(Disclaimer: I do not own Criminal Minds or its characters)
Also, go check out my good friend Sammie050301's stories, especially one of her most recent ones, "Polarity" and her new one shots.
I'm so tired! I guess that's what 3 nights out does to ya (and I haven't even done the third yet!) this chapter turned out way longer than I'd planned.
Thank you guys for the reviews, I'm so blown away by your support on this story. So thank you fishtrek, Sherryola, poohbear123, Sammie050301, Diana, lilyflower101, Guest, zhangxinna, Ira-Grace White, Guest, Sarry22, and last but by no means least Kas3y.
Please keep reviewing, it really motivates me.
That's it I guess. Oh, also, I dint use spell or grammar check so I apologise if it's terrible, I just didn't have time.
Enjoy!
Previously:
Rossi stared in disbelief and wondered if she was really talking about the two-year-old a few rooms over. He glanced at the book of poems. "Okay, so we're getting somewhere," he mumbled, closing Diana's helpful book and setting it aside for when he'd need it next.
"We're going to meet my team today," Rossi said as he carefully buckled Spencer into his car seat. He still wasn't used to the process. Spencer clutched his penguin to his chest and looked up at his father. Rossi ruffled his hair and smiled. "Don't be scared. They're nice."
"Lite Daddy?" Spencer whispered almost too quietly for Rossi to hear. The Italian beamed at his son and nodded.
"Just like me. Penelope is really nice and she can't wait to see you."
Spencer moved his fingers strangely and Rossi frowned. Spencer had done it several times already. "What was that, Kiddo?"
There was silence for a long moment and Spencer looked back and made a new sign. Rossi recognised it as some form of sign language, he smiled before shutting the door. There would be something about that in Diana's journal.
"Is Rossi here yet?" Garcia asked impatiently, she was glaring out of the window at the bullpen.
"You'll be the first to see," Morgan chuckled as he took a bite of his sandwich.
"What's taking them so long!?" She whined.
"We still have an hour of lunch and Hotch said we could take some more time after," Emily assured the nervous analyst.
"Not too long," Hotch muttered as he signed off a piece of paper, not bothering to look up as he spoke.
"Pfff, figures," Morgan grunted between bites and Hotch frowned at his agent.
"It's more for Spencer's sake. He's only been in contact with a few people his entire life. It was a step up for him to meet with Rossi, and he's only one person."
Morgan chewed quietly and didn't reply.
"Poor little guy," JJ mused. "Must have-"
She was suddenly interrupted by Garcia's high pitch shriek. "They're here!" She cried, clapping her hands and jumping from her chair.
"Volume, Garcia," Hotch grumbled as he closed his file and glanced out of the window. Garcia closed her mouth, but practically vibrated with excitement while she pulled out a gift bag for the small boy.
"Oh, Penelope!" JJ chided.
"What!? I got Rossi a book...it's somewhere in there," she mumbled, putting the bag on the table and hurrying to the door. "Anyway, that doesn't matter."
Rossi heard Garcia's squeal of excitement and he chuckled to himself and started towards the back entrance of the conference room. Several agents looked their way and Spencer buried his head into Rossi's shoulder and gripped his penguin and teddy bear tighter- Rossi wished he'd just pick one rather than carry both around.
Spencer didn't speak. It seemed any progress they'd made with speaking had been put on hold. Rossi put Spence on his hip when they got to the back door. He titled Spencer's head up and smiled when a set of caramel eyes found him.
"Don't worry, buddy," he whispered, pressing a soft kiss to Spencer's forehead before opening the door. Spencer started trembling and he tried desperately to hide his face in his penguin.
"Dave," Hotch greeted him on the other side with a handshake. His eyes went to the tiny boy in his colleague's arms.
"Aaron. Thanks again... for the other day," Rossi shifted Spencer a little and grinned.
"Don't mention it. How is the little guy today?"
"Shy," Rossi mumbled and he bounced Spencer to see if he'd come out of his shell.
Spencer didn't move and Rossi could feel his heart begin to beat faster. He shook his head at Hotch and sent an apologetic look to the team who all nodded sympathetically.
"How's the speaking going?" Hotch asked, stepping back and giving Rossi room to get to his chair.
