The team sat waiting anxiously in the lounge of their hotel after receiving Rossi's call for them to meet there. Alex hit Reid's leg when she noticed Hotch walk through the door. They stood up ready to follow when Rossi walked in afterward and he, unlike Hotch, headed directly toward the group.
"What's going on?" Prentiss asked.
"We will fill everyone in shortly, but not here," Rossi said.
"What is Hotch doing?" JJ asked.
Hotch stood at the front desk then turned to Rossi and tilted his head in a motion to come.
"He's getting a room," Rossi said.
"But we already have rooms," Garcia stated a bit confused.
The group followed Hotch toward the bank of elevators. They split into two groups, not wanting to crowd each other and met on the top floor of the hotel.
Hotch was already down the hall by the time Reid and Alex's elevator reached the floor. They stepped out onto the foyer with Garcia and JJ close behind then entered the room passing Hotch who held the door open for them.
"Not too shabby, Hotch," Reid said as he glanced around at the hotel suite. There was a half kitchen, large dining table, living room area with two recliners, two large sofas, and a 60" TV mounted on the wall. That didn't include the closed of bedrooms and bathrooms.
"So, why did you get a suite?" JJ asked.
Hotch moved to the dining table where the team joined him, and they all sat down. "I had a meeting with Strauss today."
"That must have been fun," Prentiss interjected.
"It all boils down to breaking off any relations with Alex…" he started as the team let out a collective gasp. "As well as removing Reid from the BAU."
That statement left them dumbfounded.
"That's why we called you all here," Rossi said. "Aaron has an appeal scheduled for tomorrow. So, that means we have less than twenty-four hours to figure out how we are going to convince her to drop this."
A few hours later they were hard at work among containers of Chinese food that were spread out over the table and kitchen counter. They stopped when they heard a knock at the door.
JJ picked herself up from the table to answer. She opened the door and was surprised to see Morgan standing in front of her. "What are you doing here?" she asked.
"I signed myself out a little while ago," he said as he entered the suite. "Not bad, Hotch. I hope this isn't coming out of my salary."
"No, it's coming out of mine," Hotch said. "Morgan you really should be in the hospital."
"I know but not when pretty boy over here needs my help," he said with a loving pat on Reid's cheek.
"How did you even know where to find us?" Rossi asked.
"I told him," Garcia said sheepishly. "I'm sorry, I was just giving him an update because he was stuck in the hospital. I didn't think he would check himself out and come all the way here."
"That doesn't matter right now," Hotch said. "Honestly, we could use your help."
"First, I am going to get some of that Chinese food. I am starving. English breakfast isn't that appetizing," Morgan said as Prentiss pulled out a chair for him.
"That's not going to work," Reid said as he slammed his fist onto the table which startled the group.
"Reid, we've gone over all the options," Hotch started.
"And none of them are worth it," Reid said. "I won't allow all of you to sacrifice yourselves, your careers, for me!" He pushed back his chair, stood up from the table, and left the hotel suite.
Hotch turned to Alex as if seeking an alternate route to approach him.
Alex rose from the table but in contrast to her husband. All eyes were on her, and she looked to them apologetically. "Let me go speak to him."
She found her husband staying in the foyer by the elevators, yet he hadn't pressed the button. "Aaron's idea will work," she said in a calm tone.
"It probably will," he said. His hands gripped the edge of the sideboard and looked into the mirror. He wasn't starting at himself rather looking through to the metal elevator doors behind him. "I can't allow them to do it, to make that sacrifice."
"Isn't that their choice to make?" she asked taking a step closer to him. "You once told me that they were more than your friends, they were your family. Well, your family wants to take care of you as families do. I think you should let them."
The members of the BAU stood in the waiting area where Hotch was just twenty-four hours ago. They were anxious and unable to sit. Morgan was there, in spite of Hotch's insistence that he return to the hospital.
Alex was the last to arrive. She dressed in a suit for the occasion which caught a few of them off guard because she always dressed so casual.
"You clean up good, kid," Rossi said as he stood next to her.
"Thanks. I feel naked, though," she remarked tugging at her buttoned blouse.
"Because of your suit?" Rossi asked.
"No, because I couldn't bring my knives into a federal building."
Rossi let out a wry laugh and shook his head.
Hotch steadily approached Alex from the opposite end of the waiting area. "Where's Reid?" he asked.
Alex's face scrunched at his words then looked around at the group. "He said he was going for a walk before coming here. I would have thought he would be here by now."
"Agent Hotchner," the assistant, called from the hallway. "They're ready for you."
Hotch looked around to each of the faces of the group who all gave subtle nods in acknowledgment of still going forward with heir plan. Hotch led them down the hall and into the office where he knew Strauss would be sitting on her throne waiting for him.
To Hotch's surprise, and the team, Reid was seated in the hot seat.
"Thank you, Agent Reid," Strauss said. "That will be all for now."
