~~~~~CM~~~~~
The next morning, Aaron and Emily wanted to take Spencer to visit his mother before their rental home was set upon by visitors. Emily's mother, Ambassador Elizabeth Prentiss, was flying in with her counterparts from various embassies.
Dave assured them he could handle feeding the other children if Derek and JJ agreed to entertain them. Bagels with cream cheese were pressed into their hands as Dave pushed them out the door.
Buckled into a booster seat, the little boy beamed at them from the back seat. Emily reached back and wiped his face with a napkin. "Your smile could power this whole city."
This sent the tiny genius into lecture mode, explaining how electricity is generated for the entire ride to Bennington Sanitarium.
Aaron helped Spencer climb out of the tall SUV as an older man in a white lab coat approached them in the parking lot.
"Spencer, I am so happy to see you."
"Hi, Dr. Norman. Mr. Aaron says you are the reason the police were looking for me. He said you saved me." Spencer said as he held out his hand to shake.
Ignoring the outstretched hand, Dr. Norman picked up the boy and crushed him into a hug. A minute later, he handed the Spencer to Aaron and turned his back on the group, trying to wipe tears from his eyes.
"All right, Young Master Reid, it's time to see your momma." The doctor said as he led the way into the building.
"How is Mrs. Reid doing?" Emily asked.
Shaking his head, Dr Norman filled them in, "She has been in the throes of a terrible episode for weeks. We had to increase her medication as well as sedate her a few times. Spencer, when Agent Hotchner called yesterday, I weaned her down on the antipsychotics and when she was lucid, I explained what happened. She can't wait to see you."
Spencer wiggled in Aaron's arms until he was released. The boy snaked around the front desk and through the hallway until he disappeared from sight.
The adults caught up with him in Diana Reid's bedroom. They all stood along the wall, taking in the scene before them.
The mother-child reunion was heartbreaking. The tall thin blond woman had wrapped her arms and legs around her son as they cried together on the linoleum floor.
Overcome with emotion, Emily turned away, muffling her sobs into Aaron's chest as he held her tight, blinking away his own tears.
~~~~~CM~~~~~
"My Spencer tells me that you saved his life, Agent Hotchner. I thank you."
"Mrs. Reid." Aaron ducked his head.
They were sitting in the dayroom, Spencer was bouncing on the couch in excitement. He had filled his mother in on the ordeal over the last several hours. "And Ms. Emily got me an Asian elephant stuffed animal. Mr. Aaron lets me stay with him even when he has to work."
"Spencer, I am getting hungry. Can you please take Ms. Emily to the cafeteria and pick out some snacks?
The boy literally bounced off the couch and grabbed Emily's hand to pull her up. As they rounded the corner, Mrs. Reid lit up a cigarette and locked eyes on Aaron.
"My husband is dead?" She asked, her voice brooked no hesitation.
She had been quite lucid for their entire visit and despite the warning from Dr. Norman, Aaron had to be honest with her. "Yes, ma'am."
She exhaled the smoke slowly and blinked away tears. Aaron crossed the room to sit next to her, "Spencer knows; he was concerned about telling you."
Nodding sadly, she spoke quietly, "He's much too old for being such a young child. I have been declared non-compos mentis. He will end up in the foster care system."
"Do you have any relatives or friends that could take him in?"
"No."
With that simple declaration, Aaron felt hopeful, "Mrs. Reid,"
"Please call me Diana," She inhaled again, holding the smoke for a while before blowing it out.
"Diana, about Spencer." He started again, "Emily and I…"
He had trailed off again, lost for words. How does one ask if they could adopt someone else's child?
"Emily is your wife?" Diana asked, her eyes locked on his, "And you would like to take Spencer in?"
Aaron felt his face flush, "Yes, Emily and I are married. We have a six year old son, Jack." He paused, "I am aware of the psychological significance of rescuing him. Spencer has been quite attached to me since we found him. Transference is typical in these situations."
She leaned in, "My Spencer is emotionally immature but a mother knows what he needs. He needs a family who will care for him and nurture him."
"We live in Virginia." Aaron blurted out, "He needs you just as much as you need him. I couldn't take him away from you."
Chuckling at the flustered man, Diana patted Aaron's knee, "If you are serious about this, I will transfer to a sanitarium in Virginia."
Releasing a breath he didn't realize he was holding, Aaron felt the tension loosen in his shoulders, "Oh."
~~~~~CM~~~~~
Dr. Norman returned with Emily and Spencer. All three were carrying trays of muffins, fruits, juices, and milk.
"Momma, did you smoke?"
"Sorry, Spencer."
"It's okay, Momma. I know it helps since your medication schedule was interrupted."
Aaron glanced at Emily, silently communicating, 'This conversation needed to wait until little ears weren't listening' as they usually did around Jack. Emily busied herself passing out snacks.
"Mrs. Reid, Spencer told me you are a literature professor."
Their passion for the written word occupied the women as Spencer shoveled muffins into his mouth, leaving blueberry stains smeared across his face.
Aaron tapped Dr. Norman on the arm and tipped his head towards the door.
"Mrs. Reid is aware that her husband is dead. She asked me directly and I didn't want to lie."
"She's sharp." Dr. Norman said, "She will probably have a delayed reaction."
"I will make arrangements for a funeral. Do you think she can attend?"
"Honestly, Agent Hotchner, it's day to day. Sometimes hour to hour. I will adjust my schedule and accompany her."
Sighing, Aaron leaned against the wall in the hallway, "I don't want Spencer in foster care. Diana said she has been declared unfit by the state." He paused, Dr Norman nodded in confirmation, and said quietly, "Emily and I would like to take him."
"I see," the older man said, "while it is a better option than foster care, don't you live out of state?"
"Virginia. It's not ideal; we don't even know if Social Services will approve. I did discuss this with Diana and she was open to the idea. She even suggested that she would move to a sanitarium in Virginia."
The doctor was lost in thought, after a couple of minutes, he finally spoke, "Well, then. Let me look into this. I have a contact with Social Services and I will research some facilities on the east coast."
The men shook hands and returned to the dayroom, watching the two women doting over Spencer; his mother and a woman who wanted to be.
~~~~~CM~~~~~
A/N: All my mental health treatment and foster care knowledge comes from tv so please make allowances for inconsistencies. If you see bad information, please let me know and I will correct!
And thank you for your reviews, follows, and favorites. I do a little happy dance with each and every one...
