A/N: Here's another chapter. I hope you all like it!

Special thanks to HotchRocks, 2Addicted2YourLove, jenny crum, Christiangirl, lovecm, GottaLoveCM and waiyeex90!

I don't own criminal minds!

Chapter 69: Patience

The hospital had become undeniably stuffy. It was the place of tragedy and loss, and at the moment tragedy seemed to be at the top of the list. Hotch had made it. His injuries were minor in comparison to JJ's wounds. They didn't know a lot yet, but the waiting room had slowly begun to fill itself up with people, each and every one of them staying silent as they waited for the news that could make or break some of their lives.

Emily had been staring down at the floor as she sat next to Owen, who had showed up just a few minutes earlier. She just couldn't express any words. Her friend was in surgery and no one knew if she was even still alive. It was fearful, and Emily didn't know what would happen if JJ didn't make it. The unknown terrified her.

On the other side of the wall, Adrian was pacing through the hallway of the hospital. It had been four hours since she went into surgery, and in those few hours he had taken responsibility of Christian Ward's transfer to a secure facility. But after that he could only think about JJ. The thought of her dying was unbearable. She had an entire life left to live with someone who was waiting for her. He knew better than anyone how much JJ had longed to break free from her past and live a normal life. And unlike a lot of people he actually wanted that for her. She just deserved it, and he'd never stop her from being happy even if he had to give up his own happiness in return.

''Adrian?'' a concerned voice sounded from the other end of the hallway.

He immediately turned around with a face that expressed only tragedy. ''Jill,'' he whispered, his voice barely audible as his boss approached him.

''Has there been any news?'' Jill asked when she stopped right in front of him.

''I managed to get some information from one of the nurses…'' he stumbled. He didn't really want to say or repeat the nurses' words. ''They don't know if she's going to make it.''

''You should sit down!'' Jill suggested as she began to notice more than just concern in Adrian. He looked completely panicked. ''Adrian?''

''Don't! Don't even say it!'' he begged. ''I know, okay.''

Jill took a step back to give him some space, knowing he was about to fall apart right in front of her. His behavior and attitude was enough evidence for Jill to know how much he truly cared for JJ. He had crossed the thin line of professionalism and personal involvement. But it was the first time she had seen it in him. It wasn't like him to risk his job for anyone, but he had done it for JJ, which only spoke volumes about the kind of person she was.

''Ward is going to pay for this, Adrian. He's going to stay in our custody away from the CIA.'' Jill encouraged, knowing he was on the road of revenge and Ward was his very first step. ''You'll get what you want, and JJ is going to make it.''

''I need some air.'' he breathed out before he turned away from Jill and began to walk away very quickly. He walked the long hallway of the hospital in the hopes to clear his head, but after just a few seconds he walked past a hospital room and he almost immediately recognized the occupant in the bed. The dark-haired man was surrounded by a few people and yet Adrian still walked inside. His curiosity had taken over and he couldn't help himself. So he cleared his throat as all eyes turned to him.

''Hey,'' he greeted anxiously. ''I am JJ's boss and I was wondering if agent Hotchner and I could have a moment alone.''

Hotch looked up at the stranger, feeling an immediate dagger to his heart as he stared up at him from the hospital bed. He was one of the people who had been spending time with JJ while he had searching for her, but most of all missing her more than anything. None of it had been fair, and now he had no idea what was happening to JJ. ''It's okay.'' Hotch assured as he nodded to his team. He watched as they slowly walked out of the room. Once the door was closed he pushed himself to sit up in the bed. His body was still aching, but it wasn't that bad since the painkillers had taken affect. ''Do you know anything about JJ?'' he asked desperately.

''No, I am sorry.'' he whispered while he began to approach the bed slowly and hesitantly. ''I am Adrian Ivankov.'' he introduced, extending his hand politely.

Hotch took his hand and shook it briefly. ''Aaron Hotchner.'' he mumbled. ''How has she been?''

Adrian sat down in the chair next to bed, ready to tell Hotch about the past few months and about JJ. He was probably curious to hear how she had been holding up. ''JJ has been good, I think.'' he began carefully, hoping not show his own feelings as he talked about the blonde. ''The first few months she recovered from her injuries and then she trained with me to get stronger.'' he continued on. ''But in all those months, I knew she felt like someone was missing from her life. She missed you terribly and the only reason she worked so hard was to get to see you again. She never gave up.''

A tear rolled down Hotch's cheek. ''That sounds like, JJ.''

