(Disclaimer: I do not own Criminal Minds or its characters)

Okay... is it actually Friday!? I didn't know if I'd get this written by today but if you're seeing this I guess I did.

Thanks you It's Morley to You, Yeegaber, chillibelly, Caroliny Hontchner, fishtrek, Sherryola, and, Cwookie Monswer for reviewing last chapter.

I hope you guys enjoy this, please review and let me know what you thought.

Aaron had both kids up for breakfast early. Spencer was quiet as he pushed around his slightly milky Cheerios. Aaron didn't push him to talk until they had dropped Jack off at school.

He looked back at Spencer. The boy had his forehead pressed against the supportive head rests and his fingers were slowly twirling in Gary's fur. Aaron twisted to get a better look at Spencer and he smiled. "You doing okay there, Spencer? You're a little quiet."

Spencer raised his head and Aaron noticed how pale the boy was. Spencer shrugged making a slightly strangled noise before mumbling, "m'okay."

Aaron looked over Spencer's pale features with concern. He gave a reluctant nod, starting the car back up.

When they got home he watched anxiously as Spencer limped around the car. Aaron looked down at Spencer's foot as he unlocked the front door, wondering if it was giving him pain still.

"What do you want to do, Spencer? We can watch some TV?"

Spencer hobbled toward the front room in response and Aaron followed quickly.

"Yea?" he asked, trying to initiate conversation again. Spencer nodded and did something Aaron hadn't been expecting. He raised his arms, his face screwed up in desperation.

Aaron gathered Spencer up into his arms and walked them to the couch. While Spencer was distracted Aaron reached up and pressed his hand to Spencer's head. It was clammy and hot and paired with Spencer's paleness, it worried Aaron.

Spencer slid from Aaron's arms, sitting close to him on the couch.

"You feeling okay?" Aaron asked, picking up the remote and flicking on the TV.

"Mmm," Spencer mumbled, pressing close to Aaron.

Aaron looked down seriously at the boy who just looked back up with tired eyes. "Spencer, you must tell me if you don't feel good," he said.

Spencer blinked slowly and shrugged his shoulders. The movement seemed to be a lot of effort and Spencer slumped more against Aaron.

"Alright..." Aaron mumbled, changing the channels around until he found a kid suitable one. He subtly touched Spencer's forehead again and he frowned at the TV. He'd let Spencer relax for half an hour and if he was still hot then... well, he'd make the kid tell him exactly what was wrong.

"We'll crack him today." Morgan glanced across at Rossi who was reading again. The older man raised his head and gave a faint nod.

"We will."

"I know, Derek," Rossi muttered and he sighed, pushing the file off his lap and onto the chair Morgan refused to sit in. "We have to soon, I promised Aaron I'd be back by tomorrow."

Before Morgan could answer, the door opened and William Reid was led inside. William was glaring at the floor, trying hard not to make eye contact with the agents. He was cuffed again and the officers left. Rossi grabbed the file from the seat beside him and lay it on the table. William must have seen the file because he lunged toward into, his cuffs pulling him back but shoving the file with enough force that it fluttered off the table.

Morgan took a step forward, muttering something threatening but Rossi just held up his hand.

"Is there a problem, Mr. Reid?" he asked in a smug voice. William looked up, his brow low.

"Can't you leave me alone?"

Dave raised his eyebrows. "There is nothing I'd rather do than to leave you here to rot. But to do that you need to tell us the truth."

William shook his head. "I told you! Kim died from a gas leak! I had nothing to do with it!"

Morgan dragged the file up off the floor, collecting some of the photos in his fist. He slammed it down in front of William, pushing a printed image of the emails exchanged between William and his ex-wife. "You know what I think? I think, that you hated Kim. It would be so easy to kill her. You killed your own daughter and you didn't entirely hate her. And Spencer, you were prepared to-"

"To protect them!" William hissed and Morgan rolled his eyes.

"You are not and never will be the hero in this narrative," Rossi said coldly.

"Do you know where Chris would have taken them? Here, let me paint you a picture since you both are so happily ignorant," said William, his teeth gritted, seething as if he were about to combust. "Chris would keep them in his little ring, have men use them, everyday. They mutilate children! And then they'd kill them when they're done. I would rather my children die peacefully..."

Morgan snorted. "What you did to Spencer was one of the cruelest acts of neglect I've seen. How can you sit there and tell us you couldn't bear seeing your children suffer when you locked your son away to die alone."

"I was sorting things ou-"

"Shut up! You sick bastard! You are nothing! You are fu-"

"I WAS DESPERATE!"

Rossi put a hand in front of Morgan to keep him back from William.

He waited until Morgan and William were suffiencently calm before he started to speak again. "You're already facing murder charges. Why hide anymore?"

William leaned back and shook his head a smirk crossing his lips. He didn't speak.

Rossi glanced across at Morgan who was glaring loathingly at William. Rossi cleared his throat.

"Diana died from an accidental overdose. She inflicted it upon herself because she was... 'confused.'"

"Schizophrenia does that to you," said William sarcastically.

