The doorbell rang as Alex started toward it. "I'll get it," she called out as she reached out her hand and opened the door. "Hey, JJ."
"I'm sorry I'm late. Will needed help with Henry before I was able to leave."
"It's no problem; we haven't even started yet," Alex said, and the two moved toward the dining room where Hotch and Reid were placing the leaves in the middle of the table. "Look who finally showed up."
"Do you want some wine?" Morgan asked.
"I thought you'd never ask," JJ responded.
"Table's locked in place," Hotch said.
The team gathered around with Rossi standing at the head. "Thank you all for coming. I've hosted a few parties at my home before but never a clandestine one… at least not one I'm at liberty to discuss. But we are all here for a reason. Please help yourself to the wine, and dinner will be ready in about an hour."
Alex pulled the chair from the table, dropped a legal pad on the table then sat down. "I want to thank you all for being here as we try to solve this mess as quickly as possible."
Reid stood behind his chair, holding a glass of wine. "Because of recent events with Officer Kiefer and the men who were in our house, we are meeting here to keep Charles safe."
"Thank you for that," Charles said from the far end of the table.
"Between the BAU, our old CIA team, and Roman, we should be able to accomplish all of our goals," Reid said.
"Which are?" Garcia asked.
Alex picked up her pen and clicked the top. She then started writing on the pad in front of her. "Solve the murders. If it was from Cortez, then we need to catch the one who is doing it. Also, if Cortez is behind the threat to Charles, we need to prove it and stop it."
"We need to find who is dirty in the CIA," Morgan added.
Prentiss crossed her arms. "My money is on that Officer Kiefer. Someone needs to remove the pole from up her—"
"That would be a little easy, wouldn't it?" Hugh said. "I mean, it's too obvious."
"We need to figure out who she is and what she's after," Reid said. "She didn't just show up out of the blue. She did her research and knew all about us. There's something going on."
"Plus, the men who were in our house," Alex said. "We need to find out who sent them and why. They could have been sent by Cortez, as well."
"The FBI still has jurisdiction over the murders at the national parks," Hotch said. "If we are led to Cortez, we will also look into the possibility of him targeting Charles."
"If you're going to Mexico, I would like to go, too," Roman piped up.
"You?" Prentiss questioned. "You would stick out like a sore thumb.
Roman replied by speaking in perfect Spanish with no hint of an English accent, then said in English, "I assure you, I would not."
"I guess you could tag along," Prentiss said, then took a gulp of wine.
"Alright, so let's compile everything we know and see if we can put some pieces together," Alex said.
At the end of the evening, Garcia held onto Alex in a tight embrace, unwilling to let go. "I just love you all so much. I hate it when our family is in this kind of trouble. Unfortunately, it tends to happen a lot."
Alex managed to get Garcia to unhook herself. She held her at her shoulders and looked her in the eye. "Everything will be okay, Penelope."
Garcia nodded. "Okay, if you say so."
"I say so. Are you okay to get home?"
"Morgan is waiting for me; he is going to give me a ride home."
"Good." Alex smiled. "Go get some rest." She closed the door then returned to the table where her old team sat with Rossi and Roman.
"I'm still not sure," Charles said. "I don't want to be an imposition on you."
"My boy, I insist," Rossi said firmly.
"I've been hiding out for a couple of years; I would be able to find somewhere to crash for a few days."
"I'm sure you can, but please stay here. I have plenty of room, and at least we would all know you were safe."
Charles nodded, then turned to Reid. "You were right."
"Oh?" Reid questioned.
"You said that you had a real family with your BAU team." Charles then looked to Rossi. "But that's what worries me. I would hate to be here, and then something happen to you."
"Don't worry, kid, no one messes with this Marine," Rossi said with a wink.
Charles' face lit up. "My father was a Marine, too. Served in Vietnam."
Rossi playfully grabbed the back of Charles' hair and pulled him closer. "I knew I liked this kid." He then stood up from the table. "Alright, the rest of you scram. Go get some much needed rest; we will start fresh in the morning."
"Are you sure you couldn't take a few more boarders?" Alex asked as she lightly pushed Roman and Hugh.
"No, I think I can only bear one cross at a time."
The group was soon in the car and headed back home. The streets were empty at the late hour, and they were only a block away from home. They pulled up at the light and waited.
"This light is taking forever," Alex said with a yawn. She leaned forward and looked both ways.
Reid tightened his grip on the steering wheel. "You're right. I've never seen it take this long."
"Are they working on it?" Alex asked as she pointed to the truck down the road.
"At midnight?" Reid asked.
"Somethings wrong," Hugh said from the back seat.
"We better move," Roman added.
"You're right," Reid said, shifting the car into reverse.
Just then, a truck pulled out in front of them with the windows rolled down.
"Get down!" Reid shouted as he put his hand over Alex's head, and they both crouched down.
Glass exploded everywhere around them as bullets ripped through their car.
"Reid!" Hugh yelled.
"I'm on it!" Reid responded. With the car still in reverse, he slammed on the gas and whipped the car around. Hugh had his window down and held a gun in each hand, and started shooting. The vehicle continued to spin, and Reid shifted to drive, then peeled down the road, and the truck followed. "Everyone alright?" he asked.
"Perfectly," Alex replied as she lowered her window, leaned out, looking back toward the truck, and started shooting. They passed an intersection and she pulled herself back in. "Two more just joined us."
Suddenly their back window shattered. "Thank you!" Roman called out toward the truck. "Now I can get a clearer shot." He then leaned out the window frame and aimed for their tires. He hit one; the car spun and hit a light pole.
Alex turned around and looked at the two cars still following them. "You know what I was thinking, this reminds me of that time in Brussels."
"That was completely different," Hugh called back to her.
"Oh, why's that?"
"We had five cars following us then." Hugh turned back around and continued shooting.
"Hardly seems like a fair fight," Alex replied. She popped her head out the window again just in time to see the other car collide with a parked car and flip over.
"Reid!" Hugh called out. "Get ready to stop!"
"You got it," Reid replied.
"Now!"
Reid slammed on the breaks as the truck started to pass on the driver's side. Hugh eyed the vehicle and shot out the front tire then the back. The truck lost control and spun around.
Reid pressed on the gas and pulled up to the truck. They stepped out of the car before it was in park and rushed to reach their attackers. The passenger was dead, and the driver was barely hanging in.
"Who sent you?" Reid demanded.
The driver managed to let out a laugh as blood dripped from his lip. He then fell toward the steering wheel.
"Well, we aren't going to get any answers from Heckle and Jeckle over here," Hugh said.
Roman searched the passenger's pockets and pulled out a small bag. "Look what I found."
Reid took the bag from him and looked closer. "This is heroin. And look." He pointed to the "C" with the crown above it. "That's Cortez's logo."
"The men who entered your house must also be his men," Hugh said.
Alex pulled out her phone. "We have to warn Dave."