JJ waited nervously, pacing up and down the hallway. The nanny had brought Henry and Jack down at her request and she had broken down when she saw Henry, smiling brightly, absolutely oblivious to what had happened and how close he had been to being an orphan.

On the other side of the hospital, Jack had fallen asleep on Beth's lap as they waited for Hotch to be released from the emergency room. He was fine – suffering only minor concussions, but they had to bandage his bleeding head.

Emily stayed with Rossi and watched Strauss from outside the ward. She was still unconscious, but her condition was stable. Rossi had a bullet wound, but it was nothing he couldn't shake off.

Alex and James were huddled in a corner, holding on to each other as tight as they could. Thankfully, they only suffered a couple of scratches and bruises, but the experience was traumatizing all the same.

Morgan's wrists were still bleeding from the cuts because of the handcuffs. Physically, he was fine. Mentally, however, he was rather shaken up. Elle was in the surgery room and his arms were still stained with her blood.

Couldn't save her the first time. Couldn't save Emily either. Now, dear god, please let her live. Maybe I'm just a jinx to my partners.

Morgan blamed himself quietly as Reid sat in a corner, huddled up with Garcia.

"Hey, she's going to be fine. She's a fighter." Garcia said.

"If I was paying attention that night, if I had taken a shot, none of this would have happened. She's already bent, Garcia. If this doesn't break her, nothing will." Reid whispers, his head all over the place.

Morgana slammed his fist against the wall.

"Damned it, Reid. It's not your fault. It's me."

"Guys, the lights off." Garcia said, pointing at the previously lit sign.

The doctors wheeled Elle out and she was, surprisingly, very conscious.

"This one's your family?"

Morgan nodded.

"She's a pain in the ass." The doctor said before leaving the wheelchair in the hallway.

"He's a pervert! The bullet was far from my damned bra and he insisted on removing it! It's not my fault I slapped him. What a dickhead," Elle shouted whilst pushing herself to her feet.

"Elle Greenaway, you have no idea how much I love you." Morgan said, wrapping his arms around her and squeezing her as tight as he could.

"God damned it, I can't breathe." Elle said jokingly, giving Morgan a quick peck on the cheek. She had forgotten how much she loved him too.

"Hey." Reid said, waving awkwardly.

"C'mon, let's go get some coffee, babygirl. Leave them to talk," Morgan said, wrapping his arm around Garcia's waist and pulling her away.

"Hey." Elle said, all her sassiness disappearing.

He gave his signature smirk and stared silently at her. His gawkiness made her smile a little.

"So, I was thinking, maybe I can apply for a job nearer to you…" Reid started, mumbling on for a few seconds.

"You'll do that for me?"

"Yeah. Is that okay with you?" Reid asked cautiously.

"No, no. You belong here. I'll move back." Elle said slowly, the ends of her mouth curving into a smile. "Also, the last time you saved me. Now I've saved your pretty face, so we're even."

Reid smirked.

Elle paused for a second then leaned forward and kissed Reid gently, on the lips. His heart was racing way above the recommended levels so thank god he was in a hospital.

She suspects it's the first time he's kissed anyone properly. He blushes and his ears turn red as she pulled back.

"I think I love you." Reid said, turning even redder.

Elle chuckled.

"Yeah. I think I love you too."

Hotch smiled the second he saw Beth.

"Hey. I have a question."

"Wow, Aaron, that's nice. The first thing you say when you see me after you nearly died is 'Hey I have a question.'"

"Will you marry me?"

Beth's voice caught in her throat.

"What?"

"I'm asking you to marry me. It's been sometime since Haley's gone and I'm done crying myself to sleep thinking about her. I need to move on. I love you."

"Yeah."

"Yeah what?" he asked, raising his eyebrows.

"Yeah, I'll marry you."

"JJ."

Will called, stepping out of the emergency room.

JJ stirred slightly in her sleep.

"JJ."

She opened her eyes, only to see Will crouched in front of her, smiling.

Her lips flew to his as he wrapped her in a tight embrace.

"Are you okay?"

"Yeah, yeah. Just listen for a minute. I need to apologize to you. I don't know why I left or why I even thought you and Reid had something going on. I'm crazy, I am. I'm a freaking lunatic and a giant asshole and I'm so terribly sorry. I don't tell you enough how much I love you, I don't. I need you to know that you are amazing, you are beautiful, you're the mother of my child and most important, when I see you, my legs go slightly weak and every night I thank god for letting me have you. And I know you're angry but please, I'm begging you, let me come back and make it up to you. I love you, so much."

Tears were streaming down her cheeks.

"I love you too," she said, kissing his forehead.

hello:D wow wow this story is like the longest story i've ever written. anyhow thank you all who are reading 3 much love. review please? and the next chapter is probably going to be the last or second last so let me know what you'll like to happen :D