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

Small chapter today, sorry. I have so much coursework to do and everything's getting a bit too real, so I couldn't subject myself to another 5k words chapter, also this chapter doesn't need to go on. After this, the pace will start to pick up.

Thanks to E.J. Morgan, .crazy, Sarry22, FallWithMeOffACliff, poohbear123, lailey. spenstar, and maxandkiz.

Please review.

I hope you enjoy this (regrettably short) chapter.

Previously:

"So when's our next shopping trip?" Garcia squealed.

"Soon. Spencer needs more clothes," JJ said, causing Spencer to frown.

"I have enough clothes," He protested and Garcia locked her eyes on him.

"Oh, you, my sweet yet naive angel, can never have too many clothes. Period."

Spencer stepped through the lab door quietly, shutting it behind him. The room was lit by a green fluorescent lamp in the center of the room. Its eerie glow crept all the way to the edges of the room, dousing Spencer's small frame with luminescent light.

"Hello?" He called out nervously. He took a step forward, his face emboldened with a faint luminosity.

His head snapped to the left at a metallic twang, like metal hitting metal in a hesitant manner.

"JJ?" He whispered into the dimness. "Hotch?" He bit his lip, a starveling chill tickling his spine. The intermittent metal clinking forced his feet back into the door, where he stood frozen, with his chest rising and falling rapidly. He glanced up and saw the door handle above his head. Gulping hard he reached for the door handle on his tiptoes, stretching his tiny fingers out. Suddenly it rose from his reach and materialised into the watery sheet of metal.

"HOTCH!?" He screamed, smacking his hands on the door. On the third hit, his hand sunk into the metal depths, the cold lapping at his wrists, holding him in place.

"HELP!" He cried, pulling on his arm. His hand remained embedded into the metal, which began to harden around his small fingers, preserving them like waxwork sculptures.

"You can't leave so soon." Spencer froze, his eyes growing wide and brimming with tears.

"P'ese."

"Come here, boy."

Spencer's lip trembled, he didn't look behind him but he could feel a warm repulsive breath burning the back of his neck. He looked back up at his hand and found that it was no longer lodged in the door, it was curled in a fist, teetering over the tense metal.

"Come. Here."

"H-Hotch..." Spencer pleaded, tears running down his cheeks.

"He's not coming for you," Jarvis hissed, his snake-like tongue darting in and out of his mouth. Spencer felt the tip of the sharp tongue slice across his ear and he cried out in paralysing fear. He pleaded for his feet to move but the sensation of Jarvis' tongue slithering over his pale skin blue him to the spot.

"So pretty...pretty boy...pretty, Pretty Boy!" Jarvis Laughed, his cold fingers moving through Spencer's hair. "Why were you such a failure? you know I have to get rid of you now," he sighed. "Such a pity. So wasteful. I could've used you," He Snarled wistfully, his teeth balancing over Spencer's bare flesh.

"No..." Spencer mumbled and he made his move.

He sprinted to his left but scaley fingers wrapped around his throat and yanked him back.

"NAAHH!" He choked, his legs bucking out in capricious movements.

The wet stale air hit him as he was turned to face his monster. Jarvis stared back at him with dead, black eyes. His tongue slithered in and out of his mouth hungrily and the edges of his sharp smile curled up to his cheeks as he gazed upon his prey.

"HELP!" Spencer screamed, but Jarvis held on tighter, weakening Spencer's struggles

"P-p'eas! Pe-pe..." Spencer rasped.

Jarvis' jaws unhinged and his fangs elongated, glinting against the green light. All Spencer could do was scream as the fangs plunged into his throat

JJ hugged her pillow tightly, sighing into it as she dreamt with blissful unawareness. Hotch breathed heavily into his warm surroundings, his hand pressed into the small of JJ's back.

Suddenly, a scream tore through the silence. Hotch jumped out of bed and grabbed his gun from the bedside draw. JJ sat up, her eyes wide and alert. The scream was echoed through the quiet house and Hotch found himself dashing into the corridor.

"No! N-no! 'Top!"

Hotch raised his gun and pushed open the guest room door where the cries were coming from. JJ followed him. She saw Henry and Jack peering from their rooms and she waved them back inside.

