A/N: Once again, thanks for the reviews! :)

Disclaimer: Same.

Chapter 10 – I'm Stronger Now Then I Ever Was Before

Reid awoke early the next morning and saw that Elle was still sleeping in his arms. After their talk, she had managed to sleep through the night and for that he was thankful. He wanted to get up so that he could stretch, but he did not want to risk waking her. He cradled her head and stared at her peaceful face. As he gently caressed her forehead with his thumb, her eyes fluttered open. "Sorry to wake you," he apologized.

"Its okay," she replied as she buried her face in his dress shirt.

"How are you feeling?" He asked cautiously.

Before she had a chance to answer, there was a light knock on the door. They both looked up to see Dr. Kelly Accardo enter the room. "Good morning," she greeted them with a bright smile. "I hope I didn't wake anyone up."

"No, we were awake," Elle answered as she sat up. Reid decided to give Dr. Accardo room to examine Elle, so he lovingly kissed the hand that he had been holding before he got out of her hospital bed and took a seat in a nearby chair.

"How are you feeling this morning?" Reid smiled as the doctor asked the same question that he had just posed.

"Fine," Elle responded simply.

"How's your head?" She asked as she pulled a small flashlight out of the pocket of her long, white coat. Reid watched carefully as she shone the light in each of Elle's eyes, checking for a concussion.

"I have a headache."

Dr. Accardo nodded. "Well, everything looks good. We can give you something for the pain. Your results will be back this afternoon and after that, I don't see any reason why you can't be discharged today. But in the mean time, how about we get you some breakfast? The food here's not that bad," she laughed pleasantly.

"No thanks," Elle replied with a shake of her head.

"You should eat something," Reid encouraged.

Elle gave him a small smile before she turned back to Dr. Accardo. "Okay, but only because it will make him happy."

Dr. Accardo grinned, "Perfect."

Shortly after, a nurse delivered Elle's breakfast of scrambled eggs, toast, and orange juice.

Reid was about to open his mouth to speak when there was another knock. They had visitors. He smiled as he watched Garcia, Morgan, and JJ appear. He was happy that Elle was being occupied by her friends, but he also wanted to talk to her in private.

"Hey sweetheart," Morgan smiled.

"Hey guys, thanks…you know, for yesterday," Elle spoke awkwardly. She didn't know how to express her gratefulness to her closest friends. Without them, she wouldn't even be lucky enough to be in the hospital. She would have to think of something really special later.

"Don't even mention it," Garcia replied quickly as she sat down on the edge of her hospital bed. "I just bought you this at the gift shop because I thought it was cute," she explained as she handed Elle a small teddy bear.

Elle smiled brightly, "Thanks Garcia." When it came down to it, Garcia was one of the most thoughtful people that any of them had ever met.

"Oh, and we all got you this card." JJ stepped forward and smiled as she handed Elle the card that her, Morgan, Hotch, Garcia, and Gideon had all signed.

Elle stared at the front of the card in confusion. "Congratulations?" She opened the card and a small smile broke through on her face as she read the handwritten messages on the inside and realized that her team was congratulating her and Reid on their pregnancy. "Thanks guys." She may have been shook-up last night, and rightfully so, but she had woken up this morning with a clear head. After their talk last night, she felt even closer to Reid. She loved him and they were having a baby and, no matter what her test results said, that was what mattered. As her therapist had told her when she was nineteen, life goes on. "Really guys, thank you."

"I'm sorry that I told them." Reid's timid confession brought her out of her thoughts.

She turned towards him and smiled. "That's okay, baby. I'm glad you did, now."

"Oh, I was talking to your Mom, and she was stopping by your house to get some of your things, so they should be here soon."

Elle looked up at JJ in confusion. "My Mom is here?"

JJ nodded. "Yeah, she came to see you last night while you were asleep, with your brother."

"Which one?" Elle laughed.

"Vincent," Reid replied with a grimace.

Elle chuckled, "He won't dislike you forever."

"We'll see about that," he replied playfully.

"What's this about Reid?" Morgan teased.

"Nothing, her brother just isn't that fond of me," he explained.

"Must be your bad boy persona," Garcia joked and it caused them all to laugh out loud.

"No, Vincent is just protective," Elle explained.

They all turned towards the door when there was a light knock. A dark-haired head appeared and Elle knew instantly that it was her brother. "Well, speak of the devil and the devil shall appear," she chuckled.

"Hey," Vincent smiled as he stepped into the hospital room.

Her mother rushed past him and threw her arms around Elle. Garcia got up off of the edge of the bed and moved to stand beside JJ and Morgan. The three friends chuckled quietly as Elle's mother fussed over her only daughter while speaking quickly in Spanish.

"Mom, calme," Elle replied in her second language.

"Sorry, miel, how's your head?" She asked as she gently smoothed down Elle's hair.

"It's good. Have you met everyone?"

"Yes," Elle's mother smiled warmly. "You work with such nice people."

Elle smiled at her mother and then her three friends who were standing to the side before turning to her brother, who she was happy to see was not giving the man in her life a glare. "So what's in the bag?" She asked Vincent as she looked at the backpack in his hand.

"Just some clothes for you, and a toothbrush, all that good stuff." He laid the bag down on the floor. "Oh, guess who else is coming down to see you?"

"Who?" Elle asked as she raised one perfectly sculpted eyebrow.

"Rafael," her mother answered excitedly.

A/N: Just want to reiterate the fact that the title of this chapter, pretty much sums up Elle's current feelings about everything. So, we will be introduced to another one of Elle's brothers in the next chapter. And of course, there are the test results. Stay tuned and review! :)