Disclaimer: I don't own Criminal Minds. The occasional scenes from episodes of Criminal Minds in this story belong to the writers of Criminal Minds and CBS. No copyright infringement is intended.
A/N: Shout out to fishtrek, Fashionista7, Astrahan, Daisyangel, and Guest (I wish that you would include your first name just in case there's more than one guest reviewer) for reviewing chapter 30.
Aside from focusing on my Spencer/Olivia series, writer's block sucks.
Since another Fanfiction author already messaged me and asked me if I'm close to the violence that's currently happening in my home state, I thought that all of you readers should know that I'm safe where I am. I only leave my house to grocery shop, go to the gym, go an occasional date with my boyfriend of six months, or go to medical appointments if I have one while Kenosha is a two-hour drive from where I live and my hometown only had a few peaceful protests.
Spencer entered the house at four P.M. to find Maeve, Stephanie, and Stephanie's friend Holly Osmond with their bags and in Violet's and Arthur's case their diaper bags packed while Violet and Arthur slept in their baby swings, "As soon as I shower and change, we can hit the road and stop by a diner on the way for dinner," said Spencer.
"Was Aaron OK with you leaving an hour early when you told him where we're spending the weekend?" asked Maeve.
Spencer nodded, "He allowed me to leave early to make up on not being home for my birthday," said Spencer before looking at Holly, "Are you excited about getting to spend the next two nights at the cabin I was given by my teammate who recently passed away?" asked Spencer.
Holly nodded, "My parents are grateful that you and Mrs. Reid agreed to take me in for the weekend so they can focus on taking care of Dustin and Rebecca since they got their tonsils and adenoid glands removed today."
Maeve looked at her husband, "I already gave Gerald and Lucinda the number for the land-line at the cabin and we'll have to call them when we arrive."
"OK," said Spencer before he rushed upstairs to shower before changing into a pair of jeans and a CalTech sweatshirt before he, Maeve, Violet, Arthur, Stephanie, and Holly hit the road while they stopped at a diner during their two-hour drive to the newly proclaimed Reid Family cabin.
After arriving at the cabin, Spencer and Maeve who each had a twin on their hip showed Stephanie and Holly the bedroom they would be sharing that had two twin-sized beds that had had matching rustic looking quilts.
"This room is your new home for the next two nights, ladies," said Spencer.
Maeve smiled, "These two beds are trundle beds."
Stephanie grinned, "These beds will be perfect for if Holly, Erica, and Ramona all join us for a weekend here."
"While it will be perfect for when Violet and Arthur grow out of their cribs too," said Maeve.
"Speaking of cribs, where are Violet and Arthur sleeping?" asked Holly.
"Their cribs for this cabin are currently in Spencer's and my bedroom so you two girls can stay up as late as you two want to chitchat without waking up Violet and Arthur," said Maeve.
At that moment Violet and Arthur both started rubbing their eyes.
"Speaking of Violet and Arthur, we might as well get them into their cribs," said Spencer.
Maeve nodded, "We should. When Spencer and I are done tucking in Violet and Arthur, how about we make hot chocolate and pick a game to play?" asked Maeve.
"No TV?" asked Holly.
"We decided that this cabin should be a distraction from the rest of the world, so when we're here there's no using electronics unless we're cooking," said Spencer.
"Can we play Apples to Apples?" asked Stephanie.
Spencer nodded, "Sure."
A few minutes later Spencer and Maeve got Violet and Arthur into clean diapers and pajamas before they tucked the tired twins into their cribs before they headed into the kitchen to make hot chocolate and popcorn over the stove while Holly called her parents before Spencer, Maeve, Stephanie, and Holly settled down in front of a roaring fire and played Apples to Apples.
The next morning Spencer woke up to sunlight streaming through the window causing him to reach out for his glasses and slipped them on causing Maeve to wake up, "Good morning, Maeve."
"How did you sleep, Spencer?" asked Maeve.
"I thought that I would have nightmares because of finding Gideon outside of this cabin, but I didn't have any," said Spencer.
