'Cause what you get in life you take it
You've gotta hold on and make it last
They say good things come to those who wait
But it's life that goes so fast.

Bon Jovi

She'd been sitting there for an eternity. Had she actually paid attention to her watch, she would have seen that she'd been at the hospital for nearly 72 hours straight. Time, she supposed, was irrelevant when you were sitting by someone's bedside.

Members of the BAU team had been in and out, they were taking turns standing watch in the waiting room. She'd heard Derek Morgan tell Dr. Reid that Strauss gave them all a week's leave. Morgan further went on to say that he wasn't going back until Hotch woke up, regardless of what Strauss said.

Carrie wasn't going anywhere either. She'd left his room sparingly, afraid to leave him alone. It wasn't that she didn't trust the nursing staff; it was that she was afraid he'd wake and she wouldn't be there. She knew it would sound terribly lame if she said it out loud, but she wanted to be the first person he saw when he opened his eyes.

They'd been fighting, barely speaking for the week before he was shot, mostly due to her foolish pride. Sure, he'd said some pretty low things, but he did apologize, he did explain his frustration, and he truly seemed to feel remorseful. She should have forgiven him. Aunt Evie had uttered those words to her many times but Carrie turned a deaf ear. Now, as she sat there, watching him laying still in the hospital bed, she wished she could take it all back.

Reaching out, she took his hand in hers, brought it to her lips and kissed it before setting it back onto the bed, something she'd done many times in the past 72 hours.

"Come on, Aaron," she quietly said, "Please wake up."

The doctors and nurses said that he'd be able to hear everything she said to him, despite the coma and that, he might just remember it. She'd been making light conversation with him, when she spoke, but mostly just sitting quietly by his side, watching hours of bad television and talking to whomever else walked into the room.

There was a lot she wanted to say to him and it was bubbling so close to the surface that she felt as if she would burst. Although she'd prefer to say it while he was awake and able to respond finally decided to take a chance and let it out.

"I screwed up, Darlin'," she drawled, "I let my stupid pride get in the way. I can hold a grudge like nobody's business and I guess I proved it to you. Sure, what you said was wrong and it hurt. But, dammit, I just let it fester. I should've accepted your apology. I know you didn't mean it."

She felt herself filling with emotion, "I love you, Aaron. I have since the first night we spent together. You are everything I have ever wanted in a man and I swear, if you just wake up, I will make the past two weeks up to you. I don't know how, but I will."

A sob worked its way out, followed by another, and then another. She'd nearly broke down a couple of times, but managed to hold it back. Instead, she kept smiling and trying to be positive. But the truth was, she was tired of holding back, tired of smiling, she was just plain tired. This time, she made no effort to stop herself. Instead, she gave in to the tears that had been fighting to get out.

Tears flowing freely, she rested her forehead on the bed and clutched his hand. To her surprise, she felt his hand tighten around hers in return. Jerking her head up she looked at his hand, and was thrilled to see that it wasn't a figment of her imagination, his fingers were actually gripping her hand.

"Stop crying…" he mumbled.

"I'm sorry," she smiled, "But you've had me awfully worried."

With a drowsy smile, he said, "You're speaking to me now?"

"I am," she softly replied, as he opened his eyes and blinked in the bright light of the room. "If you still want me to."

'Of course I do," he mumbled, closing his eyes again.

He lay still for a few moments, just long enough to frighten her.

"Aaron?"

Forcing his eyes open, he said, "Tired."

"Of course you are. You just rest, we'll talk later."

"Kay…."

As he closed his eyes again, Carrie pressed her lips to his forehead and left a soft kiss, "I love you."

"Me too," was his reply as he faded back off into unconsciousness.

XXXXX

She was beyond exhausted and it was written plainly on her features. Having spent most of the past week at the hospital, waiting and watching as Aaron slowly rejoined the world of the living. Each time he woke up, it was for a bit longer, he seemed a bit stronger, but then, just as she hoped he was back for good, he slipped off again. The doctors said it was his body's way of devoting all of it's energy to healing the internal injuries he'd suffered at Walter Becker's hands. She took their word for it, but it didn't make her feel any better.

Tired of watching her Aunt run changes of clothes into her at the hospital, David Rossi physically escorted her out of the ICU and drove her back to her home, demanding tat she showered and get changed. He suggested sleep too, but that wasn't happening. Not until Aaron was out of the woods.

