11

January 13, 2016

Cat stands in front of the mirror, her hair straightened and her makeup expertly applied. She's dressed in her Nikki Tri-Tone pink sequin dress, which hugs her curves in all the right ways. She's paired it with her favourite 14K-Strawberry-Gold-Earrings-Chocolate-Diamonds Nude-Diamonds, and her Christian Louboutin Azimut Leather Lace-Up Ankle Boots complete the look perfectly.

Looking at herself in the mirror, she notices her daughter Alice sitting on the bed reading Alice in Wonderland. She feels a twinge of guilt for leaving her behind, but she knows that tonight is the night she'll finally be able to escape her old life.

She picks up her Givenchy Velvet Trimmed Wool Coat in Black and her Diane von Furstenberg 440 Leather Envelope Clutch, ensuring she has everything she needs for the night ahead. She kisses Alice on the forehead and tells her she'll return soon.

The cool night air hit her as she stepped outside, and she felt a sense of freedom. She walks with purpose, her boots making a satisfying clicking sound on the pavement, and she knows that her life will change for the better.

As she made her way towards the Grill and Bar, Cat's mind raced with thoughts of what Spencer might say. She couldn't shake off the nervousness inside her for the past few hours. Just when she was about to enter the restaurant, she felt a sudden touch on her back.

It was Jack Vaughn, her boss. His touch sent shivers down her spine as he leaned in and whispered a reminder of what was at stake. The words echoed in her mind as she stepped inside, determined to make the meeting with Spencer successful.

Cat felt a subtle apprehension as she entered the room and paused momentarily to gather herself. Taking a deep breath, she surveyed her surroundings. She noticed four stern-looking FBI agents standing nearby, and the renowned criminal profiler David Rossi seated himself at a nearby table.

At the bar, there was a striking blonde woman who seemed lost in thought, and across the room, Cat's eyes were drawn to a stunning African-American couple who exuded an air of sophistication and confidence. Despite the seemingly calm and composed atmosphere, Cat couldn't help but sense that there were others present who were trying to remain hidden from view. Sitting to compose herself, Cat counted to ten before going to Spencer Reid's table.

Fuck.

That was Spencer's first thought when he saw her enter the bar, and it took everything in him not to grab her across the room immediately. His mind raced with doubts as he took in her effortless grace and striking beauty. He had to pretend not to notice how sexy she was.

If things were different… He told himself as Cat made her way to him. Spencer pretends to look around the room for her.

"Spencer?" Cat cautiously asked.

Spencer turned to her, and there she was, Cat Adams, Miss. 45. Puzzling, Cat gave him a questioning smile as she made eye contact with him. He stood quickly.

"Hi, yes, hi."

Cat worried that this was her only way out. She moves to hug him. "It's so nice to meet you finally."

Spencer froze; she couldn't hug him, or he would break. "Oh, no, sorry, I have a thing about germs." He stepped away from her.

"Sorry," she said, lowering her arms and biting her lips. A sad smile appeared on her lips, which puzzled all the agents.

Cat waited for Spencer to offer her a seat. "Ah, can I sit down?" Cat asked him.

"Oh, yes, please, of course." Spencer was suddenly nervous. It would get better after he got her talking.

After a brief silence, Cat turned to Spencer and waited for him to say something. However, Spencer seemed preoccupied with something and listened intently to Hotch's instructions through his earpiece.

Finally, Cat asked him if this was his first time, to which Spencer responded with a joke, asking if it showed that he was a rookie.

"I think it's show you human. You're here when you should be with your wife." Cat said softly.

Spencer froze along with his team. No one knew what to say.

Cat realizes she made a mistake. Cat opened her mouth to say something but closed it again.

Oh God, this was awkward. Why did they send a rookie in… Cat thought. She broke the silence again.

"Is this your first time doing this, huh?" Cat's eyes met Spencer's, and they both looked away. Cat shrugged. " Yeah, I still get nervous too. It wasn't until thirty minutes ago when I was like, wait, we've been emailing each other, and I was like, I still have no idea what this guy will look like, and my God, you weren't what I was expecting…"

"Hence the rose," Spencer offered.

"Wait, did she say not what she was expecting?" Tara asked Derek as she sipped her drink.

"I know, and then I was like, wait, he's going to bring a red rose, which is so clichè by the way, cute and sweet but very clichè. So, I was like, maybe we should go to a nicer place, which is why they switched the restaurant last minute, and I was like, would he be okay with this…"

Emily studied her behaviour and her body language. Cat Adams is telling them something. But what?

Cat started to feel disarming as she grew uncomfortable with how this was going. Why wasn't he speaking? Is Spencer just that bad of a conversationalist? "And now I needed to change and put something nice in this place. I was underdressed, and my whole wardrobe made me look like a Kardashian."

