(Disclaimer: I do not own Criminal Minds or its characters)

I've been so desperate to write this! I love this plot line at the moment, I needed a bit of a goofy fic and here it is.

Please review.

Present

"Hotchner." Hotch pressed his phone to his ear and avoided eye contact with his team who had become peculiarly silent.

"It's probably Reid, begging Hotch not to fire him for being so late," Morgan laughed. Emily gave him a small smack on the shoulder.

"Garcia is also late you know; stop picking on Reid," She chided.

"Baby Girl isn't as paranoid as Reid."

"Are we talking about the same person?" Emily smirked. Morgan shrugged and they turned their attention back to Hotch.

"I am. Yes."

"When?" Hotch stood from the table and started pacing behind his chair.

"Why was I not informed sooner? I understand that, but I'm his emergency-" Hotch paused; his frown set in stone.

"Where? Okay, I'm on my way. Thank you." Hotch hung up the phone and finally looked at his team who were sat on the edges of their seat with a childlike eagerness.

"Reid's in hospital."

One Week Earlier.

Reid twisted the final bolt with his spanner until it was tight and he stood back, his hands resting on his hips as he gazed on in awe. He slowly walked around the contraption giving it a good gander before sighing contently.

Morgan's not gonna believe this, he chuckled to himself as he tested the strength of the door hinges.

The large machine stood in his study. On the outside, it just looked like a fancy storage compartment, but when he peered inside his months of hard work shone through. Hundreds of buttons stood out on the control panel and a small screen stood above it.

It was also pretty roomy. Spencer had to get rid of three bookcases to fit it in. He pulled out his key and after a long satisfied look inside the machine he locked it up and patted the silver exterior.

He couldn't wait to test it out. He stared for a few more moments before he blinked down at his watch and reality came crashing back onto him.

"Crap, crap," he hissed as he fumbled with the keys in his hand, finding the one for the front door before skidding out of his study. He threw his messenger bag over his shoulder and ripped his coat off the hanger before fleeing out of the door.

The apartment was still for just a few seconds before the door sprang open and Spencer's hand darted back inside and grabbed his sneakers.

Spencer could barely contain his excitement that week at work. He'd planned on telling Morgan straight away but after mulling the idea over in his head on the subway he'd decided that wasn't the best course of action, so he kept his discovery painfully to himself.

Only Garcia seemed to be the one who noticed Spencer's suppressed excitement and the flicker of disappointment in his eyes every time he was sat around thinking. Despite not being a profiler she started making one on why Spencer's behaviour had changed. Eventually, she found herself following him home that Friday evening after they'd wrapped up their work for the weekend.

Garcia didn't realise she was a very sneaky person in real life situations and not behind her screen, but she managed to follow Spencer at a moderate distance all the while wearing a hot pink dress and three-inch heels.

It wasn't until they got to his apartment that she finally had to make a move, unfortunately for her Spencer caught sight of her flamboyant dress just as he was turning to go inside.

He paused at the gate and watched as Garcia reluctantly revealed herself from behind the small, dying tree that had long been erected at the entrance of the apartment block.

"Garcia?" Spencer crowed, squinting over at her as she took a sheepish step forward.

"Reid...f-funny seeing you here."

"I live here, Garcia," Spencer replied in a confused voice.

Garcia looked up at his apartment in wonder. "Oh, really?"

"Yes, I- did...d-did you follow me home?" Spencer asked, his keys dangling from his fingers as he frowned thoughtfully. Garcia shook her head insistently.

"Nope."

"Then... why are you here?"

Reid stared at Garcia and she avoided his eyes, looking at the peeling bark of the tree and pulling it off absently. "Um," she mumbled as she let the paper thin bark flutter from her fingertips.

"Is something wrong?"

"Oh...no! Bless you, no," Garcia said quickly, her eyebrows raised adoringly. "I-I.." she swallowed thickly and let out a frustrated huff. "I did follow you," she admitted.

Spencer's brow bunched up even more. "Why-?"

"Look, before you judge me I was just seeing if you were okay," Garcia said truthfully, the ball of her shoe twisting against the sidewalk.

Spencer licked his lips a little anxiously. "Of course I am, why would you think otherwise?" He said a little too quickly which caused a silence to elapse between them as they realised neither of them was being particularly forthcoming with each other.

"You've been off all week, Spencer."

Spencer blinked in shock, they rarely called each other by first name.

"I just want... need to know what's going on."

"I..." Spencer started but he hesitated and looked up at his window, across from which stood his contraption. He looked back at Garcia who was watching his with a caring expression. Spencer sighed deeply and took a step into his apartment complex. "It's better if I show you," he said, leading the way to the door.

