Guardian Angel
Author: Fate's Apprentice
Genre: Romance/Family
Characters: S. Reid, A. Hotch ...and little jack, and my own OC's.
Pairing: Reid/Hotch. SLASH! YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED!
Summary: Spencer Reid is content. He's dating the man he fell in love with and Jack adores him. So what's with him? Aaron and Jack are left startled and confused when they accidentally stumble upon the fact that Spencer is more then he appears...in fact... He means the entire world to two people. Things wouldn't fare well for them without him. They need him and Spencer used to love them needing him. Now, things are complicated...
Disclaimer: Sorry! I don't own them. If I did, I wouldn't be posting my insane ramblings on here! You'd be seeing it on the little flickering screen in your living room... well… actually… I probably still would be on here. The only thing I lay claim to is my OC's who are: Annie Raye Reid, Amora Angel Reid, Janelle Reid, Daniela Reid, Delilah Raye, Vanessa Raye, and Michael Raye.
Beta: Oh, and happy day, you guys can stop commenting on my atrocious grammar. I've got a beta now, spotpc. So thank you very much spotpc!
Chapter Twenty-One:
A Memory's Worth a Thousand Words.
"Something's not right here, Hotch," murmurs Reid, his golden browns set determinedly on the file in his hands. Hotch nods quietly to himself, his eyes far away but still set on the younger profiler. He bites his bottom lip.
He nods again, this time more firmly. "Something's not right. Come on, Reid," He heads for the door, grabbing his gun and badge, without another word. Reid gives the rest of the team a look and shrugs before quickly heading after Hotch.
He gets in the car after Hotch, taking the passenger seat without a word. Hotch pulls out, he doesn't have to tell Reid where they're going because Reid already knows. The young brunette always had been able to know his thoughts better than he did. The two travel in silence for a few moments before Reid murmurs a very soft question. "Did you tell the others?"
"No."
Reid nods, quietly. His eyes soft set and placed straight ahead. Hotch bites his lip. "Reid, are you okay?" He's watching him out of the corner of his eye. Hotch sees those delicate features set, hiding the twisted and confused emotions of pure agony.
This was personal and every member of the team knew it, but not one of them was going to reprimand the young genius for getting a little too close to the case. The little girl who had the alcoholic mother and the bipolar father. It hit a little too close to home for the kid and no one blamed him for being so protective of the fifteen year old girl. Cleo had pretty much taken care of herself up until the point when Cleo's little sister was taken, the one she had practically raised herself. Cali was only seven and now she was missing. Reid had sworn on everything and anything he could. he had promised Cleo he would find her sister.
Reid swallows hard, blinking back tears. "No, not really." Hotch nods and hesitates before he takes one hand off the wheel and grabs the genius' hand. Reid looks slightly surprised but doesn't look towards him. He bites his bottom lip, rolling the swollen flesh between his teeth and tasting blood.
The car comes to a halt and their hands leave the warmth of the other as they shove their doors open and hurry out into the cool spring air. They hurry out toward the house, the pieces of the puzzle starting to fall together. Cali was never kidnapped. Well... not by a stranger, but by her sick father.
Hotch bangs on the door and shouts that he's FBI. He waits a few moments before there's a crash inside. He looks to Reid and they both nod. That's enough to break in, makes things easier than faking hearing something. The door is kicked in and that's all there is because all of a sudden there's a sharp pain to the back of Reid's head. Hotch turns and fires a single shot, nicking an unsub's shoulder before there's a repeated blow to his head and he's down.
"Alright boss-man, I get that your whole plan went to hell and that you two were taken down by more than just the father, but how the hell did you two figure out it was an inside job?" insists Morgan, cutting off Hotch's little flashback.
"Yeah, and how does this answer the question as to how you and my junior g-man got together?" questions Garcia.
Hotch chuckles, his arm tightening around his lover's waist, who looks just as amused as Hotch, while both of their kids watch them with interest. They had heard bits and piece of the story but never the entire thing and they were more than interested in hearing about their fathers' jobs as 'catching the bad guys'.
Spencer takes his opportunity to answer the first question. "Her father... he called Cali an 'it' when we talked to him."
Morgan's eyes flash with realization and all their eyes slowly show it, - each figuring it out. Hotch nods, his chin dipping just a bit to brush the top of Spencer's head. No more explanation is needed as he breathes in slowly, thoroughly enjoying the scent of the younger.
