Author's Note: For this story I'm experimenting with following basic structure of a CM episode and loose T.V. Script Formatting. If this had been an aired episode - it would have fit between 13.10 Submerged and 13.11 Full Tilt Boogie.

Also this is a follow up to Mountain Air (Rated M) but you do not need to have read the earlier story to understand /enjoy this one as I provide a brief recap - and while the newly established romantic relationship between Luke and Penelope will be advanced - it is not the focus of this story.

Also, while I have done really interesting research in support of this project and will provide resources in future author's notes for those who want to check them out - I am not a scientist, medical professional, or in any way an expert on psychology, avalanche science, or back-country safety - any mistakes / shortcuts are my own.

Thanks again to all who read, follow, like, and especially comment. It really does mean the world. For those who have read the first part, I hope you enjoy this part of story, even if it's a bit different than what you've read so far - and for those who are new - welcome!

Warnings: Typical CM Violence / Themes - Including references to infertility and associated treatments such as the freezing of ova and sperm cells.

I do not own Criminal Minds nor the characters; but I deeply thank all those who worked on the show.


TEASER

FADE IN:

PRENTISS (VOICE OVER)

Previously not on Criminal Minds

INT. PHIL'S PHYSIO THERAPY CLINIC (FLASHBACK - S13.E7 Dust and Bones)

Note: Following sequence has rapid cuts of previously shot footage for time.

GARCIA and ALVEZ stand together smiling as LOU THE SURPRISE PUPPY meets PHIL.

ALVEZ (VOICE OVER)

Penny? I can't believe you've booked me a..a...Weekend Rocky Mountain Getaway: Return trip airfare for two to Calgary, Alberta, Canada?

GARCIA (VOICE OVER)

I have been going back and forth about whether to cancel payment or actually give this to you...so you could use it - maybe with a date or Matt or whoever...but based on how I am feeling - and how I am sensing you may be feeling... I think we should use it... explore whatever...this is...and then I think we should talk it out and make a decision as the intelligent and caring adults we are about what we are going to do or not do about it.

ALVEZ (VOICE OVER)

I think your plan...your proposed approach... is brilliant. Inspired. And so totally Penelope Garcia.

CUT TO:

EXT. BANFF ALBERTA SULPHER MOUNTAIN TRAIL (FLASHBACK - A WEEK AFTER GIVING PHIL HIS PUPPY - DAY)

GARCIA and ALVEZ are in winter gear - hiking up a groomed switchbacking mountain trail as the sun rises. GARCIA is catching her breath and drinking water. ALVEZ is happily bounding back towards GARCIA after quickly checking out the next bit of the trail.

GARCIA

So El Capitano your companion is almost ready to embark again - any words of wisdom for the next bit of the trail?

ALVEZ

Nope! The next bit looks pretty straight forward so the poles can stay in the packs for now - as long as you hold my hand, of course, Ms. Garcia.

GARCIA

Of course. I did notice that particular condition has been the constant caveat this morning.

ALVEZ

Well you know we must all make these little sacrifices. I know it is hard - but safety first.

CUT TO:

EXT. LOOKOUT AT TOP OF MOUNTAIN TRAIL (FLASHBACK - LATER SAME DAY)

ALVEZ and GARCIA take selfies of themselves, laughing, and kissing.

CUT TO:

INT. JET - TRIP HOME FROM SUBMERGED CASE (FLASHBACK - MONTH LATER - NIGHT)

JAREAU, ROSSI, PRENTISS and LEWIS sit around the table having a nightcap after playing poker. They believe ALVEZ is asleep.

JAREAU

Do you think that they are dating but hiding it?

ROSSI

No. If they were, they might be just as tired and distracted - but at least one of them - probably both - would be noticeably happier. My bet is that they realised there could be something between them - but decided against going down that road..

PRENTISS

It's times like these when I miss Hotch. I really don't know what would happen if they got together - policy really isn't as clear as it could be - and well - we tend to rogues so there could be some negotiated wiggle room - but I'm with Tara - it could be pretty intense - and I don't even want to think about what it would be like if things didn't work out.

JAREAU

Alright - I guess all we can do is wait - and be ready to be there if they need us. But I swear if Garcia moves on from all grey and starts wearing beige - I'm staging an intervention.

CUT TO:

INT. LUKE ALVEZ'S LIVING ROOM (FLASHBACK - SAME NIGHT)

GARCIA

I understand if you've...you've come to your senses in the last month-

ALVEZ

Penny. Stop.

GARCIA

-and have realised that I am not all that and a bottle of pop-

ALVEZ

Penelope! Stop! Stop. Under. Rating. Yourself. It makes me very..very...angry. No one is allowed to talk about the woman I love that way. Not even you!

GARCIA

Oh.

ALVEZ

Yes. Oh.

GARCIA

Luke?

ALVEZ

Yes?

GARCIA

I love you too.

FADE TO:

INT. LUKE ALVEZ'S BEDROOM (FLASHBACK - LATER THAT NIGHT)

ALVEZ and GARCIA sit on the rumpled bed. They have been eating vegetarian pizza. GARCIA is on her cell phone with PRENTISS.