"That's good," said Maeve just as they heard Violet and Arthur starting to cry from the cribs they had placed in their room, "We might as well tend to Violet and Arthur before we cook breakfast to wake up Stephanie and Holly."
A few minutes later Spencer was heating a bottle to feed Violet while Maeve breastfed Arthur before they placed Violet and Arthur in their pack-n-play so they could cook breakfast causing Stephanie and Holly who stayed up most of the night talking and giggling stumbled into the kitchen.
After breakfast was cleaned up, Spencer and Maeve bundled Violet and Arthur up for the middle of October weather and got them into a baby carrier on their chests before they took Stephanie and Holly on a nature hike in the woods while Spencer pointed out what type of trees they were seeing while Violet and Arthur were amused at watching squirrels and chipmunks running around the woods.
Later on that evening, Spencer and Maeve were cuddling on the couch as the fire in the fireplace helped keep them warm as they watched Violet and Arthur scoot on their stomachs around the huge rug they laid on the living room floor while Stephanie and Holly played Scrabble together when Maeve looked at her husband, "I had a great day today, Spencer," said Maeve.
Spencer nodded, "Me too."
"How often do you think that we should come here?" asked Spencer.
"Maybe at least once a month, but every other month we come here without the kids," said Maeve.
Stephanie who just had finished moving her yellow piece six places looked at her older brother, "And during fall, winter, and spring break if you can get off of work, Spencer."
A few minutes later Spencer and Maeve were giving Violet and Arthur their baths before they put the twins to bed so Spencer could take a telescope outside to teach Stephanie and Holly about the constellations.
After Stephanie and Holly were both asleep in the bunk bed, Spencer and Maeve were sitting on a porch wrapped with a blanket when Maeve looked at her husband, "Even though we're planning on coming out here once a month, I hope that some of these monthly trips involve leaving Violet, Arthur, and Stephanie with my parents," said Maeve.
Spencer nodded, "I was thinking about the same thing too."
The next evening Spencer, Maeve, Stephanie, Mary, and Joe were gathered around the dining room table at their house because of them not going over to Aunt Erin's for dinner because of Tyler having a cold when Joe looked at Spencer, Maeve, and Stephanie, "How was your weekend at your cabin?" asked Joe.
Maeve smiled, "We had a great time, dad."
Spencer looked at his father-in-law, "If you and Mary want to, you two can go up to the cabin on weekends that I'm not on a case and Maeve and I decided to stay here with the kids."
"Are you sure about us borrowing your cabin?" asked Mary.
"Knowing Gideon, he would love you two to borrow the cabin when Maeve and I aren't there," said Spencer.
Over an hour later, Spencer walked to the coffee machine and smiled when he saw Hotch there, "Good morning, Hotch," said Spencer.
"How was your weekend?" asked Hotch.
Spencer smiled, "Maeve and I took Violet, Arthur, Stephanie, and our neighbor Holly to the cabin from Friday night and got home yesterday afternoon."
Hotch thought about Spencer telling him everything that he and Maeve bought for their cabin, "So you and Maeve got everything set up?" asked Hotch.
Spencer nodded, "Yes, and our next-door neighbor Holly came with us to the cabin since her brother and sister both got their tonsils and adenoid glands removed on Friday."
"At least your sister's friends will help put those two trundle beds to use until Violet and Arthur outgrow their cribs at the cabin," said Hotch before giving Spencer a searching look, "How did you handle spending two nights at the cabin without Gideon being there?" asked Hotch.
"Even though the cabin isn't the same without Gideon, I had a great time there with Maeve, the twins, Stephanie, and Stephanie's best friend while I didn't have any nightmares," said Spencer.
"There's something nice about having little feet running around," said Hotch.
"Even though Violet and Arthur are scooting around on their stomachs instead of walking," said Spencer.
"They'll be crawling soon, so be prepared for them to make messes when they grab everything in their reach and open cabinet doors," said Hotch.
