"Laurel, My Dear – And Aaron and Dave, too!" the enthusiastic welcome echoed across the lobby of the Sleepaway Inn and Suites near the Houston airport. "I didn't believe it when I saw your reservations come in!"
"Allison!" Laurel greeted her old boss with a hug. "Where else would we stay when we are in town?"
"With all your money, I really wasn't sure," was the reply.
"Well, I don't know about you," Rossi took his turn hugging the inn's manager. "But I prefer to stay with friends."
"We are hoping you will join us for dinner in a little while," Hotch invited her. "We have a lot of catching up to do."
"It will be my pleasure!" Allison assured him.
~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~
"You're telling me that you are going to be building your own franchise inn?" Laurel asked excitedly as they sat eating dinner that evening.
"I certainly am!" Allison told her proudly. "I convinced the parent company that I am fully capable of owning and running a location, and they are working on helping me line up the financing."
"And where will this majestic edifice be located?" Rossi questioned with a smile.
"Northwest of here," Allison told him. "There is an area where several large companies are currently building new complexes, and there is going to be a need for clean, reasonably priced hotel rooms in the area."
"It sounds like you are getting in on the ground floor of a good thing," Hotch observed.
"I certainly hope so," Allison replied. "And, now, enough about me. What have you guys been up to?"
"That's quite the open ended question," was Rossi's response. "Where to begin – "
~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~
It was already dark outside when they got back to the Inn.
Allison had been brought up-to-date on the status of Laurel and Paige's monetary settlement and had immediately announced to all and sundry that she was available to help in any way possible. Rossi had told her, with a smile, that he would keep that in mind if they needed to be bailed out of jail.
"I need to call Chicago and see how things are going with Paige," Laurel worried as they waited for the elevator. "Hopefully she is still up so I can talk with her."
"Why don't I call Garcia and put her on speaker phone?" Hotch suggested. "That way we can all say 'Hi!'." He looked over at Rossi.
"Sounds good to me," Rossi agreed. "Let's use the living room area of our suite."
"Hello to all you searchers for truth and wisdom in the Lone Star State," Garcia's voice came out of the speaker on Hotch's cell phone a short time later.
"Hello Garcia," Hotch told her.
"Hi Penelope!" Laurel sang out.
"You are on speaker," Rossi added.
"Great! Let me put you on speaker on this end," Garcia replied. "That way you can talk with everyone here at the same time."
"How is everything? How is Paige?" Laurel asked quickly.
"Everyone is fine. The shoulder was just dislocated," Garcia hastened to assure them.
"Who's shoulder, Penelope?" Laurel asked anxiously.
"Reid's," Morgan's voice came over the phone.
"What happened?" Hotch asked resignedly.
"He was explaining to Paige why she can spin on the ice," JJ spoke up. "And giving her some tips for improving her spins. As he was explaining the mechanics involved, he tried to demonstrate them."
"On the floor?" Laurel had an idea of what was coming.
"Yep!" Garcia confirmed. "And then he fell and – "
"The shoulder was only dislocated," Blake's voice reiterated. "Morgan and I popped it back into place. He didn't even have to go to the emergency room."
"What about Paige?" Laurel asked anxiously. "Where was she when you were 'popping'?"
"On the ice," JJ chuckled. "It appears that Spence's explanation made sense to her and she decided to try out his theory."
"You should see her spinning now!" Garcia exclaimed. "She's moving so fast you can hardly see her face!"
"Can she stand up straight afterwards?" Laurel laughed. "Or is she too dizzy?"
"She seems to have it under control," was Morgan's assurance.
"Can I talk with her?" Laurel asked. "Or is she already in bed?"
"I just checked on her and Henry and they are both totally zonked out," JJ reported. "As is Spence. That poor guy was just worn out."
"Okay. Let her sleep," Laurel accepted that. "But, when she gets up tomorrow morning, please make sure to tell her I called. Now, who's on duty in the morning?"
"Spence and I are taking her to the rink in the morning and then out to breakfast, followed by delivering her to school," JJ outlined the plan. "And Blake and Morgan are picking her up after school and taking her to visit Morgan's mother. Apparently Fran is planning on all of us coming over for dinner tomorrow night."
"Sounds like you have everything under control," Laurel conceded.
"Now, you go get some rest," Blake urged. "I have a feeling you are going to need it."