AN - Hi, I'm back it's been 2 years since I last posted on here. It doesn't seem that long ago. I do apologise. I've had a lotta stuff going on. I was kicked out of my home, I've been in and out of hospital having surgery. I broke my foot and I broke my wrist. And then I have also been a bit lazy. Thats my own fault.

I'm still busy now tho working and trying to pay my way so it wont be weekly updates. I'll be updating when I can.

Disclaimer - I don't own criminal minds or their characters

Hotch sat in the waiting room with the rest of the team waiting for news on his surrogate family. He sat with his head in his hands not able to get the image of how they looked from his head. Emily, one of his strongest was pleading with her eyes for help. And Spencer and JJ in the already vulnerable state they were in, being in child form made them look even more hurt from what they had endured over those three days. He needed for them to recover so they could return to their adult form and everything could go back to normal. Or so he hoped.

The rest of the team were sat around or pacing waiting for some news. The others had disappeared behind forbidden doors 6 hours ago. A nurse came out 3 hours ago letting them know everything was under control and they would be out as soon as they were ready. That wasn't enough for the angsty FBI agents.

"Guys…" Garcia whispered looking to the two doctors walking towards them "…Look."

The two doctors didn't even have to call out the names of who they were here about. They gather the team and took them into a family room, where the matters of the 3 injured agents could be discussed.

"I'm Dr Katie Childs and this is my colleague and twin Dr Sophie Childs, we have been treating your agents. Sophie is in charge of the care of the young two and I'm in charge of the care of Emily." Katie said looking to the edgy agents.

"How are they?" Hotch asked.

"They will be okay." Sophie said. "But there is a long road to recovery for them. Physically and Psychologically. Spencer suffered from a concussion, he had a few gashes on his body which required stitches, and some deep bruising, but other than that he is malnourished and dehydrated, we have him on an IV to help. His physical recovery will be about 3 to 6 weeks, so not too long then he can be changed back in to his adult form."

"That's good. Spence should be back to himself in no time." Garcia said trying to find the positives.

Derek took her hand and squeezed it, not being able to verbalise himself supporting her. He saw how they were, he saw the conditions they were kept in and he couldn't block out what he knew Seth did to all his victims. He was waiting for the worst of the news.

Katie began reading off Emily's chart from memory. "Emily too suffered from malnutrition and dehydration, which we have her on an IV for. She has 2 fractured ribs from blunt force trauma which unfortunately we cant do anything for. She has 3 gashes on her body one on her right arm, on her left thigh and one across her stomach all requiring stitches. Emily was also raped repeatedly. We have carried out a rape kit showing she needed stitches. Her recovery time is looking to be around 6 to 12 weeks depending on her ribs. But I'm positive it wont take the full 12 weeks. And having already spoken to Emily I think she'll be ready to recover psychologically very soon."

No one on the team could speak. Their worst fears had been revealed. The wanted to wait to find out about JJ before saying anything more.

Sophie reeled off some similar information about JJ, being malnourished, dehydrated and needing stitches from gashes on her body. I did find JJ had a broken arm, the bone in that area already looked weakened so a pin and plate will need to be put in place at some point. JJ is suffered from pneumonia, her asthma and the conditions they were in made her more susceptible to it. We have her on antibiotics, steroids and oxygen to help. She was also raped, requiring stitches similar to Emily, except her case seem to be more sever. Recovery time is estimated to be 6 to 12 weeks. But the Pneumonia could be making her tired for upto 6 months afterwards, Around the 12 week mark I would say she is fine to change back to her adult self. But that does depend on how well she recovers."

There was one question they all wanted to ask. "Can we see them?" Rossi asked the two caring doctors.

They nodded and lead the team to one room. A room which held all three of there injured friends. Hotch was the first to walk in. The sigh they saw was one which they would hold in their heads and hearts forever. Emily was lay on JJ's bed holding the blonde close while she sobbed into Emily's chest using her good hand to grip on to her hospital gown. Spencer was perched on the other side of the bed, running his fingers through JJ's tattered hair. This event had brought all three closer, they knew they had each other to rely on when memories plagued them. It looked like they were already taking advantage of this.

"I'll leave you all, but please get the other two back in there beds soon." Sophie smiled. The twin doctors walked off leaving the team alone for the first time since this mission started.

"Oh my gumpdrops." Garcia exclaimed as she rushed towards them giving all three gentle kisses on their heads. Or the back of JJ's head, she refused to pull away from Emily. "I've missed you all so much."

Emily held out her hand to squeeze Garcia's "We missed you too Pen. It's been tough." She admitted, "But we'll get there."

"We know you will" Rossi smiled.

The standing team pulled up chairs, all sitting around in a comfortable silence. One where they all knew they were there if they were needed, but one which allowed everyone to process their own thoughts, on the whole situation.

Half an hour later and the team hadn't really moved. Hotch had been for coffee for those allowed it, but they still remained in the comfortable silence. Emily moved slightly, showing JJ's face and she had fallen asleep, the stress and medication all having taken its toll on her. Once everyone saw she was asleep they helped Spencer back into his bed and Derek was able to speak his concerns.

"Has she been like that the whole time?"

"Pretty much, I haven't been able to leave the room, when we got her she started to stir and then she became hysterical at one point where they thought they were going to have to sedate her. But she didn't want to be, so I've been at her side ever since. When she had her rape kit I thought she was going to break my hand. But we've been in this position since the doctors left them room to finish our charts and find you guys." Emily pulled her close as JJ moaned.

"She's going to pull away from everyone you know." Derek said matter of factly. "She always does."

Hotch stood up. "We aren't going allow her to this time. She isn't going to eat herself up over this. It wasn't anyone's fault, we just have to keep her busy and engaged all the time." He walked over to Emily taking her hand. "You need to get in your bed now."

She took his hand walking slowly back over to her bed where she could rest comfortably. "If you think you can stop her from getting in that state them be my guest, but its how she copes. As much as it pains us all it does her some good to think everything over by herself." The brunette said shuffling on her bed.

"I agree with mo... Emily." Spencer said with a bit of a slip up. He covered his mouth with his hands as he giggled like a child. "Sorry." He also said to Emily.

"It looks like we are about to find out how she is going to be. She waking." Garcia said as she made her way to JJ's bed side.