Three weeks later, Spencer was still in a daze. Even when Morgan had left on a case with the rest of the team, he was in an amazingly pleasant mood. Garcia took notice when he was helping her with the case that he seemed especially cheery.

One morning, Morgan let Spencer sleep in while he showered and took care of Parker. When he was done, he knocked on the bedroom door.

"Time to get up, Pretty Boy."

Spencer whimpered, groaning and pushing the blankets off of him.

"We're leaving in twenty."

He cleared his throat, sighing. "Coffee?"

"Brewing as we speak."

He got out of bed, browsing through his closet and throwing together an outfit. Afterward, he leaned his head against his closet door, exhaling.

"Everything okay in there, Spencer?"

He pulled away, clearing his throat again. "I'm fine," he said, pulling on his jacket and scarf, as well as shouldering his bag. He walked out of the room and saw Morgan packing her diaper bag.

"Don't-" he started.

Morgan held up the jars of baby food. "All set."

"And-"

He held up a bottle of juice and sippy cup. "Done."

Spencer smiled, zipping up the bag and picking it up, walking out to the car and getting in.

Morgan looked down at Parker.

"Daddy forgot his coffee. A definite sign that he is way too tired," he said, picking up her carrier, grabbing Spencer's travel mug, and walking outside, getting in the car.

When they arrived at the BAU, Spencer went right to his desk, sitting down, putting his coffee on the desk, and rubbing his eyes.

"Long night?" Emily asked.

He shook his head. "Not long enough night."

"Oh?"

He gave her a look. "No," he said simply, before sipping his coffee, wincing.

"You okay?"

He nodded, sitting up. "Fine."

"I'm just saying, the last time you were acting like this, you were pregnant and trying to hide it from us."

He coughed, choking on his coffee and setting his cup down.

"Which I'm guessing isn't the case this time, judging by your reaction?"

He grabbed a napkin, wiping off his shirt and shaking his head, clearing his throat. "Definitely not the case this time. Trust me, I won't be hiding the next one."

"Next one, you say?"

Once again, he gave her a very direct "No" before picking up a folder and looking through.

Throughout the day, Spencer was feeling progressively worse, but being the person he is, he refused to let it get to him and get him sent home. Unfortunately, it was getting harder for him to hide. At lunchtime, Morgan had invited him to go out, but he quickly came up with an excuse to stay at the office. When he was sure the coast was clear, he rested his head on the desk, willing his headache and sore throat to go away.

"Reid?"

His head snapped up and he saw Emily standing beside his desk. "Hey, I thought you went to lunch."

"Had to finish up some paperwork first. I can't leave something half-done or it drives me crazy."

"I can relate," he said, rubbing his eyes.

She sat on the edge of the desk, looking at him.

"You're shivering."

He shrugged, pulling down the sleeves of his sweater. "I'm always cold."

She reached over, resting the back of her hand on his forehead.

"What are you doing?"

"Shh," she said, moving her hand. "You're burning up."

"I'm fine. Just didn't sleep well last night."

"And you sound terrible."

"You know how to make someone feel great," he said, coughing softly.

"Why didn't you tell us you were sick?"

"I'm not sick. I don't get sick."

"So the sore throat? The cough? The fever?"

He shrugged. "Unfortunate string of events?"

"Uh huh, nice try. Get your coat."

"What?"

"I'm taking you to pick up some soup and some cold medicine, and then you're going home and sleeping." She pulled on her coat, zipping it up and grabbing his bag. "And if you don't comply? I'll get Garcia in here to do this."

He sighed, getting up and pulling on his coat and scarf. "What about Hotch?"

"I'll let him know for you."

"What about Morgan?"

"You could call and tell him, but considering you're slowly losing your voice and starting to sound like a cartoon character, I'd leave that one up to me too."

"What about Parker?"

"Morgan can pick her up on his way home, and keep her away from you so if she's not already, she doesn't get sick. Now come on."

