Commencement

Chapter 8

Reid insisted upon re-dressing her wounds before JJ went to retrieve his 'crutch'.

"The fact that they're already infected doesn't mean they can't get worse."

He'd been about to tear his own sleeve for the purpose, but JJ wouldn't hear of it.

"I've already let you twist my arm about wearing your jacket, Spence. I'm not going to leave you to freeze here."

JJ tried to rip away her remaining sleeve, but couldn't quite do it with her left hand, so he had to do it for her. Seeing her shiver as the sleeve came loose, Reid quickly held the jacket up, and watched her struggle to get her hands into it.

"Pain?"

"They're throbbing a little bit, but they're mostly stiff, especially the right one, the one with the streak."

"The stiffness is from the swelling. Gravity isn't going to help that any." Reid was about to start shredding the blouse material into bandages, when a thought halted him. "You said the water was running, right?"

"Right. Why?"

"Because we should probably rinse you out well before we bandage you up again. It should help with the infection, and we're a little short on supplies, so….."

JJ dreaded the thought of having to traverse the rubble back to the water fountain with her old, loosely hanging bandages, but she knew he was right. And they had no guarantee that they would be able to reach real medical care any time soon.

"All right, you're right. It's just…."

"I know. But my arms are longer than yours are, and my jacket sleeves are hanging. Use them as padding."

JJ looked down to where his sleeves fell beyond her thighs.

"I would have figured that out. Eventually."

He smiled. "I don't think either of us is at our best, which is why it's a good thing we're here to try this together. Speaking of which….. I don't think I can get up by myself. Can you help me?"

JJ bent from the waist so that he could push off from her shoulder. There followed a lot of grunting and some hopping on his good leg, and then he was up. Still on one foot, and still needing her for balance, but he was up.

JJ stood upright and looked him over. His complexion wasn't pale, and he didn't seem about to pass out. But she'd caught the tail end of a grimace.

"How do you feel?"

"I feel fine."

JJ rolled her eyes at her best friend. "Is this the same kind of 'fine' that Hotch called you out on when you faked that doctor's note?"

He was quick to deny it. "I didn't fake anything. I just gave …"

"A second opinion, yes, I remember. Listen, Spence, we're in trouble here, and we both know it. I have to know my partner's status for real. Please don't be trying to hide anything for my sake. I don't need protection. I need truth."

He was chagrined, even if he'd meant well by it. No matter her status as an agent, and no matter her ability to take care of herself, he'd always felt protective of her. Maybe because she radiated that sense of being able to take care of herself.

No one can go it alone. But she tries to make everyone believe that she can, and most of them do believe her. But not me. She's always been transparent to me. She just doesn't anyone, including me, to invade her privacy.

Over their years together, he'd mastered the art of supporting her while not intruding. The few times she'd realized, she'd called him out on it. But he'd also known she was grateful. Such was the nature of their relationship, that they loved one another enough to let the other be, while praying and hoping…and sometimes maneuvering…for the best. And almost all of the time, it had gone unstated.

Reid conceded to JJ's logic. If they were each going to get out of this alive, they had to be realistic about their status.

"Okay. Truth? I have pain, but it's manageable, which makes me pretty sure that nothing is broken. But I'm a little concerned that my leg is still bleeding."

"Why?" Her antennae fully extended, knowing that he was probably still minimizing, even while intending not to.

Because he's Spence, and he never wants to be a burden, so that's what he does.

If Reid was 'a little concerned', JJ had just become greatly so.

He saw it come over her, and tried to assure her, but he had just promised to be honest.

"I think it means the vessel that's bleeding is pretty deep, which means it's also probably pretty large. Anything on the surface should have stopped bleeding by now, especially with the tourniquet."

JJ took a moment to absorb his words, and to process what they might mean about the journey they were about to undertake.

"Spence, maybe you shouldn't try to bear weight on it. Wouldn't that just exacerbate the bleeding?"

Envisioning him passing out, and bleeding to death among the rubble of the building.

