20

It was an awkward situation for everyone to say the least. Hotch looked down at his son who was wrapped around him trying to hide. In a moment, he had felt a pang of guilt. He hadn't been able to decide how much to tell Jack to prepare him to see JJ.

He didn't want to scare him. But now he thought that maybe he didn't do enough.

Derek and Emily were looking between Jack and JJ and saw the downtrodden expression that had crossed her face.

The day had already caused some heartache for JJ and this moment made the walls feel like they were going to cave in.

The anxiety that JJ was feeling had doubled. She knew that Jack was just a child, and to see her like that must be scary for him. But his reaction had torn a gaping hole in her heart.

Everyone was at a standstill until Rossi and Reid walked up to the door chatting and saw the three-way standoff.

The pair felt the awkwardness of the situation. JJ's face and Jack's hiding figure allowed them to put two and two together.

Before anyone could say another word, JJ's hands were on the wheels of her chair as she attempted to make a U-turn and head back down the hall.

Penelope tried to stop her. "No Jayje, please just-"

But she stopped in her tracks when she saw the pleading look being thrown at her.

She wheeled JJ away and threw a 'fix this' look at the rest of the team.

Fix it. That's exactly what they wanted to do, they just didn't know quite how they were going to do that.

…

After the two women had left Rossi oversaw making sure the food didn't burn as Penelope hadn't returned from JJ's side. And in the lounge Jack was sitting on his father's lap seemingly inconsolable. He kept asking to go home and wouldn't look anyone in the eye.

"Jack, you were so excited when I told you we were coming here. What happened buddy?"

He played with his top and was still refusing to talk.

"I just need some help understanding Jack. Did something happen that made you upset?"

Jack didn't answer, but he nodded ever so slightly as he wrapped his hands around his fathers neck.

"Does it have something to do with JJ?"

Jack nodded again and this time his body started to shake a little.

It was moments later that he realized that Jack was crying.

"Hey. Hey now, what's the matter?"

Jack was nearly as quiet as a mouse but his father heard him.

"I don't want her to die."

And then the tears came on full throttle.

Hotch was confused but tried to probe a bit more.

"JJ isn't going to die."

Jack's confused wee face pulled away from the nape of his father's neck. "She's not?"

"No buddy. Why would you think that?"

He frowned. "Because Mummy got really hurt and she died. She never came back. And I don't want JJ to go away and never come back too."

Hotch couldn't help but pull his son closer and hold him tighter.

"She is not going to die bud. She is hurt, and needs lots of rest and time to heal. But she is not going to die. Do you know something though?"

Jack wiped at the tears running down his face. "What Daddy?"

"JJ was so excited to see you. The idea of seeing you made her smile so, so much. And now she's worried that she's scared you."

Jack frowned again.

"Do you think that we can go and make it better?"

Jack smiled and jumped off his Dad's lap.

…

"Oh gosh Pen. Did you see his face? He was shocked. I can't go back out there. I'm a monster. I look like a monster. I scared him so much. And he was so excited to go in the pool."

"JJ, I-"

"I don't want to ruin his night for him."

"JJ ple-"

"I'll just stay in here. I don't need anything. Pretend that I'm not here and you guys have a nice dinner. I'll just pretend I am somewhere else and then he'll be happy again because he won't have to see me."

"JAYJE!"

Penelope finally managed to get a word in and then put both her hands firmly on the blonde's shoulders.

"You are not going to feel ashamed and feel as though you don't deserve to have a lovely dinner with the team. We are family and we stick together. Just give Hotch a chance to talk to Jack and see what is really wrong."

JJ's eye widened and her breathing was anything but calm.

"But Pen, I ruined his fun night."

"Breathe JJ. You didn't. It'll all be okay."

…

After a few minutes Penelope and JJ were talking about physio and JJ's breathing had become steadier.

There was a slight hitch when a knock was heard on the door and Hotch asked if they could come in.

Penelope nodded and turned JJ's chair around without giving her a choice.

JJ saw Jack's face with the remnants of tears and could help but feel guilt filtering its way through her veins. She had done that to him.

Hotch looked at him. "What did you want to say Jack?"

He looked up at his dad and then Hotch bent down.

"Can I touch her?"

Hotch smiled and JJ's eye squinted as she watched the boy. She had heard his question but couldn't quite understand.

"Yeah buddy, but be careful."

He nodded then slowly moved towards JJ.

Jack stopped when he was standing in front of her, then reached out his hand. He put one finger delicately on her palm and looked for any sign of pain or hurt.

For someone so young he was very in tune with other people.

The two looked at each other for a moment before he said, "Daddy said you're not going to die."

JJ couldn't help but feel surprised. Where would he get that from?

"No Jack. What would you think that?"

"Mummy got hurt and she went away. She died. You got hurt and I don't want you to go away."

She smiled and took ahold of his hand.

"I promise you, I am not going anywhere." And in that moment, she changed. Something happened and she knew she meant what she was saying.

