Who is the Victim Here
I would love to hear your opinions and look to working further on the story.
I do not own or have connection with the "Criminal Minds" program or its characters.
Chapter Thirty-Six.
"Stop Squirming." She smacks his bottom. He squirms again.
"I can't help it, I am nervous. What if the judge says no and doesn't lift any of the restrictions? What if he says that I can't work? What if…"
"What if you calm down and allow me to finish doing your tie or will put a clip-on on you."
"No. I want the judge to see as an adult, not a baby who can't wear a tie."
"Then stand still."
"Where is Sean?"
"He is dressing himself."
"Where is Spencer?"
"He is already dressed and eating breakfast and hopefully not spilling it all over himself. He is excited for you. We need to finish here so you can get some solid food, otherwise you just get a bottle in the van, which means you will be very hungry later and that could affect the way you act in the courtroom. So let's finish dressing, so you can eat." She finishes his tie and picks up his jacket, so that they leave the nursery. Entering the dining room, Spencer is seated at the table with a bib on eating breakfast. Sean is eating breakfast as well. She goes over and kisses Spencer on the head and looks at Sean to say, "Thank you for putting the bib on him."
Spencer speaks up and says, "I am not a baby and don't' need a bib."
"Indulge your momma, "and kisses him again, She sits down opposite Aaron who sat next to Sean. Sean puts the bib on Aaron and then places baby food stage three in front of Aaron, He is given a spoon with which to feed himself and he slowly and carefully lift a spoonful of the soft and grainy food to his mouth. The hand wavers a little and Sean places his fingers along to give strength to his brother. The food enters his mouth and he works to chew and swallow. Aaron does this for about six spoonfuls before giving the spoon to Sean who finishes spoon feeding the bowl of food to his brother. Spencer finishes ad goes to brush his teeth and when Aaron finishes, Sean helps him brush his teeth and the group heads to the van.
On the way to the courthouse, Angie asks Spencer, "Have you written a letter to your parents in Vegas?"
He answers. "I write to mom everyday but I don't write to my father."
"I want you to write to him."
"But I have nothing to say to him," whines the man.
"You can tell him what you tell your mother."
"He won't care."
"Why do you think that?"
"He didn't stop you from adopting me."
"Sweetie, we didn't need his permission for that. We asked out of courtesy, not need and when he learned why we were doing it, he was very supportive."
"He could have said that he wanted to take care of me."
"That's true, but he didn't know how and wasn't prepared to do so. Besides, you don't want to live in Las Vegas, do you?"
"No."
"He didn't want to live here. So things worked out well but don't cut him off, okay sweetheart. He does care about you."
Spencer sighs, "I'll write to him tonight." To tease his adoptive mommy, he decides to ask for something crazy and says, "Mommy, can I have a pony?" Aaron and Sean look at him funny, but Angie without missing a beat responds.
She says, "No, I will not buy you a pony, but we can always buy a rocking horse for the playroom." Spencer just looks at her with his mouth open.
He says weakly, "Okay."
Aaron speaks up and says, "Spencer, I don't think you need a rocking horse."
"But I want one."
"No, you don't need a rocking horse."
Spencer begins to pout as Sean drives into the courthouse parking lot. The two adults in the front seat get out and release the two in the second row from their car seats. Sean gets out the stroller for Aaron, who protests.
"No, we're trying to show that I am capable, not that I am not."
"Get in Aaron." The men stare at each other. "You get in or we go home and have the attorney cancel today's hearing. I am not arguing with you about this. There is a reason why we will be using it, you have to trust me."
"Please Sean; I am trying to show that I am not a baby."
"I know but the judge needs to see where you come from and I don't want you to get tired." Aaron hesitantly and unhappily gets into the stroller. Sean places a cover over the canopy of the stroller, completely covering the stroller and man inside. The group heads into the courthouse. When they get to the third floor, they pass by another courtroom which had Johnson going in to a courtroom for a hearing about an appeal on the decision of no-bail and to discuss parole violations for extradition to Minnesota to complete his previous conviction of 14 life sentences for raping 14 people. Angie heads into that courtroom to hear the proceedings and give testimony if necessary. The men continue to the family courtroom where Aaron' hearing of capability is to be held. Sean takes him out of his stroller and puts it in the back of the courtroom while the men find their attorney and sit and wait for their case to be called.
