(Disclaimer: I do not own Criminal Minds or it's characters)
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I thought it was time for a happy chapter.
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Spencer and Hotch came home after two days. Spencer was quite and solemn at first, but soon enough the boys pulled him back out of his shell.
JJ was still worried about him, but she tried her best not to show it. And according to Hotch, she had gotten softer. She had asked how exactly had she been 'soft' on Spencer, who had chosen that exact moment to walk in with a finished bowl of ice cream that JJ had given him.
So what if I am, she thought and she continued to feed Spencer's ice cream addiction.
The team had Saturday off to watch Jack's baseball game, which had been a small event the coach's had organised for the boys before the long winter break.
Once again, JJ was being soft on Spencer by allowing him to dress himself. When he had done that she helped him downstairs and stepped into the kitchen with him where Hotch was sipping his coffee. He smiled at his girlfriend.
"We're going to Jack's- what is he wearing?" Hotch set down his mug and gaped at Spencer. JJ tittered and looked down at the affronted child.
"I didn't pick it," JJ laughed.
"What's wong with it?" Spencer demanded. He folded his small arms across his chest.
"I see you let him put it on too; you do know you're wearing that shirt inside out right?"
Spencer unfolded his arms and looked down. Sure, enough the label stuck out and the collar was backward. His cheeks flushed with embarrassment.
"And no one looks that smart at a baseball game," Hotch added.
"T-they don't?"
"No."
"Oh," Spencer fiddled with his shirt, blushing deeply as he glanced over his small shirt, blazer and 40cm length cords.
"You weren't really going to let him go out like that were you?" Hotch raised an eyebrow at his girlfriend, whose lips curled mischievously.
"He's as stubborn as you," She retorted.
"And you're not?"
"Not like you I'm not."
Spencer hung his head feeling utterly stupid. He trudged quietly away, hoping JJ and Aaron wouldn't notice. They did.
"Where are you going?" JJ asked.
Spencer shrugged. Strangely, he felt the urge to cry, but he forced himself to remain straight-faced.
"To get changed. You might let him go out like that, but I won't. Come on, Spencer, let's find something a little more...casual."
"O-otay," Spencer mumbled sheepishly.
Hold it together, he thought to himself.
Hotch finished his mug of coffee and motioned Spencer to follow him. Spencer slunk behind him and let Hotch carry him up the stairs which he hadn't quite mastered yet.
Hotch set him down on his bed and started rummaging through the drawers. Spencer slowly took off his blazer and tried to undo the buttons on the inside of his shirt.
"You need something to keep you warm," Hotch said absentmindedly. "I think Garcia needs to take you to the mall again. She hasn't got you much for winter."
"Please don't mate me go to the mall!" Spencer pleaded. Hotch spun around and laughed.
"I won't subject you to that sort of torture," he chuckled. He revealed a top and a cotton jumper. Spencer studied the sweater and grinned. It was navy blue and had an interesting robot on the front. It was tiny and Spencer doubted it would fit him, then he looked down at himself and realised he was more likely to be too small than too big for it.
They got back downstairs and found the others ready and waiting. Hotch set Spencer on his feet and looked over the boys adorned in baseball caps despite the chilly weather.
"Ready to go?" Hotch asked.
"Wait. Spence needs a hat," Jack said, and before anyone could argue he was pounding the stairs to get one from his room.
"After the game, Spence, they let the younger kids play," Henry explained eagerly, but Spencer wasn't that interested.
Jack came down the stairs with one of his baseball hats and put it over Spencer's messy hair. Spencer jumped slightly and adjusted the hat so he could actually see.
"Now he's ready," Jack announced. Spencer smiled innocently.
"You look the part now, Spence," JJ winked. Hotch held the door open and ushered his family out and to the car.
"Last match of the year!" Somebody shouted as Hotch opened his door. The cold hit him and he was thankful he wouldn't have to take Jack to anymore practices until March.
He opened the back door and Jack clambered past Spencer's seat and into the crisp air. Spencer didn't even bother to fumble with the straps, instead, he waited for Hotch to release him from the contraption.
"Do we need to discuss the rules?" Hotch whispered as he leaned into unbuckled the boy.
"No, Daddy," Spencer replied with an uncoordinated wink.
