Disclaimer: Repeat after me, I do not own Criminal Minds
A/N: Go ahead, make my day, you do when you send a review, really!
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Emily came out of the bathroom dressed in a black skirt, a white blouse with a burgundy vest. At her neck she wore a black bow tie. Hotch, Rossi and Morgan were similarly attired.
JJ came rushing into the room, "Sorry it took so long. I talked to Dan Breydon. I told him I would give him all the info when something broke but, and it's a big but, he said he saw a van from WBNS TV, the CBS affiliate from Columbus, in town. Since the APB is out, they may be here following the lead and if that's the case, then all bets are off and Breydon will go with what he's got to beat the TV news. I didn't tell Dan that Reid came up with this idea. I thought it best not to mention him."
"Considering how the press hounded him and Evan after the Billingsly thing, that was probably a good idea," Emily agreed.
"Factor in the way Allie's feeling about this and her father being involved, the last thing my man needs is the press," Morgan added.
"Okay JJ, you did your best. We'll have to wait and see what happens," Hotch replied.
"From the way everyone is dressed, I take it we're working the banquet."
"Yeah," Emily answered, "Your uniform's in the bathroom." JJ saluted and headed off to get changed.
"We better get wired up while JJ's changing," Rossi added as they started putting on microphones and earpieces. JJ emerged from the bathroom to find them doing sound checks.
Hotch, Rossi and Morgan holstered their weapons in ankle holsters while the women decided to keep theirs on their trays under a napkin. Emily was helping JJ get wired when they heard, "Is everything arranged for the evening?"
The team looked up to find Reid standing just inside the door. He wore a navy blue suit, a white shirt complemented by a red and navy tie accented with a gold metallic thread running through it. A red silk handkerchief and black shoes that shone like glass completed the look.
"Is that Reid," Emily whispered to JJ as she helped her affix her microphone inside her blouse?
"Looking pretty good Reid," JJ stated. "I don't know. If I were Allie, I don't think I'd want to be taking you where there are available women."
"JJ, uh, thanks, I think," Reid replied.
"Reid you look very handsome. Allie is a lucky girl," Emily added.
"Oh for God's sake," Morgan interjected, "The guy put a suit on, big deal. It's still Reid."
"I see you're all going to be working the banquet," Reid remarked, noticing his teammates matching outfits.
"Yes," Hotch answered, "Morgan, Prentiss, JJ and I are waiting tables. Rossi's assisting the bartender."
"Uh, Reid, haven't you forgotten someone," Morgan asked?
"She's still getting ready. It seems to take women longer," Reid explained, walking into the room.
"You have your weapon Reid," Rossi asked, noticing Reid's Glock was not in its usual position on his right side.
"Yeah," he opened his jacket, "I wore a shoulder holster."
They explained what they had done with their weapons and shared the fact that they were wired.
"Sounds good. Anything back on any of the knives we confiscated from the Kullman home?"
"Nothing yet," Emily sat on the couch. "Lancaster has to do casts of all the knives and then correspond with New York. It'll probably take a while."
"Yeah," Reid nodded, "What did LPD say? Are we going to have a police presence here tonight?"
"They're sending us some officers in plain clothes," Rossi informed him.
"It sounds like we'll have the place fairly well covered." He turned and leaned against the table that held the fax machine. "That along with the hotel security sh…" The team watched as his eyes widened and his mouth gaped. They followed the direction of his gaze. Allie stood in the doorway.
Allie was clad in a red dress cut low enough in front to allow generous cleavage to overflow from the pleated bodice. The pleats were embedded with silvery glitter. Spaghetti straps held the dress in place while the rich red fabric molded to the curves of the young woman's body ending a couple of inches above the knees, accentuating her legs which were further enhanced by toeless red stiletto heels. Her normally straight dark hair had been curled and teased until it fluffed around her head like a corona. Her lips shone a deep glossy red. She was devoid of jewelry except for a slim white gold bracelet. She carried a red clutch, pleated and glittered like the bodice of her dress.
Allie looked appreciatively at Reid, seeing him in his suit for the first time. "You look terrific."
Reid was speechless which his teammates found rather amusing. "Earth to Reid," JJ was unable to keep the laughter out of her voice.
"Huh, oh yeah, what," Reid replied.
"Well it speaks anyway," Emily laughed as well.
Morgan looked at Allie, "Giiirrrl, what have you done? You look marvelous!"
"Oh come on Morgan, she put on a dress, she's still Allie," JJ teased.
"W-wow," Reid finally spoke, to the laughter of his teammates. He approached his girlfriend. "Wow," he said again. "You are…You are gorgeous." He reached out to touch her hair.
"You like," she smiled and pirouetted for him.
"Oh yeah," he nodded, "I definitely like!" His beaming smile lit the room.
She looked at the team. "So you're all working at the banquet?" The team all answered in the affirmative and Allie nodded sadly. "This isn't exactly how I saw tonight in my mind but hey, c'est la vie!" She took Reid's hand, "At least you'll be with me. That's good, right?"
"Yeah, that's good," he replied, "I wouldn't want to be anywhere else."
"Ooh, you're such a liar," she said good naturedly.
"Okay, we have to go and pretend to be hotel employees. We'll see you both later. I know tonight's not what you hoped for but try and enjoy the evening" Hotch said as he and the others headed for the ballroom, leaving Reid and Allie alone.
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He was lucky there had been a cancellation, he thought as he looked around the hotel room. They would be watching for him trying to get into the hotel. They thought they were so smart. They didn't realize he'd been here for hours. Soon it would be time. He'd kill two birds with one stone. He lifted the beer can to his lips and drained its contents. He flattened the can with one hand and threw it in the wastebasket with the others. Soon.