*K – this isn't a full chapter by any means, but after all the begging, I figured I'd go ahead and post this so some of you don't start sending me threats! hehehehe

Chapter 61

While Morgan may have almost fallen over, JJ actually did. She tumbled forward when the shape shifting unsub slammed into her and took her to the ground as it roared. She couldn't even breathe let alone move from the weight of the man on top of her, and she couldn't figure out why they were the ones on the ground. Then suddenly, the man was gone, and JJ looked up to see Hotch chasing after him/it as he turned into a bird and took flight.

"No!" Hotch screamed as he just missed the little finch's tiny leg.

JJ flinched when she felt a hand on her back, but she relaxed when she realized Morgan was helping her up. His look told her he had no idea what the hell had happened either, and they both turned as one when rushed footsteps came up behind them.

"Damn it, Hotch! You were supposed to stop him!" Rossi yelled in mock annoyance.

Hotch huffed. "If you would have shot it correctly, then it wouldn't have needed to escape."

Rossi wilted. "I couldn't see where JJ was. I couldn't risk the shot hitting her, too," he insisted as he went to Hotch and grabbed the back of Hotch's head to bring it closer so he could inspect the gashes the bear had left him with.

Hotch pushed his hands away. "I'm fine. I have to. . ." he started as he turned obviously intent on following the shifter.

Rossi grabbed his arm to halt him. "I don't think so!"

"I've got to. . ."

"No, you. . ."

"Lana's still alive! He said he had one heart left, so that means she's still out there somewhere! I have to. . ." Hotch voiced.

"You're not going alone, Aaron!" Rossi insisted as he tightened his grip on Hotch.

Morgan and JJ shared a grin. Hotch never won against Rossi, but they thought it funny when he tried.

Hotch turned to them. "You heard him, right? He could be to her already!"

Morgan opened his mouth, but JJ butted in first. "Hotch, you are in no shape to face this thing alone!"

"Yeah! You like you've been dipped into a giant blender or something," Morgan put in.

Hotch snorted. "Well, you go up against Barnum and Bailey's most wanted and see how well you look afterwards!"

Rossi sighed and pulled Hotch even closer to him. "We'll all go."

Hotch immediately started shaking his head. "No! He broke JJ's arm! You two can take her back and get her to the hospital."

Rossi let go of Hotch and went to JJ who was holding her hurt arm close to her stomach. "Shit, JJ, I didn't. . ."

She shook her head. "I'm fine. You go with Hotch. I can get back by myself."

While they were focused on each other, Hotch decided to use the distraction and turned to leave, but Morgan was waiting for that and grabbed his arm. "Don't do it, Man!"

The surprised look that overtook Hotch's face made Rossi shake his head. "Apparently you're in worse shape than you thought." Morgan looked at him with confused eyes, and Rossi huffed. "The shock on his face tells us that he thought he was going to move fast enough that you wouldn't be able to catch him."

"Ah, Man. . ." Morgan started.

JJ morphed into 'protective mama' as she forgot about her hurting arm and moved to put a hand on Hotch's back but she had to pull it back because of the wounds there that had yet to heal either. She sighed. "You can't do this alone, Hotch. Let them go with you."

Hotch wilted. "But if he can do all this to me," he started but let his fear of what may happen to them go unspoken. He took a deep breath and looked her in the eyes. "And he's already hurt you. . . I couldn't handle it if he hurt anyone else."

"And we couldn't handle it if he hurt you even more." He was about to argue, so she gave him a small smile. "I'll go back and get help if you let them go with you and promise not to leave them, or I will go with you, too, to make sure you behave."

His eyes squinted as he appraised her. The set of her jaw and shoulders made him shake his head in disgust. "You're almost as stubborn as Kahlan."

"Speaking of the devil. I'll just have to call her unless you agree to JJ's deal," Morgan put in as he smiled. His phone was already in his hand.

Hotch looked at him, then JJ, and then Rossi; and Rossi smirked. "Siblings suck in the way they care, don't they?" he joked.

"You mean bully," Hotch iterated as he folded his arms across his chest, and Rossi only shrugged. "But something may. . ." His eyes snapped to the older man as another thought hit him and then held out his hand to Rossi. "Just give me the gun. I can. . ."

Rossi shook his head. "Not gonna happen."

"You're wasting time," JJ put in, her expression darkening. "There's a little girl somewhere out there who needs you guys, Hotch, and she may need all of you."

Hotch snorted. "Then you two better pray that you can keep up," he grumbled as he started walking.

Rossi shoved Morgan after their Unit Chief and then turned back to JJ. "Are you sure you're going to be alright getting back by yourself? Morgan can go back with you."

JJ shook her head and pushed him after the other men. "I'll be fine. You two need to back him up. He needs it." Rossi rubbed a hand down his goatee as he considered it. "Go, Dave, he looks like he's about ready to collapse for Christ's sake."

Rossi took a deep breath and nodded. "Alright, Jennifer. Please be careful. I don't think our unsub is interested in facing any of us until he gets stronger, but keep an eye out just in case."

"Yes, Dad," JJ joked as she pushed on his back again. "I'm a big girl. I can take care of myself."

Rossi pulled her into a hug careful not to hurt her arm, and then left without another word.

JJ stood there watching them until she could no longer see any of them and then sent up a silent prayer for them all to make it back to her. She swallowed the lump that had formed at the thought of any of them or that little girl not making it, and after a deep breath she started walking back towards the street.

**The Profiler Choice Awards Nominations are open!

Follow this link: topic/ 184590/ 142286454/ 1/ Profilers-Choice- Awards-2015

All the rules and such are there and submitting a ballot through PMing is really easy. I've already sent my own off to nominate some of my favorite writers.

So I hope you take the time to nominate some of yours, and if I fit into that category – then even better! hehehehe