AN: BIG chapter, thank you so much for your reviews!
"I don't know how you did it, Garcia," JJ yawned, leaning back against her soft pillows.
"I work miracles sweetie," Garcia replied, helping JJ get comfortable under the thick covers.
"I've been trying for weeks and they won't budge, they refuse to even listen." JJ paused and then opened her eyes and glared at Garica, "what did you blackmail them with?"
Garcia threw her hands up in the air in mock surrender. "I will not confirm or deny that my friend. But we got what we wanted and you finally got to go outside for a few hours of sunshine. I will tell you they were nervous wrecks the entire time, but they'll have to put on their big boy boxers and learn to deal."
JJ laughed and shook her head, "How long are you here?"
Garcia shook her head, "only until tonight, Morgan is driving me to the airport. I wish it could be longer." She said softly, then looked down at her friend who was fighting sleep. "Go to sleep, JJ. I'll see you soon!" Garcia knew she wouldn't get a response, her friend was exhausted. Garcia knew she would be with the energy JJ had expended that day; and while she was doing tremendously better, she still had a way to go in healing. Hotch had warned Garcia that JJ tired out easily and often took a nap in the afternoon. And that was exactly what had happened.
She waited until she was certain JJ was asleep before tiptoeing out the door. "How is she?"
"She's fine!" Garcia laughed, "She just fell asleep, we had too much fun today and apparently she couldn't hang."
Morgan rolled his eyes and Hotch smiled as Ross came around the corner, his phone to his ear.
"I cannot believe this!" He was shaking his head, "What are the odds? Yeah, yeah… let me get back to you, I doubt it'll be a problem but let me verify. Yes, I will call you right back. Love ya too!" Ross hung up the phone before turning to Morgan, Hotch and Garcia. "I have family in town and was hoping I could step away for an hour for lunch?"
Hotch nodded, "You are allowed a break, Ross. Go see your family." Hotch explained.
"Thanks, it's my twin sister and we haven't seen each other in a few months. She's here for a conference and was on a break and decided to call." Hotch raised his eyebrow "I told her I was visiting a friend in the area," Ross waved his hand away. "She doesn't know anything about…" And then he paused
"Ross?" Hotch caught on to the hesitation instantly.
Ross shook his head, "I was going to say she didn't know anything about JJ; but she does. She helped treat JJ at the hospital. You met her early on; she ticked you off!"
"Oh, I remember. Dr. Cruz," Hotch remembered the woman; she was an advocate for JJ, had been following her case from the moment JJ had entered the hospital. She was the reason he had to go to court and get the hospital to wean the sedatives, ultimately saving JJ's life.
"Yep! So, she knows JJ, but doesn't know that I am here for JJ." Ross explained.
"And it must remain that way," Hotch reiterated sternly.
"Of course, Hotch. I would hope by now you would realize I would never do anything to jeopardize her. I am going to go check on her one more time before I head out. I don't expect to be gone more than an hour or so." Ross explained before walking into JJ's room. She looked as if she was sleeping peacefully and for the first time, Ross noticed that her breathing seemed even and stable. His smile grew when he saw she was not requiring supplemental oxygen.
Ross stepped out of the room before turning back to Hotch. "I have my cell on me, if you need anything, just text." And with that, he left the house excited to reconnect with his twin.
He didn't have to wait long, twenty minutes later the two sat at the local coffee shop catching up on life in general.
"How's JJ?" Talia asked casually and seeing the look on Ross' face she laughed. "I mean have you heard from her at all? I know the FBI recruited you to help keep an eye on her but she seemed to have disappeared. I am guessing that's a good sign?"
Ross nodded, "I really haven't heard anything. I guess no news is good news? They know how to get a hold of me if she needs anything."
Talia smiled, "I can only hope she does well in whatever her future might be."
Ross reached out and grabbed her hand, squeezing it. "Never change, Tal. Never change!"
Oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo
Ross entered the safe house just over an hour later before walking straight into JJ's room.
"She's still asleep," Hotch whispered, "I just checked on her. She's fine." Ross nodded before stepping back into the kitchen. "How was your sister?"
"She's great, still the same ol' Tal." He flopped down on the couch next to Hotch, both of them silent as they focused on the baseball game currently running on the TV. They had watched well into the seventh inning when Hotch heard a small whimper. Both men looked at each other before standing up and heading towards JJ's room.
"JJ?" Hotch knocked at the door, pushing it open and turning on the light before walking in. The sight in front of him stopped him cold. JJ was sitting up in bed, shaking, her arms wrapped around her chest as her teeth chattered.
Ross rushed over, "JJ, what's wrong?" He asked, seeing how pale she suddenly was.
"I… don't know." She responded, "I'm just really cold." She whispered, "The pain is back." Ross nodded, "Do you want some pain medicine? It helped last time," He offered, not liking the site of the chills JJ seemed to be experiencing. JJ nodded, "JJ; do you need to vomit?" He knew it before she did, and grabbed the trashcan just as she turned her head. "Alright, you're okay, we will fix this." He whispered, rubbing her back. "Hotch, can you go grab a warm cloth please?" Ross requested. Seeing that JJ appeared to be done vomiting, he helped her sit back up against the pillows. "Better?" He asked, seeing his medic bag in the corner. JJ nodded but didn't speak, her head was pounding.
