Hey Everyone!

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Am I… dead?

Is this just my consciousness floating in space?

No…

I feel…

Something.

Maybe this is a dream.

Or.

Is… is this what Heaven feels like?

It's so… soft.

And it smells like peonies.

I love peonies.

"…do we tell her…"

Voices? There are other people here?

"…tell her only… needs to know…"

Wait, of course there would be other people in Heaven.

"… she's gonna see…"

"…build to it…"

See? I can't see anything.

"…Auntie Ton…"

Auntie Ton?

That sounds like…

Like…

Caroline's nickname for Mom.

Wait…

I'm not dead.

This isn't a dream.

Her eyelids felt like weighted sandpaper, but she did her best to open them. Looking through her lashes, Lou was able to see that she was in a room she had never been in before. Bright and white and gold flecks danced along her vision. Her mind was slowly coming back to her, as she felt a weight on her legs. Her whole body was aching; there was not one inch of Lou that felt great. She felt the impact of the blast, and the impact of hitting the water was making its presence well known. Lou had never felt more physically weak than she did laying there. Even more so that the car accident.

She tried her hardest to open her eyelids more, and with her eyes half-open, Lou could see she was laying on an extravagant bed. The gold flecks she saw belonged to the accents on all the furniture. Lou intuitively knew she was in a super fancy hotel, most likely one of Mother's secret French abodes she used back in the day to get some alone time. Lou couldn't fault her mother for wanting the luxuries of life, given how obvious it was. It gave her a comfort she didn't realize she appreciated until that moment.

Scanning the room, she was laying in the middle of a grand bed. There were two doors, one in front of her bed, and one to her left. She was attached to an IV drip sitting at the side of the bed. Lou could feel her whole body was wrapped in gauze, her entire arm taped and tubed, and a breathing apparatus tucked right underneath her nose, feeding oxygen and air to her. She was beaten badly, as Lou slowly recalled Judeau's attacks on her.

When she recalled the attacks, she recalled the entire events.

The explosion.

The tower.

Spencer.

Lou moved her body too quickly, and she slightly jolted in pain.

That's when she realized a specific someone had their head laying on her lap.

The perky ears of Dexter shot up, as the tail belonging to the dog began wagging erratically, bouncing up and down off of the bed.

She was overwhelmingly happy he was okay.

"Hi," Lou whispered, her voice barely registering.

She remembered that she must have destroyed her voice when she was shouting Spencer's name.

It took everything within her to pet the top of Dexter's head and not burst into tears thinking about her Tinman.

The dog crawled his way closer to his owner, licking her face for comfort.

"Thank you for saving me," Lou was incapable of raising her voice. She kept her soft tone as she looked at her precious dog.

"I'll make you special dog cookies, yeah?"

The tail kept wagging up and down with a large 'thump' each time the dog showed his happiness. Dexter dropped his head onto Lou's lips, and the professor allowed her sweet dog to smother her with affection. She had her arm lazily wrapped around his fur, and Lou was grateful that her hands weren't numb, and she could feel the softness of Dexter's coat again.

She was grateful she still had feeling and motion in her arms.

"Oi! Dexter, get off her!"

Lou could distinguish Caroline's voice even if she were hard of hearing.

Linnie.

"Did she not just almost die? She needs to breathe!"

The professor felt the hands of her friend pick up Dexter.

The dog whined in protest.

"Would you like to wait until she's awake to smother her?"

"And if I'm awake now?" Lou said breathlessly, her voice still not able to register

Linnie dropped Dexter when she thought she heard her best friend speak. The dog barked in protest, jumping back on the bed, and sitting his head on Lou's thighs.

"Lou?" The tears formed instantly in her eyes.

"Hey… Bullwinkle."

The relieved laugh came from Caroline, her tearful smile radiating happiness.

Caroline's words must have been the catalyst to unleash all attention upon Lou. Like clockwork, she saw her mother's slow form walk out of the room, the shock and relief showing right on her mother's face.

"Elena Lou."

Zion's head popped from around the door on the left, and her pseudo brother's bright, white smile graced his bruised and bloodied face. Looking much better than last time Lou saw him, he walked around the corner to show off his arm in a new sling.

"Lou!" Zion sat right down on Lou's bed, facing her.

"How long have I been out?" Lou asked softly.

"It has been about ninety-eight hours since the explosion occurred."

"Four days?"

Lou whispered in astonishment, turning her head as softly as she could to look out the window, watching the day come to an end.

"It was bringing me great stress," Zion admitted, "but I knew you would wake up."

"Did you?" Lou whispered, trying to clear her throat.

The motion caused Lou to feel excruciating pain.

Zion and Linnie noticed.

"I knew you are a stubborn person, and you wouldn't listen to anyone or anything who told you to die. So, I knew."

Lou mustered up a smile.

"I have too much… neshama in me, huh?"

Zion rocked his head back in laughter. Even the pain in his collarbone didn't stop the Mossad agent from laughing his head off. Caroline eyed Zion, sitting on the other side of Lou on the bed cautiously.

That's when Lou realized Zion and Caroline had met for the first time, possibly in that hotel room.

No introductions needed on my part…

"Something like that, yes," Zion said after calming down, rubbing his shoulder.

"Where's Spencer?" Lou asked, her voice raising slightly.

Everyone paused, not answering Lou.

It made her heart jolt.

"Is he…okay?" She asked, panicking.

"He is," Zion reassured. "Your father confirmed for us."

Lou took a breath.

"Okay… when can I… see him?"

"Hey, Rocky," Caroline cut in.

Why aren't they talking about Spencer?

"You know how when I got captured by Joyce and after we reunited, you suggested I get a new haircut?"

"Caroline!" Antoinette hissed, as the older woman sat at the foot of the bed. "I said build to it."

The redhead ignored her aunt.

Lou's singular eyebrow rose in confusion.

"…Yeah?"

"Did you need me to give you the same advice?"

Lou's own jaw went slack from attempting to process the information that Linnie was asking of her. When she gave no response to her friend, Caroline leaned forward towards the nightstand to pull a hand mirror sitting on the surface. She held the mirror out to Lou, who fully got to witness what her childhood best friend was talking about.

