Early the next morning wagons containing the three other farm managers and their assistants began arriving at Farm #3. As they stood watching the arrivals, the BAU team couldn't help but notice that the first thing the passengers did was carry various food items into the kitchen.
"They know that our kitchen is going to be strained providing food for this crowd," 586 explained. "So they are bringing some to help out. Cook has even been coaxed out of retirement to help with the preparation. Still, things are going to be hectic."
"Four!" she suddenly called out excitedly. "And Professor!" She began running towards the wagon which had just arrived.
"Looks like you have some competition, Aaron," Rossi observed wryly.
"Her old teacher and her mentor," Hotch calmly told him. "Five eighty six doesn't get to see them very often and once they get talking – " He shook his head in mock dismay.
"That is Professor Chastain!" Reid exclaimed excitedly. "I want to get together with him and discuss what progress he has made on his research. One of my grad students is working along similar lines. Hopefully, the communications equipment that is being delivered later today will include a computer he can use." He was wildly waving a coffee cup around as he spoke.
"Where did you get coffee?" Hotch questioned as he noticed the partially full cup. "I know there isn't any here on the island."
"I always travel with some instant," Reid admitted. "The same way JJ always travels with some tea bags." He nodded towards JJ, who was also holding a cup filled with a hot liquid.
"I should have known," Hotch smiled as he shook his head. "Some things never change."
"Now, as for Dr. Chastain, you can talk with him later," he continued. "I think the owners of the island want to get started with their meeting as soon as possible."
"And I have been invited to join them," Cruz added. "As, I suspect, a neutral observer. If you will excuse me?" He began walking towards the path leading to the Farm Manager's office.
"As for me, I don't know a lot about cooking for a group this size," JJ told the group after taking a final swallow of her tea. "However, I do know about handling small children. So, I'm going to volunteer to help out in the nursery. That should free up at least one person to assist in the kitchen." With a small wave, she left the group and headed towards the school building.
"I'm going to go check on the boats and the island's security," Morgan announced. "The last thing anyone here needs is to have the press find out about this place and start invading it. These people are entitled to their privacy."
"If you don't mind, I think I'll join you," Rossi offered.
"And I am going to go speak with the head gardener for the vegetable crops," Reid announced. "There is an algorithm available to help determine the best rotation for the various types of vegetables. She most likely doesn't know about it and it might help to increase their crop yield."
"If you don't mind, I'll walk part of the way with you," Hotch told him. "You'll be going past the carpentry yard and I want to check on the progress 433 and 603 are making on the pallets. We'll undoubtedly need to send some of them back to the other farms when their wagons leave."
"Lewis?" Rossi looked at her curiously. "What are you - ? "
"I am planning a visit to the sewing workrooms," Lewis smiled at him. "I want to get a better look at how they managed to create an heirloom quality patchwork quilt almost as pretty as one of my grandmother's."
~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~
"You're some kind of fancy cops, aren't you?" the head of the security detail challenged Morgan and Rossi when they arrived at the dock.
"FBI," Morgan told him.
"Retired," Rossi admitted. "Although I do do some consulting."
"Well, we have our instructions from Mr. Hayward," the man told the agents. "No one gets on or off the island except the boat with electronics equipment and other supplies that is due to arrive this afternoon."
"Although," he looked around to see if anyone could hear. "I have no idea how we will handle it if someone does try to come ashore. There aren't that many of us and, as for the locals, they may be big but I don't believe they have been trained to defend the island at all."
"Four seventy nine is large," Morgan remembered the man well. "As are the others. However, I think you are right. They are street brawlers not trained professionals."
"Now," Morgan saw his opening. "I teach hand-to-hand combat at the FBI Academy. Why don't I hold a training class for them and see what I can do? Also, if you would like, I could hold a brief refresher course for you and your men. What do you say?"
"He's good," Rossi spoke up. "And, if you want proof of that, try sneaking up on the blond agent who came in with us. She'll lay you flat in under 30 seconds." He smirked knowingly.
"Well, it certainly wouldn't hurt," the man admitted. "I haven't sparred in quite some time and as for the rest of my guys – Well, the worst they usually have to deal with are some drunk and disorderlies."
"In that case," Morgan smiled at him. "Let's get started."
~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~
Morgan and the head of security ('Call me Mike' he told the agents) quickly set up a training area close to the dock.
"Okay, now, let's see what you can do," Morgan smiled at Mike as they squared off.
"I'll take it easy on you," he promised.
It wasn't long before Mike laid flat on the ground. "That's taking it easy?" he demanded as he rose to his feet, shaking his head
"That looks like that fancy move 751 used that time." Four seventy nine and his people had arrived at the dock and were watching closely.
"Hotch used his moves on someone?" Morgan asked curiously.
"Only once," was the reply. "On a guy who tried to rape 586. He laid him out flat."
"What happened to the rapist?" Rossi asked.
"He has been relocated to another farm," 479 explained. "And I can assure you that he is no longer going to be a problem."
"Now," he continued. "Could I convince you to show my men how to do this?"
Morgan and one of the security guards gave a quick demonstration of some basic moves and then everyone spit off into pairs to practice while Rossi busied himself going from pair to pair spotting mistakes and handing out advice.
"Maybe I don't do this anymore," he commented. "But my eyes still work just fine and I can tell when something is being done wrong."
Morgan ended up paired with a local who could only be described as 'large'. As they grappled, Morgan couldn't help but notice the faded gang tattoos on the man's arms.
"The Untouchables?" Morgan recognized the markings. "They used to be a bad group of guys." He broke and stepped back to correct his partner's hold.
"That was a long time ago in another life," the man told him as he caught his breath. "And I would rather forget all about it."
"Bad scene?" Morgan guessed as he moved in to attack the man.
"The worst," was the immediate reply. "The best thing that ever happened to me was coming here to the island. If I hadn't, I would have been dead by now."
"So, coming to the island saved your life," Morgan concluded as he threw the man to the ground.
"It certainly did!" The man was breathing hard as he lay there. "I may work hard here, but so does everyone else. And, I benefit from what I do. It doesn't all go to some gang leader to pay for his bling."
"However, there is one thing," he looked sheepish.
"What?" Morgan asked as he helped the man up.
"I wish I could contact my grandmother," the man confessed. "Just to let her know I'm okay, you know."
"I understand," Morgan assured him. "I have a single mother who raised me and I know how that is. Now, as I understand it, there is some equipment on the way that will enable you to do just that."
"Great!" Morgan's opponent shook himself off. "Now, show me how that goes again."