Normally I limit announcements to the end of the chapter. I just wanted to say that I am very thankful for your reviews, follows and favourites. I am feeling a bit like I bit off more than I can chew, but do not want to leave people hanging.

It is pretty much thanks to the guest reviewer Sam that this chapter was written, because I got your review and was like 'Must update!'. But any who, thank you all for your lovely reviews!

Kensi1997 , Jareau37 and rmpcmfan, you have reviewed many chapters of my stories and I appreciate it!

Pamba, sfm-babygirl, HeadUpHeartStrong and Jessica sotero, you guys are great! And so are all of the people who have graced this story with even one review letting me know what you think! I soo, soo very much appreciate it. The list could go on forever, with foxyfeline, OnceuponCaptainSwan, JJCM, CMLeolover, RatherBeAWriter, GottaLoveCM, JJMyst, KatieThomas'95 and soooo, sooooooooooooo many more. I love your reviews, all of you, the people I have not been able to mention as well as all the guests. Please continue to let me know what you think! x

PS this is hopefully along the lines of what NikkiKellan41298 wanted.

PPS If you guys want any cute scenes let me know!

13

When JJ finally woke up it was late evening. At first she wasn't sure exactly where she was. Then she realised who she was with and how she got there. Immediately her cheeks had begun to flush. She let her arms fall from around Hotch's neck, and pushed against his chest to sit up.

They ended up face to face and Hotch gave her a smile.

"I'm sorry Hotch." She told him, looking around the room at the mess that she had created.

"What are you apologising for?" He asked, wanting to make sure that it was for the right reasons.

"I… I'm sorry for everything. I am sorry for making a mess, for crying, breaking down in front of you, for-"

But that was where Hotch decided that he had to cut her off. "Jennifer Jareau. I don't think that it is me that you need to be apologising to for making a mess. I am not the one who is going to be tidying it up. That will be the friends that are waiting to see how you are out in the lounge. Not only that, you should not feel the need to apologise for crying. Recently you have experienced a lot. You are still working through all of that, and it is something that is difficult. You are allowed to have moments when you break down. And you do not need to apologise for that. Least of all to me. You were there when everything happened with Haley."

JJ winced when she thought about the nights that she spent consoling Hotch in his office, out of the watchful eyes from the rest of the team. They never knew, and as far as either of them were concerned they never would.

"Yes JJ. You saw me at my worst. It is only right that I help you when you are at your worst. If you ever need to cry, or talk to someone, but don't feel like any of the three people out there fit the bill, you can call me. Okay?"

"I… thanks Hotch." She furrowed her brow.

"What is it JJ?"

"I ah… I don't know where my cell phone is. I haven't had it in a while. I haven't really needed it. But I ah… I just don't know where it is."

"That's an easy fix JJ. I'll get one sent around tomorrow. But it is late JJ. You had a long sleep, but you also need to eat. I am aware that you are to start physical therapy soon, and you will need all the possible strength in order to make the most of your sessions."

"I know Hotch. And trust me I want to get everything out of them that I can. I am sick of being dependent. I want to get back to being my old self again."

"That is what we all want JJ. That is what will make you happy, so that is what we want for you."

She smiled subtly at this announcement. She couldn't help but appreciate the feeling of having her whole team on her side.

"Is it okay if I carry you out to the lounge? Or would you like me to get the wheelc-"

"No. You are fine. I… I hate that thing."

O/o

The next day Garcia helped JJ out with her morning routine. The woman' spirits seemed to have lifted a little and that made everyone a bit cheerier. It was the end of the week. Next week JJ started physio, but Morgan knew that she was itching to get out.

"Hey Jayje?"

"Yes Derek. Can I help you?"

"You have your togs right?"

She raised her eyebrow. "I don't know. Only if they were packed before I came here. You still have not taken me to my apartment so I am living off the basics right now."

Morgan winced. He had forgotten that promise, but decided that he would amend that as soon as they got through this afternoon.

"Right. Well I am sure that Penelope did pack them."

Squatting down on the ground next to her position on the couch Derek posed a question. "Look JJ. I know that you didn't hear what you wanted to hear at the doctors yesterday. I know that you are still angry, but… we could go for a swim?"

JJ perked up immediately. But then she frowned. "I do not want you to treat me like a baby that will drown if I am left alone."

He smiled back at her. "I am not going to treat you like a baby. But I am not going to leave you be either. The doctor said that you needed support. I will be there with you the whole time. No ifs, buts or maybes about it. That is the deal. You can say yes or no under those terms."

JJ huffed. "Fine. Fine. But just because I am desperate. I am sick of this house and the confines of these walls."

…

It took longer than Morgan had expected for them to get outside. JJ refused to wear the togs that were in her bag. That resulted in a half hour pop to the shop in order to get her a different pair that she wanted which she had seen on the internet.

She wouldn't say why, but her three friends had a feeling that it had to do with the fact that large portions of her skin would be showing had she worn her old swimwear.

