(Disclaimer: I do not own Criminal Minds or its characters)
This will be the penultimate chapter. I'll be happy to be able to focus on my other stories when this is done but I've really enjoyed writing this.
Thanks for all the support. I may consider a continuation of this in a sequel. Let me know what you guys think in the reviews.
This will basically show Spencer meeting all the other team members.
Enjoy.
The day Spencer met Penelope everything started to feel normal in the world.
After hearing that JJ had visited with her boys, Penelope begged to meet Spencer next. In fact, Aaron had a string of texts, some even threatening, from Garcia, asking to come over. So Aaron and Dave agreed that on Wednesday Garcia could finally meet Spencer.
Rossi had been discussing returning to work with Strauss, who had eased up on the two agents since Spencer had come into their lives. Emily was acting unit chief (perhaps a permanent position since Aaron was looking at early retirement.) Dave, on the other hand, wasn't sure he'd ever retire. He just couldn't make his mind up.
Garcia arrived just as Dave came off the phone to Strauss. Spencer looked up from his cereal bowl, he was trying fruit loops, and although they weren't as good as lucky charms, he was enjoying them. Jack was already at school, Aaron was picking up groceries, so Spencer and Dave were having a late breakfast. And of course, Penelope was early.
Dave opened the front door and grinned at the colourful woman on the other side. "I didn't expect you this early," he said. His gaze dropped to the bags in Penelope's hands and he rolled his eyes. "What have you been buying?" he asked with a fond sigh.
Penelope looked down at her bags and shrugged as if it were no big deal. "Just a few things."
"Don't you spoil Jack enough as it is?"
"Exactly," Penelope said with a wink. "I have so much catching up to do with Spencer."
Rossi chuckled. "You ought to come inside then," he said, shaking his head and opening the door to let her in.
Garcia didn't need to be told twice. She bustled in, her bags crumpling noisily in her haste.
"I need to be quiet, don't I? Where is he?"
Rossi tilted his neck back toward the kitchen. "He's having his breakfast. I'll let him know you're here."
Penelope stopped into the hallway, not daring to go any further. She followed Dave's gaze anxiously.
Rossi turned and laughed at the frozen look on her face. "Don't worry," he said. "Why don't you wait in the front room, I'll get him."
Penelope pushed her glasses up her nose and nodded, turning toward the front room. Her eyes were still on Dave before she had to break eye contact to sit on the couch.
Dave pivoted on the ball of his foot and went to the kitchen where Spencer was halfway through crunching a mouthful of cereal. Spencer's eyes lit up at the sight of Dave but he didn't try to speak, his cheeks swollen with fruit loops.
"Is that good?" Dave asked, grinning at Spencer, his own older eyes lit up just as bright as Spencer's. Spencer nodded, crunching quickly and swallowing.
"Yea!"
"Better than Cheerios?"
Spencer paused, looking down at the cereal with a conflicted look. "Um... maybe," he mumbled and he narrowed his eyes at the colourful hooped cereal. Spencer shrugged and put one last spoonful in his mouth before pushing the bowl away.
He frowned then, tilting his head to the side and looking toward the door. "Who was that?" he mumbled. He knew the mailman came in the morning but Dave wasn't carrying any mail.
Dave smiled and offered Spencer a hand, helping him off his chair. He knelt down before him and said, "its my friend Penelope. You remember her, don't you? She fixed Gary."
Spencer, biting his lip, looked back at the table where Gary was leaning against a carton of milk. Spencer looked back at Dave. "Why?" he whispered, his eyes flitting to the hall.
"She's come to see you."
"Oh..." Spencer looked down at his feet.
Dave sensed Spencer's attempt to shut him out and cupped his chin, turning his face up to his own. "Come on," he said in a soothing voice. "I'll be with you the whole time."
Spencer looked up at Dave and he nodded slowly. He took the older man's hand and followed him into the front room where Garcia was sat, fidgeting on the couch.
"Oh," she said, forcing herself to sit still. She smiled giddily. "Hi, Spencer."
"Hello..."