…

Penelope pushed JJ out of her room, with a delicately placed Jack joining JJ on her wheelchair. She whizzed them around and Jack seemed to think that they were going to win the race.

It turned out Jack thought it was pretty cool that JJ had her own indoor wheelie chair and wanted to hitch a ride with her. And with his cuteness being a 10 out of 10, how could she refuse. Though there were cushions placed on her lap and she was told that she had to tell Jack to hop off if she was in any pain.

When Morgan saw the pair coming out, he had to acknowledge the fact that this was the first time that he had seen JJ anywhere near being happy as she was being pushed around in the chair. Normally she avoided it at all costs. But with Jack being a lovely new addition she seemed more than happy to race around.

"Everything is nearly ready guys. Do you want to eat inside or out?" Rossi asked.

They all looked at each other and then at JJ.

"Ah in?"

They nodded and started to set the table.

O/o

The group had been laughing and talking to each other over the lovely dinner they had all helped prepare.

It had been difficult to get Jack off of JJ's lap. He liked the idea of having his own personal chauffer in the blonde. They laughed, and Hotch eventually enticed him with promises of going in the pool after they had eaten.

Sure enough, as soon as everyone had put down their knives and forks, the wee lad was already jovially bouncing up and down trying to get the hint across that he was ready to get in the pool, so they ought to be as well.

When the team could finally not hold him back he was told to go and put his togs on and get ready to hop in. The days had been nice recently and they were making the most of the warm weather. And having an earlier diner meant more swim time.

Jack was racing the length of the kitchen back and forwards as he waited for them to get ready.

Emily was going to put her feet in the water. Penelope was in her swimming gear and Reid, Hotch and Morgan were all in their shorts. Rossi had declared he wasn't a swimmer. And JJ… well she hadn't really said anything.

As they were about to head out Jack's face changed.

"Aunt JJ? You aren't swimming?!"

She looked momentarily stunned before formulating a reply.

"I… no Jack."

"But Whyyyyyyyyyy?"

She stumbled on her words "Um, ah… well…"

"But you're a really good swimmer!"

She blushed.

Hotch stepped in. "Jack, leave it for today."

But the child continued to whine. He got up close to JJ and put his hands on her knees.

"Are you scared of the water Aunty JJ? Did you forget how to swim?"

She couldn't help but giggle. Just like the rest of the team. He was just too cute for words.

"No Jack."

"Then why not?" he huffed.

She gulped, unsure of where to go with this.

"Jack. I… I got hurt."

He pouted. "I know, but you're getting better."

"That's right. But I still need a lot of help."

"I'LL HELP."

She giggled again. "Thank you, Jack. But you should have fun in the pool. I am happy watching you from the side sweetie."

"Whyyy?"

"Because a mean man hurt me. And… and I have some marks on my body that aren't pretty to look at. I don't want them to scare you. I want you to have fun."

"I will… if you come in with me." He started to tear and JJ felt a bit flustered.

Reid looked at JJ. "If that's all you're worried about, then don't be. He's a smart kid, he'll move past it."

Jack beamed. "See! I'm smart!"

Jack frowned and looked at JJ's hand. The one that had been hurt. He took it in his own wee hands and ran his fingers over the scar.

"Is this the scary stuff?"

JJ looked down. "I… yes. And a bit more."

Jack kissed her hand. "That's not scary. Scary is you going away forever like mummy."

The team couldn't help but hold back their emotions.

"I…" JJ looked at the team and then back at Jack "I…"

"You'll come in with me?"

She smiled. "I'll come in. But I won't be able to play with you like last time."

He smiled. "YAAAY!"

JJ looked at Penelope. "Um… help? Please?"

Penelope happily wheeled her out of the room.

… The boys were already splashing about in the pool when the two blondes arrived back. Jack shout out for them to watch him jump in.

JJ had her towel strategically placed covering her up as much as possible. The one piece did a relatively good job at covering up a lot of her. But it wasn't enough.

Jack ran up to her and pulled the towel off, grabbing her hand and trying to pull her to the water.

Hotch quickly yanked him away, and a shocked JJ sat with bulging eyes.

Jack was just excited, it wasn't his fault. But this was the first time the men had seen her so exposed.

She flushed quickly and began to freak out a bit.

Morgan jumped out of the water, quickly swinging her into his arms, and taking her into the pool with him, where the water could distort the scars.

The damage had been done, but he could at least take her mind off of it.

…

"Aunty JJ watch me, watch me!"

Derek had been doing lengths with JJ. She did 10 unaided in total and more with him supporting her.

It had actually been a really good day. She loved seeing everyone. She loved seeing Jack.

Something was different. And it felt good.

Hello everyone. If there is anyone out there still interested in this. I am more than incredibly sorry for making you wait so long. I simply felt at the time that this was something I wasn't ready to continue tackling due to personal things going on. I really loved reading through your old reviews to get me motivated. And again, I am so sorry. But I hope you like this chapter. I also have more planned for the future. x