A/N: I do not own Criminal Minds or any of its Characters. No Beta, all mistakes are my own. Thank you for reading.
Special Thanks To: DaWizard, Tannerose5, Hippiechic81, L.E.A.H437, sherryola, Jesuslover123, ahowell193, and LostOceanKit.
A/N: No slash or pairings. Kid-Fic, De-aged Fic, Team/Family Fic.
Warning: Rated T for violence, language, child abuse.
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Emily's grasp didn't loosen, "Spencer," She started gently. "You know you can't go home. Not yet."
"Let go of me, Prentiss," Spencer hissed in an uncharacteristic manner. She kept the hurt it caused off of her face.
"Come on Spencer, you know we can't let you leave alone." She reasoned, "You can come home with me tonight, but right now we both need to be at work."
"I can't be here right now, I need to take a personal day." Spencer argued weakly, his body was giving out on him from the stress and the pain. He unconsciously rubbed at his bad shoulder.
"I understand that," She had been told of the situation last night, Morgan had sent a group message. As she watched Spencer carefully she started noticing the way he winced and held himself. "Are you okay?" She asked after a minute of watching him grimace and suppress cries.
"I'm fine," he snapped. She held up her hands in defense.
"Okay. Hey," She hesitated, deciding what the best course of action was. "Why don't we go out for lunch? Maybe you'll feel better after." She suggested.
Spencer deflated, he knew he couldn't go home alone. Not right now. Not like this. Really, he wasn't mad at Emily, so it wasn't fair for him to take out his anger on her. He looked up at her and nodded softly. She smiled and directed him out the door. They ended up going to this little café and each ordered a grilled sandwich. Spencer's was turkey with swiss and tomato, hers was ham and cheddar. She also got a coffee, which Spencer frowned at. So, she ordered him a hot chocolate and after the waiter left she poured a tiny bit into his hot chocolate with a wink and a "don't tell the team." For the first time that day, Spencer smiled.
She continued her small talk, actively ignoring the clear signs of pain that flashed across the child's face. It wasn't that she wasn't worried about him or concerned for his well-being. She just knew that addressing it would make Spencer believe that she thinks he's weak. Which she doesn't. The kid was stubborn as hell and she needed to tread lightly. They were in the elevator on the way back up to the BAU when she finally addressed the issue.
"When was the last time you took your medicine?" She asked casually.
"This morning," he lied. She frowned but dropped it. She had a plan. She just hoped that Spencer didn't hate her for it later. She watched as he sat quietly at his desk, and she exchanged a quick glance with Morgan who shrugged. Time to set her plan in motion. Hopefully it worked.
Emily wasn't big on small talk, but it was needed in some cases. "So, Morgan, Reid what did you two get up to last night?"
Spencer shrugged and Morgan replied, "Not much, we were both tired." She nodded and sent Derek a dry look that clearly said, 'dude, help me out here'. "What about this morning, what did you have for breakfast?"
Again, Spencer remained silent, allowing Morgan to answer for both of them. "I made eggs, but Spencer wasn't hungry." There it was, the opening she needed.
"But Spencer's medication is supposed to be taken with a full meal. Otherwise he could get sick." She gave Derek a look as he paled, he forgot the medication. How could he be so stupid. Emily turned to look at Spencer who was sheepishly looking down. He knew he had been caught in a lie.
"Shit," Morgan grumbled under his breath before standing and heading to Aarons office. Spencer could hear mumbled 'stupid geniuses and their inability to ask for help, he was in pain all day because of you.'
Reid watched Morgan leave with a frown before turning a glare on Emily, who had a satisfied smirk on her face.
Derek walked into Hotch's office without knocking. Causing the older man to jerk up in response. "Morgan?" He asked with a raised brow.
Derek rubbed the back of his neck awkwardly. "I…" he started before stopping. He didn't want to admit how reckless he had been. Last night all he wanted was to take Spencer home and defuse the situation. Now he was racked with guilt for forgetting something that really should have been his priority. Spencer could not handle any more damage to his day. He needed the medication.
Hotch answered for him, "You forgot Spencer's medicine?" He asked, although it didn't seem much like a question. "Send him in." He said with a sigh.
"I'm not sure that's a good idea." Morgan admitted. "He's still pretty angry."
"I know; just send him in." Hotch replied calmly.
Moments later Spencer walked in the room. Time for round two.
"Sir," Spencer addressed his boss stiffly.
"Spencer," Hotch nodded. he looked the boy over, noticing the way he held himself. He was clearly in pain. Still, "are you in pain?"
"I'm fine." Spencer replied robotically.
"You're lying. You need your medicine. I have it right here." Aaron spoke softly, reaching into his desk to pull out the pain medication. He placed them on his desk and slid hem towards spencer.
"I dont need anything from you." He said coolly before turning on his heel to leave the office.
