Stand In The Rain

Eleven

JJ ate and slept, although when she woke up, she was very surprised to see Hope snuggled up in the bed with her.

"Hope," JJ said her name in surprise as she sat up and rubbed the sleep out of her eyes. "What are you doing here?"

The little girl sat up and gave her friend a delicate kiss on the cheek. "Derek brought me and Viv!"

She motioned towards a corner of the room where Derek was holding Vivian in his arms and cuddling with her. JJ thought of the surprise that Penelope was going to drop on him very soon, and her heart was immediately goo at the sight of big, badass Derek Morgan turning to mush because of a baby.

When he saw JJ looking, he approached her, smiling. "Would you like to hold Vivian again?"

JJ nodded. "Yes, please!"

Derek laid Vivian on JJ's chest, and the second JJ had an arm of support around the baby, Vivian let out a very contented sigh and began cooing happily, having missed JJ. Mindful of the oxygen support she was hooked up to, Hope gave her baby cousin lots of kisses and cuddles.

JJ even indulged herself, giving the children extra kisses and cuddles as she told them how much she loved them and was going to miss them. She didn't even notice Derek snapping a picture of the scene with his phone.

He had just out his phone away when reason caught up with JJ and she turned to Derek.

"Where are Emily and Penelope?" she asked him.

"Emily was really hungry, so Penelope took her to the cafeteria to eat; even Hope got on Emily's case when she saw that she was pregnant."

JJ laughed and leaned down, planting a kiss on the top of the little girl in question.

"Well, seeing as she was extra protective of me while we were gone, that doesn't surprise me."

JJ looked back at Derek.

"Is Elle awake yet?"

Derek nodded and fixed the oxygen tube in Hope's nose when he saw it was dropping a little bit. "She is, and Missus Greenaway will be pushing her in a wheelchair since she won't be walking without crutches any time soon."

"Because her ankle is broken." JJ remembered. "And you and I are going to return Hope and Vivian to her because we know her best?"

"That's right, Ace."

JJ smiled at the nickname. "And then how much longer after that do I have to stay here?"

"It shouldn't be too long, but Emily will be back sooner because she did a lot of hemming and hawing about being away from you in the first place before we could get her to leave."

"Sounds like her..."

Derek was about to ask his friend a question regarding the nature of her newfound bond with Emily, but didn't get a chance because they were interrupted by a new voice.

"Is everyone awake in here?"

Luna Greenaway was just reaching the doorway, pushing Elle in a wheelchair. Mother and daughter were both tired, but looked very, very happy.

"Hope," JJ gave the girl another kiss on the top of the head in an effort to get her attention away from Vivian because she was still doting on her. "Look who's here."

Hope tore her gaze away from Vivian to do what JJ asked, and when she saw her family, she burst into happy tears.

Derek moved her into Elle's arms, and he and JJ watched as part of the Greenaway clan reconnected, but after a moment, Elle moved her chair closer to JJ's bed. Reaching out, she gave JJ's good hand a squeeze.