"I've gotten a few words out of him this week, but like Diana said in her letter, he'll speak when he's ready." Rossi took a seat and attempted to more Spencer into his lap. The boy squirmed and for a moment he caught sight of the team watching him and he re-doubled his efforts to cling to his father and Rossi sighed when Spencer buried his face in his neck, his arms wrapped tightly around him as he whimpered. Garcia held back an Aw when she saw Spencer's sparkling chocolate eyes.
"Any cases?" Rossi asked as he ran a hand down Spencer's back which was heaving unsteadily.
"No work talk," JJ chided with a grin. "We're not here for that. Well, you aren't anyway."
"Okay then... what's that?" Rossi pointed to the large gift bag on the table.
"Garcia may have gotten a little carried away," Emily explained. Rossi rolled his eyes and chuckled and he felt Spencer melt into him a little more.
"I have every right to spoil my little guy. Is... is that my penguin?" Garcia asked hopefully, pointing to one of the stuffed animals in Spencer's hands. Spencer, who had been listening, lifted his head and looked guiltily at the penguin. It wasn't his after all, and if his mom had taught him anything it was to be polite.
"Yea, it is. I offered to put his other teddy in the safe so no one could steal it but Spencer wasn't convinced though," Rossi offered with a smirk. They all understood that some kids had strange habits. "He loves your penguin though."
Spencer looked up at his father who beamed down at him. Spencer knew he'd have to give the teddy back. He looked quickly at Garcia, the blonde with so much colour that it made Spencer dizzy. He looked down and held out the penguin for her to take.
"What you doing, Spencer?" Rossi asked and Spencer's lip trembled as he reached to give Garcia the stuffed animal that wasn't his. With a team full of profilers someone got the message.
"That's yours, sweetie," JJ said. Spencer gazed up at the other blonde before looking quickly back at his father.
"I got that for you, Spencer," Garcia said. Spencer stared at the penguin in awe. "You get to keep it. A-and I got some more toys for you," she added, pushing the gift bag closer, hoping Spencer would take notice. He did. He swivelled around in Rossi's lap and craned his neck to see what was in the bag. Rossi didn't want to make a sound for fear he'd ruin the moment.
"Shall I show you what I got?"
Spencer gave a tiny nod before hiding his face behind his penguin, his eyes peering curiously over it.
"Alright." Garcia pulled out a plushy. It was a giraffe and Spencer gasped and leaned forward unconsciously, his fingers seeking the fluffy animal. Garcia smiled eagerly and she offered the toy to Spencer. Clearly her movement had been too fast and Spencer cowered back into Rossi.
"Uh... this is yours too," Garcia said putting it in front of him and letting him take it himself. Spencer was hidden once again behind his penguin, but he was watching and was desperate to take the new animal. "I got this too. I thought... well, Diana sounded old fashioned so..." Garcia placed a wooden train in front of them and then a little wooden duck with wheels and string to pull it along.
"Garcia, you really didn't have to get this stuff," Rossi said gratefully as he took the train and palmed it. Spencer had dropped his penguin and reached up with uncertain hands to take the toy.
"What do you say to Penelope?" His father asked. Spencer dropped his arms and swallowed nervously.
He looked at Garcia and put his hand to his mouth and signed thank you with a small smile to show he meant it. He looked back at Rossi who gave him the train.
"Was that sign language?" Emily gasped.
"Yea, I'm trying not to encourage it, but it's better than nothing."
The team looked at the small boy who was examining the train.
"I got some tracks for it too," Garcia raised the wooden tracks in the air and Hotch took them and knelt down on the floor to set them up; the father in him had taken over. Spencer looked down curiously at Aaron.
"Great idea, baby girl," Morgan said, offering her a hand to high five. Hotch arranged the track in a simple small circle and glanced up at Spencer who looked away quickly.
"Would you like to play with your new train?" Hotch asked. He didn't reach out to take Spencer, knowing that wasn't a good idea. Spencer licked his lips and nodded, so Rossi pushed his chair back and put Spencer down. He stood, clutching Rossi's leg and looking at the track, fiddling with his train. Hotch stood up and stepped back. He returned to his seat and they waited.
