Spencer is dressed in clothing stolen from his tribe. Spencer feels the chill of winter in his bones. His loose tunic and skirt piece are not enough to keep him warm. They'd allowed him to take first from the items stolen. He'd taken very little from the pile. All he wanted was what Maeve and he would need.
He uses the cloak he'd been captured with to wrap the baby. They refuse him any other clothing. The people of this new tribe do not take well to him. His tribe had taken people in before with little more than a warning and a welcome.
The people here glared at him. Women pulled at his clothes as he passed. Men would shove. They would spit in his food as they passed it to him. He tried to be strong for now. He need to be well enough to escape with Maeve. He sleeps beside Hotch. Maeve is always tucked away beside them. They'd not mated again since the first time.
He straps the baby to his back and sneaks out to hunt. He needs the skin and the meat for his growing baby. Berries and grains are fine when mixed to mush for an infant, but she is becoming bigger and goes hungry faster. She needs to be eating meat.
The tribe only allows him one serving of food, and they do not give him any meat. He feeds Maeve first until she is full and then eats whatever is left, which is sometimes nothing at all. Spencer walks around on the frozen ground. He bounces his step to bounce the baby.
He comes across a wild cat and wishes that he would have left the infant behind. He positions his self and gets ready to attack. Before he can throw his weapon he is pulled backwards. Hotch growls and attacks the cat, who now has given them its undivided attention, with weapons of his own.
He kills the beast and then turns to Spencer. He is bloody and feral. Spencer steps back but Aaron advances to him too quickly. He uses one of his big, manly hands to hit Spencer in the face. Spencer rises and Aaron hits him again. Spencer is weeping. Aaron takes the baby from his back and sets her aside before throwing him down. Spencer is wheezing in breath and can't see clearly. Aaron growls at him, barks words that Spencer doesn't know. He's kicked until his ribs hurt and then it's silent.
Aaron helps Spencer up and takes the baby. He guides Spencer with a rough grip to their area and lays him down. Maeve is set beside him. Spencer is trembling. He's cold from lying on the ground and in pain and still frightened. Aaron covers his and Maeve's bodies up with one of his own blankets and then leaves.
They had shared something special. Spencer had felt it. But now it was over. With the only member of the tribe that had been on his side angry, there is nothing stopping any of the rest of them from hurting him or Maeve. He needs to escape soon.
Spencer wakes to Maeve's hungry mewls. He gets up on shaky legs and carries her out to the main area. Many of the tribe members are staring at him. It scares him. He takes Maeve to where they collect the berries so that the tribe doesn't get upset that he's taking from their stash. He hand picks them one by one and feeds the child. When she's full he bounces her and eats slowly.
The ground is now covered in snow. Spencer had stolen scraps of furs from Hotch's dwelling to wrap around his feet. He plans to make his escape tonight. He fills a cloth with berries and walks back to the camp. He's going to steal some meat and then leave in the middle of the night.
He sits on the bed he has been sharing with Aaron. The child is sleeping and he is planning. He could go back to where his people lived. He knows where to find food and shelter, but will this tribe come looking for him? Find him to punish him? That would be the first place they would look.
Aaron enters their dwelling and Spencer looks up in fear. Aaron walks towards him and he scampers back. Aaron grabs him and he whimpers. He just wants the chance to escape. Aaron kisses his face and repeats the same word over and over again on his skin.
Spencer hesitantly wraps his arms around him and allows the stronger man to hold him. He whispers the word over and over. "Sorry," he says. Spencer thinks it is an apology. Aaron lays them down and holds the younger man close. Spencer exhales deeply and relaxes.
Spencer walks on shaking legs. He doesn't know what's wrong with him. He can feel his spine shaking. Maeve looks at him with expectant eyes. She's hungry. He's walking to the berries but isn't getting far. He drops to his knees and takes shallow, shaking breaths.
He puts Maeve down when his vision blurs and he falls onto his side. Spencer can feel his body convulsing. He tries to reach for the baby to keep her close but his limbs do not obey him. He's held down but he can't make his body stop.
He thinks it is Aaron that lifts him up. He tries to look but it hurts to keep his eyes open. He wakes feeling soaked and heavy. His breathing feels labored. "Maeve," he calls out in a hoarse voice. Aaron kisses his forehead and runs a hand through his hair. He speaks softly to him and hushes him.
He thrashes around to get up to find her but he's held down. He sobs and calls her name again. Aaron puts the babe on his chest and he calms down.
One of the young women from the tribe brings a full serving of food. Meat, vegetation and berries. Hotch tries to feed Spencer but he refuses. He points to Maeve and Hotch smiles. He says something to the woman that had brought the meal. She leaves and returns with another serving. Spencer can see that it is cut down to very small piece, but still almost the same serving.
He recognizes her when she kneels next to Maeve. The couple Hotch had entrusted Maeve with. David and Prentiss. This is Prentiss. She begins to coo at the baby and feed her. Maeve is smiling for her and touching her face. Spencer looks back at Hotch. He offers him food again and Spencer accepts. He eats until he can eat no longer. It had been a very long time since he'd gotten his entire fill.
Maeve is less eating and more playing with her food. Prentiss looks straight at Spencer and says something that he does not understand. He looks at Hotch questioningly. He points at Prentiss and mimics her holding a baby and then points at Spencer and mimics sleeping. Spencer looks back at her and nods. She scoops the baby up and brings her to Spencer.
He kisses her and tells her to be good. Prentiss pets his hair and leaves the hut. Aaron takes the food and exits to store it. Spencer lies down and relishes the feeling of a full belly. Hotch returns and wraps his arms around Spencer to sleep.