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Morgan was with Henry when Rossi entered the room. The younger man was sitting next to the little boy's bed and talking quietly to him. "…you wake up; we'll build a snowman right outside your house. I'll bet you're a master with snow."

"Hey," Rossi said.

Morgan looked up and smiled, but it didn't reach his eyes, which were tired and full of pain. "No change," he said in the same quiet tone.

Rossi noticed that Morgan's large hand engulfed Henry's tiny hand. He'd never thought that Morgan was capable of such gentleness when he'd first met him. Then he'd learned to his delight that the younger man was capable of tenderness, especially with kids.

"Why don't you take a break?"

Morgan nodded and let go of Henry's hand. He rubbed the hand over his head and down over his face. "I could use some coffee."

"Why don't you get some for both of us? I think Will and JJ will be back soon."

Morgan stood up, stretched and sighed. "I wish JJ'd stay away for a few more hours. She's exhausted."

Rossi gave him a sad little smile. "She's a mother. You can't keep her away."

Morgan frowned and nodded. "I know, but it doesn't stop me from wishing she'd get more rest."

Rossi put a hand on his shoulder. "Thank God for mothers, huh."

"Yeah, I guess you're right." Morgan picked up his leather jacket and pulled it on over a dark green, long sleeved pull over.

"I'm going to go get coffee and see if I can find Garcia."

Rossi waited for Morgan to leave before he sat down and took a good look at Henry. He didn't spend much time with him and, in truth; he thought Henry might be a little afraid of him. A couple of years ago, it wouldn't have bothered him, but now, after Carolyn's death - well he had the urge to try and have some kind of relationship with Henry as he had with Jack.

"Hi Henry, its David. I just wanted to tell you that we're all anxious for you to wake up."

Henry lay on his back, with his arms straight out at his sides. He looked like he was just sleeping and would waken up at anytime. Something scraped at Rossi's gut, something he hadn't felt since they'd come to tell him and Carolyn that James was gone after one short day of life.

"You know," he began. "I had a little boy once. He died the same day he was born and it hurt so badly. It was like cutting out a part of me when I had to say goodbye. I always wondered what kind of man he'd grow into. I imagined that he'd be in law enforcement like me, or maybe a soldier, or even a doctor. Then I'd think that it didn't matter what he wanted to be as long as he was happy. I know your mom and dad want the same thing for you. They want you to grow up to be a good, strong, kind man with lots of friends and a family of your own."

He stopped, he was getting a little heavy for a three-year-old boy, he thought with a wry smile. Still, it didn't change the fact that he wished for his little boy, even more now that Carolyn was gone.

"You should wake up." He continued. "Everyone wants to see you awake and happy with your family. Your mom and dad miss you very much. They love you."

His eyes began to sting a little. He blinked hard, trying to keep back tears that came too easily these days.

"You know Christmas is almost here, Henry. I'll bet you can't wait for Santa to come. You have to wake up though."

Henry didn't move, so David took one of his hands as Morgan had done and waited. He'd hope, and he'd pray, that God would see fit to bring this precious child back to his parents.


Jack hurried into his room and dived into his toy box. He pulled out a pad of writing paper and a blue crayon. He knelt right on the floor, stuck his tongue between his teeth and began to print out words on the paper.

"Jack," Hotch walked up to the doorway. "What are you doing?"

Jack pushed the paper and crayon under the bed. "You can't see daddy."

Hotch came in and sat down on the edge of Jack's bed. "What's wrong buddy?"

Jack frowned then climbed up on the bed next to his dad. "Is Henry going to wake up soon? I really like playing with him."

Hotch tucked Jack under his arm. "I know you do. I'm not sure when Henry will wake up. We'll just have to be patient and see."

"Daddy, what's a coma?"

Hotch thought for a moment because he'd always tried to be honest with his son. "A coma is like a really deep sleep for people that are sick or badly hurt. It helps them to get better. Do you remember last year when you had the flu, Aunt Jessica gave you the medicine, and you fell asleep? You felt better when you woke up."

Jack nodded, and then he looked up at Hotch with his innocent dark eyes. "Daddy, why didn't mommy have a coma?"

Hotch covered his surprise from years of long practice on the job. "Mommy was hurt too badly Jack. Sometimes the doctors can't help us because we're too sick or hurt."

"Why can't the doctors help sometimes?" Jack asked as Hotch stroked a hand over his head and through his hair.

"I don't know… Doctors study for a long time to help others, but there are things they just can't fix."

Jack frowned and then brightened up a little. "I'm going to be a doctor when I grow up and I'll know how to fix everyone."

Hotch smiled down at him and thought about his brother for a minute, and their argument over his choice of careers. "You can be anything you want."

"I want to write a note to Santa." Jack announced.

"Why?"

"I want to ask him to make Henry wake up for Christmas, instead of giving me presents."

