Hey, here is the next chapter for you all. I hope you all enjoy it. I apologize for the delay in updating as I was meant to do it last week but my cat decided to have her kittens. She lost one during the first night but the remaining one is doing really well and is so cute. He's so small that he fits into one of my hands and actually falls asleep in my hand. I've been keeping an eye on him/her and looking after them both. I hope you all enjoy this chapter and I will try to get my updates out quicker. Enjoy and I look forward to hearing from you all.

Thank you so much for all the great and wonderful reviews. You're really patient with me too so I must thank you for that. Thanks!

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All mistakes are my own

Morgan held Spencer's hand as they stared at the school and the children making their way inside. The small hand holding his squeezed tighter, a signal for support and help. Kneeling down, Morgan straightened Spencer's jacket and gave him a small smile. "This is a big step, kiddo, and I know you're nervous. I am one phone call away and I spoke with your teacher. If you have any trouble, you go to her and you tell her what's wrong. You'll be continuing the work that you did with Grammy. You'll only be doing certain classes with everyone else."

"Papa, I'm scared that they're going to hurt me," Spencer bit his lip. "The others back at my old school played tricks on me and threw things at me."

"Spencer, I can't say that everyone will be nice but I know you can make friends and your teacher will help with everything else. Just be yourself and remember that I am there for you at the end of the day and so is Grammy. I know for a fact she's planning a nice big meal to celebrate your first day going to school."

Spencer brought his arms around Morgan's chest as much as he could and squeezed. "I love you, Papa."

Morgan hugged Spencer and kissed the top of his head. "I love you too."

Spencer came away and took his lunchbox from Morgan's hand. "Bye, Papa."

"Bye, Spencer. Grammy will be picking you up," Morgan said before Spencer began to make his way down the path. He kept a close eye on Spencer till he reached the door. He felt a small pang in his chest as he watched Spencer disappear into the building. It didn't occur to him that he would feel so nervous, not nervous for himself but for his son.

The moment he walked into the bullpen, he was immediately ambushed by Garcia and her worries for Spencer. "How was he when you dropped him off?"

Morgan stopped and sighed. "He was nervous and a little scared about being bullied again but I think he's going to be okay. The school are going to be teaching him separately from the children in some subjects but he'll interact with them on other things."

"Like what?" Garcia asked as they walked down the steps.

"Art, gym class and a few other things. This is a temporary placement at best, Garcia. The school has arranged to have a specialized tutor for him but they're already discussing about moving him to middle school and then shortly after to high school."

"That's a lot of change for him," Garcia frowned. "Middle school and high school are hard enough when you're growing up. He would be a child among teenagers. I don't like the thought of that."

"Well nothing is set yet," he said before chuckling. "You certainly go into Mamma bear mode when it comes to Spencer."

"I go into Mamma bear mode for all my charges," Garcia smirked before motioning to the rest of the bullpen where the team had already set up for the day.

Fran waited patiently outside the school but frowned when she saw Spencer rush out of the doors with dirt all down his trousers. He saw her and immediately rushed into her open arms. His eyes were puffy but he wasn't crying. "Spencer, what's wrong?"

"They're all so mean," he sniffed before putting down his bag and bringing out the remains of the book he had brought to school. The pages were torn out, muddy and ripped. "I tried to make them stop but they laughed. They ripped it up."

Fran wrapped her arms around Spencer and held him close as he let the books fall from small hands. "I'm sorry, sweetie. We'll get you a new book and we'll sort out the boys who did this."

"I want to go home, Grammy," he said before escaping her arms and opening the back door of her car. He jumped in and looked away from the school.

Morgan walked up the stairs and made his way to Spencer's room. Normally, Morgan would always find Spencer reading a book or doing arts and craft but found him laying on the bed and hugging his pillow instead. Sitting on the edge of the bed, Morgan reached out and held his hand. "Grammy told me what happened at school."

"I'm not going back," Spencer shook his head. "They're mean and even my special tutor treats me like a child. I thought things would be better but they aren't."

"I'll talk with your tutor and I'll talk to the school about the boys that ripped up your book. Things will get better. You can't let one day defeat you because I know you're stronger than that. You aren't alone in this like you were in Vegas. I'm here and so is everyone else. We all face problems together."

"When they laughed, it just brought back so many memories of my other school," Reid sighed before sitting up. "Papa, do you think things will really get better?"