From her tone, Spencer knew Cat was insulting herself, but he had no idea what she was talking about or what she meant. Was this another pop culture reference?

"A what?'

"Kim, Khole, Kourtney Kardashian?" Cat frowned as if she recognized her comment had fallen flat. "You don't know what that is, do you?"

Spencer's brain clicked. "Oh, no, Robert Kardashian. He got OJ Simpson off. You don't look like him at all."

"Yeah, no, I was making a joke. About me."

Emily noticed that she was making a self-deprecating joke. It's not a typical trait for a hitman, who would be overflowing with confidence in their skills.

"No, it was good," Spencer smiled at her.

"No, it wasn't," Cat grimaced and forced a laugh.

There was another silence between them.

Spencer watches as Cat's eyes light up.

"Can we start over? Hi, I'm Catherine; my friends call me Cat." Cat said as she finally removed her coat and extended her hand for him to shake.

Spencer froze for a second. Riddled him at how friendly she was acting. "Hi, I'm Spencer."

Their hands touched, and they both felt a spark.

"Wow, if she wasn't a hitwoman…" Rossi said.

Morgan and Hotch agreed.

Cat's eyes softened, and she gave him a genuine smile. "It is nice to meet you. In person. Frankly."

"The last person I spoke to was a 12-year-old where I was being told I was ruining her life." Cat froze; she didn't mean to let it slip.

"Tell me a little about yourself. I have to ask. Do you have three PhDs?" Cat recovery.

Spencer is still thrown about the 12-year-old comment. "Yes, I do. Have three PhDs, I mean."

Cat is waiting for him to go on. "What was your favourite book you read last year?"

"Honestly, I've never read a book I didn't like."

"Really? My all-time favourite book is Alice's Adventures in Wonderland. I always said that my daughter would be named Alice. And I hate Brave New World." Cat expressed.

Cat waited for him to put two and two together or the people in his ears to put two and two together.

Giving him direct eye contact. "Tell me about your wife."

Ah, there it was. She had used the questions and comments to throw him off. To make him feel a little more safe. Spencer had to admit to himself she was terrific.

Cat gave a grin, and there was a twinkle in her eyes. Cat gave him a slight shrug as if to tell him we were here for business, not a date.

Spencer stood still for a moment. Spencer had prepared a story for this.

"You have to mix it up with her, Reid," Hotch said in his ear.

From the brief minutes he had interacted with Cat, he knew she would try to throw him off balance with more personal questions. "You want to talk about that here?"

Cat rolls her eyes. "It's why we are here, isn't it?" For a moment, her body softened but quickly pierced. Cat promptly put a hand up.

A waiter said, "Good evening, Madam and Sir, welcome to Harry and Glenn's. Would you like to hear the specials today?"

"Could I have a glass of water with ice, lemon, and ginger ale with no ice?" Cat asked.

Spencer was confused.

"I don't like this," JJ said.

"And you, sir?" The waiter asked.

"Water with lemon."

"I'm hungry. I didn't get a chance to eat today. Not enough. Could I have sweet corn tamale cakes and tossed green salad with no tomato, and my dressing will be house vinaigrette?"

"Would you like your salad dressing tossed or placed?"

"Tossed. Spencer?"

"Reid, you haven't lunch or dinner today. Just order food to keep her talking." Dave said.

"Chicken pot stickers and Caesar salad."

"Main course?"

" Shepherd's pie with a side of french fries. Could I have mayo to go with my fries and ketchup?"

"Of course, and for you, sir?"

"Steak Diane,"

"How would you like it cooked?"

"Well."

Watching the waiter leave, Cat coughed to get Spencer to look at her and not the blondie at the bar. That's caught her eye. He was here with her, but couldn't stop staring at the blond one.

"How long have you been married?"

"Four years." That was something he knew to answer.

She nodded and bit her lip as the waiter returned with their drinks. "And her name?"

"Denisse,"

She nodded again; her smile was smaller now. Cat was actively trying to keep it in her face. "When is she due to give birth?"

Spencer looked down and back at her. "Um, in a couple of months."

He learned across the table, lowering his voice. "Should we discuss price now, or…"

Cat grinned and mirrored him. She loved his cologne, and he got the smell of her perfume.

"Oh, Madam and Sir. Your food." The teenage waiter awkwardly said.

"Damn, I forgot Reid has a game," Derek expressed,

Cat can't lie to herself that this was probably her best date, even if the man is trying to arrest her. Cat softens her eyes, then says, "Slow down, Spencie; what are you trying to negotiate here?"

"You know."

Cat took a bit of her sweet corn tamale cake. "Do I know what you are asking?" She shook her head with a sly grin. "I want to hear you say it."

Spencer licked his lips.

Fuck.

Cat thought. That was too sexy with his hair. It was a bit of a mess.