"Go ahead, Spencer, I'm right here," Rossi said. Spencer took a cautious step forward and bent down to touch the track. He glanced back and realised he was too far from his father. He gently pulled the track backward and under the table. Rossi rolled his eyes as Spencer hid himself beneath the table and started playing, his back pressed against Rossi's legs.
"It's good to see him when he's not crying," Emily put in with a grin.
"He hasn't cried much at home, he's just quiet."
"I wish Hank was like that," Morgan muttered.
Aaron was watching Rossi with a firm stare and the Italian had begun to get nervous.
"If he likes trains, Will has his own model set."
Rossi chuckled lightly, but Hotch continued to stare and he shifted uncomfortably.
"He's still got that?" Emily laughed.
"It's a 'hobby', apparently."
Garcia was beaming down at Spencer as the others laughed. He had moved slightly away from Rossi so they were no longer touching and he was guiding the train around the track with an architect's precision.
Hotch cleared his throat and eyed Rossi wearily. "Dave, a word," he muttered, flicking his head toward the door. Rossi glanced down at Spencer who seemed to be in his own world.
"Alright, But only for a minute." He got up cautiously, making sure that Spencer didn't see him leave and followed Aaron out into his office. Aaron shut the door quietly before looking at Dave sympathetically.
"There's something I've got to say and you might not like it."
"Why?" Rossi grumbled.
"Spencer's behaviour is...it's quite concerning, Dave."
"He's shy."
"It's more than shy," Hotch mumbled.
"He's got anxiety issues. I also suspect he may have autism, I can deal with it," Rossi retorted.
"Diana herself admitted that she wasn't herself-"
"She wouldn't-" Rossi's eyes were bouncing around the floor as the idea he'd been pushing away suddenly filled his mind.
"Dave, you know as well as I do that Spencer's behaviour clearly shows past abuse. He's an abuse victim. Look at him; look at his behaviour. Come on, you know this."
"Yes, I know!" Rossi yelled suddenly and he threw his hands up in exasperation. "Of course I can see it. Diana...she was ill," he mumbled. "Sh-she was a good woman though. She'd never do it intentionally."
"I know, but Spencer was clearly traumatised by it; intentional or not. The sooner you understand this the sooner Spencer will recover."
Rossi collapsed into Hotch's chair and sighed deeply, rubbing both of his hands over his face.
"Where do I go from here?"
Spencer pushed the train and tried to imitate a train's engine quietly. His eyes glanced at the feet, hoping they hadn't heard him. He cautiously pushed the train around the track again but he felt that his game was too easy. He needed something to obstruct the track. He reached behind him for one of his stuffed animals. When his fingers traced the fur of his penguin he looked back to see where he'd put the animal. He grabbed all three animals and was about to go back to playing when he noticed the comforting pair of Italian leather shoes that he'd been leaning against had vanished. Spencer gasped and almost fell back. Where was his father? He promised to never leave.
Spencer scuttled away from the other sets of feet and clutched his animals tightly. He'd left. Spencer had no-one. The small boy sobbed into his teddy. He thought it would be different this time; it wasn't
"I hope he doesn't take long," Emily mumbled. "I'm not sure I can handle Spencer."
"Why not? He's an angel!" Garcia retorted.
"Right now he's a scared toddler who looks like he'll have a panic attack if one of us touch him."
"Can you blame the kid?" Morgan hissed. "You're used to Hank, and Michael who are anything but quiet." Morgan paused and frowned when he heard a soft sound from under the table.
Garcia peaked under the table and gasped. Spencer looked sharply up at her and released a loud sob, pressing his face into his stuffed animals and wrapping his arms around them, rocking erratically.
"Oh, honey. It's okay, you're okay." Garcia got to her knees and stretched out a hand and Spencer wailed in fear, shuffling away from her until he hit Emily's leg. He whipped his head around and saw an unfamiliar woman looking down at him with a smile.
"D-Daddy?!" Spencer cried, pushing himself away from her, looking around wildly so as not to accidentally bump into anyone else.
"It's alright, sweetie," Emily started but Spencer's wails interrupted her.
"Go 'way!" He whimpered between sobs. Emily looked over at Morgan and gave him an I-told-you-so look.
"Spencer, we're not going to hurt you," Garcia whispered gently, not attempting to touch the child. She lifted up the toy train and showed it to the watery eyed toddler. "Look, here, keep playing with this. Daddy will be back soon."