Spencer looked up at Dave who gave him a thumbs up. He guided Spencer toward the other couch and took a seat there, holding Spencer in front of his legs.
"This is Penelope Garcia, Spencer. She is one of the nicest people you will ever meet."
Penelope blushed, turning her head down at her bags before smiling again at Spencer.
"And this is Spencer," Dave said, patting Spencer's shoulder fondly. "He is the smartest kid I know." Dave ruffled Spencer's hair and the boy turned his head and scrunched his face up at Dave. "What, it's true. You're my little genius!"
"I can believe that," said Penelope. Spencer looked back at her. He looked her up and down taking in her fluffy blonde hair, curled around her round face. Her glasses were hexagons which made Spencer smile, he wondered how she found them, he thought glasses only had one shape. He looked at her dress, pink, orange, and white, and speckled in flowers of the same colours. Spencer liked how she looked. She seemed fun.
Penelope looked at Dave, searching for what was appropriate to say but the Italian just winked. Penelope cleared her throat and remembering her bags, she pulled them up on the seat beside her.
"I got you some things," she said hurriedly and she pulled the first bag up into her lap.
Spencer scowled at it, confused by what she had said. "For me?" he asked. Penelope stopped rummaging and smiled back at Spencer.
"Yea. Just for you."
Spencer leaned back against Dave's legs. "Why?" he whispered.
Penelope faltered, her hand still in the bag. "Well... um... I-"
"Because we all think you deserve it," Dave said and he put his arms around Spencer's middle, hugging the nervous boy. "Remember when Ashley gave you Gary? It was because she loved you. We all want to do the same."
Spencer's eyes rose to Penelope again who had a soft look on her own face. She started to pull out something from the bag. "He's right," she said, pulling out something big and soft. "And I love to spoil you boys."
Dave laughed. "Yea, you should see what she's given Jack before," he said, shaking his head when he remembered Jack's last birthday.
"It's my hobby. Here, this is for you." Penelope held out the thing from the bag and Spencer stepped forward to get a better look. His eyebrows rose at the soft toy in Penelope's plump fingers.
It was a bright green dragon, with dark green spikes running down its back and tail. Amongst the soft green fur were a set of beady black eyes and a stitched smile. Spencer stared at it, his eyes wide with wonder.
Penelope waved it in front of him. "It's for you, sweetie."
Spencer took another step forward and slowly accepted the toy. He was shocked that it felt as soft as it looked. He turned it around so the face was looking back at him and he matched the bright smile on the dragon's face. He looked up, his eyes a little damp. "Thank you," he whispered. Penelope beamed back and dug into another bag.
"Now, Spencer, this is really important," she said. Spencer pulled his dragon to his side and nodded sincerely.
"What I'm about to show you is the single best TV show to ever grace this earth," Penelope added seriously, and Spencer gave another serious nod while Penelope pulled out a thin box.
Rossi rolled his eyes when he saw the DVD set she pulled out.
Spencer got up on his tip-toes excitedly. Aaron and Jack has lots of those things... they called them movies. Jack's favourite was the Lego Movie. "Is that the Lego movie? Me and Jack like that," Spencer said but Penelope was shaking her head and turning the DVD upright.
"Oh no, my sweetness, this is Doctor Who: the best TV show ever."
"I have to disagree, Garcia, I can name many better TV-"
"No!" Penelope cried, holding her finger up to Dave. "Don't speak against it!"
Spencer blinked at Penelope and glanced back at Dave who was laughing.
"Doctor... who?" he mumbled and Dave snorted again, only making Penelope glare more fiercely at him.
"Spencer, my lovely little angel, you have so much to learn." Penelope grabbed a smaller bag and handed it to him. "When you watch it you'll know exactly what that is."
Spencer pulled out a blue police box and he placed his dragon on the ground to investigate the toy.
"That's the tardis," Penelope said, her voice full of excitement. Spencer took a seat on the carpet and put the box between his legs. He looked up at Dave.
"What's it do?"
Dave just shrugged, smirking at the affronted look on Penelope's face.
"Right," she said, opening the DVD and taking out one of the disks.
