A/N: I do not own Criminal Minds or any of its Characters. No Beta, all mistakes are my own. Will post every two to three days. Thank you for reading.

Special Thanks To: ahowell1993, spxxxxx, fishtrek, Hippiechic81, PrudenceKimberly, pallyndrome, Ash59, Tannerose5, L.E.A.H437, Diana, and Guest. Thank you all for your continued support!

A/N: THANK YOU ALL FOR READING AND STICKING WITH MY STORY. I NOW HAVE OVER 100 FOLLOWERS ON THIS STORY. YOU GUYS ARE THE BEST!

A/N: No slash or pairings. Kid-Fic, De-aged Fic, Team/Family Fic.

Warning: Rated T for violence, language, child abuse

—

"What the hell?!"

Hotch looked at Spencer seriously, he carefully turned over Reid hand and examined the bruise. Spencer refused to make eye contact with him. He could tell by the coloring that it was less then a day old, and a pretty bad one at that. His eyes darkened and his mouth gaped open as he took in the deep bruising. He recognized this type of injury. The way the bruising was worse on the sides and lighter in the middle. Someone had grabbed Reid's arm, roughly. But who and when? He had been at the office all day, a team of highly trained agents at his side. He was never alone.

He looked up at Spencer who had remained silent with his eyes on the ground. "How did this happen?" He demanded, a little harsher then he meant to. Spencer shrugged one shoulder in response. Aaron shook his head and softened his voice. "Spencer?" Still nothing. "Reid look at me..." he pleaded gently. Spencer raised his head slowly and met Hotch's gaze. Aaron search Spencer's eyes for something, but what he saw felt like a knife to the gut, fear. "I'm not mad at you buddy, I just want to know who did this to you."

Spencer looked down and started sobbing lightly. Hotch sighed and pulled out his handkerchief. He always felt weird carrying one, it was an old fashioned gesture, yet working with victims he often found use for it. He was even more thankful in this case. Tears were running down Spencers face and he gently lifted the boys head with his hand and wiped them away.

"Its okay buddy, calm down. Its okay..." he kept whispering soothingly until Spencer calmed down. He again wiped away the tears and smiled kindly at him. "You're safe Spencer, I'm not mad. I-" he cut himself off when he glanced down and noticed something tan on the white cloth. He furrowed his brow and examined it. Makeup? He met Reid's eyes and watched as they widened in shock and guilt.

Without thinking twice the older agent stood and wet the cloth in the sink. He returned and started lightly scrubbing at Spencer's face, finding that the makeup was heaviest around his jaw. He clenched his fist as he finished and found light bruises lingering on the boys jaw, they were turning a reddish yellow color. Hotch felt rage burning within him.

"Where else?" He demanded. Spencer looked up at him cautiously, confusion lingering in his eyes. "Where else are you hurt?" He reiterated.

"Nowhere..." Reid whispered. Hotch wasn't buying it.

"Show me." He said sternly. Spencer shook his head. Aaron softened his voice, he wasn't trying to scare the kid. "Spencer, I need to know how badly you're hurt. Please show me." Reid responded by crossing his arms across his chest and hugging himself tightly, resting his cheek on one shoulder and adverting his eyes. "Reid?" Spencer glanced up. "That was an order..."

Reid studied the older man for a moment. His mind running rapidly over different options, trying to figure out a way out of this. Finally realizing there wasnt one, he took a step back and sighed. Then he carefully unbuttoned his shirt, a task that took longer with his fumbling child fingers. Once he removed it he grasped the fabric in is hands, staring at how in bent and twisted in his grip. Hotch gasped at the damage and gingerly touched the bruises, causing Spencer to flinch violently.

"Who hurt you?" He asked in a low, dangerous voice. It was clear that he was prepared to hunt down whoever had.

"No one, I fell... it was an accident..." Reid mumbled, knowing it wouldn't be believable.

"Who?" Aaron asked again.

"No one..."

"Reid?" He tried agin, reaching out to touch Spencer's shoulder, cursing himself at the wince it caused. He sighed, "I order you to tell me..." he hated doing it. Ordering Spencer around made him feel uneasy, but it was a means to an end. It worked 95% of the time. Just not this time.

"Sir, dont! Please. Just... Just drop it." Reid begged, tears burning at his eyes again. A twinge of pain spread in Hotch's chest at being addressed as Sir again. He swore he would never be able to hear Reid say it again without feeling that pain.

"I cant just drop it Spencer, I need to know. I need to keep you safe."