"As for explanation wise," he murmurs before dropping a kiss on Spencer's head. "We're getting there."
He comes to slowly, looking around with a blood hazed gaze. His voice is rough when he borderline shouts the younger profiler's name, though it doesn't come out too loud. "Spencer."
He hears a groan closer than he expected to and lifts his hand to find it chained to another's. He follows the long limb and breathes a sigh of relief to find the object of his long kept secret affections, injured but very much alive by the heavy sound of his breathing. Bleary gold eyes set upon his own and Hotch can't help himself. He leans forward and brushes his fingers along the younger man's bruised cheek, brushing the long strands of soft brown hair out of his face. Reid leans into the touch, provoking the quirk of the elder's lips into a soft smile.
Those blurry gold eyes find his and his lips curve into a returning smile. "Aaron?" he croaks, head spinning. Hotch moves closer, suddenly protective as he pulls the younger towards him gently. He examines Spencer's body with a lover's eye and not merely a superior's or friend's. Spencer head starts to loll and Hotch curses when his finger's brush a prominent bump on the back of the younger's head.
"Spencer, you have to stay up," he insists, shaking the young doctor. He lifts his head sleepily but seems to sense the urgency in Hotch's voice and doesn't question the order. But he does question something else. "You called me Spencer," he murmurs, though it sounds more like a question.
Hotch's lips quirk gently. "You called me Aaron," he informs softly. Spencer nods quietly, his eyes flickering around, with almost blind panic. "Spencer, calm down. Breathe," Aaron instructs. Spencer takes a deep breath.
"Where are we?"
"I don't know."
"Aaron," Spencer's breath hitches and tears blur his eyes. His voice is raspy. "I don't wanna di-"
Aaron cuts him off abruptly. "Don't say it, Spencer. It's not going to happen."
Spencer looks at him, a tear running down his cheek. Aaron lifts a hand and brushes it from his face. The younger is trembling. "But if we do-" Again the older cuts him off.
"We're not going to."
"But if we do-"
"Spencer," the older interrupts with a note of finality.
The younger breaks it. "I need to tell you something."
Aaron lifts his gaze to look at Spencer once more and his mouth opens, but the bursting in of a door above stops his words in their tracks.
Morgan's familiar voice pierces the door. "Reid! Hotch!"
Aaron sets his gaze on Spencer firmly and he touches the younger's face. "I told you so."
"Morgan!" Garcia growls, shoving the field agent playfully. Morgan feigns innocence as his head turns to glance at the technical analyst.
He grins, lopsided at her. "What, Baby-girl?" he murmurs.
"You did it! If you hadn't come in then, Reid would have told Hotch that he was in love with him," she exclaims, indignantly.
Aaron chuckles and Spencer lifts his head to correct. "Is. Is in love with him." He raises his head even more to look up at the older, gold eyes sparkling. Aaron chuckles again more than happily and kisses him briefly. There's a chorus of "awwws" from the girls and Rossi whistles lowly with a chuckle as Morgan exclaims good-natured-ly. "Get a room!"
Spencer pulls away to blush heatedly and stare at his feet while Aaron laughs, tugging the younger closer and kissing his head. "Ignore them, they're only, like, seven."
"Hey!" exclaims JJ, shoving her superior playfully.
Prentiss chuckles. "Well? Come on! Keep going, that can't be it!" she exclaims impatiently. Aaron smirks.
A blanket over his shoulders and the heat of the ambulance on high and Spencer is still shivering, his eyes following Cleo and Cali as they are reunited with their grandparents. Cleo's eyes find the young genius and she tugs away from them to head over to him. She throws her arms around his neck and kisses his cheek. "Thank you," she murmurs, before kissing his cheek. "For saving my sister."
Spencer can't look at her, but he nods ducking his head a bit and watches her feet retreat back to her grandparents. He lifts his gaze to meet the woman's and she gives him a look that's worth more than a thousand words before mouthing the words 'thank you'. The small family is led off by Morgan and Spencer jumps as a hand rests on his shoulder.
"You did good, Spencer," Aaron murmurs, sitting next to the young profiler on the bed of the ambulance. The younger lifts his head to meet the warm brown eyes of his superior, watching him worriedly. Spencer swallows.
"You called me Spencer again," the genius notes.
Aaron nods. "So I did." There's a moment of silence before Spencer sighs.
"I didn't do anything, Aaron. I got hit over the head and held captive before the rest of the team found me." His voice is barely there, weighed down by notes of disappointment and guilt.