Lou's long, beautiful hair was cut short.

It was cut noticeably short.

There was no pink whatsoever, as Lou's super long hair initially went down to her hip bone, with the pink tips ending somewhere in the middle of her chest.

Her hair now just stopped right above her jawline.

"The explosion caught one of your pigtails on fire. Zion said he saw your hair burning while you were flying through the air, lucky for you that you hit the water before all of it could get singed. Apparently the tower also had fireballs in it or something? I don't know, I wasn't listening. In my defence I asked your mom to wait until you were awake."

"Caroline! You suggested it!"

"And you picked up the scissors right away, Edward Scissorhands. And I'll be honest Lou, she did a shit job. It was like lopsided on one end and she took a huge chunk in the back too short, so I had to come in and save you. Honestly? I don't want to toot my horn but uh, toot toot motherfucker, you hot as hell with short hair, bitch. You're welcome."

While Lou found the haircut to be rather cute and complimentary for her face (and it was definitely something she had to get used to), she knew the exact reason why she never cut her hair to that short of a length.

The scar that Noah left on the side of her face was exposed for all to see.

"Son of a bitch," Lou whispered, twisting her head to the right and watching the short, loose curls try to take shape.

Zion scoffed, while Caroline chuckled in laughter softly.

"That's not your normal set of profanity," Lou's mother chimed in.

The professor smiled softly.

No, it's Derek's.

"Probably picked it up from one of the team," Caroline said. "Speaking of people that I've been recently forced to be introduced to…"

"Oh," Lou could only manage to say.

"Yeah, oh." Linnie was waving the mirror in her hand, using it to point at Lou accusingly.

"For one thing, fuck you for having another best friend besides me, who happens to not only be another secret agent you've been hiding from me, but oh, is an army doctor as well."

"I am an EMT, not a doctor."

"Well, excuse the fuck outta me Mister Fancy Fucking Acronyms."

"Caroline Cordelia!" Antoinette scolded.

Somehow, the profanity from Caroline made Zion smile wider.

"Oh, and Lou, an extra fuck you for not telling me how hot your medic ninja best friend is."

"Recently engaged," Lou whispered.

"And? I'm not allowed to use my eyes?"

"Miss Chandler—"

"Another fuck you for making me scared shitless thinking that you were going to die while you were sitting in this damn bed."

"The profanity young lady—"

"And also, a big, giant fuck you with a cherry on top for running away in the first place!"

Lou's facial expression was deafening.

"Ah-ha! Didn't come up with a quick one with that shit, huh? But…"

Caroline sighed, somewhat defeated.

"This one time, this one time you get a free pass because you like… almost died, trying to save your mom and even after saving your mom, you also did everything you could to save Super Special Agent Rossi, so my anger is more like annoyance. And I did slap you earlier, so I did get my anger out on you days ago. Plus, I get to be even angrier at Noah, but incredibly happy knowing that everyone else in the world wants him dead, so it helps."

"You done?" She whispered.

"Almost. I got another outburst coming up. I can feel it brewing."

Lou registered that herself and Zion weren't the only ones in the blast.

Uncle Dave.

"Where's… David?" Lou tried raising her voice, but she couldn't speak high enough.

"Right here, kiddo."

Zion shifted his body for Lou to see Rossi, a crutch underneath his arm as he walked to the nearest chair.

"You've got spunk, kid… senza paura."

"What does that mean?" Caroline asked the agent.

"To be fearless."

The response to Linnie's question didn't come from Rossi. Nor did it come from Antoinette or Zion.

"To be unafraid."

It came from a voice she hadn't heard in years.

"To come without fear."

Malachi Tikvah approached from behind Zion, his hair now a lighter grey since the last time Lou saw him. She forgot how much Zion was a carbon copy of his father, both blessed with a beautiful, giant, smile.

The difference between the two was Malachi didn't smile as much.

And Zion could never stop smiling.

Uncle Kai?

What's he doing here?

He never leaves the Middle East unless it's business.

"Correct me if I am incorrect. My Italian is rusty."

"Exactly that, Ambassador Tikvah."

"Oh, no, please, Agent Rossi. Not that ancient name. Malachi is quite alright."

"Then you can call me Dave. I recall having a similar conversation with you ten… eleven years ago?"

"Ah, good memory. I would think you wouldn't remember a measly poker game."

Rossi shrugged. "I remember men who take money from me."

The hearty laugh that escaped Malachi was so rare, Zion's eyes almost popped out of his head from hearing it.

Lou knew that the powerful Middle Eastern man was going to be in a three-piece suit, and sure enough, Lou found her Uncle Kai dressed as sharp as ever. He was nothing if not punctually dressed always. She couldn't hide the smile as the man she had known for years walk up to her and his son.

"It would seem you two were on another secret mission again, and this time for good reason. I should scold you, Zion, but you finally have ended a mission where someone did not lose a finger, or a head."

The Mossad agent's back sat up straighter, his permanent smile taking his father's backhanded compliment with stride. The elder Tikvah smacked his son slightly on the back of the head to help stop Zion from smiling (it didn't help).

"And you, young lady. I had hoped I would not see you in this position again."

Lou felt sheepish.

It wasn't the first time she was surrounded by family while attached to an IV.

"Sorry," she whispered with all the sincerity she had.

"This time, Lucille, there is no apologies needed from you. I hoped that your troubles would come to an end, is all. My hopes for that menace to society is finally taken care of."

She felt foolish for not asking sooner, but she should have known.

"What happened… to Bennett?"

"Exactly what should be happening to him," Malachi spoke, placing his arms behind his back. "His past."

"Interpol is charging him for multiple counts of murder and unsanctioned actions including espionage." Zion continued for his father. "They have been building a case against him for years, from what my father has told me. His assassin skills took over him, the morale was gone… he started to pick off important people in governments little by little."

Lou wasn't shocked by this information.

This was something she uncovered herself.

"It had gotten to the point he convinced multiple people to help him, and those people convinced other people, and now Noah has a secret army within the CIA, FBI and MI6, all from the allies he has grown from his time in Parliament."

Malachi cut in. "Which is why Interpol has taken over the investigation; he has not tainted their rankings as much."

