Reid's new haircut is so sexy. And Ashley wants to say thanks for all the compliments you guys gave her, she could NOT stop smiling. :) And thanks for the reviews.
Click. I turned to see JJ walk into the room. "Bella's up. Upset and lost, but awake."
I smiled. At least one was okay. I turned back to Andrew, who was still out.
I felt her sit down next to me. "He'll be alright."
I couldn't help it; I shook my head. "Statistically-"
She didn't let me finish. "Screw statistics, Spence. Did you see him, on the video? He was more determined than I've ever seen him. He won't give up on us. He just won't."
I looked uncertainly at her. "Are you sure?"
She gave me a quick peck on the lips and intertwined her hand with mine. "100%."
-:-
My first thought was 'Man, it's bright'. I tried to focus on the scene around me.
Then I saw her.
At first, I thought it was a trick of the light, but after several blinks and rubbing my eyes vigorously, I knew she was real. She was sitting in that big maroon armchair, just like she always used to. Her eyes were locked on the big photo album she loved to look at. It was so beautiful, that I stood there, stunned, for a good couple of minutes before I thought to call out.
"Mom?" I said, hope brimming in my heart.
To my sheer delight, she lifted her head and when her eyes settled on me, she smiled. Her warm, crinkly-eyed smile I missed so much. I ran towards her, thrusting myself at her. I held on to her warm body, taking in the smells and the feel of her. She was really there.
"Hey baby." She mumbled softly. When I didn't let go, she chuckled softly. "Andrew. Let me look at you."
I leaned back, keeping my arms wrapped around her. She grinned at me and wiped away some tears on my cheeks that I didn't know existed. Her eyes scanned my body and her cheeky grin faded.
"Oh, Andrew…"
I looked down and noticed for the first time that I was…broken. I had cuts and bruises covering my arms, my knees were swollen, there was a bandage on my wrist. From what, though?
"What happened to me?" I asked, alarmed.
Mom sighed. "I can't tell you now, baby. You just need to focus on waking up."
"Waking up?" I took a moment to put all the pieces together. "Am…am I dying?"
My mom squeezed my hand. "Not if you don't want to. Just wake up."
"How?"
"You have to want it. Fight for it."
I nodded, taking it all in. I was confused, but somehow understood.
"What if I don't wanna leave yet? What if I want to stay with you? Can I do that?" I blurted.
She sighed. "Well, yes, but Andrew, you're family is waiting."
"Mom, you're my family. I'm going to stay with you." I couldn't lose her again.
"Andrew, sweetie. I know. You miss me. I'm sorry I left, but…you need to live your life."
I was already decided though, so I changed the subject. "Can I see the album?"
She gave a defeated sigh, but held out the album for me to see. We flipped through it and even though my eyes weren't on her, I could tell she was grinning ear to ear. She loved looking at the photos of us from when I was younger, before she got sick. I think it reminded her that she wasn't always so out of it. We passed through the typical humiliating naked baby pictures, the millions of Halloweens and birthday parties and a couple of Christmas ones, before I noticed new pictures. Pictures from just after my mom passed on. Pictures of events and things that didn't even have cameras present! They were…snapshots of my life.
I looked at her questioningly. "Mom?"
"I'm always watching, baby. I didn't just leave." She pointed of a picture of Bella and I on the first day of school, hugging by our special stairs. "Bella…if you stay with me, won't you miss her?"
She didn't give me time to respond before flipping to another page. It was Hotch and I in the ice-cream place, both of us smiling, a rare occurrence for Hotch. Next to it was a picture Bella and Emily smirking as I awkwardly sucked noodles that night at the Italian restaurant. Then, a picture of me leaning up against Hotch and Emily's car, making final plans with them for asking Bella out.
"Mom…" I groaned.
She ignored me. "What about nights like these?"
I knew where this was going. "But-"
She cut me off, flipping to another page. It was Morgan and Rossi giving laughing like maniacs as I struggled to use chopsticks. And one of Garcia and I eating fries, just talking.
"What about them?"
I finally got a word in. "Mom, yes. I love them. They're great. But you're…you're my mom. I can't just leave you."
"You aren't leaving me, though." She gestured at the pictures. "I'm always there."
"Not really! I can't see you or talk to you about my problems or just be around you."
She sighed. She knew I was right. "Yes. But that's why you have people like them in your life, Andrew. You're very lucky." She opened to a new page. I didn't recognize it at first. It was Spencer and JJ sitting by a hospital bed, holding the patients' hands. Both looked exhausted and had bloodshot eyes. I was confused for a second before I realized that I was in the hospital bed. My hair was a mess and I looked completely beaten up, but there I was. Spencer and JJ stared at me, their eyes distraught.
"Is that…?"
My mom nodded. "Now? Yes. Spencer hasn't left since the second he got here. JJ went to check on Bella then came right over."
My mind raced. "What happened? Is Bella hurt, too?"
"I can't just tell you. You have to wake up."
"MOM!" I yelled, unable to control my worry.
She immediately became stern. "Don't you use that tone of voice with me, young man."
"Sorry." I mumbled. Then I broke out into a huge grin. "I've missed hearing that."
She smirked. "I've missed saying it."
"But…" I began. "I think I may have to go back."
She exhaled, closing her eyes. "I'm glad."
"Can I stay for just a while longer though? I want to be with you just a bit longer." I asked, sounding like a little boy asking to sleep in his parents room after hearing a monster.
"Of course, baby."
-:-
Spencer and JJ sat in the room for a long time. They didn't talk much, just the occasional reassurance. Some of the team came in and out, a few at a time, because someone was always with Bella, who knocked out after the shard removal. It was pretty somber and quiet. Then, out of the blue, Andrew moved. It was small, just a twitch of a hand, but JJ and Spencer brightened at just that. Then, his eyelids slowly cracked open. After some blinking, he finally opened his eyes. He stared blankly at JJ and Spencer for a good three minutes.
