Title: Back in Time 1/?
Author: spikewil
Fandom: Criminal Minds
Pairing: Rossi/Hotchner, Reid/S. Morgan, Derek/Penelope
Rating: PG
Warnings: Mind regression to 4 years old
Summary: Something triggers Derek's mind causing him to regress. His family is called in for help and love steps in.
Episode: starts at the end of season 7 episode 2 'Proof' during the cooking lesson.
David Rossi looked from a distance as his BAU family members followed his instruction to the word and prepared their diner. David frowned as he turned his gaze on the black young man sitting still on his seat staring into space.
"Derek, are you okay?" he asked softly, trying not to startle the young man. It hadn't had worked as he noticed the jump in the shoulders.
Aaron Hotchner looked over his shoulder at David's question only to see a frightened look on Derek's face before the man jumped from his seat and ran out of the kitchen.
David and Aaron followed him while ordering the rest of the team to stay in the kitchen and continue making diner. When they entered the living room, David immediately at on the edge of the table facing the curled up man on his sofa.
"Derek, are you all right, son?" Dave questioned while Aaron stood in the back.
"You said the cooking lessons were only meant for you, Dad and me, Daddy," Derek answered softly, and peeked at his 'Daddy'.
Just looking at the brown eyes and hearing the soft childish answer, both Dave and Aaron were shocked to realize Derek had managed to regress in mind to a kindergartner level. While Aaron called Derek's mother, Dave sat next to his son and took the man/boy in his arms and waiting for the phone call to end to explain to the rest of the team what happened with their colleague.
"Derek, they were a surprise for you. You told me you wanted to show them how well you can cook," Dave said trying to use Derek's bragging about his cooking skills.
"A surprise? And I ruined it, didn't I? I am sorry, Daddy," Derek cried out and buried himself deeper into the embrace.
"It's okay, baby boy. I am sure they will be thrilled to hear you judge their cooking," Dave answered and kissed away the frown on the other man/boy's face.
"Your mom and sisters are on the way towards here, Derek. They have missed you and want to see you. She said, you just turned four years old, does that mean you're going to school soon?" Aaron managed to ask after hearing the stunning story Fran Morgan just told him. Apparently this regression wasn't the first time, but it is after at least 12 years ago.
"Really? I miss them when I am staying with Daddy and you. Are they staying here? And is Penny coming too?"
"Who is Penny?"
"Penelope! She is going to be my girlfriend, because I love her lots and lots," Derek exclaimed loudly.
"But Penny is already here, Derek. She is in the kitchen waiting for your judgment on her food," Dave answered and within seconds his arms were empty and his son was heading towards the kitchen.
"Penny?"
Spencer, Emily, JJ and Penelope heard the commotion from the kitchen and were stunned to hear that Derek had regressed to four years old. Penelope was touched when she heard him ask after her and smiled full of love as she saw the kitchen door swing open and reveal a curious but shy Derek. Just the look on his face showed her and the others this was not their grown up Derek at all.
"Hi Derek, are you ready to judge our cooking skills?" Penelope asked gently as she and the others pushed their plates in front of them.
Derek looked from Penny to the others and nodded, but still looked over his shoulder towards his Daddy.
Dave and Aaron both nodded and stepped into the kitchen. They took their seats at the table and waited for the judgment. Dave frowned at Spencer's plate and was about to comment when Derek's spoke up.
"Who are you? I don't know you. My name is Derek and I am four years old. I live with my Daddy and Dad. Do you know they kiss and think I don't see it? It's funny and they stay in the same bedroom, but I have my own room and it's blue and green so it looks like I am sleeping on grass," Derek asked and introduced himself to J.J.
J.J. smiled and ignored the feeling that Derek didn't seem to remember her while listening to his story. "My name is J.J. and I work within your Dad's team," was all she managed to say.
"So, Dave, Aaron, when were you going to tell us about you two being together?…not that we already knew," Spencer bluntly asked, smiling at the slight coloring of both men's faces.
While they talked, they ate their homemade diner and enjoyed listening to a happy boy at the other side of the table.
"Oh, and you're gonna meet my mom and sisters. You have to be nice to them, and not hurt them," Derek told them proudly puffing his chest up.
"I would love to meet your family, hot stuff," Penelope said as she gave him a kiss on the cheek that made him blush.
Derek turned shy at the kiss but smiled while looking at his Daddy. "See, she is my girlfriend," he said while yawning largely, making some laugh softly.
"Why don't we get you to bed, now that everyone has eaten. You passed Derek's judgment even though I am not sure what Spencer did with his food," Dave said as he took Derek's hand and took him upstairs.
Aaron waited until they were out of ear sight before telling them a bit of Derek's regression. "According to Fran Morgan, Derek's mother, these regressions happened after Derek's watched his father get shot. When something traumatic happens, something triggers him to regress. The last time he had that, Derek was luckily with his mom and somehow it is always a regression to four years old."
"And since when does he have his own bedroom with Dave?"
"He sometimes crashes with us after an abuse case that involves children. The room was already made for a child when Dave bought the mansion, and we didn't have time to paint over the blue and green, so we gave him that room and Derek have been giving it more private touches. We both assumed he needed a father figure sometimes."
"And…the us part?" Emily asked cheekily while smiling.
"Well, yes, that…uhm…happened six months after Haley died. We would appreciate it if you didn't tell the director and such," Aaron shyly explained, but was still relieved when he saw the understanding nods.
Meanwhile, Dave was guiding his sleepy son to his bedroom. He watched as the black man undressed himself to his boxers and snuggled underneath the blanket. From under the bed, where Derek hid his plush dragon, he recovered it and saw the happy look on the man's face when he saw his green dragon. It was taken in his arms as Derek's tightened his hold and closed his eyes.
"Night, Daddy,"
"Goodnight son, sweet dreams," Dave whispered and watched until his son was deeply asleep.
When Dave arrived downstairs, he sat himself next to Aaron. He took the other man's hand in his as he tried to form words about Derek's status.
"I think he regressed once when he and I were on one of our movie weekends. He kept asking for movies for children etc. and wanted to snuggle in a way we never talked about. I didn't see this but I recognized the behavior with just now. I didn't know," Penelope told them, breaking the silence that was created when Dave returned from upstairs, as she felt guilty not spotting it sooner.
"Penelope, it's okay. We didn't know either. Not sure how this passed through the physic report, but it seems he managed to hide this part," Aaron explained and reassured their tech kitten.
"When is his mom going to come?"
"She said she and her daughters would arrive in the morning, if Desiree would have her way. Apparently that means she going to speed up and risk fines," Aaron said. "They will stay with us, we have plenty of guestrooms. I also do think it would be wise if Penelope would stay here as well, he seems to be rather attached to you."
"I will drive to my apartment right now and get my bag and then come back. I would like to be here when he wakes up," Penelope said and stood up to leave.
"I will come with you. Would you mind if I could stay as well?" Spencer questioned shyly.
"Why don't you all stay. We have plenty of rooms to share," Dave proposed and saw the many relieved faces. "Okay, go home, grab a bag for a week and see what happens."
"A week?"
"Every one of us could use a week off, let me call the director and see what I can do," Aaron said and stood up to make the call.
