(Disclaimer: I do not own Criminal Minds or it's characters)
Thank you, everyone, for reviewing. Thank you Ludub, ahowell1993, Ash59, Guest, Emobunnyme, fishtrek, AZCatmom, Einn, lailyspenstar, Daisyangel, lilyflower101, Carpathian Princess, and Sarry22.
Enjoy!
Previously:
After a long moment, she shook her head and wiped away her tears. "Stupid kid," she grumbled, bending down to pick up the keys. She finished locking the door and pushed her sticky hair from out of her eyes. She'd make him pay.
"Dave," Hotch said as he picked up the phone. "Please tell me you have good news."
Sean looked up from the couch anxiously, his fingers crossed in his lap.
"Better: the adoption will be confirmed tomorrow."
Hotch felt a great weight disappear from his chest and he gasped in relief. Sean grinned and loosened his fingers.
"Thank god."
"I can't pick up the papers until 2, but he's at Crawford House and as soon as I get my hands on those papers, we're getting him."
Spencer was brought back to reality in the early hours of the morning when Miss Debbie charged into his room like an elephant herd. The previous night while he was whimpering miserably to himself he'd heard a scream which erupted from the first floor. When the barely audible sound drifted through the floorboard cracks he grinned: Miss Debbie must have looked in the mirror and checked out her new hairdo.
Debra only came three steps into the room before halting with military precision. Spencer narrowed his eyes at the two metal bowls in her iron grip.
"Good mowning," Spencer said with a little smirk, his chin raised confidently. Debra's hands shook as did the bowls and Spencer could see she was gritting her teeth behind her thin lips.
"Do not speak unless spoken too," she growled. She took a deep breath to ease her boiling anger.
"This." she raised the bowls to her eye level. "This is how animals like you eat," she hissed, dropping the dog food bowl onto the floor which sent jelly and meat splattering over the rim. Spencer cowered away from it when the smell permeated the otherwise dank room. Debra grinned sadistically as she set down the water bowl, letting that splash too, and sliding it across to Spencer.
"Eat up," she ordered, motioning to the foul-smelling meat. Spencer didn't move despite the hunger gnawing at his stomach. He looked over at the water and licked his lips but he wasn't about to degrade himself to such a level so instead, Spencer shuffled away and turned his face towards the window, listening out for the sounds of a car.
Debra bared the teeth and stepped closer, Spencer looked back at her and a shiver coursed down his spine.
"Fine," She snarled. "You ungrateful brat..."
Spencer watched as she collected a bolus of spit in her mouth, her cheeks puffing our slightly before she spat into the water bowl. He watched the disgusting frothy liquid float around the water which up to that point had looked rather appetising. He looked back up at Demon Debra to see her grinning. She whisked around and slammed the door shut on the boy. Spencer stared at the soiled water for a long moment as tears began to slide down his face.
"Bitch," he muttered and he flipped over the dog food bowl. He stared at the chunky meat and jelly covering the floor. Anger brewed inside the boy's chest and he lifted the now empty bowl and flung it at the window. It missed by a long shot, clattering down and sending the remnants of a dog's dinner across the walls. Spencer finally gave in to his emotions and sunk to his knees as sobs rippled past his lips.
Hotch glared out of the window as a big house came into view; he saw the tall metal fence bordering it and felt a growl rumble in the back of his throat. Rossi reached out and rested a reassuring palm on Aaron's shoulder.
The car stopped and both men unbuckled and left the car without waiting for the two CPS agents.
Rossi led the way to the front door and rapped his knuckles three times on the weathered maple wood.
He glanced at Aaron when he heard the sound of children on the other side of the door and Aaron raised his eyebrows eagerly.
The door opened and a woman in her late 30s opened it, her face grim and tired.
"Can I help you?" She muttered, pushing her ponytail off her shoulder and straightening up when Rossi revealed his badge, unnecessary but satisfying.
"You have a child under your care who has been officially adopted by my colleague, SSA Aaron Hotchner," Rossi said, his chest puffed out with authority.
"Oh... right, yes, someone did call about that."
"That would've me, ma'am," the male CPS officer announced, stepping forward and offering the papers.
The woman examined the papers carefully. She was nodding along with it when she looked up again.
"I'll have to check with my superior, would you wait here a moment."
Before Rossi could argue the door shut on his face and he glared at it.
"Great services you've got here," He snickered to the female officer who purses her lips.
Dave glanced at Aaron who was trying to keep up a serious appearance, although his foot had started to tap anxiously.