Reid rose from the chair and turned to give his friends a satisfied grin, then turned toward the door. He stopped briefly in front of Alex and squeezed her hand before leaving the room.
Hotch seated himself where Reid was a moment ago and looked to Strauss as the rest of the team stood behind him.
"Before you start with what you've obviously prepared for today, I think we should address Agent Reid," Strauss said.
"Yes, that's what we're here for, to discuss…" Hotch started.
Strauss held up her hand to stop him from continuing. "I know each of you have a resignation letter you wish to give me today. But, before you do something you won't be able to take back, I think it's best to listen to what Agent Reid had to say."
The team had a collected look of confusion but looked to Strauss for her meaning.
Strauss pressed the intercom button on the phone. "Rebecca, you can put the video on now." She looked to the team. "As you know, all inquiries and debriefings are recorded for our records." She turned her attention to the TV screen on the wall as the screen changed from darkness to blue. After a moment of a snowy picture, Reid appeared before them just as he took his seat before the panel.
Video Replay:
"Agent Reid, this is a bit unorthodox," Strauss said with her hands clasped together. "After all, the meeting was scheduled with your superior. It isn't appropriate to make an end-run around his authority."
"I presumed I would be allowed a bit of latitude considering it's my tenure at stake," Reid said.
"Very well," she said and leaned back in her seat. "Go ahead."
"First, I wanted to inform you that the team, including Agent Hotchner, are planning on submitting their resignations in response to my removal from the team. I would respectfully ask that you do not accept them. They are doing it for me, but they shouldn't, nor do I want them to. They shouldn't be punished for something I did. After all, I was the one who broke protocols, rules, and has admitted to inflicting bodily wounds that could be called nothing short of torture."
"It is I," he continued, "and I alone who should be held responsible and I accept the decision of this review panel in my dismissal if that is my fate."
"When I returned to this line of work I forgot that I was still a representative of the FBI and I suppose that could have affected some of the decisions I made. However, I know for a fact that Hotch and the others were in constant contact with Clyde Easter, who was the case manager and the team's first point of contact for authorization."
"Hotch alerted Easter when Alex was abducted and also receive the authority to interrogate their witness the way they did. Everything was run through him. Hotch cannot be held responsible. I, on the other hand, acted on intuition and my CIA training. In that field, we relied on gut instinct and made decisions. What I did was wrong, and I accept responsibility for my actions. Please don't punish them because of me."
"Thank you, Agent Reid," Strauss said. "We will let you know when we render a decision.
The recording ended, and Rossi leaned into Morgan. "More than just a pretty face, huh?" Rossi whispered.
Strauss pressed the button on the phone one more time. "Rebecca you can send him back in." She then leaned toward her colleagues, and they whispered among themselves followed by nodding to each other.
Reid entered the room and stood next to Alex.
"I agree with you, Agent Reid," Strauss said. "Holding you responsible for going rogue might be a bit harsh even in these extenuating circumstances. However, he did knowingly inflict extensive force causing unnecessary pain and contributed in the death of an individual. That simply can't go unpunished."
"Agent Reid, you are suspended for one month, and then you will be on a year's probation. You will need to check in with an appointed therapist monthly," Strauss said. She then turned to attention to Alex. "Officer Marcus, I don't have the authority to prevent the CIA's assignments in the future collaborative efforts. However, I would advise that you keep your distance from this team should such a case arise."
"Yes ma'am," Alex replied.
"I expect you all back at the BAU ready to work on Monday," Strauss said in conclusion.
The team was wary as they exchanged looked with each other. Hotch thanked the panel and stood from his chair then they exited the conference room back into the hall.
"Did what just happened… just happen?" JJ asked.
"Strauss might just have a heart after all," Rossi said.
"We're glad you feel that way because the drinks are on you, Rossi," Prentiss said with a quick tap on his shoulder.
Hotch pulled Reid aside, away from the group. "Do you realize what could have happened if the decision went the other way?"
"I do… for all of us," Reid said then pursed his lips and gave a nod. "Come on, you can chew me out later."
The team gathered around the table in Hotch's hotel suite where Rossi hired a catered dinner, complete with a server. Rossi held up his glass of wine, and they followed suit. "A toast. It's an oldie, but a goodie. Friends are the family that we choose for ourselves. Salute."
Alex leaned in toward Reid. "I guess this means we aren't going to be working together anymore."
"Probably for the best. Someone always wants one or both of us dead when we do," he replied in jest.
She raised her glass to him. "Here's to working separately."
He clinked her glass, and they both drank.
"As much of a roller-coaster ride this mission was, I'm glad I came back. I think I finally have some closure," Reid said squeezing her hand under the table. "And I have you."
"Every new beginning comes from some other beginning's end." - Seneca
I am working on the next story in this series. It focuses on the years Reid and Alex spent in the CIA. Not sure when it will be posted yet, still a work-in-progress.