"Daddy go!" Spencer wailed. "Want Mommy bat! Whewe Mommy?"
"Oh god," whispered Garcia, "What do we do?" She said, raising her head above the table and gazing frantically at her team.
"I'll get Rossi," Morgan said, rising quickly from his seat.
Garcia went to touch Spencer and he recoiled with a cry. "What do I- how do- how-" Garcia muttered trying to reach out to Spencer but stopping each time he sobbed.
"Let me," JJ said, crawling behind Spencer and wrapping her arms around him quickly.
"Noooo!" Spencer screamed, squirming in panic.
"Shhh." JJ pulled the sobbing child out from under the table and stood up, hitching Spencer with her and holding him tightly; his teddy bear the only thing between them.
"Want Mommy!"
"I know... I know you do, baby," JJ shushed trying to create a soothing bouncing rhythm to get Spencer to relax and stop wriggling. She stroked his soft chestnut hair and continued to shush him, her eyes glued to the door.
Rossi practically fell into the conference room and his gaze fell straight on his struggling son.
"What happened?" He asked, hurrying forward and taking Spencer from JJ. Spencer, who's eyes were squeezed closed, cried out and pushed away from Rossi. "It's okay, Spencer, it's me, it's daddy," he said quickly. Spencer looked up and flung himself at his father.
"No go 'way, no go," Spencer sobbed, pressing his face into Rossi's shirt before looking up with watery eyes. "Daddy pwomise. No go," he begged, holding Rossi's shirt tightly. Garcia had to put a hand over her mouth to stop a squeak coming out; her heart broke for the toddler.
"I won't go. I was only talking to Aaron. I won't leave," Rossi promised, holding Spencer's head to his shoulder to calm him.
Spencer pressed his face into his father's blazer as he hiccuped violently.
"What happened?" Rossi asked again, bouncing Spencer as he'd seen JJ do with her boys. Spencer relaxed into him but continued to cry quietly.
"He must have realised you were gone," Garcia mumbled, she still remained sat on her knees on the carpet with a helpless look on her face.
"Right," Rossi grumbled, pinching the bridge of his nose.
"He um... mhm.. asked for Diana," JJ put in and Rossi sighed deeply.
"Yea, he does that at home too. I don't think he understands."
"Not at first," Aaron said, his arms folded over his chest. "He will. Jack has and he accepts it."
"I-I... no ones e-ever reacted that badly to me," Garcia whispered, her eyes shining with tears. Morgan pressed a hand into her back and patted her gently.
"It's not you, mama, he's just a scared little boy who's just lost his mother. Just think about it. He doesn't know where his mother is and he's forced into a new home, a new life, he's known Rossi what... a few days?"
"Oh god! I was pushing too much!"
"No. Don't blame yourself, we just need to take it slow, okay," Morgan said and Garcia nodded miserably, pushing herself up off the floor.
"Let's just all calm down," Rossi said and the team stopped talking and the only sound on the room was Spencer's sniffling. "I don't want a repeat of last time. Let's just sit down and talk, you're all still on lunch right?" He asked and Aaron nodded. "Good." He took up his seat and let Spencer get comfy in his lap, he pulled his knees up to his chest as he leaned against his father. Rossi rubbed under his eyes with his soft fingers and Spencer calmed instantly, sniffing occasionally or hiccuping convulsively.
"How are your boys, JJ?" Rossi asked to get the ball rolling and JJ, who had been stood looking tense lowered herself into her chair and smiled.
"Full of energy as always. Will let Michael wear a cape to school," she chuckled and the team smiled fondly. Spencer blinked curiously, and sat up a little to listen.
"Yea, thank god Jack isn't like that anymore, he's getting into the pre-teens and I can barely get him up in time for breakfast anymore," Hotch said.
"Hah, you should try having Hank! He demands his breakfast as soon as he's up. I had to feed him a donut yesterday because he was up at 5 moaning that he was hungry."
"Really, Morgan?" Emily laughed, rolling her eyes.
"That's not good for him, Hot Chocolate!"
"It made him happy," Morgan shrugged.
"I'm so telling Savannah," JJ teased. Spencer was sat up, his teddy bear twisted anxiously in his hands as he listened.