"Since Violet and Arthur are showing signs of beginning to crawl soon, my father-in-law already started child-proofing," said Spencer before he took his doctored cup of coffee and headed to his desk to work on some consults.
After briefing about the latest case in Denver, Colorado; Spencer was in the bullpen calling Maeve who answered on the second ring.
"Do you have a case?" asked Maeve.
"A family annihilator in Denver, Colorado," said Spencer.
Maeve gasped as she realized that her husband is dealing a case with dead children, "Need me to send you a lot of pictures of Violet, Arthur, and even Stephanie?" asked Maeve.
"Yes please," said Spencer.
Later on, that day when it was 6 P.M. in Denver and 8 P.M. in Washington D.C., Spencer was borrowing Lieutenant Nellis's office when he smiled when he saw Maeve, Violet, Arthur, and Stephanie on his laptop screen, "Hi."
Violet grinned, "Dada!"
Arthur grinned as drool came out of his mouth, "Dada."
"Hi, Spencer," said Stephanie.
Spencer looked at his sister, "How was school today, Stephanie? I know that you were supposed to results on some tests that you took last week."
Stephanie smiled, "I got 100% on my science test while I got 95% on my math test thanks to you, Maeve, and Mary quizzing me on either science or math."
"That's great," said Spencer.
"I also found out that the eighth-grade will be going through standardized testing in two weeks. We'll be tested on our reading, writing, math, science, and social studies; so my case manager, Holly, Erica, Ramona, and other students in my special education study hall and I are going to be getting together at 7 A.M. before school every day for a study group with Mrs. Beasley while Holly's mom is going to make sure that I haven't missed anything while I was home-schooled," said Stephanie.
Spencer nodded, "This examination will help determine if you can go up to high school next year."
Stephanie nodded, "Even though I was home-schooled when I was in the fourth grade, I had to meet up with a bunch of other home-schooled kids to take a standardized test on every subject except for gym while I had to take a standardized test on reading and math when I was in the seventh grade last year."
Spencer thought about the website he was told to go to so he could check his sister's grades, "Based on how your grades are so far, I know that you're going to do great on this exam, Stephanie."
Stephanie grinned, "Mrs.
"How are you doing, Spencer?" asked Maeve.
Spencer thought about Stephanie knowing how cruel the world can be since she almost died in the car accident that killed her mother, "I hate kids being killed."
"I know, Spencer, but just focus on how many kids and their parents you're going to be saving as soon as you find the unsub," said Maeve.
"Unsubs," corrected Spencer before looking at his children, "Were you two munchkins good for Grandpa Joe today?" asked Spencer.
"Violet has completed a new milestone today," said Maeve.
Spencer looked at his daughter, "What did you do while daddy is away, flower?" asked Spencer.
Stephanie grinned, "When I got home from school, Violet and Arthur were having tummy time and Violet just got onto her hands and knees and crawled to me."
"Please tell me that you got Violet crawling on video," said Spencer.
"I emailed the video of Violet crawling to you, Spencer," said Maeve.
A few minutes later Spencer was saying goodnight to Violet and Arthur before he spent a few more minutes video chatting with his sister and disconnected so he could watch a video of Violet crawling before he quickly showed the video of his daughter crawling to his teammates.
The next morning Spencer stood in the police department's bullpen with his teammates as they started to give the profile.
"We're looking for two men, probably white, given the neighborhoods that they hit, mid to late twenties, intelligent, and organized," started Hotch.
"These are career criminals. One or both has done hard time, but neither presents as a convict. They would appear clean-shaven, well dressed..." said Morgan.
"Neighborly. This helps them talk their way into the homes. They may also be using a ruse," said Emily.
"What kind of ruse?" asked Lieutenant Nellis.
"Given that the invasions have taken place in the evening, it could be anything. Could be door-to-door sales, person in distress, car trouble," said Hotch.
Spencer thought about his five-month-old twins, "Uh, Derrick Todd Lee used a tape of a baby crying to get women to open their doors in Baton Rouge. Never underestimate their creativity."
