Author's Note: Hello, everyone.

Here's the next chapter. I'm glad that you enjoyed the fact that Reid beat Müller to death and how the team are surprised that he did that. I also want to thank you all very much for your reviews as well as your patience. I really do appreciate it and I do look forward to hearing from all of you.

This chapter has been re-updated.

Please, do enjoy my story and please review; constructive criticism is always appreciated.

Chapter 17:

- Self-defense is Nature's eldest law.

– John Dryden

The entire team waiting outside both Maddie and Reid's hospitals rooms. Rossi began closing his eyes from the exhaustion for the past two-to-three days; the same thing was happening to Emily. Garcia had just arrived with Morgan, who was keeping her stable as they were walking into the waiting room. While JJ steps outside to take a phone call, Hotch stood between the two doors, waiting for the doctors to give the news on the youngest member and his daughter. Reid was still in surgery, but wondered about Maddie.

One of the doors opened and it was a female doctor in her mid-to-late twenties. "Madison Reid's family."

"You can speak freely with us. We work with her father."

"How is she?"

"She came out with small restraint marks on her wrists and shoulders, some minor bruises, scars and cuts, but she'll be alright. We also did a rape kit and…there were no signs of sexual abuse anywhere. No fluids, no tearings. No nothing."

Each and every one in the team took a huge sigh of relief, especially Morgan, when they heard Maddie wasn't sexually assaulted.

"Are you sure?" Morgan asked, leaving Garcia's side.

"Ran the kit twice and double-checked it twice. The bruises, scars and cuts will heal in time and we recommend keeping her here for the night for observation."

"Hey," JJ walks into the waiting room, noticing everyone looked as if weights were lifted off their shoulders. "So…Will and Henry are on their way. What's the news?"

"Despite minor abuse and injuries, Maddie's going to be fine. And…there was no signs of sexual trauma."

Putting her hand on her heart. "Amen."

"We can go see her?"

"Of course, but try not to stress her too much."

While Hotch went outside to take a call, Rossi checking the status on Reid and Morgan needed time to collect his thoughts, JJ and Emily went in to check on Maddie. They kept stoic, but warm expressions on their faces.

They all just couldn't believe that Maddie was in this condition. They could see the minor cuts she had on her lip, some small bruises, especially the wound on the base of her forehead, which was covered by a big bandage.

"Hey, Maddie," JJ quickly approached to her. "How are you feeling?"

"Tired. Confused. Emotionally and physically. Where's daddy?"

"He got hurt, but he's going to be alright."

"Oh, that's good. Uh…I know what happened. Between him and…"

JJ and Emily looked at each other before looking at Maddie again. "You do?"

"Yeah."

Before anyone can say anything else,

"Hey everybody!"

A young man with short blond hair, dressed in a simple grey hoodie, jeans and sneakers, carrying a big bouquet of colorful flowers. A younger child—which looked a bit older than Maddie—was dressed in a blue T-shirt, jeans and sneakers.

"Henry! Michael!"

"Mom!"

Henry walks up to his mother and gives her a hearty hug before turning over to, "Ms. Prentiss! Little Maddie!"

"Hey, Harry! Mikey!"

"Henry! Michael! Are you growing?"

Shrugging his shoulders, "You can say that. Mom, dad had to drop me off; he was called in last-minute at work. Tells you to give his 'Get wells' to Maddie and Reid," Whispering in JJ's ear, "Meanwhile, did Uncle Spencer really…?"

Folding her arms, "Yeah. He did."

"Dang! Where he is? How's he doing? Is he out of surgery?"

"Not yet, but he should be fine. That's what the doctors said."

"That's good to hear, but I just can't believe that he…"

Henry was interrupted when,

"Hello, my favorite people in the world!" Garcia walks into the room with a bunch of vibrant bags hanging from her arms. "Henry! Michael!"

"Aunt Penny!" He gives her a warm hug and smiled.

"My, are you two getting tall and big. Oh, Maddie!" Garcia walks up to Maddie's bedside and pats on her head. "How are you, little angel?"

"I'll be fine. How's daddy?"

Climbing on the bed after setting her gifts down by her bedside, Garcia brought Maddie into her arms, "Your daddy is going to be just fine. He's one of the strongest, if not the strongest, people ever. He will never leave you."

Prentiss, JJ, Henry and Michael join in. "And we're not going to leave you, either."

Rossi came up to Morgan to find him standing outside between Maddie's and Reid's hospital rooms, with his hands in his pocket.

"Hey."

"Hey."

"Reid's still in surgery. How's Maddie?"

"She seems okay."

"You seems relieved when you heard the doctor say that Maddie wasn't sexually assaulted in any way. I even saw you shaking."

"Wouldn't you?"

"Is that what was bothering you?"

Morgan took a deep breath as he had his back against the wall and crossed his arms. "When I was ten…I saw my father die; I was with him when he was trying to stop a robbery. Maddie's only five and she saw two people die; one of them was a teenage kid. I guess…one of the reasons I'm protective of Maddie is not just because of Müller and what happened to me when I was a kid, but because of…what almost happened."

"To who?"

"Maddie. When she was three years old, Reid told her he was going to take her to the park, but he wasn't feeling too well, so I told him I'd take her. So, when she was playing with the other kids, I just took my eyes off her for a second; just for a second and the next thing I know, she was out of my sight," Morgan could feel himself trembling.

"Then all of a sudden, I hear a whistle go off. Rossi, I saw Maddie running away from this tall guy from the bushes. When I went after him, the local police officers who were there arrested him and when I found Maddie, her arm was broken from trembling down a hill. It turns out that the guy who went up to her was a sex offender on probation. Do I need to tell you what he did? Luckily, that bastard didn't do anything to Maddie."

"You gave Maddie that whistle, didn't you?"

"Yes," Morgan said shakily. "Just to think; if I didn't...I…I don't…"

Putting his hand on his shoulder, "It's good to be protective of the people you care about. But there comes a day when you have to realize that you can't protect them forever. And you don't have to. Maddie will know right from wrong because of us and sooner or later, she'll be able to defend herself from anything and anybody that comes in her way."

"True." He gives Rossi a tiny smile before going into Maddie's room to be with her. Still thinking about Rossi's words, Maddie will have to defend herself someday, but at the same time, he—along with the team—will always be there for her. That's what Maddie's family would want for her.

Please review. P.S.: After I finish this story, I plan on writing a one-shot prequel and sequel; so you'll have to give me some time.