*Inside Café American*

"Well," Rossi says, eyeing the door, "Time for me to make an appearance."

Spencer follows his gaze. An attractive black haired woman in a German uniform has walked in with five officers. Two of the officers have separated to enter Spencer's back room. They have their orders. Find the holder of the letters of transit. Find him they do. Jason Gideon is at the roulette wheel. One of the soldiers taps him on the shoulder. Gideon turns around.

"Yes?"

"Mr. Gideon, will you please come with us?"

"Certainly. Please, allow me to cash in my chips." Gideon walks towards the cashier's window, then makes a run for it. He runs out of the backroom, into the main room of the café, nearly toppling Spencer over.

"Spencer! Please you've got to help me!"

"I told you, Gideon, I don't like politics. You got yourself into this mess. You can get yourself out." Spencer pushes him towards the German soldiers who hand cuff him and take him to Rossi's office at the precinct for questioning.

"I hope you're more sympathetic than that if I'm ever arrested, Spencer," quips Rossi.

"I stick my neck out for no one," was Spencer's sharp reply.

"I'd like you to meet Emily Prentiss, major in the German army."

"Do I have a choice?"

The two men walk over to where Prentiss and the other three officers are seated.

"Major Prentiss, this is Spencer Reid owner of this very café."

Prentiss looks at Spencer with a bored look. "Yes, I know," she says in her thick German accent, "I have a few questions for you, Mr. Reid. If you don't mind. What is your nationality?"

"I'm a drunkard."

Rossi gives a forced laugh. "That makes Spencer a citizen of the whole world."

"We have a dossier on you. Spencer Allen Reid, born March 13, 1906. Cannot return to your native country, all though the reasons are quite mysterious." She hands the papers to Spencer. He looks them over.

"Are my eyes really brown," he asks Prentiss.

"Mr. Reid, we've tracked you from Brussels, to Berlin, to Belgium, then to Paris. Now you're here in Casablanca. Do you know who Aaron Hotchner is?"

"Who doesn't?"

"We believe that he's coming here to this very café looking for exit visas. We believe he's traveling with a female companion."

"As I told Rossi here, I hate politics and try to run a very honest business."

"At least have a drink with us."

"I never drink with the customers. If you'll excuse me. Major."

Spencer got up to leave. He had other things that were more important than these German officers.

After he left, Rossi leaned in and said, "You see, Major. Spencer won't interfere with your arrest plans with Mr. Hotchner."

"Well, right on time," says Prentiss, looking at the door.

As Rossi follows her gaze, they see a man with dark hair roughly in his early forties, all though it seems as if he's seen more of the world than he's really wanted to. He's with a beautiful blonde woman with piercing blue eyes, and who's taste in clothing could only say, "classy". They walk towards Kevin at the bar.

"Excuse me," Aaron says, "We have reservations for two under the name Aaron Hotcher."

Kevin smiled. As a member of the underground movement, he knew who this man was. "Of course, Sir. Right this way."

As they passed by way of the piano, Derik saw the blonde woman and shook his head sadly. He knew who she was and what she meant to Spencer.

Kevin seats Aaron and his companion at a table near the window. A moment after he leaves, another man approaches them.

"Excuse me, would you be willing to buy this ring, perhaps for the lady?"

Aaron looks to the woman, then to the man. "No. We're not interested."

"Perhaps you want to examine the ring?" The man touches an unseen clasp and the top of the gold ring pops open to reveal a symbol. A symbol that represented those who resented the Nazis and what they stood for. This man was part of the French underground movement.

"Aaron," says the blonde woman.

Aaron looks to the ring and the secret it carries. "Yes I am very interested."

The man sat down. "You are Aaron Hotchner, correct?"

"Yes. That's right."

"My name is William LaMontaine and I.."

Before he can finish the sentence, his eyes catch movement. It is Captain Rossi with Major Prentiss in tow. "I'm sorry, Sir, I cannot come down on the price."

Aaron replies, "Thank you anyway."

LaMontaine walks away and heads towards the bar. Rossi and Prentiss walks towards the table and Aaron stands up.

"Mr. Hotchner, I presume?"

"Yes."

"And you are.." Rossi looks at the woman.

"Jennifer Jareau."

