I don't own Criminal Minds or the characters.
Thanks for the favorites. Kas3y- I'm glad you're enjoying the story. I hope everyone likes this chapter.
"Mr. Collins, my name is SSA Aaron Hotchner, these are SSAs Derek Morgan and Emily Prentiss. I'm glad you could make it here in such short notice."
Derek watched as Hotch introduced them to the Spencer's uncle. They all had been very surprised when the man was escorted into the bullpen. They expected someone very different from the one that showed up. For one, he was deathly pale. For another, he was wheelchair bound. Not that that meant he couldn't take care of his nephew, it was just the man looked on death's door.
"It's good to meet you," the man rasped. He waved to the woman standing behind him. "Tara, my pills."
The plump woman who came in with him started to search the bag on the back of his wheelchair. She produced a bottle of water and several pills.
"I do apologize, I was unable to take my medication in the car."
Derek exchanged a worried look with Prentiss, Hotch's expression on the other hand never changed. They watched as the man swallowed his pills and drank a gulp of his water.
"I know what you're thinking. I know I'm unable to take care of such a small child, or even a bigger child. I do have documentation though."
"What do you mean?"
"My sister is not a dumb woman. Sick yes, dumb no. She knew as soon as she found out she was pregnant that she would need a backup plan. William was never going to stay around. They never do."
"Who are they?" Hotch asked.
"What do you know about Paranoid Schizophrenia?" Daniel asked.
"Not much," Derek admitted. He had googled some but that was it.
"It's hereditary. My grandmother and aunt were both diagnosed. My grandmother killed herself after my grandfather left. She was six months pregnant with my mother's baby brother. The baby died in the womb after she swallowed all of her medicine. My mother and her older sister were raised by my grandfather's mother. He had run off with some waitress and wasn't planning on raising his "diseased" kids.
"My aunt was diagnosed at the ripe old age of twenty. My mother decided that she couldn't take anymore sickness. She married my father and ran off. It was after I was born, then Diana that she wanted to find her sister again. She did. Aunt Ethel got married and had a little boy. Her husband ran off when she got a new doctor and the meds weren't working, she thought the boy was talking to the secret service about her. She beat the child within an inch his life. State took him away before my mother knew. He was already adopted out by the time she found her sister.
"Diana never wanted something like that to happen. Men don't stay around, it's been proven in our family. I guess the only reason I do is because this is normal for me. So because she was a smart woman she made me guardian if she couldn't be the mother Spencer deserved. I also have her power of attorney and I also have her health care proxy. I called the doctor treating Diana on the way here."
The man looked so beaten down and sad. It must have been terrifying growing up with the fear that you'd get sick too, then watching your sister get sick.
"But you just said you're unable to take him," Prentiss pointed out.
"I am unable. You see me now, this is a good day. Cancer. Doc says I could have another couple months but it's not likely."
"Damn, this kid can't catch a break," Derek thought.
"What are you going to do? You said you talked to Mrs. Reid's doctor. Does he think she is going to get out soon?" Derek asked.
"No, she's catatonic right now. At least, and I do mean least she has to be there for a couple of years. The doctor doesn't think she'll be able to talk to Spencer for a couple months."
"I promised him he could talk to his mother," Derek said. He didn't want to break his promise, the kid had enough of broken promised.
"I'll talk to Spencer. He probably won't remember me but Diana would have talked about me. The first time I met him he was only nineteen months old. As soon as Diana told him who I was he just smiled big at me. He kept bringing me books and asking me to read to him. I love that little boy. I stayed away because Diana promised to take her meds. I won't be around very much longer. So I'll will begin looking for a suitable home for Spencer."
"What will you do with him until you find some place for him?" Hotch asked.
"I do not know, I've only had ten hours to think about this. I had to get all the paperwork to prove my guardianship and power of attorney for Diana."
(Making this all up, except the names of stuff. But it sounds believable unless you work in any of the fields.)
"I was wondering if I could take him," Morgan spoke up, surprising everyone.
"What?" Hotch and Daniel asked at the same time.
"I could take care of him, he would be safe with me. With Lou Jenkin's on the run Spencer needs to be in protective custody anyway," Morgan tried to reason.