When the door next opened a broad woman stepped out, the papers crinkled in her clutches.
"Miss Whinton, I assume everything is in order," the female worker put in but she was cut off by the large woman.
"I'm afraid not. You'll have to re-evaluate this... this adoption? The papers are wrong," Debra grumbled, waving the paper around as if it wasn't a lifeline for Spencer.
Rossi scowled. "How so?" He asked politely, and Debra slammed an angry finger onto the paper.
"There is no 'Spencer' here, we haven't taken in children that young since this July," she hissed and a smile clawed at her lips as Dave took the papers and shook his head.
"No,t-there must be some mistake," he stammered as he pointed down at the papers frantically. Aaron had grown a deathly pale at his side. "It says he was put in your care. He-"
"He has brown hair, brown eyes... they're golden brown, you can't miss them," Hotch said quickly and Rossi added to it.
"He's two but he looks younger, he has a stuffed rabbit! It says that he was put in your care, it was only a few weeks ag-"
The papers were smacked out of the Italian's hands suddenly and they scattered across the floor. Rossi bent down to grab them but looked up sharply at the woman. He paused and his brow collapsed over his eyes as his fingers traced the corners of the papers.
"Where is he?" He growled suddenly, slowly gathering the papers and straightening up.
"Like I said already, there are no children of your description in our care, I'm afraid you have the wrong house," Debra snapped back. A few of the carers had gathered around to listen in on the commotion. Natalie looked over at the men and bit her lip as the younger man rubbed a shaky hand through his hair. The Italian continued to glare at Debra.
"Where is he, Dave?" Aaron hissed and Rossi broke his glare to glance at the panicking father. "Where?"
"He's here," Rossi said, gluing his eyes back on Debra. The CPS officers looked apprehensively at Debra
One of the officers piped up "Perhaps it was marked down wrong."
"Perhaps so," Debra deadpanned.
"He has to be here." Hotch's voice trembled; Rossi had never seen the man so jittery.
Natalie bit her lip harder and took a quick breath. "H-he's upstairs," she blurted. All eyes were on her in a second and she shrank back.
"Where!?" Aaron yelled, stepping up to the small woman as Rossi continued to glower at Debra.
"I-in t-the quiet r-room," Natalie whispered. "I-I can take you-"
"Now!" Hotch demanded.
They got to the third floor and Aaron glanced around and tutted at the dusty floor. Natalie hurried ahead; her fingers trembling as she unlocked the door.
Even the CPS officers exchanged troubled looks as they stared at the unkept corridor.
"There's nothing up there!" Debra called from behind. "It's just the attic." There was the sound of grunts as she tried to push her way through.
"We'll see," muttered Rossi.
Natalie pried the door open and before she could step inside something... or someone squeezed past her. The small boy bolted into the hallway, prepared to run for his life. He spun on the ball of his foot and froze when his eyes caught the mob of people at the end of the hall. His and Aaron's brown eyes met and suddenly everything was okay.
"Spencer!" Hotch gasped and the small boy's eyes popped out in surprise. His mouth bobbed open and he staggered down the hall. Hotch frowned when he saw Spencer limp painfully but he shook his head and dropped to his knees, pulling the child into his arms.
The CPS officers were scowling at Debra who's face was hard and unmoving. Rossi bent down and carded a hand through Spencer's hair as the boy pressed his face into Hotch's shirt.
"Hey, Kiddo, we're gettin' you out of here," he muttered and Spencer sobbed with relief as Hotch rocked him gently, keeping his arms wrapped around the toddler.
Rossi whipped around glowering with contempt at Debra. "You lied," Rossi growled.
"How was I supposed to know his name?" she deadpanned and Rossi jumped to his feet suddenly, striding towards her until they were almost nose to nose.
"You knew! You said no child had been taken in recently! HE WAS! HE-"
"Dave," Aaron mumbled, reaching a hand out to calm Rossi down. The Italian took a deep breath and flexed his knuckles, he looked down at Aaron with Spencer still clinging to him like a koala.
"You're upsetting him," Hotch said as he patted Spencer's back to ease his sobs.
"Sorry," Rossi whispered but he continued to cast a dark look over Debra.
Aaron shushed the trembling toddler and pulled back from their embrace so he could have a good look at him.
He wiped away the boy's warm tears and smiled at him with affection. Spencer grinned back and as he hiccuped.
There was a deep bruise on his cheek and Hotch palmed it gently. He frowned when he saw other marks on his small face. Spencer placed his hand over Aaron's as the unit chief touched the different marks. "It's fine," He mumbled. Hotch looked deeply into his golden eyes and pulled him into another hug.
