Mid-morning the next day, Hotch made the familiar announcement. "Conference room in five everyone. We have a case!"
Garcia efficiently handled the initial briefing, which involved a serial killer on the loose in Northern Pennsylvania. Thus far, there were three confirmed victims, with a suspected fourth. "Wheels up in 30" followed, and the team dispersed to make the necessary phone calls, round up their go bags, and head for the elevators.
As Hotch stood waiting for the elevator, Rossi joined him. When Hotch glanced at the older agent, he was struck by – He wasn't sure what. But, there was a definite change in Rossi. And, once Hotch thought about it, the change had begun around the first of the year.
"Okay, Dave, what is going on?" he asked the senior agent.
"Whatever do you mean?" the innocent look was a dead giveaway to the profiler.
"I think you know what I mean," Hotch retorted. "I know you, and you are up to something."
"Nothing I can think of," Rossi brushed past him to enter the elevator.
Hotch held back. "I just remembered - I left something in my office," he improvised. "I'll be with you in a minute."
As soon as the elevator door closed, Hotch used his cell phone to call Garcia. "Garcia, Rossi is up to something. I need you to find out what," he instructed the tech.
"Are you sure you want me checking into this, Oh Great Leader? It may be something extremely private." she pointed out.
"I have a feeling about this," Hotch replied. "So, Just Do It!"
Garcia began by checking Rossi's Bureau file. She immediately noticed that several recent changes had been made and, when she saw them, her mouth fell open. She then checked some outside records. When she had her answer, she quickly reached a decision. Unless Hotch specifically asked, she was not going to tell anyone what she had discovered.
Two days later, as the team was busy helping the local law enforcement officials make arrangements to arrest the unsub and bring him in, Rossi's phone rang. Glancing at the screen, he quickly moved away from the group so he could speak privately. When he was done, he looked over and caught the eye of the Detective in Charge. "Do you need anything further from us, or can you make the arrest on your own?" he asked.
"We can handle it from here," the Detective assured him. "Are you needed somewhere else?"
"Dave?" Hotch looked at the senior agent. "What's going on?"
"That call was from Sonia," Rossi told him. "We need to get back to Quantico. Christine's water broke and she's gone into labor!"
"It's only 38 weeks and 3 days," Reid interrupted. "Is she okay? Are the babies alright?"
"Is the doctor going to try to stop her labor?" JJ worried.
"Nurse Marci is taking her to the hospital and Dr. Sullivan is meeting them there," Rossi reported. "Garcia is getting Kevin to fill in for her at the office, and then she is heading to the hospital. Now, let's get going!"
As the team hurriedly packed up their case information, the Detective in Charge walked over to speak with Hotch.
"I just wanted to say thanks for all your help," he said, holding out his hand to shake. "'I hope you make it back in time. Is Christine the wife of one of your guys?"
As Hotch shook the detective's hand, he looked over at Reid. "It's complicated," he replied.
"Isn't it always?"
The flight back to Quantico felt like it was taking twice as long as the flight out. Hotch, Rossi, and Reid restlessly paced the plane's aisle, while Morgan and JJ took turns checking in with Garcia at the hospital and obtaining regular updates on Christine. Meanwhile, Blake called her husband, James, for his opinion.
"Okay," Blake closed up her phone. "According to James, Christine is far enough along that labor should be allowed to progress normally. Even if the babies are small at birth, their lungs should be developed enough that they will be able to breath on their own. They should be healthy."
As the team hurried off the plane, the first thing they saw was two black SUV's pulled up to the tarmac with the red and blue lights already flashing. One of the drivers vaulted out of the driver's seat and ran over. "Our orders are to get your entire team to the hospital ASAP," he told them. "Leave your bags here and get in."
A fast ride, with sirens and flashing lights, got the team to the hospital in record time. When they rushed through the emergency room entrance, they found Garcia and Matt Cruz waiting for them.
"Thank heavens you're here," Garcia gasped. "I was beginning to think Matt and I would have to go into the delivery room with her. Not that I don't want to, and I know I'll have to do it myself someday soon, but I had rather wait and - " She paused to catch her breath.
"Calm down, Mama," Morgan put his arm around his wife.
"Which way?" Rossi demanded.
A nurse holding a clipboard came down the hallway. "Christine Nielson?" she asked.
"Right here," Rossi, Reid, and Hotch all replied.
"Three?" the nurse was caught off guard. "Well, why don't all of you come with me and get suited up. I'll check the patient's chart and see what it says." She hurried back down the hall with the three men close behind.