"These men share a very tight bond and a mutual compulsion to kill, but their signatures reveal two very distinct personalities," said Emily.
"One brutalizes the parents. This is the dominant one... Sadistic, remorseless, extremely volatile," said Hotch.
"The other prefers a needle. His injections are consistent with an angel of death. He's more withdrawn, sensitive, and he has a warped sense of mercy." said Emily as Morgan passed out a list of places that the drugs could have been accessed at.
"Agent Morgan is passing out a list of places where he might have access to the drug he uses. It's long, but..." said Hotch just as JJ entered the room.
"Hotch. There's been another one, and they're sending an ambulance," said JJ.
"Ambulance?" asked Emily.
"There's a survivor?" asked Hotch.
JJ nodded.
The next day Spencer looked at the crime scene photos before reading the autopsy reports, and after realizing that one of the children were being abused by a parent, he ended up thinking about the times that his mom slapped him during her episodes before going to find Hotch.
A short while later Spencer was pointing his pen at one of the crime scene photos as he looked at his teammates and Lieutenant Nellis.
"This is the Laybourne house, where we believe our unsubs graduated from robbery to murder," said Spencer.
"Did you find a trigger?" asked Morgan.
"Not until I looked at the daughter's autopsy reports. Uh, check out the bruises on her torso," said Spencer as he pointed at a picture.
Hotch thought about Spencer telling him about the times his mother beaten him during her episodes, watching Hankel beat Spencer, and the times his own father beaten him himself, "She was beaten?" asked Hotch.
Spencer thought about the times he hid the injuries his mother gave him and the injuries his past bullies gave him that he worked hard to hide, "But not by our unsubs. The coroner noted those bruises were several days old. Uh, it turns out she'd been to the emergency room three times in less than two years. The D.S.S had even been notified."
"So the Laybournes were abusing their daughter. Where's this going?" asked Hotch.
"One of the unsubs decimates parental figures, but we know the statistics there," said Spencer as he kept the flashbacks of his mother hitting him during her schizophrenic episodes at bay, "It's... It's likely he was abused himself."
"So you're saying the unsub recognized the signs of abuse, flew into a rage, and killed the parents?" asked Hotch.
Spencer thought about himself having to commit his mother because of knowing that he's a child abuse victim even though it's too late for his father to pay for his crimes, "Anger displacement. He's getting revenge for his own childhood abuse."
"So you think what, the victims were beating their kids?" asked Lieutenant Nellis.
"Uh, the Laybourne case was just the trigger, but now they see all parents the same," said Spencer.
"That doesn't explain the kids," said Lieutenant Nellis.
Morgan decided to back Spencer up as he thought about Spencer telling him after the Fisher King Case how bad it was to deal with his mother after his father left until he was able to commit her, "Maybe it does. Think of the family annihilators John List and Mark Barton. They thought they were saving their kids by killin' 'em."
"But what is he saving' them from?" asked Lieutenant Nellis.
"Life without their parents, without love, life like his," said Morgan.
"They're orphans. What if they both grew up in a third-party household?" asked Spencer.
"What, like a foster home?" asked Lieutenant Nellis.
"Didn't Carrie describe an aversion to eye contact?" asked Hotch.
"Oppositional defiant disorder," said Spencer.
"Often seen in kids who grew up in foster homes," said Hotch.
Emily entered the room, "Guys, I think we may have found our girl's secret admirer."
"Garcia traced the flowers?" asked Morgan.
"Yep. Paid for by phone with a credit card under the name Robert Serrano," said Emily.
Lieutenant Nellis looked at Spencer who was smiling at a picture on his phone as they drove through Denver to find Tyler and Sara who were both abducted by Gary causing him to think about Spencer telling him that he and his wife are parents to five-month-old boy/girl twins while they're also guardians to his 12-year-old half-sister, "New picture of your kids and sister?" asked Lieutenant Nellis.
Spencer nodded, "My wife is making sure that a lot of pictures of Violet, Arthur, and Stephanie are sent to me while I made sure to call my father-in-law so I can talk to Violet and Arthur and hear them babble back at me."