Hotch pulled his son into his lap and hugged him close. "I think that's the most generous thing you've ever done. I'm very proud of you. Should I help you?"

"Is it okay if I do it by myself?" Jack asked.

"It's more than okay. It's getting close to bedtime though, so don't take too long."

"Can I leave the letter in the living room by the Christmas tree?"

"Yes. Should I leave you alone?" Hotch asked.

Jack nodded. "Yes daddy."

"Okay," he set Jack on his feet. "Come tell me when you're finished."


Emily put aside a magazine she hadn't been reading and looked over at Reid. He was just sitting there staring at the doorway to the waiting room as he'd been doing for the last two hours. His fingers were fidgeting with the edge of his dark blue sweater and one of his legs jiggled up and down, up and down. He didn't appear to see the doorway, but something else, far away from this place.

She sighed and went over to where he sat and took the chair next to him. She reached over and took the hand that fidgeted with his sleeve. He resisted at first trying to yank his hand from her grasp, but she didn't let him go. He finally looked over at her and his leg stopped jiggling.

"Hey," she said softly. "Why don't you go home and get some rest. You're exhausted."

"I'm okay," he squeezed her hand.

"You've got dark circles under your eyes someone could get lost in."

"I'm fine." He insisted, but he winced against the light when he looked up.

"You've got another one of your headaches." She said, searching his face with eyes that he couldn't hide from even if he tried.

"It doesn't matter."

"Henry's going to be alright."

"You don't know that," he argued.

"I do because it's Christmas Eve."

She gestured to the tree in the corner that someone had put up in the last day or so. The lights that wound around it twinkled brightly red, green and white. The star at the top had lights too and they twinkled in time with the rest of the tree decorations.

"I don't see what the date has to do with anything." He countered.

"Because Christmas is a time for miracles."

"I don't know if I believe that." He pulled his hand from her grasp and rose to walk to the tree. "All I can think about is hard facts, and statistics I've read. There's no room in my head for anything else."

"I don't believe that." She got up and walked to his side. "You're simply mistaking your heart for your head."

She touched his arm. He looked over at her with surprise in his eyes. "I don't understand."

"Don't try to make what happened to Henry logical or a matter of facts. Just do what you want to do and hope and believe in the best."

She squeezed his hand again. "This is the time of year for miracles. Just put aside your logical way of thinking and feel with your heart."

"I don't know if I can do that." He admitted.

"That's okay," she said. "Just take it one step at a time."


Morgan met Garcia coming out of the chapel. She threw herself into his arms and began to sob. "Hey baby girl." He soothed rubbing a hand down her back.

"I can't believe this is happening. I know everything happens for a reason Derek. I have to believe it or nothing makes any sense. I just don't know how to get through this. We've had such a bad year with losing JJ and Emily and now they're back and this happens."

"Penelope," Derek pushed her away gently and cupped her face in his hands. "Your faith astounds me. Don't give up now."

She smiled through her tears. Her golden hair, pulled up on her head with a festive red bow warmed his heart. Even her despair over Henry hadn't dampened her spirit or her color. It made him hope that everything was going to be all right.

"You're right… I guess I'm just tired."

He clamped down on the urge to say something about Kevin running out on her, but it wasn't the time. He'd make sure she got rest and when this was over, then maybe she'd see that Kevin wasn't the man for her.

"Come on sweetness. I'm going to take you home."

"But what if Henry wakes up?"

"You need your rest." He shook a finger at her. "I'm taking you out of here."

She leaned against him and wrapped an arm around his waist. "I can't argue with you." She said wearily. "I'm so tired. I just want to get some sleep."

He patted her shoulder. "I thought so. Let me take you home."


Will held tightly to JJ's hand as they entered Henry's room. The little girl that had been there the day before was gone. At least someone's child got to go home for the holidays, he thought bitterly. His eyes shifted to his little boy who lay as though he were sleeping and might wake up at any moment. Oh, if only he would do just that.

JJ let go of his hand and hurried over the Henry's bed. "Hey baby boy," she said, leaning down to kiss his forehead. "Daddy and I are here. We're not going to leave again until you wake up."

Will joined her at the other side of the bed and took his son's little hand. "Hey buddy, Christmas is almost here. Please wake up."

Tears began to meander down JJ's face as she watched Henry's face. Will could see fear, but also determination, in her eyes. It was almost as though she could will her son back to this world. If anyone could do it, he was sure that his Jennifer could do it.

"Please open your eyes little man." Will pleaded as he sat on the edge of the bed.

Henry didn't move or make any sign that he heard his parents. JJ sat down on the chair and held onto his hand. "Please buddy," she said. "Please wake up for mommy."

Hours passed. The doctor came and went and nurses came in to check on Henry, to turn him and to assure them that nothing had changed in their little boy's condition.

Will was about to stand up and go see if he could find some coffee when JJ reached for hand gripping it like iron. "Will!" She said urgently. "I thought I saw him move."