By Kalnaman
A/N: Sorry for the long wait. I have a health problem to think about and need to go to the hospital for surgery, nothing serious so don't worry. I'm happy I was finally able to write part 9 today before I have to go. Hope I'll be back home soon to update this story again.
Thank you so much VerginSerpent for betaing this part so fast for me so that I had time to post it before I go.
And thank you all who reviewed and helped me finding out what Stephen does for the living. One asked me if he'd been arrested and no. The police didn't take his driver license from him. He lost it because of a health problem. Now to the story. Happy reading.
Stephen felt more and more tired. He knew if he didn't do something soon, he would have one of his episodes and he didn't want that at all. Especially not now that he had the responsibility of his baby brother, and he didn't want to reveal his secret to his dad. He was too embarrassed about it, even though he knew he shouldn't be. And now he was sure his dad had enough to deal with, with his baby son; he didn't need to have to deal with a needy adult too. So Stephen saw that the only option was to take one of his pills that he knew would help him. He had sworn to himself that he would only take them when he was at home and alone. They weren't illegal, but still he knew that his father wouldn't approve of it.
He took two pills out of a bottle and swallowed them without any water.
"What are you taking?!"
Stephen almost choked on the pills from the shock of hearing his father's firm voice.
"D-Dad. I didn't hear you come in."
"Answer my question; what did you take Stephen Paul Gideon!" Gideon said while looking very seriously and worriedly at the same time at his son.
"Calm down Dad, I'm not one of your unsubs. It's just aspirin. I have a headache."
Gideon calmed down and smiled. "Sorry son. Was Spencer Jay that hard on you?"
Stephen let out a small relieved sigh, careful not to show it to his dad and 'uncle'. He smiled and said, "No. He was an angel. We had lots of fun with the indoor baby swing. He wasn't happy about it at first, but then he was laughing and clapping his small hands, and I'm sure I heard him say "higher, higher Stevie!""
"Stevie?"
Stephen frowned. "Yeah. I don't hope he'll keep calling me that. And don't you dare tell Morgan or Penelope, or they will call me that for sure!"
Both Hotch and Gideon laughed. "I promise I won't, but I can't promise that your baby brother won't."
"I won't tell either," Hotch said.
"Thanks."
"I'm happy you two had a great time. So how was changing and feeding time? Did he behave right?" Gideon asked.
"He was embarrassed at first and didn't want to let me change his diaper, but I told him…" Stephen frowned.
Gideon looked worried at him. "Stephen, what's wrong?"
"Oh, nothing is wrong. I told him there wasn't anything to be embarrassed about, and then he reluctantly let me." Stephen could have kicked himself; he'd almost told them what he had really told his baby brother. "He wasn't happy when I put him in the playpen while I got his bottle ready. He was tired and cranky. He fell asleep in my arms."
Gideon laid a hand on Stephen's shoulder. "I'm happy to hear it went well. You look tired. Why don't you go into the bedroom where Spencer is, and take a nap yourself? We'll wake you when the dinner is ready."
"I'm fine Dad, I don't need a nap," Stephen said, while hoping his dad didn't hear the whine in that declaration.
"Even though I'm retired I'm still a profiler and I can recognize a whine when I hear one. You're not fine. You are tired." He turned his son around so he was facing the door to the bedroom. He gave his son a gentle swat on his backside. "Now go in there and take a nap."
"Hey! I'm not Spencer Jay! You can't just send me to bed." Stephen pouted.
"You sure about that?" Gideon said while guiding his oldest son to the bedroom. He pulled the comforter aside and made Stephen lay down on the bed, and then he tucked him in.
Stephen kept pouting. "I'm not tired."
"Sleep well Stephen. Don't wake your brother, you hear?" With that Gideon closed the door.
oOo
Stephen laid his hands under his head and looked up at the ceiling. No way would he want to go to sleep and then have an accident and be the laughing stock of his dad, Hotch and the rest of the BAU team. Or worse his dad would do what his mom did when he was a kid. But would he? Was he like his mom? He couldn't remember much, how his dad was with him before his divorce to his mom; well at least when he wasn't out in the field working on a case.