He took his bag from her, walking toward the elevator. As soon as he got into her car, he fell asleep in the passenger seat, forehead pressed against the cool glass off the window.

After she picked up his lunch and he dozed off again, she took out her phone, calling Morgan.

"What's up, do we have a case?"

"No, I just called to tell you I'm taking Reid home." She looked over and saw him shivering, so she turned up the heat on his side.

"Why, is something wrong?"

"He's sick as a dog and won't admit it."

He whimpered, mumbling. "I am not."

"See what I mean?"

"Is he okay?"

"He will be. And before he glares at me so much he gives himself a headache, he wants me to tell you that you need to pick up Parker at daycare and keep her away from him."

"I hate to ask, but can you be sure he makes it inside okay?"

"No problem. I'll call you after I leave to confirm."

"Thanks, Em. See you soon."

She hung up, parked, and reached over, rubbing his back.

"Time to get up, Reid."

He sighed, straightening in his seat and grabbing his bag. She reached in the backseat, picking up his lunch, then walked him inside.

She set the bag on the counter and turned to him.

"What are you going to do?"

He cleared his throat, wincing. "I'm going to eat the soup, take the cold medicine you left, and go to bed."

She rubbed his back. "Good boy."

"Thank you."

"Anytime," she said, taking the keys out of her pocket and walking out.

When she made it back to work, she walked to Hotch's office. After telling Hotch that she'd taken Reid home, she went back to his desk, straightening up his mess, and sat down at her own.

A while later, Morgan got a phone call. He rolled his eyes, expecting it to be Spencer saying that he was fine and could come back to work.

"Hello?" he answered, agitated.

"Derek?"

He sat up in his seat. "Catherine… sorry, I thought you were Spencer. Is something wrong?"

"I tried calling Spencer, but he's not answering his cell or work number. Poor Parker's got a cold and I can't keep her here and have her get the rest of the kids sick."

He looked up at the clock and counted out how much longer was in the day so he could take it out of his vacation time. "I'm leaving work now, I should be there soon. Listen, we've never really had her sick before, just a cough here and there. Any advice?" He got up, pulling on his jacket and stuffing his wallet into his pocket.

"She's got a cough and a bit of a fever, so I'd say to grab her some cold medicine, give her a warm bath, and avoid dairy, in case it's joined by a stomach bug."

"Thanks, I'll be there in about twenty minutes," he said, ending the call and watching to Hotch's office.

"I know we're already down Spencer, but I have to head out. Parker's sick at daycare and they can't keep her."

"A house with a sick fiancé and a sick baby? Best of luck to you."

"Thanks, Hotch," he said, before rushing to the elevator.

On the way home, he'd called Parker's doctor, just to confirm that he could give her the medicine. When he finally made it home with Parker, he glanced in the bedroom and saw Spencer fast asleep, sprawled across the bed. He tiptoed in, turning off the baby monitors and walked out, closing the door behind him. He picked up Parker out of her carrier, rubbing her back.

"Not feeling well, princess?" he asked, kissing her forehead softly. Feeling that she was warm, he frowned. "I guess not. How about we get you some medicine and a bath? Maybe that'll help Papa's little girl feel better."

He held her against his hip while he opened up the container of medicine with one hand, a feat he felt should be rewarded with a medal of some sort. He buckled her into her bouncy seat and carefully read the instructions. He filled up the dropper and stood in front of her.

"I know this is going to feel icky, princess, but it's going to make you better. Daddy took some too, if that helps."

She whimpered, whining. He sighed, pulling over a chair and sitting in front of her. "How about after your bath, you can lay down with Papa on the couch? Papa doesn't mind getting sick if it means you feel better."

She looked up at him and he smiled, giving her the medicine. "There we go."

