(Disclaimer: I do not own Criminal Minds or its characters)

Yay, I love midnight writing, it's when I get most of my inspiration. So tomorrow I'm going to try and do some full-on studying, I have a few deadlines, so you will most likely get this on Wednesday.

Thanks again for all the reviews; quick shout out to you guys.

Guest, FallWithMeOffACliff , karen potter 97, Hippiechic81, Sarry22, fishtrek, Astrahan, MelissaCceres3 Ash59, E.J Morgan, and Aa. Thank you all!

Well without further ado, I present chapter 4! Oooo one more thing, you might witness Garcia and her craziness in this chapter...I'm not sure yet.

Previously:

"What did he say?" JJ asked, her fingers crossed behind her back but she was still unsure what she was hoping for. Spencer blinked, swallowed hard and looked up at Rossi who had stepped closer to him.

"There's no easy way to put this, Kid," Spencer's eyes widened as he searched Rossi's face for an answer.

"There is no antidote..."

"What?" Spencer mumbled, his voice even smaller than the squeak he had adopted.

"Wait...so Jarvis never made something to reverse this?" Morgan asked with a scowl growing on his brow.

"Apparently not," Rossi was watching Spencer nervously, waiting for the boy's reaction.

"I'm 'tuck lite dis?"

"Afraid so, but...we uh, we can-" Rossi paused, not knowing how to console the toddler. He had no compromise for the situation; David Rossi was not a man of science, nor was he a magician; he couldn't magically pull the answers of undiscovered science out of his hat.

"What Dave is saying is that we will figure this out," added Hotch, picking up where the Italian had left off.

"How?" Spencer snapped. He directed his narrowed and emblazoned eyes on Hotch, forgetting that he was his superior. Hotch shifted uncomfortably and Spencer took that as his answer. He pulled himself out of the chair and staggered towards the men's restroom. He had to cling to several pieces of furniture along his way so he didn't fall over. The door shut quietly behind him, though he'd struggled to push it open in the first place.

Morgan sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose as he faced the older agents.

"Is there really nothing we can do?" He groaned. Hotch shook his head and Morgan collapsed into the chair Spencer had been warming.

"It's not the end of the world," Emily said, her arms folded across her chest. "We're still a family. This doesn't change that, and family is the most important thing."

"She's right," Hotch agreed. Emily sent a look his way that said 'I'm always right.'

"What are we going to do?" Rossi gave them a questioning look.

"We'll take this one step at a time. First, we wrap this case up. Then we will go home and make arrangements."

"Speaking of home; I need to update Garcia," Morgan waved his phone. Hotch glanced at the restroom, biting the inside of his gum.

"I should check on him. He's too small to be left on his own."

"Well, don't tell him that. He's grumpy enough as it is," warned Rossi, grimacing at the restroom door.

Hotch marched up to the door and opened it cautiously, preparing for a temper tantrum. To his surprise the room was quiet. An officer walked by him, offering a smile.

"Was that your kid running in here just now?" He asked.

"Yea, sorry about that."

"Oh, no its fine, I just thought he looked a little upset. He went into one of those cubicles. I'm surprised he could reach up to lock it," the cop grinned and left the agents alone. The restroom fell silent except for small sniffs every few seconds. Hotch sighed and edged towards the cubicles.

He heard someone's breath hitched as they tried to control their emotions. Hotch took a deep breath before pushing open the door where the noise was coming from. The door squeaked open and on the toilet seat sat his youngest agent.

So he didn't reach the lock, Hotch thought with a smile that he quickly rubbed off. He didn't want to upset the kid more than he already was.

Spencer had his knees pulled up to his chest, his small arms wrapped around them (only just able to reach each other) and his face buried in his lap. Hotch gingerly knelt down in front of him, careful to avoid what looked like a puddle on the floor.

"Reid..." the toddler's head remained hidden, his body shaking as he tried to control his breathing.

"Spencer." Reid raised his head an inch from his knees and stared back at Hotch with sad brown eyes, the once pale skin around them had reddened, giving them a puffy look, like he'd been crying, (although Spencer wouldn't admit to that.) Hotch reached out and stroked Spencer's hair from his eyes.

"You okay?"

"I-I don't know how to fix this," Spencer muttered, his tiny voice breaking with a weak sob.

Something inside Hotch started churning, like a hidden mechanism triggered by Spencer's sob. Unable to stop his fatherly instincts, Hotch pulled the toddler into his chest and held him there, rubbing his back soothingly.

Spencer wasn't feeling his 26-year-old self and allowed himself to melt into Hotch's embrace.

"This doesn't have to be a bad thing. I'll make sure you can stay with us," Spencer pulled back a little, his big tawny eyes gazing up at Hotch.

"What about wowt? I don't want to qwit," Spencer's lip wobbled dangerously, but Hotch quickly ran his hand over Reid's arm.

"I'll sort it out, Okay. Don't worry about that," Spencer held onto Hotch tightly until he was sure that he'd calmed sufficiently.