"To have her killed."

Cat had to pause, trying to get her eyes to sparkle with delight, but she wanted to throw up.

She paused and then leaned in her chair. Spencer was reminded of how a child acts when given a gift.

"Spencer, do you know what you're asking?"

This makes the team pause again.

Not getting an answer, Cat changed the topic. "Let me see your ring." Her voice was slightly different now, more in control.

Spencer glanced down and handed over his left hand. He feels her soft fingers spin his rings.

Cat lightly touched his hand, running her thumb across his knuckles, and noticed that his hand had callus from holding a gun. She wondered how many he had killed. Cat paused on the ring, and she scoffed. Four years? It's more like four hours.

Spencer looked up at her. Her expression was no longer guarded. Spencer believes she believes him.

"You know what that is?" Her fingers played with the ring, twisting it around his finger gently. "A noose. Only it doesn't kill you all at once. It kills you slowly, day by day, night by night. No way out." She paused and looked at him. Spencer saw her heartbroken face. "Ever feel that way?"

"I feel that all the time." Spencer was surprised by his response.

Spencer was surprised when she lifted her hand away from his.

Cat knew she had to play this one way. "Take it off."

"Why?" Spencer asked.

"As a sign of your commitment to me," Cat said as the waiter brought their dinner.

"Do you need help with that?" Cat asked as she dug into her pie.

Spencer slipped it off, took her left hand, and placed it in her palm. Spencer starts his dinner. She glanced down at it as if she was figuring something out.

"Ah, Reid. Could you get her to bring up that 12-year-old?" Emily said. It was the first comment in a while he had heard from his team since they ordered dinner.

He glanced up at the camera and nodded his head. Cat notices it. "24 Karat?" He nodded. "24k times, what four years? This means this ring should be dinged and nicked, and yet. It's brand new. You're not married, are you."

Two very distinct clicks.

Cat can't believe these idiots believe she is Miss. 45. "Why are we here, Spencer?" Her eyes were dark.

"We are here because you are a member of the four hitmen who operate in the shadows of the internet. You are known as Miss. 45. My team and I have been hunting you for months. I knew we boxed you in here; we could arrest you with as little resistance as possible."

"And who is your team being?" Cat asked.

Cat knew that they didn't give her anything to work with. But Spencer isn't working as well. Alice's only hope rests on her playing as if she is Katie.

"Behaviour Analysis Unit at the FBI."

Cat nodded her head and went back to her dinner. "I have to admit, you guys are good." Her body relaxed, and she leaned back. "You are the only ones who got close to us."

Cat paused and cocked her head to the right. "But we got close to you too, didn't we?" She leaned across the table, grabbing his tie with a playful smile. "Hi, Penelope, Agent Hotchner. I wonder if Agent Prentiss is listening? I met her mother years ago when I was a little girl." So, she knew him and his team.

"Do you know why I am so good at my job?"

"You kill without emotion or remorse."

She rolled her eyes. "That only gets a girl so far in life. No. It's because I think through every potential outcome and plan accordingly."

Cat realized that Spencer understood what she said. "Yeah, didn't walk into your trap. You were the one who walked into a trap."

Spencer replayed every possible outcome they had planned for if she knew who he was. "Where's your head, Spencer?" She knew what he was doing and moved towards him—scooting around the booth until she was next to him. He felt her move her hand onto his thigh. He felt the heat from her hand move slowly up his thigh. "What are you thinking about?" Her voice was coy.

"Just thinking about entropy." She nodded and ran her hand down his chest. It would look like their date was going well to anyone else in the bar. She slipped her hand into his coat jacket. "It's the thermodynamic measure of degradation of matter and energy in the universe. To put it another way…"

Cat felt his body respond to her hand as she looked for his gun. He keeps his gun very close to V. She pulls his gun from his suit and beams at him. "There's your gun," She said seductively to him.

Spencer felt her breath in his ear. He shouldn't feel this way, but he does.

"Good evening. Can we get you two desserts?" Cat and Spencer both looked up to see the waiter standing there.

"Chocolate Tower Truffle Cake."

Spencer looked Cat in the eyes.

"Bowl of fresh strawberries. And cancel the cake."

"Oh, Shit," Penelope said.

The team knew what game Spencer was playing now.

"You know Spencie… I didn't think you could play this game." She touched Spencer's chest again. He realized that Cat knew this would bother him and refused the hug. "And while we are at it. Will you do me a favour and tell Blondie McBlonderson over at the bar to disappear? Oh, Hello, David Rossi. I found your book interesting when I was in the hospital at 15. Also, Blondie needs a lesson in undercover work, maybe from the drop-dead gorgeous couple to my left." Spencer glanced up at JJ, who had been watching them, stirring a gin and tonic. She gave up looking casual at that point. "Stand down, JJ," Hotch said. She put down her drink and scowled at Cat.