Lou turned at the tapping of Linnie's hand on her arm. She turned to find her friend with some water and a straw. Taking a much-needed sip, Lou settled back down into the bed, Dexter now resting his head on her stomach.

"Is that why I'm here?" Lou's throat felt a bit better after the drink. Her voice was still raspy and soft. "And not… in a hospital? Where… Noah can't find me? I thought… Mom, you would be in the hospital too. Is Spencer… in his… own room?"

Malachi, Dave, and Antoinette both shared a look with one another.

Lou caught it instantly.

Are they hiding something?

The professor wished her body was able to move faster than she was now, as she would have been quick to respond to their secretive look.

She was thankful her obnoxious best friend never was afraid to fill her gaps.

"What was that?" The redhead cocked an eyebrow.

"Hm?" Antoinette asked.

Caroline's other eyebrow rose, crossing her arms.

"Nope. That shit doesn't fly with me. Don't you play oblivious. Lou spotted her Mama Rosie's lying ass even quicker than I did so don't even start. I have evidence from the lady herself."

Linnie then point an accusing finger at David.

"You, I'm slightly suspicious of, even though I like you and even though you really help Lou with her creative shit, you also got that 'Imma-keep-a-secret-for-a-good-reason' face going on, so I'm watching your cute old ass as well."

The redhead twirled her finger dramatically before pointing to Malachi.

"Now Mister Tikvah, I know you probably run some super important government agency that stops criminals and all that fucking hullaballoo that I am way too tired to comprehend at this moment in my life, but I know enough to know I should show some slight respect to you."

She cleared her throat.

"However, that being said, don't you fucking stand there and act like Lou, your own son, and this loud bitch A.K.A myself, didn't notice the sneaky look that you shared between all you older adults. You are keeping us all in the hotel room from the public eye, and I'm certain I am not the only one who would like to know why. You three have been pretty chummy when it comes to info on the Doc, and I'm tired of playing nice."

"Wow," Zion said, in complete awe of Caroline. "I like you."

Linnie flashed her a version of her own megawatt smile.

"Good. About time you did."

"Caroline, we need to speak upon your social manners," Antoinette said harshly.

"Uh, no, we do not need to 'speak upon' them. I think I have made myself abundantly clear."

"Antoinette, it is alright." Malachi waived her off. "I quite enjoy Lou's American friend. She speaks exactly what is on her mind."

Linnie grinned again. "Thanks. Now, did you want to tell us why are you keeping us away from… everyone?"

"We're not keeping Zion and Caroline away from everyone," Antoinette admitted.

"So… just me?"

Lou was trying to put the pieces together.

What did they have planned?

"Why… everyone?"

"Lou."

The professor looked to see Rossi walking up to the bed. Zion got off the bed to offer the spot to Dave, to which the older agent took as he slowly sat down on the bed, making himself comfortable.

"I need you to remain calm when I tell you this."

She chose not to respond.

If he's telling me to be calm, it's not good.

"We need everyone to assume that you're dead."

Any air that was in Lou's lungs shot right out.

"What?" She squeezed out.

"Judeau is still missing," Dave continued, "After you had passed out, there was no sign of her. Zion had gotten us into Judeau's getaway boat and sped off to the other side of the lake with a car waiting."

"Your father was in the car," Zion muttered.

Lou realized her father wasn't in the room in that moment.

"How… Why…" She started, but she took a moment to gather herself.

"Why was… he there? Why were you there? You just… showed up."

Zion looked sad in telling her.

Almost… regretting the next sentence he spoke.

"Your father… had me watch you."

"Watch… me?" Lou asked, astonished

"From when you called him when he was in Argentina."

Lou remembered back to that phone call, when she asked her father to protect himself, when Lou thought that Noah was intending on going after her father, but it was really Lou's mother.

Lou let it slip to her father that Zion was helping her.

"Lou, what the hell are you doing, talking to Zion about Bennett?"

She forgot how close Zion and her father were, like he was the son he never had. While he never replaced Lou, he craved having a parental figure who paid attention as much as Lou's parents did, especially how distant Malachi was with his own child. She never faulted Zee for wanting her parents' approval, and happily made a spot beside herself for Zion to have his own place for affection.

"Do you have some devilish plan up your sleeve?"

She didn't realize what Zion would do to help repay all those years of affection.

"You've been… spying on me?"

Lou didn't think she would feel hurt by Zion's actions.

However, the tears in her eyes were involuntary.

She understood why he did it.

But it didn't make her feel any better.

"Since when?" She asked when Zion chose not to respond.

"Since that phone call with you and your father. He called me and told me to immediately head over to you. I would have made myself known, but your friend Prentiss showed up before I did. That is when I knew of your mother's missing status is when I found it acceptable to show up."

Lou closed her eyes, trying to calm herself from the pain.

He was only doing what he was asked.

So why don't I feel good?

"You told him." Lou opened her eyes to find Zion's eyes filled with pain.

"You told him…. Everything I told you, in secret?" Her voice cracked towards the end of her question. "Everything… that I meant to… just share with you? When I asked… don't tell my dad?"

Zion knew what Lou meant by that, that he would have to admit to betraying her trust, but he chose not to respond.

"He ordered me to stay at the Manor with you. He wanted no one to see me, to make sure I could get to you if there was a surprise. I watched the zayin call Reid over, and I called your father when I told him about my gout- gut feeling. I walked to the tower from the back of the house, and that is when I find you. Your dad got into the car and came right after me, but he was not as fast as I was. He showed up as the bomb blew up."

"He… saw me?" Lou mumbled. "Unconscious?"

Zion could only nod in response.

Rossi kept on explaining to Lou, providing his perspective. "We got you into the car and drove here as fast as possible. I… did have to tell your father about your suspicions, Lou. I know you came to me in confidence, but I felt he had to know."

She saw Rossi felt guilty for betraying her trust.

But she could only muster a smile.

"I told him of how you thought there were people working for him, how only individuals on the inside could allow Bennett to have the reach that he does when it came to the Manor. Your father is quite intelligent… He asked me right away if the two security guards he left with you were Bennett's men. When I confirmed that to him and told him of what had fully transpired… it… set your father off."

"Off?" Lou asked.

