Chapter 18

Brent came out of the Fantasyland office frowning. He leaned down to the window of Reid’s car. “Our room was already reserved.”

Reid raised an eyebrow. “Alec one step ahead?”

Brent shrugged. “Maybe.” He stretched. “Let’s get everything in there, I need a shower and I’m sure the ladies will want to rest on a bed that isn’t bumping down the road.”

Felicity climbed out of Brent’s car. “I just need a brief soak in hot water and some sort of sustenance, and I’ll be ready to go again.” She smiled as Jac slowly emerged from the back seat of Reid’s car.

“Considering we’ve been told to wait until those other people arrive, I wouldn’t mind a shower and some food as well.” She frowned at Reid. “Are we at least allowed to find the room they were in? They could still be here.”

Reid glanced at Brent then back to her. “We’re not supposed to, but as soon as you’re settled upstairs, I’m going to do some poking around.”

Brent grinned. “I’ll take the cleaning staff this time; you can try the office staff.”

Reid scowled. “Let’s hope they’re more inclined to co-operate with law enforcement than the last ones.” He pulled Jac’s case out of the trunk and swung it up on his shoulder as he put an arm around her to help keep her steady. “Let’s take the balcony up, so we’re not carrying the women through the lobby.”

Felicity was grateful for the strong arm around her waist guiding her in a straight line. She glanced at Jac. “Are you going to be able to look again this soon? If we find the room?”

Jac hesitated and looked up at Reid’s clenched jaw. “I’m going to drink a gallon of tea and at least try.” Reid hissed out a breath. She stopped and placed a hand on his cheek. “We’re so close, Reid…” He dropped a kiss on her mouth to stop any more words.

Brent unlocked the door, dropping his arm so Felicity could go in ahead of him. He almost walked into her.

Felicity turned and looked around. “Oh my god. We’ve been transported to gone with the wind.” She stepped out of the way so the others could step in.

Jac stopped and looked around. Long elaborate drapes surrounded the windows. The dark wooden furnishing was gleaming, with no scratched tables like the last few stops.

Brent walked over and opened a door. “This bedroom is larger than the whole last room.”

Reid chuckled from the other doorway he’d opened. “Two bedrooms.”

Felicity sat down French provincial love seat and sat back slowly. “At least we’ll have more space to pace in.” She smirked at Jac; who was still wandering slowly around looking at everything. “I don’t know who reserved this for us, but I might have to hug them.”

Brent’s phone rang as he walked out of the bathroom. Flipping it open he opened another door to discover a closet. “Hello?” He chuckled. “Yeah, Alec we’re in our suite.” He stopped and frowned. “Oh, okay then.” He nodded. “See you in a few hours.” Flipping it closed he frowned at Reid. “Alec’s on her way, she’s meeting the task team here.” He waved an arm. “Apparently the government is footing the bill for this now.”

Reid’s rubbed a hand over his whiskered jaw. “Really?” He glanced at his watch. “How much time do we have to clean up a bit?”

Brent was already heading to the door. “A few hours. I’ll go get our bags; you start taking turns in the bathroom.” He stopped at the door and winked at Felicity. “Maybe you could find a room service menu and get some real food brought up, just put it on the room bill.”

She grinned. “I’d love to.”

Jac grabbed her bag up and then Reid’s shirt sleeve. “We’ll take the first turn and try to speed this up a bit.” He grinned down at her, and she blushed. “I want to find the room as soon as we eat.”

Felicity went over to the directory and flipped through it looking for a menu. She’d never been involved in something this huge before. Government teams were involved now. She stopped and looked around the room. How much would we have to tell them? When Brent came back in, she jumped.

“Hey.” He said softly stopping to study her. She looked like she was ready to bolt. Setting the bag down, he went over slowly. Reaching he ran his hands slowly down her arms. “Is everything all right?”

Looking up at him, she hesitated for a moment. “I was just wondering how much we’re going to have tell this government team.” She watched his eyes for a reaction. “I don’t want to be a lab rat.”

“No one is going to turn you into a lab rat.” He hugged her gently. “By the time they get here, we plan on having enough that they don’t ask questions.” He glanced around. “Where are they?”

Felicity looked up at him a grinned. “In the shower.”

Brent flashed her a big grin. “Are we allowed to share too?”

She rubbed her face against his hard chest. “I don’t think I’m up to that at this very moment, I doubt Jac is either.”

He kissed the top of her head. “No rush.” She relaxed into his arms. “Did you find out about some food?”

She leaned back and shook her head. “I was just looking when you came in.” Stepping away from him, she flipped the pages for room service. “How hungry are we?”

He looked over her shoulder. “Well, if we’re not paying—starving.”

“I could just order up the assortment trays.”

“Yeah, oh, and maybe a dessert one.” She raised an eyebrow at him. He shrugged. “We need to get as much into Jac as possible, in case we can get in the room.”

“Lunch platters it is,” she said picking up the phone.

***

Reid walked back in and stopped at the door to grin at Alec. She was picking from the leftover food. “Did you fly here?”