Cat slightly shifted away from Spencer to wave at JJ as she passed. "Thanks for playing, Sweetie. I give back your man when we're done."

The team was dumbfounded. What did she mean by that?

Spencer heard Hotch warned him not to let her get up from the table. Spencer kept his face black as she moved to sit next to him as their bowl of fresh strawberries with whipped cream showed up.

"Okay. You're in charge. Tell me what you want, and I'll see if I can get it here."

Cat gave him a real giggle as she put her gun away. "I am pretty sure no one is in charge here. We are both victims of this game they are playing, but anything I want?"

"Anything you want."

"Like a million dollars in unmarked bills and maybe a plane to Aruba?"

"Is that what you want?"

He watched now as she looked almost bored and said, "And you'll say you'll bring it here, but the real plan is to distract me from what is, I'm sure, an impressive law enforcement response just outside that door. Is that the plan?"

"That's the plan."

She cocked her head and looked curiously at him. "Okay, let's talk. But I want an interesting story. Tell me about me." Cat asked as she dipped a strawberry into the whipped cream.

Spencer looked at her as she took a bit of the strawberry and looked at him as she ate it.

"I feel we are interrupting a private moment," Emily mumbled to Aaron.

"You?" Spencer asked, and he took a bit out of her strawberry.

"Damn…" Tara said.

Cat raises an eyebrow at him, daring him to make his move. So, he did. Spencer placed one of his hands on her thigh, raising her dress slightly, taking a strawberry and dipping for her. "You want me to give you our profile on you." Spencer seductively whispered as he held the strawberry to her lip.

Shitting her.

Cat, get your shit together. She thought. This man will not get her to crack. But damn… "Yes, unless you're afraid." Cat took a bit of the strawberry he offered her.

Spencer smirked at her. "You are a black widow hitwoman, you specialize in seduction, and you're patient. You learn everything about the men you are hired to kill, physically, physiologically, and emotionally, because you want them in the most compromised position possible when you pull the trigger." His voice was raspy.

"And when said black widow do it well, they pull the trigger themselves." She added.

Spencer raised his eyebrows at her as she continued to eat the strawberry in his head. Spencer himself raises his hand higher on her thigh.

Cat raised her eyebrows at him as she continued to lower her hand from his chest. "Question: you are single, right?"

"Why is she asking that?" Penelope asked.

Spencer stares at her. "Yes, are you?"

"Technically, yes."

Cat paused and knew what she wanted to do now. "Now, where is that phone of yours," Cat asked as she moved her hand again to his suit pocket. "Not in your jacket." Cat moves her hand lower toward his pants as Spencer squeezes her inner thigh. Cat bit her lips before a moan could escape. "Now, Cat, all you have to do is ask for my phone," Spencer said with another squeeze.

Cat paused and gave him her best seductive look. "Spencer, may I please have your phone?" Her voice lowered, and she rolled out the please in his ear.

"Should we remove him?" A jealous JJ asked.

Emily grinned. Aaron looked at her. "What?"

Emily shook her head, "Spencer asked me how my black widow seduced work. He wanted to learn how I did what I did as a CIA Agent."

Spencer held back her groan as Cat's hand was close to his area. "It's in my left pocket in my dressing pants." Spencer felt her hand move to get it.

"Oh, lookie here," Cat said as she held it up to him.

Spencer enters his password. "Why?"

"Because I know what I want now. I want to play a game with you." Her voice was coy as she ate their strawberry. "You like games?" Her tone mocked him.

"Aren't they playing a game?" Morgan asked.

Spencer took a bit from the strawberry in her hand. "I do."

"Do you win?" Cat asked as she fed him again.

His eyes narrowed at her, and he lowered his voice. "I always win."

Damnnnn.

Cat didn't think his voice could go sexier than before. She tried to keep the grin off her face and the blush as she took the phone from him. "Okay, here is my game. You have 30 minutes to answer every question I ask. And if you lie, I'll know." She said as she set down his phone to show him the timer.

"And how will you know?"

"Because spent the past ten years studying men and their lies. Do you believe me?"

"I do."

"Never thought I would hear a man say that to me."

She grins and bounces, causing Spencer to shift closer to her. "I see you are getting this. Now, here is how you know you win. I will let you drag me out of here in handcuffs, and if I win. Like the gentleman you are, you will escort me out." Cat studies his face as Spencer thinks.

"What do you think, Spencie? Think you could win this one?" She whispered in his ear.

Spencer motioned to her to lean in towards him more. On the outside, it looked like Spencer was kissing her, with one hand in her hair, bringing her closer.

"Game on, Babe," Spencer said.

Cat smirked as she could see JJ's expression from the kitchen. She was leaning into him more.

"Game on, Baby,"