A/N: I am so sorry for the delay. This is the last chapter!
I watch as she sits on the sand near the water, taking in everything that potentially awaits her. It's ironic that death can be so beautiful, so welcoming, so merciful. It's everything that JJ's life is not right now. And I think she knows that.
She has been sitting for close to an hour now, just silently watching the waves crash up against the shore. I can only guess she is debating what to do.
"Hi JJ," I sit beside her and agree with.. well with myself not to pester her too much.
"Hi Mike," She smiles at me and looks me in the eye. "How am I supposed to decide?" She asks and for a brief moment I am ecstatic that she hasn't made her choice yet.
"I can't answer that JJ, I never got the choice" Yes, my words are meant as a guilt trip for her.
"I have a son." She whispers. "I have a husband and a team, but I am not going to ever be who I was, am I?"
I shake my head, "No, probably not. Your injuries are very severe." I warn, not wanting to scare her but wanting her to know so she can make that informed decision.
"What.." She begins but I have to interrupt her.
"JJ, you know what happened, you are educated enough to know what the potential complications might be." I watch as she looks away and immediately want to smack myself for my tone. "I'm sorry, JJ. I just want you to be aware, I want you to make the best choice for you."
"What would you choose?"
I pause, it's not something I expected her to ask me. What would I choose? "I never got to say goodbye.. and it is something I regret everyday. I wish I could hold my children's hands, kiss them one more time- I'd give up everything I ever had, every degree, every honor, everything for just one more second with them. My wife, I never told her I love you one more time, I simply walked out the door, in too much of a hurry to say those three words. I say it every time I can now, but it is not the same." I look down and take her hand in my own. "I am not supposed to influence you in anyway, but I am going to, and I will deal with whatever consequences come my way." I pause and look away for a brief second. "JJ, it only seems like its been just a few hours to you, the time you've spent here; in reality, you've been here for a week now." and with that I stand up and take something from her that'll come back to bite me, I am sure. I take her choice and choose for her.
"And now, it's time to back."
She came too close to choosing to stay here, and I refused to let that happen, so before she could utter the words, I sent her back. That was two weeks ago, and today- today I am watching as she slowly opens her big blue eyes for the first time in a month.
Agent Hotchner is with her and immediately alerts the medical staff, his agent has defied the odds and woken from a month long coma.
She is frightened at first, but after hearing her friend's voice, the fear immediately dies away and she falls back to sleep.
She is up and sitting the next day, just the act of being awake seems to zap her energy.
When physical therapy starts, I am right by her side when she is told she will never walk again, that her stab wound was too severe. I hug her as she cries to herself, I place a hand on Hotch's shoulder as he hears the news.
I am there when she is discharged from the hospital only to go to a rehab hospital, I watch as she yells and screams and cries at the counselors, at the therapists.
I am there, six months later, when she takes one tiny step. I cry with her this time, just tears of happiness.
I am there when she returns to the field, when she celebrates the birth of her twins, when she becomes a grandmother.
I am there her final night, when she passes peacefully and at an old age. I am there when she says the words that make everything worthwhile.
"Mike," She smiles and hugs me as I take her to the "other side." "Mike, thank you."
"You're welcome kiddo. Let's go see your family."
The End.
