Monday Blues chapter 8

AN:- Thank you again for your kind reviews. I've had a request to bring Emily Prentiss into a chapter. Just curious to see if anyone else would like to see her? Next two chapters are plotted but I've an idea to bring her in a chapter if people would like?

Confidence was in very much in short supply these days, especially for David Rossi who was sat by his friend's bedside. He and JJ had taken turns in looking after Jack and trying to keep the youngster as entertained and as happy as they could. With his Aunt under orders to rest he didn't have anyone to look after him. They hadn't let him see his dad yet, afraid of what seeing him looking so hurt and vulnerable would do to a boy who hero worshiped his father.

Two days had passed since the emergency life saving surgery, and fourteen hours since they'd eased back on the sedation but as yet he'd shown no signs of waking. All the initial medical testing had shown that he seemed to be recovering as well as expected, they were still concerned about excess bleeding since abdominal surgery was always quite complex, but for now at least they were happy with his progress. The problem that remained was that he had coded for some time before they'd gotten him back. No one knew how much damage had been done in that time. The doctors were obviously concerned and kept coming in to test if there was any level of consciousness from there patient. Much to Rossi's dismay so far there was none.

They'd advised if things didn't change for the better he would be booked in for a CT scan and they would assess any possible brain damage as best they could. Ideally they'd prefer him to wake up and make assessments that way.

Garcia had been in and out constantly for two days adding as much colour to the barren hospital room as she thought she could get away with. She brought in pictures of Jack and the team as well as managing to chase down a picture of Sean. She made sure he was always surrounded by people that were alive and waiting for him to come back to them. During her turn at sitting with their boss she'd chat away to him as if he was awake and paying full attention as well as adorning the wall opposite with pictures that Jack and Henry and drawn for him.

The rest of the team took their rotations sitting with him and while they may not have brought in as much colour and photos as Garcia had they each tried in their own way to bring him back. JJ would tell stories of what Jack was doing at home and how well he was being behaved but always seemed a little sad that he still couldn't see daddy. Morgan and Reid would sit together sometimes playing music and sometimes just joking, teasing each other or telling jokes at Hotch's expense. Things they knew they'd never normally get away with had Hotch been fully awake. Blake was a little more reserved but equally as determined to take her turn at trying to bring Hotch back to them. She'd talk work, cases that had passed through and anything that was going on in the office. Being a workaholic she hoped it would stir something in him, even unconscious as he was.

Rossi spent the most time sat with him, he had closeness with Hotch that not many people got to enjoy with the man who spent so much time either working or caring for his son he had little time for anything else. He'd help the Hotchner boys out when they were off work and very much enjoyed being part of the family unit and getting to see Aaron, the father. There was a whole different side to him when he was with his son, a side that relaxed and let the stress of work fade away. His eyes lit up whenever his young son was around.

"What do you think Aaron? Is Jack the answer here?" Rossi asked of his friend as he watched his chest gently rise and fall.

The idea of introducing Jack to such a frightening state as seeing his dad like this wasn't something he really wanted to do. Every time he thought about he pushed it to one side as a bad idea. But the longer this unconscious state went on the more Jack seemed to pop into his mind as the last thing to try.

He glanced around the room at all the things in there and glanced back at Aaron, pictures where all well and good but if he couldn't see them how could he know they were there for him. He ran a hand over his face and reached out placing his hands over Aarons mindful of the IV line.

"I know you wouldn't want him seeing his superhero like this but... What else can we do?"

Glancing at the time he realised he was due to go pick Jack up and take the youngster home, and one of the others would come in to take over the shift. He'd lost track of who came when, he was confident the team had that all in hand.

"Okay my friend, you leave me with no other option. I want you awake before those doctors start thinking brain damage." He stood up feeling his back crack with being sat in the same position for so long. "And I want to see the back of these uncomfortable chairs."

He patted the man's hand as stepped outside the room with cell phone in hand, his finger paused over JJ's name in a last moment of thought before he hit the call button.

"JJ I know I'm due to pick Jack up in half an hour, can you do me a favour and bring him by the hospital? Yeah... I know what we thought but... I think we owe it to them both to try this. I'll talk to Jack make sure he understands what's happening before we go in... Thanks JJ. See you soon."

He ended the call standing in the door way again watching Aaron who was oblivious to the dilemma Dave was going through. He had about twenty minutes or so before Jack would be arriving, so he sent a quick message to Jess to let her know the plan. He knew she wouldn't mind, she was just as worried that Aaron wasn't going to make it, and partly blamed herself for what happened so was more than eager to try anything.

"I hope I'm making the right call for you my friend."

TBC...