I hope you enjoy this.

Chapter Five:

The whole team was assembled in various parts of Reid's apartment. Alvez was moving in while J.J. was packing his things.

"I can do that myself you know," he said from chair.

"Not as neatly and the doctor said no heavy exertion for the next forty-eight hours," she said with a smile.

Prentiss appeared.

"I know you read fast, but are you really going to read a large suitcase full of bulky books in four weeks?" Prentiss asked,

"No," he said. "I expect I'll go through those in half that time and ask to borrow from the Grace Castle's library."

Prentiss rolled her eyes and went back to work.

"I can't believe you're staying in a castle!" Garcia said. "I'm jealous."

"It is for my own safety," Reid said. "And there is another reason."

"Is it because you're in love with her?" J.J. asked.

"No!" he said quickly. "Her father, there are rumors he may have been assassinated. She wants my help in finding his killer."

"Are you sure that's the reason she was referring to when she spoke with you?" J.J. asked.

"Positive," he said.

Lewis appeared.

"In that case you might be safer at home than where an assassin might be lurking."

"I'll be with five other agents," Reid said. "There is also a history of assassination plots in Bodera. They always go after royalty and never civilians as it might tip their hand."

"Let's go over what we know about the Royal Family," Rossi called out. "Queen Caroline's mother died due to complications during a miscarriage of her third child when Queen Caroline was six. Her older brother Leopold was expected to take the throne until four years ago when he died during a car accident where the engine in one of the older cars failed and it fell down a steep cliff. Any sign of foul play there?"

Reid shrugged. "Possibly. Queen Caroline had no interest in the throne. She was more concerned about growing the country's tech industry. She has a degree in information technology from Cambridge."

"Speaking of Queen Caroline, she married when she was twenty-three and divorced her husband at the age of twenty-five due to his very public affair with one of her distant cousins. They moved to France a year later and married. He died of liver cancer about five years ago. Any hint of malice in that?"

"No," Reid said. "He suffered from the disease for about a year before he died. He was a heavy drinker since he was eighteen. It is rumored Queen Caroline was pressured into marrying young because Leopold wouldn't be able to produce an heir."

J.J. was putting away a photo of his mother.

"How do you know so much about Bodera Spence?"

"I needed something relatively easy to analyze during those six weeks of leave, and since I had already studied quantum mechanics, I focused on less well-known countries."

"So, if the Queen dies," Rossi continued. "The next in line to the throne is Lord Calvin, the Queen's only maternal uncle."

"He is not well-liked there," Reid said. "He regularly asks for a raise in the salary for royalty and both she and her father have shut down the mere idea at every opportunity."

"Let's discuss that," Prentiss said. "How does their constitutional monarchy work?"

"As a small country, the Queen exerts more power than in most other constitutional monarchies. She has a cabinet appointed by the people that it is up for re-election every five years. Two years ago, the country voted for the King to remain in power rather than a conventional democracy. The country votes on the dissolution of the monarchy ever thirty-four years in accordance with a law instituted Queen Meredith in eighteen twenty-five."

Simmons peaked in and smiled.

"If my kids ever need a tutor on Boderian history I know who to turn to," he said.

"Can we get back to discussing the case?" Reid asked. "And J.J. why are you packing my tuxedo?"

"Queen Meredith's birthday, silly," she said with a smile. "I did my homework too. Two weeks in, it will be her birthday it is always celebrated with a grand ball."

"Besides, there is no case," Alvez called out. "We got kicked off it."

"Like another team of agents could do as good a job as us," Rossi grumbled.

"It's a 'coalition of agents' from every department," Prentiss said. "I don't think the idea is terrible given the fact that several major networks were interrupted. That takes a lot more coordination compared to our typical unsub."

"I still think Tomsk and Colone are key to unfolding this plot," Reid said.

"Which is why the Queen is allowing them to be transferred to Switzerland for further interrogation," Garcia said.

There was a beat of silence.

"Garcia," Prentiss slowly asked. "How do you know that?"

"It was the last bit of information I could gather before they changed the password on the case," Garcia said defensively.

"Since we're off the case Reid," Prentiss said entering his room. "I wish you would stop worrying about it. I trust that the other agents will figure it out. I want you to spend the next four weeks resting and relaxing in what is supposedly a beautiful country."

"I'll do my best Emily," he said. "Just promise you'll keep me informed of any updates."

"I promise if you agree to not do any digging on your own. Okay?"

"Okay," Reid said.

Just then, Roxy bounced in and started licking Reid's hands. Alvez looked in and smiled.

"He likes you."

"Are you sure he doesn't like rare editions of books?" Reid asked.

"I'm sure of it," he said. "Your books are safe with us."

"Thanks again for doing this," Reid said. "Just the appearance of the apartment being occupied might throw off anyone watching."

"I agree," Alvez said. "You don't mind if I install a bigger TV though? I'll pay for it."

"My home is your home Luke," Reid said.

"Temporarily," he said.

"Right."

…

It was early in the morning when Prentiss drove Reid to the airport. The whole team wanted to see him off, but there were concerns it would raise suspicions to anyone watching their movements.

"Call home the minute anything feels off," Prentiss said on the ride there. "We'll pick you up in an instant."

"I know Emily," he said.

"Call J.J. at least once a week. If you don't, we'll start to worry."

"Okay," he said.

She briefly glanced at him.

"Are you nervous?" she asked.

"Oddly, no," he said. "I haven't traveled much, and I look forward to experiencing a new culture."

"And Queen Caroline?"

"What about her?"

"I saw the way she looked at you Spencer. She likes you."

"It's an infatuation," Reid said. "She'll probably be over it by the time she sees me again."

"What about you?"

"I liked her touch," he admitted. "But I was also in worse condition a few days ago. I'm sure the feeling will go away."

"Really?"

"I firmly believe it," he said.

"Okay Spencer," she said.

Upon their arrival, Reid was met with a wheelchair since he wasn't allowed to walk long distances. He'd be traveling to Shannon Airport in Ireland, the Zurich Airport in Switzerland, and finally Cordian Airport in Bodera.

"Stay safe Spencer," Prentiss said lightly kissed him on the cheek.

"I will," he said and waved goodbye.

Prentiss watched him leave with a mixture of anxiety and excitement. She was fairly certain his stay in Bodera wouldn't be as quiet as he hoped in both good and bad ways. Hopefully he'd be back safe and sound soon enough.