(Disclaimer: I do not own Criminal Minds or it's characters)

Thank you Ludub, Emobunnyme, iluvhotchme, fishtrek, guest, FallWithMeOffACliff, Hippiechic81, Astrahan, Ash59, Pwllgwn, guest, lailyspenstar, guest, peshika, Diana, Sarry22, poorbear123, Dolphins2018, guest, Rookblonkorules and lilyflower101 who reviewed the last chapter.

Also, to one of the guest reviews, I'd really appreciate you proof reading but once I know where I'm going wrong I think I should be fine. I'm also not sure how to contact you, so if you could point out some examples of my mistakes so I can correct them in the future that would be a huge help. Thank you.

This is a shorter chapter because I needed a filler so I could move on with things.

Please keep reviewing, it helps motivate me and at the moment I'm being super lazy with writing so motivation is very much appreciated.

Internet's been terrible, so no spelling or grammar check... ahhhh, so I apologise in advance if it's off.

Enjoy.

Previously:

"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."


"Spencer..." Hotch shook the little boy sprawled out on the hospital bed (it probably wasn't the best position for his injured hip.) He moaned and rolled his head away from Aaron.

"Come on, bud, it's time for your medicine then you can sleep," Aaron whispered.

Spencer whined and cracked his eyes open, squinting briefly up at Hotch before collapsing back into his pillow. Hotch laughed and gently pulled Spencer's arms until he was sat up; his were eyes still closed and his face was scrunched up in annoyance.

"Mmmhmm," Spencer groaned, raising an eyebrow at Aaron.

"Spencer," Hotch warned.

Spencer grumbled and lent against the now raised bed, wincing at the pain in his hip.

"I was twamatised," Spencer whined dramatically. "Tan't I s'eep in?"

"After medicine you can."

"But now I'm awate," Spencer moaned as Hotch fished out a bottle of medicine. Spencer watched him search for the spoon and bit his lip, trying to build up the courage to say what he wanted.

"Umm," he mumbled and Hotch glanced up.

"What is it, buddy?"

Spencer sighed. "Loot, Dad-" he paused and blushed a deep red. "I-I mean Aawon... I appweciate evewything you've done and awe 'till doing fow me... but ummm... well," Spencer rubbed the back of his neck. "I just... I-"

"Spencer, don't worry, just say what you want to say," Hotch soothed, patting Spencer's shoulder gently.

"Wight... well, I need mowe independence," Spencer finally blurted and he looked down shamefully and started twiddling his fingers.

"Spencer-"

"Loot, you and mo- Day-day... you and Day-day have been gweat, but I'm 'till 'Pencew Weid... despite what de adoption papews say, and I just want to do things dat I used to do," Spencer explained shyly. He took a deep breath and glanced at Hotch and was surprised to see him smiling.

"Of course, son, I was thinking you'd say something like that."

"I won't 'tange how I've been. De boys won't know... I just... I need to be awone sometimes and do things myself."

"Sure," Hotch replied but Spencer continued to argue his point.

"I know I'm in dis small body but I 'till tan do things, Aawon."

"I believe you, Spencer."

"And I tan-"

"Spencer," Hotch interjected, taking Spencer's face gently in his hands. "I agree with you," Aaron added and Spencer's brow furrowed.

"Weally?"

"Yes," Hotch chuckled. He released Spencer's face and smiled calmly. "But I still need to keep an eye on you; you've proven how accident prone you can be."

Spencer nodded feverishly, a grin spreading across his face.

"Good. Now have some medicine."

"I tan do it," Spencer said, already taking advantage of what had been said. Hotch rolled his eyes.

"You and I both know you'll end up spilling it. Let me pour it and then you can take the spoon."

"Fine," Spencer huffed.

He took the spoon carefully once Hotch had filled it and he stuck it in his mouth, grimacing as he swallowed but making a smug face at Hotch to show how easy it was.

"Tan we go home now?" Spencer asked, sticking his tongue out as the taste of medicine lingered.

"Well-"

The door cut Aaron off as Rossi stepped inside.

"Morning, Kiddo, good sleep?" He asked, taking in how Spencer had an almost healthy glow again.

"Uh-huh, fanks Wossi, you?"

"I slept just fine, but," Rossi paused to sit down on a chair beside Spencer's bed and he released a strained exhale, "I'll sleep even better when you tell me what Debra did to you," he concluded.