"Get off! NO!"

Hotch scanned the room, but saw no one inside, except the small boy thrashing sporadically under his covers. He put the gun on the bookshelf and dove beside the bed, placing a gentle, reassuring hand on Spencer's back.

"Spencer. Spencer, wake up, buddy," he said firmly, rubbing his hand carefully over the boy's back.

"H-help! NO, NO!"

"Spencer!" Hotch shook the boy.

"No! Don't, p'eas," Spencer sobbed, his eyes sealed shut as he fought against a ghostly force.

"Spence," JJ purred, palming his cheek.

Spencer's eyes fluttered open suddenly and he cried out again, forcing him back into the wall with a painful thud.

"H-he's hewe," Spencer whimpered, letting tears rain into his lap.

"Who? Who's here, Spencer?" Hotch asked, still keeping a protective hand on Spencer.

"J-Ja-Jawis...jaw-" he shook his head, unable to pronounce the name, and covered his face with trembling hands.

"It was just a nightmare. He's not here. It's not real. It's not real," JJ insisted. She reached out for him, cringing when he flinched at her touch. "It's just me, okay. Jarvis can't get you anymore," she promised and with that he let her lift him up. She pulled him to her chest and let him cry into her top.

"H-he w-was gonna k-k-kill m-me," Spencer hiccupped, pressing his face into her warmth and clinging to her for safety. She began gently rocking to calm him down.

"Shhh, it's okay, it's okay." He continued to sob, too overcome with fear and relief to speak. Hotch went back into the halls and explained to the boys the situation.

"Shall we read him a story?" Henry asked.

"It's late, Buddy. You should be getting some sleep."

"Please, Aaron."

"Yea, can we, Dad?" Jack asked. Hotch grimaced at his watch, but Jack and Henry had already selected a book and were pressing it into his hands.

"Just one," Hotch sighed and the boy's fist pumped the air.

When Hotch got back into the guest room Spencer was sat on the bed, his small feet dangling over the edge and a blanket wrapped around his still shivering frame. JJ was sat in front of him on the floor, talking calmly as he tried to control his convulsive breaths. He hiccuped on a sob when Hotch entered but quickly wiped his eyes.

"Jack and Henry want to read you a story," Hotch said quietly, making room for the boys to squeeze by.

"O-o-otay," Spencer hiccuped.

"I'm reading!" Jack instigated, hopping on the bed beside Spencer and putting an arm around the trembling boy.

"I wanna read!"

"You can't, Henry! You're too young," Jack said rolling his eyes, something that Spencer had seen Hotch do.

"Mom!"

"Henry, you know you can't read properly yet. As soon as you learn you can read the bedtime stories," JJ promised. Henry jumped on the bed and sat neck to Jack, folding his arms and pouting down at the book.

"This one's called 'the Gruffalo', Spencer. He's a big monster who eats-" Jack paused when Spencer started whimpering. "Uh...never mind. He's actually really friendly," Jack added, looking up at his dad, but not receiving the glare he had expected.

"Is everybody comfy!?" Jack asked loudly. Henry giggled a little and replied with an equally as loud 'yes'. Spencer nodded his head and gazed down at the book expectantly.

"Dads not!" Jack pointed out, throwing an accusing finger at his father who was stood in the doorway.

"Alright, Alright," Hotch chuckled, raising his arms up in surrender and joining JJ on the floor.

"Okay, now that you're all ready I will begin," announced Jack, opening the book much to Spencer's anticipation.

Hotch and JJ watched as Jack read the book allowed to his younger brothers. Henry had stopped sulking and was trying to join in with the storytelling. Spencer, on the other hand, listened intently, staring at the illustrations and occasionally reaching out to trace a small finger over them.

He stopped shaking and his breathing had almost returned to normal, excluding the occasional hitch. Soon enough his eyelids started falling sleepily and he leaned heavily against Jack.

He felt safe in the presence of Hotch's family; His family.

Like I said, small chapter, but I hoped you enjoyed anyway. I'm hoping to have a longer chapter next time, fingers crossed I get my coursework done.

Please review!

See you soon!