"I think, if we can rig a crutch, I might be able to make it out without bearing weight." Too much.

"Spence…"

"JJ, please. I don't want to stay here while you're dealing with who knows what."

She heard the text. And the subtext.

He's afraid of bleeding out, alone. God help me, Spence, that's not going to happen.

"Okay, you're right. Whatever we do, we do together." Looking around again. "All right, where's that thing…oh, there."

Heading off in that direction. Reid called after her.

"Remember to use the sleeves! Don't handle anything directly if you can help it!"

He watched as she slipped and slid over the rubble, but was pleased to see that she was trying to protect her hands. They were both relieved when she reached the desired object, then frustrated again when she had trouble pulling it loose. Reid's engineer eyes spotted the reason.

"The file cabinet…the gray one….can you push it over?"

JJ looked up from her effort, and followed his gaze to the offending piece of furniture. She made her way over to it, and started pushing….pushing….repositioning, pushing harder…..

I'm running out of steam and we haven't even started trying to get out of here. Please, God….make this thing…

"Mmmph!" And the cabinet rolled. Thankful, JJ went back to the post, easily freeing it this time, and carrying it back over to Reid.

"Ta-da!"

He smiled, looking her over at the same time. "Are you okay?"

She panted. "I feel like I just climbed Everest, but yes, I'm fine. Let's see if this thing fits."

Holding a double-pronged, four-foot length of what looked like steel, runged at various levels, broken off raggedly at both ends.

He'd been leaning on the top of a pile of rubble, and now kept one hand on it for balance as he lifted his free arm. The post didn't quite reach all the way, but that was probably good, since there would be no padding between it and his body. But at least the rungs gave him a place for a handhold. Reid tested it out on the small space they'd cleared for last night, as JJ watched with concern.

"You can't really lean your body weight on it, Spence. It will have to be in your arm."

"I know. But…." Slipping slightly, the uneven end of it having trouble finding purchase on the ground. "Whoa…okay…okay….it's coming back. It's all muscle memory." Moving in a small circle on the unobstructed floor. "See? I guess it turns out it was a good thing I spent six months on crutches, way back when."

JJ wasn't convinced. "I wish we could find something for the bottom of it. I can get this debris out of your way…well, I hope I can….but I can't make your crutch not try to kill you."

He tried to make light of it. "We'll be going pretty slowly, so I don't think there's much chance of me falling. And, if you think about it, at least the debris will break my fall."

"Very funny. But probably also correct." JJ looked around one more time before they set out. "I think we should take this." Putting her makeshift water pail back around her neck. "And this." Reaching for the Styrofoam cup, and placing it inside the pail. "Okay, I think we're set to go." Looking to her partner. "Ready?"

"As ever. Let's get out of here."

Reid had been right, it was slow going. There were sections of the debris that were lighter, and easier for her to push out of his way, others where the obstacles were so immovable that they had to retrace their steps and find a different path, still others where he was able to find some purchase with his makeshift crutch, and climb over it himself.

And then there was the section where his purchase was lost, and the crutch gave way, and he slid forward, falling on both knees, and jarring both of his thighs in the process.

"Spence!" JJ shouted, and reached back for him.

"I'm…." Pushing off, with effort. "I'm okay. It just slid, that's all."

"But you fell on your leg!" Clambering back toward him. "Let me see."

She inspected his injured leg visually, then patted gently at the material, trying not to hurt him, but wanting to feel if the bloodstain had acquired new moisture, breathing a sigh of relief when the material simply felt stiffened by dried blood, but not wet.

"I think it's okay, but how does it feel?"

It felt terrible, but there was no point in telling her that. They still had to get out of the building.

"It's fine. I probably just can't try that move again."

That wasn't enough for JJ, who had come up with an idea.

"I got this trash pail from the office we'd been in…or some office, anyway. It's just up ahead, to the left of the fountain. I'll bet I can find something to wrap around your crutch to make it more functional. Maybe some material, or even just tape or something."

