Maura pushed her away gently, “I feel so guilty, how is JJ?”
she asked.

Resting on one knee, she thought about the pain she knew JJ
was feeling. “She…she’ll be okay, a couple of broken ribs, some broken bones in
her hand and a cracked vertebrae” Maura looked at her in shock.  Anyone of those injuries was extremely
painful, combined they would be excruciating and yet she knew that JJ had never
stopped asking about Jane.

Emily answered her questioning look, “Garcia is here, she’s
sitting with her right now.  I need to
make sure we track down Rodriguez,” she said her voice growing hard.

Maura recognized that tone; it was very much like
Jane’s.  “Do you think he’ll come here?”

“I’m sorry Maura but I know he will”

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

“Emily?” the voice was just a whisper but it was enough.

“Hey sunshine, how are you feeling?” Garcia stroked her
forehead gently.

“Thirsty.” She said hoarsely.  Garcia walked over to the pitcher of ice
water the nurse had brought in earlier and poured a cup for her.  After taking a couple of sips, JJ rested her
head back. “Where’s Emily, Pen?” her voice stronger now, she was surprised to
see Garcia.  She could remember Emily
saying something about Garcia but not much else.

“Honey I’ll let her know you’re awake, but she’s out with
the others looking for Rodriguez.”

“Hmmm” JJ tried to shift her body a little and immediately
stopped, letting out an involuntary groan.

“Oh honey are you in pain?” Garcia asked anxiously.

“It’s okay Pen, my bad…I shouldn’t have tried to move just
yet.  Rodriguez, he’s…he’s coming here.”

“Oh honey don’t say that, I’m sure he’s long gone, he would
be…”

“Pen…he’s coming…there is so much hatred there…his father
shared it and…and I killed him, he’s not going to walk away from that.” JJ’s
voice was low and full of pain.  She had
the button to the dispenser by her hand but didn’t want to press it yet.  She wanted to stay awake until they found
him.

“You should have seen him Pen.  He wanted Jane dead…he was enjoying the idea,
he enjoyed watching her suffer from his beating…she was in so much pain Pen,
she defended me…she wouldn’t let him touch me.
She took a beating for me…she” JJ’s tears ran down her face.

“Oh honey no, please don’t cry, oh dear please, Emily will
kill me if she finds out I made you cry.”
Garcia didn’t know what to do, so she texted Emily.