Alec snorted and took a drink. “I was headed this way the second Brent phoned me with the location.” Setting the tray down, she brushed her hands down her jeans. “I wanted to get here before the team.” She motioned towards the key in his hand. “Whatcha got there, Detective?”

He held the key up and looked at it. “The key for the room of the older couple, they checked out of this morning.”

Brent stood up. “We just missed them by a few hours?” Reid nodded. “Shit.” He took two steps towards the door, then stopped and looked at Jac. “You got enough left to try one more room?”

Jac sipped the tea again before she spoke. “I think I can do it, guess we’ll see.”

Alec stood up. “You’re going now?” The men nodded. “What about the other team?”

Reid stopped with his hand held out to Jac. “We decided we’d all prefer the team to not know about Jac and Felicity’s … skills.”

Alec’s mouth formed an o. “Yeah, okay got it.” She headed towards the door. “Let’s go.”

Brent turned back to Felicity. “Do you want to come this time?”

Felicity shook her head quickly. “No, I think it’s best if Jac and I aren’t near to each other during that again.” She waved her hand at the door. “Just tell me the room number in case I change my mind.”

Reid looked at the key. “206.” Opening the door, he waited for Jac to pick up the thermos and then took her hand.

Felicity looked around the room. The kettle was already full and probably still warm, the tea sitting beside it. Sighing she went over to the couch and picked up one of the throw pillows on it. Maybe she’d just take advantage of the quiet for a few minutes and just stretch out. Those pills always made her feel sluggish. Lying down she let out a long breath and closed her eyes. Things were going to get chaotic once that other team of government people arrived, at least she supposed it was going to get that way. She was still worried about having to explain anything to them, but Brent made her feel like he’d prevent any disasters.

She sat up quickly and looked around. Had she fallen asleep? She wiped a hand over her face. No, not sleep. Jumping up she bolted for the door and went flying out it. When it slammed behind her, she winced and hoped someone else had a key to get back in; hers was sitting on the table. Stopping for a moment she looked to see which way the room numbers went then bolted in the direction she hoped to find everyone else.

Pausing at the corner to see the numbers, a door behind her opened and she turned to see Brent holding the door open.

“Felicity, what’s wrong?”

She hurried over to see Reid coming out carrying Jac. “They’re leaving. Now!”

Jac opened her eyes. “Trains.”

Felicity nodded. “Yes, a train station.” Alec came out behind Reid, already talking on her phone.

Brent let the door swing shut and put his arm around Felicity. His heart had stopped when he opened the door and saw her standing there looking completely distraught. “Jac saw the train station too. Alec’s called the task team and they’re already finding out where the nearest ones are.” She nodded and let him lead her along behind the others.

Alec came flying back still talking on the phone. She held out a hand. Brent put his room key in it.

Felicity looked up at him, and he smirked. “She’ll have the locations of the stations before those government guys do.”

“Are we going?”

He nodded and tightened his arm around her. “You and Jac can identify everyone involved, so you will be on the scene, whether these other guys like it or not.” She only nodded and leaned into him.

By the time they reached the room, Reid already had Jac on the couch and was holding tea for her to drink.

“Is she all right?” Felicity asked softly.

Reid sighed. “Yeah, she’s just doing this too much without recouping in between.”

“I’ll sleep for a week when we catch them,” Jac whispered without opening her eyes.

Felicity smiled meekly and turned towards Alec. Sleeping for a week sounded like a wonderful thing.

Alec spun around from the laptop. “Got them.” She looked down as the page printed out. “They’re going to reach the one station in less than five. The other one is a half hour away.”

Reid glanced up from Jac. “Which one do we head to?”

Alec looked at Felicity. “What’s your gut say?”

Felicity was startled that she was being asked. “Closest. With two children, it just makes sense.”

Alec nodded then turned to Reid. “Can you get Jac down in my car? I’ll drive.”

Brent reached over and pulled his gun and a spare clip out of the bag sitting under the table. Tucking it into the back of his jeans, he shrugged into his jacket. Winking at Felicity to take the shell-shocked look from his face, he went over to his partner’s backpack and pulled out Reid’s favored gun. He checked the clip and set the safety and then stuffed it in his pocket. “Felicity and I’ll follow you Alec, so try not to leave us miles behind.”

Alec stood with her hand on the doorknob and grinned. “I’ll try; just don’t drive like your granny this time.”

Brent snorted and took the thermos Felicity had just put the cap on. Waiting for her to pick up her bag he nodded to Alec. “Lead the way.” He lightly gripped Felicity’s hand as they walked quickly behind Reid carrying Jac.

Taking a few breaths to try and relax her nerves, Felicity glanced up at the man holding her hand. His face was relaxed; he was perfectly calm right now. This is what he does she told herself silently. This is his world. She smiled when she realized anyone else would have left her and Jac both sitting in the hotel room going stir crazy with worry and wonder. When they reached the car, he opened the door for her. Stretching up she kissed his mouth softly and was rewarded with a smile; his eyes warming as he looked at her. She smiled back and got in.