"Let's go," He said suddenly and he put his arms around Spencer and stood up. Spencer whimpered when Hotch attempted lifted him and Aaron paused and set him back down.
"Are you hurt anywhere else, buddy?"
Spencer looked back up at Hotch and shook his head. Hotch pressed his fingers where he had before, Spencer cried out in pain. Aaron grabbed the hem of his shirt and pulled it up. He stared at the bruise covering Spencer's side.
"I-I'm otay," Spencer insisted trying to push the top back down. Hotch ignored him and turned him around to show Rossi.
"I think we should go to the hospital," Aaron said and Rossi nodded in agreement. He turned suddenly to Natalie, fire in his eyes.
"What the hell did you do to him!?" Rossi spat and Natalie looked at the floor. He shook with anger, his eyes narrowed with a frightening glare. He turned to the CPS officers. "You'll be hearing from our lawyers," he quipped.
Hotch gently picked Spencer up and the child winced and opened his mouth to protest. "You're not walking if you're hurt." Spencer scowled. "No, Spencer, I'm serious," Hotch added. Spencer huffed and folded his arms but relaxed into Aaron.
They got to the bottom of the stairs and Spencer watched the other children with a sympathetic look, he waved sadly at Mike and then Rachel. He sighed and rested his head on Hotch's shoulder when a thought suddenly hit him.
"Wait!" He cried suddenly, looking back frantically at the stairs.
"What is it, Kiddo?" Rossi asked. Spencer glanced up at him and his cheeks stained a deep red.
"Um... my wabbit," he mumbled shifting in embarrassment.
"Oh, well I'll go get him. Show me where he was staying," Rossi ordered to the nearest worker.
"I know where it is I think."
Spencer sunk back into Aaron's arms in embarrassment at his sudden childish whim but when Rossi handed him the partially worn stuffed rabbit he felt a wave of relief wash over him and he pressed the rabbit against his un-bruised cheek.
Rossi ushered them into the SUV and with one final glare at Debra that could've cut glass he hopped inside.
"Ow," Spencer whined as the nurse poked his side. His lip trembled and his eyes pleaded with Aaron's. He held his stuffed rabbit tightly, aware that the nurse was perceptive to his reactions.
"I'm going to have to lift his top, can you lay him on the table," the nurse asked. Hotch nodded and stood up, standing Spencer on the bed and peeling off his top before helping him to lay down. Spencer tried to push himself back up, but Aaron kept a gentle but firm hand on his shoulders. The nurse eyed the bruises anxiously and looked back at Hotch.
"How did this happen?"
"We're not sure. He's been at a children's home for several days."
The nurse slowly raised Spencer's leg and he yelped out in pain. She gently twisted the leg and Dave scowled at her sharply when Spencer gasped, his nails digging into his stuffed rabbit.
Hotch ran a hand through Spencer's hair to keep him calm while the nurse laid Spencer's leg back down and pressed them together. Her expression became one of concern when she pushed against his feet eliciting another whimper from Spencer.
"You see this," the nurse pointed out and Dave and Aaron leaned forward as Spencer squinted anxiously at the ceiling. She motioned to Spencer's legs and how the one on his injured side was shorter than his other one.
"What does that mean?" Rossi asked, his eyes flicking back up at the nurse.
"It could be several things, an x-ray would make it clearer."
"What would've caused it?" Rossi asked.
The nurse sucked her teeth. "Most likely a fall of some kind of blunt force trauma; it-" the nurse trailed off as the Italian rummaged in his pocket noisily.
"Dave," Aaron started when the Italian lifted his phone to his ear. Hotch stroked Spencer's hair out of his face absentmindedly when the boy glanced over with worry.
Dave cleared his throat. "I'd like to file a police report..."
Spencer's eyes went wide and he licked his lips nervously.
"It was a fall," he murmured as Rossi took the call outside. Hotch rubbed a finger over Spencer's arm and watched Rossi brush past a doctor.
"Ah, so this is Spencer. Mr. Hotchner," the doctor said, extending a hand to Aaron who shook it. "We'll take Spencer down to x-rays in just a moment but first I need to ask if he has insurance."
"Yes, but it's recent and may still be under my name."
Spencer glanced at Aaron quickly before looking back down at his twiddling fingers.
"If you could fill this out and then we'll take Spencer straight to x-ray," the doctor said as he handed a clipboard to Hotch.
Spencer peeked at the clipboard pushing down the pain that radiated in his hip from stretching. He scowled at the scribbling pen.