After struggling to give her a bath and keep her calm, he peeked into the bedroom and saw Spencer was still sleeping. Relieved, he dried Parker off and put her in a pair of pajamas. He then grabbed the kit Spencer had put together while pregnant, complete with everything he needed while taking care of a sick baby, and set it on the table in the living room. He felt Parker getting tired, so he laid back on the couch, resting her on his chest and pulling a blanket up to cover her. He kissed her forehead, rubbing her back, and smiled to himself when she fell asleep easily.

A while later, Spencer woke up. He still had his headache and his throat was still scratchy, but he was feeling much better than he did earlier. He looked over at the nightstand and saw Morgan's wallet and phone. Raising an eyebrow, he checked the alarm clock: it was only 3 in the afternoon. He got out of bed, closing the blinds in his room, and walked out to the living room. He saw Morgan laying on the couch with Parker asleep on his chest. He walked over, sitting on the floor in front of the couch.

Morgan glanced over. "Hey, Pretty Boy. Sleep well?"

He nodded. "I got a few hours in. Don't think I'll be going to work tomorrow. I thought I was scared of Garcia? She's nothing in comparison to mommy-mode Emily."

Morgan smiled. "I bet."

"You're home early…"

Morgan rubbed Parker's back. "I got a call from the daycare center that she was sick. It tends to happen with teething and it's not your fault. I picked her up an hour and a half ago, gave her medicine and a bath, and she went right down."

"But she's okay?" Spencer asked, reaching over and pushing her hair out of her face.

"A fever and a bit grouchy, but she'll survive."

Spencer leaned over, kissing her forehead. "Did you take her temperature?"

"100.5."

He sighed. "If she's not better in the morning…"

"I'll take her to the doctor."

"Any other symptoms?"

"A cough and some messy diapers. She's been eating which is a good sign." He looked up at the clock. "And she should be up soon for lunch."

"What if-" Spencer started.

"If we need help, I'll call my mom, who would be more than willing to help. Now stop talking. I may love you, but that's not going to stop me from laughing when you sound like a cartoon from losing your voice."

Spencer mimicked him and Morgan couldn't help but smile.

"Why don't you go take a hot shower and relax, then the three of us can spend time together?"

Spencer nodded, pushing Morgan's head away when he leaned in to kiss him.

"What was that for?"

"Two out of three is bad enough," Spencer said, clearing his throat and walking to the bedroom.

That night, Morgan definitely had his work cut out for him. When it wasn't Spencer practically hacking up a lung and refusing to take any medicine, it was Parker crying because of her fever.

"Derek, I'm fine," Spencer groaned, pushing the cold medicine away from him and pulling the blanket over his head.

"Which is why you sound ridiculous and your cough just keeps getting worse?"

Spencer whimpered, curling up. "I'm fine," he repeated.

Morgan shrugged. "I'll just leave it here," he said, setting the bottle on the nightstand.

"Go right ahead."

"When you were feeling better, I was going to tell you about our next date, but since you won't be getting better anytime soon? I guess I'll just have to forget about it."

Spencer stuck his head out from under the blanket. "Next date?"

"It was going to be a good one too. Celebrating our engagement. But since you're going to sit here and cough up a lung…"

Spencer winced, clearing his throat and coughing. "It's physically impossible to cough up a lung."

Morgan shrugged again. "Like I said. You don't want to get better, so I'm not going to waste my time planning it."

Spencer groaned, defeated. "I'm not taking that," he said, clearing his throat and pointing to the bottle, "it tastes horrible. I'll take some Alka Seltzer." He pushed the blankets off, swinging his legs over the side of the bed.

"Not so fast," Morgan said, pushing his legs back. "I've got it."

"But Derek!"

"But nothing. Keep your sick butt in bed."

"But-"

"What did I just say?" he asked, pulling the blanket over him and walking to the kitchen.

Spencer sighed, fluffing his pillows. Being sick was not something he liked, and was definitely something he planned on never doing again. Morgan walked in, handing him the glass.

"Do you need anything else?" he asked while Spencer downed the drink.

He thought to himself, then shook his head. "Can you get the light on your way out?"

