Hugh and Charles walked through the kitchen past the staff working on preparations for the evening gala. "I hate that I have to hide out at this thing," Charles said. "I love a good party."

"We are trying to find the person who is keeping you away from your family," Hugh said dryly.

"I know that. But look, they're cutting the radishes into roses."

"You don't like radishes."

"Damnit, Hugh, don't you have anything better to do than to drive a huge truck all over my emotions right now?"

"Not at the moment, no."

Charles let out a sigh as he pushed the door that opened to the hallway. "Alright, where are we going?"

"We have a room down at the end of this hall. We will be close enough to the ballroom yet remain out of sight," Hugh said. "And if it makes you feel any better, we still get to wear our tuxedos."

"That's the equivalent to blowing out the birthday candles but not being able to eat any of the cake."

"Take it any way you like." They walked a little ways further. "I think it's just past these elevators," Hugh said as they walked past the large group waiting in the foyer.

"Hugh?" a man called out from the group.

Hugh and Charles turned around to see a man step toward them. Hugh's mouth gaped open, and he stopped breathing. He then closed his mouth and turned to Charles. "I don't know if you remember Paul Cho from that time we were in Seoul."

Charles smiled. "Oh, yes, of course. You were part of the Korean diplomat's team. What brings you here?"

Paul stepped away from the rest of the people who were boarding the elevator. "I am here with the military attache, attending the party this evening."

Hugh stood staring at Paul, not speaking.

Charles looked from Hugh to Paul and back to Hugh. "I really shouldn't be out where I can be seen," he said softly.

Hugh shook the shock from his face. "I'm so sorry, Paul. We really have someplace to be right now. "I will try to find you later so we can talk."

"I would like that," Paul simply replied.

Hugh started to walk then stopped and turned. "10 tonight, in the garden. I might be able to sneak out for only a minute."

"I'll see you there," Paul replied.

Hugh gave a tight-lipped grin and then continued down the hallway. They walked in silence until Charles finally spoke. "So, that's Paul, huh?"

"Yes."

"And you haven't seen him since..."

"Uijongbu."

Charles stopped walking and put his arm on Hugh's to catch him. "Are you saying that you haven't seen or heard from him since that building blew up?"

"Yes."

"Did he even know you were still alive?"

"I never contacted him. We returned back home the day after."

Charles shook his head. "When this thing is over, you and I have a lot to talk about.

Reid stepped out from the backseat of the town car. His shoes shined like mirrors from all the lights. He adjusted the bowtie and then quickly ran around the back of the car to help Alex. The bottom of the midnight blue dress dragged along the ground until she grabbed the dress at her thigh and pulled it up. She wrapped her arm around Reid's as they entered the Canadian Embassy.

"There they are," Rossi announced as he started toward Reid and Alex. He reached out and shook Reid's hand, then placed his hands on Alex's shoulders and kissed her once on each cheek. "Looking radiant than ever."

"Thank you," Alex blushed. She then swept her hand over his shoulder. "You are pretty dapper yourself. It's not often I get to see you in a tux."

"I even got Aaron to sport one," Rossi said, turning behind him. "He's over there making nice with some members of congress."

"Is everything set?" Reid asked quietly.

"Yes," Rossi nodded. "Garcia is patched into the security system so we can keep an eye on our suspects. Paul Roman and John Mitchell are already here and know their plan."

"Hugh snuck Charles in already. They will be out of the way but on hand should we need them," Reid said.

"We are ready as we are going to be. We might as well head inside," Rossi said.

The large embassy party gathered in the ballroom. Waiters were carrying trays of champagne, while other trays had hors d'oeuvres and crudites.

Roman and Mitchell glanced at each other from across the room. Then Roman used his eyes to signal that their first suspect, Robert Koechner, was in their immediate vicinity. They started toward each other and met behind Robert's back.

"John Mitchell, how wonderful to see you," Roman said as they shook hands.

"It's fortuitous that I ran into you," Mitchell began. "I got a call from Charles Sullivan," he said in a hushed tone toward Robert.