Now, instead, she was sitting on a chair beside the pool slathering on sunblock on the limited parts of her body that were exposed to the world.

No one was going to push her, and she wasn't willing to talk freely yet.

She was sitting by the pool with her three friends with her. Penelope and Emily didn't want to get in but they were more than willing to soak up a little sun to get their daily dose of vitamin D.

JJ was glad to be getting active and doing something fun, and was more than happy when Derek sat her on the edge of the pool, allowing her feet to dangle in the heated water while he hopped in the water.

She swung her legs back and forth, loving the feeling of freedom and the ease that the water gave her. It had become apparent in the last few days that the muscle tone that she had built up over years was starting to waste away. Her leg muscles were starting to atrophy and she did not like it one bit. The sooner she got moving the sooner she could make that stop.

Morgan stood to the side, wanting to feign as though he wasn't feeling overly protective towards JJ. He wanted to let her do stuff by herself and tried to keep some distance.

She slowly edged herself further into the pool and then suddenly her weakened arms gave out and she was in all in one go. Forgetting for a moment that she was shorter than Derek, and that her legs did not have near their usual strength she began to panic as she found herself submerged.

Strong hands were suddenly on her, hauling her up out of the water, and the first thing that she could think of saying came to the tip of her tongue.

"Out. Out!"

Derek got her out as quickly as possible, having first taken her to the shallowest part of the pool. As she was catching her breath, the red that tinted her cheeks was unmissable. She sceptically and ashamedly looked over her shoulder as she saw the looks on her friends' faces.

A subtle nod of the head from Derek had Emily declaring that she felt like a smoothie, and within moments the brunette was being followed into the house by the ever obliging Penelope.

That left just the two agents by the pool alone and JJ seemed to be reclaiming her breath in between coughs.

"You okay Jayje?"

She nodded her head. "Yes, I just… I did not expect that. I was fine and then I was under. There was no in between to catch my breath. My body is giving up on me, just as my mind is starting to want to get back to normal, and just as I am starting to get the ability to physically work towards normal."

Morgan felt for her. He understood that it was certainly not easy, and only wished that there was something that he could do to help.

"Do you want to stop for today? We could try this again tomorrow if you wanted?"

She shook her head vehemently.

"No. I… I want to feel like I am doing something good… something useful. Something to help me get where I want to be after all of this is over."

"Okay then JJ. Whatever you want."

JJ looked down at the water and felt something she had never really felt before. She had always enjoyed swimming. The feeling that it brought. But now, if she was being honest she was slightly… afraid? She did not want to feel like she had no control in the water and she did not want to rely on Derek. But she certainly didn't want to experience the same thing as before when she couldn't keep herself afloat.

Derek had moved aside, allowing JJ space to lower herself in. Though she realised that she didn't want that.

A long with her water confidence, she had also lost her voice. She no longer felt any sense of confidence in her abilities, and couldn't trust her voice not to betray that. So instead she chose to remain silent.

Morgan watched the doubt warring in JJ's eyes and realised they had come to a stand-still.

He breathed in. "JJ, do you trust me?"

Her eyes grew wide. "I… yeah…"

"Okay then. Put your arms around my neck and I will slowly lift you in okay? I will do it really slowly and you can tell me to stop if you need a moment, or just say that you want out and I'll put you back on the side okay?"

JJ nodded, keeping quiet but holding on to Morgan.

Morgan lowered her slowly and carefully into the water in front of him. She was in up to her hips before her breathing faltered and he stopped.

Without thinking she tensed her arms, pulling closer to her friend, closing the gap.

Her arms were tight around his neck, and he felt as though she was holding onto him for dear life.

"Woah, JJ. It's okay. I'm not going to let you go. You don't have to worry. I've got you. Okay girl?"

She nodded her head, but proceeded to keep her tight grip on him.

He started to walk across the width of the pool in the shallow end with her in his arms.

At first she tensed further. Her eyes stayed closed and her cheek rested on his shoulder. He continued walking, and as the tension eased she allowed her legs to follow behind them, liking the lightness that came with it.

They continued in that fashioned for fifteen minutes or so, and eventually JJ started to kick. She felt muscles stretching that she hadn't used in a long time. It felt amazing. But as much as she enjoyed it she felt drained very quickly.

Not long after she had started kicking she stopped. She realised quickly that Hotch had been right the previous night. She needed adequate nutritional intake in order to make the most of any physio sessions or time that she spent in the pool.

Fatigue was setting in, but JJ was enjoying herself too much to want to go inside. She was enjoying the sunshine, the water, the fresh air, simply being outside.

Feeling JJ's body further relax, and her efforts to make the most of this moment waning, Derek asked if she wanted to go inside.

A tired 'no' came from her mouth and she settled against him again.

He continued moving around with her in tow until he could feel the energy completely leave her body. When she was too tired to argue about getting out, he made the decision to take her inside before the sun began to set and bring with it the chill that would taint the air.

He felt as though this had been a small win. But a win nonetheless.