Title: Salutarem Via
Summary: After an international mission comes into light, Reid has to face the fact that his team will now need to know one of his biggest secrets: his life way from the BAU.
A/N: This is going to be an extremely short one. I just wanted to give all of you one more chapter before I head back to school. The break was fabulous, but now I have to hit the books which means that I will not be able to update for at least another week. I know. I know. I suck, or in this case school sucks. University is kicking my ass into high gear, although I only have about two months before summer break starts. We can all look forward to that.
Okay, I want to give a very special thank you to ahowell1993 for the codename idea. She is totally amazing. All of her comments and questions definitely help me put things in a better perspective. She has had a big impact on how the story has taken its life, so thank you for hanging in there with the rest of them.
I am sorry for any mistakes there may be in the story. I try to catch them all, but I am only a human editing her work in the middle of the night. Also, all foreign languages used in the story have been Google translated. If there are any mistakes in that department, I am extremely sorry. Google had it wrong.
Disclaimer: I do not own Criminal Minds or any of the characters. I am just an abnormally obsessed fan (really I am and it's a big problem) writing about them, because sometimes I feel the CBS does not appreciate the awesomeness that is Criminal Minds. I also want to reinforce that any of the beliefs shown by the organization are not my own. I don't not mean to offend. They are people of my own creation and do not reflect any real life group of people. If I offend anyone, I am deeply sorry.
Chapter Ten: Coming in Person
"No matter how convenient it is for us to reach out to people remotely, sometimes the most important task is to show up in person."-Blake Mycoskie
The air tasted like a strange concoction of rust and salt. Nolan took great displeasure in the aroma, but Adil huffed it all with a great sense of pride.
"God, that smell. Someone was murdered."
Nolan groaned at Adil's reaction to the death of another human being. Death came with this job, but it was not the reason for it. He often thought that Adil was unaware of that particular fact. Leaving behind the disgust, Nolan walked further into the building. There, he discovered all the surveillance photographs, a kit of tools, and a table set up for the four of them.
Taking a chair, Nolan turned to face Jonas, "Hey, how's it going on your end?"
Sizing him up, Jonas replied, "Oh, we been good."
As Jonas answered, Hasim butted into the conversation, "It has been going a hell of a lot better than your end. We actually got things done unlike the two of you. One job, that is all you had. You had that one job."
Adil plopped himself down on a seat, "Don't act all high and mighty, Hasim. If I recall, you messed up too. Or, did you not kill the wrong person? I am sure those twins do not appreciate the fact that the one that was suppose to be dead is still kicking." He kicked up his feet and hammered them onto the table. "I am sure bossman was thrilled to hear that the wrong guy was ended up dead, because none of you took the time to make sure it was the right twin."
Hasim, tall and sophisticated, narrowed his eyes at Adil, "Iustitia te in utero suo. Benedicam Deum laudandum."
The other three slowly rose from their seat and bowed. Hasim frowned at the thought that all three of them had forgotten why they all stood here. It was not a mission of vengeance or a way to display power. This was a mission to cleanse the world, and sometimes they could not force those to see the light. It hurt him to end the lives of so many without them being converted. Those souls should have been saved, but now they all rot in burning flames for they had failed.
Those moments of sacrifice were the ones he felt the world crumble beneath his feet. If it were not for Jonas, he would have surely lost his way.
Still bowing, Nolan apologized, "I am sorry for Adil's insensitivity to the situation. I have not forgotten our promise, and I am positive that Adil will remember his." Looking up, he continued, "Hasim, we will save them all, and we will try to do so without anymore bloodshed. I know we have to find that girl, but that is on us. You have done your part. I am sure He will be well pleased."
Relaxing, Hasim realized how wonderful it felt to share your burdens with others. Moving his gaze from one person to another, a small and somber smile formed on his stoic features. He was not alone anymore for here they all were in person and willing to help him carry his fears and worries with him.
It felt good to look at her without the worry of being caught. The cave often offered that magnificent prize.
He held her as she cried for their losses in this hidden war. As he did so, he became aware of the reason why she called him here. She needed to be embraced by someone that understood completely, by someone that would share her pain and sorrow. Adelaide needed to feel protected from the unfair reality of their situation, and she wanted Spencer to be the one to do it.
It only lasted a moment, a magical moment where they were back in college and none of this had happened. It was a moment when they were new to love and acceptance and all that mattered to them was each other. It was perfect and fleeting. It was here; then, it was gone.
