Mabelreid this time, and she's on the ball! Please send her a PM or leave a review!
Usual disclaimers.
"Wow, Charlene, you sure got the boss man to loosen up in a hurry. What will Willy say?"
"I don't care what the rule Nazi says. Hotch is my charge till this time tomorrow and as long as he is, I'm going to see that he has fun."
"Why don't you have any cute pet names for me, like you do for the rest of the group?"
"Because you distract all the females you come in contact with. Or have you forgotten about distracting Mary last year?"
"That wasn't my fault!"
"You were trying to flirt with her. It was a disaster."
"You're way too judgmental for someone with such disdain for the rules."
"And you're determined to be the James Bond of guardian angels."
"Guys, can we watch this in peace!" Gina's feathers were ruffling indignantly.
"After you, my lady," Reginald scooted over on the large white couch.
"It's not going to work, MI6 wannabe."
"I think she's warming up to me." Reginald winked at Charlene who narrowed her eyes at the taller angel.
"Just be quiet and watch!"
Reginald put both of his arms over the back of the couch. Both female angels glared at him, but he stayed where he was, in the middle of them. He let his eyes rest on the screen, this next challenge for his charge was going to be interesting and he'd need to be on his toes.
---
"Come on Oliver; just tell me how you did it."
"Don't worry about it Reid. You'll find out soon enough."
"But -"
"Stop complaining Reid!"
Hotch came out of the cubicle at the back of the costume rental shop. He smoothed down the collar of the shirt he wore. Oliver snorted out the laughter that Reid didn't dare let loose from his own throat.
"I think I like the clown suit and makeup better."
"Naw, this is much better Hotch."
"I wonder who it was that put this suggestion in the pot."
Reid opened his mouth and Oliver elbowed him in the ribs. "Don't go there," he mouthed.
Hotch shrugged on the jacket and frowned at his reflection in the full length mirror. At this point, his dignity was out the window, so he should just try to get in the spirit of things. He smoothed down the suit jacket and shirt collar again. He couldn't believe that there was a costume shop in the DC that had this exact costume.
"You look great, Hotch. The ladies at the party are going to love you."
Hotch turned his patented stare on Oliver and Reid winced in anticipation of Oliver's retreat, but the younger man stood his ground.
"It'll be over soon and then we can enjoy our little 'side trip.'"
Hotch sighed in disgust and went to the counter to pay the rental fee for the costume. The young woman at the counter giggled when Hotch approached her. She went red in the face when he glowered down at her.
"Um… here's your change sir." She handed over some bills to Hotch. "Ah… enjoy the party."
Hotch left, with Oliver and Reid in tow. Reid glanced over at the clerk and saw that she was making an effort to look anywhere but at the three men.
"Did you have to scare the poor girl?" Oliver once again spoke the words Reid wanted to say, but didn't in fear of his own life.
"I didn't scare her!"
They got into the SUV and the silence on the way to the party was so unbearable that Reid began. "Did you know -?"
Oliver slapped a hand over Reid's mouth. "Shut up! You'll screw up your new challenge if you're not careful."
"I can do it. It's not going to be a problem."
"That's what you said yesterday!"
"This is different!"
"Yeah, there are no women involved in this challenge."
"Would you two stop sniping at each other?!"
Reid opened his mouth again and Oliver elbowed him again. "Stop it… You're going to crack my ribs." Reid rubbed his side and glared at him.
"Oh stop being such a baby. I'm not going to break your ribs."
"I'll break something if you don't knock it off." Hotch was looking at both of them in the rearview mirror the same way a mother might look at her kids that had just asked for the umpteenth time "Are we there yet?"
Oliver and Reid stayed silent till they arrived at the party to which Chase had got them an invite. Music was blaring out of the doors every time someone opened the doors. The bouncer took one look at Hotch and let him in without the password Chase had given them.
The inside was a trip back through time. The dance floor was transparent with a rainbow of colors throbbing through it. Silver disco balls hung from the ceiling and Thelma Houston was just getting started with "Don't leave me this way."
Couples were heading to the dance floor while others prowled the outside of the dance floor looking for a partner. Most of the dancers were dressed similar to Hotch, who was tugging at the collar of the black silk shirt he wore. The white pants and suit jacket with high heeled shoes completed the look.
Oliver had a partner two minutes after they entered the room. Reid had turned down three women and one man by the time they made it to the bar along one wall. He was left alone when Hotch was pulled into the dancing crowd by a small blond wearing an eye searing yellow dress and clunky shoes.
The music changed to "Disco Inferno," and Reid nearly choked on the soda he'd ordered. It had been one thing to see his boss as a clown, but who knew that Hotch could dance. The fact that this was a disco themed party didn't seem to faze his boss. It was like being inside of "Saturday night fever."
Oliver untangled himself from the red head that had pulled him out to the dance floor and joined Reid. "I gotta say I'm impressed. Hotch can be pretty cool once you get him out of those expensive suits and ties."
"Yeah…"
"Is that all you can say?"
"No."
"Reid, you can talk you know. All you have to do is refrain from statistics and useless information spouting till tomorrow night."
"I'll bet that was Morgan's contribution to the challenge."
"Probably."
---
"Dr. Reid is doing very well."
"Don't get your hopes up. I'm sure he'll slip up before the day is through."
"Way to be supportive of the group, Gina."
"I know him; he's most comfortable if he can talk about statistics and odd facts. I'll bet he cracks inside of another three hours."
"I'll take that bet."
"Be quiet you two. I'm trying to enjoy this while it lasts!"
---
"I give up!"
"--It's not that hard Morgan.--"
"I can't find a single person in this neighborhood that speaks English."
"--I speak English and you're not listening to me.--"
Kyle laughed silently in the back seat, but Morgan saw him in the rearview mirror. "Can it, Parker."
Kyle laughed out loud at Chase's translation.
--Chase is right. Everyone thinks that because I'm deaf, that I can't hear, but I know my way out of here and I've never driven it.--
"I swear I'm going to put both of you out on the curb."
--Is that any way to treat your fellow teammates?--
"How is it that I didn't know you're such a comedian?" Morgan pulled off the street and slammed the SUV into park. "I give up." He got out of the drivers seat and waited for Chase to get out of the passenger side of the truck.
"Come on, Morgan."
"Nope, I'm done. When I get my hands on Reid…"
He got into the passenger side of the truck. Chase got into the drivers side, put on her seat belt and revved the engine playfully.
It took her three right hand turns and one left to have them back on highway 96 and back on their way to DC and Josh's home.
"No way…"
"I told you half an hour ago to go right, but you didn't listen."
"I need a stiff drink."
---
Connie was meditating again while Stanly gleefully finished his second plate of fully loaded nachos. "I can't believe he gave up."
"You didn't do enough to help?"
"What do you expect me to do? You know how stubborn he is. When was the last time he actually listened to you?"
Connie went red in the face. "Um, I can't remember."
"That's what I mean."
"Fine, he's not perfect. Is that what you want to hear?"
"No, I want to hear that you'll encourage him to back off Dr. Reid once in awhile."
Connie eyed Stanley for a long minute. "That's all you want?"
"Yes!"
"Well, okay then."
"Great, now that you two have that worked out, be quiet," Anya snapped from her chair. "I have to be alert for Kyle's next task." She rolled her eyes. "This is going to be the death of me."
"Angels can't die. " Stanley pointed out.
"You know what I mean!"