"Woah! Is this for real, Reid?" Garcia asked, running her fingers over the structure.

"Yep. I haven't tested it yet, but I'm pretty sure my calculations are correct and- What are you doing?" Spencer asked as Garcia grabbed his hand and pulled the door to the time machine open.

"Let's try it now!"

Present

"What's he doing there?" Rossi asked.

"I'm not sure. They didn't say much, they said I'd need to go down there. Garcia's with him."

"Garcia? What have they been up to?" Morgan mused.

"Is he Okay?" JJ asked, her fingers trembling nervously over her mouth.

"I don't know anything other than that he's at the hospital with Garcia."

"Well then let's go. We don't have a case and this is by far more important." Emily stood from her seat and the others followed, JJ with hurried footsteps.

They got to the hospital in separate cars, meeting outside before marching in, their demeanours ranging from worry, fear and confusion. Aaron stepped into the the waiting room and saw Garcia sat in the corner, her head low while her fingers squeezed a tissue.

"Garcia!?" JJ called. Garcia looked up; mascara stains ran across her face and fresh tears fell when she saw them all.

"Oh god, I'm so glad to see you," she whispered as she wrapped her arms around JJ. JJ pulled back and looked at Garcia seriously, holding her by her shoulders.

"What happened?"

"I-it's my fault," Garcia sobbed and she collapsed once more into JJ's arms.

"Garcia, tell us what happened," Hotch commanded.

"It's a...it's a long story," Garcia hiccupped.

"We have time."

One Week Earlier

Garcia hadn't let up on testing out the time machine so Spencer punched something simple into the control panel and instructed Garcia to hold onto the railings he'd added for safety. He didn't know what to expect when he hit the button. Nothing happened at first.

"Oh..." Spencer grumbled and he opened his eyes and released the railing to go check the panel.

Garcia bit her lip and wondered if she'd been roped into a big prank. She glanced at the door and wondered if the team were stood on the other side.

Suddenly, just as hope was waning, there was an almighty whirring and the world blurred around Reid and Garcia, both of whom squeaked in fear and excitement.

It lasted for just a few seconds before Spencer felt himself land on something hard and he pulled his eyes open. His ceiling above him appeared the same, although it spun dangerously under his vision. He sat up slowly and saw the teleporter he'd designed beside him. He grabbed it and grinned at his own handiwork.

Garcia was on her feet, shaking her head and rubbing her eyes.

"Where are we, Reid?" She asked, spinning on the spot as Spencer put his teleporter in his messenger bag. He paused and stared at their surroundings with his mouth agape.

"It worked..." he muttered.

"It looks the same," Garcia grunted. Spencer whirled around her and just shook his head.

"I sent us back four years."

"Okay, Reid, very funny, you can stop playing around with your 'magic tricks' now," Garcia huffed, looking around the apartment doubtfully. Spencer looked up from the floor with a crestfallen expression.

"Huh?"

"You're just trying to prank me."

"No, Garcia, I wouldn't... look, I'll prove it." Spencer looked around and spotted his bookcases with a smile. "Look, if I was lying where's the time machine?"

Garcia glanced over and true to his word there was no time machine. She sucked her teeth as she stared at the spot. This was either one big elaborate magic trick or Spencer was telling the truth and he had made a time machine.

Spencer glanced over at the clock on his wall and scrambled to his feet. "We've gotta go," he said suddenly.

Garcia frowned. "Why?"

"Because four years ago I got home at 6.23pm," Spencer pointed out hurriedly. "And it's 6.20," he added.

Garcia rolled her eyes at his accuracy. "Well, maybe I wanna see younger you."

"No!" Spencer yelled. Garcia took a step back.

"Huh?"

Spencer cleared his throat, his eyes darting to the clock nervously. "We can't talk to anyone, Garcia, we're in the past and we cannot, I'm being serious," he said when Garcia rolled her eyes. "We cannot alter the past, it could totally rewrite our future."

"But-"

"No, Garcia, we really really can't!"

"Okay." Garcia held her hands up and Spencer let out a relieved sigh.

"Good...thank you."

Garcia swayed on the spot as she gaped around Spencer's study. There were less books. She smiled awkwardly at Spencer who was looking from her and then back to the clock.

"I'd offer you a drink but..." Spencer scratched the back of his head and grimaced. He didn't realise how awkward having Garcia in his apartment would be.

"Um, shouldn't we go now then?"

Spencer looked over at the clock and jumped. "Hurry," he said, scurrying into his front room. He ducked behind the couch and started fiddling with his teleporter. Garcia followed slowly when the door made a noise and started to open.