He was happy that the pills had finally started to kick in, so he didn't feel that tired anymore, and the episode that had been on its way was happily gone. He decided to stay in bed at least for half an hour to let his dad think he got his way in making him take a nap.
As the half an hour had passed, Stephen couldn't lay still anymore; the pills were working on full force. He silently went to the bathroom, careful not to wake his baby brother.
oOo
When Stephen went back to the living room, Gideon and Hotch were talking about Gideon's future plans with his son.
"Did you sleep well son?"
"Yeah like a baby," Stephen said with a fake smile on his face.
"Really? Then why could we hear you lying restlessly in the bed?"
"What? How do you know that?"
"Baby monitor. You remember turning it on when you tucked Spencer Jay in his crib?"
"Ohh, yeah I forgot. As I said to you before you forced me to take a nap, I didn't need one."
"Well at least you look rested now. But please don't lie to me again. I hate being lied to." Gideon reprimanded.
"Sorry Dad." Stephen crossed his fingers behind his back before he said, "I promise. So Dad. How did it go with the real estate agent?"
"Good. Looks like I'll soon be a happy house owner. And it's only about half an hour from here. It's a little house, but with enough room for me, Spencer Jay, you and even Hotch if he decides to move in with us."
"Move in? You want to move in with Dad and Spencer Jay, uncle Hotch?"
"I'm actually thinking about it. And Gideon forgot to mention there would be room for my son Jack too when he stays with me. There is a great play ground in the garden that would be great for Jack and Spencer Jay when he's old enough. So yes, there's probably a good chance that I will."
"Cool, uncle Hotch!"
"Well, I don't know if other people will think so too. With two men living together, there will probably be talk of us being gay and living together as lovers."
"Let them talk. And even if you two were lovers, it's not their business. And I think it'll be good for Spencer Jay to have both of you taking care of him, especially when you think about his first childhood."
"You're right Stephen, and I think Jack could become a great playmate to him too, when he gets older."
"So Dad. What would you think about people talking about you like that? Would you mind?"
"No. Let them talk. I don't care. I have a feeling it would be good for Spencer too if Hotch moves in with us. And you too Stephen. What do you think about moving in with us? Hotch is okay with it, actually it was his idea and I love it. I would love to live with my two boys."
Stephen looked shocked at his dad. "What? You really mean that?"
"Yes of course son. Then we can really be a family. I would be able to be there for both my sons. I'm sorry I wasn't there for you much when you were a boy, and I want to be able to do it now. Even though you are an adult, you need your dad too - almost as much as Spencer Jay does."
"I'm not a baby!"
"I didn't say you were Stephen. Calm down. I know you're not a baby. But I want to be there for you too."
"Sorry Dad. Thank you for your offer. But I have my business that I can't leave behind."
"Since you're a web designer you can move your business here. I'll make sure there's a wireless internet connection for you, and over the garage we can make an office for you. Please think about."
"Okay, I promise I will think about it, but don't get your hopes up too high. I have friends that I'm not really happy to leave behind," Stephen lied. He also didn't want to tell his dad that he'd alienated himself from his friends after what had happened to him over a year ago.
Gideon was about to say something but he was interrupted by Spencer Jay's cries.
'Saved by my baby brother, thank you bro'. Stephen thought. But he wasn't too happy about the way his uncle looked at him.
"What's wrong Stephen?"
"Nothing is wrong, uncle Hotch."
"You're lying. I'm not retired and I can see it in your body language, that there is something wrong."
"But…"
"No buts! Please tell me what's wrong."
The phone rang and Hotch was forced to answer it. Stephen let out a relieved sigh which didn't go unnoticed by Hotch. "You're not off the hook Stephen."
Stephen gulped.
oOo
When Hotch was finished talking on the phone, he wasn't able to talk to Stephen because Gideon had rejoined them with Spencer in his arms. So as not to worry Spencer and Gideon, he wanted to wait to talk to his oldest 'nephew'.
oOo
Spencer Jay was restless; he was looking from his dad to Stephen and back - over and over again. He tried to tell his dad about Stephen, but the words didn't want to come out.
"What's wrong Spencer Jay? What about Stephen?"
Stephen went pale. Gideon looked worriedly from Spencer Jay to Stephen. "Stephen. What happened between you two when Hotch and I were out?"
TBC