Hotch stared at Parker. "What? Why would Alex be released into FBI custody?"
"My director wants a third party, those who would not be compromised to oversee her temporary release." Parker informed.
"Have the paperwork sent to Agent Jareau." Hotch then turned to Reid. "Are you going to be okay with this?" Hotch asked making sure that he would able to do his job.
"Of course." Reid nodded. "I think she could be an asset to us in New York."
"We should assign Morgan and Prentiss to her." Rossi suggested.
"I should go break the news." Hotch entered the interrogation room and sat down across from Alex. "You are going to be released into our custody. You are going to assist us with this case."
Alex looked confused. "I am being released into your custody? Not Parkers?"
"That is correct." Hotch stood up. He walked toward the door then stopped and turned to looked at her. "You have been given a chance here. I suggest you don't take it for granted."
"I understand." Alex meekly responded.
"But don't think that I will not shoot you if need-be. I want you to be absolutely clear on that." Hotch promised.
Alex nodded. "Yes, sir."
Hotch left Alex with the guards to be processed into their charge. The team gathered back together in the conference room where they were filled in on the new information.
"You have got to be kidding me." Morgan blurted out. "Now we will need to watch our own backs as we babysit the enemy."
"Let's pack up. We will head to New York as soon as she's been released." Hotch announced.
The unit boarded the jet and got themselves settled in. Rossi entered with Alex by his side. She was dressed in khakis and a black t-shirt. Her naturally wild hair was pulled back neatly. With these small changes she looked like a completely different person.
Rossi handcuffed her to the seat and then sat down next to her. The tension on the plane was evident. None of the usual small talk took place, everyone on guard. Morgan wasn't interested in listening to his music. He stared at Alex the entire flight, wanting to be on guard if something happened.
JJ and Prentiss tried to chat, but realized that they didn't want to talk about their personal lives where Alex may be able to hear it. Even Hotch was uncomfortable, but his attention was all on Reid who was sitting with his back towards Alex as he read a book.
Rossi decided to kill two birds. He wanted to get to know her, but also see if she would get comfortable and open up. "When was the last time you were on a plane?"
She stared out the window, fixated on the clouds. "When I was arrested. We flew back to the US, then I was locked away."
"I'm sure that was a long flight." Rossi said dryly.
"I've been on better trips." She politely smirked.
"I am going to get myself some coffee, do you want some?" He stood up from his seat.
"Sure." She didn't elaborate.
"How do you take it?" He stared at her.
"Oh, um, black, sweet." She then let out a small chuckle. "Just not as sweet as Spencer does." She remembered how much sugar he would put in his coffee as she shot a glance to the back of his head.
A couple minutes later, Rossi returned and handed her a cup. She took it into her hands and savored the aroma then took a sip. "Oh, this is good coffee. It's been too long since I've had a good cup." She shared.
"I'd prefer some espresso, myself, but it is still good." Rossi remarked.
Alex nodded and started to let her personality show. "I would love some espresso right now. I was just learning to appreciate good coffee before… but this is really good."
"Learning to appreciate? Was someone helping with your tutelage?"
"He was a good friend of mine. Or so I thought." She gave a subtle shrug. Alex then looked back out the window remembering the first time she met him.
Alex was sitting beneath a large tree as her back leaned against the truck with her legs laying out straight in front of her. She had a book-bag to her side and was reading a book while snacking on raw carrots.
A man, talking on his cellphone, was rushing through the park. He stumbled over Alex's legs. "Oh, I am so sorry." He said to her. "I am going to have to call you back." He then flipped his phone closed.
Alex stared at the handsome man standing above her and wasn't sure how to react. "Don't worry about it." She waved him off then picked back up her book.
He tilted his head as he read the title. "Oh, you studying Italian?"
She gave a polite smile. "Yes, I am."
"How well are you doing?" He then realized that he was being nosy. "I'm sorry. I'm being rude again. I'm Gino." He extended his hand.
She met his hand and they shook. "Alex." She couldn't help but grin. He was charming, charismatic and he beamed at her. She was bewitched by him.
He then spoke to her in Italian. "Do you know more than phrases like the cat is on the chair?"
Alex laughed and responded in Italian. "Yes, I am fluent, but practice makes perfect."
"I have some time, if you want to practice. I was born in Italy. I'm sure I could help with some slang or other things that you would never find in a book."
"That sounds great." She gave him a motion to sit down.
They spent the next two hours speaking to each other in Italian while getting to know each other. Alex knew that she would fall in love.
Alex took another sip of her coffee. "I should have known to never trust an Italian." She smiled at Rossi. "After all, who better than you would know what I am talking about?"
Rossi leaned forward. "You know, normally, I would take offense to that. However, I have known plenty of guys from the old neighborhood who weren't the upstanding guys they pretended to be."
Alex smiled. "You know, you don't have to do the whole small-talk thing. I will sit here quietly if you need to do something else."
Rossi stared at her then leaned in closer. "You know, I have be racking my brain trying to figure out why you did what you did. Why you betray your country and worse, your friends. But I think I am starting to see why you did it."
"Oh, you got me all figured out now?" She asked, suspiciously. But then wondering if he really knew why.
"How long were you and Reid partners?" Rossi asked.
"Five years." Alex was curious where this was going.
"That's a long time to work side-by-side with someone. You have to have each other's backs. Trust each other with your lives."
"So." She looked again to where Reid was sitting then back to Rossi.
"I know that love can make people do crazy things. You gave up everything for Knight, after all." Rossi studied her.
"Yes, he was going to take care of me. No more lying to people about what I do or where I was going. No more guns or fighting. A big German thug broke my arm once, and I didn't want to have to do anything like that ever again. I wanted out and Knight was going to do that for me."
Rossi nodded. "Thank you."
"For what?" Alex was confused.
Rossi sat back in his chair then interlocked his fingers in front of him. "I now know the truth. I also know that everything you just told me was a lie."