"Bat shit crazy, Rocky."

She turned to her best friend to her right, waiting for her to continue.

"He went full Papa Bear mode."

Lou's body went ridged.

Caroline purposefully said the phrase in that manner.

He calls me Lou-bear for a reason.

"Elena-Lou," her mother cut in. "Your father carried you out of the car and up here himself. He was damn determined to make sure you were absolutely safe and having the best care from Zion. You were completely pale, no colour to your skin whatsoever, and unresponsive, with barely a pulse. He almost grew desperate multiple times and took you to the hospital at the risk of your own exposure. After Agent Rossi told him of what had occurred, he stared at you for a long while. I could see the same expression he had on his face, the one when you were in hospital after that car accident all those years ago."

"Kept saying, 'I put her in danger again'," Linnie mumbled. "Then he bolted out of here and kept saying 'I have to see him'."

"Who?"

"Dunno. But I'm pretty damn sure it's Mister Fuckface Galore."

"New… name?" Lou asked, referring to Bennett.

"Yeah, Douchebag McGee's getting an upgrade, especially if your dad wants to strangle the guy."

Lou's eyes would have practically fallen out of her head if she opened them any wider.

She knew how dangerous her father was, especially when it came to the safety of his Lou-bear.

She turned to Rossi.

"You said everyone."

Rossi looked at Lou, and he knew the professor well enough to know she was already figuring out what was going on.

"You… don't mean… everyone, do you?"

Dave took a breath, and Lou knew he was anticipating the question she was going to ask next.

"Due to the invasive nature of Noah's plan, your father felt he could not trust anyone who didn't already know you're alive."

"Dave," Lou pleaded, her voice gaining some tenor.

"Does Spencer… think I'm dead?"

His lack of response gave Lou her answer.

They didn't tell him I'm alive?!

"No!" Lou protested.

She looked to her mother.

"Mom… please! Call Dad… tell him to… tell Spencer."

"I haven't been able to get a hold of him, sweetheart. I'm sorry."

Her chest started heaving.

"Mom… Spencer… he lost someone." Lou tried hard to fight the pain and catch her breath at the same time. "She died… and Spencer still is recovering. We… have… to tell him. If he thinks… I'm gone, it will… destroy him."

"She has a point," Zion said in her defence. "I have only seen it for a short while, but he does care for her greatly."

"The Doc loves Lou like a man in a desert loves water." Linnie said fiercely, eying both Rossi and Antoinette. "Letting him think that she's dead is borderline sadism."

Lou's eyes filled with tears, remembering her Tinman.

He told her he loved her.

She told him she loved him.

And he was ripped away from her.

He thought she was dead.

Take a second! Look who you're dealing with, Lou thought to herself, trying to reason with the situation.

This is Spencer, your love.

He flew halfway across the world for you.

He fought a deadly assassin for you.

He tracked you down with nothing but hope and a single piece of fabric.

Spencer will find you.

You know it.

"Lou?" Rossi asked, noticing how overwhelmed she was.

Lou's tears fell from her face as she tried to gather herself. With her eyes darting across the room, she was looking for a focal point to land on, something she could inspect and calm herself down.

"Do you need a second?" Rossi offered, to which Lou shook her head.

"Hey, Lou, you need to breathe," Caroline said, finally taking the mirror and sitting it on the night table, intent on helping Lou focus. Her eyes fell upon a soft fabric sitting on the night table, the same one Linnie pulled the mirror from.

It was folded neatly into a square.

A beige, pashmina scarf.

More tears fell from her face.

He doesn't have the scarf…

He can't…

He can't find me.

He doesn't have a way to find me.

"Lou, Spencer will be okay." Rossi said softly. "I know the team. They'll be protecting him. He'll survive."

She shook her head. Her tears fell along with them.

"No, he's not." Her voice cracked from straining it, and the effects of shouting her Tinman's name were starting to show. "This is… torture to him."

"Lou, you should know the importance of providing information at the right time," Rossi said sternly. "I don't like this at all, but I also don't like Bennett having the upper hand. We need to stop him."

"Not… like… this."

Rossi was watching Lou. She was becoming more and more distraught with the knowledge that she was forcibly being kept away from Spencer.

If the Professor was anything like the Doctor, and if her past history was any factor, then Lou was about to become quiet, whether it be due to the strain in her voice, or the choice to remain silent as she sat in her misery. Rossi knew it was leaning towards the latter, and he knew he had a short window to talk to the professor before she clammed up and no longer spoke.

Dave needed to know more about the car accident.

He knew what she did, how she did it…

But if Lou was a creature of habit…

And she was repeating her past behaviours…

Then that meant this event, and the event that happened eight years ago…

Were similar in nature.

He couldn't trust Zion. He didn't know his tells.

He could tell when Lou was lying.

Which was most likely why this was his only shot at getting answers.

"Lou, why did you go through with the car accident?"

The professor's mouth went slack in confusion, tears stopping where they were.

He was determined to pull her focus to him.

"I know it was to stop Bennett," Rossi clarified, "but what caused you to go through with this plan? What did Noah do, or what did you uncover, that trigger you to go through with the plan? What was the catalyst to try and stop Bennett the first time?"

By the look of deflection on Lou's face, Dave had her.

She was a creature of habit.

He was going to get his answers.

He felt awful for doing so when she felt like this, but he knew it was only a matter of time before Lou stopped speaking or was incapable of speaking.

"No reason. He… was dangerous," she said. Dave could already tell her body language was closing off slowly (eye contact going to forehead instead of directly into my eyes…), so he knew he was on the right path.

"No, not no reason. You started this plan with Emily and Zion officially when Bennett approached Henry on the sledding hill, hurting him. You may have planned stopping Noah just in case, but it was when Bennett took an unprovoked hit on the team is when you lashed out and brought down the full force of your plan upon him."

Rossi leaned forward, placing his arms on either side of Lou.

"Kid, you got strength I have never seen. You have all this power and knowledge, and you choose not to use it for anything malicious. You choose to take your ability to manipulate and turn it against those who are manipulators. It's because you have heart. The strongest empathy I have ever seen. You show kindness to those who would have never seen it in their lives if it hadn't been for you, and you keep everyone you love close to your chest."