Aaron lifts his arm slowly, before hesitantly resting it warmly over Spencer's shoulders. "We. Us," he corrects softly before leaning over and tilting the younger's head up to meet his gaze. "And yes, you did, Spencer. You were part of the team that brought Cleo's sister home. You gave that little girl hope."
Spencer stares at him for a moment. "So you're not gonna yell at me for making a promise to a victim?"
Aaron bites his lip and shakes his head. "Not this time."
There's another long moment of silence before Spencer drops his head. "Thanks, Aaron."
The older nods, swallowing a lump - before clearing his throat. "So... You never did say what you needed to tell me," he informs, voicing it as more of a question.
Spencer flushes ducking his head. "I...uh... it doesn't really matter now." Aaron shakes his head, not accepting that as an answer. He tilts up Spencer's chin.
"I say it matters," he murmurs, softly. Spencer bites his lip and shakes his head stubbornly. Aaron sighs. "You were willing to tell me when you thought we were going to die." Again, Spencer says nothing.
Aaron's lips quirk and he steels his jaw before bravely asking. "Will you tell me over dinner, tomorrow night?" - Spencer's head shoots up and surprised gold colored eyes dare to meet his. Aaron smiles sheepishly.
"Did you just ask me on a date, Hotch?" the younger questions, awe obvious in his now suddenly high pitched voice.
He can't help his uneasy chuckle. "Aaron," the older corrects before adding. "And yes, I believe I did." He sounds rather in awe himself. Spencer watches him for a moment before cocking his head and smirking.
"When and where, Aaron?" he puts some emphasis on the older's first name.
Aaron smiles with instantaneous relief. "Eight and all you need to know is casual," he informs before squeezing the shoulder nearest to him and heading off to his car with a noticeable spring in his step. And the smile on Spencer's face is quite noticeable too.
"Aww... that's so cute, Reid," Garcia giggles. Spencer's face heats up and he hides it in the crook of Aaron's neck. Aaron chuckles warmly, running finger's through his young lover's hair and humming as he does so.
"Well?" questions Rossi.
They both look up. "Well what?" in stereo.
JJ giggles. "Don't stop! What about your date?"
"Yeah, what happened there?" questions Morgan.
Spencer laughs and shakes his head, Aaron agreeing silently. "Nope. Sorry, guys. That's for only us," he informs and stands with wobbly legs.
Aaron nods gently. "Yeah, and Spencer needs sleep." He gives a look at both of their kids. "Along with the rugrats," he smirks.
Spencer nods and bends to pick up both of them, Aaron moving quickly to help him. He takes DA from his arms while Spencer juggles both the bag and Jack. The team watch them both move and look more than disappointed.
Spencer chuckles. "See you later, guys." Morgan stands and tugs Garcia up. JJ interrupts. "Wait a minute, Reid. We need you to settle something for us."
Both lovers look towards their team. "Yeah?" questions Spencer.
"So you two started dating in February?" questions Morgan, his voice hopeful. Spencer and Hotch look at each other.
Spencer nods and Hotch clarifies. "February 29th."
"Oh ho ho! Hand it over ladies and gents, fifty each! I had my money on February." Morgan fist pumps, victoriously.
Spencer's jaw hits the floor and Aaron looks more amused than anything. "You had money on us," in stereo.
"Yeah, and you just cost us all fifty," whines Emily, pulling out her wallet along with the rest of the team. They all hand Morgan his winnings and Rossi looks longingly at his fifty. "Come on, you two. You couldn't have held out for one more day. I had my money on March..."
Morgan laughs. "A day's a day, Rossi. Now hand it over." Rossi sighs and gives Morgan the bill, who then folds them all ceremoniously into his wallet and makes a big show of putting it away.
Garcia's eyes suddenly lighten. "Now wait just a minute-. Hotch told and by way of hickey. I won that one, fork it over all. And you owe me an extra fifty, Morgan."
They all take out there wallets again and Morgan unwillingly forks over part of his winnings. Garcia cackles evilly. "Yes, mine, all mine."
Morgan gives her a look. "You're starting to worry us, baby girl."
Spencer guffaws. "She's starting to worry you? You guys had money on us!"
Prentiss laughs. "And for good reason, Reid."
"Yeah, we all so this coming miles away," JJ giggles.
