A/N: Thanks for the reviews and alerts folks! Big up to klcm and sangreal7 for encouraging me on this chapter! :)

Disclaimer: I don't own Criminal Minds

Chapter 6

After pacing the hospital corridor for far too long – so long she was sure that she must have left an imprint on the floor – JJ finally sagged into one of the rickety waiting room chairs with a sigh. They were all still keyed up from the rescue and added to that was the nerves that were running high as they waited for any news on Prentiss. She'd been rushed into surgery the second she had been wheeled in and they had yet to hear anything. JJ couldn't help her mind from pouring back over the rescue as she tortured herself with what she could have done to get them to her that little bit faster. Maybe getting her to the hospital that little bit sooner would have made all the difference in her current condition.

She and Garcia had pulled over when they reached the rendezvous point where the rest of the team and some police officers were stationed minutes before the rest were preparing to move in. Hotch had merely nodded at her as she took her weapon from her holster, grabbed a spare vest and suited up. There was going to be no arguing with her and he knew when to pick his battles plus having someone like JJ with them would be a great asset if Jo Hallens was still in the building.

And so, with Garcia waiting in the back of one of the SUVs with a local cop the rest of them had discussed the plan of attack: they would split off into two groups, one half taking the back the other going in the front.

"Keep as silent as possible." Hotch repeated, "we don't want him to know we're coming until we're already on top of him."

A round of nods met his words as they all slipped into their roles. They had a job to do.

JJ was following behind Rossi and Reid as they quickly and quietly made their way through the undergrowth, heading up towards the house. The quiet was broken by sudden shouting from inside.

"YOU RUINED EVERYTHING." Almost echoed in the quiet area and with that the agents all broke into a run to cover the last few hundred metres as fast as possible. It was a matter of necessity that they make it inside quickly.

Sprinting to the back door Rossi motioned for her to take the other side and after a swift push of the unlocked door the three of them flew inside, guns at the ready as they scoped the kitchen area.

"RUN!" They heard Emily scream and they moved towards her voice, making their way into the next room along. A moment later there was banging as someone came flying down the stairs and the three agents moved towards the noise fearlessly.

A young girl that they had all come to know as Jo Hallens came careering down the stairs and within seconds the man they knew to be Gary Fraser charged after her.

"STOP! Mr Fraser, stay where you are and put your hands on your head." Rossi commanded.

The man stilled for a second, and that second allowed Jo to make it safely to Morgan and Hotch who had appeared from the next room.

However, he didn't stay still for long and the sound of a gunshot echoed in the stair well before Fraser fell. JJ was charging past him before he hit the floor.

Emily was up there and she needed their help.

When Garcia took her hand in hers, giving it a soft squeeze, it pulled JJ from her thoughts and immediately flashed her back to a time when Garcia and Emily had been in opposite positions; one holding a hand, comforting while the other lay on a stainless steel table being operated on. It never got any easier, that was for sure. The waiting and the not knowing was still as utterly terrifying as it had been then.

This time they were all plagued by self questioning doubts; what if I'd figured it out sooner? What if I'd only just taken another look at those maps? What if I hadn't gone straight to that room?

What if we'd been too late?

That was the main question that was plaguing them. Although they knew, from the paramedics that had attended the scene, that they had just gotten there in the nick of time, Emily still wasn't out of the woods yet. With several broken or cracked ribs, a punctured lung, severe bruising and a head wound, as well as possible internal bleeding, she still had a lot to fight through. So that question remained though slightly changed: what if we were too late, still?

Taking a look around, the strain of the situation was obvious on each of them. Reid was staring at the floor, so many emotions flying through his dark eyes. Morgan was leaning against the wall rigidly, his persona of the "macho man" not reaching his eyes. Hotch was sitting back in one of the chairs, his tie loosened and his face weary with worry. Rossi had taken up pacing up and down the hall now and she was certain there would be indents there before the end of the night.

Feeling a soft squeeze of her hand, JJ looked up from the spot she had been staring at on the floor to meet Garcia's eyes.

"She'll pull through, Jayje. She's strong and she's a fighter; she's not gonna let something like that get her down." Garcia said with feeling as her eyes shone with unshed tears.

"I know she will. She's tough." She replied, squeezing back before pulling the redhead into a warm hug. They clung to each other, holding on for dear life when the vibrating of JJ's phone sounded harsh and loud in the otherwise silent room. She cursed herself for laying it down on the table in the first place.

Garcia pulled back with a watery smile as she spotted the caller ID; "You better get that Jayje, your man'll need the dets."

"Thanks." She mouthed as she stood up and made her way outside to take her call.

"Cheri, tell me what's happening?" The familiar southern accented voice sounded in her ear.

"We got her, she's safe." She replied, taking a deep breath to try and calm the racing emotions down.

"That's good, Jen, real good." He said softly as he sighed in relief.

"Yeah." She replied so very softly that he knew she was fighting back tears. "She's in surgery. She has a nasty head wound and they said something about a punctured lung and possible internal bleeding but I lost track after that..."

