"Now, the next stop for the three of you is the hospital," Lewis told Hotch, Lynn, and Jacob. "We need to get you checked out and make sure you are all healthy enough to travel back to the mainland with us."
"The doctors have been alerted and are waiting for you," Garcia held up her cell phone. "And, when we get there, it should be just about time for me to call Jessica." She smiled excitedly at Hotch, who grinned back.
"So, let's get going," Morgan held up a set of keys.
As the SUVs approached the hospital, Lynn began panicking. "What is this place?" she gasped as the building came into view. "It is huge!"
"This is the local hospital," Hotch explained as they pulled under the portico. "It's where the doctors are who are going to examine us and make sure we are healthy enough to travel. And they are also going to check on the baby and make sure he or she is healthy." He gave her hand a reassuring squeeze.
"It's nothing to worry about," JJ reached over the seatback to pat her on the shoulder. "It's just a precaution. And, if it will make you feel better, I'll go with you and make sure you understand everything that is going on."
"What about 751 – Aaron – and Jacob?" Lynn demanded. "Aren't we all going to be together?"
"Hotch needs to talk with Jessica and then he will be seeing his own doctor," JJ explained. "And Spence has volunteered to oversee Jacob's examination. Neither of you have ever been vaccinated and you are both going to need a number of immunizations."
"Immunizations?" Lynn questioned fearfully. "What are those and why do we need them?"
"Why don't we wait for Spence and Jacob to catch up with us?" JJ suggested gently as they climbed out of the vehicle. "I'm sure he can explain it much better than I can."
"Hotch – " Garcia called out to him as she excitedly waved her cell phone in the air. "Hotch - have Jessica for you!"
~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~
"This place smells funny," Lynn wrinkled up her nose as they walked into the lobby of the hospital.
"I know," Morgan agreed. "Every hospital I have ever been in has that same sanitized, overly clean odor to it."
"Aaron?" Lynn looked around.
"He's outside talking with Jessica on Garcia's cell phone," Lewis explained. "He'll be joining you as soon as he is done."
"Hotchner!" a clerk dressed in green scrubs and carrying a clipboard walked into the lobby calling out the name. "Hotchner!"
"Over here," JJ waved to the man.
"We have Mrs. Hotchner and her son, Jacob, here," she explained to the clerk when he had walked over. "Mr. Hotchner will be joining us shortly."
"Well, I need Mrs. Hotchner to come this way," the clerk replied. "We need to get started on the paperwork for the three of them."
"Don't worry, I'll help you," JJ assured Lynn as they followed the clerk down the hallway. "We'll be through this in no time."
~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~
"What do you mean you don't know your birthdates?" the clerk demanded a short time later as they sat in his office. "And, you don't have a social security number either?" He glared at Lynn as though he thought she was lying.
"I don't even know what that is!" Lynn protested. "And even if I did, why should I tell you?"
"As I said before, Damien," JJ had read the clerk's nametag. "Mrs. Hotchner and her son have been living off the grid for quite some time. They are now going to be moving back to the mainland and need to get medical clearance. They also have never been immunized so they are going to need the initial round of shots."
"And how am I supposed to handle that?" Damien demanded. "I can't just start a record on your say so. Besides, if the child has never been immunized that amounts to child neglect. I need to call Child Services." He settled back into his chair and smirked at JJ.
"You were told that these patients are VIPs, weren't you?" JJ asked quietly.
"Of course," Damien snapped at her. "I was taken away from my regular duties for this. And, I'll probably end up having to work overtime, too! All for a couple of hippie dippies who can't be bothered to follow the law! What's the big deal – Do they know the president or something?"
"JJ ?!" Lynn wailed. "What is he talking about?" She clutched Jacob closer to her.
"Don't worry," JJ reassured her. "I can handle this."
"Just so we're clear," she looked Damien in the eye. "You have been warned." She stood up, walked to the door of the office, and opened it.
"MATT!" she yelled down the hallway. "MATT CRUZ!"
"JJ, what's wrong?" Cruz came charging down the hallway. "Is everyone okay?" He looked into the office and immediately noticed that Lynn was close to tears with Jacob cowering in her arms.
"This – person – " JJ indicated Damien. "Doesn't think that Mrs. Hotchner and her son deserve the respect due guests in this hospital, not to mention the dependents of a federal agent. And, he thinks he is going to call Child Services because of a lack of vaccinations."
"Damien," Cruz could also read the man's nametag. "I will have you know that Mrs. Hotchner and her son are the dependents of a decorated federal agent. And, as such, you need to show them some respect by getting them processed as quickly as possible while upsetting them as little as possible." He took out his State Department credentials and waved them in the man's face. "Does this convince you?"
"And, unless you want to personally explain to the head of this hospital why all of its accreditations are undergoing a review by the Federal Government, I would get started immediately." The glare he gave the man was equal to one of Hotch's best efforts.
"Yes, Sir," Damien's eyes were bugging out of his head. "I think I can just bypass most of these questions for the time being." He began pushing buttons on his keyboard. "As long as I get the agent's information later I should be okay."
"Oh, you'll get it," Cruz assured him. "Agent Hotchner will be on his way down here shortly."