Aaron chuckles, pulling Spencer against him, - each still with a child in their arms. He kisses Spencer on his head and squeezes him a bit. "You're really complaining, love?" Spencer shrugs.
"Not really, it's just... immature," he sniffs, indignantly. Morgan laughs.
"This coming from the youngest of all of us?" he chuckles. Spencer sticks out his tongue.
Aaron sighs. "We should be heading back home," he insists lightly.
Garcia whines. "Aw... but I wanted to get to know my lovely little niece." Aaron and Spencer both lock gazes and seemingly communicate without a word being exchanged between the two of them.
"Well, you guys could come over tomorrow afternoon if you want," offers Spencer softly.
JJ grins. "All of us?"
Aaron nods. "Sure. Why not?"
They all agree contentedly before Aaron and Spencer head for the doors. Aaron helps Spencer with the car seats and holds the door open for him, leaning over to buckle him in, hands lingering along his neck making the younger agent shiver violently. Aaron kisses him briefly before heading around to the driver's seat. He closes the door behind him and finds Spencer's hand as he pulls out. Spencer's eyes don't stay open long and he's soon sucked into dreamland.
He smooths the denim of his pants for what seems like the umpteenth time. He's just running his fingers through his messy-but-in-the-hot-way hair when there's a knock at the door. He jumps and turns, smoothing the soft brown fabric of his long sleeve button up, the sleeves pushed up to his elbows. He quickly heads toward the door and opens it hesitantly to see an awfully nervous looking Aaron in the portal.
His head tilts up to meet Spencer's gaze and he offers him a lopsided grin. "Hey."
"Hey." Spencer smiles in reply.
He grabs his coat from the hanger by the door and slips it on before stepping out into the hallway of his apartment building. He closes and carefully locks the door behind him, stuffing his keys into his pocket. He follows Aaron down the hall and blushes when he holds the door open for him. He ducks his head and follows Aaron out to his car. The older holds the door for him and Spencer murmurs a thank you before slipping inside and buckling his seat belt.
The dark haired profiler backs out of the lot and starts down the highway. Spencer's eyes flicker along the windshield, curiosity evident in them. "Where are you taking me?" he questions, quietly.
Aaron's lips quirk into a knowing smile. "That's for me to know and for you to find out, Spencer," he all but hums. Spencer crosses his arms and pouts, though it's proving difficult to keep his lips from pulling into a smile, seemingly of their own volition.
"Come on, Aaron..." the brunet profiler whines, his lips tugging upwards against their will. They quirk even more when the older man chuckles in response to his petulance. Spencer glances at him, out of the corner of his gold eyes.
"Patience, Spencer," he chuckles in reply, "Is a virtue."
The younger faces his window to hide his grin. "Yeah, one I don't care for."
"Or have," adds Aaron.
Spencer bites his lip to suppress the grin that's actually starting to hurt his face a little. He flexes his hands a little, still pinned beneath his arms and bites the inside of his cheek, feeling them starting to flush, though he didn't know why.
The car stops at the side of the road, pulled up so it's half on the curb. Spencer sits up some more to look around but he sees absolutely nothing, it's too dark. Aaron gets out of the car and Spencer tugs at his seat belt, unfastening the hold and turning in his seat. His fingers wrap around the handle of the door before it's pulled open for him, revealing a grinning FBI agent with dancing brown eyes that he knew oh-so well but had never actually seen that... carefree?
"You know," Spencer starts as he takes Aaron's hand as the older agent pulls him to his feet. He stumbles a little from a pot hole in the side walk and Aaron braces him, Spencer's hands managing to rest on the older's chest.
"'You know' what?" said Aaron murmurs -, face inches from the younger's. Spencer swallows thickly, his honey colored eyes meeting the chocolate brown ones of his (yes, actually) date. He nips his bottom lip in thought before answering.
"For a man who never smiles, you sure have been smiling a lot," he barely breathes. The warm puff of air that tickles his skin is from Aaron's warm chuckle, yes, that's how close he is. Warm hands rest on either side of his waist and Spencer has to swallow again, they feel that good.
"Who knows, Spencer?" he murmurs, leaning just a bit closer. "Maybe, you just have that effect on me..." He hums and his breath smells like cinnamon, spurring the wandering thought whether or not he tasted like cinnamon too.
"Really?" the younger breathes, his hands straying bravely to move upwards, slipping his arms around the other's warm neck. Aaron's lips brush the line of his jaw and it's dark and he's so warm and why is Spencer suddenly burning up, a sharp contrast to the frigid air of a late February night.
