Sorry for the wait everyone. It's been a pretty shitty/stressful year so far. Stick with me- the surprises aren't over yet! Leave a review to make me smile :)
Chapter 23
JJ knew that she was waking up before her body did. While her eyes were still closed, she could hear the seemingly much-too-loud conversation between what sounded like people she knew. Unable and unwilling to move just yet, JJ waited until her body caught up with her brain. Seconds later, she felt herself begin to frown but the incessant noise persisted. Cracking her dried lips just enough, she managed to groan,
"Trying to sleep here." Although she wasn't sure if it was coherent, the phrase succeeded in alerting her friends that she was awake. Both figures jumped and immediately rushed to her side. Even with her eyes still closed, JJ had no trouble making out one as Emily and the other as Derek.
"Finally, Sunshine." Derek expelled a breath. "We were thinking you were gonna go all 'Sleeping Beauty' on us. Ow." JJ could only assume that Emily had punched him and a thin smile made its way onto her lips.
"Open your eyes, JJ." Emily prompted her. "It's not that bright in here, I promise."
"Don't want to." The blonde frowned but continued to try to crack them open. Eventually, she managed and made out the blurry outlines of her friends.
"Welcome back to the world of consciousness." Morgan grinned down at her as she blinked fast. JJ turned her head, testing her range of motion one limb at a time. She regretted the movements as soon as her ribs protested. Hissing in pain, she felt Emily take her left hand and only then did she notice that her right had been confined to a sling. Frowning, she squeezed her friend's hand briefly before letting go, hand pushing the thin material of the hospital gown aside to examine the wound she could barely remember getting.
"Ava?" The thought struck her almost violently, her head whipping around to Emily for the answer. The brunette shifted uncomfortably before responding.
"She's alive." Was the first thing she told her. JJ raised an eyebrow, urging her to continue. "She hasn't woken up from surgery yet."
"Oh." JJ seemed almost relieved. The lack of relief on her teammate's faces, however, clued her in that something wasn't right. "How long have we been here?"
"It's been uh," Emily thought, "about four days."
"Four days?!" JJ cried, ignoring the pain in her chest as she tried to sit upright. "I've been asleep for four days?"
"JJ, you went through a lot." Derek tried to comfort her. "After your surgery, they told us it would most likely be a while before you would wake yourself up."
"Well what happened with Volkov? Did you catch her? And what about the men that were down there? Where even are we? How did you-"
"Easy, easy." Emily glanced at JJ's heart monitor as it beeped erratically. "We'll answer all your questions. Just lay back down." The older woman pulled the covers up around JJ as soon as she was settled. "For starters, Volkov is dead. Ava killed her."
"Ava?" JJ struggled with the idea that Ava had to go that far to protect her. As far as she knew, the younger agent had never killed before.
"Yes." Emily nodded slowly. "One of the guys was dead when we got there, the other is in the ICU. We're in Maine and we found you because the brother of the dead guy helped us out."
"Not like he had much of a choice." Morgan added with a scoff. "Bottom line is you and Ava are safe."
"Safe." JJ repeated the word, seemingly unconvinced. "But what's wrong with Ava?"
"She lost a lot of blood on the way in." Emily explained. "Coupled with all the other trauma, they had no choice but to put her in a medically-induced coma."
"A coma?" JJ's voice was low, almost frightened. "I have to see her."
"I really don't think that's a good idea, JJ." Emily winced.
"I realize that I probably don't look like a beauty queen right now but I don't care." JJ threw the covers off of herself and slowly, tried to swing her legs to the side of the bed. The moment she did, her only available hand was pressed firmly against her ribs, her mouth open in a silent scream.
"JJ, that's not it." Emily insisted as she watched her friend try to regain her composure. "Ava doesn't exactly…look like herself right now."
"Emily, I don't exactly look like myself right now." JJ pressed. "I don't care what she looks like. I have to see her. Please." The two stared each other down, neither willing to relent so easily. However, as soon as tears began to appear in the blonde's eyes, Emily knew she had lost.
"Morgan," the older woman sighed, "can you go find a wheelchair please?"
"You can't be-" One look from Emily silenced his argument and sent him on his way. The two women waited in silence, JJ steeling herself for the movements she'd have to make to get into the chair.
"I'm really glad you're here." She found herself saying and Emily's face immediately brightened.
"I'm glad I'm here too." Emily admitted. "Can you just…do me a favor?" JJ nodded adamantly. "Next time you want to see me, just call." JJ couldn't help the laugh that erupted from her chest or the vicious cough that followed immediately after.