"Pleasure to meet you both. I am Captain David Rossi. Head of the law here in Casablanca. This is Major Emily Prentiss with the German Army."

Prentiss offers her hand, but Aaron refuses it. "I'm sorry, Major. I've had my fill of Germany and everything it stands for."

"Very well, Mr. Hotchner. I'm here to see you stay in Casablanca. I'm ordering you to be at the police station tomorrow morning at nine a.m."

"Forgive me, Major, but this is not German occupied territory. It's still under the French government. So it would be Captain Rossi's job to order me about."

Rossi smiled. "Think of it as me requesting your presence tomorrow morning."

"Very well."

This answer seems to suffice Prentiss. She and her entourage of soldiers leave the café. At that moment, Kevin returns.

"May I get you a drink?"

Before either Aaron and Jennifer can respond, Rossi replies, "Champagne, for all of us. And put it on my bill."

Aaron is baffled. "Captain Rossi. That's not necessary."

"Nonsense, Mr. Hotchner. They put it on my bill, I tear up the bill."

"Captain Rossi," Jennifer says, "The man playing the piano. I've seen him somewhere before."

"Derik? He's good friends with the owner of this fine establishment. Derik has been with him since they first came to Casablanca."

Aaron asks, "And who owns this café?"

"Spencer Reid."

At the mere mention of that name, a memory of France races across the mind of Jennifer. If there is any emotion, she doesn't show it.

"What kind of man is this Spencer Reid?"

"Let me put it this way, Madam. If I were a woman, I'd want Spencer Reid to be in love with me." Rossi looks at his watch. "Well, I must be going. It doesn't look good for the Captain of the French police to be out after curfew."

After Rossi left, Aaron leaned toward Jennifer. "I'm going to speak to LaMontaine at the bar and see if Mr. Gideon is here."

"Please be careful, Aaron. You don't look well."

He softly chuckled. "A year and a half in a concentration camp will do that to a person."

At that moment, Kevin brought their drinks. Aaron took his drink and headed for the bar.

"Excuse me," Jennifer said, "The man at the piano, would you tell him to play over here?"

"Certainly, Ma'am."

Meanwhile, Aaron is talking to LaMontaine. "Mr. LaMontaine, I'd very much like to examine that ring a little closer."

LaMontaine hands the ring over. Closer inspection of the ring shows that the symbol was real. Aaron had his reasons. You could never be too careful.

"We're supposed to meet Jason Gideon here for possible exit visas to Lisbon."

LaMontaine's shocked look wasn't lost on Aaron. "Mr. Hotchner, Gideon was arrested here earlier tonight."

"Who do we go to for exit visas?"

"Exit visas with Captain Rossi's signature will be your only way out of Casablanca."

"I'm scheduled to speak to him tomorrow morning."

"Very good."

Meanwhile, Derik had rolled the piano up to Jennifer's table.

"Hello, Derik."

"Hello, Miss Jennifer."

"Something from the old days, if you don't mind, Derik."

"Yes Ma'am." He begins to play a haunting little melody.

"Is Spencer here?"

"Well..I'm not sure, Miss Jennifer."

"How is he? I haven't seen him since Paris."

"I don't know, Miss Jennifer. I haven't seen at all tonight."

"You used to be a better liar than that, Derik."

Derik stops playing and leans towards her. "Leave him be, Miss Jennifer. You're bad luck for Mister Spencer."

Jennifer smiles a sad smile. "Play it Derik. Play 'As Time Goes By'. Play it for old time's sake."

"I'm a little rusty. I'm not sure if I can remember the music."

"I'll hum it for you." Jennifer begins to hum the melody of the song that keeps her going to the past. A song that reminds her of a love that could never be. A love that began and ended in Paris. Derik picks up on the melody and plays it on the piano.

"Sing it, Derik."

Derik sighed. Mister Spencer was not going to like this. "You must remember this," Derik sang, "A kiss is just a kiss. A sigh is just a sigh. The fundamental things apply. As time goes by."

Jennifer sat there listening to the song as only Derik could sing it. A lone tear rolling down her cheek.

Before Derik could launch into the second verse, Spencer stormed over to him. "Derik I thought I told you never to play that song." He looks past the musician to the woman sitting at the table.

"Hello, Spencer," she says.