A/N: Sorry for the long wait, but I am now finally able to give you the next chapter to the story. Sadly I am nearing the end of this story. I think there will be one more chapter and then it will be complete. There's not much else that I can say other than there is a lot going on in this chapter. Like always, read and enjoy:)

Chapter 11- Introductions Part 1

Up on the fourth floor in room 472 of the maternity ward Beth was settling into her newly designated establishment. Already seated comfortably in the double wide hospital bed with Alexis cradled contently in her arms as she anxiously awaited Sam's impending arrival along with Mick and Prophet. True to her word, after receiving Dr. Malvern's approval for Sam's transfer, Dr. Bloom had returned to share the news with Beth, Gina, and Garcia. Then, not even five minutes after delivering the enlightening news Dr. Bloom had Beth and Alexis moved up to the maternity ward and into their current temporary place of residence. Looking down at Alexis' calm face Beth gave her a nervous smile as she said,

"Alright Alexis, your Daddy is on his way up here to see us. Are you ready to meet him?"

Hearing Beth's slight nervousness crackling within each word she said Gina stepped over beside Beth's bed and said,

"Relax Beth there's no need for you to be nervous. I just got a text message form Mick; he said that they just stepped off the elevator outside the ward's main doors, so they'll be here in a few minutes. But still, there's no reason for you to be nervous; try taking a deep breath to calm your nerves. You nerve know, it may help."

Taking a deep breath like Gina had suggested Beth was happy to find that the techniques actually worked, her nervousness had completely disappeared. Smiling up at Gina Beth replied,

"Thanks Gina, that deep breath really helped, it made my nervousness completely disappear. I know that there was no need for me to feel nervous, but I couldn't help it. Sam is finally going to meet Alexis along with Mick and Prophet, and I guess I'm subconsciously nervous of his reaction to seeing her since he wasn't able to be there with me during the actual birth."

Noting a pinch of pain and fear in Beth's voice Garcia, wanted to desperately to extinguish the problems that Beth's nervousness had made surface, stepped closer as well and quickly interceded,

"Beth Cooper, don't you dare try and think that Sam will react badly upon seeing Alexis. It doesn't matter if he was there with you during the birth or not. He will fall instantly in love with her like the three of us did, and the same goes for Mick and Prophet. I don't think there is a single person alive who can resist this little cutie."

Smiling lovingly down at Alexis Beth simply nodded her head in agreement to Garcia's final words. Then, not even a full two minutes later there came a gentle knock at the room's wooden door. Unable to see who it was that was at the door, and consumed with curiosity Beth loudly answered,

"It's open!"

Hearing the sound of multiple pairs of feet enter the room the three female agents were curious over who could be coming to visit Beth and Alexis. Their intriguing mystery was quickly solved however when Mick, with Prophet by his side, pulled back the privacy curtain to create more space in the room; giant smiles were on both of their faces as Mick said,

"Hey Beth, sorry it took us so long, but we have someone here who would really like to see you, and I'm pretty sure that you want to see him too."

Smiling brightly with pure anticipation at Mick's words Beth vigorously nodded her head. Without Mick having to say a word, as if Beth's nod was a signal in itself, the sound of squeaky wheels was heard from in the hall outside the room. Guided by Mark and Diego Sam was swiftly wheeled into the room, a smile already on his face as he gazed over at Beth holding Alexis in her arms. Beth's own smile immediately started to grow when she saw Sam, nearly splitting her face in two as she said,

"Hey sweetie, how are you doing so far?"

Trying not to cause himself any pain Sam shrugged his shoulders slightly as he replied,

"I'm doing good so far, but I'm happy as ever to finally be able to see you and that beautiful baby in your arms."

Right at that moment Diego and Mark rolled Sam's transport bed up beside Beth's double wide bed. Lowering the transport bed's left side rail in just one elongated, but swift motion, the two aids maneuvered Sam over closer to the other bed till the two of them were touching each other with no room in between. Standing at the end of the transport bed Diego gave Sam a nod of his head as he said,

"Ok Mr. Cooper, I know that this is going to be painful for you but I need you to lift up your body and transfer it onto the double wide bed. Just go slow and take your time; there's no need for you to rush. We also wouldn't want you to pull any of your stitches or staples that are holding your incision together."

Nodding his head to show that he understood Sam started the process of transferring himself onto the double wide bed beside Beth. Going slow just like Diego had suggested Sam found the seemingly simple task to be rather difficult. With each move he made, no matter how small, it caused Sam to experience pain around his sutured chest wound. Enduring the pain Sam inched his way little by little onto the double bed to his rightful place at Beth's side. Smiling in triumph Sam, with some help from Gina, settled into his new bed, graciously accepting the comfort it offered.