"We are watching the first episode-"
"No, please-"
"For Spencer," she said with a sharp look at Dave who quickly conceded. She looked down at Spencer with a smile. "Get ready to witness the greatest man alive."
It turned out that Spencer was destined to be a Doctor Who fan. By the time the episode had finished, Spencer was sat beside Penelope on the couch, leaning into her. He pressed down on his crossed legs as the episode ended and when the credits rolled he looked confused.
"Where's the rest?" he asked. He looked up at Penelope with an imploring gaze.
Penelope stared at him for a moment, her face slowly breaking into a smile. She lifted her head, turning her smug grin on Dave. He had his arms crossed and he looked bored. He raised an eyebrow.
"I never said he wouldn't like it."
"But you didn't want him to," Garcia shot back and Dave shook his head.
"Because now I have to watch the rest with him," he hissed, standing up and heading to the kitchen. "Coffee?"
"Yes please."
Spencer watched Dave go but he didn't have time to contemplate the loss of his presence. Penelope had pulled a giant lolly-pop from her bag. Spencer had seen that type of candy in things Jack watched, and it always looked delicious.
Spencer licked his lips and Penelope put the candy into Spencer's hand, glancing back to make sure Dave hadn't seen her. She didn't understand why JJ, Aaron, and Dave hated giving their kids candy, sure they went a bit wild, but they were kids after all.
"How about we put on the next episode? And you can keep asking me questions, I am a super fan after all." She winked and then pointed to the lolly still frozen in Spencer's gaze. "That's all for you too," she whispered.
Spencer tore his focus from the lolly and he gazed at Penelope in awe. Suddenly, and to Penelope's surprise, Spencer got up on his knees and wrapped his arms around her.
Penelope was so shocked that she just sat there with Spencer's thin arms squeezed around her.
"Thank you," Spencer said into her dress where he'd pressed his face. Penelope relaxed and felt her heart swell. She pulled Spencer closer and hugged him back.
"You," she whispered. "Are very welcome."
Spencer breathed in the flowery smell clinging to Penelope. Everything about her overwhelmingly reminded him of his sister.
Spencer was much more confident when he met the final members of the team. He was almost as rambunctious as Jack at home. It wasn't uncommon for Dave or Aaron to find him running around the house, usually after Jack.
Even when Dave went back to work, Spencer didn't fall back from the progress they'd made. He learned their routine and waited for Dave at 5.30 each evening, bombarding the older man with a hug when he walked through the door, before he could even take his shoes off. He was still struggling with going out in public or with other people but it was a minuscule blip in the progress he'd already made.
Aaron took Spencer into work after Dave had been back a week. It was there he met Emily and Derek, properly this time, rather than on the other side of the basement door.
Aaron held Spencer's hand as the boy took big steps up to the second level of the bullpen. Arron watched him and smiled as Spencer stuck his tongue out in concentration, tackling the steps like a champ. They passed Rossi's office and Spencer craned his neck, squinting at the sign. "Does that have Papa's name on it?" he asked. Aaron's heart fluttered a little. He and Dave were still trying to get used to hearing Spencer call them papa and daddy. It was a big source of pride for both of them.
Aaron nodded with a smile directed down at Spencer. "It is, great memory, buddy."
Spencer blushed and hurried along after Aaron.
They stepped into the conference room where there was a happy chatter around the table. Dave turned first and broke into a huge grin when he saw Spencer.
"Hey, kiddo!" he said, leaning down and opening his arms. Spencer grinned and ran toward him, happy to be picked up.
"Is this the famous Spencer?" Emily asked, feigning shock. Spencer turned in Dave's grip and smiled shyly at Emily.
He glanced at Morgan nervously but seeing Morgan smile, Spencer's shoulders slumped and he smiled again.
"You remember us, pretty boy?" Morgan asked. Spencer frowned at the funny nickname, reaching self consciously for his hair and wrapping his finger in a curl. He gave a slow nod in response to Morgan's question.