GARCIA (ON PHONE)

Hey Emily. Nope not asleep. Another one? But you all just got ba- ok Em - I'll let everyone know to be in for a 7 am briefing. Get some sleep Boss Lady.

GARCIA ends call and looks at ALVEZ her brand new boyfriend-partner-type-person.

GARCIA

I guess we're about to find out what it's like to be together and on a case at the same time - unless the cold reality of our schedules makes you want to reconsider?

ALVEZ

Not a chance.

CUT TO:

INT. SAME (FLASHBACK - A FEW MINUTES LATER)

GARCIA is sitting on the bed looking at the file PRENTISS sent. ALVEZ has just left the room.

GARCIA

Oh! Luke?!

ALVEZ bounds back into the room.

ALVEZ

What? What's wrong?

GARCIA

The case...the victims have all been found buried by avalanches.

CUT TO:

EXT. MOUNTAIN BACKCOUNTRY - DAY

A group of four very well kitted and clearly knowledgeable backcountry skiers - three males - one female - are taking turns weaving and racing through fresh white untouched powder. The sunlight bounces off the snow with dazzling brilliance. Everything appears fresh and crisp and perfect. The three men have taken their turn to cross the agreed upon stretch and have met up at the predetermined spot. They have all raised their goggles and one has taken off their helmet to make an adjustment. They look back and beckon to the woman skier to take her turn.

The woman is standing still - her gaze fixed on a spot on the mountain above them - the sun glints off the ski goggles which obscure her face.

SUDDENLY there is the sound of a single artillery shot.

The skiers look around as they hear but not see that the snowpack is shifting. The men are in the spot that they've identified as a safe place to meet up. They are more concerned about the woman's safety than their own. They indicate to the woman to stay put. The men's gazes search the open line looking to see where the snow is breaking.

The snow above the men breaks free, but before they realise what has happened and can flee all three are caught in the flowing snow through the trees. All three are swept away and then buried by the avalanche.

The woman watches until the snow stops moving. She then expertly skis over to where one man's right hand has miraculously punched out of the snow - she leans over and unshoulders her pack for an instant it looks like she might be getting out her shovel to try to dig out the man - but instead she slaps a slim brightly coloured long thin plastic container into the hand and duct tapes it in place. She then straightens and drops another half dozen similar containers into the snow - each is a different vibrant colour and they scatter like a game of pick up sticks.

The woman turns and skis away.

The hand twitches feebly - once - in the snow.

CROSS FADE TO

CLOSE UP MATCH SHOT OF ALVEZ RIGHT HAND HOLDING A COFFEE MUG DECORATED WITH SNOWFLAKES. A GOLD RING WITH A MOUNTAIN MOTIF IS VISIBLE.ON HIS FOURTH FINGER

TILT / ZOOM OUT TO:

INTERIOR - BAU/BRIEFING ROOM (EARLY MORNING)

ALVEZ enters carrying two mugs of coffee, sets them down, puts his right hand briefly on GARCIA'S shoulder. GARCIA briefly touches her cheek to his hand before ALVEZ sits and picks up his tablet.

GARCIA

Phew right under the wire - finished the briefing presentation - I'll setting up some search parameters on the victims and we should be good to go. I can't believe we got this all done. Thanks for sending the files to the tablets for me - it's probably a blessing in disguise that Boy Genius is still doing his lecture circuit so we didn't have to do a retro file on top of everything else. You good to do the training on the flight? Anyone arrive yet?

ALVEZ

I've got it covered and the gangs all here. Although I don't think anyone is happy to be back in the building less than ten hours after getting back from our last case. Prentiss and Rossi are in her office. J.J., Tara and Matt are zombie-glaring at the coffee mmaker- just willing it to finish brewing. I took my life in my hands for you by poaching the first two cups from the pot even if I was there first. Don't tell them these are. our second cups!

GARCIA

My hero. There! Done what I can from here. When you guys hit the jet - I'll do the requisitions since we're not sure yet exactly where you're going. I hope everyone brought their mittens. You'll send me the list of equipment recommendations?

ALVEZ

You doubt me, Chica?

GARCIA

Never! Luke you'll be careful-oh!

PRENTISS, ROSSI, JAREAU, LEWIS, and SIMMONS enter - all looking very tired and carrying coffee mugs. GARCIA jumps to her feet to greet everyone.

GARCIA

Good morning crime fighters - long time no see! How much we all have changed!

ROSSI

Someone is chipper. And someone else is here early.

SIMMONS

No sleep for the wicked?

ALVEZ

Garcia made me. She asked me to pull together some training for us for the jet.

GARCIA

Serves you right, Newbie! I'll have you all know Banff was bizarrely like hanging out with Reid-Lite: Nature Edition. Special Agent Snow Patrol here not only showed me every shrub as we made our way up the mountain - he made me spend over two hours at the Avalanche Safety exhibit we found at the top! I swear we watched the video about how slab avalanches are formed at least five times.

ALVEZ

You loved it!

JAREAU

Oh ho! Hot for teacher!

