AN: This [very] early post is a thank you for the many reviews I got. They surprised me and I thank you!

Same warnings as usual, enjoy!

Dr. Tom Barton stood in the viewing area of the surgical suite with nothing but a piece of glass separating him from the surgeons trying to keep Agent Reid alive. It had been a touch and go process to say the least that had the young agent flat lining once already. Tom sighed and shifted from one foot to the other. The kid looked nearly half Tom's age and yet Agent Reid had taken a bullet meant for him.

Tom knew abdominal gunshot wounds were tricky; sometimes they do surprisingly little damage and sometimes they make it highly difficult, if not impossible, to repair the damage. The power such a small metal object had over the human body was so far beyond Tom that he stopped trying to make sense of it. Either way, one thing was clear: this particular gunshot wound was of the damaging sort.

Tom had spent some time with his son after the incident, but he couldn't help to think non-stop about the condition of his savior. So, Jeffery had agreed to come to the hospital and wait in the break room until Tom knew the fate of Agent Reid. By the time Tom had arrived Agent Reid had already been in surgery for half an hour and that was two hours ago.

The man had truly been extraordinary. He had a mind unlike anything Tom had ever seen but he also looked rather world-weary for a man so young. It was no doubt a byproduct of the horrendous job he was so good at. The whole team had been amazing, of course, the most elite of Federal Bureau and they had certainly proven themselves, especially Agent Reid, fit to hold such a title.

Tom continued to watch and, though not a surgeon, he realized the surgery was coming to an end. The head surgeon, a friend of Tom's by the name of Henry Maltow, was conducting the rest of them as the Agent's incisions were sewn up. This was the moment of truth; would Dr. Reid recover or was the damage to extensive.

Tom observed as Henry stepped away from the surgical table while the rest finished up the job. Once Henry was done shedding his surgeon's attire, he carefully slipped into the viewing room with Tom.

"Tom," Henry greeted with a tone of surprise. "Don't usually see you guys up here. How are things? Jeffery okay?"

Tom nodded with a slight smile. "Yes, everything is alright now. The Feds were brought in and they solved the case, though it was a close call."

"Oh yeah?" Henry asked, crossing his arms and no doubt wanting to hear this story.

"Yeah, turns out the guy was never after Jeffery, he was after me. It was a man whose son was brought in, DOA, and held me responsible for the death," Tom explained before taking a deep breath.

"So, while Jeffery and all of the cops and feds were up at the high school, the guy showed up at my house and tried to shoot me, but the only agent who stayed with me, that man in there," Tom said, gesturing to surgical table that held Agent Reid, "took the bullet and then shot the guy. So, Jeffery and I are safe and I was hoping you could say the same about Agent Reid in there."

"That kid in there took a bullet for you?" Henry asked with wide eyes. "He looks no older than twenty!"

"Yeah, these guys are the real deal. Called Profilers and they're supposed to be the best the FBI has," Tom explained. "I guess that sometimes means unorthodox choices. So, what's the news?"

Henry sighed, no doubt exhausted from a nearly three hour surgery. "He wouldn't stop bleeding for the longest time. We even lost him for a minute there but we managed to find and close up every little knick that bullet made and trust me, there were many."

"So he'll make it?"

Henry half nodded. "He certainly has a good chance but he's got one hell of a recovery ahead of him. He'll be drinking his food for the next month or so, not to mention the pain. But, as long as he can pull through that, he'll make a full recovery."

Tom nodded and felt a great amount of relief fill him. The young man was going to make it after all.

"Thanks, Henry," Tom said then shook his friend's hand. "I might actually be able to sleep tonight."

"After almost getting shot?" Henry asked skeptically. "Well, you're braver than I am. I probably would've wet myself on the spot and I certainly can't imagine jumping in front of a bullet for someone, no offence."

Tom laughed at the comment, remembering that Henry was actually pretty young himself. "Wait until you get a wife and kids, then see how you think."

Henry chuckled at this. "Wife and kids? Not too sure about that, man," he laughed before stretching. "Well, they're going to move him to recovery shortly if you want to stay with him and explain his condition to everyone."

"Yeah," Tom said, thinking it was only fair for him to see Dr. Reid all the way through. Besides, he was sure the people waiting for news on Dr. Reid would be his coworkers that Tom had grown to know and respect. "That would be great. Thanks again, Henry."

"Not a problem," he said as he made his way out the small room.

Tom turned back to observe the progress on Dr. Reid and knew that they were putting the finishing touches on the man. He decided now was as good a time as any to go talk to the rest of the agents while they finished up with their injured friend.

With one last glance at Agent Reid, Tom made his way out of the viewing room and towards the surgical waiting room. He frowned and stopped, however, when he saw that there was no one there. He glanced around the area, just in case they were standing elsewhere, but he still saw nobody. Tom couldn't imagine that none of those Agents cared about the well being of their colleague but either way. No one was there. Not knowing what else to do, Dr. Barton began to make his way back towards Dr. Reid, decided if no one else was going to be there for the young man, he would be.