"Despite this case, are you and your wife going to have more kids?" asked Lieutenant Nellis.
Spencer nodded, "We are," said Spencer just as the radio sounded causing him and Lieutenant Nellis to hear that Gary, Tyler, and Sara were found.
"We should get to that donut shop," said Lieutenant Nellis as he headed towards the donut shop.
A few minutes later Spencer was calling Hotch who answered on the second ring.
"Reid, what?" asked Hotch.
"We got him. He's at a donut shop two miles from the school. Black and whites saw the car, called it in." said Spencer.
"Kids?" asked Hotch.
Spencer instantly grabbed the binoculars that Lieutenant Nellis gave him and looked through them, "Ah, we got a visual on Gary and the boy, but I don't see the girl." said Spencer just as there was a tap on the window causing him to recognize Sara.
"Are you the police?" asked Sara.
"Yeah," said Spencer as he rolled down the already open window more.
"He told me to give this to you," said Sara as she passed Spencer a note.
Spencer quickly read the note that gave the threat about killing Tyler, "We might have a problem, Hotch."
A short while later Spencer was standing outside Lieutenant Nellis's car with his Kevlar vest on when Hotch who was donning his vest came over to them.
"Guys, guys, fall back, I don't want them feeling boxed in," said Hotch as he looked at the SWAT agents.
"I got sharpshooters lining up," said Lieutenant Nellis.
Spencer passed Hotch the note.
"Tell them to keep their safeties on. I want to talk to him first," said Hotch.
"Let's see," said Hotch as he motioned Spencer to hand him the binoculars.
Hotch looked through the binoculars to see Gary and Tyler together in the donut shop.
JJ approached them, "Hotch?" asked JJ.
"Yeah?" asked Hotch.
"Got the clerk," said JJ as she handed Hotch the phone.
Hotch pressed the phone to his ear, "That guy sitting at the table with the little boy, I'd like to speak to him, please." said Hotch as Spencer looked through the binoculars that Hotch gave back to him as he listened to Hotch's side of the conversation.
"I'm the only thing standing between you and a bullet. And never see Ervin again? He told us what the Manwarings did to you in that house. They're the objects of your anger, Gary, not that little boy in there. No, it's not. It's not, Gary. And deep down, I think you know that he still has a chance. He doesn't have to be you." said Hotch before hanging up about 20 seconds later.
"What is it? What'd he say?" asked Lieutenant Nellis.
A minute later Morgan and Emily were getting Tyler to safety before Hotch who had his hand on Spencer's shoulder motioned him to come with him, and a minute later they approached Morgan and a SWAT agent who were arresting Gary before two SWAT agents led Gary away.
Lieutenant Nellis looked at Hotch, "I don't know what you did, but nice work."
"Thanks." said Hotch before looking at Spencer and JJ, "You two stay here and take statements."
As they were flying home from Denver, Colorado, Hotch had just gotten off the phone with Jack when he looked at Spencer who had just gotten off the phone with his five-month-old twins or Stephanie, "You OK?" asked Hotch.
"This case reminds me how lucky I am that I was able to avoid the foster-care system after my dad left even though one of my professors at CalTech was assigned as a foster parent to me so I wouldn't be starting college as a 12-year-old living in the dorms with students who were 18-years-old and older," said Spencer.
"While you're grateful that you took in your 12-year-old half-sister instead of having her placed into foster care," said Hotch.
Spencer nodded, "Yes."
"Even though I know that your aunt Ethel and Uncle Gordon did the best to care for you while Chief Strauss sent them money, sometimes I wish that I was in Las Vegas shortly after your father left to find a ten-year-old you and petition to be your foster parent, get your mother the care she needed, have you study with private tutors or enroll you into a school for gifted children instead of allowing you to stay in a public school, and have your father get arrested for child endangerment," said Hotch.
"I know, but what matters is that I survived and I'm going to make sure that Violet, Arthur, and any other children I have with Maeve have the best life I didn't have while I try to be the best big brother/father figure to my sister deserves," said Spencer.