"Are…are you two dating?" He finally said, his eyes scanning their intertwined arms.
Both agents breathed out a sigh and chuckled of pure relief. "You're awake."
"Avoiding the question, huh?" He muttered shakily.
JJ pressed the nurse-call button and kissed Andrew's forehead. "Thank god you're all right. I'll go let everyone know."
Just as got up to leave, Andrew spoke up again. "Is Bella all right?"
JJ just nodded then left. Andrew turned to Spencer. "When did you start dating?"
Spencer smiled. "Well, first I want to say I'm sorry. How're you feeling? Do you remember what happened? And…since the last time you stayed at Garcia's."
"Don't be sorry. I'm fine. No, I don't remember. I knew it. And…Garcia owes me $15." His voice was incredibly weak, yet his personality was strong as ever.
"You bet Garcia?"
"Yep. I said that you and Jayje would be together by the end of the summer. She didn't agree. I won. Um, why am I here? What happened? And where's Bella?" He asked.
"Fortunately for you, we can answer all three." Said Morgan, who wheeled in Bella on a wheelchair, followed by a nurse.
"Bella." Andrew mumbled, as the nurse set to work on checking Andrews' vitals and such.
Bella waved then waited patiently until the nurse okay-ed Andrew and announced that she'd be back with a doctor when they finished explaining what was going on to the kids. As soon as the door shut behind the nurse, Bella grabbed the wheels of her chair and tried to maneuver her way to Andrew and Spencer.
Derek grabbed her chair, stopping her. "I got you." He quickly slid a few chairs together into a makeshift couch right by the bedside and carefully lifted Bella into it. She groaned, but he ignored her. Once sitting, she grabbed Spencer's arm with one hand and Andrew's with the other.
"So, kiddos, how much do you remember?" They both glanced at one another then shrugged.
"I remember…the plane and…the hotel check in. And that's all." Bella said, shaking her head.
"Me too. But I remember waking up and eating waffles, too." Andrew added.
Morgan nodded. "Okay. Now, guys, the doctor said he could explain it, but I figured you guys would want Reid and I to do it, right?" Both kids nodded.
Spencer spoke up. "If it's ever too much or you want us to stop just say so."
Derek began explaining. He told them about the case and the threat he got and how they left the room. Both Bella and Andrew kept straight faces. Then, when he got to the part about the suitcases, Bella gasped and froze.
"What is it, Bella?" Derek asked.
She didn't reply. She stared forward, her grip on Spencer and Andrew's arms tightening. "Oh god." She breathed. She let go of Andrew's arm like he was on fire.
"Bella?" Reid asked.
"I remember." She choked out.
"Are you okay?" Andrew questioned, hurt.
She nodded numbly. "Uh, yeah. Can we be done now?"
"But-I…I don't…remember." Andrew sputtered, watching Bella struggle to get out of her chair. Spencer and Derek leapt into action, holding her into her chair. She squirmed and yelled to be let free.
"Bella. Bella! Calm down." Morgan yelled. She stopped struggling and looked down, panting.
"What happened?" Reid asked, softly.
"I…you'll hate me." She muttered.
"Bella, that's ridiculous." Morgan assured.
"Not you." She looked up, teary-eyed at Andrew. "He will."
"Why? No, I could never…."
"You can't tell him!" Bella exclaimed. She shook her head, looking down again.
Morgan squatted down to her level. "Bella?" He said quietly enough so only she could hear.
"Yeah?"
"We have to keep talking. You don't have to listen, but we have to tell Andrew what happened."
"Why? If he remembers it was my fault and how many times he had to sacrifice himself to help me…he'd hate me."
"Because, how did you feel when you didn't know?"
"Scared as hell." She whispered.
"And we can't let him feel like that, too. He was there for you. It's your chance to return the favor."
"Okay. Keep going." She mumbled, though she didn't reach out and grab Andrew's hand again. She wouldn't even make eye contact.
Morgan sighed and continued explaining what happened. Andrew sat still and listening, cringing and occasionally shooting Bella a worried look. When Morgan finished, ending when he explained the medical conditions, everyone sat there silently.
"You okay, kid?" Morgan asked Andrew.
He nodded. "Uh, yeah. I'm fine. It's a lot, though. Can…can I talk to Bella for a while? Alone?"
Morgan turned to his niece. "If it's okay with you, sweetie."
Bella gave a weak thumbs up sign and Reid and Morgan left. The kids sat there for a moment, not saying anything.
Finally, Andrew spoke up. "I'm not mad. You are aware of that, right?"
"You aren't?" She muttered.
He sighed. "No. I don't remember exactly, but from what it sounds like, everything I did was my choice."
"I'm sorry." She mumbled.
"It's fine." He replied. "Are…you okay? I mean, it sounded pretty terrible."
"I'm all right. I'm glad you're okay." She blushed. "Being here with you makes it less scary. You were really brave. Braver than you ever should have to be. I'm just sorry you have to go through that."
"For the record, I'd do it again. I'd…uh, do almost anything to protect you Bells." He reached out a grabbed her hand.
Bella looked up, finally meeting his eyes. "You would?"
He smiled ever so slightly. "If you were wearing a tie, I'd tug it right now."
Bella exhaled deeply. "You are such a dork."
Andrew had never heard something so beautiful.
Ugh. I didn't like that chapter…I feel like it sucked. Ha, anyways, what did you guys think about Season 6 so far. I HATE that JJ is gone :\ Hopefully, the show keeps its awesomeness.