A/N: Thank you all so much for your support on this story! A special thank you to Snuggleup for the guidance! ENJOY!
The first time you get to see your wife, you break down. The medical staff had warned you about her condition, tried to describe to you what she might look like, but nothing could prepare you for what you saw. Of all the words the staff had used: lifeless, pale, sedated, blood- they forgot the one word you saw in your wife right now. They forgot brave. They forgot strong, they forgot JJ.
"Oh Jayje" You whisper as you take her hand in yours, mindful of the IV. You don't try and hold back the tears, you just let it happen. "You look beautiful." You whisper as you stroke her hand, to afraid to touch her head; the last thing you want to do is hurt her.
"Mr. LaMontagne." You turn to see one of the nurses come in. "I just need to check in." She smiles softly and you nod giving permission to do so.
"She's bleeding." You tell the woman as you look at the white gauze that is circling her head.
"Yes. And she will for a bit, it is perfectly normal. We plan on changing the dressings every hour." She explains and you feel a bit of relief.
"When." You pause as the machine beeps. "How long before she can breathe on her own?"
When the nurse drops her gaze and lowers her voice, you dread the words that will come from her. "Agent Jareau is very, very ill, sir. She has a number of concerns right now, and to be honest, the main goal right now is to help alleviate some of the pressure on her brain. Her risk of infection is astronomical right now because of the invasive procedure to her brain. We need to keep her sedated for a bit, to help her body begin to recover."
You look away, at the tube that is secured in place by tape. "Right now, Mr. LaMontagne, I cannot give an accurate time frame for when we will be able to safely extubate her." Her voice is kind and you can tell she has done this numerous times before. "But I can tell you, Dr. Mayer has placed an order for a tube that will allow for Agent Jareau to eat. It's a catheter that is slipped down her nose, and into her stomach."
The reality is starting to hit you, how sick JJ really is. "Will she feel it?" You ask and the nurse immediately shakes her head.
"No, most likely not. "
You lick your lips and suddenly you feel the need to run, to vomit, to escape. "I.." You stand up, and immediately, your legs give out on you and you collapse back into the chair.
The nurse is immediately at your side, rubbing your shoulder as she calls for assistance. "Mr. LaMontagne, are you alright?" She leans down and you see her nametag, Erin.
You nod and a cup of water is handed to you. "Here, drink." She commands.
"We have a son." You tell her, your hands shaking. "A little boy, his momma is everything to him."
Erin nods. "Mr. LaMontagne, I cannot begin to imagine what you are going through."
"Is there any chance this isn't cancer?" Any chance of hope.
"There is always a chance Mr. LaMontagne." She smiles at you but speaks again. "There is always a small chance."
You are about to thank her when another alarm sounds, followed immediately by more and suddenly you watch as your wife suffers another violent seizure. The room is instantly flooded with staff all shouting commands and you feel arms on you, pulling you out of the room, away from your wife.
The last thing you hear before the door slams shut is Erin talking to JJ. Telling her to hang on.
"Hang on, JJ." You whisper. "Please, hang on."