Summary: When a four year old genius is kidnapped, the BAU comes to the rescue.

Tags: Child!Spencer, Child Spencer Reid, Not De-aged, Little Spencer is Adorable, kidnapping, fluff, family, adoption, step-parenting, not dark, happy ending.

A/N:

Hello Readers,

I wanted to try a young Spencer story with regular aged BAU Team.

This is an established Hotchniss/Hotly relationship set post Foyet/Doyle.

Enjoy,

GGH

~~~~~CM~~~~~

Chapter 1

"Hotch, I have an request odd request from Vegas PD." JJ announced from his office door.

SSAIC Aaron Hotchner looked up from his report to see his media liaison turned profiler looking perplexed, "What's wrong?"

"A doctor at a mental health sanitarium reported a patient's husband and child missing. The police interviewed the woman and found her incoherent. Police did a welfare check and the home is empty. The lead detective says no signs of foul play but the doctor is convinced something is seriously wrong."

Aaron stood up, and gestured for JJ to come in, "Did you follow up with the doctor?"

They both sat down in the chairs near his desk, and she passed over the police report.

"I talked to Dr. Norman. He said the husband was very concerned about admitting her wife a few months ago. He ensured she had daily visitations with her son. They haven't been seen for two weeks." JJ filled him in. "Police said the father wasn't reported missing as he has no relatives; his employer is assuming he took time off. He started working from home after he committed his wife. He usually turns in his timesheet and paperwork once a week."

Glancing through the police report, Aaron asked, "Looks like Vegas PD did this by the book, nothing seemed out of place. When life is overwhelming, people leave, you know that. What concerns you?"

She shrugged her shoulders, "The lead detective feels like something is wrong but his hands are tied. The child is a genius. Dr. Norman says that he works with a private tutor at UNLV. I called her and she said it's not like them to miss a session, but they have missed four. She assumed they found another tutor and didn't inform her."

"Let's have Penelope run background check and look at their financials. Maybe something will pop up."

After tucking her blond hair behind her ears, JJ gathered up the case file and headed out of the office. A brunette crossed her at the door, the two agents smiled at each other.

Aaron's wife and fellow agent, Emily Prentiss, took JJ's empty seat, "She looked concerned about something. A new case?"

He gazed adoringly his new wife. She was wearing slim fitting slacks and suit jacket, her every day wear, but the way her hair was curling softly around her face and the color of her shirt highlighting her creamy skin made him sigh. 'She is so pretty,' he thought.

"Not sure, she has a possible missing father and son." Aaron leaned forward and kissed her cheek lightly, "How are things in Trafficking?"

"You know, terrible. But I think I have a lead on the Thornton case."

Section Chief Strauss had looked the other way when they were dating, but when they set a date for the wedding, she informed them one of them would need to transfer units. The Human Trafficking Task Force needed an International Liaison to work with the varying agencies around the world.

It was a role custom build for Emily with her desire to spend more time at home with her new stepson, Jack; she was ready for an office job with reduced hours, clocking 32 hours a week. Emily was on week five of her new position and loving every minute of it.

Grinning at her husband, Emily said, "so I have a Big Decision made: Baked Eggplant Parmesan for dinner."

Noting yet another attempt at healthy cooking, he rolled his eyes at her, "Sounds wonderful. I should be home by six if this doesn't turn into a case."

They chatted for a few minutes before she headed back to the second floor. He could still feel the tingle from where she ran her fingers along the back of his neck. Shaking the thoughts of her from his head, Aaron returned to writing reports.

~~~~~CM~~~~~

Another three days went by before JJ and Penelope turned up enough evidence that proved the father and son were indeed missing. There was a lack of any financial transactions, phone calls, email activity, and finally with a little pressure (or sweet talk as JJ liked to call it), William Reid's employer filed a missing person report. Now, they had something to work with.

Aaron had JJ contact Vegas PD to notify them that the FBI believed William and Spencer Reid met with foul play 20 days prior. A few hours later, Detective Vargas notified them that a John Doe in the city morgue had been positively identified. William Reid had been murdered.

With this new information, Aaron jumped up from his seat and followed JJ to the conference room, collecting their team along the way. Penelope Garcia, their Tech Analyst, pulled up the case on the big screen.

Derek and Dave settled in with the case file, reading through the information. Dave leaned in, "Penelope, blow up the crime scene photo."

The victim, William Reid, had been shot in the head once and dumped in the desert at least two weeks ago. His body had been discovered three days ago by kids on dirt bikes.

"It's an execution. The unsub didn't have any emotional attachment to this guy. They probably just wanted the boy." Derek speculated.

Penelope clicked on a photograph of a four year old boy in glasses too big for his face, "Look at this cutie pie. All that hair! I hope he's okay."

Taking over, JJ scrolled through the case information, "Four year old Spencer Reid hasn't been seen since his last visit with his mother at Bennington Sanitarium, 20 days ago. He is not enrolled in preschool but he goes to a tutor two days a week. He is a genius with an IQ too high to measure for his age group. Best guess is over 140."

"Has the mom been interviewed?" Dave inquired.

"She is a paranoid schizophrenic. William Reid had her committed three months ago. She grew frantic when her husband and son didn't visit for several days. When the police tried to interview her, she had a severe episode. Dr. Norman says they have to keep her sedated." JJ told the team.

Shaking her head, Penelope asked,"This poor kid has been missing for so long. What are his chances of being alive?"

Derek reached across the table and patted her arm, "Mama, I think he's alive. There is no reason to kill him since no one looking for him."

Closing his file folder, Aaron stood, "We should approach this as quietly as possible. Let the unsub think he got away with it." Heading out of the conference room, he called over his shoulder, "Wheels up in thirty minutes."

~~~~~CM~~~~~

A/N: Have you ever made Baked Eggplant Parmesan? Our family's attempt turned out poorly. The eggplant never cooked through and in hopes of saving the meal, we cooked it longer and burnt the cheese & sauce. We are firmly back in the fried Eggplant Parmesan camp.

I'm on Tumblr as GoodGodHenry if you want to chat!