Aaron freely wrote 'Spencer Hotchner' with no hesitation.
Aaron smiled at the confused toddler and carded a hand through his messy hair. "We have a lot to talk about," he muttered, signing his name at the bottom of the form and handing it back to the doctor who checked it briefly before nodding.
"Alright, Mr. Hotchner, we can wheel your son down-"
"Wheel!?" Spencer squeaked and he glared at the wheelchair with distaste. The nurse grinned and pushed it over to him.
"Yea, you get to have a ride!" She exclaimed patting the seat. Spencer gaped at her and the chair in horror before he realised that most kids enjoyed this sort of thing, he imagined Jack and Henry would jump at the chance.
"But I-I," Spencer started nervously, glancing back at Hotch who had a soft look on his face.
"I'll be right beside you, Spencer, but you can't walk or you could hurt yourself more," he explained gently. Spencer really wanted to huff and prove he could walk perfectly fine and had been for days (although he wouldn't admit to the pain it caused) but the toddler also knew that such a reaction was not appropriate for a boy of his age. So in a last-ditch attempt, Spencer made his lip tremble and he reached his arms up at Aaron.
"Up," he demanded quietly.
Hotch raised his eyebrows in surprise but complied to the demand. Spencer grinned happily until Hotch set him carefully in the wheelchair and stepped back.
"Huh," he gasped, whipping his head around at Hotch who was smirking. That sly bast-
"Let's get going then. I think Nurse Anna has special treats for brave little boys who have x-rays," the doctor said as he pushed the wheelchair out of the door with a tiny Spencer cowering in the center, a grumpy expression settled on his features as he scowled down at his knees.
Spencer fidgeted in his hospital gown that seemed to drown his small figure. A strawberry lollypop sat between his lips: a treat for being brave during his x-Ray. He wasn't complaining, it was the first flavorsome thing he'd had for almost a week. Hotch and the doctor had moved to a board where the x-rays were hung up, talking quietly so Spencer couldn't hear.
"You see this here, it's a slight hip fracture, it explains the limping, the bruising, the slightly out-turned leg...," the doctor explained. Aaron glanced back at Spencer as the boy squinted at his lolly and stuck it back between his teeth.
Aaron turned back and cleared his throat. "How do we treat it?" He asked.
"Well, typically hip fractures can only be treated with surgery." Aaron swallowed thickly. "But it all depends on specific variables which include age, condition of the bone, mobility before fracture and other things. Now you said Spencer fell a few days ago?"
"Yes, it wasn't treated but he said he was pretty active," Hotch mused and he shook his head lightly. "Surely surgery isn't necessary?"
The doctor let out a sigh and rubbed his head. "The break is at the attachment point which is the weakest part of a child's pelvis. The injury clears up within a few days when it's minor, my concern with your son is that he is also dehydrated and shows early signs of fever all of which could worsen his injury. Now, I do not think Spencer will need surgery nor a cast, which are very hindering especially to a growing child, but I'd like to keep him for observation and so he can rest."
Hotch looked relieved and took a deep breath.
"If I'm correct then Spencer should be prescribed children's Tylenol and I advise that he rests, but that you also try to stimulate some movement, there are exercises which would be beneficial for his injury."
"But he has to stay tonight?"
"Yes," The Doctor replied stoically.
"I'll go tell him," Hotch muttered.
Spencer craned his neck helplessly at the talking adults and he smiled when Hotch turned towards him. Aaron made his way over and crouched beside the bed. He gently took Spencer's hand and smiled. "How you feelin', buddy?"
"I'm otay. Tan we go home yet?" Spencer asked in a small voice which made Aaron's heartache.
"You need to stay here tonight," Hotch said, to which Spencer whined. "But I'll be with you the whole time." Spencer pouted and folded his arms.
"But I'm alwight! I fell ages ago!" He argued, emphasising his points with erratic arm movements. Hotch chuckled and ruffled his hair.
"Yes, I know you did but you still hurt yourself; you're lucky you don't need surgery or a cast, have you seen those things?"
Spencer grumbled in the affirmative.
"Alright. Now the doctor said you need something to eat and drink, any preferences?"
Spencer's pout twisted into a smirk. "Ice tweam?" He asked innocently.
Hotch rolled his eyes. "Fine, you can have some ice cream but I'm also gonna need you to eat something more nutritious, like a sandwich."
Spencer turned his nose up at that idea, but he didn't say anything for fear that he'd jeopardise his promised ice cream. "Otay," he mumbled. Hotch smiled and looked over at the nurse who was already paging someone to bring the food.
