Hi everyone, thanks to the people that reviewed the first chapter, sorry I made you wait so long for this update, please keep reading and reviewing, thanks!
A/N : Hailey is not dead in this story, so Hotch only has standard weekend visitation with Jack.
Spencer couldn't believe what was happening to him, he couldn't believe that crazy man had worked out how to reverse the aging process. How much younger will I get? Who will take care of me? What if I get taken away from the team? What if they don't want to take care of me? What if they think I'm just a burden to them?
The 'what if's' wouldn't stop going around and around in his head. His adult mind was trying to tell him that it would all be ok but his teenage mind didn't believe him.
Reid followed Hotch inside when they arrived at Rossi's place; he stood behind his boss as they entered the kitchen, embarrassed to have the rest of his team mates see him.
"Hey Reid, Hotch, come and sit down" invited Rossi "it's nearly ready I'm just waiting for the timer to go off"
Everyone greeted him normally as he took his place at the table, to their credit, none of them
stared or made stupid comments about how young he was. The "what if's" started in his head again as he ate his dinner and he didn't even hear the conversation going on around him until Morgan nudged his arm, "you've been very quiet kid, what do you think of all of this?"
"All of what? Sorry I wasn't listening"
"We were talking about who you should live with" JJ said "we all would love to have you, so it's up to you, you can make that decision for yourself"
Reid considered his options, he loved all of them and didn't want to choose and hurt anyone's feelings "I don't know" he finally said looking down at his plate
"That's ok Reid, for now you can stay with me and if you decide later that you would prefer to stay somewhere else then we can organise it, ok?" Hotch suggested
"Ok"
"Now we just need to come up with a plan to propose to the director so we can keep you with us and maybe even keep you working" Rossi said
"Well I've been thinking that maybe he will agree to let Reid work remotely when we get called out on cases, he could stay with Garcia and work from the office?"
"Sounds good Aaron, hopefully the director will agree to that" Said Rossi
Reid didn't hear anything after that he just hoped that he wouldn't get any younger, he didn't know how he would cope being an even younger child.
Hotch didn't sleep well that night, he was worried about what the director would do, would he let Reid work remotely? would he let Reid stay with them?
It turned out that he shouldn't have worried so much, the director agreed with Hotch's plan unless Reid got younger, if that happened then they would have to come up with another solution.
Reid was waiting in hotchs office until he had finished with the director, all he kept thinking was that the director would say to send him back to his mother and then he would be on his own again, like before. Maybe that wouldn't be so bad, he knew how to look after himself, it was the being alone part that he didn't think he could cope with again.
"Hey Spencer, I brought you some hot chocolate, and I made you some cookies" Garcia said as she entered the room
"Thanks Garcia"
"Don't you even be worried about this meeting, Hotch will sort this out, he always does. He's an excellent negotiator and always ends up getting what he wants" she smiled and sat on the couch next to him
"I'm not worried" he lied "I just want to get back to work already; I'm just sitting here wasting
time"
"Well soon enough I'm sure you will be, but right now drink your hot chocolate before it gets cold"
Hotch walked in with a smile on his face "Good news, the director has agreed that you can keep working as long as you stay this age, but you can't come away on cases because it will be too dangerous"
"That's fine, I'll take what I can get. What if I do get younger?" He asked nervously
"We will just have to cross that bridge when we come to it"
"Ok"
"Garcia, I'm sure you have some work to do" Hotch said as he sat down at his desk
"Yes sir, right away, I was just delivering some refreshments" She answered as she got up and left his office
"How are you feeling Reid?"
"I'm ok I guess, I just feel a bit hopeless at the moment and I'm worried that I'm getting younger."
Hotch looked at Reid trying to see any difference "What makes you think that?"
"Well for a start these pants are getting bigger and I just feel younger. What is the plan if I become a toddler? Or a baby? Will you still want me then?" Reid's lip started to tremble and he looked down at his hands
Hotch got up and went over to sit next to Reid, "Spencer I will always want to take care of you, no matter what age you are, believe that I will always fight for you" he placed a hand on Reid's back trying to give him a small measure of comfort but keeping in mind that Reid didn't like to be touched
"If you turn into a young child then I would like you to stay with me if you would like that, I'm not sure what would happen when I have to go away on cases but I'm pretty sure that I could find a crazy tech analyst that would love to have you"
"What about Jack?"
"I only have Jack every other weekend and I'm sure he would love to have someone there that's closer to his age"
"Thanks Hotch, I better get to work" Spencer said as he got up and headed for the door
By the end I of the day Spencer was having real trouble with keeping his pants up, he was getting smaller. He held them up as he walked into hotchs office, "Hotch I'm definitely getting smaller, my pants just keep falling down, do you have a belt I can borrow?"
"Sure" he replied pulling one out of his go bag "I think we need to go shopping again and maybe buy a few smaller sizes this time" Hotch said as he watched Reid struggle with the belt
"No, I hate shopping!" Whined Reid
"Well I could send Garcia?" Hotch smiled
"No no that's ok" Reid smiled
"I'll be done soon and then we can go, have you finished all of your paperwork?"
