Alex was seated on the couch with Charlie in her lap while JJ was sitting in the chair adjacent and making silly faces to get the baby to smile.
"I have to say those are really cute shoes," JJ said, looking down at Alex's feet.
"Thanks," Alex looked down as well. "The fact that they are cute is a plus. I actually got them for a more practical reason."
"Oh, what's that?"
Alex handed JJ Charlie and took off her shoe to show the bottom. She revealed a sleeve and pulled out a throwing knife.
"Wow," JJ remarked. "I honestly didn't expect to see that."
"Alex is known to always have a knife on her," Roman said. "I have seen some in some pretty innovative places."
"No kidding," Garcia said as she moved into the center of the room. "I had the great fortune of taking Alex to the hospital when she was in labor. However, they almost called the police on us."
"What?" Mitchell questioned. "What for?"
Garcia chuckled. "For how much she was packing."
"Well, it all started while Spencer was in Oregon," Alex said.
Six Months Ago…
"How can the Oracle serve you today?" Garcia announced as she answered the phone.
"Hi Penelope, it's Alex. I didn't want to disturb Spencer if they were still on a case."
"Actually, no, they just solved it. They are wrapping things up with the local police right now, and then they'll be on the jet."
"Oh, okay," Alex said softly. "So, what are we thinking? Like maybe eight hours before touch-down?"
"Yeah, probably something like that. Why? What's up?"
"Look, I don't want you to make a big deal out of this, okay?"
"Well, now I definitely am. Something's wrong. What's wrong?"
"I'm pretty sure that I'm in labor," Alex confessed.
"Oh, oh!" Garcia stood up. "I have to call Reid."
"No! You will not call Spencer. Not yet. There's nothing he can do at the moment anyway. But I need you to take me to the hospital."
"I will be right there. But what about Reid?"
"I just sent a text to Dave. He will take care of making sure they don't drag their feet getting onto the jet."
"Okay. I will be there as soon as I can!" She rushed around her office grabbing things. "Where's a Tardis when you need one?"
A short time later, Garcia was walking with Alex into the maternity ward. "We need some help here!" Garcia shouted.
"Penelope, it's okay. It's not an emergency," Alex said calmly.
"Not an emergency? You have a tiny human trying to come out of you! How is that not an emergency?"
"This isn't Alien," Alex scoffed. "It's not like it's going to burst from my stomach."
The nurse approached and asked some preliminary questions, then led them to a room. "Okay, I am going to need you to disrobe and put this gown on. You can put all of your clothing in this bag. I'll be back in a few minutes."
"I guess I should start with this," Alex said, pulling her .22 from her ankle holster. She handed it over to Garcia, who held it with two fingers then put it down gently on the table. Alex removed the ankle holster and handed that over. She then slid her yoga pants down to the ground and stepped out, revealing the throwing knives strapped to her calf and thigh. She removed the belt strapped under her belly, which looked like Batman's utility belt holding ammunition, another knife, handcuffs, and brass knuckles. Alex then pulled up her shirt. She removed the chain that held her bra knife in place and took that off. "There, that's all of it."
Garcia helped her get the gown on and to get into the bed. She then turned to the table covered in weapons. "So, this must have been what it was like when they disarmed Germany."
At that moment, the nurse knocked on the door and quickly entered. She looked at everything in front of Garcia with her mouth open. "Security!" she called out.
"No, wait!" Garcia called out. "I work for the FBI."
The nurse looked at Garcia's wardrobe and called for security again.
The security guard arrived within a few moments. "Whose weapons are these?"
"Mine," Alex said matter-of-factly.
"Why are they on the table?" the guard asked.
"I was instructed to disrobe."
The security guard closed his eyes for a moment then looked at her again. "Why wear them in the hospital in the first place?"
"Because I was at work."
"So, you're the one who claims to work for the FBI?"
"No."
Garcia smiled and held up her hand. "That would be me."
"Do you have any weapons on you?"
"Other than my biting wit, no."
The security guard looked dumbfounded.
"Okay, I don't have patience for this," Alex said. "My contractions are getting more pronounced, and I am dying for my epidural. So why don't I help you out a bit? My name is Alex Marcus. I work for the CIA. This is Penelope Garcia. She is with the FBI. And she would be happy to show you our credentials if you would like to see them. I also would not object if you preferred to take custody of my belongings in the interim. If all that is amenable to you, please let me know."
After several long moments, he nodded then turned to Garcia, who was holding out both of their IDs. He glanced at them, then at the two women, then back to the IDs. "I'm going to have to call this in," he said as he stepped out.
The nurse came back in having witnessed the exchange and got quickly to work.
Alex was seated as comfortably as she could be with the monitor on her belly and various tubes dangling across her. "Okay, Penelope, now we can call Spencer."
"Wait! What?" Reid stood up from his seat. "But everything's okay?" He then looked at his watch and fell back into his seat. "I still have at least three hours left of this flight. You let me know if there's any change."
"Spence?" JJ questioned.
"Alex is in labor."
The group all talked over each other to offer their congratulations.
Reid's leg shook nervously. "Two weeks early."
"Everything will be fine," Hotch said.
"Can we have the jet land at the hospital?" Reid asked, half-seriously.
Rossi smirked. "We have already arranged to have a car take you from the tarmac directly to the hospital."
"And we will be right behind you," Hotch said.
A few hours had passed, and the team was gathered in the waiting room. Charles was pacing up and down the aisle.
"You're going to wear a dent in the carpet the way you are going," Prentiss said. "Why don't you have a seat?"
"I just wish Hugh were here. He would want to be here," Charles said.
"You're acting like a nervous father," Prentiss said.
"I know, just with me being in hiding and away from Sondra and the kids, it's all a bit much at times."
"That's completely understandable. Sometimes you get so deep into something that you begin to lose a part of yourself too."
"Yeah, I guess I'm just trying to make sure that doesn't happen. It's almost like I'm having some kind of crisis of faith. I keep expecting my world to turn upside down… again."
"Well, from what I've seen, with friends like these, they won't let that happen."
At that moment, Reid walked out into the waiting room. Everyone stood up in anticipation. "The baby is here," he proudly declared. "I spoke to the nurse, and all of you are allowed to come on back."
"Is it a boy or a girl?" Garcia quickly asked.
"It's a surprise," Reid said as he pushed the door open. They moved down the corridor and stopped in front of Alex's room. He gently rapped on the door and tucked his head in. "There are some people anxiously waiting to see you."
"Come on in," Alex said. She sat up in bed. Her wild curly hair was pulled up into a bun, and her face was pale with exhaustion. She held up the baby more prominently in her arms. She then reached out her left hand toward Charles, and he took it. "I want you to meet our daughter… Charlie."
Everyone let out words of excitement. Rossi patted Charles on the back. Prentiss leaned in closer. "How is that faith now?"
Charles sat on the edge of the bed, looking at his namesake. He leaned in closer to her. "Your parents are going to teach you everything you need to know. But you come to me when you're ready to learn the ways of the Force."