"Whewe's untle Dave?" Spencer asked quietly, adjusting the sticky lolly which had turned his tongue red.
"He's on the phone. I think he's letting everyone know that you're-"
Just then the door burst open and Spencer jolted upright, almost choking on his lolly. Aaron lost his words when he saw JJ's pretty face spring through the door
"Spencer!" She gasped.
"Mommy!" Spencer cried when he recognised her. Hotch had to hold Spencer in place so he didn't jump out at JJ and hurt himself more.
Spencer threw his arms around her neck as soon as she was close enough and he breathed deeply into her sweater, melting into the touch.
"Oh, sweetie, thank God you're alright," JJ gasped and while she stroked Spencer's hair and held him close she looked over at her boyfriend. "What have they said?" She questioned urgently.
"Minor hip fracture. They want to keep him overnight and after that he needs rest."
"Oh honey," JJ murmured, pressing a kiss to Spencer's cheek. The door opened again, a bit quieter this time and Sean peeled in. He saw Spencer and grinned.
"Hey, little dude," Sean said giving Spencer a cool half smile.
"Untle Sean!" Spencer squealed as Sean wrapped his arms around the small boy.
"Your Dad told me that you just missed me so much that I had to come back, so here I am."
Spencer giggled and nodded.
"Whewe's Jack and Henwy?" Spencer looked up expectantly at JJ. JJ opened her mouth to answer when the door opened yet again and Jack and Henry dashed inside. Jack saw Spencer and darted for the bed.
"Hey, little bro!" He exclaimed, dropping several packs of candy on the bed. Henry was quick on his heels and deposited his own pile of candy on the sheets.
"Spencer!" Henry cried as he struggled up onto the bed with some help from Hotch. He grabbed Spencer roughly by the shoulders and dragged him into a hug with JJ warning him profusely to be gentle. Jack hopped up and sat on Spencer's other side, hugging him from there so they made a Spencer sandwich.
"Boys, I said a few treats," JJ chided through a sigh as she scanned the array of candy. When she gave them $10 she didn't think they'd spend it all.
"Look, Spence, we got you all this candy," Henry said, picking up a packet of skittles and waving it in front of the smaller boy, glancing back at his mother with a smirk to see her reaction.
"Because mom said you'd need cheering up," Jack added. Spencer smiled widely to show that it had cheered him up and he reached out for the Twinkie, taking his lolly out of his mouth to munch down on the softer treat.
"Uh Uh Uh," Hotch tutted, pulling the delicacy out of Spencer's eager hands. Spencer looked up with pleading eyes. "After some proper food."
"Bu-"
"You heard your dad," Sean said and he snatched the Twinkie from his brother. "I'll look after this for you."
Spencer gaped at Sean as he stole the Twinkie and then he looked from Jack to Henry as they chomped down on candy.
JJ laughed at the look of horror on Spencer's face. She scooted Henry along the bed and sat down beside Spencer, gently pulling him back into her lap where she coiled her arms around him and pressed a kiss to the back of his head.
"Careful," Hotch warned. JJ trailed a finger down Spencer's face and cocked her head at Hotch.
"Oh right," JJ mumbled, looking down at where at the ice pack on Spencer's hip.
"How did you do that?" JJ asked in a soothing voice.
"I was 'scaping," Spencer put in miserably, putting the lolly back in his mouth.
"Escaping?" Henry asked, his own mouth full of skittles.
"Yea, I 'timbed a weally big fence! And den I scwatched my leg on da 'pikes and den I fell!" Spencer explained, his arms flailing as he told the story.
"Oh really?" Jack said in an animated voice, he rolled his eyes at his father and winked at Sean.
"Yep! And I fell on my bat and den dese two big gauwds 'tased me and den Demon Debwa 'taught me-"
"Demon Debra?" Hotch raised his eyebrow; an amused look settling on his face.
"She wan da house! An-an-and she got 'tovered in Honey and feathews and... vinegaw an milk... an..." Spencer panted as he tried to tell them everything at once. "Baking soda... I-in 'toffee," he explained, unable to contain his rambling. JJ rubbed his shoulder and shushed him.
"There's plenty of time for you to tell us," she said.
"But first you need food and rest," Hotch added and when Spencer caught his breath he moaned.
"But I put... in shampoo...an-"
"Shhh, you can tell us all about your adventures later."
Thanks for reading. He's finally safe! Now I can use Sean a little bit, I really like his dynamic in the story.
Anyway, please review.
See you soon!