Adrian reached for his back pocket and took out something that belonged to Hotch, or JJ. It belonged to both of them and was a significant sign of their love. He put the necklace in his hand and cleared his throat. ''I have something that belongs to JJ.'' he said as he held the necklace with engagement ring up in front of Hotch. ''JJ wore it around her neck and never took it off.''

Hotch's hand began to shake as he reached for the necklace. His heart was beating in his chest and he couldn't believe that JJ had been wearing it all that time. It meant the world to him and showed him that JJ had been thinking about him as much as he thought about her. It was a confirmation of their love. ''Thank you.''

''No problem. I just returned it to whom it rightfully belongs.'' he responded kindly. ''You're very lucky to have her in your life.'' he said as he rose from his chair. He began to walk towards the door but stopped when Hotch asked him a shocking question.

''You fell for her, didn't you?'' Hotch asked easily.

Adrian turned around and froze in his tracks. No one had asked him the question like that before but deep down he already knew the very simple answer. Yes, he had. But he didn't like to admit it to anyone. To him love was a sign of weakness. And falling for JJ had been something he never imagined happening, but he did fall for her and now she was close to death and he didn't know what to do. ''She's pretty amazing, you know.'' he began. ''But my feelings for her don't matter. It's very clear that she loves you and that she needs you.'' he went on. ''You deserve her, and I never will.'' he explained and with those last words he turned around and walked out of the hospital room. Outside the room the team was still waiting to go back inside to see Hotch. He gave them a friendly nod and began to walk away, his heart still heavy, but he had been selfless because all he wanted was for JJ to be happy. And what made her happy was Aaron Hotchner. He was never going to take that away from her no matter what he felt for her. Her happiness was more important to him.

He was making his way back to the waiting room when he suddenly saw that a doctor was approaching Emily and Jill in the waiting room. So he began running quickly until he reached the waiting room and he hurried inside.

''Surgery was touch and go for a while but Jennifer was incredibly strong. We were able to repair the injuries that the knife caused and stop the bleeding from the beatings. She was very fortunate that no organs or arteries were hit. Someone can go to see her in a few hours when she wakes up from surgery.'' the doctor explained calmly. ''She'll be walking out of the hospital in a few days.''

''Thank you.'' Emily croaked out in disbelief. She then turned to Jill and Adrian as her body began to relax. Everyone made it out alive and that was the best news possible. ''I am going to give Hotch the good news.''

''Of course.'' Adrian agreed as he stepped aside to let her pass him by. ''I guess we can get back to work.''

''You should say goodbye first, Adrian. You and I both know that you will probably never see her again after this.'' Jill reminded him. ''Take your time, okay.''

''I will.'' he breathed out as he began to mentally prepare himself to say goodbye to JJ. And Jill was right, he'd probably never see her again. He had risked everything when he came to help JJ in DC, but it was worth it. But now he had to say goodbye and it didn't feel right. It hurt him. Yet he still began to make his way through the hospital to wait for JJ to wake up and say his final words before he'd go back to being a ghost, someone that didn't technically exist. His life would go back to chasing his own demons and bringing down the people Christian Ward was working for. That was all that his life came down to. But that day, for just a few hours, he had the chance to sit beside someone he loved before he had to say goodbye.

So he made his way through the hospital and quickly found JJ's room. Once he peaked around the corner, he felt his heart sped up. Her eyes were closed and her neck and face were covered in bruises. She look completely vulnerable and he didn't like it. He stopped next to the bed and leaned down to gently put a kiss on her forehead. He then proceeded to sit down in the chair next to the bed as he held onto her hand, waiting until she'd wake up. He was sitting close to bed and only held onto her hand as he began to replay the time he had gotten to spent with her in London. At first there had been a lot of tension between them. He had made it clear to Jill that he didn't believe that JJ would fit in at SOD, but once he began to train her his opinion about JJ began to change. She was stronger and more dedicated to the job than he ever imagined. And then a friendship began to blossom between them, and in the end Adrian knew JJ was his best friend. She had been there for him, even though he had never revealed much about himself. Having her closely was enough for him to feel sane and when he realized he couldn't imagine her not being around, he realized his feelings were stronger than he believed at first. Admitting it wasn't making him feel a lot better, but sitting beside her bed and holding her hand was enough. JJ was alive. Those three words were enough for him when he would say goodbye to her. He knew she was going to be happy. She was going to move on with her life and forget her life at the CIA. She'd finally be able to live a completely normal alive, away from danger and death. She would be finally free.