"Something's wrong, Ross." She groaned as Hotch came back with the warm rag.
"I know, JJ. I am trying to figure it out." Ross replied, pressing his fingers to her wrist and checking her pulse. "Your heart is racing, kiddo." He didn't like this, not one bit. "JJ, what are your other symptoms?" He asked, rolling up her sleeve. He knew he had to be prepared, knew that she could go fast.
"Can you turn off the light?" She asked softly, "it's making my headache worse."
"I need it on for a bit, but you can close your eyes." Ross reassured her, "JJ, I need to start an IV, is that okay?" He didn't wait for an answer but retrieved the supplies from his bag.
"No," JJ jerked her arm back and away from him. "I don't want one."
Hotch and Ross exchanged concerned glances. They both knew she needed the IV but she was refusing and they couldn't force it on her.
"JJ, I will take it right back out, I promise. I want it in just in case I need to get medication into you quickly." Ross reached out to grab her arm, but JJ yanked it away.
"Stop!" She yelled at him and when Hotch reached down to reassure her, she swung at him. "Stop!" She screamed again.
And this time, both men back away. Something clearly was going on; they watched as JJ seemed to become more anxious, sweat poured down her forehead but when she began yelling and fighting at something they couldn't see, both men knew they needed to intervene.
"JJ," Hotch stepped forward, not wanting to restrain her but knowing he had to. He quickly grabbed her hands and held them together, his heart breaking as she began fighting him harder and harder. "JJ, it's me, its Hotch!" He said softly, but it was apparent she wasn't hearing him. "Ross, hurry up!" Hotch said, his concern growing exceptionally.
And then the fighting stopped. "Hotch!" Ross shouted, jumping up and moving around to the other side of the bed; he knew what was about to happen. "Get the blankets off of her, blankets and sheets!" He instructed, already tearing away at anything near JJ.
Hotch didn't need to hear anymore, it was clear Ross was frantic. He did as he was asked and then watched in horror as he saw JJ's eyes roll back and violently shaking begin.
"Damn it," Ross rolled up his sleeves, "Hotch, grab that bag," He directed, keeping JJ's head clear from the bed rails. Without hesitation, Hotch tossed the bag over towards the doctor, "Come take my place, hold her head but do not restrain it." He said, dropping to his knees before digging through the bag. He grabbed a small foil package and held it in between his fingers as the seizure continued.
"Ross, what the hell!" Hotch shouted, seeing Ross not moving.
"I'm timing it Hotch," He replied, "I need to see how long it lasts, I won't let it go over two minutes." And once the seizure hit two minutes, Ross unwrapped the foil and grabbed the small pill, "Alright JJ, you're okay," he soothed, gently opening JJ's mouth and placing the pill between her cheek and gum. "Shh, it's okay, sweetheart," he rubbed the outside of her cheek as he continued to watch JJ seize. He saw no improvement; the seizure was now going on four minutes.
"I'm going to try one more option, Hotch. If it doesn't work, I cannot give her anything else and she will need to get to the emergency room." He didn't want it, he didn't want to take JJ to the emergency room but knew that now, most likely, the was going to happen. "I need you to roll her on her side," Hotch asked no questions as Ross gave the suppository, and directed Hotch to roll JJ back on her side.
"Ross, how long does it take?" Hotch hissed, seeing the seizure continuing.
"It should have worked," He shook his head, "Hotch, we cannot wait for an ambulance, I'll stay in the back with her, you drive!" Hotch didn't ask any questions, he rushed to the keys and then to the SUV, holding open the door as Ross ran with JJ in his arms, the seizure continuing.
"Hotch, drive as fast as you can!" Ross said, placing JJ on the bench seat, watching as her finger nail beds began having a blue tinge to them; her lips heading the same color. He rubbed JJ's hands as he felt the SUV lurch forward and heard the sirens blaring and saw the lights bouncing off numerous buildings. "Almost there, JJ. Almost there," He said, looking down at his watch. The seizure had been going on for nearly ten minutes and was showing no signs of stopping.
And then Ross felt Hotch slam on the breaks before feeling and hearing a significant collision. He instinctively laid his body over JJ as the SUV rolled twice and landed on it's roof.
The impact was tremendous. And Ross knew it was only a matter of seconds before he lost conciouness. "JJ…" He whispered, his hand searching for her. She wasen't there and his world turned black.
"Ross?" Hotch shook his head, "JJ?" The impact of the crash had caused his head to bang twice against the window but his seatbelt and airbags had done their job in protecting him. To good of a job; he couldn't get out; he was trapped under the belt and wreckage of the interior of the car.
Ross didn't respond and Hotch knew this was bad; and then he heard voices and for a brief moment, he thought it was the first responders. Thank God.
"She's in the back, grab her and lets go." Hotch heard glass crashing and knew right then what was happening.
"JJ!" He tried to wriggle free to get out of the seat, but he was trapped and he could only watch as three men reached in and removed his agent from the wreckage. "NO!" He screamed as they succeed in getting her loose. He watched as the seizure continued, and watched as the men carried her back to a waiting black SUV.
And he watched as they drove off with the woman he had sworn to protect.