Taking the now empty transport bed with them, Diego and Mark made their way out of the room to give its many occupants their much deserved privacy, closing the door behind them as they went. The two hospital aids now gone, Mick casually made his way over to where Gina stood beside Sam's side of the bed, and wrapped his arms around her waist while keeping his eyes trained on Sam, Beth, and little Alexis.

Along with his newly assumed position on the bed Sam also had a new vantage point to look at his newest little angel. The picture that Mick had shown him earlier on his phone didn't do the little angel justice; she was much cuter in person. Raising his hand Sam gently stroked Alexis' soft cheek as he turned to Beth and said,

"She is absolutely beautiful Beth, just like you. I love both of you so much, I'm sorry that I couldn't have been there for the delivery."

With tears of joy welling up in her eyes making them sparkle, Beth leaned over to Sam and planted a short passionate kiss on his lips before she replied,

"I love you too, and I'm sure Alexis does too. Don't be sorry for missing the delivery though, it wasn't your fault that you couldn't be there. Besides, I had a lot of help from Gina and Garcia during the entire ordeal. And anyways, out of our now three children, you were present for two out of the three births, so I think that's pretty fair."

Laughing softly at the unmistakable truth in Beth's words Sam nodded his head in agreement. Beth, gazing down at Alexis for a moment, looked back up at Sam, and asked,

"Well Sam, would you like to hold your daughter?"

Despite being a little apprehensive of the pain the action might cause Sam still nodded his head; knowing that the joy that he would feel from holding Alexis for the first time would be worth the little pain he received. Without skipping a beat Beth twisted herself around on the bed so that she was completely facing Sam, and gently placed Alexis's bundled form into his waiting arms. Cradling Alexis securely in his arms Sam smiled down at her angelic face. Consumed with fatherly pride Sam was relieved that, despite a brief twinge of pain in his chest when he first arranged his arms to cradle Alexis' bundled form, he hadn't experienced anymore pain. His thoughts filled with innocent curiosity Sam looked over at Beth and asked,

"So, is it safe for me to assume that you gave our daughter the name that we agreed on? No harm, no foul if you didn't exactly; I'm sure whatever middle name you gave her is as wonderful as her first name."

A soft amused laugh passed through Beth's smile parted lips as she listened to Sam's slight ramble of words. Gently placing a hand on Sam's forearm Beth replied,

"Yes Sam your assumption is safe and correct- I did use the name that we had agreed on. Our little angel's full name is Alexis Marie Cooper. The name fits her so perfectly that I couldn't change it even if I had wanted to."

Over on the opposite side of the huge bed, standing beside Garcia, Prophet said,

"Hey, what about those of us here who haven't been introduced, huh. What about us?"

Giving Prophet a mischievous look Beth swiftly countered,

"You have ears don't you Prophet?"

Catching the mischievous glint sparkling brightly in Beth's eyes as she asked this Prophet gave her a smile back, dramatically rolling his eyes as he countered,

"Yes Beth I do have ears and they would perfectly, but that doesn't exclude the fact that Mick and I have yet to be introduced to the adorable little figure cradled in Sam's arms."

The mischievous glint grew brighter in Beth's eyes as both she and Garcia erupted into fits of laughter in response to Prophet's answering words. Smiling as if she were on the top of the world, while still laughing softly, Garcia turned to face Gina and held her hand out, palm up, expectantly. Heaving an exasperated sigh of surrender Gina retrieved a small wad of money from her jean pocket, placing the agreed amount into Garcia's waiting hand. Knowing already that she too would receive the same payment Beth also held out her hand so as to retrieve her rightful prize. After taking in both Beth's and Garcia's smiling faces as well as Gina's sweetly sour face Mick, realizing what must have taken place long before their arrival, started chuckling uncontrollably. Placing his chin on Gina's sagged shoulder Mick question,

"So let me get this straight- you three sweet, level headed ladies made a bet on how Prophet and or I would react if you didn't introduce us to Alexis? Is that about right, or did I forget something?"

Heaving another sigh Gina shook her head,

"No Mick you basically got it right on the nose. I knew I shouldn't have made that bet, especially after Beth sided with Garcia. Now I'm short forty bucks."

Still smirking Mick tightened his grip around Gina's waist as if giving her a backwards sympathetic hug as he replied,

"Oh don't fret Love, forty bucks isn't that much, especially when you consider how much money Prophet and I bet with against one another on occasion. Besides, putting your betting loss aside, what you ladies did was brilliant, devilish, but still brilliant."

