A/N: Hey all so sorry I haven't updated this in like a month as you know I've been working on other stuff haha. Anyways, enjoy!

JJ woke up with the bright sun blaring across her face the next morning, and once she opened her eyes, she looked down to see Isabel still laying in the exact same spot she'd fallen asleep in, buried into JJ's chest. JJ watched her daughter sleep, enjoying her warmth and the soothing sound and feel of her breath. Her daughter's stomach expanded and collapsed as it filled and emptied with oxygen, and she felt it touch her own ribcage ever so slightly when her daughter drew in a deep, peaceful breath. Carefully, she moved her arm just enough so she could glance at her wristwatch. They'd been told the previous night that morning checks were done at 7:30. '7:13' was what JJ's watch read, and she was thankful she had more time to relax and let her daughter rest. Isabel was going to need her strength. JJ began to lightly stroke Isabel's hair and the side of her face as she thought of the long journey they had ahead of themselves. She thought of her little firecracker, sick and weak, with all her hair and muscle gone. Without warning, tears began to stream her face, and quiet yet violent sobs escaped her body, and she held Isabel tighter. Soon enough, Isabel stirred, yet her voice was muffled by JJ's tight grasp. JJ inched ever so slightly away from her daughter,

"Oh baby I'm so sorry I didn't mean to wake you I just…"

"Mommy, why are you crying? It's okay, really." Isabel looked up at her mom, and pulled her even closer, resting her head in the crook of JJ's left shoulder. Isabel calmly let JJ cry, tears stinging her own eyes. Not out of fear, but confusion. She wasn't too sure why JJ was so upset. She knew very well that she was sick, yes, but was scared by JJ's reaction that she wasn't going to be okay. Another five minutes passed before Isabel spoke up,

"Mom, you're scaring me…am I going to die?"

JJ simply looked down at her daughter, her face pale and her hands cold. She hadn't intended to lose her composure so much that she scared Isabel, and she came to the realization that she needed to toughen up and be strong for her daughter. She cleared her throat and looked Isabel straight in the eyes,

"Of course not, bunny. I'm really sorry, I didn't mean to scare you. I promise, you are going to be just fine. You have very good doctors here that will make you all better before you know it, okay?"

Isabel nodded, and JJ pressed a kiss to her forehead. JJ rubbed her eyes and rubbed small circles on Isabel's back. They laid in silence until there was a little knock on the door, and Nurse Long stepped into the room.

"Morning sunshine! Time to get up!"

JJ and Isabel sat up, stretched, and JJ climbed off the bed so Nurse Long could check on Isabel.

"How did she sleep?"

Nurse Long asked JJ as she checked Isabel's vitals.

"Better than I thought she would, honestly."

"That's good. Sweetie how are you feeling?"

Isabel, who tended to be shy around new people, particularly adults, looked at JJ with longing eyes. JJ, who had learned over time to persuade Isabel instead of push, simply gave her a look that said 'go on, tell her'. Isabel looked up at Nurse Long,

"The place where the needle went in my back is a little itchy and really sore, and I'm kind of dizzy."

Nurse Long simply smiled as she reached for a gauze pad, medical tape, and antibiotic,

"Alright sweetie, I'll change the bandage and we'll get you some water, okay?"

Isabel nodded and gave a slight "thank you". JJ smiled at the two of them as Isabel patiently positioned herself and tried not to flinch or wince as a new gauze pad with cold antibiotic ointment was carefully positioned on her lower back. When she was done, Nurse Long left, carefully shutting the door behind herself. Isabel looked at JJ,

"Mom when is Daddy gonna get here?"

JJ looked up from her phone,

"He told me he'd be here right when visiting hours start at 9, so in a little over an hour, okay?"

Isabel nodded, paused for a moment, and spoke up again,

"Is he bringing some of my stuff?"

JJ nodded as she looked through her call log and text messages, all of which were from the members of her team at the BAU. She knew she had to call all of them back, along with her mother and other family members. She wasn't looking forward to explaining everything to everyone over and over and crying constantly, but it had to be done. The longer she waited to tell everyone, the more anxious she would get and the more telling everyone would hurt. JJ began to feel overwhelmed by all the messages on her phone, so she plopped it back in her purse and went back to sit on the bed with Isabel. She had her turn away from her, and she began to pull her hair back into two french pigtail braids, and made light conversation as she worked slowly, slower than she normally did, because she knew it soothed Isabel and they both needed a way to quickly pass the time without getting bored.

Soon enough, Will and Henry came bursting through the door, Isabel's purple Vera Bradley duffle bag slung over Will's shoulder. Will smiled at them and Henry ran and practically threw himself onto the hospital bed as he exclaimed his greetings to his mother and sister. JJ gave him a hug and kiss, then stood to do the same to Will. Will leaned across the bed and gave Isabel a kiss,

"Morning princess, how are you?"

"I'm okay, daddy, thanks." Isabel smiled up at Will, and a few seconds later there was yet another knock on the door. Dr. Robins walked in, Isabel's chart in her hand and her usual smile on her face.

"Good morning everyone! Nice to see you all up and full of energy. I just came to discuss Isabel's tests. Everything is still being processed, but we should know by this afternoon. I'll check back in when I have the results, okay?"

"Thank you, doctor." JJ said with a frank expression on her face. She was nervous more than anything for the results; the type of leukemia Isabel had could vastly change how quickly it was treated.

Xx

The day passed with Will and JJ making phone calls, sending emails, and responding to text messages with teary eyes, broken voices, and worn-down souls. Isabel played with Henry all day, and told him made-up stories of big adventures, love, and happiness. At around three o'clock, that famous knock on the door sounded again. Dr. Robins, Nurse Long, and a male doctor none of them had met or seen before stepped in.

"Mr. and Mrs. Lamontagne, Isabel, this is Dr. Kershaw, he'll be Isabel's oncologist." Dr. Robins said as she gestured to the man. He seemed to be in his late thirties to mid forties, he had light brown hair and striking green eyes, and appeared to be very physically fit. He smiled and shook each of their hands, including Henry's which caused Henry to blush and stand up a little straighter. Dr. Kershaw gestured for everyone to sit. He cleared his throat and looked at them,

"Well, I have probably the closest thing to good news that we can have. Isabel, you have stage two Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia, or ALL. It is the most common type of leukemia in children, and it is very, very treatable, and survival rates are high."

At least JJ had some sort of odds in her favor.