Lou's eyes filled with tears again.

"You only lash out in anger when someone has attacked your heart, and you lash out excessively. So, what was the event that caused you to go through with the car accident?"

She closed her eyes, a deep, slow sigh escaping her.

"How did… you know?"

The agent couldn't help but smile to himself.

I still got it.

Rossi chuckled. "Kid, I do this for a living. I'm just takin' it easy on you because I feel like a complete ass for putting you through this."

That earned a smile from Lou. It made Rossi feel more comfortable pressing Lou.

"What was it, Lou? What was the catalyst?"

She squinted her eyes.

"Noah… had a secret mission."

Lou began coughing, and with the pain evident on her face, Zion cut in.

"Lou," Zion was hesitant to use the nickname he had for her, "maybe I should…"

"No…" Lou cleared her throat. "Let me."

Everyone could hear the anger in her voice.

Nodding, he let Lou continue.

"Noah wanted people dead. Important… people."

Lou grabbed her throat again in agony.

Rossi took pity on Lou. He should have realized Lou wasn't speaking due to her pain.

"Maybe Zion can fill in the gaps?" The agent prompted before continuing. "You let me know if he's incorrect."

"I will tell the truth, as much as I know," Zion said, holding his hand over his heart. "I promise you."

Lou seemed a bit reluctant, but she nodded.

"So, like Lou said, Noah wanted to kill important people."

"Who?"

"Whoever he wants," Zion shrugged. "One day it was the Russian family, the next it was some Canadian parliament person, I do not know. Lou would know more. But what I do know is that when Lou came to me and Seri and Teo, she was scared, and she asked us to protect."

"Protect who?" Rossi asked again.

Zion looked at Lou, to which she nodded.

The Mossad's agent's eyes went straight to his father.

"Me?" Malachi pointed to himself.

"Not just you. Baba Charlie too, and all the other ambassadors."

"Baba Charlie?" Linnie asked confused.

"Lou's father," Zion mentioned. "It is my name for him."

"Holy shit! Lou, Noah has been trying to kill your dad for the past eight years, and you fucking knew?"

Lou only shrugged towards Linnie. "You're surprised?"

"No, Queen of Secrets. Goddamn, at least give me a head's up or something."

"You're telling me Bennett wanted to kill members of the United Nations?" Rossi asked, appalled. "Why would Bennett intend to wipe out half of the members of the UN?"

"His job," Lou whispered, to which Zion finished for her.

"He was in the English parliament, a Secretary or something like this… Bennett was wreaking havoc and causing destruction between nations. The UN was trying to get rid of him, but he is apparently very persuasive. Lou realized what he was doing and made a plan to stop him… permanently."

Rossi was getting frustrated, but he knew he was almost there.

"What did he do that made Lou put the plan into motion?"

"It wasn't him." Lou said softly.

She took a breath, realizing everyone, including Zion and her mother, was listening in on new information.

"Dad invited Noah… to the Christmas party."

"Oh my," Antoinette said, recognition overcoming her face.

"He thought he did… behind my back," Lou shifted her body, feeling a painful cramp arise. "I knew. I was hoping… Dad would."

"That's why you didn't fight your dad," Caroline said suddenly, realizing the night what Lou was talking about. She turned to her friend sitting in the bed. "You wanted the douche to think you were unknowing about the whole situation. That's why he was so damn happy you were there… Damn Lou, everyone's out here focused on playing chess, meanwhile you're playing poker for fuck's sake."

"Why was it before Christmas?" Rossi asked. "Was there something specific that it had to at this time?"

Lou paused, looking to Zion.

The Mossad agent turned to the BAU agent.

"Lou stumbled upon Noah's plan to execute half of the influential Ambassadors in the new year."

"My God," Dave whispered to himself.

Dave figured out what the catalyst was.

"It's your father," Rossi whispered, looking back at Lou.

The professor's face was a cross between ashamed and relieved.

"Bennett has your father's people paid off. Bennett has possession of your father's home. Bennett is trying to get you, your father's daughter. Bennett hurt Henry, knowing how much it would hurt you, and the one thing your father gets enraged at the most is—"

"His Lou-bear in pain," Caroline finished for the agent. "Uncle C is practically impenetrable; the man is made of stone. You can't fuck with a guy that powerful… but, oh man, you could totally fuck with his daughter who cares about everything and everyone."

"Noah finding out how you are is what made him intrigued by you," Rossi clarified, for his sake and for Lou's. "He uncovered how interesting you were to him, and that made his motives stronger."

"It doesn't matter!" Lou shouted, to which it sounded like a measly squeak.

"Bennett got… what he wanted… Spencer and I… away from each other." Lou went to physically hold her chest from the pain. "You can have… whatever answers… you want. But you need… to tell Spencer… I'm alive."

It was then Malachi spoke.

"That is out of the question, Lucille." He spoke loudly.

Caroline and Zion went straight to Lou's defence.

"The fuck it is, mate!"

"You cannot deny her wishes, Baba."

"I am not denying her wishes, Zion." Malachi addressed to his son.

"I am respecting the wishes of her father."

Lou was flabbergasted.

That's why Uncle Kai is here.

He is here for business, and business only.

"What does… he wish?" Lou bit out harshly.

With a deep sigh, her uncle spoke.

"Your father is currently attempting to get his sights on Noah Bennett. He wishes to keep you away from everyone until he can trust more people than the ones currently in the room."

"Trust?"

The appalling tone came from Antoinette Richardson.

"There are members in the Behavioural Analyst Unit who are more worthy of my trust than you are currently, Malachi. The BAU risked their lives to save my Elena Lou. My word, I give them credit for my safety, as well as your son's safety. Now we've all agreed that this is the best route for now, but how can you calmly state that Rossi's team is not trustworthy?""

"Because I can. In regard to my son, Zion can handle himself." The man said nonchalantly.

Lou heard her mother snort in response.

"You would be correct. However, your son has a punctured lung, a broken collarbone, suffering from clear exhaustion, and you force him to take care of Elena Lou, when you can have a qualified medical practitioner who is also discreet. You haven't allowed him to rest from all of his wounds."

"His body will heal."

"And what that of his broken heart?"