"Dr. Barton," he heard someone call. Tom turned around and saw that Shiree, the front desk clerk, was the one addressing him. "I have a message for you, Doctor."

"You were checking on that FBI Agent that was shot, right?"

"Yes," Tom replied, curious as to where this was going. "Yes, I was. "

"Oh, well another FBI Agent came up here and said something about she was the only agent still here because there was another important case, but she needed to stay down there with another agent who was injured and is in recovery…? I don't know the full story exactly, but she seemed very distressed that she couldn't be with both of them so, because there was nothing she could do until after Agent Reid was out of surgery, I told her I'd get you go to Recovery and find her. I hope that's alright."

Tom, feeling better about the situation though slightly confused about there being another case so soon after his own, shook his head. "No, that's perfect Shiree. I was trying to find them now to let them know."

"Well?" Shiree said, then continued when it was apparent Tom wasn't sure what she was talking about. "How is he?"

"Oh!" Tom said. "Well, it was a rough surgery but Dr. Maltow said he has a good chance of making a full recovery."

Shiree smiled. "Oh, that's wonderful news! Well, like I said, the agent who came up here is waiting with another agent in Recovery, and his name is," she trailed off in order to read a paper with a name scratched on it, "Agent Aaron Hotchner."

Hotchner? Tom didn't remember meeting a Hotchner. Perhaps he was the topic of the emergency that made the female agent, Agent Prentiss, leave in the middle of Tom's case.

"Thanks, Shiree." Tom said, about to turn and head towards the elevator but stopped. "Oh, could you do me a favor? They should be taking Agent Reid to Recovery soon, so if could page me the room number they'll be taking him to, that would be awesome."

"I can do that!" she said cheerfully.

"Thank you," Tom repeated and then made his way to Recovery on the first floor. Once he got there, he was about to ask where this Agent Hotchner was when he saw several familiar Agents walking into the building at the same time. With them, however, was a distraught looking woman and a young boy. Tom hung back for a moment and watched as the distressed woman entered the room that no doubt housed Agent Hotchner, and soon after, Agent Prentiss emerged.

"Doctor Barton," she said after she saw him. At the moment, the rest of the agents turned to face him as well. "Do you have any news on Agent Reid?"

Tom, now surrounded by the rest of the agents, began to speak. "Agent Reid recently got out of surgery and should be taken here to Recovery soon. While I didn't operate on him, I observed most of the surgery and was told by his surgeon, Dr. Maltow that it was a very rough surgery as the bullet did a great amount of damage to his abdomen. Despite this, they were able to stop the bleeding and Dr. Maltow said that as long as he can handle the recovery, he'll make a full recovery."

"What exactly is the recovery process?" one of the agents (Tom was sure his name was Rossi) asked.

"Basically, certain natural processes, such as eating, moving and using the restroom may become more difficult," Tom explained gently. "For example, he will likely not be allowed to eat solid food for at least a month. A doctor will explain this more thoroughly, of course, but just to give you a general idea. He will also have to find constructive ways to handle the pain in addition to the painkillers."

Tom watched as the agents looked at each other as though they knew something he didn't, but he didn't pry.

"So, that's about all I have to tell you right now," Tom said, but just as he did, he felt his beeper go off. He took it out of its holder and read the message. "Oh, and he's being moved to recovery now and will be going to room 112, which should be right across from Agent Hotchner's room."

This news seemed to relieve them the most and he waited as they all exchanged thanks before starting to disperse. Agent Prentiss, however, stayed behind.

"I owe you an apology," she said to Tom, which took him off guard. "I not only left in the middle of your case, but I also left you and Agent Reid alone. Please understand though, it was only because I knew something had happened to our team leader and had I not left, something very easily could have happened to his family. Normally, I would never perform a job in such a way and had I thought for one second the unsub was going to come to your house, I would not have left. That was an error in my judgment."

Tom shook his head. "Please, there's no need to apologize. I was upset when I found out you had left but Agent Reid was highly efficient in solving the case and even saving my life. Besides, I realize you were in a difficult position between two colleagues and, I'm assuming, friends."

Agent Prentiss nodded. "I appreciate your understanding," she said sincerely. "I just… I'm so happy he's alright. I would've felt so… so terrible had anything happened to either one of you."

"I'm glad he's alright, too," Tom replied truthfully. "Trust me. Now, another doctor will be taking over, but I do plan to come and thank Agent Reid personally when he's awake."

"He'll appreciate that," Agent Prentiss said before she smiled. "It will embarrass him, but he'll appreciate it."

"Well, that's good," Tom said. "Thanks again for your help on my case and I will see you soon, I'm sure."

Agent Prentiss smiled and accepted his offer to shake hands. Tom, satisfied that Agent Reid was safe and would be surrounded by people who cared about him when he woke up, decided to return to his son.

EN: Jimmy Buffett was amazing!! Getting ready to go see the Goo Goo Dolls!!! Ha this will be my fourth concert ever!!