Spencer shifted uncomfortably which made Aaron grip his shoulder and send a scowl at Rossi.

"Dave, he may not be ready."

"No, I am," Spencer rapoke up quickly. Rossi pulled out a pad of paper and looked expectantly at Spencer. "But y-you might not want to wite what I did to hew," Spencer added nervously and Dave and Aaron exchanged an amused (and slightly concerned on Aaron's part) glance.


Spencer took a deep breath and watched as Dave finished writing before he grabbed his phone. He looked up at Spencer and smiled.

"This is going to send her down for a long time," he muttered before dialling a number and standing up. "You did good, Kiddo."

He left with his phone pressed to his ear and Spencer raised his head slowly up at Hotch whose fists were clenched at his sides.

"Wossi said she's going down," he whispered. Aaron met the boys eyes and shook his head.

"She hurt you, Spencer. Think of all the other children she's hurt."

Spencer looked back down and chewed the inside of his gum. Aaron closed his eyes briefly and took a deep shuddery breath before he opened them and touched Spencer's cheek gently.

"Let's go home."

"Home?" Spencer mumbled and Hotch nodded.

They got home almost an hour later and as soon as they stepped through the front door Spencer gasped joyfully. "Home," he whispered. If he wasn't on bed rest he would've rushed around each room taking them all in with affection.

He grinned when he saw JJ hurry out of the kitchen, her face lit up at the sight of the two-year-old.

"What did the doctor say?" JJ asked as she palmed Spencer's cheek, her eyes on Hotch.

"It should heal itself but he needs rest and..." Hotch turned to Spencer and put on a stern expression. "He's not allowed to walk for a few days."

"But-"

"Doctor's orders, Spencer, not ours."

Spencer folded his arms and let out a miserable sigh. "Whewe awe da boys?" He asked.

"School," JJ said and she smirked when Spencer let out a yawn. "Which is good considering you wouldn't be able to keep up with them."

Spencer fisted his eyes and squinted at JJ. "No, I'm otay."

"Really?" Hotch questioned as he pushed the door shut. Spencer was about to protest when he glanced down at his pyjamas: the same pyjamas JJ had brought for him the night before so he didn't have to stay in his hospital gown. He realised that he really wasn't up to do anything but sleep.

"Um... maybe... I could do with a s'eep," Spencer mumbled.

JJ frowned and gave Hotch a questioning look. He waved her off with a motion that he'd tell her later. "Well then... I'll make some lunch for when you wake up."

"Fanks." Spencer beamed but made a face when JJ pecked his cheek.

Hotch carried Spencer upstairs and the boy felt his chest swell happily as they passed the familiar homely sights.

They got to his room and he gazed around. Everything was how it had been. Hotch laid him down and pulled the sheets up.

Spencer snuggled his face into the pillow and sighed with relief and Aaron smiled affectionately before backing out of the room. He paused by the door and saw Spencer's head shift a little.

"I don't need you to watch me," he murmured. Hotch grinned and gave the boy a salut.

"As you wish."

"And I'm going to s'eep because I want to," Spencer said, lifting his head and eying Hotch seriously. "Not because it's 'nap time,' otay?"

"Alright, Spencer," Hotch said, hiding a chuckle. Spencer nodded and lay back down, inhaling with satisfaction at the feeling of taking some power back.

Hotch backed out of the room and pulled the door to. He went to turn and came face to face with Rossi.

"Dave," he said as soon as he found his voice. "How did you get in?"

"That's no way to speak to guests," Rossi gasped in mock offence. "Did I scare you?" The Italian chortled and Aaron raised an eyebrow.

"What are you doing in my house?"

"Last time I checked it belonged to JJ as well," Rossi retorted. Aaron rolled his eyes and started towards the stairs; he glanced over his shoulder at Dave.

"Why are you in our house?" He asked again.

Rossi followed him slowly, his hands clasped behind his back. "JJ let me in. I thought you ought to know that Debra Whinton-"

"Demon Debwa!" Interjected a faint and sleepy voice from the room they'd just left.

"Thank you, Spencer!" Hotch called back. "Now get some rest!"

"Only because I want to," Spencer added, his voice growing quieter. Hotch rolled his eyes and motioned for Dave to continue.

"Well she's about to get an unexpected visit."

