Spencer wakes up slowly. He's not in pain but his body feels dull and tingly. He's pretty used to it. He's not in his room at Master's house and that causes him to panic. He goes rigid and tries to regulate his breathing. Had he done something wrong? "Spencer, it's alright. Remember me? I'm Aaron Hotchner. You're in Quantico."

Spencer blinks rapidly and Hotch takes his hand. "Spencer, it's alright. I'm right here and you're safe." Spencer relaxes a bit into the bed. His head is swimmy. "They've determined that if we move slowly, we can wean you from the feeding tube to solid foods. That's really good news," Hotch says to him. He's petting his fingers through Spencer's hair.

"The doctor is working with a nutritionist right now to make a schedule for you. They want to keep you here for another day to keep you fed and then you're being sent home with me. Is that still alright?" Spencer nods. "My team needs to meet you. We're a team of six and you've already met Morgan and JJ. Rossi and Prentiss are away on a case and Penelope is waiting to get permission. She can be a lot to get used to," he says. Spencer frowns at him but Hotch smiles back.

"She's a rainbow. Sometimes it seems like the world is grey and then she walks in the room and all the color comes back. It can take getting used to." Spencer smiles a little. That's what Hotch was for him. The color coming back.

"Would you be alright with her coming by? We can wait until tomorrow when you come home," he says. Spencer nods. "Today?" He asks. Spencer nods again. Hotch pulls his phone out and types a slow message. "She's been waiting. The other two are jealous that they're not here. They're like a second family to me and Jack. We're all a family."

There's a knock on the door and a smiling woman comes in. Her hair is blonde and has bows in it. Her dress is pink and pretty and her smile is large. "Hey boss-man and hello Spencer. I'm Penelope Garcia, the tech."

Spencer smiles back. He can't help his self. She sits next to Hotch and the contrast tickles Spencer. She digs in her purse and pulls out some candy. "Would you like one?" She asks Spencer. Spencer nods and she holds out a sucker that still has a wrapper.

He lifts his hand to take it and she loses a bit of her smile. "Do you want me to unwrap it dear?" Spencer shakes his head. He wants to do it. He puts the stick in his broken armed hand and uses the other to delicately remove the wrapper.

The wrapper falls to the bed and he grins at them. He'd done it his self! They're both smiling at him and he puts the sucker in his mouth. Hotch stands and insists on helping him to sit up further. "They said he can slowly start eating solid foods again." Garcia smiles.

"That's great! I'm a great chef. So is Rossi. Have you met Rossi yet?" She asks Spencer. He shakes his head. "Well, he makes killer pasta. It's so delicious. You'll love it." Spencer smiles. Penelope digs in her bag again and sets some more candy on the bed. Then she grabs two books out of her bag and hands them to Spencer.

"This one is an old history book. The other one is a sci-fi book. I didn't know what you'd be into. If you can write out a list I can get you the books," she tells him. He can feel pressure building behind his eyes and a few tears fall out. Penelope gets up and kisses him on the forehead.

Penelope wipes her eyes. "You stop it now. You're going to make me cry," she says. Spencer uses his hand to wipe his eyes and continues to smile at her. "I've gotta go meet my chocolate stud. We'll come visit you soon, Spencer," she says before walking out.

Hotch smiles. "If you want anything you can let us know. We're all going to be your family now." Spencer grabs Hotch's hand before he can turn around. Spencer swallows a couple of times. Hotch waits patiently.

"Th… Thank you," Spencer says. Hotch's mouth opens and he stares. "Oh Spencer," he says. Spencer looks away. Hotch's grin making his stomach feel funny. Hotch runs a hand through Spencer's hair and walks out of the room.

Linelineline

Spencer is asleep the next time he comes over. They're feeding him again and he's wrapped up in white sheets. Hotch and Morgan sit down at his bedside and wait.

When Spencer opens his eyes again they're talking with one another silently. "Hey pretty boy, they're letting you out today," Morgan says. Spencer smiles at them and turns more toward them. "You'll still have to check in and see the doctor once a week and you'll need to attend therapy, but you'll be at my house now."

Spencer nods happily. Happy. That's something he hadn't felt in a long time. "We're going to have a barbeque at the house to get all of the BAU together to meet you. Prentiss and Rossi should be back in a few days. Is that alright?" Hotch asks. Spencer nods again. "Is there anything you can eat that we should bring?" Morgan asks.

Spencer shrugs and looks at Hotch for answers. "They said to start him on applesauce. I'll pick some up after he's settled in at home. There should still be some of Jack's in the fridge." He turns to Spencer. "When this feeding is over we can get your dressed and leave."

Spencer glares at the feeding bag as if that could finish it faster. Morgan is smiling and Hotch is too. Hotch reaches out and rubs circles on Spencer's belly. Spencer looks at Hotch with surprise but relaxes onto the bed and closes his eyes.

Linelinelinelinelinelineline

Morgan steps out to finish the paperwork for Spencer while Hotch gets him dressed. He's sat in a wheelchair and taken down to Hotch's car. "You're making excellent progress already," Hotch mentions. Spencer smiles brightly back at him.

"When we get home you'll get to meet my son Jack. And I'll show you my personal library. Have you started any of the books Penelope dropped off yesterday?" Spencer nods. "Well, whenever you finish those you can move on to anything in the library."

Spencer swallows hard and Hotch focuses all of his attention on not missing whatever Spencer's about to say. "I've finished them," he says softly. Hotch raises an eyebrow. "You must read expediently," he says. His voice is full of disbelief. Spencer nods.

"Ei… Eidetic memory," Spencer tells him. His eyes widen. How smart was this young man that the doctors had been so quick to write off? Spencer ducks his head. Of course Hotch doesn't believe him. All he's known of Spencer is the pathetic Baby Doll version. He'd never met Spencer the Scholar or Spencer the resident genius. Now he's just Spencer the victim; Spencer the nonspeaking ragdoll.

"You get more interesting by the moment Spencer," Hotch says. "Have you always been so quiet?" He asks kindly. Spencer shakes his head. He had used to speak endlessly. He'd been told he had been a chatterbox since he'd first learned to speak. This is just another giant chunk of Spencer's life master had taken away and ruined.

"You know you can speak whenever you'd like, right? About anything." Spencer pauses and nods slowly, even though he's still not sure if that's a good idea.

"Jack is a chatterbox. Only knows a handful of words, but he works with them," Hotch says fondly. Spencer smiles. "His mom?" He asks softly. His throat burns with every sound he makes.

Hotch frowns. "My ex-wife. We divorced when he was one. She'd been seeing another man. We remained amicable after. A couple of months later I was trailing a serial killer known as The Reaper. He was trailing me in return. He killed her and almost got to Jack. I found him in time, but I was stabbed nine times. I shot him In the head."

Spencer frowns. "Sorry," he says quickly, whispering. He regrets his decision to speak now. "It's not your fault so don't worry. I told you that you could say anything. I don't mind answering your questions." Spencer swallows. This is a very important question.

"What was my master wanted for?" Hotch looks at him for a moment before looking back at the road. "Marksmith. He was wanted for human trafficking, abduction, prostitution, rape and smuggling. I can let you read the specifics of his file if you want. Secretly once we're settled at home."

Spencer nods slowly but resolutely. He needs to now this. Hotch pulls into the driveway of a nice, modern two-story house. He gets out and helps Spencer out. "My sister-in-law Jessica is in there with my son. Are you ready to go in?" Spencer takes a few deep breaths and nods. His body is trembling slightly and Hotch tries to hold back the concern he feels.