AN: Woah, it's been almost a year since I updated this one! I am going to try and finish this one before any of my others. The story Will tells is from "Bedtime for Baby Star" by Lauren Tinling. Please review!
Your mind races as you walk back into the ICU room, now with a clean set of clothes and a desperately needed shower. You make sure you look damn presentable when JJ sees you for the first time, the last thing she needs to worry about is you.
And so, on shaky legs, you stumble into your wife's ICU room, the home she has lived in for far too long now.
You don't bother to hide the few tears that trail down your cheek as you take the seat to her.
"JJ?" You softly take her hand in hers, looking up to say a silent thank you to Hotch. "JJ, can you open your eyes for me?" You whisper, lovingly stroking your hand down her pale cheek. Hotch had said she had woken up, but as you called her name again, you begin to think it might have been a horrible dream.
She is still on the ventilator, still connected to all those damn tubes, but she is still here with you.
"C'mon babe, open them for me." You find yourself begging, you need her so much right now. You are not sure you can take another hit, and if JJ really hadn't opened her eyes… God, you don't want to think on it.
So you sit by her side, and speak to her, and whisper and sing to her. And slowly, you witness as she seems to respond to your voice.
You look up at Hotch and see him nod at you, to keep going, that JJ is there. And so you do, and then you have a brilliant idea and you laugh as you begin to speak.
"Once there was a baby star. He lived up near the sun. And every night at bedtime, that baby star wanted to have some fun." You bow your head as you recite the book from memory.
He would shine and shine, and fall and shoot, and twinkle oh so bright. And he said, "Mommy, I'll run away if you make me say goodnight." You whisper in her ear, remembering the times you and JJ would take turns reading the story to your little boy.
And then his mommy kissed him on his sparkly nose and said, "No matter where you go, no matter where you are, no matter how big you grow and even if you stray far, I'll love you forever, because you'll always be my baby star."(1)
You grasp her hand in yours and prepare yourself to look up, and when you do, the most beautiful set of blue eyes are staring back at you. They are full of pain, of hurt and confusion, but when they meet yours, you can see all that melt away. She trusts you to keep her safe, and you promise you always will- you took the vows of sickness and health, and cancer is not scaring you away.
Not today. Not ever.
"Bedtime for Baby Star" by Lauren Tinling.