By Kalmalinga
As/N: Thank you VirginSerpent for your beta. Thank you Icyactress and DomLover16 for reviewing part 1.
Daniel was happy it finally looked like he had found a friend. He just hoped that momma would like Spencer too, or he knew that he wouldn't be allowed to see him again. And he also hoped that he wouldn't scare Spencer away, since he wasn't as smart as him. Just after knowing Spencer a few minutes, Spencer had told him a lot. Spencer was like an encyclopedia. Daniel wished he was as smart as him, because then he would be able to interact with Spencer more easily.
As if Spencer knew Daniel's worries he said, "I'm sorry for babbling. I have a reputation of doing that a lot, especially when I'm nervous."
Daniel looked surprised at him, "You're nervous? Of what… me?"
"No, not of you. You're the one who saved my life. I don't have many friends…well, I only have the friends I work with, so I'm afraid to ruin any chance we have of becoming friends."
Daniel smiled brightly, "You really want to be my friend? Even though I'm not smart?"
"Being smart can be a curse, believe me, so yes even if you're not smart, but I'm sure you must have some skills that I don't have. I just hope that I won't bore you to death with my ramblings."
"I don't think I have any skills that you don't have, aside from being a trouble magnet. Momma says I am."
Spencer laughed, "Oh, I'm a trouble magnet too, just ask Gideon and my other friends and co-workers."
oOo
It suddenly hit Spencer that Daniel hadn't stuttered for a few seconds ago. So maybe it was because he was very shy after all, and it looked like he was opening up to him.
Spencer's thoughts were interrupted by Daniel's voice, "We're here. By the way, what do you do in your line of work?"
"I'm a profiler with the FBI."
Daniel face paled, "Oh… please don't tell momma that. She doesn't like the police or whatever reminds her of them." Daniel looked down at the floor, embarrassed. "I'm sorry."
Spencer was puzzled, 'why does she hate us?' he thought. 'Does she have something to hide?' Spencer stopped his itch to want to profile Daniel's momma. Since she was allowed to be Daniel's guardian, she wouldn't have been in trouble with law enforcement. She was probably just insecure around law enforcement like some other people are. "Don't worry, Daniel I won't. I do other things besides profiling, so I'll tell her about those.
Daniel brightened. "Okay, let's go in and see momma."
oOo
Spencer now knew how it was to be on the other side of an interrogation. Daniel's momma looked him up and down and asked him all kinds of different questions, and he made sure not to mention that he was a profiler.
"Momma, please stop. I don't want you to scare him away."
Momma looked firmly at her charge, "I'm only looking after your best interests Daniel. After what happened the last time, I want to be more careful."
Spencer wondered what had happened last time.
"Spencer isn't like that, Momma. He really wants to be my friend. He won't hurt me."
Momma then looked firmly at Spencer, "You better treat Daniel with respect, and don't even try to hurt him. Last time someone tried to befriend Daniel, he tried to sexually abuse him, as he thought he could take advantage of Daniel, because he's slow."
Spencer looked shocked at her, he hadn't seen that coming, and then he looked worriedly at Daniel, whose face was red with embarrassment. "Momma, please. Nothing happened and I'm sure Spencer would never try that."
"How do you know? You've only met him a few minutes ago."
"I just know!"
"Daniel. Don't you raise your voice at me young man, or else!"
Daniel looked down at the floor, "Sorry, Momma. It won't happen again."
"It'd better not. To get back on the subject we just talked about, nothing happened because I was able to stop him in time".
"I promise I'll never take advantage of Daniel. So did you go to the police?" Spencer asked before he remembered Momma's dislike of the police. Daniel paled.
"No. But don't worry; he got what he deserved," she said firmly.
Spencer wasn't sure he wanted to know what she meant.
oOo
When they were sitting at the table drinking coffee, Momma stood up and pulled out some pills.
"Daniel, it's time for your medication."
Daniel looked disappointed at her, "Momma, please not now."
She then went to him and whispered into his ear, "Do you want them to pick you up, and lock you away?"