"Go ahead! I'll tell Will that you spend over $60 a month on Cheetos," Morgan challenged and JJ gasped.
"How did you know that!?"
Morgan smiled smugly and JJ shot Emily a look and she raised her arms in defence. Spencer smiled a little at adults. "It's actually more like $40," JJ muttered angrily under her breath.
"Anyway, Hank could clean your house out, Hotch, and maybe teach Jack a thing or two," Morgan added.
"So are you still getting Henry those roller skating lessons?" Garcia asked, turning back to JJ.
JJ shook her head. "No, he's already on a different phase. He's been watching those slime videos and making his own. The kitchen is a mess." The team grinned as they imagined JJ coming home to Henry's latest experiment. Spencer remembered reading about slime, though he'd never seen it in person.
"Slime 'tarted in Febuwary 1976," a small voice put in as if it had been read straight from a book.
The team turned to Spencer whose eyes went wide and he covered his face. "Really?" Hotch asked in an animated voice. Spencer peeked through his fingers and nodded.
"Well I didn't know that," JJ said in the same sort of voice as Hotch, the ones they used on their own children. "I'll have to tell Henry."
"A-a-and... it made fwom guaw gum."
"How did you know that, buddy?" Rossi asked and Spencer looked down guiltily.
"Mommy..." he whispered, pressing his stuffed bear to his chest.
"Did she get you your special teddy bear too?" Garcia asked and Spencer held the bear out shyly for the woman to touch.
"Uh-huh. 'Pencew is looting aftew him," the boy whispered.
Emily frowned and leaned forward, causing Spencer to press his back into his father.
"Why are you looking after him?"
"'Pencew has to give bat to Mommy," Spencer explained.
"Spencer, you can't give it back," Rossi said quietly and Spencer looked back up at his father.
"Why?"
"Remember, Daddy told you Mommy...she died remember. Remember what Jack said?"
"'Pencew tan give it to Mommy when she bat," Spencer said and Aaron closed his eyes sadly. He was too young to understand this.
"Mommy's not coming back, sweetheart," JJ put in.
"Why?"
The adults exchanged a glance. Rossi gave a sad smile, he'd tried explaining the situation twice and Spencer just didn't know what to think.
"Because she's dead, Spencer," Rossi explained gently. He ran his finger through Spencer's knotty hair as the boy mulled it over, looking at his father as if trying to work something out. Spencer clutched his teddy tighter to his chest and tears fell from his eyes. "She's gone to heaven."
"Mommy no come bat?" Spencer whimpered.
"No, honey," Garcia said and the boy rubbed his face as more tears fell. He looked around the table as he wiped his face and caught sight of a phone close to the edge, he reached out and presented it to his father, pushing it into his hand eagerly.
"We 'tall Mommy? On dat?" Spencer mimicked making a call and pointed desperately at the phone. Rossi carefully placed the phone back on the table and slid it away from Spencer. The boy squeaked in frustration and went to grab it, but Rossi pulled him back.
"We can't call her, Spencer."
"Why?"
JJ wiped at her eyes quickly when she felt moistness linger, Garcia had her fingers glued beneath her eyes to try and stifle the tears. Even Morgan could feel his mouth drooping sadly.
"When you die... you're gone. You can't do the things you could when you were alive."
"Why?" Spencer whispered.
"Because... that's just the way things have to be."
The room fell into silence except for the occasional sniffle from Spencer. Garcia reached into the gift bag and found some more modern toys. She pulled out a fire engine and a police car. Spencer's wet eyes were glued to the bright colours, making him forget about the confusing situation. Garcia pressed a button on the fire engine and it started to flash red and blue.
"Why don't we play, sugar bunny? What would you like? The police car or the fire engine?" She asked and Spencer hesitated for a long moment, looking nervous. He glanced at Rossi who smiled and nodded his head. Spencer pointed to the big red truck. Garcia beamed and handed it to him as she grabbed the police car and slipped from her chair onto the floor. Rossi let Spencer down and the small boy carefully placed the fire engine on the ground and pushed it around his new giraffe.
"I don't think we should bring that up again," Rossi muttered, his eyes glued on Spencer who was driving his fire truck contently.
"He needs to understand," JJ put in.
