When he woke up, Garcia was waiting for him with a bag in hand. He raised his eyebrow.
"Since you couldn't go out to dinner with the team, I brought dinner to you, as promised," she said, reaching into the bag and setting the tray in his lap. It looked heavenly in comparison to the food they tried to give him from the cafeteria.
"This looks amazing, thanks… where's JJ?" he asked, sitting up straight and wincing when he moved his shoulder the wrong way.
"Out in the hall on the phone with Henry. Just so you know, she stuck to her promise and didn't leave your side at all. She even got your stitches out of your pillow a few times."
He opened the tray and started eating. "Garcia, you're the best."
"I know!" she started. "Listen, I know you don't know what you're having yet, but… I went shopping and I couldn't resist."
He dropped his fork. "Should I be scared?"
"Of course not, silly," she said, digging through a different bag. She pulled out a few onesies and bibs, as well as some pacifiers. "I know they're not much, but like I said, I don't have any details for the mini genius yet!"
He put his tray to the side and picked up a onesie. He ran his finger over the fabric, and smiled at the phrase 'I Love My Daddy' stitched into the fabric in red. It suddenly hit him that in a few months time, he'd have a baby that could actually fit into one of these. He felt extremely overwhelmed and started crying.
"Spence?" JJ asked, walking in and sitting beside him. "What's wrong?"
"Nothing," he said, shaking his head, his voice cracking.
"Come on, one momma to another, in a sense. What's wrong?"
He swallowed and wiped his eyes. "I'm a horrible father and I'm a failure. I'm terrified of having my own baby. I shouldn't be doing this. I'm making a huge mistake and-"
JJ cut him off with a finger to his lips. "Shush." He looked at her, confused. "You think you're the first parent to go through this? God, Pen, how many times a week did I come into your office crying that I shouldn't be a mother?"
"At least once a day. Sometimes even two or three times."
"See, Spence? You're not a failure. You're a parent. It's all about learning about it as you go – you can read all the books in the world, but it's all about experience. I promise you, once that baby's out of you and in your arms? You forget everything you worried about and you just know what you're doing."
He sighed, sniffing. "I just don't want to mess up."
"EVERY parent messes up! I heard Hotch telling Rossi that Jack refused to talk to him last week because he gave him spaghettios without meatballs for lunch. You just have to go with it and see what happens. No matter what, that baby will always love their daddy." She gave him a small hug and ruffled his hair. "Now eat up. That baby needs its strength."
"But what about, you know, the 'Reid effect'? Everyone knows that small animals and children don't like me and they're terrified or threatened by the sight of me."
"It'll be erased, and everyone that ever talked about it will feel like an idiot."
He smiled, picking up his fork and eating. "So, when do I get to go home?"
"Hotch was able to work his magic with the hospital. Your doctor's releasing you later tonight, and we fly out not long after. You sure you don't want to stay with me for a few days after you get home, so you're not alone with a concussion and busted shoulder trying to do everything?"
"I never try to do everything."
Garcia didn't hesitate to scoff.
"What?!"
"Oh, please, 187! You don't know the definition of 'take it easy'. You were shot and came to work the next day, kidnapped and you were back to work in no time. You don't know how to take time, relax, and take care of yourself, something you really need to learn to do with the little one on the way."
He sighed, looking at JJ. "Can I for a few days? Just until I can fend for myself at my apartment?"
She smiled. "Of course. You can tell Henry he's going to have a little cousin – he'll be ecstatic to have a little Spencer to play with."
Garcia gasped. "Spencer – the perfect unisex name! You should totally go with that!"
"So we can be Spencer and Spencer? No thank you," he said, finishing his food.
After he was released from the hospital, Morgan drove him back to the hotel room to pack up his things, with Garcia as the passenger. Morgan had offered to do it for him, but he sent him a dirty look, with 'haven't you done enough?' going unsaid. When Garcia opened the door to the room, he scooped his pile of books in his available arm and dropped them into his satchel. With some difficulty, he put his clothes into his go bag and zipped it, putting it on his shoulder. When he went to grab his satchel, Garcia snapped at him.
"No! No no, what are you doing? No!"
"It's just my books…"
"You have more than enough to worry about without lugging around an extra fifteen pounds from the tons of books you insist on bringing with you every single trip. Give it."
"But-"
"I said give it!"
He sighed, handing her the bag. She immediately took it, and upon realizing how heavy it was, shoved it at Morgan.
"Am I allowed to carry my clothes?"
"…Fine, but if you show any struggle, I'm taking that too."
"Don't you mean I'm taking it?" Morgan asked, heaving the bag over his shoulder.
"Po-tay-to, po-tah-to."
Spencer smiled, walking out of the room.
Later, on the flight, everyone insisted on Spencer taking the couch. Rather than argue, he sat up, leaning against the arm and pulling a blanket over himself. He tried reaching to grab his bag, but was immediately scolded by Garcia.
"Nuh uh. Stop right there."
"What did I do?!"
"The doctor said no heavy lifting, mister."
"I just want to get a book."
"Then you ask."
He groaned. "Fine, Garcia, can you please hand me one of my books?"
She looked in the bag and pulled out one of his books. Noticing an odd pattern on the bookmark, she flipped it open.
"Garcia, can you give me that, please?"
She gasped, shoving the book at him and taking out the sonogram. "It's little baby genius!"
"Can I get that back?"
"Aw, Jayje, you have to come see this!"
JJ got out of her seat and nearly sprinted over, looking over her shoulder. "Spence, how could you keep this from us?! So cute."
Rossi raised his eyebrow. "You ladies do realize it's a little blob in a bunch of white noise?"
Morgan shook his head. "Bad move, Rossi."
The girls brushed off the comment as Prentiss walked over to look, smiling. "Congrats, Reid."
He smiled slightly, blushing. "Can I get that back now?"
Garcia sighed dramatically. "Fine, Mr. Attitude," she said, handing it back to him.
"So, how much trouble are you in with Hotch?" Prentiss asked, sitting on the other arm of the couch.
He shrugged. "I'm not sure yet. I'm meeting with him in the morning. JJ's going to bring me in since I'm staying with her a few days, then I'm going to take the train back after the meeting."
"Spence, for the last time, I don't mind dropping you off. Stop trying to be so independent and let me help."
"Sorry, I'm just… not used to it. People wanting to care for me. You know, I raised my mom so I never really had someone to watch over me. It's weird."
"Well, you'll have to get used to it. JJ and I aren't going to let you do all of this alone," Garcia said, patting his head.
He smiled slightly, resting his available hand on his stomach. "Thanks you guys. Really."
"Anytime, Spence," JJ said, kissing his forehead.