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JJ suddenly felt confined and tugged at her seat belt to pull it off her chest. The range of emotions that had cycled through her in such a short period had begun to take a toll. She couldn't get the image of Emily being carried out on a stretcher and then disappearing into the ambulance rig out of her mind. No one had answers beyond speculations and it was beginning to weigh more. She was ready for the nightmare to end but she felt it was far from over.

It hadn't helped that Spencer's nervous energy consumed the air around the three agents.

His need to keep speaking facts about hypothermia and survival rates had her twisting in her seat to face the Doctor. "Okay, but what about CPR? What are the side effects of that?"

"They didn't do CPR," he stated in a matter of fact tone.

"What do you mean they didn't do CPR, Spencer? I know what compressions look like."

Spencer adjusted in his own seat and swallowed before he answered, "I know, JJ, but hypothermia can present like the person is not breathing or doesn't have a pulse. Everything in the body slows down. I don't disagree that from our vantage point that they were doing compressions, and I'm not sure if he started, but Nicole said he was stopped. Either way, Emily's alive we shouldn't be arguing about such a small detail."

"I'm sorry, Spencer, I'm just worried."

"We all are," Hotch said as he navigated the SUV into the hospital's parking structure.

The three agents moved quickly to get inside, but Aaron paused outside the doors when his phone coming to life halted his movements. He gestured for her and Spencer to go in mouthing that it was Strauss. JJ was grateful at that moment she wasn't the one to have to deal with anything that felt peripheral to their focus at the moment. She knew there was nothing they could do but she didn't want to place any of her energy in any other matters.

She followed Spencer in but maneuvered around him so she could speak to the nurse behind the counter. She was kind but not helpful, as she couldn't divulge any of the information they needed or wanted.

JJ couldn't hold back her release of frustration to the unknown and slammed her hand on the smooth surface. "Your rules and procedures are just stupid."

The nurse stood to fully address JJ. "Excuse me?"

"Can we at least know who the doctor is?" Spencer asked quickly in an attempt to pacify the situation.

"Dr. Greer," she responded but was looking at JJ with a mix of concern and annoyance to her outburst.

A slight wave of relief washed over JJ in hearing the name and she mouthed a thank you. The gesture of gratitude was enough to get the nurse to settle back into her chair, but she didn't take her eyes of JJ even with Spencer trying to lean into her eye line to continue their conversation.

He spoke regardless that her focus was not directly on him. "Please let Dr. Greer know we're here and when she has a chance to come to talk to us about Emily's condition."

Though she was content that they had at least made their presence known it once again became a waiting game. Minutes began to stretch out as they anticipated any word, information, practically anything that could quell the overthinking and negative thoughts that consumed them. Spencer paced along the wall while Aaron was tied to his phone speaking calmly to reassure Penelope and Morgan. He spoke in vain to keep them from jumping on the next flight out but relented quickly. When he walked over, JJ barely listened to him fill her and Spencer in on what Strauss had wanted or said. She felt like all her focus needed to be on what was beyond the doors that led into the ER. They kept her attention and the slightest movement had her flinching in preparation for Dr. Greer to come through. When she finally did JJ shot up. Seeing what had JJ react so quickly Spencer and Aaron circled in closer to hear what the Doctor had to say.

She gestured for them to step away from other listening ears and tucked her hands into the pockets of her white coat before she spoke, "So, what I'm about to tell you isn't meant to scare, it's meant to inform." She didn't wait for a response or reaction before she continued divulging the information that she had. "The biggest concern we have right now is treating Emily's severe hypothermia. Understand that rewarming a hypothermic patient is not a casual endeavor. We have to rewarm at a prescribed and very calculated rate. Even after a successful rewarming, there are still many factors that we have to consider."

Aaron crossed his arms and his scowl deepened. "What exactly are you telling us?"

"That we are cautiously optimistic at the moment. Emily's responding well, and we are doing everything we can to make sure she stays that way. We still have to take into consideration the effects of her exposure, and the other injuries that she may have sustained in the water. They need to be properly dealt with so we have a successful outcome."

They stood in the silence that had returned once the doctor finished speaking; unsure how to digest the information given. It wasn't a clear-cut situation, there were too many muddled greys that created no sense of relief. The road ahead still was going to be rocky and steep.

"When can we see her?" Reid asked stepping forward.

Dr. Greer studied the agents in front of her for a beat before she answered, "We'll talk more about visitation once I feel I have every aspect of her care under control."

Seeing there were no more questions, Dr. Greer offered a small smile and turned to return to the depth of the ER. But, before she could take her leave, an alert began to broadcast on the loudspeaker and the security guards that were standing in the corner began to move.

"What's going on?" Aaron asked.

"We're being put on lockdown," Dr. Greer answered but confusion clung to her words. She quickly excused herself to obtain her own information.