"Auntie Pen!" Jack cried when he saw Garcia hurrying over to them; in her own baseball cap.
"Hey, Jack. You ready to kick some baseball butt?"
Jack giggled and let Garcia bear hug him. Spencer was next; He boomeranged into her warm arms, knocking his hat from his head.
"Woah. Slow down, sweet cheeks. You're getting faster," she laughed. She picked up his hat and screwed it back over his curls.
"Hey, Jack!" Another boy carrying a bat yelled to Jack and waved him over.
"I gotta go," Jack said, grabbing the bag Hotch had been carrying.
"Good luck, champ," Hotch patted Jack's back before he sprinted off.
"Come on, the others have already got a seat," Garcia said pointing towards the bleachers where Rossi, Morgan, and Emily were holding down several seats. At least Emily and Rossi were, Morgan had caught the attention of a woman behind him and from the smile, he wore it was clear he was flirting.
"Quick, I think they'll get kicked off for saving seats if we don't hurry up," JJ said, pulling Henry along with her, while Hotch took Spencer.
"Or they'll kick Morgan out for hitting on women," Hotch muttered.
The team settled on the second row of bleachers. Spencer tried to climb onto the bleachers himself but strong hands grabbed him and settled him into their lap. He glanced up and saw Hotch staring back at the pitch. He wriggled but the arms holding him in place became tighter.
Spencer didn't understand the fascination with sports the only exciting thing was when someone went for a home run and often that was disappointing.
He fell asleep at one point, leaning fully into Hotch's chest and letting his calm breathing lull him to sleep. He was awoken by a yell from the crowd. He opened his eyes to see a ball flying straight for him. Spencer ducked and slipped down off the lap he was sitting, completely forgetting the chain fence that protected them. Hotch chuckled and pulled him back onto his lap, keeping an arm around him so he couldn't fall.
"Is Jack winning?" Spencer asked, peering through his fingers at the match. When the coast was clear he dropped his hands and yawned
"You could say that," Rossi said as the fielding team fumbled with the ball.
"When can I play?" Henry whined, looking out hopefully at the field.
"Soon," JJ Mumbled absently, her eyes flickering from player to player. Henry huffed unhappily.
Jack stepped up to take his turn. Spencer's eyes widened and he tried to stand up on Hotch's legs to have the best view. Hotch held his legs and craned his neck past them to watch his son.
"Come on, Jack!" Spencer yelled in his high pitched voice that made Morgan snicker. Several onlookers glanced back and smiled fondly at the boy stood on his father's legs, his hands clasped together as he looked on. Spencer's cheeks flushed red and he carefully sat back down.
Jack turned his head and gave his youngest brother a thumbs up.
He took his stance and waited for the bowler to pitch the ball. It connected with his bat emitting a marvelous crack; Jack released the bat and sprinted for the first base.
"Keep going!" Hotch yelled and Jack gritted his teeth and surged toward the next base and then the third. Cheers rose from the crowd and Spencer was peeking through his fingers once again, his feet kicking against Hotch's knees.
"Get a home run!"
"Come on! Come on!"
"He's gonna do it!"
"COME ON, KIDDO!"
Jack skidded over the last base and raised his arms. The crowd erupted and the home team rushed over to their star player.
"Did we win?" Spencer asked, letting his hands fall from over his eyes.
JJ and Hotch laughed.
"I've gotta teach you some sports," Hotch said, ruffling his hair that had escaped the baseball cap.
"I know spowts... just... not how to p'ay them," Spencer mumbled sheepishly.
"Come on, let's go see Jack," JJ lifted Spencer from Hotch's lap, set him on his feet and took his and Henry's hand.
The crowd started to clear except for the home team. The coach gathered the older boys around and several interested parents to discuss strategies and practices. As they normally did, the younger siblings picked up the discarded bats and attempted to play their own mini baseball game with the help of their parents. Henry was no exception.
"Come on, Spencer," Henry cried, grabbing his younger brother and pulling him onto the pitch.
Rossi had already stepped in as a temporary bowler, and JJ, Emily, and Garcia followed behind to watch. Jack, Hotch, and Morgan were listening to the coach.