LEWIS

I heard about your lessons but lessons are so cold.

PRENTISS

No. No Val Halen before my second cup of coffee. PG you ready?

GARCIA stands in front of the big screen to do the presentation. Everyone comes to order pulling their tablets and coffees closer. Three photos of frozen recovered male bodies show on the screen.

GARCIA

Yes. Yes I am Boss Lady! Alrighty team, I hope you all packed your thermal undies - because this one is chilling folks. So yesterday in Washington -- that would be the State not our lovely DC - Avalanche Rescue workers located the bodies of three male back country skiers buried by an avalanche -- but you say "Penelope, why am I listening to this as the elite and brainy profiler that I am - natural accidents are not our purview!" But hold on there my fabulous friends! There is more. Creepily more.

GARCIA advances the slide show to a close up of the hand with the brightly coloured medical container taped to it. The photo also shows the rainbow of containers that were scattered in the snow.

LEWIS

Are those straws?

SIMMONS

Straws? They look like something medical...

GARCIA

You are - of course - both correct. They are straws designed for storing frozen sperm - who knew the medical establishment had such joyful colour sense?

JAREAU

It looks like the one in the hand was attached with tape. Was it peri or anti mortem?

GARCIA

That is unknown. However - it was definately anti-avalanche. Also, the State police have determined three further key pieces of evidence which makes this a case for us. One: The lab is confirming the contents of the straws but they were labelled with the names of two avalanche victims found on a sister mountain a week ago. Two: Both avalanches are believed to have been triggered by remotely fired artillery shells which went off-target - the National Forest Service suspects either manual or digital - i.e. hacking - interference. Three: In each case, a woman - using a bogus name - was invited to join the group the morning the victims headed into the backcountry. So far there is no trace of where or who she is.

ROSSI

With all that - this is a bizarre mix of what feels very personal and very - dare I say it - remote? It seems to have elements of a mission motivated bomber and a serial arsonist or L.D.S.K. - we need to figure out more about how the artillery were misfired. My sense is that based on the planning, attention to detail, and recent evolution this unsub is far from done.

SIMMONS

Are there any other obvious links between the victims? Do we know if they were targeted directly?

PRENTISS

Besides them all being male and experienced backcountry enthusiasts not yet. We also will need to confirm if anything like the medical containers were found with the victims of the first avalanche - also Penelope can you review if there are any other recent avalanche accidents that might be linked to our case but missed?

ALVEZ

It's the beginning of this season and despite the recent escalation with leaving the straws - and like Rossi says this is a very sophisticated M.O., I would expect that the unsub has been testing and refining their methods - so it might be worthwhile to go back a couple seasons.

PRENTISS

Good thinking. State Police and I have decided we'll set up at the Regional Avalanche Centre and then fan out from there. Garcia - I'll confirm who is heading where when we're on the jet so you can make arrangements. Last thing before we go - does anyone have experience in winter backcountry travel besides Alvez?

LEWIS

Nope. I'm more of a skip to the Après Ski gal myself.

ROSSI

Decades ago. I have the feeling this might be more of a younger agent's game.

SIMMONS

I do and the IRT had a case in Nepal once which I will brief you all on if it becomes relevant.

JAREAU

I enjoy cross-country and downhill ski a couple times a season - but nothing overly extreme but I'm up for whatever.

PRENTISS

And I did a fair amount of off piste in Europe. Alright so Penelope it will most likely be the four of us that will need full gear. I'll try to stay with Rossi and Lewis to coordinate unless I'm needed onsite. I know we just got off a case and are tired - so rest whenever you get a chance - but not yet. It's going to be a long flight but not only do we have a lot of ground to cover before we can pull together a profile - we are going to avalanche school with Professor Alvez. All right? Wheels up in 30.

BAU TEAM except GARCIA, who is typing furiously at her laptop, stands and files out of the room.

GARCIA

Hey Professor Newbie? Wait up a sec. I have a quick question about prep.

ALVEZ hangs back waiting for his colleagues to leave the room - then crosses over to GARCIA and hunkers down on her left side beside her.

ALVEZ (QUIETLY)

I'll be careful. I promise. We'll talk when we get back ok?

GARCIA

I know. I just - you know I may need to pretend we're not together to survive this right? You still ok not telling anyone yet - just for this case until we have figured things out a bit better? If nothing else it will make it easier on Prentiss. Love you.

ALVEZ places his right hand over hers briefly - and their fingers entwine so that their matching gold rings with mountain designs lie side by side.

ALVEZ

Love you. We'll text, yeah?

GARCIA

Yeah.

ALVEZ

Cool.

ROSSI ducks back into the room. ALVEZ stands.

ROSSI

You coming, son?

ALVEZ

On my way. See ya Hotshot.

GARCIA

Don't expect me to be counting the minutes, Newbie. Fly safe. Be safe.

CUT TO

EXT. JET TAKING OFF (DAY)

ALVEZ (VOICE OVER)

No snowflake in an avalanche ever feels responsible. Stanislaw Jerzy Lec, Poet

CUT TO

OPENING CREDITS AND THEME SONG

END OF TEASER