"Where's the fun in that?" JJ wheezed, seeing Emily shake her head. Before Morgan could return, another member of the BAU made an appearance.
"Emily, they didn't have blueberry so I got you-" Hotch froze in his tracks once he saw JJ sitting upright and halfway off the bed. "JJ, you're awake."
"Very observant of you, Hotch." The blonde joked, watching the man put down the bag and coffee he had brought so he could hug her.
"How are you feeling?" His concern made her smile but her eyes caught the slightest change in Emily's posture and demeanor as soon as he approached.
"I'll be fine." She told him, a grin appearing on her lips as she saw Hotch hand Emily her coffee. Their fingers grazed and neither one seemed to mind. It was certainly a deviation from their previous "accidental" touches.
"Why does it look like you're getting ready to go for an afternoon stroll?" Her boss raised an eyebrow in her direction. JJ immediately deflected.
"Emily said I could go see Ava." The brunette in question frowned immediately, turning to meet Hotch's gaze as he rounded on her.
"You know they said that's not a good idea." He reminded her.
"I know Aaron, but what am I supposed to do, knock her out?" Emily defended herself. "You know how stubb-"
"Ok, what is going on?" JJ interrupted, lifting her one available hand in the air. "Either my concussion is much more severe than you're letting on or you just called him 'Aaron'…and you called her 'Emily'."
"You know those are our names, right?" Emily jeered, jokingly pressing the back of her hand against JJ's forehead. "Your fever must be worse than they thought." JJ swatted the hand away as gently as she could without hurting herself.
"Very funny." She narrowed her gaze at the two. Wordlessly, Hotch placed an arm around Emily's shoulders, hoping that that would be explanation enough. "Are you two…Did he…finally!" All of JJ's questions seemed to answer themselves as she put everything together. The ferocious blush that overcame both cheeks only made the blonde smiler wider.
"I see you've been updated on the latest in BAU gossip." Morgan announced his return, wheelchair in tow. "JJ, I'd like to introduce you to our Dynamic Deadly Duo."
"Don't call us that." The two responded immediately, shaking their heads at themselves.
"You know Garcia's going to want a list of appropriate nicknames so you might as well accept it." He informed them, rolling the wheelchair as close to JJ as possible. "Your chariot awaits."
"This'll be fun." JJ groaned as she prepared to stand. Emily and Hotch were by her sides immediately, helping her stand as slowly as possible. The look of pain etched on her face made the three cringe, unsure as to whether this would be worth it in the end. As soon as JJ was semi-upright, her breath hitched and her hold on Emily's hand tightened exponentially. No one said anything as they eased her into the wheelchair and waited for her to regain her composure. Emily placed a blanket she had brought from the hotel across JJ's lap and offered her an uneasy look.
"Are you sure you want to do this, JJ?" She asked again. "It'll just upset you."
"Em," JJ sighed, "if it wasn't for Ava, I'd be dead…or worse. I owe it to her to make sure she's well taken care of until she wakes up."
"I know but…" Emily felt Hotch's hand squeeze hers and stopped, knowing that nothing they could say could get the blonde to change her mind. Morgan began wheeling her towards Ava's room only to pass a very taken aback Dr. Howe.
"A-Agent Jareau?!" He cried, hurrying after the group. "What are you doing up? When did you even wake up?"
"About ten minutes ago." JJ extended her hand to the confused doctor. He took it slowly. "Thanks for saving my life. I'll be back in a little."
"Wait, what?" Howe called after her, watching Emily shoot him a shrug before the group of four disappeared around a corner. "Ugh, law enforcement." He shook his head and went back to his rounds.
"I'll come with you." Emily took over JJ's chair as she saw the looks of apprehension on Morgan and Hotch's faces. They had all been to see Ava when she first got out of surgery. While JJ was covered in just as many cuts and bruises, it was difficult for the team to look at Ava and not feel pity. For that reason alone, they refrained from visiting. They knew nothing would piss Ava off more than her entire team feeling sorry for her. Emily, on the other hand, visited the younger agent quite often. She didn't want her to wake up alone and, seeing as she didn't know her before the kidnapping, had no basis of comparison in regards to how she looked. Emily also felt a subtle connection to the younger woman. After all, she knew what it was like to literally sleep with the enemy. While the circumstances were not entirely similar, she felt for the woman. Emily could almost feel JJ's anxiety rise as she reached out and turned the knob. The room was dark, as always, and Emily slowly rolled her friend inside. JJ's gasp was audible as she took in the sight. The twenty-five-year-old was almost completely enveloped by surrounding machines and wires. Her skin had lost all hints of her presumably permanent tan. In its place were blacks, blues, and greens that JJ was sure should only be seen in a rainbow or a child's drawing. A deep blue handprint was visible around the woman's neck as well as on her upper arms. Various cuts adorned her once unmarred face and JJ found herself questioning if Ava was even underneath. The brunette's right arm was wrapped in a similar fashion as hers was and JJ wondered what had caused the injury. Emily remained silent behind her, waiting for her to take it all in before speaking.