He remembered them when he'd first arrived. Morgan was the one who had said he was five which was wrong, although Spencer didn't mind being thought as older than he was. Spencer shook his head as another memory of them surfaced. He remembered the light flooding into the tiny basement closet and seeing both their faces on the other side.
"And he remembers me," Garcia said, pulling Spencer's attention away from his memories. "Because I'm his favourite auntie," she added smugly.
Emily snorted. "That's because you bribed your way there," she said and she turned to Spencer with a smile. "What did auntie Pen give you when she first saw you?"
Spencer didn't have to think long. "She got me a huge lolly-pop, my dragon, and she gave me a doctor who dvd and the tardis," Spencer said with a thoughtfully expression and Emily smirked at Garcia, mouthing something along the lines of 'busted.'
"I love to spoil them," Garcia said quietly.
"That's true. Half of my boys' clothes are from you," JJ said.
Spencer looked back at Aaron nervously, pushing away from Dave a little. "Hey," Dave whispered. "It's okay. Come here." He lifted Spencer up into his lap so he had a better view. Spencer wrapped his hand around Dave's wrist, looking around the table before his eyes fell on a familiar face. He smiled at JJ.
"Hi, sweetie," JJ said and she smiled back at Spencer. "Michael and Henry want to see you and Jack again."
"Really?" Spencer asked, leaning in toward the table. It was still hard to believe that people actually wanted to see him.
JJ smiled sadly. She hated that Spencer needed confirmation that he was loved despite it being so blatantly obvious. "We can go to the park if you'd like."
"Oh, count me in too!" said Garcia and she winked at Spencer. "I'll get you boys an ice cream."
"Bribery!" Emily yelled and she pointed accusingly at Garcia. "Me and JJ need a chance to catch up with you."
Garcia waved them off, her cheeks red. "It's only ice cream."
Spencer was frowning hard, wracking his brain for what ice cream could be. His old daddy never mentioned it... nor did Ashley. Aaron, having noticed his struggle, said, "what's wrong, buddy?"
"Um..." Spencer glanced up, realising they were all watching him. "What's ice cream?" he mumbled.
The table was quiet, but only for a moment. Morgan and JJ were the first to burst into speech.
"What's... what's ice cream!? He hasn't had ice cream!"
"Hasn't he had any!?"
Aaron looked just as shocked and he exchanged a glance with Dave, both feeling guilty for not introducing Spencer to ice cream. Spencer shrunk back into Dave's lap. He wasn't sure what he'd said wrong.
"This is... its..." Emily started, looking for the right words.
Morgan cut her off, "it's an injustice," he said and he rolled his chair closer to Spencer's. "You, pretty boy," he said and he pointed at Spencer who was looking around in panic. "And me are going to get ice cream. I promise you it is the best thing you'll ever try."
"Iced cream?" Spencer said in a questioning tone. He scrunched up his nose. It sounded plain, like eating ice, something he hadn't tried either, but he knew what water tasted like so ice must just be a cold version of water.
"That's it," Morgan grunted and without warning he scooped Spencer from Dave's lap. Dave started to argue against the action but Spencer didn't seem to mind. "I'm getting this deprived child an ice cream," he stated. "If any of you want one you have to come too, but I will not have Spencer wait any longer to try the greatest creation in the world!"
Spencer stared at Morgan and the man's admirable determination. He grabbed onto Derek's shirt, uncaring that he barely knew the man. Aaron followed Morgan quickly as he stomped from the room, heading straight for his desk where he had his keys and wallet.
"You are going to love this place, kid. They do double chocolate brownie. Man, it's good." Morgan smiled at Spencer, knowing full well he was about to change the kids perception of food. He was, however, completely unaware that he had already started changing Spencer's life from the moment he picked him up.
And that was how Derek Morgan became one of Spencer's best friends.
I wish I could write more on each of these meetings but I just couldn't think. I hope you guys enjoyed it though. I'm pretty sure I haven't mentioned Spencer having ice cream since coming to live with Dave and Aaron. If I have, let me know and I'll be sure to alter it.
Please review, let me know what you thought.
Stay safe and see you soon for the last chapter.