"We need to assemble an assault team as quickly as possible," Hotch declared. "Sheriff - Detective?"
"Deputy Malcolm has instructions to wait at the curve in the road, just before you get to the Masters' place," the sheriff replied. "There is plenty of room there for a team to gather."
"We'll need to stop any traffic going into that area," Detective Wade stated. "It will be fairly easy to block the road on both side of the house. I can get some of my guys started on that now." He pulled out his cell phone and began calling.
"Where is Morgan?" Hotch looked around the room.
"I think he is out in the parking lot getting some updated information from Garcia," JJ suggested.
"We can get him on our way out," Rossi said. "I assume everyone has a Kevlar vest in the SUVs?"
"And my men have theirs in their vehicles," Sheriff Gardner assured him.
"As do mine," Detective Wade added.
"Okay, we need to get moving - Now," Hotch reminded everyone as he headed towards the door.
"We can call our officers in route and tell them where to meet us," Detective Wade announced as he followed Hotch out of the conference room.
~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.
The assault team was busy assembling on the road just before the Masters' house, when Reid noticed that Emma was not only with the group but that she was putting on a Kevlar vest.
"What do you think you are doing?" he demanded.
"Putting on a vest?" was the response.
"You can't do that!" Reid snapped at her.
"Why not?" Emma snapped back.
"Because it's not safe," Reid insisted. "You don't know what you are doing!"
"Spencer, it has been six months," Emma told him defiantly. "Things have changed. This is part of my job now!"
"You can't do this!" Reid yelled at her as he grabbed her shoulder.
"It's my job!" Emma yelled back as she twisted away from him. "Get your hands off me!"
"Hotch!" Reid yelled over at his supervisor. "You have to stop her!"
"Sorry Reid," Hotch replied. "She's not under my command."
"However," he continued, giving Reid his patented glare. "You are. And, if you can't handle this situation, I need to remove you from this team right now and send you back to the community center."
"I can handle it!" Reid declared. "However, you need to – "
"Over there with Morgan – NOW!" Hotch ordered. "And, I don't need you second guessing me – Understood?"
Reid glared at him for a moment before walking over to stand with Morgan, Blake, and JJ.
"Dr. Porter will be - ?" Hotch turned to question Detective Wade who had been standing amusedly watching the interchange.
"Dr. Porter will be hanging back with the EMTs," Detective Wade assured him. "The vest is only a precautionary measure. She's coming with us in case any of the officers are forced to fire their weapon in the line of duty. That way she will be available to talk with them afterwards when either the sheriff or I have to confiscate their weapon. As you know, that can be pretty traumatic."
"So, she talks them through the process?" Rossi had walked over to join the conversation.
"Yes. She suggested the system and it seems to be working," Sheriff Gardner had also joined them. "I only wish someone had suggested it sooner. I lost a good deputy a couple of years back and I always thought that if someone had been there to help her she might still be on the force."
"We've all lost good officers like that," Hotch agreed. "And, if having Dr. Porter there helps to prevent that, I'm all for it. Now, let's get this organized." He and Sheriff Gardner walked over to where the officers were standing in their SWAT gear waiting for instructions.
Rossi looked over at Detective Wade and smirked. "After hearing that, do you still think your pharmacist has a chance?" He nodded towards Reid.
"You're betting on your FBI guy?" was the response.
"Put your money where your mouth is," was the challenge. "$20 too rich for your blood?"
"That's just about right," the detective replied. "However, we need to set some ground rules."
"Right," Rossi agreed. "No dead or dying relatives, no blackmail, and definitely no heads up calls to either of the two contenders."
"Guys?" Morgan joined them. "You ready to go?"
"Just setting some ground rules," Rossi replied with a smirk and nod in Reid's direction.
"Count me in!" Morgan demanded. "How much? And you can probably include Blake and JJ, too."
"When this is over with, I'll poll my guys," the detective told Rossi as they started walking towards the assembled officers. "I'm sure some of them will want to get in on the action."