"You alright now?" Hotch asked kindly and Spencer nodded.

"Good, let's go home."

"Wait, don't we need to 'tay and finish the case?" Spencer asked curiously.

"They don't need us anymore. Besides, we can complete paperwork back at Quantico."

"But-"

"I'm sorry, Spencer, but right now there's really nothing more we can do," Spencer huffed but didn't argue.

"Okay," he mumbled. Hotch took a breath of relief before ruffling Reid's hair.

He held his arms out to Reid, who looked doubtfully at them, showing his distaste. So instead, Hotch held his hand out for Spencer to take and helped him slide off the toilet seat. He didn't let go of the little hand for fear that Reid would fall over his own feet. He gently led Spencer out of the cubicle.

"Wait," Spencer gasped, standing on his toes to try and look in the mirror. Hotch lifted him over the sink and let him splash water over his slightly pink face.

"Otay, I'm weady."

Morgan hung up his call just as Hotch and Spencer came out of the bathroom, actually, Hotch pulled a reluctant Spencer out of the bathroom. Spencer saw the officers staring at him and he hid behind Hotch's leg.

"Finish up your work. Anything not done can be taken with us. We're going back home. Wheels up in an hour," Hotch announced and his team started collecting up their files and clearing the conference room they had acquired. No-one challenged the plan, they all busied themselves so they could leave sooner.

"JJ, can you keep an eye on Spencer for a few minutes while I talk to the sheriff?"

"Sure, don't be too long," she held her hand out for Spencer to take. He shyly skirted around Hotch's leg and hurried to JJ's hand, taking it gratefully.

"You okay, Spence?" She asked, stroking his mess of wavy hair.

"Mmmhmmm," he mumbled, then he shook his head and answered properly. "I'm fine...it's jut..." he sighed and motioned her to bend down. "I feel so weak", he whispered and she turned to look at him, his eyes watery and sad.

"Oh, Spence. You are the strongest person I've met; whatever package you come in," Spencer blinked back tears and threw his arms around JJ. She hugged him back breathing in his intoxicating toddler smell that Henry had just grown out of.

"Don't change," JJ muttered into his hair. He pulled back and smiled curiously.

"What was dat?"

"Oh, nothing."

"Ready?" Rossi asked. Hotch hurried down the stairs and grabbed his things.

"Let's go."

They got to the SUV's and realised that they only needed one now that Spencer could sit on someone's lap.

Hotch got into the driver's seat with JJ calling shotgun and Spencer sitting on her lap.

Rossi had complained that it was unsafe for a toddler to be in the front, especially considering the fact Spencer had no car seat.

JJ's solution had been to plonk Spencer in the Italian's lap.

Rossi grumbled about personal space but when Reid leaned into him he quietened, tapping his knee gently.

They collected their stuff at the hotel while Rossi and Spencer stayed in the car.

Spencer felt his eyes falling shut. He listened to the thumping of Rossi's heart and the subtle tapping of his leg lulled the small boy to sleep.

JJ settled a sleeping Spencer on the couch once the jet took off.

Spencer turned his back on the team unconsciously and buried himself into the leather couch. Emily laid a blanket over him before taking a seat beside Morgan. JJ and Hotch sat opposite them, their hands laced together. Rossi claimed the seat beside Spencer's couch. JJ rested her head against Hotch's chest and allowed him to pull her close and wrap his arms around her. She watched Spencer's chest rise and fall as she stroked Hotch's forearm.

"D'you think he's alright? He's been sleeping a lot," Morgan mused, watching the tiny agent with concern. Hotch and JJ exchanged a look of amusement.

"What? I'm serious!"

"I know, that's why it's funny," JJ laughed. "Morgan, kids need more sleep," she explained, not even trying to smother her giggles.

"Huh?"

"Kids need naps, especially when they're as young as Spence," Hotch added, twirling JJ's hair around his finger.

"Oh right...so he's okay?"

"Yes!" JJ and Hotch said in unison and a little too loudly. Spencer shifted and they all waited anxiously. He stretched his arms and snuggled back down on the couch. JJ let out a breath, looking up and shooting Hotch a warning look.

"Now he's asleep we should discuss where he's going to go," Hotch said. The jet fell into thoughtful silence before it filled with voices all at once.

"I don't mind-"

"-plenty of space-"

"-stay with me-"

"-no problem-"

They stopped when they realised how loud they were being. JJ and Hotch exchanged a quick glance.

"Wait? You're all prepared to look after him?" JJ asked in shock.

"Course, he's our 'Boy Wonder' after all," Emily simpered, looking over at their sleeping charge.

"And he's gonna be the best wingman I've ever had," the team groaned at an oblivious Morgan.

Spencer opened his eyes when he felt his stomach flip uncomfortably. He blinked away the sleep and frowned at the leather pillow he was staring at. He heard soft voices around him and lifted himself off the pillow. He glanced around in a daze, squinting at the plane cabin.

"Good nap?" Morgan chuckled, eying Spencer's wild hair. He nodded groggily.

"Awe we landing?" He mumbled, clearing his throat.