"Volkov shot her." She explained. "She also has a lacerated kidney and a whole slew of broken ribs, just like you." JJ swallowed hard.
"How'd she kill her?" The question was low, almost a whisper.
"She stabbed her." Emily replied. "It was right as we were coming in. Volkov turned, giving Ava the opening. She didn't know it was us coming to help."
"Volkov deserved much worse." JJ's voice deepened, her hatred for the woman clear as day. "I only wish I was awake to see it."
"JJ," Emily pulled the brakes on the wheelchair as she went to sit next to her friend, "we know about…about what Volkov did." The blonde didn't move, unsure as to how she should react. What would Ava want? She'd want to not be raped by a sociopath. The thought invaded her mind without her permission, making JJ's breath catch in her throat.
"Whatever she did," JJ cleared her throat, "she did to protect me." The words caused a rush of guilt to flood into her as she realized exactly what they meant.
"No one's questioning that, JJ." Emily promised. "I just…I just figured you should know." Slowly, she saw her friend reach out and take Ava's free hand. JJ brought the hand to her face and held it there, her tears already falling onto the sheets.
"She let that…that thing do God knows what to her," JJ cried, "for me." Emily's heart broke as she watched JJ, once collected and full of light, sob uncontrollably.
"JJ, she made a choice." Emily pressed. "It was her decision to make. Not yours. Don't go blaming yourself for something that happened when you weren't even conscious." JJ tried to speak, to rebut what Emily was saying, but nothing intelligible could come out. All she could do was cry. Emily gave up trying to talk to her, choosing simply sit by her side and place a comforting hand on her knee. It didn't take long for JJ to exhaust herself. All the crying had most certainly caused a great deal of pain and before long, Emily had to draw the line.
"No," JJ demanded as soon as she saw Emily stand, "no, I'm not ready."
"JJ, you have to rest." Emily practically begged. "You can come back and see her when you-"
"No." The blonde said forcefully. "What if she wakes up and no one's here? How would you have liked it if I'd let you wake up alone in Boston?" Emily's step faltered, her heart skipping several beats at the mention. "I can't leave, Emily. The last time we weren't in the same room, it was when…I just can't."
"Alright." Emily relented again, making a quick exit in search of a nurse who could have JJ's bed moved into Ava's room. The moment she stepped out without JJ in tow, the men of the BAU rounded on her, bombarding her with questions. Emily raised a hand slowly, motioning for them to stop. They did and after a moment of silence, Hotch approached her.
"Is she alright?" The Unit Chief asked, concern etched on his face. Emily nodded once. "Are you alright?" The second question was asked in a much softer voice.
"Just tired I suppose." Emily sighed. She'd tell him the truth when there weren't so many eyes on her. "We need to speak to someone about transferring Ava."
"Are we sure she's able to travel that far?" Rossi asked. They all knew that Ava would much rather wake up in D.C than in some strange place but her well-being took precedent.
"That's what we need to find out." Emily said, already off in search of Ava's primary doctor with Hotch half a step behind her.
"What are we going to do about our unwanted guest?" Morgan asked the others. Rossi and Reid exchanged glances before the eldest of the two responded.
"Nothing. We ignore her. It's more than she deserves anyway." The Italian shrugged.
"I doubt Ava would want her ex-fiancée to be the first thing she saw when she woke up anyway." Reid added.
"I still think we should arrest her." Morgan pouted as the three began to follow Emily and Hotch. His teammates shared a grin at the thought.
"Ava can handle her better than our justice system can." Rossi assured them. "Besides, it's not like she can do any more damage now." Reid nodded his agreement but Morgan remained skeptical. While he knew the others didn't like her presence just as much as he did, his gut was telling him not to let Katherine McGrath out of his sight. He was sure that before all this was over, she would find a way to screw his friend over once more. After everything Ava had done for the team, Morgan would be damned if she was hurt again on his watch.