"Yes I finished an hour ago and I've been helping Morgan with his"
"Ok well why don't you do some reading while you are waiting for me then"
"What do you want for dinner Spencer?" Hotch asked as they left the office.
"Could we get burgers?"
"Sure thing, we'll stop and get some clothes first then we'll get some dinner"
At target Hotch and Reid quickly picked out a few outfits in different sizes "we can't buy all of these" Reid said looking at the huge pile
"Yes we can and if you don't need them then we can return them, now let's go find you some shoes"
"Can I get a new book?" Spencer asked hopefully
He reminded Hotch of Jack, always asking for something new when they were out,
"I suppose so" he smiled
Spencer tried not to think about what was happening to him as he ate his burger, he tried not to think about what he would look like by the next morning
Hotch was woken up early the next morning by a strange noise, it was coming from Spencer's room. He rushed down the hall and opened Spencer's door without knocking, on the bed he could just make out a huddled shape sitting in the middle of the bed sobbing.
Hotch turned on the light and was surprised to see that Spencer was now the size of a 3 year old.
Spencer looked up at Hotch with tears running down his face "look at me!" He cried
Hotch wanted to pick him up and comfort him but he knew that Spencer would hate that so he sat on the edge of the bed "it will be ok Spencer, we knew this might happen"
Spencer let out a forlorn wail and threw himself into hotchs arms. Hotch held him as rocked back and forth gently until Spencer finally started to calm down.
"What's going to happen now?" Spencer cried sitting on hotchs lap with his head resting against his boss' chest
"Well just like the original plan, you can stay here with me and I'll take care of you, as for work we will have to talk to the director again and see what he will allow" Hotch explained in a soft voice as he rubbed Spencer's back
Reid started crying again "I had an accident" he sobbed into hotchs chest "that's what woke me up"
"Oh buddy, that's ok let's go and get you cleaned up alright?" Hotch said in a soft voice
Hotch carried Spencer into the bathroom, "I'll be right back" he said as he placed Spencer on the floor.
Hotch went into his wardrobe and pulled down a box full of Jacks old clothes hoping they would fit Spencer. He found a pair of underwear and some clothes and carried them back to the bathroom
"Spencer I'm coming in" he said as he opened the door "here, I found you some clean clothes to wear, now would you like to have a bath?"
"Yes please" he answered quietly looking at the floor in embarrassment
Hotch started filling the bath and then turned to Spencer to start undressing him
Spencer was horrified by the whole situation, he knew that this was a possibility but he had been trying not to think about it. Now he had no choice but to think about it, he had woken up when he wet the bed and when he looked at himself he couldn't hold back the tears.
Worst of all was his boss trying to help him get undressed like he really was a child "no hotch! I can do it myself!"
"Ok sorry, you do it" Hotch said turning the water off and waiting for Spencer to get undressed.
"Turn around; I can't do this why you're watching me!"
Hotch put his hands in the air and turned around "ok but let me know when you're ready so I can lift you in"
Once Hotch had lifted him into the bath he left him alone to have some privacy "call me when you're done"
Hotch sent Rossi a message while he was waiting
"Reid is now about three years old, can you inform everyone for me so they are all aware of the situation"
A message came back quickly
"Sure Hotch, do you need me to bring over anything? Breakfast maybe?"
"Breakfast sounds good, thanks"
Hotch went back to the bathroom to check on Reid "how are you going in there, are you ready to get out?"
"Yes I'm done"
"Ok, I'm coming in" Hotch announced as he walked in with a towel, he quickly lifted Spencer out of the bath and wrapped the towel around him "I'll just be in the next room if you need some help" Hotch said knowing that Reid would insist that he could dry and dress himself
Reid finally came out of the bathroom "do we have to go to work today?" Reid asked "I don't want everyone to see me like this"
"Rossi is coming over with breakfast for us and then we will have to go in at least for a little while, I've spoken to the director and he wants to see us"
When Rossi arrived Reid was sitting on the couch watching TV as Hotch went to open the door.
"Hi Dave, come in"
"How is he Aaron?" Rossi asked quietly
"He's as good as can be expected, he doesn't want anyone to see him like this but knows he
Hasn't got much choice so he's understandably upset"
"Hi Reid" Rossi called as he walked into the kitchen "are you hungry kid, I brought choc chip pancakes and croissants"
Rossi and Hotch busied themselves setting the table when Reid finally stuck his head around the door "hi Rossi" he said quietly
"Good morning Spencer, come and eat while it's still warm"
Spencer was nervous as Hotch pulled into the parking garage, he was not looking forward to the team seeing him like this, especially Garcia, she would want to cuddle him for sure.
Over breakfast they had discussed him staying at work and he was hopeful the director would allow him to, but he was worried about what Hotch would decide if he couldn't stay at work, would he be so mean as to put him in day care?
If I walk behind Hotch hopefully no one will notice me, Spencer reasoned to himself as they entered the building.