"Only..." Rossi started, and he leaned across the table. "Spencer saw you giving her the dose she'd already had. One he'd already given her."

"Shame," William muttered, his arms still crossed. "To think he'll have to grow up knowing he had a hand in his mother's death. Perhaps you should question him some more, you could find your true murderer then."

Morgan lunged for William, grasping him by the collar of his overalls.

"Derek!"

William stared at Morgan's firery eyes and his lip trembled.

Morgan glowered down at the ratty man while Rossi made a sign to the double sided mirror that he had it under control. Morgan released William with a snarl. "Pathetic," he spat, storming to the other side of the room. William fumbled with his clothes nervously, straightening himself out.

"So you don't deny the fact that you gave Diana an overdose?"

"As you said, Spencer gave her one dose and she gave herself another dose..." William paused. "A few doses."

Rossi mimicked William and leaned back in his chair, folding his arms. "Was it too difficult? Keeping up with her medical bills? Taking care of her when she didn't know who you were? She was in your way, right?"

"You're wasting your time agents," William said with a bored sigh.

"I don't blame you, women and children always seem to get in the way. You had enough to deal with without them," Rossi said, his eye twitching.

"I managed," said William and he shrugged.

Morgan snorted. "Sure did," he muttered.

"It was just so easy," said Rossi. He watched as William shifted a little uncomfortably, his arms loosening from where they were crossed. "You know your way around a boiler I'm sure. Just a small adjustment and you could cause a leak."

William's lip twitched as if he were about to argue but Rossi continued.

"And a confused wife, paranoid Schizophrenic... all you had to do was convince her that her dose was upped and-"

"STOP!"

Even Morgan was taken aback by the abrupt yell. They both looked across at William who was shaking slightly, his lips parted and spit flecked on his chin like a deranged dog.

"Stop it! Just... just shut up!" he said, his voice a little tamer. It was a shame, Rossi thought, that William was cuffed to the table, since he couldn't reach to wipe away the spit running down his chin.

"Hit a nerve," said Morgan. "Starting to feel bad?"

"We're done here," William hissed. "Guard!" He craned his neck toward the door but Rossi raised his hand, turning to the mirror and shaking his head.

"We're not done until I say we are," Dave said darkly.

William strained to see the door but realised it was a lost cause. He turned his glare back on Rossi and he leaned across the table, spit still on his chin.

"Listen," he said. "You have nothing on me. You tried your best, agents, but it's over. I'm not telling you anything."

Rossi sighed. "Maybe you're right."

He glanced around the room. "It would be a shame if your fellow prisoners found out why you're in here."

William's face dropped, frozen with fear. "Y-you can't threaten me," he said, his voice a low hiss, curling past his tongue like a snake.

"I can do what I like," Rossi retorted. "In fact, I could easily have you transferred back to Vegas, I might even put a word in so the other prisoners about your dreadful debt."

Both Rossi and Morgan grinned at the horrified look that had overtaken William Reid's face.

After some TV time Aaron decided to put Spencer down for a nap. He checked the boy's temperature which was much too high. He sat for a few hours on Spencer's floor, keeping an eye on the sleeping boy.

By the time Jack had finished school Spencer was no better and he started to whimper in the car on the way back.

Despite Jack's best efforts to comfort Spencer which included two hugs, and holding Spencer's hand all the way home, Spencer was still not right.

Aaron took him straight into the bathroom, shutting the toilet lid and sitting Spencer on it. The boy swayed a little but Aaron quickly held him steady, brushing Spencer's hair from his forehead which was hotter than earlier.

"Please buddy, what hurts? Your tummy? Is it your tummy, sweetie?" Aaron put a hand on Spencer's stomach but Spencer shook his head and with a hicupoing sob he pointed down at his foot. Aaron followed his clammy finger and looked over the bandaged foot. He'd changed it last night, it was nearly healed.

"Is it your foot?" Aaron asked and Spencer nodded, sobbing a little louder. Aaron tried his best to smile as he looked back at Spencer.

"I'm just going to take a quick look, okay?"

"Dad?"

Aaron turned his head. Jack stood in the doorway, peering in. "Is Spencer okay?" he mumbled.

Aaron tried to smile again despite how uneasy he felt. "He's not feeling too great, buddy. Could you get him some water?"

Jack nodded eagerly, turning down the hall. Aaron returned his attention to Spencer's foot and carefully unwrapped it.

Spencer yelped when the padding came off. Aaron stared at the small foot which had obviously bled at some point, dried flecks of blood stuck to the bandage and

Spencer's red toes. Some of the skin had broken, all around it was a violent red colour, swollen and looking incredibly tender.

Spencer sniffled loudly. "I-I hit it," he mumbled, rubbing his eyes. "Last night, I-I hit it b-by accident!"

Spencer covered his face to sob and Aaron quickly reached up and rubbed his shoulder. "It's alright," he said. Spencer foot had been a nightmare at healing, the first infection had been a terror but had recently started to go, apparently it was back after Spencer's little knock.

Jack arrived then with the water which he hurried over to hand to Spencer. Jack put his hand on Spencer's head and smiled. "You can't get sick, Spence, we have a play-date tomorrow," Jack said. Spencer took a slow sip, looking up at Jack with round, wet eyes.

