Hotch leaned forward. "She broke through a window and jumped into a helicopter?"
"Well, she shot the glass out first," Mitchell said.
"Why did she go down four flights before doing that?" Rossi asked.
"When I went up the stairs, they were already coming toward her. She did her best to hold them off and lead them in the wrong direction while running downstairs. The fight finally ended on the 20th floor."
"I probably wouldn't believe it if I haven't seen some of the crazy antics they've done," Hotch said.
"So, I take it your attitude toward them changed after that," Rossi said.
"I admit that I ate a lot of crow after that," Mitchell smirked.
Shortly after their mission…
"Where's Alex?" Hugh asked as he entered the room.
"She's being debriefed," Reid said.
Mitchell walked over to the table and sat next to Charles. "Everything okay with your equipment and computers? I hope they weren't damaged."
"Yeah, it's all good. I didn't even see any action. I guess I didn't need to use my guns after all."
"It's okay," Mitchell nudged him with his shoulder. "I'm your huckleberry."
Charles' eyes popped open, and he pointed to Mitchell. "You have seen Tombstone!"
"Of course, I've seen Tombstone! I may not be as hip as some of you—"
"You proved that just by using the word 'hip,'" Charles teased.
"But I'm not some troglodyte living in a cave."
"So, you're one of us, captain." Charles patted him on the back.
Mitchell sneered. "Not exactly. Now remove your hand before I make you do two hundred push-ups."
"Yes, sir, captain, sir," Charles said with a salute.
"You should make him do it anyway," Reid said. "He needs to be put in his place."
Charles picked up a plastic spoon from the table and tossed it at Reid.
"Well, that was fun," Alex said as she entered.
"What happened?" Reid asked.
"Apparently, I put your lives in danger by jumping out of a window," she said. She reached behind her back and pulled out a handgun and flipped it over and handed it to Mitchell. "Thanks. It was helpful. A little too much recoil."
Mitchell accepted it with a smirk.
"Did they suggest another way for you to be alive right now?" Hugh questioned.
Alex sat and leaned back in the chair with her arms crossed. "Nope. I was given a warning not to do it again."
Mitchell looked at each of them and then stood up. "I would like to say something. I am sure you noticed that I had some concerns with joining your team on this mission."
"Concerns?" Reid looked at the group. "I didn't notice any concerns." The others joined in feigning confusion.
Mitchell held his hands up in front of him. "Okay, okay, I get it. I just wanted to say that regardless of your age. You are the finest team I have ever had the fortune of working with. And if you ever need my help, I will be there."
"I would hug you if I wasn't afraid you would punch me," Charles said.
"Don't think I wouldn't," Mitchell said with a grin.
Reid held out his hand to shake. "The feeling is mutual, captain."
Rossi took a puff from his cigar. "So, it was the beginning of a beautiful friendship."
Mitchell let out a wry laugh. "Yeah, something like that." He then looked up as Prentiss stood by the window talking with JJ. He put his tumbler down on the table. "If you will excuse me, I have to take care of something."
Hotch and Rossi both looked to the window and then to each other.
"Of course," Rossi said.
Mitchell shut the door behind him, leaving them alone on the patio.
Hotch looked at Rossi. "So, you think they—"
"Oh, yeah."
Mitchell approached Prentiss. "Could I speak with you for a moment?"
"Prentiss locked eyes with JJ, then back to Mitchell. "Uh, yeah, okay."
JJ raised an eyebrow and a smirk and walked toward Garcia.
Mitchell and Prentiss moved to a secluded corner of the dining room. "Emily—"
Prentiss held up her hand in front of his face. "We aren't going to discuss Prague."
"Of course, I'm not. Why would I bring up Prague?"
"You know why and I know you were going to, so don't."
"Okay, I won't… I won't mention that boat ride on the Vitava River. Or that late night at the pub in Mala Strana. And I especially won't mention the lock we put on the bridge together. I won't bring up any of that."
"Yeah, that. All of that."
"Well, technically, you were the one who brought it up."
"So, that's how you want to play this?" she questioned.
Mitchell moved in closer. "I don't want to play anything."
Hugh started down the hallway toward the back room, looking for Alex and Charles. He went to push the door in but stopped when part of their conversation caught his attention.
"It's just not the right time to tell them," Charles said.
"Charles, we are lying to them. I can't keep doing that," Alex said.
"It's not exactly a lie."
"Well, it's not exactly the truth, either."
"We will tell them; we just have to wait for the right time."
"And when will that be?"
"Can we at least wait until I know for a fact that I can come out of hiding? With all this back and forth, I feel like a yo-yo."
Alex wrapped her arms around him and held him in an embrace. "It will all be okay soon. I promise."
Hugh pushed open the door and stepped in. "I hope I'm not interrupting something."
"Of course not," Charles said as both of them took a step back. "Just wanting all of this to be over."
Hugh stared at them silently for a moment.
"What?" Charles questioned.
"Oh nothing, just the two of you looked a little cozy for a minute."
Alex and Charles looked at each other then back at Hugh. Alex then went to pick up Charlie from the bed and stepped out of the room.
"What was that about?" Hugh asked.
"I can't tell you," Charles said.
"What is that supposed to mean?"
"It's not my secret to share," Charles said sincerely. "But I promise I will."