Rossi began to notice that both Charles and Lou weren't the only Richardsons who were quick with their thoughts.

Even Rossi didn't know what Antoinette was talking about.

"His broken heart?" Malachi repeated. "Do you think he is that weak?"

Toni cocked an eyebrow towards her old friend.

"I think he's that hurt."

"Mama Rosie," Zion pleaded, "please, do not say anything."

Nodding slowly, Antoinette agreed.

"Zee?" The confused, soft tone was in Lou's voice.

Lou had no idea what her mother what was talking about. She turned to her friend, who was hiding his own secrets.

Zion shook his head.

Lou noticed Zion was forcing his smile to be on his face.

"You didn't read my letter," Zion said, leaning against the other night table. "I saw it on your kitchen table… You chose not to open it?"

"No… I wanted to… it was big… I wanted to sit… and take my time."

Rossi could see how hard Lou was working to stay awake.

"I knew I should have told you," her brother mumbled.

"Told. Me. What?" Lou insisted.

"It is nothing, neshama. Not anymore."

"Zion—"

"Please," Zion begged. "No more. I am here to help you, Lou. I will tell you when you are better."

"I will be better… when I see Spencer."

Both Rossi and the elder Tikvah looked to each other.

"Until we have clearance from CJ, I am not comfortable having Lou's alive status known."

Antoinette did not hold back.

"I am not comfortable leaving my foot out of your ass, Malachi."

Zion's jaw dropped while Lou almost pushed all the air out of her lungs.

"Oh shit," Caroline said, a laugh coming from her throat. "We need to talk about your social manners Auntie Ton, 'cause damn, you fuckin' ruthless!"

"It is not my job to be shot, Antoinette." Malachi stated, ignoring everyone except for his best friend's wife, his words heating up.

"Then don't be the messenger," Toni pointed out, standing up. She matched his anger equally. "Especially one so eager to pass along information."

She walked up to him, showing the torture that Bennett put her through. The bruises exposed on her body, her bloodied hands, everything that would warrant someone to cower away in pain.

But Antoinette took her pain, chewed it up, and spat it out like venom.

"My daughter has been through hell, not only within the past three weeks, but for the past eight years. Our location is secure. If we get word to them that Lou is okay, then that's more than enough."

"Antoinette, I cannot break a bond with a friend based off of Lou's concern with her own friend—"

"Fiancée." Caroline bit out, correcting. "As in, like your son apparently was, which you don't even care to notice."

Malachi's eyes slanted towards her.

"I am beginning to not like you, Miss Chandler."

"Fucking good. Now we're really getting to know each other."

"American bitch."

"Baba!" Zion shot up, cursing his dad. "That is not okay."

"Oh? You know what is okay and not okay?" Malachi's anger was spewing out of him like crazy.

"Like you are losing your job and not telling anyone? That is okay?"

That was new information to Lou.

Zion lost his job?

"Or your betrothed sleeping with other people is okay?"

Lou's heart broke.

All those times she made jokes about Aya not valuing Zion.

All those times she poked fun at his relationship.

All those times she dumped her relationship drama on him…

And Zion was going through this?

Lou remembered the clue that Zion unknowingly left…

'You have my word, Zee. She's a lucky woman'

'Would you mind telling her that?'

"Wow," Caroline shouted, getting off the bed and walking towards the older Tikvah.

"You really don't give a shit about your son's feeling's, huh?"

"You do not care about your own well-being, Miss Chandler?"

"Malachi," Antoinette came right beside Caroline. "Don't you dare threaten her."

While everyone was bickering at one another, Rossi kept his eye on the woman sitting on the bed. With everyone's energies frantically around her, the professor was overwhelmed by the amount of people surrounding her without regard for her sensitivity. He could see Lou was uncomfortable, and anxious, and all she most likely wanted to do was to get away from everyone and be with the one person she was being pulled away from.

Dave's heart broke.

Everyone was at each other's throats from being stuck together for the past four days.

Lou was stuck in the middle.

She just wanted her fiancé back.

The professor herself was doing everything she could to stay afloat. Her thoughts were circling through her head.

Why didn't Zion tell me what was going on with him? He lost his job and… he was being cheated on?

Where the hell is Dad? Why did he go off on his own to hunt him down? (The last question was fairly obvious to Lou, but she still had to ask).

How come Uncle Kai is so adamant at not having the BAU know about where my location is?

Why is Mom so in-between keeping us together and keeping us apart?

Why is everyone trying to keep Spencer and I apart?

The last thought she had hit Lou the hardest.

What is Spencer going to do if he thinks I'm dead?

The tears came down her face.

Lou couldn't control herself anymore.

"Alright, that's it!"

She looked to see her Uncle Dave standing up, his voice booming.

"None of us are doing anything right now to benefit Lou. We've overwhelmed her. She just woke up after being unconscious for several days. Enough."

The room was uncomfortably silent after Rossi's words, save for Lou's soft sniffles from clearing her nose.

David turned to Lou, speaking to her sweetly.

"Did you want us to leave?" Rossi asked her.

"She doesn't want to be alone," Toni said with certainty in her voice.

Caroline echoed Antoinette's sentiment. "Yeah, I know Lou. She'd want us to be around right now."

Lou's silence contradicted her best friend's statement.

"Rocky?" Caroline questioned.

Taking a breath, the professor spoke, her tears not drying.

"I want to be… with Dexter."

The good dog's head popped up, and Lou took the energy she had to rest her hand on top of his head.

"Just Dexter?"

Lou looked to Zion who asked the question.

"For now," Lou said, running her hand softly over her dog's fur.

With a quietness that was a stark contrast from moments ago, everyone cleared the room they occupied. One by one, each occupant left the room, leaving Lou's mother to be the last one to leave the threshold. Zion had his hand on the door, waiting for the elder Richardson to exit.

"Elena Lou," her mother called, and Lou gave her attention to her mother.

"I hope you find it within you to forgive me."

"I… already do," Lou told her sadly.

Watching as her mother left the room, Zion made eye contact with her.

She gave Zion a smile.

Although she was upset with his actions, she was never mad at Zion.

He always protected her.

Like she always protected him.

He flashed her a small smile himself, but it was still bright. He shut the door softly.

