns pointed at her.
"Stop!" Hotch commanded, "JJ, its us, we have you." He said softly, slowly approaching her. He watched as her head turned towards his voice but she didn't look at him. "JJ, its Hotch; you are safe." He took another tentative step forward, only looking up to see one of the SWAT members coming from behind the couch; the rest of his team kept their guns pointed at JJ. They knew she was one of them, they knew she was critically ill, but they were not going to let her hurt one of them. The shot would not be deadly to most people, but Hotch knew JJ couldn't anything else. And then another thought hit him; there was sixteen men in the room; surrounding her. Only four of them had masks on, everyone else had just potentially exposed her to a litany of conditions. And she had no immune system. He had to get them out.
He had to end this. He nodded to the SWAT officer behind the couch, giving him the okay to grab the gun. "JJ, I promise you are safe…" Hotch spoke as the officer leaned over the couch and swiftly, wrestled the gun from her grip.
In an instant, Hotch rushed to JJ's side; ignoring her mumbling as he took her hands in his right hand and felt her skin with his left. She was burning up; he held her hands together as Morgan pulled the thick blanket off of her; he held her hands together as they got their first look at the burns and injuries she had. And he held her hands as her shaking slowed.
"That's it JJ; we are here," he soothed, hoping Ross would come soon. There was no way they could move JJ. "You are safe, we have you JJ, we have you."
And her head turned towards him; her eyes closed. "Hotch… you're…. here." She gasped; it wasn't a question; it was a statement.
"I'm here JJ; we are here."