"Shit," she hissed and she fell down at Spencer's side. "You're back," she muttered. Spencer glanced around the couch and saw a pair of purple converse.

He prayed that this teleporter worked.

Garcia peeked around the couch and grinned at Spencer who looked a little younger. His hair wasn't quite so messy and he looked like he should still be in college.

"Aw," she whispered as she turned back to her Spencer. "You were so cute four years ago."

"Shh," Spencer hissed, his eyes wide when he heard his younger self call out. They both froze; they heard footsteps getting near before they paused and turned back. Spencer ran a hand over his brow. "So that's what it was," he muttered to himself as he recalled the noise he'd heard those four years ago. He'd waved it off as a cat at the time.

Wait!

Spencer gaped at Garcia. "W-we just altered the past," he hissed. "I remember hearing that noise... it was us the whole time!"

"As awesome as that is," Garcia whispered. "Can you get us home now? I'm scared I'll do something wrong."

"Oh, right, sorry." Spencer went back to his tele-porter and took Garcia's hand in his. It felt awkward at first to feel their fingers intertwined but as soon as Spencer pressed the button they were both whisked away to a place where gravity didn't exist and time stood still.

They both found themselves sprawled on Spencer's apartment floor for the second time, their hands still linked. Spencer bolted upright with a giddy smile, breaking apart their hands as he did. He saw his time machine and Garcia's bag sat on the desk. "It works," he whispered in disbelief. Beside him, Garcia struggled up and touched her forehead.

"That was..." she started as she pressed her finger against her temple. "AWESOME!"

Spencer laughed and helped her to her feet. "I'm glad you liked it."

"Liked it? I love it, Spencer!" She exulted. "Let's go again!"

Present

Morgan chuckled and Garcia glared over at him.

"You're trying to convince us, pretty boy made a time machine?" He snorted.

"I'm telling you he did!"

"Is this some kind of prank," he asked, looking around the hospital waiting room. "Touché, kid, you've really out done yourself this time." He turned to Hotch, a wiry smirk on his lips. "How did he get you on board with this?"

"I'm not," Hotch deadpanned, his arms were folded and his frown set in place.

Morgan chuckled again. "He got you too?! He's really gone all out."

"It's not a joke!" Garcia cried desperately. "You never let me finish my story either!"

"I ain't falling for it, baby girl, not this time."

"Derek Morgan!" Garcia yelled quite suddenly so that not only Morgan but the whole team turned to face her. She had tears streaming down her face and she looked incredibly hurt.

"Baby girl?" Morgan murmured as he shifted closer to her. She shook her head and bit back a sob.

"I-I thought he was gonna die," she stammered, wiping her eyes. JJ shot Morgan a glower and he suddenly felt very uncomfortable. The situation wasn't a prank... but then, what was it?

"I-I had to pull him a-away and he was b-bleeding... so so so m-much blood... a-and-" Garcia shook her head, unable to continue as a sob bubbled past her lips. JJ leaned over and wrapped an arm around the tech analyst.

"What happened?" She whispered as she ran a hand down Garcia's spine.

Before Garcia could answer doctor made his way toward the waiting room and Garcia sprang to her feet, swiping a stray tear from her eye.

"H-How is he?" She asked. The doctor looked up at her then back at his clipboard.

"Ah, Miss Garcia, I presume, You came in with Mr. Reid, right?"

"Yes," Garcia said, craning her neck to see the clipboard.

Morgan got to his feet. "It's Doctor," he muttered.

"We stabilised him for now," the Doctor informed her. He looked over at Aaron who was also on his feet. "And you are Mr. Hotchner?"

"Yes. What exactly are you treating my agent for?" Hotch inquired.

"He had a wound to his shoulder, we had to remove to object inside during surgery, which reminds me," the doctor turned to Garcia with an inquisitive scowl. "How did Mr. Reid end up with an arrowhead in his shoulder?"

The team all turned to Penelope who shark back a little. "I-it's a long story..." she whispered. "A-and It's Doctor."

Sooooo, I was going to write the whole scene where Spencer gets hurt but I thought I'd pace it out through the story. Also, if anyone read my profile and saw a story summary called resident geniuses I'd just like to say that I'm no longer going to write that, instead it's going to be rolled into this story, I felt like this would be a much better basis for the ideas of that story, it's like hitting two birds with one stone. You'll see eventually.

Anyway, please leave a review and tell me what you thought. These chapters do take a long time to write and then check and so feedback is always amazing and I know it doesn't take long so please just take a moment to express your opinion.

Thanks for reading and I'll hopefully see you soon in the next instalment ;)