"Dr. Reid, I order you to sit down.' Hotch replied after he recovered from the verbal blow the kid hit him with. Spencer stared his boss down before finally obeying. He wanted to have a job once became an adult again. Once the child was seated and heatedly glaring at the older agent. Hotch continued, "I know your upset at me, but allowing yourself to be in pain, isn't going to help. Your just making the situation harder on yourself." Aaron explained to the stubborn child.
Spencer tilted his head to the side. "Do you actually care?' He asked after a moment. The question threw Hotch off. What kind of question was that?
"Of course I do."
Spencer nodded, "why?"
Hotch stared at him for a long moment. "I care about you Spencer, we all do."
"You care about me?" Spencer asked for confirmation. "That's funny; see when I care about someone I trust them. I let them in and give them all I have to give. All I ask is that they trust me. That they are honest with me in return."
"Spencer-"
"See, if I were faced with a situation that involved telling someone I care about something hard. I wouldn't put it off. Because honestly, what could be worse then them finding out from a third party?"
"Reid, there was-"
"A case?" Spencer asked with a raised brow. "You said that, and as we all know, work comes first. People's lives are at stake. But seriously, it would have taken five minutes hotch."
"I was going to tell you when we got back."
"I see, you were happy having me wait, yet you told Rossi immediately."
"I needed more time to explain to you. Dave was in the room when I got the call."
"Yes, because I really should be the last to find out."
"Reid!" Hotch spoke loudly, "I made a decision, it was a mistake, but i cannot take it back now. All I can say is I'm sorry."
"You're sorry?! That's rich, what exactly are you sorry for?"
"I'm sorry for-"
"For not telling me? For putting work first? For betraying my trust?"
"Spencer,"
"No! This is my life we are talking about. My father." Spencer huffed out a sob. "And you put your own agenda above that."
Tears threatened to spill out of Aarons eyes. "Reid I-"
"I don't want to hear it. You have no right to decide what I get to know about my own life."
"Damnit Spencer, thats not what I-"
"I don't care, I don't need your input in my life. You are my boss, nothing more."
"Spencer-" Hotch whispered brokenly.
"No, I dont need you, and I don't need that medicine. I'm fine."
"You're in pain."
"I've had worse." Spencer snapped. The words making Aaron flinch just as much as the tone.
"Please Spencer, let me-"
Reid stood and marched to the door. "You are my boss, you are not my fried, youre certainly are not family. You have no right to involve yourself in my personal life. If you call me in here for personal matters again. I will report you." Hotch's mouth dropped open and his stomach dropped. Spencer was in tears at this point. Angry, fast tears that made the boy shake down to his core.
"Spencer..." Hotch tried one last time.
"If thats all, Sir." The child snapped before opening the door an slamming it closed behind him. Aaron's head dropped into his hands as he rested his elbows on his desk. He stayed like that for several minutes before wiping his eyes and looking up. His chocolate eyes landed on the medicine bottle on his desk. Sighing he picked it up and stood .
Spencer marched past his team, who were averting their eyes and pretending they weren't actively listening to the scene in hotchs office. Spencer found himself walking aimlessly. When he walked past his team, he got a questioning look from morgan, "I'm going to garcia." He announced before leaving the team. On his way to her office he ran into David. Literally. He stumbled back and landed on his bottom.
"Oh y god, Dr. Reid, are you okay?" The man asked frantically as he helped the small agent to his feet.
"Its okay, I'm done." Spencer mumbled through the wave of pain he was in. He grimaces, casing the older agent to look at him with concern.
"is there anything i can do for you?" He asked after a minute.
Spencer was about to say no when a thought hit him. "Actually, Agent Hotchner told me I could go back to my apartment, to pick up a few things, but I can't get someone to drive me. Morgan's doing paperwork, Rossi's in a meeting, JJ's at a conference... I was about to ask Garcia butI know she's currently working on something for Collins' team. Do you think you could give me a ride?" Spencer asked confidently. He kept his voice sure, which convinced the man of his lie.
The older man thought for a moment before nodding. "Yes of course, Sir. Let me just inform Agent Hotchner and we can be on our way."
"Oh dont worry about that. Hotch is in with Strauss right now. I'll just let Garcia know and we can head out."
He hesitated, "if you say so, 'll just wait here." He was within view of Garcia's office, so Spencer nodded and headed to her cave. Once inside the bubbly tech analyst smiled at him.
"What can I do for you, my brilliant bumble bee." Spencer blushed slightly at the nickname.
"I ah... I just had a run in with Hotch and wanted a hug." Spencer announced shyly.
"Ooh honey, come here," she said with arms open. He welcomed the comforting embrace.
"Thank you," he whispered. She gave him a kind smile and a soft kiss on the forehead before sending him on his way. As he opened the door he spoke loud enough for Davied to hear. "Bye Garcia, see you later."
"Sure think sweety," she called after him. Davied nodded to Spencer as he approached and walked him to the stairs. Minutes later, found the two in his car, headed off to Reids apartment.
A/N: Spencer sure is good at manipulating people. But seriously, what was Davied thinking. Let me know what you think. Please R&R!