Rossi bowled a ball at a 5-year-old girl who could barely hold up the bat. Despite missing it she dropped the bat and staggered to the first base. Rossi rolled his eyes. A smile spread across his lips when saw Henry grabbing the bat. He took a step closer so the young boy could get a potentially good hit.
Spencer stood on the sidelines leaning into JJ.
"Ready, Henry?" Rossi asked, bending down and adjusting his stance.
"Yep," Henry said with determination. He adjusted the helmet he'd put on, for decoration rather than safety and narrowed his eyes at the ball.
Rossi threw it carefully so it could hit the bat no matter what Henry did. As planned the ball hit the bat and bounced off to the right. Henry gave a victory cry and lept over to the bases, taking the bat with him.
"Drop the bat, Henry," JJ called. Henry threw it to the side but kept running. He wanted to be just like Jack.
He got to the final base and the team cheered despite no one having tried to stop his home run, or the fact that Rossi had the ball, so technically Henry should have stopped at first base.
"Spencer, you're up," Rossi called, motioning Spencer to step up. A small queue of young kids was already forming and Spencer shook his head; grabbing onto JJ's pant leg.
JJ sighed and walked forward pulling Spencer along with her.
"Come on, it won't hurt," she whispered.
"I don't know how," he mumbled, dragging his feet on the ground like any miserable child would.
"I'll help you."
JJ left him standing awkwardly as she retrieved the bat from where Henry had thrown it. Spencer bit his lip nervously as the other, older kids looked at him doubtfully. JJ returned and handed him the bat. It nose dived straight into the dirt and Spencer huffed as he tried to lift it alone.
"Here. I'll hold it with you, but you have to swing," JJ instructed. She placed her hands on his and over the bat and lifted it easily off the floor.
"You two better be ready," Rossi warned, lining up the ball.
"You bet we are," JJ said and Spencer squeaked anxiously in response.
Spencer squeezed his eyes shut when the ball left Rossi's hand and he swung the bat with JJ's help. He heard a dull thunk and he squinted out of his right eye. He caught sight of the ball as it rolled away; bewilderment registering across his face.
"You gotta run now," JJ said, giving him a little nudge.
"Oh, yea."
Spencer dropped the bat and stumbled towards the first base where Henry was egging him on.
"Come on, Spence!" He called and Spencer forced his legs to move faster. He could hear his team cheering him on behind and a smile spread across his lips. He reached Henry and fell into the older boys arms; panting and giggling wildly.
"That was fun!" Spencer gasped in shock and he gaped up at Henry.
Another boy was stepping up to have another go and Spencer pouted.
"You want another go?" Henry asked, taking the smaller boy's hand and guided him to the back of the queue. Spencer nodded eagerly and bounced impatiently on his toes.
Henry took another go but was forced to wait at second base this time by a parent who wanted the game to be a bit more serious than it was.
Spencer toddled up to the bat which Henry had dropped.
He could barely pick up the bat alone and he looked over to JJ for help, but it was Morgan who came to his rescue.
"Pretty Boy need some help?" He sniggered and Spencer nodded shyly.
"Yes peas, uncle Dewek," he said with a toothy grin. Morgan's cheeks burnt red when a few mothers cooed at the two. Morgan lifted the bat and made Spencer hold it too.
"Don't think, feel."
Spencer looked up at Morgan his brow pinching together with confusion.
"How can I feel this?" He whispered back. Morgan rolled his eyes and tightened his hold on the bat.
"Just feel it, Pretty Boy," Morgan breathed into his ear and Spencer gritted his teeth and kicked his feet into the ground; ignoring the mixtures of 'aw's from the moms.
"Ready, Kiddo?" Rossi asked, he bent down low and waited for Spencer to nod.
"Uh-Huh," Spencer said; his tongue flicked over his lips as he concentrated.
Spencer saw the ball soaring towards him and he swung. Morgan helped guide the bat towards the ball and the two cracked together, and if Morgan hadn't been holding the bat, Spencer would've been thrown back by the force.
They watched the ball bounce on the ground several meters away and Spencer didn't need to be told to move this time.
Hotch shook hands with the coach and turned upon hearing a small cheer. He caught sight of Spencer hurrying to first base and he chuckled to himself.
"Go for a home run!" Garcia yelled and Spencer hesitated at first base before running on.