"I know, but it just seems to soon. It's too big for him to comprehend."
"I can bring Jack over again, he really wants to help Spencer."
"Thank you."
"And when he's ready we should set up play dates; he should meet my boys, and Hank."
Morgan laughed aloud. "You really think he could cope with Hank? My Hank? The kid who can live off 2 hours sleep and still run around like a madman? I think he should get used to Michael before we introduce him to Hank," he chuckled.
"I don't think that will be anytime soon," Emily sighed.
"Don't speak too soon." Hotch motioned to Spencer who wasn't flinching away from Garcia as she pushed the police car around his beloved bear. The team looked down at the two and Rossi felt his heart swell as he saw his son finally opening up.
"Quick! Daddy's shoe is on fire! Fireman Spencer needs to put it out," Garcia cried and Spencer whipped his head around and frowned at the Italian boot, shaking his head as he turned back to Garcia.
"No fiwe," he said and Garcia chuckled at the very sweet scowl on the boy's face.
"I know, sweetcheeks, lets pretend. Pretend there's a fire so you can put it out."
Spencer bit his lip and glanced back at the shoe. He pointed at it and looked back at Penelope, "fiwe?" He asked and Garcia nodded. Spencer drove his truck around himself, tipping it once before parking it beside Rossi's boots. He pulled out the detachable nozzle, which Garcia was suddenly regretting giving a toddler. "Chhhhhh," Spencer said as he pretended to put out the imaginary fire.
"Ne-naw, ne-naw," Garcia chirped, imitating a police siren as she pushed the police car beside Spencer's truck.
"Fiwe gone!" Spencer cried excitedly. "Loot, Opie! No fiwe!" He giggled. Garcia stared at him with her mouth open. "Did you just..." She started, unable to form words with the shock she was feeling. Spencer was too busy putting the nozzle back to notice but Rossi was smiling smugly at the two.
"Looks like you've got a name, or at least 'Spencer's version'," he said and Garcia glanced up at him, her mouth still open wide. Then she suddenly jumped to her feet and squealed, her hands squeezing together as she tried to contain her excitement. "Yes!" She gasped. "He likes me!"
"Well, for now," Rossi chuckled motioning down to Spencer who was looking up at Garcia with a frightened expression.
"Oh, Sorry, baby boy-"
"Hey, that's my nickname," Morgan grumbled lightly with a smirk.
Garcia bent down and smiled at Spencer. "What did you call me?" She asked.
"Opie... ne-ne..." Spencer pouted when he found he couldn't get the word out. "N-Opie," he finally blurted, presenting a smile filled with baby teeth. Garcia tried to suppress another squeal and it came out as a half snort, half choke.
"I can't believe it."
"It's just a nickname," Emily laughed and Garcia sent her a glare.
"It means he likes me. Where's your nickname?"
"I'm okay with 'her' or 'she' for now," retorted Emily.
"I'm currently 'Ahn,'" Hotch added with a ghost of a smile.
"Aw, I want a nickname," JJ whined. Rossi pulled Spencer up and sat him on the round table, placing his bear in his arms. Spencer sat cross legged and pushed his truck with one hand on the new surface while he held his bear with the other hand.
Rossi pointed to JJ. "Spencer, can you say JJ's name?" He asked. Spencer squinted at JJ and nodded.
"Day-day."
"There you go," Rossi laughed. JJ beamed at Spencer. "What about him?" He pointed to Morgan and Spencer shrugged. Morgan tried to hide his hurt. "Okay, how about auntie Em? Can you say her name?" Spencer shook his head and hid his face in his teddy bear, his shyness blossoming anew.
"Shows over," Aaron added, feeling a little bit smug that he was the first of the team that got a nickname from Spencer.
"Aw, you guys just aren't special," Garcia snickered. Morgan raised his eyebrows and laughed.
"Yea, you're special alright."
After another 15 minutes of the team trying to coax Spencer into talking or playing, Hotch announced that lunch was over and from the way Spencer was rubbing his face it was also time he had a nap.
Hotch helped carry Spencer's new things to the car.
He caught up with Rossi as the Italian was struggling to fish his keys from his pocket, with both his arms full and to make matters worse the penguin fell onto the ground and Spencer whined and reached out for it futilely.
