Disclaimer: Criminal Minds isn't mine! Neither are it's characters :(
Spencer watched as Morgan answered the phone and frowned at the look of frustration on the man's face that followed his hurried words. Snapping the phone shut, Morgan stuffed the small device back into his pocket and exhaustedly ran a hand over his head. "Why do I even speak?", he huffed. Carefully maneuvering the toddler off his lap he placed him beside himself on the couch and stood up. Shutting his eyes tiredly, he forced them open after a moment and looked back at the tiny confused brunette, "You like Garcia, right?".
The toddler tilted his head in response and the profiler sighed, readying himself to explain. Crouching down, he thought of the easiest and safest way he could break the news to the kid without it resulting in a possible mini-tantrum.
"Pretty boy, I'm gonna have to go away for awhile-", were not the words he should have used, he realized, the moment the two year old started furiously shaking his head and reaching out to take a hold of his shirt.
"no", the boy pouted, tears starting to form.
Morgan gently placed his hand over the tiny one, now clutching the fabric on his chest, and gave it a light squeeze, "Hey, hey. It's not permanent.", he assured him, lifting his chin up and cupping it softly in his free hand, "I won't be gone long. I just gotta work, baby boy. I'm not gonna stay gone.".
Frowning, Spencer gave him a reluctant nod.
He knew Spencer wasn't too keen on the idea of being away from him, hell, he himself wasn't too keen on the idea, but they didn't have a choice and he knew Garcia would take care of him.
After arriving at the BAU with Spencer in tow, Morgan made his way to the tech analyst's lair, where the blond more than happily agreed to watch the youth.
The goodbye was tearful and dramatic and Morgan had to remind Spencer of the promises to come back as fast as he could and the call the little boy would get every time he got the chance, that he had made in the car there, but suddenly the words weren't as appealing as they were before. Garcia had to gently pry the boy's little hands from Morgan's legs and the older man felt a pang of guilt at the harsh sobs that followed from the two year old when the contact was lost.
Bending down, he gave the boy a quick kiss on the top of his head, before turning around and blocking the cries out, hurrying away to the SUVS out front where his team was waiting, leaving Garcia to console the sobbing brunette.
It wasn't until two nights later, on the case, that he was able to make his first phone call.
He had felt guilty and was angry with himself but the case was consuming the whole team and it was virtually impossible to get the time to call. The time differences didn't help and at the one time he had found room for a phone call.. Garcia had informed him that the two year old was asleep. He had wanted to beg her to wake him up but he knew the chances of the kid going back to sleep after talking to him were slim to none and he knew Garcia was probably already dealing with a lot with just him being away. After being assured of the kid's safety and well being, followed by some flirting, they hung up and he forced himself into what ended up being a fitful sleep.
As he lay atop the hotel room's uncomfortable solid bed, he listened to the black device in his hand ringing on the other end. Anxiously waiting, he willed for Spencer to still be awake. It took three rings before an out of breath Garcia picked up.
"Scooby doo here"
Raising his eyebrow in a mixture of confusion and interest, Morgan grinned. "Wutch you doing, mama?", bringing his free hand behind his head, the agent shifted into a more comfortable position. After a rough couple of days, it was nice hearing her voice in a calm more enjoyable setting.
"I am solving strange and hilarious mysteries with my sidekick scrappy doo here", she speedily got out.
Feeling himself relax fully, Morgan smiled, relieved to find that Spencer was still up. He was a little surprised that the closer he got to talking to him the more he was aching to hear his voice. He so desperately needed to hear that the kid was okay himself.
"He available?", he asked, hope floating inside his chest.
"For you? always, my chocolate protagonist".
Shaking his head, the smile remained on the profiler's face as he heard the shuffling on the other end and the phone being handed over.
"hello?".
Morgan's heart melted at the sound of the tiny voice and he found his smile growing even wider. "Hey, pretty boy. You being good for Garcia?".
"ummm...", he heard Garcia's voice in the background yelling something out but he couldn't quite catch it. Whatever it was, it caused a giggle from Spencer. "yeah", he answered with a laugh.
"What's so funny?".
"nothing. when are you coming home?".
Hearing the boy's mood darken, Morgan frowned. "I'll be home as soon as I can, kid. I don't like being away from you any more than you like being away from me. Believe me.".
He heard a loud release of breath before Spencer responded, "ok".
"Ay, cheer up, kid. I'll be home sooner than you know it and then I can make good on that park promise. You still want to go, right?".
"yeah..".
Morgan switched positions and sat himself up when he heard the sniffle, "Hey hey. Don't you do that now. You gotta be strong for me, alright?".
"o-ok.".
The silent sobbing that followed broke his heart and Morgan shut his eyes as he willed himself to stay strong, "I love you, pretty boy. Put Garcia back on the phone.".
There was a moment of silence before he heard the tech's voice back on the line and he opened his eyes, "Take care of him for me, mama.".
"Always. Scooby and Scrappy out.".
As the dial tone replaced her voice, Morgan snapped the phone shut and tossed it to his side. He had no idea how he was going to get through the rest of this case.
The following morning came as an unexpected surprise when the team was able to help aid in the capture of the unsub and wrap up the case quicker than they had thought they were going to be able to. Morgan was sure they'd be there for at least another week. On the jet ride home he was happy to find that Garcia had sent him some celebratory snap shots, from the night before, of her and Spencer in their Scooby gear. Which consisted of both of their hair gelled up and parted high into the air, acting as dog ears, and two brown towels tied loosely across their necks acting as capes.
"What are you laughing about?", JJ inquired with a smile, as she sat across from him on the jet.
Extending the black device out, he showed the blond the pictures, grin plastered on his face.
The young blond erupted in laughter, "He's never going to want to leave her.".
"I have no problem moving in.", he said with a cocky grin, accepting the phone she was handing him back.
Smiling, and without saying a word, JJ took out her phone and snapped a picture.
Watching as his colleague messed with her phone, Morgan lifted an eyebrow, "What was that?".
"In the spirit of dog themes, I thought I'd show them the one sitting right in front of me.", JJ answered smartly with a grin of her own.
Scoffing, Morgan rolled his eyes and leaned back. This was gonna be a long flight.
After landing, Morgan made his way over to Garcia's lair in record time. Excitement and ..was that nervousness?, washed over him as he gently rapped on her lair's door.
As the door swung open, he was rammed into by the blur of a small form.
Looking down, he smiled at the sight of the two year old clutching his legs tightly. "i missed you.", Spencer announced, burying his face into the agent's rough jeans.
Lowering his arms, Morgan quickly scooped up the child and gave him a long over-due hug. "I missed you more, kid.".
He felt Spencer shaking his head and smiled, "not possible", the little boy mumbled.
Pulling the child away from his chest to look at him, Morgan grinned, "Garcia teach you that word?".
Spencer shrugged and Morgan laughed, "We have got to get you tested, pretty boy.".
"As if we don't already know he's a genius.", Garcia pipped up, pushing her computer chair back with her weight and standing up.
Closing the distance between them, Morgan gave the bubbly blond a hug, "Missed you too, babygirl.".
"As if you could not.", she smiled, reaching out and brushing Spencer's hair back with her hand.
"I couldn't live without either of you.", he grinned, kissing the boy in his arms on the cheek and taking a seat on a free chair nearby.
Garcia plopped herself back down in her chair and swiveled closer to him, "Ain't that the truth".