"No problem, Pretty Boy," Morgan said, kissing his forehead, grabbing the glass, and walking out, flipping the light switch off on the way. "And I'd better not hear you turning those baby monitors back on. You need to sleep."

"Damnit," Spencer mumbled under his breath, curling up on his side and pulling the blanket over his head.

Like magic, the second he heard Spencer snoring softly, Parker was wide awake, whimpering in her crib. He walked into to the nursery, picking her up.

"Hey there, princess. You and Daddy are really making Papa work tonight, aren't you?"

He felt her forehead and was relieved when he felt that she had cooled down since he last checked on her. He looked at the clock, then back at her.

"Somebody's due for more medicine, and somebody's probably going to hate me for it."

When she whimpered and curled up against his chest, he walked out to the kitchen, setting her in her high chair and grabbing the medicine off the counter.

"How about after this, Papa calls your godfather and tells him he's not going to be at work tomorrow so he can be with you and Daddy while you get over this cold? Then I can call grandma and you can talk to her!"

Parker seemed less than enthused at the dropper in Morgan's hand. However, she willingly took the medicine.

Morgan smiled. "Great job, Princess. You're a lot better at taking your medicine than Daddy is."

"I heard that, Derek Morgan," Spencer shouted hoarsely from the bedroom.

"Get some sleep."

He couldn't see Spencer, but knew that he was being mimicked. He ignored him, taking out his phone and calling Hotch.

"How's your first experience with a sick infant going?" Morgan had to admit, it was weird to hear him answer the phone without saying his last name.

"Taking care of a sick baby is fine. Taking care of a sick Spencer Reid is a whole other story."

"I heard that."

Morgan groaned, turning around and looking at Spencer. "You should be sleeping."

"I wanted some orange juice, sue me," he said, walking to the kitchen and filling a glass.

"He sounds pleasant."

"Tell me about it. I don't know what they have but it's nothing fun. I'm going to need tomorrow off to stay home with them. I'd leave Spencer with her, but I know he'd spend way too much time focusing on getting her better and next to none taking care of himself."

"No problem. Good luck."

"Thanks," he said, hanging up and sighing.

He looked over at Parker. "Will talking to grandma make you feel better?" He quickly dialed his mother's number, putting it on speaker.

"Hello?"

"Hey, momma. I have someone here who wants to talk to you."

"Do you really?"

"A sick little princess who could use some cheering up."

"Oh no. What's wrong?"

"Fever, coughing, sneezing, and I'm pretty sure someone replaced her nose with a fountain."

"My poor grandbaby."

"And Spencer has it too."

"My poor grandbaby and my poor future son-in-law."

He smiled. "You're on speaker, mom, and she's staring at the phone."

"Hi, Parker. How's the little princess doing?"

She looked up at Morgan with a smile on her face, and started babbling.

"I see. Is Papa taking good care of you?"

Fran couldn't stop herself from laughing when she babbled to her again.

"That's good. You and Daddy go easy on Papa, and get better real soon, okay? Grandma's going to come soon and see how well he did shopping for your Daddy's engagement ring."

"I did just fine, thank you."

"I need to talk to Penelope anyway."

"…You're talking to Garcia?" He groaned. "You are not, momma!"

"I've got my first baby going down the aisle. Do you really think I'm not going to have a part in this?"

He rolled his eyes. "I gotta go, mom, I'll talk to you soon."

Later on, Morgan tried going to bed beside Spencer, but was immediately hit on the arm.

"No," Spencer said softly. "You're not getting it too."

"I'll be fine."

"Based on my symptoms, I have the flu: sore throat, cough, runny nose, fever, chills, and body aches. It's often passed from person to person through respiratory droplets in coughs and sneezes. I've been coughing and sneezing in this bed all day. So, no, you're not going to be fine if you sleep in this bed."

"It was killing you that you couldn't spurt out facts all day, wasn't it?"

He sat up, coughing and wincing.

"…Or it's killing you now."

"Shut up," he squeaked out, clearing his throat.