"Need help?"
Rossi turned and gave Hotch a thin smile.
"If you wouldn't mind."
Hotch took the keys from him and unlocked the car, throwing the train-set into the backseat before taking Rossi's bags so he could shift his hold on Spencer and grab the penguin the child was clearly desperate for. "There you go buddy," he said quietly, stroking Spencer's hair to keep him calm.
Rossi got Spencer into his car seat, surrounding the young child with his stuffed animals. He shut the door on Spencer and stared at Hotch for a moment before looking at the floor. "We're struggling," he admitted almost in shame and Aaron stepped forward and put a hand on his shoulder.
"You're doing fine."
Rossi got home with Spencer a little later and Spencer started asking more questions about why his mother had died. Rossi finally managed to distract the boy with a children's TV show and he was able to sneak away and grab his laptop from his study. He bit his lip for a moment, deciding on what he should so and he finally gave in and dialled Garcia's number.
"The FBI's national resource for all your technical needs speaking, how can I help?" Came the cheerful voice of Penelope Garcia.
"Hey, Penelope, um, I was wondering if you could do me a favour?"
"Anything, Sir, I can find you whatever you need, it's for Spencer right?" Garcia replied.
Rossi nodded but realised he was on the phone and cleared his throat to reply, "Uh, yes, you know you could be a profiler. Anyway, I was hoping if you could find anything that could help Spencer deal with you know..."
"Oh... is he still asking about that?"
"Yea, I don't know what else to tell him," Rossi mumbled and he listened to the typing on the other end.
"He's too smart, that's why," Garcia said.
"Right now its a curse, I know I shouldn't but I wish we could move on."
"Death takes time to understand... I know," Garcia muttered sadly and Rossi nodded to himself. "It'll get easier."
A silence lapsed between them bar the quick sounds of keys being tapped.
"I think this might help, sir...khm open your emails."
Rossi did as instructed and found a link in his inbox, he opened it and a YouTube clip filled the screen. The Italian recognised the puppets in the video as the ones from Sesame Street, he picked the phone back up. "Garcia, what is this?"
"I watched it... it's uh... it's good at explaining death. Show it to Spencer," she said. "It'll help."
Rossi Smiled, "Thank you, Penelope."
"Anytime, Sir, I better get back to work."
"Bye."
He dropped the phone onto his desk and took his laptop into the front room where Spencer was pressed up in the corner, shivering as fat tears fell onto his teddy bear's head.
"What you doing over there, Kiddo?"
"Daddy go..." he whimpered and Rossi smacked his head in realisation.
"Oh damn... I-I mean... uh, don't repeat that, Spencer. I didn't mean to leave you, I forgot, next time you can come with me, Okay?"
Spencer looked up with bleary eyes and he nodded.
"Now come over here, Daddy has something to show you," Rossi said and he patted the armchair before flopping in. Spencer watched for a moment and then slowly stood up and shuffled over.
Rossi set the laptop on the arm and lifted the toddler into his lap, putting an arm around him for comfort. He glanced at the video of the famous characters entitled 'when families grieve' and he hit play.
Part way through the video cut to real life families who lost their fathers/husbands in war. When it was finished Rossi smiled and patted Spencer's back.
"Mommy not soldiew..." Spencer whispered looking up at Dave with sad eyes.
"I know, but they also lost a parent just like you."
"Theiw daddies died-ed..." Spencer mumbled, his eyes watering and his lip trembling. "Daddy no die... no die!?" He begged and he threw his arms around Rossi and cried.
"No. No, bud, daddy's not going to die for a long long time-"
"You will?" The boy gasped, another sob rippling through him.
"I won't leave you, okay?"
"Daddy'll leave lite mummy?"
"No, I won't, I promise," Rossi said firmly and he pulled Spencer back and held his tiny face in his hands, his large calloused thumb rubbing gently over Spencer's face. "I'm not going anywhere."
"Wove you, Daddy," he whispered, wrapping his arms around his father's neck and Rossi smiled broadly, his heart soaring.
"And I love Spencer, so, so much."
"It otay to feel sad?" Spencer asked after a moment of pleasant silence as they held onto each other.
Rossi nodded. "You can be sad, buddy. We're both going to miss her."
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