Daniel panicked, "No!" He then took the pills his Momma handed him, and swallowed them all in one gulp.
Spencer wondered what kind of medication Daniel took; sadly he couldn't see it on the bottle. He was tempted to ask, but was afraid to risk being kicked out for being nosy. Since he could sense Daniel was embarrassed of needing medication, Spencer started to talk about this and that in order to change the subject. And Spencer noticed Daniel relaxed after he'd changed the subject.
Spencer found out that Daniel's Momma's last name was Miller and she was a widow of five years, childless and owned a little shop.
oOo
Later Mrs. Miller had let them talk by themselves and had started some household chores, but not without keeping an eye on them.
All of a sudden Daniel was the one talking none stop. Talking about his love of pyramids. Spencer was amazed how much Daniel knew about the subject, especially since he couldn't read.
"You want to see my room? I've got all kinds of pictures of pyramids."
Spencer nodded while smiling. Daniel's face brightened.
Daniel's room was decorated with wallpapers with pyramids; there were also a lot of small models made out of matches. "Did you make them, Daniel?"
Daniel nodded embarrassed. "Yes, they aren't good I know."
"They are amazing! Well, there you have a skill that I don't have; mine would look like a scarecrow or something." Spencer then noticed the drawings. "Did you draw those too?"
"Yes. And they aren't…"
Spencer stopped him, "WOW, they are great! You are definitely a brilliant artist! One more skill you've got that I don't; my drawings look like a child drew them."
Daniel smiled shyly, his face coloring slightly with all the praise. "Not really much of a skill, though."
"What are you talking about?" Spencer was incredulous - did Daniel honestly not realize just how talented he really was?
"I mean," Daniel added, ducking his head, "it's not like it's actually useful, so…" he waved his hands dismissively and shrugged his shoulders.
Spencer then told Daniel the statistics on how some art can have a relaxing affect on people and that drawings are used a lot to help children after they've experienced trauma.
oOo
After talking for hours, Mrs. Miller came into the room. "Sorry, Dr. Reid, I need to ask you to leave now. It's time for Daniel to get ready for bed."
Daniel went deep red with embarrassment, "Momma, please. Can't I stay up a little while longer?"
She looked firmly at him, "Daniel, you know I don't like it when you argue about your bedtime." She said and the look she gave him said, 'you just wait till we're alone'.
Spencer looked at his clock and was surprised that it was already 9 pm; the hours had passed so quickly. Then he paled - he'd forgotten to call his 'dad' to say that he'd be late. Even though his curfew was at midnight, Gideon expected him to call him when he knew that he wouldn't get home early, so he wouldn't have to worry. "It's okay Mrs. Miller. I'd better get home now anyway. Can Daniel meet me at Starbucks tomorrow?" Spencer asked hopefully.
Daniel's face lit up, and he looked pleadingly at his Momma.
"Okay, but first after 3 pm. Daniel works part time in my shop to earn an allowance, and from 1 till 3 it's his naptime."
Daniel once again was embarrassed that Spencer got to know how much he was treated as a child.
Spencer just nodded, "How about 4 pm? I can pick him up if you don't want him to go there on his own."
"That is really nice of you Dr. Reid, but it's okay. I trust Daniel to go there on his own, if he promises to go straight there without any detours," she said, since she knew Daniel could get easily distracted and wander off.
"I promise, Momma. I'll go straight to Starbucks."
She nodded satisfied, as she knew that Daniel knew what consequences there would be to pay if he'd disobey her. "Okay, but remember, Daniel. Your curfew is at eight, and I don't want to hear any arguments about it, or you won't get to go there at all."
"I will, Momma, don't worry." Mrs. Miller seemed satisfied enough to leave it at that, and walked Spencer to the door with a now yawning Daniel.
Bidding their goodbyes, Spencer then hurried to get back home before his dad worried himself into a frenzy. He'd thought of giving him a call, only to realize his cell phone had gone dead quite a while ago. Apparently he'd forgotten to recharge the battery last night.
