Reid slowly backed up as he held his hands out in front of him and stared into Rico's steel eyes. Rico held Rosa in front of him with a knife to her throat as he inched his way forward, looking for an exit.

"Come on, Rico; there is no way you're getting out of here like this. Put the knife down," Reid said in a calm and clear voice.

"No!" Rico shouted. "This puta betrayed me. I took care of what needed to be done, and as soon as the heat was on, she turned me over to you."

"We can discuss all of this, but I need you to put the knife down," Reid insisted, and he continued to move backward down the hall.

Hotch managed to push himself up off the floor. He leaned forward, clutching onto his knees as his body adjusted to the pain. He leaned down and grabbed a piece of wood from the broken chair, then stood up. He took a few deep breaths then went after Rico.

Reid spotted Hotch coming toward them. "Rico, I am going to need you to put the knife down."

Just then, Hotch swung the piece of wood and knocked it alongside Rico's head. He lost his grip on Rosa, and she took off running past Reid. Rico turned around and slashed Hotch along his left arm. Hotch touched his arm then held the hand back out in front of him to see it covered in blood. He clutched back onto his arm, then fell back against the wall and slid down to the floor.

Reid gritted his teeth as he saw Rico coming back toward him. Reid took another step and bumped into the pool table. He quickly turned his head and grabbed onto a pool cue. He held it out in front of him then swung toward Rico like a samurai warrior. Rico stopped the cue with the blade of his knife. Reid pulled the stick back, then swung it around the other way, and again it was stopped by Rico's knife.

Reid held the cue in front of him to see it was almost cut in half. He held onto the two ends then slammed it down across his knee, splitting it apart. He held out his hands, brandishing the broken cue in each hand. He then began swooping them around in front of him in perfect precision. "I studied the art of Kali for a whole summer while I was in the Philippines."

Rico swung his knife and even used his arms to try and block Reid's onslaught. Reid spun around and slammed hard against Rico's hand forcing him to drop the knife. He then swung his left hand up and smacked Rico against the jaw. Blood and saliva flew out of Rico's mouth as he fell toward the wall. Reid whipped the stick in his right hand against the other side of Rico's face. Rico collapsed on the floor.

Rosa returned to the room with several men following her, then rushed to apprehend Rico. Reid dropped the sticks onto the floor and hurried to Hotch who's left sleeve was soaked in blood. Reid quickly removed his belt and wrapped it around Hotch's arm just as Morgan and JJ came into the room. "Come on, let's get you to an ambulance," Morgan called out as he helped pick Hotch up.

With JJ and Morgan on each side of Hotch, they helped him out of the room. Reid went back to the room to get Tomas out to get medical attention. Rico was picked up from off the ground by Rosa's men. His body was limp, and blood dripped from his mouth and nose. The men grabbed his arms and started walking toward the door. Suddenly Rico sprung back to consciousness with a thrash of his arms, and he growled like a wild animal. Reid reached across the pool table, picked up one of the balls, and threw it at Rico's head, knocking him out.

"You're welcome," Reid said as he rushed past Rosa to catch up with Hotch.


Hotch looked at himself in the mirror as he tried and failed to tie his tie for several minutes when there was a knock on the door. He let out an exasperated sigh as he went to the door and opened it. "Come on it," he said warmly as he stepped back to allow Alex and Roman to enter.

"Give it here," Roman held out his hand toward Hotch. He pulled down on the tie and handed it over. Roman held the tie up toward Hotch's torso to get the approximate length, then wrapped it around his neck and moved toward the mirror. "Did you want a Windsor or a half Windsor?"

"Come on," Alex interrupted. "You are wasting your time. We are just going to Dave's. You don't need a tie."

"Let the man dress how he wants to dress," Roman protested.

"Thank you," Hotch said to Roman. Both for the support and the tie. He slipped it over his neck and tried to adjust it with just his right hand.

"Okay, now it's my turn," Alex gently pushed Roman out of the way. "Some things call for a woman's touch." She tightened the knot and straightened the end of the tie under his sling. She walked around him and pulled down his shirt where it had bunched from under the sling strap. "There you go, much better."

Hotch moved over the table where he picked up his wallet and keys, and they started toward the door. They made their way outside and walked along the sidewalk to the car. "Wait, who's driving?"

Alex held up the keys in her hand as she continued walking.

Hotch stopped in his tracks as Roman and Alex stopped when they reached the car and turned back toward him. Hotch looked to Roman with one raised eyebrow.

Roman held his hands up in defense. "I would only drive on the wrong side of the road."

"Oh, come on, Aaron, that was one time," she said as she opened the driver's side door and got in. "I was frustrated and angry. Anyone would drive erratically under those circumstances."

"So, what's your excuse for the rest of the time," Roman said in jest, then immediately crossed his arms over his head as Alex playfully hit him.

"I will have you know that I have extensive training in tactical and evasive driving."

"And when will you put those skills into practice?" Hotch said dryly from the back seat.

Alex turned to sneer at him. "You're lucky you're wounded." She turned back around and shifted the car into drive. "Now, we better get going. I have a surprise for Paul when we get there."

"For me?" Roman asked. "What is it?"

"You will just have to wait and see."