Addie slipped away from him and entered the real world once more. She approached the table and handed him files. They talked about the possibilities of finishing this quietly without involving his team. Arguing about his team, she refused to grant them access. A part of him loved the idea of their little secret staying between them, yet he knew the best option was telling them.
So he expressed exactly that, "I think we should let them investigate. I know why you don't want them involved, but you have to see reason, Adds. My team has done the impossible. They can do this without losing anyone. We won't allow it. If they could do all they have done without help, imagine what they could do with both of us working with them. Adelaide, we have to tell them."
Her back was turned away from him. He wrapped his arms around her one more time, "You know I'm right. I get it, Adds. I really do, but it can't be us against the world anymore. It hasn't been us against anybody for a really long time." They broke apart and faced one another. "It is best that we accept that and move on. My secret life can't be a secret anymore. The moment you called me; we both knew this little adventure was over."
"Oh, Billy Boy. I know"
Resting her on his chest, he hugged her tightly and set his head in her hair. It smelled exactly like it did back then, fruity and fresh.
They needed this...the human contact with one another. They had been deprived of each other's presence for far too long, and now they savored it. Calls and text messages and flowers could only do so much before they only burned you with the memories of the past and stung you with the fantasies of what could have been...of what should have been. They needed each other more then ever, and this was all they were going to get.
Penelope Garcia prided herself in her ability to crack the internet wide open and make it do her bidding. Now, the internet frustrated her. Her computer perfectly cleaned from the mishap earlier that day, she should have been able to find all she needed with ease.
Seething, she puffed, "I'm sorry, Em. I can't access those files. She must have been really scared. I mean it's a crude job, yet I can't get through. You have to have this code, so unless you can profile it. We are stuck. I can't get through. The information on the drive will be a mystery."
Searching for an answer in the paper work, Emily said, "Don't worry about it. Once the team lands, I am sure between all of us will figure it out."
There was a list. Manny gave them her file but not anyone else's. Manuela Ruth Ferro. Born April 7, 1977 in Providence, Rhode Island. With an IQ of 141, she went to UCLA. Quickly recruited by CIA, she graduated summa cum laude a year early with a degree in chemical engineering. Mother died of breast cancer, and father drank himself to death. She had one sister that joined the army and was currently stationed in one of the bases in Germany. She transferred over to Interpol and was placed in London turning down an offer to be in Italy.
With all that information, Emily concluded that she had to be part of Operation Casurus-codename: C141-MF1977.
Emily brought up, "So, each codename is made up of their initials, IQ, and date of birth. The C has to be for Casurus, the name of the mission. Question is can you access the database to see the list of possible people that could make up the rest of the team. We have all we need here to narrow it down. All we need is to have the list of operatives active during this time."
"Em, I really want to help. I really do. It's just that the FBI doesn't have that kind of access and I don't have that clearance, so unless you can grant me permission to hack into the CIA, NSA, and DOD. We are at a roadblock."
She sighed, "We need those names. Maybe Hotch can help when he gets here." Her eyes wandered back to the list of codenames...
C141-JS1960
C137-TK1975
C140-MF1978
C188-AL1982
C193-SR1981
C141-MF1977
C167-QS1978
C167-JS1978
These all represented people whose lives were in jeopardy, and she had no way to find them. As her stare caught Garcia, a warm sensation relaxed her. She did not have to find them alone.
"Emily, I may not be able to hack into the most secure system on the planet, but I can say that the team just landed." Garcia spun around to face Emily with a smile plastered on her face.
God, Emily knew London was not the same, but it took her until this instant to realize how much she missed the comfort of her friends. London offered her a lot of things, but the company of the people that grew to be the closest thing to a family she ever really had was definitely not one of them. Skype was truly amazing, but as Penelope grabbed her hand to head out and meet the team in the bullpen, she recognized how much she needed reassurance from skin to skin contact.
They stepped out of the lair holding each other. Garcia's head rested on Emily's shoulder, and Emily wrapped her right arm around her. They were both smiling.
"Oh, after we find your agent. I have so much to tell you. Henry is growing up, and he did the cutest thing the other day."
Agreeing, Emily laughed. Nothing beat real and personal contact, and with her friends here in person she knew she would get answers.
Translation: Justice has been served. God will bless those that praise him.