It wasn't the first time she'd thought of something he hadn't, in their long history together. And it was just the sort of common sense thing she could be better at conjuring than he was. But it still troubled him that he hadn't thought of it at all, and made him wonder if the effects of his concussion might ultimately prove to be costly.

"Okay, that sounds good. Just….let's not spend too much time on it. We still have to get to the water, and change your bandages."

And then we need to get out of here.

JJ took Reid's assent as an order, and began scrambling in the direction of the office. By unspoken agreement, he moved in the direction of the water fountain, his progress extremely slowed by the need to exercise caution. He made it to within five feet of the fountain, but was prevented from getting all the way there by a large, unstable pile of rubble. Reid laid his makeshift crutch aside and, balancing as best he could on one leg, used his long arms to reach into the pile, and began pulling out as many small objects and pieces of debris as he could. By the time he heard JJ coming toward him again, he was drenched in sweat, and exhausted from his effort.

"Spence!" Grunting as she made her way over the pile. "I found…." Landing next to him, with a triumphant look on her face. "I found something. Some things, actually. Look!"

She tilted the pail that hung around her neck. Inside it, he saw a roll of masking tape, a man's necktie, and…

"A charging cable?"

"For your phone! I found it in a desk drawer. I went deeper into the office than I did yesterday, and the far end didn't have as much damage. I tried a couple of phones, but there was nothing. I even found a computer without a broken monitor, but it was completely dead. So I rooted around in some desk drawers, and this is what I found. Oh, and this…"

Reaching into her pocket, and pulling out a fistful of wrapped lifesavers.

"Wintergreen, your favorite."

He laughed at the sheer preposterousness of it.

"At least we'll get some sugar in us."

"Anyway, yes, a charger! So, when we get outside, we can charge your phone in the car!"

"Sounds like a plan. But let's get you taken care of first." Nodding his head in the direction of the fountain. "I've made some headway, but I couldn't lift some of these things in the way without falling on my face."

"Let me do it."

"With your sleeves….which you obviously didn't use to pick up a charging cable or lifesavers."

JJ turned from where she was already bent over the pile of debris. "Guilty. But I thought it was worth it. The sooner we get out of here and call for help, the sooner I'll be on antibiotics."

She had a point. Reid hopped around to position himself to sit on a tall pile of rubble, and pulled the necktie and masking tape out of the pail. He used the tie to even out the bottom of his crutch, encasing it in masking tape to both hold it in place and give him a rougher surface for traction. Then he used the remaining tape to blunt the top edge of the crutch, which had been digging into his skin, despite its short length. By the time he was done, JJ had nearly cleared a path to the fountain.

Reid followed her toward the running water, both of them needing to be careful of their footing, because the constant flow had dampened the dust on the ground, rendering it slippery. Once she reached it, JJ bent and drank from it, taking in long, satisfying draughts. Then she exchanged places with Reid, and held him steady as he bent to do the same.

"Ahhh. That was good."

She smiled. "I know something that will be even better."

It was hard for either of them to believe that they'd been freezing last night, because they were both currently suffering from the heat of the day, heightened by the results of their strenuous efforts. So, when JJ filled the pail with cool water, and poured it over the head and neck of her best friend, he sighed in relief. She sighed with him, once she'd done the same to herself.

"You definitely know how to make me happy, JJ."

She laughed. "Is that why you'll miss me?"

He'd forgotten.

That's what happens when you're not sure you're guaranteed a tomorrow, I guess.

He recovered quickly enough to answer her.

"That, and pretty much everything else. Or just….everything."

She smiled at him. "Me too."

In another circumstance, they might have extended the exchange, taken it to its natural conclusion. In another circumstance, they might have revisited what had happened between them last night, and why, and what it meant, and how it might change their future.

But it wasn't another circumstance, and they were still very much in a life-or-death situation. While there was still the possibility of life, they had to pursue it. Had there been only the certainty of death, they might have chosen differently.

