Hey, everyone. Here is the next chapter for you all. I hope you really enjoy this chapter. I'm still not sure about what is going to happen with Diana. I'm not sure if she's going to live or die yet. William is far from done but I promise there are some great moments coming up soon. I'm also doing much better after my flu. Anyway, enjoy and I look forward to hearing from you all.

Thank you for the wonderful reviews and the great response that you've given this story. Thanks!

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All mistakes are my own

Morgan stopped in his tracks as he walked past Spencer's room. He grinned as he saw his mother sitting on the bed with one arm around Spencer and her other arm in front of her with her hand holding Lord of the Rings. Warmth spread through his heart as he remembered the nights she would sit with him and read to him till he fell asleep. Within a minute of him watching, he saw Spencer fall asleep against his mother. He walked in quietly as she rose up from the bed and pulled the duvet up to keep Spencer warm. "Goodnight, little angel."

Fran took her son's hand and led him out of the room. They turned the night light on and turned off the big light before leaving the door open a small amount. They walked downstairs where she let out a happy sigh. "That little boy is just wonderful."

"I know," Morgan said as they walked into the kitchen. Morgan began making his mother a cup of tea as she sat down on a stool. "Mom, do you think that I've rushed into this?"

"What do you mean?" she asked.

"Mom, I'm planning all these long term things for Spencer when I have no idea how long he'll be allowed to stay with me. I have no doubt that they'll let me look after him after their inspection but I don't know what will happen after that. Diana still has rights to her son and so does William although CPS would have to be insane to ever let William Reid have a child. I love having him here and I don't know what it is but I would do anything to keep him safe and I don't want to lose him. If CPS deemed Diana fit to care for him then Spencer would want to go back to his mother and I won't keep him from her. I want to care for him as long as I can. I'm just afraid of rushing into things. I'm looking into enrolling him at a local school after the inspection."

"Derek, that little boy adores you and I think that you should stop thinking about how long he might be with you and focus on the fact that he's with you now. From what you've told me about his parents, it will be a long time before anything happens. He's safe with you and that's all that matters. You've become Spencer's support and he's captured your heart. The fatherly part of yourself has come out and that is a wonderful. Don't be afraid of this. Embrace this part of yourself and give that boy everything he could need. I'm here for as long as you need."

Putting down the mug in his hand, he walked over and wrapped his arms around her. "You always know the right thing to say. Thanks, Mom."

Fran hugged her son back. "Mothers always do."

Morgan came away from the hug as his phone began to ring. He picked it up and answered it. "Hello."

Fran noticed the smile immediately drop from her son's face. His features warped into ones of anger. "Derek, what's wrong?"

William Reid washed the blood from his knuckles and became frustrated at the lack of co-operation from his wife. No matter how hard he had hit her, she had refused to give up their son's location and he had made her pay dearly for that. He didn't care if she died in the alley. Spencer was his son and no-one took his property. He walked out into his friend's kitchen and accepted the whiskey handed to him.

"What's next, William?"

"Rest for tonight and then I'm going to make some calls and pay a visit to that social worker. Diana wouldn't tell me where my son is but I'll make sure the other bitch does."

Rossi and Emily caught the first flight they could to Las Vegas. Diana was still undergoing some surgery and they were sure that William was responsible for putting her into the hospital. Morgan had called them and they had volunteered to go to Vegas to help Diana and to sort out the reason behind her being left so vulnerable after being released from jail. She had been found barely alive in an alley not far from the jail.

"Do they think she'll make it?" Emily asked as their flight neared Vegas.

"They couldn't say. They are just trying to save her. The nurse said that she's lost a lot of blood," Rossi said before clenching his fist. "They were supposed to keep her safe."

Morgan could barely sleep as he thought about Diana. His mother had gone to bed but he heard her shuffling around. He swore that the moment he got his hands on William, he would rip him to shreds and make him pay for what he had done. Emily and Rossi were going to call him with an update when they had one. The safest place for Spencer was in Virginia and he had to stay to protect him. A creak from his door caught his attention. Morgan turned on his lamp and looked to the door to see Spencer hugging his bear and crying. Rushing out of bed, Morgan brought him into his arms and held him close to his chest. "Hey, it's okay. Did you have a nightmare?"

Spencer remained silent but nodded his head. Morgan saw his mother appear at the door. "Is he okay?"

"A nightmare," Morgan sighed. "It's okay, Spencer, your father can't hurt you again. I won't let him."

"Grammy," Spencer sniffed before reaching for Fran. In one swift moment, Fran brought Spencer into her arms and began making soothing sounds. Morgan was surprised at Spencer calling her Grammy. He could see the joy in his mother's eyes after being called Grammy. Fran kissed Spencer's head and rubbed soothing circles on his back. "Derek, I've got him. Try to get some sleep and focus on you know what."

"Thanks, Mom," he said before looking at Spencer. "You're safe here. Grammy will help Einstein and you get to sleep again."

Fran carried Spencer into his room and sat on the bed. He let go of her but leaned against her as the tears still came down his cheek. "Spencer, what's wrong? What happened in your nightmare?"

"My daddy was drunk and he is mean when he gets drunk. I hid under the bed but he found me and started to hit me with his belt. He pinned me down on the bed and hit his belt against my back. I didn't do anything wrong and he didn't stop when I screamed."

"Oh, Spencer," Fran said sadly as she held him close. "Grammy won't let anyone touch or hurt you ever. I promise."

"Am I allowed to call you Grammy?" he asked timidly.

"Absolutely," she smiled.

"It's just," he began to before biting his lip. "I never had grandparents. They died before I was born. You're Derek's Mom and you're exactly how I imagine grandma's to be. You're kind and we baked cookies together. I like calling you Grammy."

"You can call me Grammy till the end of time," Fran beamed happily. "Tomorrow, I'm going to teach you how to make brownies. How does that sound?"

"Awesome," Spencer giggled. "I know I haven't known you long but I know that I trust you because you raised Morgan and he's a kind and awesome man. You're a good mommy to him."

Fran hugged Spencer close. "Oh, you know how to melt Grammy's heart."

A few hours later

Emily and Rossi looked into Diana Reid's room and both knew that the situation with William Reid was far from over. They watched as the ventilator wheezed away and kept her alive. The doctor had saved her life but it wasn't known if she would survive the next 24 hours. She had suffered internal bleeding, four broken ribs, bruising to her kidney, a broken leg, a broken arm and bruises covering most of her body. Her face was swollen and she was barely recognisable. The swelling to her brain along with her fractured skull had put her into a coma and the doctors were working on bringing it down. They were both amazed at how she had even survived such a brutal attack.

Everyone was looking for William Reid and an investigation was being launched into finding how the hell Diana had been left so open to be attacked. Rossi brought out his cellphone. "I'll call Morgan and give him an update."

"William is going to go after Spencer next," Emily said. "Rossi, anyone connected with Spencer's case is in danger. Morgan needs to keep Spencer guarded till we can find this abusive son of a bitch."

Morning

Fran helped Spencer tie his laces before taking his hand and walking out of the house. Morgan followed after them and locked the door behind him. He wasn't going to tell Spencer anything until he knew Diana's condition and until he found the words to even explain to a six year old boy that his father had brutally beaten his mother. They walked down to the local park. Morgan sat on the bench as he watched his mother lift Spencer onto the play set. Spencer let out a large giggle as he slid down the slide. He reached up him arms. "Again!"

Morgan wasn't going to let anything happen to Spencer and knew he had to stay strong for the little boy that had captured his heart.

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