Aaron didn't wait and intercepted a security guard that was headed towards the door. He had his credentials out as he spoke, "Why are you on lockdown?"

"Looks like your prisoner managed to turn Radiology upside down, and is trying to escape. But don't worry he won't be able to leave."

"You don't know that. He's an extremely intelligent and dangerous man."

"All the doors automatically lock, Radiology is on the fifth floor, and there is no access to the parking wings. He's either trapped in the stairwell or on another floor."

"A floor with innocent people he could injure or take hostage." Hotch didn't wait and began barking orders, "We need all video surveillance of the floors and stairwells." He twisted briefly to address JJ and Spencer. "JJ, find Dr. Greer and what room Emily is in, I doubt Parker will try anything beyond getting out of here, but I'm not about to take any chances. Reid, let's go."

JJ followed closely behind Aaron and Spencer but held back after they stepped through the doors and into the halls of the ER. She watched them link up with the security guards and officers that had gathered. When they disappeared from view she studied her surroundings. Her eyes scanned amongst the mix of patients, nurses, doctors, an array of other employees, and other people who she assumed were family members of patients. She became uneasy with how many different people occupied the space of the emergency room. The simple idea that Parker could easily blend in overwhelmed her. They didn't know how much of a headstart he had, what damage he already had done, and what his plan was. Though she was concerned for all the innocent people in the hospital, she suddenly felt an overwhelming need to get to Emily even faster. She hoped Hotch was right and he wouldn't try to get to Emily. She doubted that he knew she was alive and she held that thought just as she caught sight of Dr. Greer.

JJ was calling out as she briskly approached, "Dr. Greer."

The Doctor spun around and eyed JJ curiously but held herself to hear what the Agent had to ask.

"I need you to take me to Emily."

The Doctor shook her head. "I told you, she can't have visitors."

"This isn't about visiting her. Parker's loose in this hospital and I need to get there to protect her."

Dr. Greer's eyes widened in fear and concern but she adjusted quickly and nodded for JJ to follow her. Once to the room, she stopped before the doorway. "Do you really think he'll come down here?"

"We can't take any chances."

"Please be mindful that she's in a fragile state," The Doctor said as she stepped to the side so JJ could enter first.

The thought of Emily hearing that she was fragile made JJ cringe. The words also had JJ hesitating for a moment. She didn't know what to really expect when she saw Emily. Her whole focus had been just to get to her. Her mind had imagined her sitting up, with a sly smile on her face and a quick-witted comment on the situation. But, it was nothing even close to that fantasy. Emily looked incredibly pale and weak. Her eyes were closed, and her head was tilted slightly causing the dark strands of her hair to splash around the curve of the pillow that propped her head up. With a breath of courage JJ slowly entered and circled around to the head of the hospital bed. The machines whirred and hummed, but Emily was still beyond a slow rise and fall of her chest under the rewarming blankets. The small movement gave a glimmer of hope. JJ's hands hovered unsure what to do but settled on lightly touching her hand wrapped in wires and an IV.

She became alarmed at how cold Emily's hand felt and her concern had her looking back at the Doctor. "She's so cold, how much longer until you know?"

Dr. Greer shrugged slightly. "Soon, she survived that water and made it to shore. I have no doubt she's fighting, and we need her to fight."

"She's the strongest person I know," JJ whispered looking back to Emily and squeezed her hand slightly. "She'll beat this."

Dr. Greer smiled but then began to turn away. "I'm sorry I need to see another patient, but I won't be long, Emily's my top priority."

JJ wanted to protest her leaving, and even though the nurse in the room was hovering and monitoring Emily, in her mind she wanted more. She knew she was being irrational, but couldn't help needing something more positive.

She only released Emily's hand when a flood of uniforms passed by the door. She stepped to the door and peered out. She halted one of the officers, flashing her credentials in an effort to get answers.

He glanced quickly at her and then back down the hall to his retreating group.

"What's the status?" JJ asked.

"We have a hostage barricade situation."

JJ's heart skipped a beat to the words. She glanced back at Emily and suddenly an idea hit her. She worked her phone from her back pocket and quickly called Aaron. When he didn't answer she called Spencer.

"JJ, we can't talk right now."

"I know but Spencer-" JJ paused and stepped out of the room to speak, she didn't want Emily to hear what she was about to say. "You need to tell him Emily died."

"What?"

"You had said Parker considers himself one of the Fate's. Make him believe he's won."

"I see where you are with that, but how would we prove that to him? We don't have time for anything elaborate, this is a critical situation."

JJ saw Dr. Greer heading back her way. "Maybe he'll believe the word of a doctor."

I know it's not a super exciting chapter, but thank you for reading. Parker's takedown and Emily waking up are in progress so stay tuned. And don't forget to let me know what you think and if the interest is still here for the story's conclusion!