Lou let her exhaustion reign free, finally allowing herself to let go.

It was the first time she had been alone to her thoughts.

Spencer

She remembered his hair that was getting too long, the sweet smile that graced his features when he spoke to her, or when he held her hand tightly every single time she asked.

Lou remembered what it felt like to be held in his arms, his palms soothing against her back.

She could practically feel his heart against her ear, remembering how her head felt on his chest.

Her eyes watered again when she remembered what he told her not too long ago.

"I love you."

Lou didn't stop the sob that came out of her.

He loves me.

He told me he loves me.

How could I do this to the man who loves me?

Dexter was there again in that moment, and Lou's heart pulled at the sweet dog who did everything he could to be there for his parent.

"I miss him, Dexter." Lou sniffled, petting Dex's ear. "We barely had… time together."

The dog whined, laying his body beside Lou, facing his mother.

"And he… doesn't have you… or the scarf… to find me… or to keep… him company."

Lou rubbed at her throat again, in clear pain.

She knew she shouldn't have been talking, but she couldn't help herself.

It was too long since she spoke with her furry child.

"Maybe… we have to find him?"

Dexter tilted his head. He was somehow conveying his disapproval at Lou's suggestion.

"Okay… He's better at… finding people… than I am. So… we make him… find us, then. But… how does he?"

The dog chose to sit up this time, wagging his tail.

"Well… you should know… what he'd do… your dad said… you spent all your time… with him."

Lou knew her question wasn't going to be answered by Dexter, not if the dog had a hand-written note translated through someone who did indeed understand canine speak. She noticed in that moment the dog was wearing a vest stating, 'Service Dog'.

"Oh? Is this how… they got you in here?" Lou laughed to herself softly, realizing how smart her family was. "You're well… behaved. It's not… that hard."

Her hands found the vest. It was a standard vest she had seen on most service dogs, and Lou thought nothing of it. With her hands going upward, she felt Dexter's collar.

But it didn't feel like Dexter's normal collar.

Lou looked at the dog's neck.

When she first got Dexter all those months ago at the animal shelter, he had a bright red collar that Lou never changed. Lou thought red was Dex's colour through and through and let him have his way with red coloured accessories.

For Lou to find that Dexter had a new yellow collar was jarring to her.

Why didn't she notice it sooner?

Why was she noticing it now?

How much time did Dexter spend with Spencer?

Fighting her tired eyes, Lou pulled her dog closer to her, intent on looking at the brand-new collar on her dog's neck. While it did feel like a normal fabric collar, there was one portion that was a hard plastic, and Lou couldn't figure out why the plastic was on his collar. It was just hanging off of the side of the collar, as if it was an… attachment of some sort.

Something inside of Lou was compelling her to deduce the scene in front of her.

Lou's dog, the one being in the entire world that would follow her no matter what, had a new collar on.

What does that tell you? She thought to herself.

"It was changed… for a reason." She whispered, thinking out loud.

Assuming it was changed by Spencer, he must have changed it knowing that Dexter was not only capable of locating my position, but he also knew Dex wouldn't leave my side once I was back with my dog.

Was it for aesthetics? Did Spencer just want Dexter to get a new collar?

Spencer doesn't care about looks, she reminded herself.

Spencer wouldn't have cared what colour Dexter's collar was if it wasn't meaningful.

Spencer changed Dexter's collar.

On purpose.

It hit Lou then.

It was the simplest explanation.

Dexter's collar was changed…

Because…

Dexter is the only one who can track me down.

The team would have not pinpointed her location if it wasn't for Dexter. The entire team had given credit to the four-legged soldier who used his mother's scent to narrow down her location.

Spencer told her it was the dog who was responsible for finding her.

Considering how everyone knew how loyal Dexter was…

And she knew how desperate Spencer was in finding her…

Would Spencer have done something to make sure he wouldn't lose me again?

Lou knew the exact same thing Spencer did when it came to her dog.

Wherever Dexter was…

…You'll find Lou.

'Mama's gonna take you everywhere. I'm not leaving you behind anymore, you understand?'

Could it be that easy?

Was her Tinman putting an end to the separation between them?

Lou couldn't help but feel that Spencer was making sure he was reaching out to her, in a way that she was comfortable, like he always had.

With the first time they met, and the case they worked together, when he gave her three pencils to calm down. When he held her hand for the first time to make her feel at ease. When he got her to be a consultant on a case and had her flown halfway across the country so they could work together on their problems.

Not that he ever put Lou in a position where she was on the brink. But he pushed her out of her anxiety, pushed her out of her own head to show her to enjoy life, especially when he often would get lost in his.

He was there for here when she didn't even realize she needed him.

It was an unspoken oath, letting her know he'd always be there for her.

No matter who or what tried to block the path between them.

Running her finger along the fabric, Lou noticed something odd about the texture of the collar. It was unlike any dog collar she came across. Rather, it felt like a square texture, imprinted along the band.

Wait, they're not squares.

They're rectangles.

Lou, frustrated with not being able to see, pulled Dexter closer to her with as much energy as she could muster. The dog understood what was being asked and leaned down to help his mother.

She pulled the collar to her face, getting a good look at the fabric.

Lou gasped, realized what she was looking at.

The plastic box she felt earlier was haphazardly taped to Dexter's collar.

This was added. This was not meant to be there.

The fabric, however, showed rectangles made out of a yellow fabric.

Wait… they're not just rectangles.

They're

"Yellow bricks," Lou said out loud, the tears already collecting in her eyes.

[ + ]

"Nothing, Baby Girl?"

Penelope turned to find Derek rolling in his wheelchair towards her. She was sitting outside of Reid's hospital room. It was Day Five of Lou's Missing Status 2.0, and this time it was a whole lot worse. Hotch was up to his eyeballs in phone calls, fighting with OPR investigators as well as HR within the FBI, making sure that the team had their benefits and time taken off so they could rest in the hospital as comfortably as possible, as it was encouraged by the higher-ups from the Bureau.

Apparently, the FBI was making it ridiculously hard for the team to do any investigating, and that was annoying everyone.