Hotch saw the ball just a few feet from him and he quickly grabbed it and waved to Rossi.
"Get them out!" Hotch said motioning to Henry and Spencer before throwing the ball to the Italian. Spencer gaped at Hotch as he ran
Henry stopped at last base and stuck his tongue out at Rossi.
"Morgan! Catch!" Rossi shouted. He threw the ball at Morgan and Spencer yelped at how close Derek was to him. He locked his eyes on the last base and sprinted for it.
Spencer skidded past the base but quickly lunged back tapping his hand awkwardly on it just before Morgan could get him out.
He stuck his tongue out at the older agent who groaned eccentrically.
"We win!" Henry said, following Spencer's actions and sticking his tongue out at the adults, adding a raspberry for good measure.
"I demand a rematch," Hotch sulked, folding his arms and putting on an animate frown.
"I'll be on your team, Dad!" Jack piped up. He wrestled the ball from Morgan and aimed it at Hotch who caught it just in time.
"Maybe not today, bud."
"Aw, But-" Jack started to whine.
"Next time you come to my house we'll have a game. How does that sound?" Rossi offered. Jack paused for a moment and with a sigh, he nodded. "Good lad."
Jack said bye to his friends and his coach and helped his dad pack up their things. Rossi managed to convince a dad to bowl for the eager kids; Henry and Spencer included in those numbers.
Rossi sat down beside JJ who was watching with an affectionate smile playing on her lips.
"It's good to see him finally enjoying himself," Rossi muttered, watching as Henry dropped his bat, grabbed Spencer's hand and sprinted to the first base, dragging Spencer behind him. JJ chuckled and turned to face Rossi.
"It sure is," she paused and bit her lip before continuing. "He hasn't spoken to me about his mother since they came back." Her blue eyes took on a sad undertone. Rossi shifted and looked back at Spencer. No one would be able to tell how much he had suffered from looking at the happy expression he wore unless they knew already.
"Maybe it's better that way," he sighed.
"Bottling it up? I don't think so; I know what that can do to someone-"
"JJ. Stop panicking," Rossi laid a hand on JJ's shoulder and she took a deep breath. "Look, I doubt Aaron would have let him bottle it up. They've probably discussed it."
"I'm just... I'm worried about him," JJ huffed.
"We all are."
Hotch finished packing their bag and slung it over his shoulder before calling to his team. He looked out at the pitch where a small game was coming to a close.
"Henry! Spencer!"
Two small boys on the pitch stopped and looked up at the voice.
"Time to go home!"
Henry stamped his foot on the ground and grumbled. He started storming up the pitch with Spencer hurrying behind.
"When can we p'ay lite Jack?" Spencer asked breathlessly when he caught up. Henry shrugged.
"You're way too young," he mumbled. "I'm gonna ask my daddy if I can play next year."
"Oh," Spencer whimpered.
"You can still watch us though."
Spencer nodded sadly; he'd rather play with them. This thought surprised him considering his lack of interest in sport up to that point.
They got to the car and Spencer waited for Jack to shimmy into his seat.
"Coffee at mine?" Morgan asked. The team nodded in agreement.
"Tan we get ice cweam on the way?" Spencer queried shyly. He clasped his hands behind his back and worked magic with his puppy dog eyes.
"Yea!" Henry gasped.
"Boys, it's October. It's not really ice cream season," Hotch pointed out.
"Peas!" Spencer begged; his golden brown eyes glistening up at Hotch.
"Aw, come on, boss man," Garcia added.
"Can I have some ice cream too?" Jack asked.
Hotch sighed and pinched the bridge of his nose.
Don't be a pushover. Don't be a pushover, he thought to himself.
"Please, please, please," Henry joined in with the chorus of pleads.
Don't-
"Fine. But just one this time. And I mean one, Spencer."
The younger boy saluted Aaron and grinned mischievously.
So much for not being a pushover, Hotch thought.
I hope that chapter was more uplifting than the last few. I was so tired today, and I really hoped to upload it, but I'm gonna have to do it tomorrow, so hopefully, if you're reading this it's Sunday ;)
Thanks for reading, reviewing, favouriting and following!
Please keep reviewing.
See you in the next chapter... chapter 30! Wow!