"She's a fighter, Jen; remember that; she'll be awake in no time and trying to get out of that hospital bed." He replied and was rewarded with a soft, somewhat watery, chuckle.

"Yeah." She said somewhat happier. "You're right, she will be. How's my little guy doing?" She asked, moving the subject away from the stressful and worrying situation and on to happier things instead. Anything to distract herself from seeing the images of Emily's bound and badly beaten body and she succumbed to the dark over and over again in her mind's eye.

"He's been great, playing away and watching his cartoons." Will replied, taking her lead.

There was some muffled conversation on the other end before two words melted her heart; "Hi Momma." It was just what she needed at that moment.

"Hey baby, you being good for Daddy?"

"Uh huh. I always being good for daddy." Came the soft reply, punctuated by a giggle and JJ was sucked away into one of her personal bubbles of calm.

"Good boy, now give the phone back to daddy and I'll see you soon. Love you, slugger."

"Lobe you, Mommy." He replied in what JJ thought was the cutest little voice and just like that the tears that had been threatening to fall burst free from her lashes and began to follow well worn paths down her cheeks.

"Jayje?" Will asked concernedly when he was handed back the phone.

"I'm fine, Will, honest I'm fine." She replied automatically.

"No, you're not. But you will be. On you go, get back in there and keep us updated; I don't think it's the best place for Henry to be right now, we'll wait until you can give us any more news."

"Good idea, Mr Mom." She joked, trying to ease the tension she was feeling. It lowered slightly at the sound of his throaty laugh.

"I've gotta go." She said, hanging up suddenly as she spotted Hotch coming towards her, his stoic expression giving nothing away.

"What is it Hotch?" She asked, almost afraid of what he was going to say.

"The doctors need to speak to us." He said flatly and at JJ's imploring look her continued, "I wish I knew more JJ but that's all they've said."

"They need to talk to us." She repeated to herself as she followed Hotch's retreating back. "That could still be good news." She muttered under her breath, hoping to convince herself.

"I'm so very sorry to have kept you all waiting." Dr. Michaels said as he entered the small waiting room to face the six agents. It was one of the most intimidating rooms he'd ever walked into, despite how obviously upset they all were. They cut an impressive shape no matter how emotional, it seemed.

"It's fine doctor." JJ said, standing up to shake the proffered hand, "What can you tell us?" She asked very professionally, using 'Agent Jareau' as a shield to try and soften the blow of whatever news he was going to offer, from his body language alone JJ was already well past the worried stage.

"I'm really sorry but we couldn't save her." He said with compassion. As Garcia began sobbing and Reid swiped harshly at his cheeks as tears pooled in his eyes, Morgan had to leave the room, pushing past the doctor and they all flinched at the bang that followed as he took out his frustration on the wall. Hotch and Rossi's expressions grew graver and JJ tried with all her might to keep listening to the explanation that Dr Michaels was giving.

"...she fought hard..." Of course she did, it's Emily; she couldn't give up without a fight.

"...we lost her a few times..." JJ's breathing began to hitch at his words.

"...we thought she was in the clear..." The first tears began to fall silently down her cheeks at how close a call it could have been.

"...she coded once she was moved to the ICU..."

"...couldn't be revived. I'm so very sorry for your loss."It was then that she broke completely, falling back into the, equally distraught, arms of Garcia.

This wasn't supposed to happen. Even though they had each known that this was a possibility at the end of it all, none of them had really entertained the idea, instead it had been pushed to the furthest recesses of their brains. And now it was being thrust harshly into the light and with it came the tears, the anger and the helplessness.

After what felt like an eternity of tears later, JJ broke free of the embrace – that had become more of a group hug when Morgan and Reid were pulled in by Garcia – and turned to face Dr Michaels.

"Can we see her?" She almost whispered.

"I don't think that's a good idea."

"At least let one of us see her, we're not going to leave until someone has so you may as well give in now." Rossi said, stepping forward between JJ and Dr Michaels.

"Only one person and I'd like to reiterate that it's not a good idea."

"We know what you said Doctor," Rossi interrupted the man, "now please, just take me to her."

About twenty minutes later, after many tried and failed attempts by the rest of them to go and see Emily, Rossi appeared back; his eyes hollow and his expression sad.

He shook his head softly, "You don't need to see that. Honestly, it's–"

Hotch clamped a hand down on his shoulder, stopping him from attempting to find the words.

A soft tap at the door caused them all to turn in tandem.

"I'm really sorry." Will said as he entered with Henry balanced on his hip, nodding in thanks to Hotch for alerting him to the situation as he headed for JJ.

The second he made it within a steps distance away she had curled her head under his neck, seeking warmth and comfort. He pulled her towards him with his free hand as he pressed a kiss to her temple.

"It's going to be alright, Jay-Jay." He whispered into her golden hair. "It's going to be alright."

There are things we don't want to happen but have to accept...things we don't want to know but have to learn...people we can't live without but have to let go...

a/n #2: *hides behind the couch* um...yeah...don't kill me please...thanks...lol