A/N: Please note that other triggering content (self-harm and suicide will be discussed) throughout the story. Please be forewarned and take precautions if these are troubling for you.

A/N: Violence towards a primary character is mentioned/discussed in this chapter. Please be forewarned if that is troubling for you.

A/N: Thank you to everyone who has continued to read, post comments, and offer feedback on this story, as well as put up with this ridiculously long delay in this story. Sorry about that. Life happened and things just got in the way of me working on this story for a while. Hopefully I will be able to get this story finished now, but please let me know that you are all still interested in the story. Comment on it and let me know what you think, and let me know if you are still interested so I will know to you all are still wanting me to finish this one. Thanks! If you do, I will update the rest of it as frequently as possible.

Thank you again for everyone who continues to comment on this story…The positive reviews definitely help keep me and my stubborn muse motivated…so keep them coming!

***More drama and more secrets revealed***

I hope you enjoy this latest chapter…Now on with the show!

"I'm scared to love you…but I'm even more scared of walking away." ~ Unknown

"You're not afraid to love you're just afraid of not being loved." ~ Unknown

For What It's Worth

"Em…is something wrong?" JJ asks…hesitation clear in her voice.

"Uh…no. Sorry…I just zoned out for a sec. I was just thinking about what you asked and I realized that we've never been on a real, like…'official' date." I answer softly, deflecting her question.

"Really? You were thinking about the two of us going an 'official' date?" JJ askes, quirking her eyebrows.

"Well, yeah. I mean…I don't have anything specific in mind. And, clearly it will have to wait until I am out of this place. But maybe you can think about what you would want to do for that or where you would want to go once I am a little better. We can get work on planning everything a little later…once you get back from seeing Henry tonight." I reply…again not directly answering her.

"Sure, that sounds okay. But I noticed you didn't answer the question I asked you." JJ replies…her voice trailing off to barely above a whisper, "unless you don't want to answer."

"No…that's not it." I firmly reply. That was kind of what I was doing, but I don't want admit that to her. I don't want to hurt her feelings or make her think I'm not interested in being with her. It's just complicated right now since I don't know how this surgery is going to turn out.

"I guess we are dating, even though we haven't actually been on an 'official' date. So saying I'm your girlfriend would make sense." I finally relent and answer. I don't want to hurt her feelings and given how many times we've kissed recently, and kissed in front of others, saying anything else would've seemed odd at this point.

JJ lifts her head, eyes going wider with a little twinkle in them "Really? Oh thank God. I was afraid you'd say no…or that you weren't ready or something. You won't regret this…I promise. I'm so happy right now…" JJ leans over and softly kisses my lips again…this time, lingering and sucking on my bottom lip a little. She playfully licks my bottom lip with her tongue, opening my mouth a little; she slides her tongue inside my mouth.

I start a short dance with my tongue, lightly dancing my tongue with hers, darting my tongue inside of her mouth, caressing her soft tongue with mine, hearing her moan quietly into the kiss. She lightly traces down the side of my face with her fingertips, carefully avoiding all of the injuries there, and cups my chin in her hand, helping to deepen the kiss slightly. Finally pulling back after a few minutes, I look up to see the most beautiful sparkling blue eyes and gorgeous smile looking back at me. She is nearly laying on the hospital bed with me, one hand laying off to the side of my head propping her up so she doesn't have her full weight pressed against me, the other hand with a slight quiver still cupping my chin, and the fast-paced rise and fall of her chest signaling her fast breathing and rapid heartbeat.

"That was some kiss, Em. Maybe we should do that again." The smile on JJ's face radiating in every direction.

I hear a soft knock on the door, followed by a low clearing of someone's throat. "Sorry ladies…I didn't mean to intrude." Dr. Hayes quietly says.

I take a quick glance over to the clock on the wall and notice that it is nearly 3:30. I knew Dr. Hayes should be coming down before too long…but I got a little distracted with JJ and didn't see how late it had gotten until just now. It's time for them to take me down to surgery. I need to make sure that JJ stays gone until I get back so she's not wandering around here pacing and worrying about me. I also don't want her to find out what happened until after the surgery is done. She'll be pissed I didn't tell her about the surgery, but I don't want her to worry. If I can just get this done and over with before anyone else finds out; hopefully everything will go smoothly and she won't be too mad. And most importantly, hopefully that surgeon really is a miracle worker and I look basically like I did before when she's done.