JJ kept getting in and out of bed to check on Reid, and now the nurses were monitoring her and making sure she stayed in bed, or at least her room, in order to not worsen her ribs. Penelope was medically cleared that morning, her wounds were slowly healing, but she was grateful she was up and about with no need for meds. Penny had just gotten off the phone with Kate, who was due any minute. Their teammate who was back home was feeling it the worst, with Kate desperate to help the team, but also having to worry about bringing a new life into the world. Everyone did their best to reassure Kate, but they knew Kate would see through their façade, and Penny was grateful for Kate's playful jests over the phone.

She wasn't grateful of Reid's declining status.

The nurses were completely baffled at how unscathed Spencer was. For standing too close to an explosion, the fact that he was breathing on his own after two days was remarkable. Physically, he wasn't brutally attacked by Bennett's plan, only the explosion causing the wound in his head. But even then, the cut on the back of his head was more blood that it was pain. The doctor said there was no damage done to the brain, thankfully. What was damaging however, was the fact that Spencer refused to speak. He hadn't been eating for the past several days, and the doctors were concerned about his mental wellbeing, and inquired as to why this highly intelligent doctor was behaving in an unintelligible way.

Well, unintelligible to everyone except the BAU.

Lou was still missing.

And no one had info to confirm whether or not she was alive.

The only hope Garcia had was Spencer's odd behaviour in one aspect.

He asked for a tablet.

Now, Penelope had never seen Spencer willingly ask for a piece of technology, let alone know how to use said piece of technology. But when he did ask (he didn't speak— he signed what he wanted to Garcia), she had to repeat herself three times to make sure she was reading his hand gestures correctly. While she was suspicious, Garcia obliged, and in a confused manner gave him a blank tablet. She thought that maybe he wanted some form of streaming service, but all he did was visit a single website before placing the tablet onto the table beside him.

Reid began staring at the screen then and there and hadn't looked away from it since.

She should have gone to the hotel, but she couldn't.

Not when her entire family was in the hospital.

Not when they needed her the most.

Garcia peeked into the room to check on Spencer.

He was still in the same spot she check him in.

She turned to Morgan, shaking her head.

Sighing, Derek rolled himself to the window.

"This is killing me," Morgan's eyes not shifting from focus. "We're just stuck here, without our resources."

"Until we're medically cleared to work, we're not to work." Garcia said plainly. "I made the case to say that I was medically cleared, but apparently I need to get an evaluation from a State-side doctor before I can get my hands on any government tech, just my own. Convenient for Bennett."

Morgan shook his head, to which Penelope caught.

"What is it?"

The black agent sighed. "Baby Girl. That's why Bennett injured all of us. That way, we'd be put on medical leave and not have FBI resources."

Her jaw dropped in frustration.

"Well, I didn't need another reason to hate him, but here we are."

"Speaking of resources," Derek pointed to Reid with an electronic device near him.

"Since when did Reid ask for any type of technology?"

Garcia shook her head, shrugging her shoulders as well.

"I… well, I don't really know how to explain it, but he didn't ask."

"He didn't?"

"He signed for it."

Morgan was confused. "Signed? Like… Sign language?"

"Yeah. Another skill Reid picked up on apparently. Lucy had non-speaking movie she wanted to share with Reid, so he learned ASL on one of his lunches. He asked me to quiz him three months ago; I remember a bit of it."

"Jesus… the things he'd do for Little Lou."

"The things she'd do for Reid," Penny countered, to which Derek agreed.

Morgan turned, facing his immobile friend sitting in the hospital bed.

"Is he waiting for something?" He realized, looking at how Spencer's body language was clinging to the electronic screen in front of him.

"Kind of…" Penelope stated, confused. She pulled out her own tablet. "I'm monitoring his activity, and right now he hasn't even turned the screen on, not since I gave it to him. I think he maybe tracking Lucy?"

"What did he do? Did you see what he may have visited?"

"Honestly? I don't know, not without the FBI's supercomputer, or my computer back home. I would need the tablet in my hand. I just know if he's using it or not."

"And he's not?"

Penelope shook her head.

"Not since I gave him the tablet four days ago."

Both Morgan and Garcia looked at their friend, watching as the only movement that occurred from their friend was the steady rise and fall of his chest breathing.

"Did he tell you what he's waiting for?" Derek prompted.

Garcia didn't look away from Reid as he spoke.

"From what I gathered from his quick signing hands, was that he was waiting for a roadblock or something. I didn't really make sense of it—"

"Roadblock?" Derek asked, confused.

Garcia just chose to shrug again, looking out at her friend.

"I'm not the best with sign language."

The phrase stumped Derek. Roadblock? There was no connection as to why Spencer would make such a statement.

Unless…

Derek remembered Lou a fan of a childhood story that intertwined into different aspects of her life.

To Lou, Spencer wasn't her boyfriend, or fiancée, or even her Doctor.

He was her Tinman.

And he knew how Reid was when it came to Lou.

And while Garcia wasn't an expert on sign language, Morgan was an expert on all his friends.

He, also, knew ASL.

Maybe Garcia had mixed up the word block with another similar word for a square or rectangular shaped object.

Road. Block.

That's not it.

"Do you remember what Reid signed to you?"

She thought about it for a second. "Maybe? Hold on, I only remember the last part of it."

Putting her laptop off on the side table, Penelope tried to recall what Reid said to her.

Penelope signed the letter 'Y' before shaking her arm slowly. "And then, I think he did this." She put her hands in front of her, palms parallel, facing each other with her fingers together, moving them forward and backwards.

"And then he moved his finger in a rectangle, like a sign or a blockade."

Garcia made the motion of drawing a rectangle in the air with her hands.

Morgan got his confirmation that Garcia mistranslated.

Her hands froze, realizing something.

"Or, hold on, maybe it was backwards? The last word could have been before the second last one, I'm not too sure."

Morgan nodded, choosing not to respond.

While he may have trusted his Baby Girl, he knew he had to play his cards against his chest.

Garcia was correct in stating she mixed up the phrasing.

If the words were rearranged, it would make more sense.

He got the info he needed.

Derek knew exactly what Reid was waiting for.

Especially from the three words he gathered.

Yellow.

Brick.

Road.


Next Time: "What a sneaky little bitch."