Walking into the bullpen the first person to spot them was Emily, "Good morning Hotch, good morning Reid" she greeted
Next were Morgan and then JJ, they both said good morning and then went about making coffee like always. Maybe this won't be so bad, thought Reid, everyone is treating me like normal. Then Garcia walked in,
"Good morning Hotch, good morning my little genius" she greeted them as she leaned down and held her arms out hoping for a hug. Spencer hid behind hotchs leg and hid his face like a real child would
"I don't think he wants a hug right now Garcia" Hotch said looking down at his small charge
"Sorry pumpkin" Garcia said hastily taking a step back
"Come on Spencer let's go and see the director" Hotch said trying to take a step forward with Reid still gripping his pants. Hotch held out his hand to the boy and without thinking Spencer took it and followed along
"Aww that's too cute" said Garcia as she quickly snapped a pic
"I wonder what the director will say?" Mused Morgan
"Well he better say that my baby can stay with us!" Declared Garcia
"I'm sure he will be able to stay with us but I don't think the director will let him work like that" Rossi said
An hour later Spencer came running into the bullpen and ran straight to the first team member he saw "Emily! The director said I can stay!" he smiled "isn't that great?"
"That's wonderful Spencer" she smiled down at him
"Ok can everyone meet in the conference room and we will discuss what's going on" Hotch said as he walked through the bullpen
"Ok so the director has agreed to let Reid keep working on a trial basis for now. He will be able to type up his reports to make it easier, but he is not allowed to come away on cases with us. He will stay with Garcia while we are gone and still be able to help as needed. The director also wants him to have a weekly psych appointment to make sure that he is coping with the work."
"Yay! We get to hang out in my lair my little genius!" Garcia said happily
"The other thing is that Reid needs to have a rest after lunch every day"
"But I don't need to do that!" Protested Reid "you're not really going to make me do that are you Hotch?"
"Yes I am, you are in the body of a child and you will get tired easily, you can come into my office and have a rest on the couch, ok?"
"Fine" he said grumpily
"Now as the unsub said this could last for a few years, I'm going to take custody of Reid, so Garcia I will need you to help me with the paperwork, for all intents and purposes Reid will now be my son and that's our cover story if we need to use it"
"I'll start getting that organised sir" Garcia said as she rushed off back to her office
"So now you all know what's going on, it's time to get back to work"
After lunch Hotch watched as Reid walked back to his desk and climbed up onto his chair.
"Reid, my office" he called as he stuck his head through the door
"Damn, he remembered" Reid mumbled
"I'll go and have a rest for you if you like" laughed Morgan
"Hotch I have work to do" Reid tried protesting as he walked into Hotchs office
"You're work will be there later, now lay down and have a rest please" Hotch replied not looking up from his work
"But I'm not even tired!"
"Then read a book, you don't have to go to sleep but just have a rest ok?" Hotch said in a voice that he used to calm jack down
Spencer reluctantly went and got a book and laid down on the couch to read. Within minutes he was asleep.
Present day:
Reid was still asleep the next morning when Hotch woke up, maybe the smell of coffee will wake him up, thought Hotch as he made himself a cup and sat down to read the newspaper.
"Morning Hotch, is there coffee?" Reid said as he came into the kitchen 10 minutes later
Hotch tried not to smile "Yeah I just made some. How are you feeling this morning?"
"I'm fine" Spencer said as he poured himself a cup of coffee
"Ok then, what would you like for breakfast?" Hotch asked
"You do know that I don't need you to make me breakfast anymore, right?" Reid snapped
"Of course I know that Spencer" Hotch started in a placating voice "I was just thinking I might
make some pancakes. I didn't mean to imply that you couldn't get something for yourself"
"I'm not hungry" Spencer said sitting at the table and staring into his coffee
"Please just talk to me Spencer" Hotch started "what's going on in your head?"
"There is nothing to say, except I'm glad that I'm finally back to normal"
"We're all glad that you are back to normal but I still think you need some time to readjust to having your old life back" Hotch said "Maybe you should take a few weeks off, I can even organise some counselling for you if you would like to speak to someone"
"I don't need time off I just need to get back into my old routine, and with that in mind I'm going to look at apartments today"
"Oh" Hotch said trying to keep the disappointment out of his voice "do you want me to come with you?"
"No that's ok; Morgan's going to come with me"
"You know that there is no rush for you to move out, I'm happy for you to stay here as long as you want to"
"Thanks but I need my own space now"
"Ok then" Hotch said quietly, "I think I'll go for a run" and he got up and left the room
Spencer felt bad for the way he was treating Hotch and he knew that Hotch just wanted them to be able to maintain their "father and son" relationship but Reid didn't know how to do that now.
For the last 10 years he relied heavily on Hotch and then all of a sudden he was an adult again, now he had to learn how to look after himself. And surely Hotch would be happier now that he could live his own life without having to take care of a child.
While Hotch was running he couldn't help but think of anything except Spencer. He could understand that he would want to move out and have his own privacy, but he had hoped that Spencer would just continue to live with him, at least until he had gotten used to being a grown man again.
Aaron had become a father to Spencer in every way, he adopted him, he looked after him, he did everything a father would do for his son. He treated Spencer the same way he treated Jack, and he loved them both the same way, maybe that's why he was having trouble letting him go.
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