"So I should just give my nephew to you."
"No, of course not."
"Who is Lou Jenkins?" Daniel asked suddenly.
"That is the man who kidnapped Spencer five months ago. He also killed your brother-in-law and his own estranged wife."
"Why didn't anyone call me when Spencer was taken?" Daniel asked angrily.
"I can't answer that for you. We were only called on the case last week. We found the man killing the children, we thought Spencer was one of his victims until last night when we were called and told he was found."
The man's already pale and sickly skin went paler. Finding out your sister had been committed and then brother-in-law was killed was a hit. But finding out your four-year old nephew was taken and had been missing for five months without anyone telling you had to hurt worse.
"I'm sorry we had to be the ones to tell you, Mr. Collins," Hotch said gingerly.
Daniel Collins looked at all the people around him then settled on the darker man. The man who wanted him to hand his nephew over to him. It was true he hadn't seen Spencer in a while, but that didn't mean he didn't care what happed to him. He just had loved his sister and wanted the best for her. She promised to start her meds again and William said he would be more observant. "Do you want to raise him or is this just your good deed for the day then give him up once he gets in the way of your life."
"I didn't really think about it that far ahead," Morgan admitted.
"Figures, all your authorities are the same. Think nothing but yourself and your hero complexes," Daniel muttered.
"Now wait a minute," Hotch snapped out.
"He's right Hotch, I should have thought about it being a permanent thing. He did say it was. Spencer's mother is too sick and has years of recovery in her future just to have her functionally enough to take care of herself. But I do want to take care of him, for life. I can't explain it, I just want to love him and help him thrive." Morgan knew it was a crap explanation but he really couldn't explain it any better.
"You married?"
"No."
"Steady girlfriend?"
"No."
"Steady boyfriend?"
"God no."
"You have something against homosexuals?"
"No, I'm just not," Morgan said quickly. If he hadn't had the feeling he was being interviewed he would have figured it out earlier. Spencer's uncle was gay, and clearly not looking for someone prejudice to raise his nephew. "I don't have anything against gay people."
"Homosexual. I hate homosexuals being referred to as gay," the man said a little put off.
"Oookay," Morgan thought.
"You travel a lot with your job?" Daniel asked.
"Yes, but it doesn't stop me from having a family."
"Then why haven't you already? You sure seem to want Spencer pretty bad. Kiddy Creeper?"
Hotch moved fast to get in between an enraged Morgan and the wheelchair bound uncle of a kidnapping victim. He didn't think the man would attack a guy in a wheelchair but Morgan was very sensitive about that kind of stuff. It didn't help that the man just called Morgan a pedophile.
"Well, that was surprising," Daniel said, lightly chuckling.
"Do you have any idea how close you just came to having your ass handed to you?" Rossi asked the man, he and JJ just coming into the bullpen.
"I have an idea. Probably how close my brother-in-law came the first time I visited them. He told Diana right in front of me not to leave me with Spencer. That I would molest him as soon as their backs were turned."
"What happened?" Derek asked, his rage fading.
"After Diana begged me to let go of his throat I told him that little boys didn't do it for me. Tall, built Latino men that worked with their hands on the other hand was just perfect for me. My ex Mike was waiting for me in our hotel room at the time. I knew how William felt about me but I wanted to see my nephew. So I left Mike at the hotel so he wouldn't hear it, I thought I could handle William. But I had no idea I would be called a pedophile. Other names sure but not that."
"Why would you call someone else that if you were so hurt by it?" Morgan demanded.
"I was asked it by family. I don't know you, you are a strange man asking to take in my vulnerable four-year old nephew. I'm allowed to ask questions. Aren't I?" His breathing was getting a little strained from exhaustion.
"You know what, screw this," Morgan said harshly.
"So the child isn't worth some uncomfortable questions. If that's what you think, it's best you take your need for a child somewhere else. From what you say Spencer is a traumatized boy. He was kidnapped by an insane man, then his mother was institutionalized and his father killed. Whoever takes him, it needs to be for life. He's had too much upheaval in his life. But that person also needs to realize that Spencer has a mother, he should be able to go see her when she is well enough."
"If she gets well enough don't you think she'll fight them for Spencer?" Prentiss asked.