Aaron asks Sean, "Where is Angie?"
"She has business in another courtroom today."
"Where and what are you protecting me from. I know that you there was something that you didn't want me to see, that's why you covered the stroller. What didn't you want me to see? What else is happening here in the courthouse that worries you?" A thought comes to his head and he looks at Sean with concern. "He is here, isn't he?"
Sean looks at his astute brother and says, "Let it go Aaron. You don't want to know if he is or not. I am not allowing him near you. Stop thinking about it and focus on what you need to do here. You are trying to get some of the restrictions in your life reduced or removed by showing that you can handle the responsibilities that come with them. That is what you need to concentrate on, not on that man and whatever he is doing." The men clasp hands in strength and Aaron nods his head and works at remembering what he needs to do. But he can't help remembering that night two months ago and what has happened since then.
Flashback
Johnson Sr. lunges at Aaron who squeezes the trigger and the man goes down, a hole opening in his chest and spurting blood all over Aaron. Johnson Jr. screams and aims at Aaron to shoot him and is physically hit by the sheriff's deputy. The people in the hall come rushing into the room and see a nude man with a smoking gun looking at the older man at his feet and another man with a gun being wrestled to the ground. Sean goes over to Aaron and grabs the comforter off the bed to wrap his brother in while the sheriff goes over and takes the gun from his hands. Sean discovers Aaron shivering and it isn't from being cold. An ambulance is called as well as the coroner and the brothers leave the room where Angie is waiting downstairs and Aaron takes her in his arms and buries his face into shoulder crying. Sean is still right there behind him and supporting him. The trio just stands there and comforts each other. The sheriff brings young Johnson by who screams at them, saying that he was going to get the puppy no matter and that nothing would stop him from destroying him. The sheriff tells him to shut up. When the EMT's arrive they go to check out the naked man in the arms of his lover and his brother. They take him to the hospital to check him for shock and do a sexual assault test on him, which showed positive.
There is no need to keep him in the hospital, they took photos and swabs and then Dr. Hendrickson came to talk to Sean about Aaron's physical and mental state. Physically, he was healing well and would recover but mentally he is struggling to see beyond the assault of once again having his backside violated. It may only have been by fingers this time, but it was still a cruel violation. Sean reassures the doctor that Aaron would get the help he needs for the mental hurt that comes with it and goes to see him with clothes that he brought. Aaron looks up and says lets go back home today. Sean nods his head. Angie stays behind to continue creating the garden and to clean up the room that Aaron had been found in. She had it completely torn down to his bare bones to be redesigned and furnished.
Sean and she talk about what to do with the two needy men in their lives and Sean looks in the D. C. area for a new place to call home. He wants to create a large five or six bedroom apartment but does not want a house with stairs; he wants it all on one floor and actually buys two adjoining condos and will be remodeling them into one apartment for the Hotchners. There will be bedroom for him, Angie, Jack and a nursery for the cribs of Aaron and Spencer as well as some spare bedrooms for guests. A large office library for Angie's books, a playroom, a kitchen, living room, two bathrooms, laundry area, dining room and a sunroom. It would take many months of reconstruction to prepare for the family.
Angie talks with Spencer about what he wants to do with his life, because the drug has completely inundated every cell in his body, the likelihood of their being able to get rid of it is small. It would affect him for the rest of his life and there would be times when he would be in adult mode, which is the most common and in toddler mode when he could do things and act in a way that would hurt him. It is believed that having someone to look after him when he becomes that toddler is necessary but who and in what capacity. They actually talk with his father in Las Vegas, who is shocked but doesn't think he could handle having to deal with an adult child and work at the same time. He thinks that Spencer needs a full-time caretaker not a part-time which is all he could do. Angie suggests adult adoption, where an adult of at least ten years older than Spencer could adopt and then take on the parental role of caring for him. The biological parents would no longer have any rights but Spencer could still care about them if he wanted to. Those parents also do not have to be contacted. Spencer can make this decision for himself. The discussion ends with Angie and Spencer leaving Las Vegas as mother and son. They return to D. C. and tell the group, who do something weird by throwing her a baby shower. Angie and Spencer continue to live with the Hotchners.