Thankfully he'd be home long before midnight, so hopefully his dad wouldn't worry too much.
oOo
As soon as Mrs. Miller was sure Spencer was gone she looked firmly at Daniel, "Daniel, turn around."
As Daniel had experienced something like this before, and knew what his Momma wanted to do, "Momma, no… please."
"I said turn around! Or you won't like the consequences."
Daniel hurried to do so because he knew out of experience that she would be harder on him, and do it on his bare backside.
Mrs. Miller gave him five hard swats on his backside while reprimanding him. "You know not to argue about your bedtime and especially not to do so in front of a visitor".
Daniel sniffed as tears started trickling slowly down his cheeks and he looked at his Momma contritely from beneath lowered lashes. "I know. I'm sorry, Momma." He sobbed.
Mrs. Miller smiled reassuringly, and brought him close in a gentle hug, rubbing his back soothingly to try to calm him down. "That's okay, sweetie. Just don't do it again, okay?"
Daniel nodded tearfully against the crook of his Momma's neck. "I won't, I promise."
She gave him a reassuring hug to let him know he was forgiven. "Now I'll go and get your bath ready while you do your business on the toilet."
"A bath sounds good, Momma. But can't I do it by myself today?"
She looked hurt at him, "I always help you with your bath, Sweetie."
"But I'm a big boy. Big boys don't need help for baths by their Mommas."
"I don't know about other Mommas' boys, but you are my boy, my baby. And I want to help you."
"I'm not really your son, you know that Momma."
She looked hurt once more at him, "I love you as if you were my own flesh and blood. I thought you loved me too."
Daniel looked ashamed down at the floor, "I'm sorry, Momma. I do love you too. Honest!"
She then gave him a hug. "Okay. Let's go to the bathroom."
oOo
When Daniel's bath was ready, Mrs. Miller helped him get undressed. "Momma, why do you always help me to get undressed? Shouldn't I be able to do it on my own?"
As soon as she had pulled his boxers down she gave him a hard swat on his unprotected backside, "OW! Momma, what did I do wrong?" Daniel said, while trying hard not to cry.
"Why are you questioning my actions this evening? Is it because of your new friend? If so, I don't think it is okay for you two to hang out. Not if he gives you bad ideas."
Daniel paled, "No! Sorry, Momma. I promise I won't question your actions again. Don't forbid me to see Spencer again, please."
She looked like she was thinking carefully of what to do and then nodded, "Okay, and you better not start questioning me again, or I will forbid you to see him again."
She then helped him into the bathtub, and gave him a rubber duck to play with.
oOo
Daniel wanted to say that he was too old to play with the bath toy, but was afraid to, worrying that she would forbid him to see Spencer again. So he pretended to like playing with the duck. While he was playing she washed him, the only places he was allowed to wash by himself were his private parts. After he'd done that she washed his hair. He was happy when that was done; he hated getting his hair washed.
When he was properly clean Daniel was allowed to stay a little while longer in the tub and play with his toys.
After the bath he brushed his teeth, and his Momma then tucked him in. She read him a bedtime story of pyramids and he dosed off to sleep.
oOo
Spencer hurried home as fast as he could. Ever since Gideon had found out that Spencer was addicted to drugs after being kidnapped by Tobias, Gideon had taken him under his wing, and let him move in with him. He'd helped him with the withdrawal and to stay clean. Because of that their friendship grew to a father and son bonding. Now Spencer couldn't imagine living on his own. He was happy that for once he was the one to be taken care of, and not the other way around. Now he really knew how it was to have a real parent to take care of him, he just wished that he could be Gideon's son legally.
Even though he wasn't fond of Gideon disciplining him, but who would be? He knew that Gideon only did it because he wanted to make sure that he'd think twice before doing something foolish. At the moment he just hoped his 'dad' was in a good mood.
While he was looking for his keys in his bag at the front door, the door was blown open by Gideon. "Where the hell have you been?! Why is your cell phone turned off? I've been trying to call you for I don't know how long!" He then dragged him in. "You better have a good explanation!"
TBC