"Even though you and Stephanie are 13 years apart, have you ever thought about adopting your sister as your daughter?" asked Hotch.
Spencer shook his head, "Stephanie, Maeve, Stephanie's social worker, and I all talked about the idea of Maeve and me adopting Stephanie or becoming her foster parents, but because of the 13-year age difference between us it just makes sense that Maeve and I are to be known as Stephanie's guardians instead of her adoptive parents or foster parents."
"Has anyone at Georgetown Day School asked you if you were Stephanie's father yet?" asked Hotch.
"Thankfully they haven't because I quickly mention that Stephanie is my sister who I have custody of before I'm asked," said Spencer.
"I understand the predicament you're in, but at least you're getting closer to Stephanie than I am with Sean since you're going to be raising her until she goes off to college," said Hotch before sighing, "After my father died and Sean started kindergarten, I got into a bit of trouble and got shipped off to boarding school."
"Starting college a month before my 13th birthday was like boarding school for me even though I was a 12-year-old kid sitting in college classes with students who were 18-years-old and older even though I was living in a house with a professor instead of living in a dorm," said Spencer.
After getting off the jet, Spencer walked over to Emily, "I heard what JJ said to you about kids, so you're coming home with me so you can sleep in the guest bedroom, spend some time holding Violet and Arthur tonight, and get to eat breakfast with my sister in the morning," said Spencer.
"What about Maeve?" asked Emily.
"I texted Maeve about you and Carrie, and she insisted that I bring you home so you can stay the night," said Spencer.
Emily smiled, "Thank you."
A few minutes later Spencer and Emily were getting into Emily's car together since Spencer took the train to work.
Over an hour later Spencer and Emily entered the Reid family home to find Maeve preparing two bottles, "You two are just in time to feed Violet and Arthur," said Maeve.
Spencer pecked his wife on the lips, "They're both wanting a midnight snack?" asked Spencer.
Maeve nodded, "Yes."
"Emily and I will feed, burp, and change the twins' diapers before I send Emily up to the guest bedroom and then I join you in bed," said Spencer.
Maeve looked at Emily, "I already put clean towels in Stephanie's bathroom, so feel free to take a shower."
"Thank you, Maeve," said Emily.
A few seconds later Spencer and Emily both accepted a warmed up bottle from Maeve before they headed upstairs where Violet and Arthur who were both crying stopped crying when they saw their father.
"Dada!" exclaimed Violet.
"Dada!" exclaimed Arthur.
Violet then grinned when she recognized her daddy's coworker Emily, "Em."
Emily's eyes went wide as she watched Spencer remove Violet from her crib before sitting in the white rocking chair that had cushions with violets on them, "Did I just hear your five-month-old daughter call me Em?" asked Emily.
Spencer nodded, "She is taking after me," said Spencer before he placed the nipple of the bottle in Violet's mouth causing his five-month-old daughter to start drinking Maeve's breast milk.
Emily smiled as she removed Arthur from his crib and sat down in the rocking chair on Arthur's side of the nursery, "Hey there little guy, are you hungry right now?" asked Emily.
Arthur grinned at Emily, "Em," said Arthur before he started to drink his bottle.
A few seconds later Spencer decided to start singing, "Daddy's Little Girl" while not caring that a teammate of his was in his kids' nursery with him.
The next morning Emily was eating breakfast with the Reid and Donovan family as she listened to Stephanie tell her how school was going before she, Maeve, and Stephanie agreed on having a girls' day out on Saturday.
A/N: Speaking of cabins, up until my parents' divorce I would go to my paternal grandparents' three-bedroom trailer up in the woods outside Iron Mountain, Michigan (Upper Peninsula part of Michigan) during school breaks. My brothers and I were told to remain in the big backyard and to keep out of the woods because of mountain lions while we were always checked over for ticks while there was no working toilet in the trailer causing us to use a portable potty or went out to the outhouse depending on what we had to do in the bathroom while we mainly used wet wipes to clean ourselves since there was only water from the well.