End Flashback
Back in the courtroom, our boys are still waiting for Aaron's case to be called and the boys are getting more and more hungry and impatient. Spencer wonders where mommy is and begins to go into toddler mode when he whines to Sean that he is hungry and uncomfortable (needs to be changed). Sean talks to the attorney that he needs to take the men to the bathroom and they would be back. The attorney told them to be quick. Sean takes both Aaron and Spencer to a closed off room that was empty and set up a changing table where he cleaned up Spencer first and then gave him a small snack while he cleaned up Aaron who he gave a bottle to for a few minutes. After fifteen minutes they are back in the courtroom waiting to be called.
In the other courtroom, Johnson Jr. has had his parole revoked and would be returning to the Minnesota State Prison to finish out his original sentence without parole. The current charges would not be added on unless he gets out again. Aaron would not have to testify or relive what this man has done to him. Angie is pleased with the results of the case and leaves the room to head to the family court rooms to check on her boys. When she arrives she sees them still sitting there waiting. She goes to sit by Spencer who is on the right side of Aaron. Sean is on the left side of him. Spencer looks at her and smiles and hugs her. He tells her that Sean just changed him and gave a little bit to eat but he was still hungry and bored. She could him teetering on the edge between adult and toddler mode and tells him that he will have to wait a little longer before he can have lunch. He pouts and goes back to playing the video game he had in his hand.
If you looked around the room, you would see the people in Aaron's life for the past seven months. Dr. Pitt, his psychiatrist, his occupational therapist, physical therapist, nurses, fellow agents, his boss, Angie, Sean and the people who have been testifying as what this man has been doing and how life has been affecting him. Aaron has been listening to them only half-heartedly, he has been focusing on what he is doing and would be saying without realizing that his case has been going on all morning with testimony by all of these people. It is their reports and eye witness statements that will influence the judge more than what Aaron says. Although, the judge has been watching the man all morning while listening to the people talk about him, he is most interested right now that it is getting close to lunch time. Will he get hungry and demand to eat or wait until he calls lunch and even though he is beginning to become hungry himself, he is delaying the call to lunch break. He did notice when Sean took him with the other young man out and wondered why. Aaron is becoming more fidgety and Sean has to keep his hand on his knee to keep him calm. His stomach is rumbling and he wants to eat. He quietly says to Sean, "hungry Sean."
Sean answers, "I know but we have to wait until the judge calls lunch, you just have to be patient and not show that you are hungry. Come on be a good man and we'll eat soon."
Spencer says loudly, "Mommy, I'm hungry." The entire courtroom laughs.
Angie smiles and says, "Hush, you will have to wait until the judge says you can lunch."
"Well, then make him call lunch." She puts her finger to his lips.
"Hush Spencer."
The judge who also is finding the interaction funny decides to finally call lunch and says, "Well, since the young man is so hungry maybe we will call lunch and meet back here at 2:30 pm." The courtroom clears out until finally only our people are there.
Spencer says, "Mommy, I'm okay. I am hungry but I did that to force the judge to declare lunch because Aaron needs to eat."
"I know and that makes you a good friend. We will head down to the food court in a minute."
Sean gets the stroller and Aaron gets into it readily. Sean completely covers the stroller and then gives Aaron a bottle of protein drink under the cover. They go down to the food court and get something to eat. They see the rest of the team but cannot eat or talk with them in order to not influence what they say to the judge about Aaron.
A hand reaches out from under the cover of the stroller and tries to find someone to contact with and accidently hits the knee of a woman walking by who squeals a little. Sean apologizes to her for what Aaron did in his innocence of trying to get his brother's attention. Sean looks under the cover and Aaron shows him an empty bottle and says, "Hungry Sean." Sean gets another bottle of pineapple orange juice for him to drink, which he takes and begins to greedily suck. Sean then places the stroller tray across Aaron and places some soft and easy food pieces to chew. Aaron puts the bottle in its holder and begins to pick up the pieces, reminded by Sean to chew thoroughly. A few minutes later, Sean checks and all the pieces are gone and Aaron is once again sucking his bottle.
