I'm trying very hard to keep working on a number of stories. If you could drop a review, I'd greatly appreciate it. This isn't as polished, as I'd like it to be, but I'm too tired to properly edit and the next couple days are busy for me.

Chapter Six:

Reid had to be examined in more awful places again, but Hotch stayed by his side. He had never felt so loved in his life. Hotch clearly cared about him.

He couldn't help but wonder about what came next though. Hotch wore a wedding ring. What did his wife think of all of this? Reid believed in Hotch, but he questioned who else did.

The security was double now. Real police officers were stationed by him and outside the door. Reid wished he felt more assured. Too many bad things had happened. Trust was hard for him.

"Sport," Hotch said.

"Yes?"

"I'm going to change out of this suit. Can I leave for a half-hour?"

"Of course," he said. "It's midnight. Get comfortable."

"I'll be back," he said. "I promise."

"I know you will."

Reid was too exhausted to think any more. He tried to sleep.

…

The team assembled in the conference room given to them by the hospital. Hotch was dressed in sweat pants and a t-shirt.

"You have twenty minutes to tell me where we are in the investigations."

"We managed to apprehend the killer of the strippers six hours ago," Rossi said. "He was one of the club managers who paid a guy to change his tapes to create alibis."

"We still don't know who the mastermind of the pedophile ring is," Morgan said. "The janitors we've apprehended don't seem to know the real name of who was sending the 'zines.' It's going to take time and additional resources to track down the mastermind."

"Sounds like something we're better off handling at Quantico," Hotch said.

"How is Spencer?" Prentiss asked.

"Shaken up," Hotch said. "Frankly he's doing well all things considered."

"Hotch," J.J. said carefully. "What's going on?"

"I want to take the kid in," he said. "Haley shut me down the first time I asked, but after seeing what happened, I can't. I can't allow that kid to continue to believe that no one can keep him safe."

"What are you going to do?" Morgan asked.

"I don't know," he said. "I don't know what I'm doing. I just… no case has ever affected me like this."

"Aaron," Rossi said. "It's okay."

"I couldn't help but promise to take care of him."

Hotch seemed to break down. Morgan had never seen Hotch so undone. It was weird being around him, with him like this.

"Haley will come around," Rossi said. "Just give it time. Take some well-deserved time off. You'll figure it out."

"Speaking of well-deserved rest," Hotch said as he began compose himself. "The plane is taking you home tomorrow. Rest, blow off some steam. Do what you need to do to decompress. This has been a stressful week."

"I'm not going anywhere," Morgan said. "You need someone to help you watch the kid."

"Morgan, you don't have to."

"I want to. Let Spencer talk my ear off about how narwal horns were mistaken for unicorn horns."

"How do you know something like that?" J.J. asked playfully.

"I had sisters," he said as his face grew warm.

"Let me talk to Haley tomorrow," Rossi said.

"David, again—"

"We've basically decided, Spencer may be staying with you," Prentiss said. "But the whole team is adopting him."

"We all decided we wanted to help," J.J. said. "If Haley isn't agreeable to it. We've decided we'll collectively take care of him."

There was a sudden, almost unearthly scream. The team rushed down the hall, and to Reid's room.

They found the female cop cradling Reid. The male guarding the door mouthed the word "nightmares."

"I'm here, Spencer," Hotch said.

"I'm so tired," he whimpered. "Yet when I dream, I see bad things. Why can't I rest?"

Rossi began to sing something in Italian. Reid began to drift off instantly.

"Ma's songs never failed to put me to sleep," Rossi said.

Hotch looked to him. "You are a man of many talents Dave."

"Hands in," Morgan said. "From here on out we will all collectively be Spencer's guardians. Got it?"

Everyone put their hands in.

"To the team," Hotch said.

"Spencer's team," Prentiss said.

"Now and forever," Rossi said.

"Better day for Spencer, here on out," J.J.

The team raised their hands together for Reid.