"Oh, I got a call from him too, but I wasn't able to take it at the time. I'm sure he's been working a few things out since coming back from the dead."

"Well, that's just it," Mitchell said. "Apparently, the person who is responsible for him ending up in that situation is still out there. Charles said that he has the proof and is going to expose them soon."

Roman and Mitchell continued to talk about the plans and then made sure to have a similar conversation within earshot of Diane and Brandon. They moved into a back corner where Roman activated his coms. "Did you get all that, Garcia?"

"You bet I did. Job well done. I almost believed you myself."

"Thanks," Roman said. "Now, all we can do is wait. I guess a glass of champagne won't hurt."

"I think I will join you," Mitchell said.

"So, just a tux?" Roman questioned. "I assumed you would be in your class A's for a do like this."

"I guess I could have gone either way," Mitchell said, then leaned in closer to Roman. "But I know if I did that, Emily wouldn't be able to keep her hands off me."

"And that's a bad thing?"

"No, just the job comes first. Now I might have to pull that uniform out and see if it works."

Garcia cleared her throat. "Uh, you know I can still hear you boys, right?"

A waiter picked up a tray filled with champagne glasses. He looked from left to right, then pulled out a pill from his pocket and dropped it in the glass right in front of him. He watched for a second as the pill quickly dissolved away.

The waiter walked into the busy ballroom and allowed people to pick up glasses as he moved across the room. With his target in sight, he steadily moved his way there. He picked up the glass directly in front of him and then handed it to her. "Here you go, miss."

"Thank you," Alex said and moved the glass to her lips and took a long sip.

The waiter loaded a few empty glasses onto his tray while watching Alex. She closed her eyes for a moment as her body wavered. He moved back to her and leaned toward her ear. "Go to Hotch," he said. He put his hand on the small of her back and gave her a nudge.

'Hotch," Alex said and had an overwhelming urge to go to him. She stumbled a bit and placed her hand on the wall for balance as she felt her legs moving to where Hotch was standing alone. She beamed as she finally stood before him. "Hey there," she said amorously. "I am so glad I found you."

Hotch looked down at her. "Hello," he said with one eyebrow raised. "What are you doing?"

Alex put her hand on his arm and rubbed up and down. "You know, we could slip out of here, and no one would know." She drained the rest of her drink and put the glass on the table.

Hotch turned toward her and leaned in closely. "Are you playing one of your undercover things? Where's Spencer?" He raised his head back up and surveyed the room.

"Oh, come on, babe." She moved her arms behind his neck and held on tightly. "You're so tall. And I love those eyebrows. Has anyone ever told you that you look like Sam Eagle?"

"Alex," he said in a hushed tone as he tried to remove her hands from her grip on him. "I don't know what you're playing at—"

"Let's get out of here, Hotch," she said while rubbing her hands across his chest.

"Alex, I don't know what you're doing, but this isn't funny. Now cut it–" His eyes furrowed. "Hotch? You just called me Hotch."

"Yes, I did, Hot Hotchy Hotch," she said, then giggled.

"You never call me Hotch." He grabbed onto her wrist and pulled her to him. "Alex, what have you had to drink?"

"Drink? I would love a drink," she mumbled as she planted her face on his chest. "You need to loosen up. You're too uptight." She shot up with a burst of energy from his chest and looked into his eyes. "We should have sex!"

Hotch had a firm grasp on her shoulders as his eyes desperately searched the room. "Oh, this is not good."

A note from me:

Hello wonderful readers! My friend has started writing her first fanfiction so I'm sharing it here with you all! Here's what she has to say:

If you're as obsessed with Netflix and Alice Oseman's Heartstopper as much as I am, I think you may like the story I'm writing. In this novelization of the Graphic Novel series, Nick Nelson is straight. Or at least, that's what he thinks. And then he meets a boy that makes him question everything he's ever known about himself.

Come join me as I explore the classic an sweet teen romance, with a boy-meets-boy twist.

s/14178007/1/Sparks-Fly

Author: AnnieMcD

Category: TV Show Heartstopper