After eating Aaron sleeps for a little while before they head back to the courtroom with a stopover in the small little room where they once again change the boys' diapers. Aaron is brought back into the courtroom still napping in the stroller at 2:20 pm. Angie suggests that Sean keep him in the hall until he wakes up and can come in on his own two feet. Sean takes the stroller back out and rocks it while Aaron is still napping when the court comes back into session. The judge notices that but does not ask where he is. The testimony about the man continues until about 4:00 pm when the judge finally decides that he has heard enough and wants to hear from the man himself who had come in at about 3:30 and was once again in the courtroom.
Aaron is called to the testimony stand to ask questions and talk to the judge about why the restrictions in the original court order should be lifted and how he has changed in the past seven months since the kidnapping and the original need for the restrictions.
The judge finally has all the information he wants to make his decision and lets the man go back sit down with his brother. He says, "Aaron Hotchner, please rise. Mr. Hotchner, when this court first granted custodial guardianship of you to your brother, you were not walking, talking, eating or able to do anything for yourself. Whether by choice or not is irrelevant, the fact is you did not do anything to constitute your abilities to function as a normal adult. It is for this reason that the guardianship was made. I have seen remarkable progress in the seven months since that time however; I have not seen enough to vacate the guardianship. Your brother will continue to control your finances, your body and all that constitutes your needs. The request is to reduce some of the restrictions that have been placed on you because of the order and not just in the personal sectors. You have been able to return to work with restrictions that your boss wants to have removed because he believes that you can handle the more dangerous aspects of your job. I am not fully convinced of that but I am going to lessen some of those restrictions. You may begin to once again carry a weapon for work and work only but only if you can pass the firearms test at the highest level. You may begin to drive a vehicle again if another licensed driver is with you and only during daylight hours. You may work up to 10 hours per day, but no more than that even when you are in the field, which I will also allow at this time. That is all of relaxation of restrictions that I will make at this time. I expect to see you again in six months in this courtroom at which time I hope there will be even more improvement in your actions, attitudes and abilities. Case closed."
Aaron continues to stand there after listening to what the judge said. He was happy and unhappy at the same time but Sean came up to his side and gave him a hug with Spencer hugging him on the other side. The rest of the team and the director of the agency came up and congratulated on the reduction of restrictions and the director says that he hopes to have his full functioning agent back to work soon. The group begins to head out as Aaron gets into his stroller and Sean gives him another bottle. The group decides to go out and celebrate and head to the nearest family restaurant that had live music. Sean wasn't so sure that he and Aaron should go since Aaron had a long day and was kind of in a funk and really should just go home and have some dinner and an early bed time.
Aaron says, "Sean I really want to celebrate please. Let's go out for a while." Sean looks at him.
"The moment you begin to whine, we go home."
"I'll try not to whine."
The group was happy to see the men come and for several hours everybody had fun eating, dancing and talking. Aaron did not whine but after a while Spencer did start to and actually climbed into the booth and leaned up next to Sean to use him as a pillow while he fell asleep. He couldn't do it against momma; she was dancing with Aaron to some romantic slow song. While Brian and Emily were dancing too secretly celebrating their own little surprise, when the doctor said the rabbit died. They were planning a Christmas wedding. Hayley was there as well with Paul, one of her security detail that she has fallen in love with and will be marrying in about three weeks. Jack is already asleep in another booth. Morgan has found a woman in the restaurant to dance with and is enjoying her company for the night. Penelope and Kevin were lost in each other's arms as were JJ and Will. Henry was sleeping with Jack in the booth. Rossi just sat at the main table next to the booth that the boys were sleeping in and saw Sean at the end with Spencer sleeping on him.
He says, don't you want to be out there dancing like any other young man?"
"No, I am fine right now just watching my brother enjoy himself. He didn't get everything he wanted but he got enough for now and we just have to keep improving so that he can regain full control over his life."
"I don't think he wants that anymore."
"What do you mean?"
"I have known Aaron a long time and believe me control is a great of what he is and yet right now he has so little but I have never seen him happier than he is right now. Don't lessen what you are to him or to the one sleeping on you."
"Well, this one, well I am only temporary daddy to him. The real one is out there dancing. I have to get him back to being daddy. He has two boys to take care of."
"It looks like I am just an uncle."
Sean raises his glass to David's and says, "Here's to Uncles." David nods and glasses clink.