Rossi, Prentiss, and Alex stayed safely behind the brush. "We are in position." Rossi called over his mic. "Now we just have to wait."
Prentiss turned to Alex. "I bet you love this type espionage of stuff."
"Of course. It's one of the reasons why I joined the CIA. Although, I probably would never have made it too far if Spencer wasn't my partner."
"Oh? How's that?" Rossi asked.
"When we first met, he was a scrawny, little thing, and was younger than the rest of us." Alex started.
Prentiss and Rossi shot each other looks of not being surprised.
"High school is hard enough, add being a genius and being four years younger than everyone else. He had his fair share of problems. But when he was recruited to the agency, something changed. He was given coaching and understanding. Parker took him under his wing… he did that with all of us."
Hotch and Reid stayed hidden, keeping their eyes out for more guards. "So, I take it that you and Alex worked well together?"
"Yes, we clicked from the very first day we were assigned together." He laughed to himself. "She had a huge chip on her shoulder. She wanted to control anything and everything and thought she knew best."
"And yet she made a good partner? Someone like that usually isn't a team player." Hotch observed.
Reid nodded. "Typically, yes, but for some reason that wasn't an issue with us. She once told me that it was our quirks that made us work well together."
"Tell me about it." Hotch was curious.
Alex smirked recalling the first time she met Reid and told her story to Rossi and Prentiss while Reid did the same with Hotch.
Alex, Charles, Hugh, and Spencer sat patiently at a conference table. Parker walked into the room and stood at the head of the table. "Welcome. You are now all members of Section 6. An elite team of the best the CIA has to offer of its new recruits. Most of the time you will work as a team. There will be times when you will be split up. Charles Sullivan and Hugh Barlow will be one partnership while Alex Marcus and Spencer Reid will be the other."
He then passed out packed of information to them. "Here is your first assignment." Parker spoke with Hugh and Charles explaining their part.
Reid looked to Alex. "Hi, I'm Spencer." He went to shake her hand.
She smiled back at him. "I don't mean to come off rude, but do you know how many germs pass to each other through shaking hands? They could lead to healthcare-associated infections."
Reid laughed. "Lighten up, it's just a handshake, and trust me, we will be involved in things a lot worse." The partners connected hands and shook.
A couple weeks later... Under the cloak of darkness, Alex and Reid dashed across the rooftop dressed in black. They both crouched down in front of the A/C access panel. After checking to make sure the coast was clear, Reid quickly unscrewed the bolts.
With the panel removed, they started crawling through the air ducts. "I'm going to need a tetanus shot after this." Alex remarked with a sour face.
"Suck it up." Reid scolded.
"Wow, I am going to love working with you." Alex quipped.
They creeped through the metal tunnels making their way to CEO's office where they were assigned to plant a device. Reid pulled out a tiny telescope and stuck it through the vent. He nodded to Alex that the room was empty.
The vent cover was removed then a rope was dropped down to the ground. With the rope wrapped around his foot, Reid slowly slid down. Alex quickly followed.
Reid ran to cover the door as Alex installed the devise under the desk. "Someone is coming. We gotta go." Reid waited for Alex to get up first. After she was safely back inside the duct, he climbed up and replaced the vent.
They stayed still as a guard unlocked the door, he walked in and looked around. He found nothing out of place then locked the office back up as he left.
With the guard gone, they made their way back to the rooftop access point. Alex popped her head out, looked around then started to crawl out.
"Alex, are you sure it's clear?" Reid asked.
"We are alone, trust me." Alex stated. "Now where is Hugh with that chopper?"
"You might want to think again." A guard said as he pointed his weapon toward her face.
Reid snuck up behind him, put his hand over his face and pulled him back then punched him in the throat and dropped him to the ground. "Let's go!" He yelled to Alex.
"Hugh, how far out are you?" Alex called over her mic.
"Five minutes." Hugh responded.
"You better make it three!" Alex demanded as she and Reid ran across the roof.
Before they knew it, a guard was on the rooftop chasing after them and firing. He was directly behind Alex and aimed his weapon at her.
"Get down!" Reid shouted as they both crouched down. He pulled the knife hidden at this ankle and threw it to the guard, plunging into his chest. The guard instinctively threw his weapon and Alex reached out and caught it.
"Here comes two more!" She fired at the new guards rushing toward them. The guards were firing back at them as they were getting closer. Reid grabbed her hand as they ran toward the edge of the building and jumped to reach the neighboring rooftop. They picked themselves up and ran toward the helicopter as it landed. Charles opened up the door hatch then used his handgun to fire at the guards who were on their tail. Reid pushed Alex in then jumped in afterwards. Hugh took off into the air as the guards stood on the roof firing up at them.
Reid and Alex sat catching their breath. "Wow that was a rush." Reid chuckled.
"Tell me about it. My body is all number from the excitement." She put her hand over her abdomen. "What?" Alex looked down to see her hand covered in blood.
Reid lifted up her shirt to see blood seeping out of her bullet wound. "Hugh, we need to get her to a hospital, now!"
Charles turned around in his chair. "Here's the first-aid kit."
"Great, thanks!" Reid took it from him and put a bandage over her stomach. He then tilted her forward to see another hole.
"What is it?" Alex asked, starting to panic.
"It's a through and through. Don't worry, you will be fine. You would be in more danger if someone shook your hand." He joked.
"You are a horrible liar... Thank you." She smiled knowing that he was trying to not make her concerned.
He wrapped his arm around her and held her close. "Don't worry, everything will be fine."
She looked up at him and whispered. "I can't feel my legs."
Reid noticed that her hands were shaking. "You're in shock. It is a typical response, we will be there soon."
"I have to tell you something." Alex started.
"Tell me after you get out of the hospital." Reid knew she was trying to make a a kind of dying declaration.
"Even though we have only known each other a few weeks. You have become my best friend. I can't imagine what this job would have been like without you." She then let out a groan in pain.
Reid held onto her tighter. "Don't worry, I won't let anything happen to you… ever." Reid promised.
The helicopter landed and the emergency team were waiting with a gurney to take her to the trauma center.
Reid stood and watched them wheel here away as he stood with the rest of his team. He looked down at his shirt that was covered in his partner's blood, then back up to the elevator doors as they closed with her inside.
Charles put his hand on Reid's shoulder. "She will be okay."
"We need to report to Parker." Hugh reminded them as they boarded the helicopter and took back off towards headquarters.
All the teams were in position waiting for the right time to infiltrate Knight's Estate. Alex put her hand over the scar on her abdomen remembering that first mission. Remembering that promise Reid made to her.