Aaron hums in reply, "Really," before soft lips (softer than he had expected) descend upon his own, stealing his breath and making his legs suddenly weak. He didn't know it was possible to feel that good, that perfect. His arms tighten around Aaron's neck and he kisses back hungrily. A shiver runs up his spine and Aaron's tongue flickers across his bottom lip, requesting access, before Spencer grants it happily.
Spencer's suddenly dragged closer, his lengthy body jerked forward to press perfectly against Aaron's and Spencer swears he can hear a click. They fit perfectly. Tongues battle briefly before they part, gasping for air. Aaron rests his forehead against Spencer's after kissing his chastely once more.
"As much as I enjoy kissing you senseless, Spencer," the older agent hums with a more than cocky smirk. "We do have a date to get to."
Spencer laughs nervously, still breathless and his voice noticeably hoarse. "And here I was thinking this was it," he jokes, quietly. Aaron chuckles and finds the younger's hand before disengaging their bodies and tugging the young doctor along. Spencer follows happily, still trying to regain his senses and catch his breath.
He has no idea where Aaron is leading him, but he trusts him more than anyone and follows him almost blindly. After a few minutes of walking, lights start to appear on the horizon. Spencer looks to Aaron out of the corner of his eyes, their hands still intertwined between them. "Why'd we walk?"
Aaron suddenly steps closer, an arm slipping around his waist and Spencer's body leans against his, seemingly of its own volition. His voice hums in the younger's ear as they continue to walk towards the lights. "To suspend the mystery," he chuckles.
Spencer punches his shoulder, playfully. "You're so mean," he pouts.
Aaron laughs and replies without thinking. "But you love me anyway." He stops suddenly, hand dropping from his waist and seemingly endless confidence vanishing into thin air. "I..." he starts to stammer in explanation - before Spencer, seeming to have stolen the older cockiness, turns his head and stands on tip toes to place a kiss on the shocked profiler's lips.
Pulling away, his hands resting on Aaron's shoulders, he smiles shyly at the dazed man. "I do," he murmurs and at Aaron's confused look Spencer swallows and then bravely adds. "I love you," he murmurs, shyly. "That's what I was going to tell you before..." His gaze strays toward his feet before Aaron is tilting up his chin once again and kissing him heatedly.
"I love you, too," he murmurs, when they break. "Always have." He kisses him lightly again and tugs the younger toward the lights of the restaurant.
"You do realize we've covered pretty much everything normal couples do on like the first five to ten dates," Spencer almost giggles. Aaron tightens his grip on the younger's waist and drops a kiss on his head.
"Are we any normal couple, Spencer?" questions Aaron as they get closer. Spencer laughs, shaking his head. "Not even close, Aaron."
He stops cold when he sees the restaurant, an old looking building with a light-up sign, the words 'Friendly's' written in cursive and glowing warmly. Spencer turns on his heels to stare wide eyed at the grinning agent.
"How did you-?" stammers the younger.
Aaron tugs him toward the building. "I know all, Spencer," he hums and Spencer doesn't question how he knew the restaurant was the only one he'd go to as a kid, his salvation in a world of hurt and hell. Aaron holds the door open and Spencer can't help but agree. "No, we're not ordinary at all."
"Spencer, come on, love. We're home," a soft voice murmurs in his ear as someone shakes him. Spencer's gold eyes blink open, and he smiles warmly at his lover. Aaron grins back.
"Good dream?" he murmurs in question. Spencer nods. "More like a memory."
"Of?"
"Our first date," he giggles, letting Aaron help him out. He moves toward the back to get the kids and Aaron stops him. "Got 'em already, sweetheart." Spencer sighs and leans into his build. Aaron leads him toward the house. He pushes the door open and leads him towards their room after locking the door behind them. He kisses Spencer's temple and hums. "My fondest memory."
Spencer giggles again, leaning up and kissing him heatedly. Hands tug impatiently at his clothes and Aaron's kisses turn more urgent, nipping along his jaw. Spencer moans softly and he kicks the door shut, Aaron pausing only to lock the door behind them.
*Sorry, for the delay. I was in a bit of an accident. Broke both my arms and then was slightly preoccupied for a bit with some personal issues. Anyway, I'm back and this chapter is dedicated to one of lovely loyal reviewers:
Miss R. Hood
For her lovely idea for this chapter. I'm working on all the others.