Allowing Mick's complementary words to sink in Beth returned her now normal gaze to Prophet and said,

"Don't worry Prophet; the three of us were just kidding with you. As you've previously pointed out to me some time ago in the past, we aren't just a team, we're a family. Keeping that particular piece of information in mind, did you really think that I wouldn't introduce Alexis to her two wonderful uncles?"

Even though his cheeks burned red with embarrassment Prophet's face held a genuine smile of excitement in response to Beth's words while an equally excited smile was painted over Mick's face as well. Taking in the excited smiles on both men's faces Beth gave a soft giggle as she looked over at Alexis, still cradled in Sam's arms before she returned her gaze to Mick and Prophet, and said,

"Alright Mick and Prophet, I'd like you two to meet Alexis Marie Cooper…" Beth cocked her head at Prophet, "are you happy now Prophet?"

With a smile that nearly split his face in two on his lips Prophet nodded his head,

"Yes Beth I am very happy, thank you."

With her own smile on her face Beth shook her head with exaggeration as she turned her head to look back over at Sam. Without having to utter a word Sam, seeming to understand what Beth intended to do next, gently returned Alexis to her arms. While gently rocking Alexis back and forth Beth looked around at Garcia, Gina, Mick, and Prophet and asked,

"Ok, so who's going to be the first to hold Alexis?"

Fast as lightning, like two school girls in class, Gina and Garcia raised their hands simultaneously into the air. Right away, upon seeing both women's quick responses, Mick released his grip on Gina's waist and stared at the two of them and asked,

"Now wait a minute here, won't it be unfair for the two of you to get to hold Alexis before me and Prophet? I mean, haven't you both already had a chance to hold her before now?"

Slightly offended by Mick's question Garcia stared at him from across the length of the hospital bed with her hands planted firmly on her hips as she retorted,

"Actually, for your information my handsome Brit, Gina and I haven't held Alexis yet. We decided that we'd wait for the rest of you guys to get here before we held her. You know, play the fair card, and wait."

Not expecting to hear that Gina and Garcia had decided to wait for them to arrive till they held Alexis, Mick was a little taken back as he hastily replied,

"Oh well then in that case I do apologize Penelope, I didn't realize what you and Gina had so graciously decided to do. Please, ladies first, both of you."

Watching as Garcia's hard, challenging expression quickly changed to giddy excitement in response to Mick's kind suggestion, Beth quickly added,

"And Garcia, since you're standing over here on my side of the bed, and as long as Gina doesn't mind, would you like to be the first to hold Alexis?"

While Garcia vigorously nodded her head, without even a second thought, Beth quickly glanced over at Gina in hopes of getting a register on her opinion of what was about to happen. Just as Beth had hoped Gina, being equally as gracious as her husband, nodded her head in silent approval as she smiled at Garcia's open excitement. With Gina's approval given, Beth swiftly placed Alexis into Garcia's anxiously open arms. Immediately upon having Alexis placed in her arms Garcia accurately honed her attention in on the precious little girl as if she had entered her own little universe within her own mind. Continuing the gentle rocking motion that Beth had initiated Garcia smiled lovingly down at Alexis as she softly cooed,

"Hey there little cutie, I'm your Aunt Pen. Just like I did with your big brother and sister, I am going to spoil you as much as I possibly can. No matter what your Mommy has to say about it."

Shaking her head in mock disbelief Beth heaved a dramatic sigh as she said,

"Oh God, I knew I should have let Gina hold 'Lexi first. I had an inkling that Garcia was going to say something like this but I ignored it…"

Already fully aware that Beth was just joking with her Garcia, acting like a small child, stuck her tongue out at her brunette friend before she countered,

"Yeah sure you did little missy, but let me tell you something- even if you had given Alexis to Gina first I guarantee you that I still would promise to spoil her when it was my turn to hold her. Besides, it's not like I'm going to be the only one doing it, Mick, Gina, and Prophet will most likely do it as well just like they did with Sarah and Wyatt."

Already aware of the unmistakable truth of Garcia's words Beth nodded her head in silent acknowledgement. Garcia was absolutely right, but despite how bad the impending situation may have seemed, within the sanctuary of her own mind Beth actually welcomed the act of her newest daughter being spoiled like her older siblings were. Still not speaking a word Beth's lips broke into a smile at the idea circling around in her head. At that moment Prophet, while standing contently behind Garcia's shoulder, reluctantly tore his eyes away from Alexis to look at both Beth and Sam and asked,

"Speaking of Sarah and Wyatt, have the two of you considered how you're going to explain this to them? I mean when we left for this case it was just the six of us adults with no physical baby, but now when we do head back home you'll be bringing back an actual baby. Not to mention that Sam will still be recovering from his surgery. Both of those things are rather big surprises for two young kids to be dealt and have to deal with."