"If she does then you know for sure she is not better. My loving, caring sister knew this day would come. She thought it would be me taking him after William left but that didn't happen and I'm not capable of taking care of him."
Morgan knew a lost cause when he saw one. This man had a wire short somewhere. The games he was playing didn't get them any closer to finding a place for Spencer. "Where do you want Spencer to go, we have to call child services if you're not able."
"Where is my nephew right now?"
"He's in with our tech analyst. She is showing Spencer her office. I do believe they are looking for a missing person together," Hotch said coolly.
"Do you think that is appropriate for a child to see?"
"Since his arrival in Virginia the woman next door has been watching him while the kidnapper went to work. The woman risked her safety to report the boy's abuse to the authorities. After he was found running away from the man, another man brought him to the police. The woman can't go back home, this man is a killer. The police won't protect her there and we can't get a protective order for her. Our only hope is to find her son. Spencer is with Garcia telling her everything he heard, saw or read about the woman's missing son. If they find him and he is able, maybe she could go visit him until we catch Jenkins."
"That's a lot for a small boy to remember," Daniel said glaring at Agent Hotchner.
"He's incredibly smart. He's read everything we've given him and read quite quickly, I might add. That little guy is going places, he just needs help getting there," Rossi said looking from Daniel Collins to Derek Morgan.
The message was not lost on Daniel. Everyone in this area thought Agent Morgan was a suitable parent for Spencer.
"You're black," Daniel stated.
"Bi-racial, but that doesn't have anything to do with how I can or can't raise a child," he snapped.
"No, but when kids ask Spencer why his daddy is black, what will you tell him to say?"
Morgan wasn't a fool, he knew there were still prejudices around. He came into contact with it every day sometimes small, a woman clutching her purse tighter as he walked by. Or something bigger like the store clerk telling him he has an eye on him while he gets a cold soda after a long drive. Sometimes worse than that.
"I'll tell him that it was his choice what he tells them. But to hold his head up high and never let someone bring him down just so they can feel better about themselves."
"How about a trial run? You take Spencer, after I talk to him. You said yourself he needs protection. It would be best if it was a FBI agent. I prefer a woman but that probably wouldn't be the best for Spencer. He attaches himself too quickly to women it seems."
Derek would love to argue but that seemed to be the truth. Mrs. Carrington hadn't been feeling well this morning. They left Anderson to watch her hotel room while she rested. It had been almost near impossible to get the boy away from the woman.
"What if he grows attached to me?" Derek couldn't help but ask.
"Then I guess you better not be full of B.S. about wanting him forever."
Hotch watched as Daniel Collins told Spencer about his father and mother. He wished the man would have waited until Mrs. Carrington could have been there. The child started crying and saying he wanted his mommy. After calling Daniel a liar just like Coach Lou, Hotch had to step in. He tried everything that calmed Jack down but none worked. Next was to try was JJ then Prentiss, even Rossi and Garcia gave it a shot. None were able to calm him down. Hotch left to call a child psychologist, ashamed he hadn't done it already. He called from the office, once he was done he left to go back to the bullpen. It was much quieter now, no screaming or yelling just quiet sniffling. Everyone else, including Daniel Collins had disappeared. It was just Morgan sitting on the floor cross-legged with Spencer's arms wrapped around his neck, and his legs around Morgan's waist.
Hotch spotted JJ making her way to him. "How'd that happen?"
"Derek just sat on the floor, told Spencer that he was sorry Spencer couldn't see his mommy yet, and that he had to break his promise. He was sorry that Spencer wouldn't see his mommy for a while. Then he told Spencer to do whatever he needed to do to get out his sadness and anger. The boy screamed, hit, yelled, I even think he pinched Morgan. He doesn't know how to let out all of his hurt without violence. That's what Lou Jenkins did to him. Finally, he just fell into Derek's arms and hugged him tight. Just finding him a place to live isn't enough. He needs someone to help him with this, a professional."
"I know, I called Jack's doctor. She is really good with him, she specializes in the death and trauma of losing a parent."
They both stood and watched the child cry, holding onto Morgan for dear life until he fell asleep. Both hoping that Morgan and Spencer would find the family they both needed.
