"J.J. . . . J.J. Are you all right?"
J.J.'s eyes fluttered open and she could hear Hotch calling her name.
"We can't try to move you until the paramedics get here."
J.J. looked over to Gideon. He was groaning. They had been hit on the driver side. Gideon was hunched over the steering column. She looked behind Gideon to see Reid in the back seat. His head was flung forward and there was blood dripping from his forehead. Portions of the metal seemed to be crushing against his lean frame. Morgan was talking to Reid, trying to wake him. Prentiss was speaking to Gideon assuring them that they would be fine.
The paramedics started with J.J. The car had hit on the other side of the SUV so she was the most accessible. They placed a collar around her neck to keep it immobilized until they could get a series of x-rays. As they started to move her from the car she gasped in pain.
"My wrist."
"It's o.k, miss" one of the paramedics said. "It's common for people to automatically put their hands in front of them when they are trying to protect themselves. You may have hyperextend your wrist pushing against the dashboard. We'll check you out at the hospital."
Hotch watched as they loaded J.J. into the ambulance.
"Prentiss. Go with her. Morgan and I will wait for Gideon and Reid."
"Yes sir."
The firefighters were working on pulling off the door on Reid's side. With J.J. moved from the car, another set a paramedics began to attend to Gideon. He was barely conscious. Completely disoriented. He was talking softly. It appeared as though he was giving a profile of the unsub. Hotchner wasn't sure if it was the consummate workaholic in Gideon or if he was purposefully trying to keep himself awake, his mind focused.
As they started to move Gideon he began to moan. Soon after, he lost consciousness.
Hotchner wanted to tell Morgan to go with Gideon. He was worried about Reid. But, he knew Morgan wouldn't leave Reid, even if ordered to do so. Hotchner climbed into the ambulance with Gideon still thinking about Reid and Morgan.
Morgan saw Spencer as the little brother he never had. Morgan had spent time talking to him about his nightmares, his insecurities and even women - a subject that still perplexed Reid. Spencer has missed a lot, growing up faster than he needed to. He was at university and caring for his mother when most boys were just starting to notice the fairer sex. It was safe to say, women still scared Reid. He was uncomfortable with them, not knowing what to do or say around them. He could talk to a group of detectives about an unsub but had no idea what to say to women.
Hotchner remembered how Gideon had given Reid tickets to a Redskins game so that he could ask J.J. out with him. Reid had a hopeless crush on the effervescent blonde. Neither spoke of the date. Hotchner wondered what had happened. He was removed from those thoughts when the ambulance came to a stop. They were at the hospital.