"No, it's fine. We lost track of time…JJ was just saying goodbye. She's heading out for a little while."

"You're sure you don't want me to reschedule? Will won't mind…and I can always see Henry later. I don't want to leave you alone. I mean…your kids are gone too…what if something happens during your tests." JJ replies…concern evident in her voice.

"No…you go ahead. Everything will be fine. You haven't seen Henry since before the California case. I know you miss him. Why waste your time here, wandering around the halls of this place for hours while I am having those tests done? You need to go and spend that time with your son. It's not like you can do anything for me during that time anyways. So no…you go and spend time with Henry. I'll call you as soon as I am back in the room here. And don't forget to give him a big hug from me."I reply…hoping that she doesn't keep fighting me on this issue.

"And these are just normal tests? Nothing serious? Nothing that I should stay around here for?" JJ asks…looking at Dr. Hayes.

Dr. Hayes looks at me, as if she's trying to determine how much she can disclose, and I shake my head 'no' quickly to indicate not to say anything to JJ. Since JJ had been looking at Dr. Hayes, I knew she wouldn't notice the quick motion I made with my head…or at least I hoped she wouldn't.

Dr. Hayes, having picked up on my signal, replied "We should have her back in here in a few hours. Emily has let us know that if anything comes up, we can let you and her kids know. As for whether you can do anything for Emily while she is gone, she is right…you'd just be waiting until she returned. Whether you choose to wait for her here or somewhere else would be up to you."

"What kind of tests are these anyway…I don't think either of you said." JJ replied…a questioning tone to her voice. She could tell Dr. Hayes was purposely being vague with her previous answer.

I watch as Dr. Hayes looks back over to me again, before replying "You would need to discuss all of that with Emily. However, I really do need to get Emily ready so we can get started. I can give you both a few minutes." Dr. Hayes turned and walked to the door, "I'll be back in to get you in a few minutes Emily," she stated as she closed the door behind her.

"What kinds of tests are you having done, Emily?" JJ asked again, directing her question to me.

"Like I said before, just some standard tests so they can see how long it'll be before I can get out of here." I reply…vaguely.

"But are they MRIs, CAT Scans, Blood Tests, Math Tests, Driving Tests? I have no idea what 'standard tests' means" JJ replies…a little hint of anger and fear in her voice, using air quotes around standard tests when she does. "And why would you need a specialist if everything is 'standard'?" JJ continues, using air quotes again around standard as she does.

"JJ…I know you're worried, but you don't have any reason to be. I don't really know everything they're goin' to be doing…and I really don't want to either. Please don't ask me too many questions about all of this…" I wave a hand over my body a little. "I'm trying not to think about it too much. So I didn't ask a lot of questions. There's a specialist involved because of the type of injuries I have. Dr. Hayes was just being overly cautious. As for leaving me alone…you aren't. The team is across the hall. You know they'll keep an eye on everything while you're visiting with Henry. And I don't want to be the reason you don't see your son. So please, go spend some time with him. Get out of this place for a little while. It'll do you some good to get some fresh air, some real food, and some quality time with Henry." I ask…hoping she won't continue to argue with me or ask questions.

"Ok…I guess. I just don't like the thought of leaving you…not even for a second. Something about all of this makes me nervous. I feel like you aren't telling me something. But since it seems like you aren't going to tell me whatever it is…you or Dr. Hayes…and Will has probably already told Henry I will be seeing him in a little while…I'll go ahead and head out for a little bit. But…I am going to have Garcia and everyone else keep close tabs on everything. I'm going to tell Garcia and Dr. Hayes to call me if anything happens so I can come right back. I don't care how minor it may seem. "JJ finishes…determination lacing her voice. She leans over again and places a soft kiss on my lips before looking directly at me "I love you Emily. I want you to call me or have Dr. Hayes call me the second you are done with your 'standard tests'" whatever they are.

"I will, JJ. And for what it's worth…I love you too." I quietly whisper the last part…wondering if I should have said it out loud or not.

"Hearing you say that is worth more to me than anything in this world" JJ firmly states, as she leans in, kissing me with a quiet passion that relays her love for me. I watch as she stands, grabbing all of her stuff, and walks towards the door. She turns as she reaches the door, looking back over her shoulder and states "when I get back, we can pick up where I left off" JJ smiles, walks out of the door, and it quietly shuts behind her.