"Yea, we'll be back home in a few minutes," Morgan replied watching as Spencer lent back into the couch and tried to close his eyes. JJ quickly stood up and nudged him awake.

"You should come sit with me while we land," she insisted, picking him up and sitting back next to Hotch.

He settled in her lap as she clicked the seat belt around them both. He felt himself dropping off again, his eyelids kept drooping closed, his head falling back on JJ's chest before he jolted back awake.

Emily and Rossi couldn't hide their smirks when he jumped awake for the third time.

JJ carded her hand through his hair as he woke himself up again.

"You can go to sleep, Spence," She murmured, pressing her lips against the back of his head.

"Awe we thewe yet?" He asked again, straining his neck to look past Hotch and out the window. He could see the land approaching like he had done hundreds of times before, but this time it was much more exciting and he felt his eyes widening as he shook off his grogginess.

"Loot! Loot!" He cried, pointing a small finger at the window as he bounced in JJ's lap to get a better look. Morgan smirked and looked out the window and back and Spencer.

"It's Virginia," he shrugged. Spencer looked down a little crestfallen and played with his fingers.

"Don't be mean," chided Emily, punching Morgan playfully.

"Look, Spence, we're landing," JJ exclaimed, pointing with false excitement and making Reid's smile return tenfold.

When the jet landed, JJ let the team get their stuff together before standing up, hitching Spencer up onto her hip as Hotch carried JJ, Spencer and his own bag.

Garcia was already at the airport fiddling in the back of one of the SUV's, her neon pink dress swaying as she hummed contently. Morgan snuck up behind her, his duffle bag still slung over his shoulder. He tiptoed close before grabbing her sides and causing her to scream.

"DEREK!" She yelled, putting her hand over her heart dramatically. The team laughed at Morgan as Garcia laid into him about him giving her a heart attack, all the while smacking his shoulder irritably.

"Chill out, Mama. What were you doing in here anyway?" He asked, peering into the back.

"Well, my boy wonder can't travel without a seat, if he really is as small as the photo you sent me?" Spencer glared suspiciously at Morgan.

"What photo?" He mumbled, but soon regretted it when Garcia's eyes found him and they glistened hungrily, like a lioness finding her prey. She squealed loudly and bustled over. Spencer let go of JJ's hand and tried to make a break for it, but the freshly painted purple nails found the back of his hood and pulled him towards her.

"Help!" Spencer begged Emily who was laughing at the scene unfolding. Before he knew it, Spencer was sat in Garcia's arms fending off kisses.

"You are beyond cute! I'm so going to keep you," she insisted, stroking his hair and his soft face as if he were a lost kitten looking for affection.

"Mowgan, save me!"

"Aww! You even sound like a baby! That's it, I'm keeping you!" she squeezed him so tight that he stopped squirming.

"Ease up, Garcia, he's still a little on edge," JJ said and Garcia softened her hold.

"Oh, right, of course," Spencer gave in struggling and just let Garcia hold him seeing as it made her so happy.

"Wait...who's he going home with?"Garcia asked.

"I'm going bat to my apawtment," Spencer said as if it were the most obvious solution.

"Sorry, kid, but 21-month-olds don't live on their own," laughed Morgan.

"I'll take him!" Garcia volunteered, bouncing eagerly.

"Uh..." Hotch muttered.

"What? Wait did you already decide?" Garcia asked her smile dropping in disappointment.

"No, it's just me and Hotch were thinking he could stay with us. We have Jack and Henry and we know our stuff on parenting," Spencer muttered that he was not a child, but the team seemed to ignore him.

"How long for?" Morgan asked. Now that was the big question. It was beginning to look like Spencer was going to have to relive his childhood, so they assumed whoever took him in would have him until he was old enough to live on his own again.

"I don't know," JJ mumbled.

"Well I think that's a good idea, but shouldn't you tell Jack and Henry first, they might not appreciate you springing another child on them without any warning," Rossi pointed out.

"He's right, we should tell them and give them a few days to adjust to the idea," agreed Hotch.

"So where is Spencer going to stay until then?" Garcia asked hopefully.

"I'm wight here, you know," Spencer whispered, but once again he was ignored, so he started playing with Garcia's hair to combat his boredom.

"Well, seeing as you want him so much," laughed Morgan and Garcia's face lit up.

"I'll help," Emily added and they all turned to stare at her, except Spencer who was transfixed with the way Garcia's hair curled out subtly.

"What?"

"Nothing, you're just not the motherly type," Hotch said, a rare grin on his face.

"What can I say he's grown on me." They all looked back at the boy in question who was hitched up on Garcia's hip, studying the colours in her hair as if it were the most exciting thing he'd ever seen.

Uh oh, Garcia is going to have some fun...I'm not so sure about poor Spence.

Thank you for reading, I hope you enjoyed this chapter.

Please review and I'll give Spencer a cookie...and a sugar rush which can lead to all kinds of problems.

Be prepared for an out of control Garcia in the next chapter.

TTFN!