Having rushed through the explanation in a single breath Prophet took a moment to refill his lungs with the much needed air. Giving Prophet enough time to replenish his air supply as well as for Garcia to transfer Alexis into Gina's arms, Beth waited. Making eye contact with Garcia the two women shared a smile as Beth returned her gaze to Prophet and replied,

"Actually Prophet the three of us ladies have already worked out a plan for the situation. Here in a little while, after Gina has had her turn holding Alexis, she and Garcia are going to head back home and pick up Sarah and Wyatt from Julie's house and bring them back here. Garcia has already volunteered to watch them tonight at the hotel till they come visit us. At that time we'll introduce them to their little sister as well as explain in simple terms what happened to Sam."

Nodding his head a look of curiosity filled Mick's face as he asked,

"Alright, but Prophet and I will still have a chance to hold her now too, right?"

Catching the worry heavy in Mick's voice Beth couldn't help but giggle softly as she replied,

"Yes Mick you and Prophet will each have a chance to hold Alexis tonight, as well as another chance to hold her tomorrow when the kids come to visit. The only thing we aren't doing is awarding guardian titles, as they are the same as they were with Sarah and Wyatt."

Shrugging his shoulders Prophet said,

"Sounds good to me; I just have one question- I heard Beth mention it to Gina one time a while back, but was Alexis really an unexpected surprise for you guys?"

Prophet waited with nervous, baited breath as Sam and Beth exchanged glances, releasing it a moment later as Beth nodded her head,

"Yes Prophet she was but she is by far the best surprise that I've ever received. But just so that this never happens again I'm going to talk with my doctor during my next appointment about getting my tubes tied."

Prophet faked a wince of pain in reaction to Beth's words as he replied,

"Ouch Beth, don't you think that that's a little harsh?"

Seeing the look of mock glare that Beth was giving Prophet Mick, unable to pass up the perfect opportune moment, clapped his hand onto Prophet's shoulder as he said,

"I'd be careful Mate; you never know what Beth could do to you by saying that."

Chuckling at his fellow male teammates Sam quickly interceded,

"Actually Prophet, Beth and I talked about it and we've decided that three kids are plenty of blessings for us."

Unsure how to respond Prophet decided not to say a word as he mutely nodded his head in understanding. At that moment Gina, still cradling Alexis in her arms, walked up beside him and smiled as she said,

"Choosing not to actually speak, you made a good choice Prophet. And because of that good choice I think that you should be the one to hold Alexis next."

With a look of overwhelming joy bright upon his face Prophet graciously took Alexis' bundled form into his open arms. Turning back around to face the double wide bed Gina looked over at Beth and asked,

"So along with collecting Sarah and Wyatt from Julie's place, as well as picking up the newborn car seat and hospital bag, is there anything else you need us to get?"

After taking a moment to contemplate Gina's question Beth shook her head no,

"No I don't think so. The only other thing would be for you guys to pick up the presents that I know you both have already bought for her, and bring them with you so that you can give them to her now."

Knowing that it was useless to deny the clear and evident truth in Beth's words Gina remained silent, her cheeks blushing a light pink in embarrassment. It was sometimes a little annoying how well Beth knew both her and Garcia, especially when it came to them buying gifts for the kids. Noticing the lop-sided grin fixed into place on Beth's face Gina gave her the same grin in return. Turning her head yet again Gina's lop-sided grin quickly changed into a soft laugh at the childish pout that currently covered Mick's face. Before Gina could open her mouth Garcia walked over to Mick and gently tapped his pouting face as she said,

"Aw don't be like that handsome; you'll get your chance to hold Alexis after Prophet has had his turn. You just have to be patient and take turns like good little boys."

Catching onto the hinted child-like comparison between himself and Prophet Mick smirked; just the reaction Garcia had been hoping for. Her brief mission accomplished Garcia looked over at Gina and asked,

"Well my fair Gina are you ready to hit the road so that we can pick up the kids and everything else before making our way back here in a decent amount of time?"

Retrieving the keys to one of the Bureau issued SUVs from her jean pocket Gina dangled them in the air for Garcia to see as she replied,

"Yep, and I've already got the keys, so let's go…" Gina turned to look around at everything else in the room, "See you guys when we get back. Try not to have too much fun while we're gone."

With the sounds of their teammates' soft laughter behind him Gina and Garcia made their way to the heavy wooden door; heading out to begin their newest little adventure…