"Okay, so, let's get your wounds clean. I think, if you let the bandages soak for a minute, it might be easier to remove them. And the running water will help with the infection."

Although the adrenalin rush of accomplishing her tasks had allowed JJ to keep moving, she'd felt every tug of the material on the dried scabs on her hands, and she dreaded the thought of removing the bandages right now. But she also dreaded the effects of not removing them, so she complied. At Reid's direction, she filled the pail with water, and then lowered her hands into the liquid. The cold temperature at least helped to numb some of the pain.

Reid studied her features closely, knowing she would try to put on a brave face, but needing to have a realistic sense of her status. If she was in substantial pain, he would find a way to clear a path for them himself.

Who are you kidding, genius? Even if she would let you, you know you can't do this without her. She's strong, you've always known that. You've always told that to every LEO who dismissed her as a lightweight female. Don't you start doing that to her now.

After a five minute soak, Reid asked JJ to give him her hands. The left, less involved, easily released its makeshift bandage, and showed him a wound that looked clean, and superficial.

"Pretty good. I think we can just cover it up again."

Then he moved to her right hand, the dominant one that had done most of the work, and sustained most of the injury. She flinched a bit as he tugged at the bandage, bit her lip when he had to tug a bit harder.

"Sorry. It's a little…..there, it's off."

JJ looked first at her hand, and then raised her concerned gaze to her best friend. "It's pussy. And it's all red, and there's the streak….."

Sounding more anxious with each word.

Reid tried to assure her, though he didn't feel it himself.

"Pus means your white cells are working. It's not a terrible thing."

Also not a good thing, because it means the white cells have something to be working on, but at least they're working.

"And the streak?"

"I don't think it's much longer than last night, so the infection hasn't spread much."

But it was at least a little bit longer, and the infection had definitely spread, even if not 'much'.

Knowing there wasn't much else they could do, and wanting to get her mind focused elsewhere, Reid began to elaborate their plan as he worked on redressing her wounds.

"So, if this is the corridor we came in on, the door we entered through has to be out there to our left. We don't know if this is the third or fourth office that we cleared, but even if it was the fourth, I thinking they were each about thirty feet across, so we have only thirty or forty yards to cover."

He was pleased to see his distraction working when she recalculated the distance.

"Either 90 feet or 120 feet, but there was also a foyer that was about fifteen feet deep. And there were more offices beyond the last one we'd cleared. What if we're deeper into the building than we realize?!"

The pitch of her voice raising at the end, signaling her anxiety. It was unlike JJ to be so overtly worried, and it drew out the protectiveness in her best friend. Reid finished his ministrations, and reached an arm around her.

"If we're deeper into the building, it will take us longer to get out, that's all. But we'll still get out, and now that you've found a charger, we'll be able to call for help."

Wanting to remind her of what she'd contributed to the process.

She squeezed an arm around his middle. "I know. Sorry. I just…"

He lifted her chin, claiming her eyes.

"You're just my best friend, who breathed life back into me yesterday, and found food and water for both of us. And you're the mother to my godsons, who are waiting for you, back home."

She teared up at his declaration of support. "They're waiting for both of us. And thank you."

They embraced, sharing strength, and support, and love, and holding on longer than was necessary to convey those things. When they released, JJ brushed away a tear.

"Let's get out of this place, shall we?"

He grinned. "We shall."

He waved her ahead of him. Of necessity, since he was still on his crutch, and she was still the more able-bodied of the two of them.

But they hadn't gotten far, before he whispered a shout in her direction.

"JJ! Stop!"

She did, immediately. Which was when she heard it, too. A human voice, male, deep. Not shouting, not calling for them, but intermittently loud, and definitely angry in tone. They had difficulty making out the words, but it was clear that the owner of the voice was not happy.

The fact of the third human presence created a dilemma for the two profilers. Should they call out, and ask for help?

Or was the angry tone of their visitor an indication that he was a foe, and not a friend?