Spencer swallowed thickly, he didn't want to defy Hotch, he didn't want him to get angry. But he also knew Hotch wouldn't hurt him, and telling him would just make him angry. Nothing could be done about it. Spencer slowly closed and opened his eyes. He stood tall and looked his boss in the eye. "I wont tell you... I'm sorry."

Hotch set a hard glare on Spencer for several minutes, waiting for the small boy to give in but he never did. Eventually Aaron sighed and treated the boys wounds before sending him to bed.

—

The next day, Spencer's bruises were more noticable, especially the one on his face. Spencer begged Aaron to let him put make up on it, but Hotch refused. He secretly hoped the teams questioning would be enough to get Spencer to talk. He kept running through his mind all the times Reid was alone. He did run ahead in the grocery story but surely that wasnt enough time to cause all that damage. At the same time he couldn't figure out another option.

He had a meeting first thing in the morning so he put Spencer in Rossi's office, no one else had come in yet. Rossi took one look at the boy before sending a questioning glance at Hotch.

"I'll tell you later..." Hotch answered the look as he left the room. Rossi frowned after him, he knew Aaron wouldn't have hurt Spencer, but he really could have used some kind of explanation. The others felt the same when they showed up.

Garcia came into his office to get a morning hug from her baby genius and almost broke into tears when she saw the bruises. JJ simply looked horrified and went up to her office, knowing she'd have to wait to get any answers. Emily's reaction was much like Rossi's, she even went as far as questioning the veteran agent who assured her that he didn't have a clue. Morgans reaction was the worst. One glance and his fist clenched, he set his jaw, letting out a low growl. The man looked menacing, and Rossi was sure he was only seconds away from punching a wall.

Still, throughout all of this, Spencer remained quiet. He refused to answer any of their questions, actually he refused to speak at all. Question after question simply make him sink deeper into his chair.

"Conference room!" Hotch's voice boomed out above them. No one waisted any time. They all took their usual seats. Morgan entered last, but he didnt sit. He calmly closed the door then turned on Hotch, rage radiating off of him in waves.

He grabed Hotch's arm roughly, "tell me you didn't do that, man!" Venom soaked through his words. Aaron simply looked at him his gaze hard as if daring Derek to ask that question again.

"Sit down Morgan," Emily said in a raised voice. The two Alpha male's maintained their glower for another minute before Morgan took a seat begrudgingly.

Hotch looked around at his team, they all held different levels of anger and confusion, he knew because he felt the same. Finally his eyes landed on Spencer who was looking down at his hands folded carefully on his lap. Rossi was the only one who looked calm.

"What happened Aaron?" He asked.

"I dont know..." Hotch admitted with a frown. "I found several bruises on Spencer last night, but he refuses to tell me how he got them or who gave them to him." He explained. Instantly the teams hard glares shifted from Hotch to Spencer. The young boy shifted awkwardly under their gaze.

"Several?" Morgan growled sending a sharp look to Reid who flinched back.

"Derek." Emily started, warning in her voice. Scaring Spencer wasn't going to get them anywhere.

Morgan took a deep breath before turning his gaze back to Aaron. "Where are the other bruises?" He demanded through his teeth.

"Reid?" The unit chief asked sternly, demanding attention. Spencer looked up shyly. He knew what was expected of him but that didn't make him feel any more comfortable. He never liked being treated like a victim, and exposing his injuries to them seemed unnecessary to him. Still he knew they would demand the same whether he was an adult or not. His eyes fell back to the ground as he slowly pulled his sleeve up showing the bruising on his wrist that had taken on a vibrant black with blue rimming to it. He winced as the team gasped.

"He has similar ones on his shoulders and upper arms..." Hotch said in a strained voice. Reid jumped as a loud bang abruptly echo'ed through the room, his eyes snapped up to the source of the sound and found Morgans hand pressed against the wall.

"How the fuck did that happen," he ground out.

"When did it happen?" Rossi asked seriously.

Hotch looked at Spencer, as if hoping he would finally decide to talk. His silence was deafening to the group.

"I don't know," Aaron admitted, "I cant think of a time he was left alone, and clearly he isn't talking." Spencer tried not to let his friends frustration upset him.

"I can handle it myself." Spencer whispered softly. The team gaped at him.

"Clearly," Derek responded angrily. Spencer flinched at the tone. Normally Morgan would feel guilty, but he was far to angry to care right now. Someone was hurting his little brother and Reid was letting him.

"Spence..." JJ started, searching for the words. "We need to know..."

"No, you don't." his voice was hard despite the low volume. He could feel the anger building within his team mates. Their frustration was understandable but he couldn't bring them into this. If something happened... If one of them went after William and got in trouble, or even hurt. He wouldn't be able to live with himself. He could take their anger if it meant protecting them.