Morgan shook his head, then kissed Spencer's forehead. "Get some sleep, and actually do it this time. And if I hear so much as a foot hit the ground in this bedroom when Parker gets up, I will use force to get you to stay in bed."

"Don't let Garcia hear you saying that."

Morgan smiled, tucking him in. "Feel better, Pretty Boy."

"Hey, Derek?" Spencer called after him while he was walking out.

Morgan turned around to face him. "Yeah, Spencer?"

"Thanks for taking care of me."

"You don't need to thank me."

"I know I don't need to. I wanted to."

Morgan reached over, turning off the light. "Sleep tight."

He walked out, grabbing a blanket and laying down on the couch.

Luckily, the next morning Parker's fever had broken and she was showing less symptoms. Unfortunately for Morgan, Spencer was still sick. Since Parker was taking no interest in going down for a nap, he decided it was best not to fight her and just let her crawl around.

He heard the phone ringing and peeked in the bedroom to see Spencer reaching over to grab it.

"Don't you dare. You can barely talk."

Spencer sighed, leaning back on the bed.

Morgan picked up the phone, answering it. "Hello?"

"How are the patients doing?" JJ asked.

"Hotch told you?"

"Actually, Emily did."

"Is that JJ?" Spencer squeaked out.

"It's mind your business and get back in bed," Morgan said, putting his hand over the phone, not even turning around to face him.

"But-"

"Mickey, get your butt back to bed."

"Stop calling me that!"

"Stop sounding like him."

Spencer whined, walking back to the bedroom and closing the door.

"It sounds like you're having fun."

"Parker's fever broke and she's feeling better today. Something tells me Spencer didn't take the medicine I left on his nightstand, because he woke up this morning sounding like a cartoon character on helium being punched in the throat."

"Thanks for the visual."

"Of course."

"So she's okay today?"

"She's fine. As Emily put it, she's walrus-crawling all over the floor and enjoyed some frozen fruit for breakfast this morning. Of all the days in the world, she went to the doctor yesterday in the morning and we were told she was fine. Lucky us. I'm hoping she goes down for a nap soon so I can too."

"Long night?"

"You have no idea. When it wasn't Spencer tossing and turning and whining that he was too hot or too cold, it was Parker crying. I think I maybe got three hours last night."

"Let's just hope you don't get it."

"Unlike Spencer, I actually got my flu shot this year, so I'm pretty sure I'm in the clear. When I told him he should, he only brought up the statistics of getting the flu."

"And why am I not surprised?"

"Because he's Spencer and that's what he does."

"How's he handling having to stay in bed?"

"Oh, he's not. Pretty much like clockwork, every half hour I have to yell at him to get back in bed. He even banished me to the couch last night."

"Banished to the couch? Already messing up as a fiancé I see."

"Ha, ha," he said, sitting up on the couch and looking over at Parker, who was crawling over to the bedroom. "Not so fast, my little monkey," he said, running over and scooping her up. "Daddy needs his sleep."

"Sounds like you have your hands full. Have Spence give me a call when he's done sounding like a deranged cartoon?"

"Will do."

"Oh, did Emily tell you?"

"Tell me what?" he asked, setting Parker on her playmat.

"She originally asked him if he was pregnant when he was sick at work yesterday. Apparently his reaction was priceless."

"I'm sorry I missed it," he said, sitting beside Parker. "Talk to you later, JJ."

"Good luck with your patient."

"I need it."

It took a few days, but Spencer finally got better just in time to go back to work on Monday. While they were getting ready, he turned to Morgan.

"So, about that date?"

"Come again?" he asked, pulling on his boots.

"When you were trying to get me to take medicine. You said you'd tell me about our date that you were planning to celebrate our engagement."

Morgan smirked, tying his laces. "I had to say something to get you to take it."

Spencer gasped, hitting him in the arm. "Derek!"

"Worked, didn't it?"

"Just remember, Derek. In your own words? Paybacks are a bitch."