At her insistence, Dave waited down stairs with Aunt Evie, while she showered and pulled on her favorite pair of jeans and a pair of loafers. As she reached into the closet to pull out a button front shirt, her eyes settled on the basket of folded laundry that she'd forgotten to put away the day before the Walter Becker's last stand.

There, on the top, was the Georgetown t shirt she'd stolen from Aaron in Cape Cod. She smiled, remembering how tickled he was by the way she made it her own and insisted that she keep it. She slipped it on, knowing it would put a smile on his face.

After pulling her hair up into a high pony tail and forcing herself to walk past her make up table, she went back downstairs to gather Dave and have him take her back to the hospital

XXXXX

Carrie and Rossi returned to the ICU to find the rest of the BAU team gathered in the waiting room. The relief on their faces told her that Aaron was still alive and well. She'd gotten to know the team fairly well in the past couple of weeks and was touched by their devotion to Aaron. They were a tight knit group and, she was happy to discover, genuinely good and caring people. They'd taken to looking out for her welfare during the past week, often bringing her coffee, or lunch, or even just making her go outside and enjoy the sunshine for a few minutes. Aaron was lucky to have such a good group.

As much as she wanted to run back in and see him, she stayed and chatted with them a bit, before excusing herself to go in and see him. Taking a deep breath and pasting on a smile, she pushed open the door and walked in. He was still hooked up to all of the tubes and wires, but his color had improved. As she studied the bruises on his face, he opened his eyes and gave her a smile.

With a smile of her own she said, "Hello there."

"That's my shirt," he said, his voice a bit stronger than last time they spoke.

"You gave it to me."

"Looks better on you," he shrugged, holding out his hand, "You can come closer. Bullet wounds aren't contagious."

She stepped to him, took his hand in hers, then leaned over and softly kissed his bruised lips.

"You can do better than that," he challenged.

"I don't want to hurt you."

"I can take it," he said, as she kissed him a bit harder.

"How do you feel?"

He shrugged again, "Like someone shot me in the shoulder then kicked the shit out of me."

"Then you're feeling about like you should," she mused, her eyes filling with tears.

"Hey," he softly said, his free hand caressing her cheek. "I told you, no tears."

"I'm sorry," she sniffed, trying to hold back the tears, "I nearly lost you twice, I'm allowed to cry."

"Twice?"

"Once due to Walter Becker and once due to my stupid pride."

"You didn't lose me, Carrie."

"No, but I came close," she whispered, a lone tear rolling down her cheek.

He wiped it away with his thumb, "I'm not going anywhere."

"Standing there, watching as you were negotiating with Becker…I was so proud of you…so awed by you. I couldn't believe that someone so good and so…right would ever want anything to do with me."

Clearly embarrassed, he looked away, "I'm no super hero."

She turned his face back towards her and with a smile said, "But you are, don't you see? You wear a suit and tie instead of a cape and tights, but you still battle evil every day."

His swollen lips twisted into the best wry smile they could muster, "So you're the president of my fan club now?"

"Yeah, something like that." Her smile faded and she spoke quietly, "I've been a total ass. Watching you lay there, I realized that I've wasted so much time. Time we'll never get back. If I'd have lost you…"

"Stop. Just stop…"

"But…"

He cut her off with a shake of his head. "We both made mistakes. I'm the one who started the argument."

"But you manned up and apologized."

"Carrie…"

"I will make this up to you, Aaron. Some way, some how…"

"Wait til I feel better," he slyly said, "I'll hold you to it."

Carrie had to laugh at his sly leer, "What are you thinking?"

"You…me…naked. We can fill in the rest of the details later."

Carrie laughed again, filled with the buoyancy of someone who's lived through a terrible ordeal and realized that life can be good again. She leaned over and kissed him, pulling back slightly to study his face.

"Do you have any idea how much I love you?" he seriously asked.

With an impish smile she countered, "Bet I love you more."

"Impossible," he chuckled.

"Possible."

"Just shut up and kiss me," he replied, capturing her lips with his.

.Author's Note: Thank you so much to Susan, Annika, and my new "Hotch Buddy" Anita! You guys keep me going and without your thoughts, suggestions, and support - I would be staring at a blank word doc!!! Thank you to my readers! Your reviews are the cream in my coffee!!