Hotch's glare intensified, this was more of the same he had dealt with the night before. He was tired of the insubordination. "Reid, I order you to tell us who hurt you, if you refuse I'll-"

Spencer interrupted his with a harsh laugh. An eerie sound coming from a 5 year old. "You'll what Hotch? Fire me? Suspend me?" He wasn't actually angry, he understood their pain but he also was desperate for them to drop it and he knew that he'd have to put on a show to do so. He let venom lace his words, "hmm? Then what? I wont be tied to you anymore. Wont be your burden. Maybe you can send me to CPS in a gift basket."

"Reid!" Rossi said sternly, Hotch's mouth had gaped open in his shock. Pain stretched across his fingers.

"No you're right, Dave. That's ridiculous, after all I'll be an adult again in a few months. That would just raise too many questions. Why not just drop me off at my apartment? Hmm?"

"Spence..." JJ tried when she managed to find her voice. The rest were still shocked into silence.

"What? Give me a few months and I'll be an adult again. Of course I wont be able to make money, so I'll be living on the streets until then."

"No of course not!" Hotch finally answered Spencer's first question. Spencer tilted his head and gazed at him curiously. He was going to need to take this a step further then he really wanted to. He needed them to back off and he knew he'd have to hurt them to do so.

"Then what, sir? Please, finish your threat. What will you do to me?" Hotch just glared. He wasn't going to do anything, Spencer knew that. But he also knew that his team would recover too quickly if he didn't continue.

"Spencer! Stop this." Emily demanded, her hands rubbing a sobbing Garcia's back.

Reid hated himself for what he was about to say. In his mind it was the only way to protect them, he had to push them away to save them. William was a bad man and he wasn't afraid of hurting people. Even adults. That much he knew from experience. His mind briefly flashed to the neighbor who had once tried to help him. He willed tears to his eyes, angry fast tears. The task was easier then he expected.

"Will you hurt me Sir? Make me cry? Paint my skin in black and blue? Maybe even break a bone or two?" Spencer was starting to feel nauseous as the words pooled out of him. Sounds of shock echoed through the room. He was starting to wonder if Aaron would ever forgive him. He shivered when he remembered that that was the point. The man in question had frozen, agony washed over him as he staggered backward to the wall. Spencer took a shallow breath, time for one last final blow. He narrowed his eyes. "Wouldn't be the first time you've hurt me, or have you forgotten Phillip Dowd."

That was it, thats what it took. Hotch turned quickly and made his way to the door. Tears welling in his eyes. But when he reached the threshold he froze, his fingers on the doorknob. In that moment he realized something, something he was sure Spencer hadn't meant to let slip. Phillip Dowd, he replayed the day in the ER again in his head. He had been forced to hurt Spencer that day, but he did it to protect him, and the others in the ER. Which was exactly what Spencer was doing.

He turned on his heel and faced Spencer again. For a brief moment Spencer considered that Hotch might actually hit him. But what he saw on the older agents face wasn't anger or hurt, he held an aura of understanding, which caused Spencer's facade to break slightly. "You're afraid." he stated, catching the rest of the profilers off guard. Spencer wouldn't meet his eye, he really hated profilers sometimes. Hotch continued, "You're worried whoever hurt you will come back to hurt us." Again it was a statement not a question.

Spencer swallowed thickly, his whole facade completely vanishing under the older agents gaze, the rest of the team stared back and fourth between the two agents before coming tot the same understanding. With that Spencer burst into a hard sob. It racked its way through his body causing him to shake violently. Hotch didn't hesitate before dropping to his knees and taking the boy into his arms. Reid buddies his face in the crook of Aaron's neck, harsh sobs raked through the boy's small body as he blubbered out an apology.

"Its not your job to protect us kid." Morgan spoke when silence once again filled the room. Spencer didn't respond.

Rossi studied the young boy. The kid was good, very good. He knew exactly what to say to get them off topic. It had almost worked. "Tell us who hurt you Reid, we can handle whoever it is."

"I... I cant... please-" he was interrupted by a phone ringing. Hotch pulled Spencer's out of his pocket and looked at the unrecognized number. Before Spencer could protest Hotch answered it, putting it on speaker. He had a feeling these mystery calls had something to do with the incident that caused Reid's injuries. He motioned to the others to stay quiet.

Spencer swallowed thickly, "Dr. Spencer Reid..."

A/N: That got darker then I meant for it to. Sorry. Please R&R!