"I do," Morgan smiled. "When I was little, I lost my dad and some bad things happened but things did get better in the end. You just have to have the strength to make it through all the bad moments because there are always good moments ahead."

"Like I made it through my daddy hurting me and the good moment came when I came to live with you," Spencer said before looking around his room. "I've never had a proper daddy."

Morgan leaned over and swept Spencer into his arms. Spencer wrapped his arms around Morgan and leaned against him. "Spencer, I will always protect you. You're my son and I won't let anyone hurt you again."

Fran made her way to Spencer's room and grinned as she found Morgan reading a book aloud with Spencer cuddled against his chest. "Room for one more to listen?" she asked.

"Absolutely," Morgan said before motioning to the bed. Fran made her way to the bed and sat on the other side with Spencer. She was soothed by the sound of her son reading to Spencer and knew that the little boy was the best thing to happen to her son in a long time.

A few days later

Spencer looked up as a shadow fell over him and the book he was reading. He looked up to see a boy his age staring down at him. "What's your name?"

"Spencer."

"My name is Ethan. Do you want to play?"

Spencer closed his book and knew he had to be brave and take the first step in making friends. "Okay. What are we playing?"

"Tag," Ethan answered before gently tapping Spencer's shoulder and giggling. "Tag!

Spencer quickly rose to his feet and chased after Ethan with a smile on his face.

A month later

Morgan walked out of his room and immediately smelled the strong chemical smell coming from Spencer's room. He opened the door to find Spencer cleaning the carpet with a sponge and a small spray bottle next to him. He rushed over and grabbed the sponge from his hands. "Spencer, what are you doing?"

Spencer slumped against the bed. "Didn't want you to be angry," he said in a small voice. "I was sick and I had to clean it up."

Morgan pressed his hand against Spencer's forehead and noticed the pale tone to the young boy's skin. "Oh, kiddo, you're burning up."

"Not allowed to be sick, Papa Morgan."

"It's okay to be sick. Your daddy didn't like it when you got sick, did he?"

"He hit me when I was sick. He would push my face into the vomit when I was sick."

Morgan's anger flared at the thought of William doing such a horrible act against Spencer. He brought Spencer into his arms and stood up. "I will never be angry when you're sick. Never think you have to clean it up. You should come and get me when you're sick. We need to get you better and that means lots of rest and lots of fussing over you."

Fran met him as he left Spencer's room with the small boy in his arms. "Derek, what's wrong?"

"Spencer is burning up. I'm going to get him settled into some new pajamas and settled on the couch downstairs. Can you call the doctor and have her come out? I don't want to take any risks."

A few hours later

"It's a bug that's been going round lately. He must have caught it at school," the doctor informed Morgan as she put away her equipment. "He'll be fine but he needs plenty of rest and needs to be kept well hydrated. His temperature is up at the moment and I'm going to give you a prescription for some medication that will help him fight off the bug a bit easier. Keep him cool and his temperature should come down within the next two days. He may be sick again so I just suggest you keep a bowl nearby."

"You're sure it's just a bug?" Morgan asked to be sure. "It's not appendicitis or anything more severe."

"No, it's a bug that I've seen in a few of my other younger patients. I know it's hard to see someone you care about like this but he'll be fine."

"Thank you for coming out so quickly."

"Just doing my job," she smiled before picking up her bag. "Call me if you have any questions or if his condition worsens."

Morgan walked the doctor out and closed the door behind him. Fran came next to him and took the prescription from his hand. "I'll go and get this. I think Spencer wants you at the moment."

"Thanks, Mom. I just hate seeing him so sick. He's usually more active and I'm just not used to seeing him this way."

"You're a parent now and it's not easy seeing your child ill. It's okay to worry. It keeps you on your toes. Now, go in and sit with Spencer. I've put a small bowl of cold water and a cloth on the table. Keep him cool."

Morgan nodded and walked back into the living room to find Spencer uncomfortable and trying to get up. He walked over and gently pushed Spencer back down to the pillow. "You need to rest."

Taking the cloth and soaking it in the water, he pressed it against Spencer's forehead and saw the relief flood his features. "Is that better?"

"I don't like being ill," Spencer pouted sadly.

"No-one does buddy but you'll be fine in a few days. Grammy has gone to get you some medicine that will have you up and lecturing me about my improper use of certain words."

Morgan relaxed as a small smile came to Spencer's face. "Papa Morgan will always make you smile, kiddo."

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