** This story is part of a series - The Secret Life of Spencer Reid **

The first story is: The Enemy of my Enemy

"No matter how hard the past is, you can always begin again."

-Buddha

Alex headed down the hallway at Langley until she reached the last door. She knocked, then opened the door. "You wanted to see me?"

"Yes, come on in," Major Grant said while he finished signing a report. "You have done exceptional work this past year, and I wanted to be the first to congratulate you on finding the mole."

"Wait, what? You did? Who is it?" Alex asked in noticeable shock.

Grant picked up the paper in front of him and read the name. "George Keenan. He turned himself in about an hour ago."

"Why would he turn himself in?"

"He must have felt the heat. You were an essential part of that. You better believe that I am already writing a report detailing your exploits." He stood up from his chair and extended his hand out toward her.

Alex realized a moment later what was happening and stood up and shook his hand. "Thank you, sir."

"Cheer up, Alex. Your assignment is complete."

"Yes, of course," she said dryly. "Um, if you don't mind my asking, who is going to interrogate Keenan?"

Grant picked up another document from his desk and skimmed it. "Officer Kiefer."

Alex pursed her lips together tightly and forced a grin. "Very well. Thank you, sir. Yes, I am very glad it is over." She turned around and left his office. She headed back down the hallway toward the elevator. Her eyebrows furrowed together in thought. She entered the car and held her finger over the number four for a few seconds. She shook her head then pressed the five.

The elevator doors opened, and she stepped out on the floor buzzing with office workers. She walked past the cubicles and reached the open office door. She turned to look inside then knocked on the door frame.

Officer Kiefer was busy writing a summary report and looked up to see Alex in her doorway. "Oh, come on in. I thought I might get a visit from you. Come to gloat?"

Alex blinked a bit taken aback. "Uh, no. Actually, I just wanted to ask a few questions, if I may."

"You may," Kiefer said as she leaned back in her chair. She held on to the ends of her pen with both hands.

"Have you had a chance to interview Keenan yet?"

"No."

"Did he surrender himself to you?"

"Oh, I see where this is going. You wanted to be the one to bring him in. Well, I'm sorry, it didn't work that way this time. There is still a lot more work to do, so you thinking that this whole case was wrapped up neatly with a bow is wrong. Nothing ends simply. Now, I have work to do. I don't need you coming in here and taking credit for all of us doing our jobs." Kiefer leaned back toward her desk and picked up writing where she had left off.

Alex let out the breath she was holding and headed back to her office on level four.

"So, what does this mean?" Charles asked. "This whole thing is over?"

"We still don't know what motivated this George Keenan to do what he did. Was he only working for Cortez, or was he simply out for his own interests?" Alex speculated.

"Have you ever met him?" Reid asked.

"No, I never heard of him," Charles said.

"Maybe it has nothing to do with you," Reid said.

"Or maybe it does, and Keenan was paid by someone to get rid of you."

"Why would they want to do that?" Charles asked, abashed.

"I don't know. Why would they kill CIA agents guarding you at a safe house?" Alex replied.

"So, what do we do now?" Charles asked.

"Listen, Alex and I were planning on going on our annual trip to the island and check on the hotel and take a little vacation. Why don't you come with us," Reid suggested.

"Yeah, that sounds like fun," Alex added. "Let's get Hugh to come too. It's been ages since the four of us did anything without dodging bullets."

"I guess that could work," Charles said. "Sondra already said that I shouldn't come back until we are confident that this is over. And we won't know about anyone else working with the mole until the interrogation is done. So, yeah. Let's do this."

"Operation Sandcastle is a go!" Reid added with a grin.

"I told you, you aren't allowed to come up with operation names anymore," Alex said.

"I thought you meant officially; this one was just for fun."

"You lost that right after Operation Albin Countergambit," Alex said.

"We were tracking down a chess player. It was appropriate."

Morgan entered the conference room where Garcia had poster boards laying out and a box of markers. "Garcia, what are you doing?"

"I'm working on a welcome home sign for when Reid returns."

"You took them to the airport yesterday. He won't be back for over a week."

"Well, it never hurts to be prepared."

"Sometimes I worry about you, mama." He picked up the keys that were on the edge of the table. "Oh, so did they ask you to house-sit?"

"Yes!" She beamed. "They picked me out of everyone else. That means they love me the most!"

"I'm sure that's what it is. So, Pretty Boy is going on a much-needed vacation. I don't know how much time they will have to relax with a six-month-old baby."

Garcia waved her hand. "Oh, Alex said they will make it work. Besides, Charles and Hugh will be there if they need any help with little baby Charlie." Garcia picked up the framed picture from her desk of her holding the baby in the hospital. "Don't I have a beautiful fairy goddaughter?"

"Yes, you most certainly do. And considering her parents, Charlie is going to have one head of hair."

Garcia put the picture back down. "I wonder what they're doing right now."

Alex stepped out on the open patio area that led to the pool where Reid and Charles were playing volleyball in the water. She glanced at the lounge chairs where Hugh was sitting back reading a book. She went to the seat next to him and sat down. "You planning on going in?"

"I wanted to finish this chapter," he said.

Alex turned her head sideways to read the gold printing on the book's spine. "Faust? Seriously? Do you consider that light pool-side reading?" she asked with a chuckle. "Besides, haven't you read that before?"

Hugh slid his finger on his page then closed the book. "Does it really matter?"

"No, it doesn't. Come on, let's get in the water. Lola is with Charlie while she sleeps. I won't have that long before she wakes up."

"You go on, I'll join you in a minute," he said as he opened the book again.

Alex stood up and moved toward the edge of the pool. "Who's winning?" she called out.

"I am," they both replied in sync.

"I'm glad there's no confusion." She smirked. Suddenly arms grabbed around her, and she could feel herself flying through the air until she hit hard against the water. She thrashed her arms and kicked with her legs to bring her head back up above the surface. She sucked in a breath of air. Her ears were ringing, and she heard muffled laughter as she turned around to see Hugh swimming up behind her. She swatted her hand against the water and splashed his face. "I hate you."

"You love me," Hugh returned, then gave a kiss in the air towards her.

Alex turned to see Charles and Reid still laughing. "Hell hath no fury…" she said to them.