"What did you do?" Aaron questioned as a sly smile spread over Dave's face.

"I made a lot of calls, Strauss helped; that woman's been more helpful this week than in her entire career, she-"

"Ahem."

Rossi blinked at Aaron and realised he was getting off the point. "Yes, well, 'Demon Debra' is going to jail."

"How... that's..." Aaron stammered trying to find the words that were lost on his tongue.

"No need to thank me. I just wish I got to see the look on her face when they brought her in."

"You and me both."


Debra stared at her reflection and growled, she touched the bald spots and seethed like a bull, her black eyes darkening her face. How dare he!? It must have been him who tainted her shampoo.

She slammed her hands against the sink and gritted her teeth tightly.

When she finally made it out of the bathroom she saw the children sat around the den, chatting eagerly to one another which only made her anger boil even more.

"Line up!" She screeched and she took carnivorous joy in watching her prey prance out of their seats and into the hall.

The children had their eyes squeezed shut and some had their fingers and no doubt their toes crossed.

"You all seem to think this is a fun fair," Debra spat, her venomous words striking like a snake, making the kids jerk with fear. "No more!"

"I will have you all cleaning this house with your own toothbrushes," she yelled. Some kids looked up in terror.

"I want you to scrub the floors until your dis-gust-ing," She punctuated the words by scrunching up her face in pure rage. "...little fingers bleed."

"And-"

Debra was cut off by a knock at the door. She snapped her head around so fast that some of the carers thought (and perhaps hoped) that her neck broke. Debra's fists curled up and she sent a glower at the closest carer.

"What are you waiting for? GO!"

The carer jolted upright and staggered towards the door.

"As I was saying," Debra hissed, puffing her chest out in front of the children. "You will-"

"Ma'am?"

"What now!?" Debra snarled as she whipped around. Her eyes glossed over the carer and scanned the officers. She stood up straight and pursed her lips together.

"How can I help you officers?" She asked calmly.

The elder of the group stepped forward his hand slowly reaching for his handcuffs.

"Are you Debra Whinton?"

"I am. I also run this home so I can deal with whatever issue you have brought here. Shall we step into my office?" She put in trying to keep the rage from her voice. She watched like a hawk as the officer pulled out his handcuffs, his lips pinching together beneath his grey moustache.

"That won't be necessary. Debra Whinton, I'm arresting you under suspicion of child abuse-"

"Excuse me!?" Debra cried as her arms were yanked behind her back and cuffed. She shoved the officer off and another grabbed her thick arm, holding her steady with a piercing hold.

"You have the right to remain-"

"Get your hands off of me!"

"-What you do say can and will be used-"

"No! Get... get," she struggled futilely against the officers. "-Off! Get off me! Patterson! Carter! Help me, tell them they're wrong!"

The children were watching with open mouths some of which were turned up excitedly. Natalie crossed her arms and for the first time in a very long time she smiled. Debra glanced around at them her head flicking back and forth like a hungry meerkat.

"Don't just stand there!"

"Stop struggling ma'am, you're making this hard on yourself."

Debra's nostrils flared and her eyes landed on Natalie as she tried to shimmy off the officers. "You!" She accused but Natalie didn't flinch.

They dragged a yowling Debra to the squad car and squished her inside. The officers filled the other cars while two CPS vans and another police car pulled up.

"We're shutting this place down," the older officer with the fluffy grey moustache said, not bothering to turn back and look at Debra.

"You can't do that," Debra growled.

"After what I just saw and what those CPS officers will see, this place is history."

Debra trembled with anger, her right eye quivering slightly. She narrowed her eyes at the house. She saw the fence and recalled the little boy who had scaled it just days earlier, theremnants of his clothes were still caught in the wire.

He should've just died, she thought cruelly. The boy's face filled her head and her anger escalated.

This was his fault. As his smug smile crossed her eyes Debra grunted and let her fingernails sink into her palm. She wanted to cut that smile from the child, she wanted to tear at his throat. She wanted all the pain in the world to be inflicted on that evil toddler.

She wanted revenge.


Dun dun dun! That escalated quickly. I remember being so angry once that I tore a page out of my book and then cried about it for an hour. Clearly Debra is not the crying type and instead of a book she prefers to go for the jugular...

Thanks for reading. Please review.

See you in the next chapter.