"Sorry, Jack, we may have to cancel."

Spencer and Jack both turned to Aaron in horror and the agent had to hold his hands up in surrender. "Fine, we'll see."

Jack took the water and set it on the counter while Aaron cleaned off the blood on Spencer's foot. Spencer jolted, looking good Jack for help when Aaron touched the broken skin. Aaron threw the wipe away and quickly reached for a tube of cream they'd been prescribed for Spencer's wounds.

"Tilt your foot a bit, Spencer," Aaron said.

Spencer sniffled, raising his foot a little more. He whimpered when Aaron started to rub the ointment on his foot but Aaron quickly soothed him with gentle words. When he'd rubbed it in well, Aaron started to bandage the foot back up. Not taking any chances, once the foot was covered, Aaron picked Spencer up.

"Better not walk on it anymore, buddy," he muttered, wondering if he perhaps needed to take Spencer into a clinic. Spencer nodded and leaned against Aaron. He gripped Aaron's shirt tightly in his fists while he mumbled quietly.

Aaron stepped into the hallway, and glanced down at Spencer in the gentler light from the window. "What was that, Spencer?" he asked, noticing the groggy boy's eyelids were drooping heavily.

"Dad, do you need help?" Jack asked, still eager to help. Aaron glanced down at him and smiled.

"You did great, kiddo. You go play while I settle Spencer, alright?"

Jack sighed but turned in the direction of his room.

Aaron looked back down at Spencer who was looking up, his expression a little lost.

"You okay there, bud?" Aaron asked, stoking Spencer's hair back softly.

"Mmhmm... Thanks, Daddy," Spencer whispered, pressing his warm face further into Aaron's shirt.

Aaron could only blink back in surprise. Clearly Spencer... he wasn't with it, Aaron thought, trying to push down the feeling of pride ballooning in his chest. He grinned, walking dazedly into the front room. Or maybe Spencer... maybe he trusts me now.

After sitting on the couch with Spencer curled up in his arms for half an hour, still shivering and whining in his sleep, Aaron decided he really needed to take Spencer to hospital.

After locking Mudgie in the utility room (which, with the plush dog bed, scattering of toys and his food and water bowl, was essentially Mudgie's room anyway) Aaron forced Jack off his x-box game and into the car alongside Spencer who went straight back to sleep.

They got to the hospital and checked in.

They waited for a short ten minutes in which Spencer woke up rather fitfully and started to cry.

Their name was called and Aaron and Jack, (Spencer still in Aaron's arms) followed the nurse to an examination room where a doctor was waiting, a smile on his round face.

"This must be Spencer! How can I help you today, buddy?"

Spencer sniffled into Aaron's chest, keeping his face turned away from the doctor. Jack, however, was gazing at the giant tub of lolly-pops on the doctor's desk, a greedy look on his face.

Aaron explained their situation, with Spencer being their foster child and the healing bite on his foot. The doctor nodded along to this thoughtfully and turned to don a pair of gloves.

"Secondary infection does occur sometimes with animals bites, especially rodents, they carry some rotten things in their mouths," he said, scooting his chair closer. "I'll take a quick look."

Spencer flinched when he felt the warm hands of the doctor on his ankle. He whined loudly, clutching Aaron desperately, his nails digging in.

Jack, who was still rooting for a lolly, took a step closer to Spencer and patted his back. "It's okay, Spence... y-you'll get a lolly after," he whispered, sending a hopeful smile the doctor's way who was too distracted to notice.

Aaron chuckled as he held Spencer gently against his chest.

The doctor was efficient, removing the bandage and examining Spencer's foot clinically. Spencer's other foot kicked out reflexively when the doctor prodded a particularly tender spot and Aaron tucked Spencer's head under his chin and shushed him.

The doctor nodded, moving his chair away and looking through a shelf he had to the side. He plucked down a tube of ointment and rolled back over. "This will feel just a tiny bit cold, okay, Spencer, I'll clean your foot first though," he said, his kindly smile back. Spencer peeked a look at the man as he gently swabbed between his toes with an alcoholic wipe which stung badly. Spencer sobbed into Aaron until it was over. He calmed down when he could feel the doctor rubbing the cooling cream over his swollen foot.

"Is that better, Spencer?" Aaron mumbled, pressing a kiss to Spencer's head as the boy grumbled the affirmative.

The doctor re-bandaged Spencer's foot and gave the nurse instructions for a new prescription Spencer would need.

Spencer finally pulled his head up and he looked down at his thickly wrapped foot.

"Try to keep him off it for a few days," the doctor said. He stood up and reached for the top shelf. Jack held his breath as he saw the doctor's fat fingers brush the tub of lolly-pops. He looked back and said, "his fever should break soon. It's just a reaction to the new infection. He'll just be sore. Now-." Jack practically yelled when the doctor grabbed the tub of lolly-pops. "What do you boys say to having a little treat?"

Thanks for reading.

Please let me know what you thought in the reviews.

See you Tuesday. Stay safe.