Running Out Of Time

Ten...

JJ stood still outside, waiting to hear anything from Ava when she heard the gunshot. Before thinking she drew her weapon and ran to the other woman. Seeing the damage, JJ helped her to the vehicle and shot as many as she could.

Pulling away, she assessed Ava's injuries and cleared her throat, "Spence, we are gonna need medics on stand by once we get there.. She is in bad shape." Hearing the genius's quick intake of breath, "They will be ready Jayje, be careful." Feeling a little better she looked at the woman and knew she could understand her.

"What the hell were you thinking?! I could have helped you! The moment you came into Horch's life you came in all of ours and we take care of our family! Don't you ever do that again!" She knew others could hear her and she did sound like a mom scolding a child but the woman needed to hear it.

Ava fell back into the seat clutching the bag to her. "I'll live. It's not like I haven't been shot before." She pulled down the collar of her shirt wincing at the pain.

She knew JJ was just trying to help her and that everything she said was true. "I was thinking that your little boy needed his mom. And I wasn't going to be the reason you didn't go home to him." She knew they all knew her story. She told them about it. Hoping JJ would understand she reached back grabbing the first aid kit she started to patch herself quickly. "I know it wasn't my brightest idea but we got what he came for and well yeah."

Derek and the combined teams had moved in on the warehouse and taken Roland and Han into custody. Hotch was waiting for the girls when they got back. Ava gave him an apologetic smile as she and JJ walked in. Her lip was busted and blood from her shoulder had soaked her shirt and hoodie.

"Monroe!" Davidson shook his head at her. "The plan was to avoid injury."

"Yeah well, plans change. It had to be done." She tossed the bag to him. "Improvise. Y'all get em?"

The older man nodded opening bag pulling put some papers and evidence.

"That should get you the head honcho."

The medics helped her into the ambulance. "Any one going with her?" It wasn't any surprise that Aaron jumped at the chance to ride with her.

JJ sighed and touched her hand gently before they got of the car, "I know where you are coming from but let us in. We are family now and we protect our own okay. Henry and Will need me as much as Aaron and Jack need you so please don't take that risk again." She smiled gently and walked to Emily who was making sure she wasn't hurt.

Spencer stood next to Derek and sighed softly, "We really need to break through to her. I know her background but we need to try and show her that she isn't alone anymore." He held his boyfriend's hand and sighed once more.

Aaron felt all the pain he felt that day when he saw Hailey laying in a pool of her own blood. He couldn't lose Ava, not like that, he would rather her break up with him before going out like that. Sitting in the ambulance with her and the paramedics, he didn't say anything, he just held her hand and focused on controlling his breathing.

Once she went to surgery, he called Jessica to check on Jack and told her what happened and that he would see Jack tomorrow. She understood that he needed to be at the hospital and told him to keep her updated. When Ava went to recovery, the doctor allowed Aaron to go back and sit with her. Feeling his heart clench seeing her laying in the bed, he walked to her side and touched her hand. "...I thought it happened again... I can't loose you Ava... I can't.." His voice was a broken whisper as he sat down and waited for her to wake up.

Ava smiled at JJ. "Promise, last time. I'm getting too old for this crap."

Derek watched as Aaron left in the ambulance to go with Ava. "We will. She's always had a hard time letting go of the past."