(Disclaimer: I do not own Criminal Minds or it's characters)
Wooo! Thank you all for your reviews! It is currently 12.33 on December 25th!!! Ahhhh! This chapter will probably be uploaded either Christmas evening or Boxing Day, it depends if I can get it finished.
Okay it's currently 8.20, so I guess it's time to check the reviews before I open presents... aw thank you guys! Merry Christmas to you all, or happy holidays if you don't celebrate that.
Poorbear123: thank you for your review! So glad you liked it, have a great Christmas.
Astrahan: Merry Christmas! I hope you enjoy this update.
Laileyspenstar: Merry Christmas to you too. I'm so happy to hear that, I hope this chapter does the same!
FallWithMeOffAClift: Thank you!!!! Your words are so motivating! I know! I really want a cuddle! I hope you have a fabulous Christmas!!
Fishtrek: Thank you for your review! There's more fluff coming up!
Hippiechic81: Thanks for your review! Let's just say that the song he was singing was 'Let it go' ;)
E.J .Morgan: Thank you for reviewing, and I'm already addicted too! Have a wonderful Christmas.
Aja85: Ahhh, I love that scene so much! It's just the way Spencer is so shocked and has to tell someone :D Thank you for your review!
Ash59: Thank you for your review, I'm so happy that you feel that way and I appreciate your reviews so much!
Sarry22: Thank you for your review! You don't have to wait for long, here it is!
Please keep reviewing guys!
Enjoy!
Hotch signed the final piece of paper and handed the pen back to the nurse.
"You make sure he gets a lot of rest. Oh, and be sure to spoil him," the nurse advised with a friendly grin.
"I think he's already being spoilt," Hotch said, motioning to the dinosaur from Garcia, the book from himself and the bag of sweets from Emily which had been kept hidden from Jack and Spencer until then.
"That's what I like to hear. Look after that little cutie," she shuffled the papers together, taking one last glance at the toddler in JJ's arms, drinking in the sight of him before going back to her work.
"Hear that, Pretty Boy?" Spencer glanced up at Morgan, who had been hanging by the nurses desk, angling for a phone number. Spencer cocked his head like a confused puppy.
"Nu-Uh."
"She thought you were cute," Morgan teased, pinching Spencer's cheek softly and giving him a wink. Spencer pushed Derek's hand away and stuck his tongue out at him.
Hotch rolled his eyes at his two younger agents. They're acting like a bunch of kids, he thought. He could excuse Spencer due to the fact he was a kid, having not even turned two yet...at least physically. Morgan, on the other hand, was just a big kid.
"Well she's right," Garcia said, carding a hand through Spencer's soft brown hair.
"'Top! And 'Top touching me," Spencer whined, melting into JJ's arms and away from his prying team mates.
"It's not our fault that your adorableness is like a puppy's cuteness on steriods," Garcia shrugged her shoulders, unaware of the lack of sense in her statement. Spencer just watched her with a look of confusion, which only increased the girls giggles.
"Stop teasing him," Hotch warned, using his unit chief voice. Morgan and Garcia stopped and nodded solemnly at him, JJ, on the other hand, rolled her eyes and pulled out her phone, smirking at the screen when she felt Aaron's eyebrows furrow at her."Let's get out of here," He said, moving the conversation on so they could leave.
"Emily just got to our place," JJ said as she read through a text on her phone, holding Spencer easily in her other arm. Spencer laid his hands and chin on her shoulder and looked down at her phone, scanning the texts innocently. "We might want to hurry up; she says that Rossi is teaching Jack how to make some sort of 'Italian cookie,'" she grimaced, glancing up at Hotch.
"I asked him to babysit, not cook," the unit chief groaned. He grabbed his car keys and lead the team down the hall, cursing under his breath at the strange looks he recieved for holding a stuffed stegosaurus.
Hotch carried Spencer to the door, having argue with him for 5 minutes over allowing him to walk on his own. In the end Hotch had won and now he was carrying a sulking toddler inside.
"They're home!" Hotch heard a voice from somewhere nearby and Jack came bounding in, flour drizzled over his clothes and there was a little peppering his eyebrows. "Dads home!" He shouted back to the kitchen before running to Hotch and hugging his legs.
"Do I want to know what you guys have been up to?" He asked anxiously, gazing at the flour covered boy. Spencer snickered into his hand and when Hotch shot him a look he let slip a giggle.
"Uncle Dave and me made some cookies!" He Announced.
"Greeeat," Hotch Groaned, already imagining the state of his once clean kitchen.
"They cooking now, come see!"
"I'll just go get Spencer comfortable on the couch and then I'll come and see the mess you made," Sighed Hotch, hitching Spencer up a little so he didn't fall.
"Okay," Jack said, hurrying back into the kitchen with an eager grin.
"I tan walk," Spencer whispered when he knew Jack was out of ear shot.
"Well you're not," Hotch hissed back. He paused at the couch and dropped Spencer far back on the pillows so his legs couldn't reach the edge.
Spencer folded his one arm and glared up at Hotch who just laughed at the endearing little frown on Spencer's face.
He grabbed some pillows and made a little pile, using the dinosaur to heighten it, before gently laying Spencer's casted arm on top, pulling the sling off and hanging it on the couch arm. Spencer shifted a little getting himself comfy before nodding gratefully at Hotch who turned and headed for the kitchen with a look of dismay on his face.
JJ handed Spencer his rabbit, which he hurriedly tucked between him and the couch; an embarrassed look colouring his face. Garcia wedged the teddy bear on his other side, tapping his nose playfully and darkening his already scarlet cheeks. They took up the two seat couch opposite and Morgan plonked himself near Spencer.
"Hey, pretty boy?" Morgan said in a hushed tone.
"Yea."
"You're gonna have to talk about it sometime," Morgan whispered, not bothering to beat around the bush. Spencer swallowed thickly and chewed the inside of his torn up gum.
"I know," he said, glancing from his cast to Morgan who had a look of pity and concern in his eyes. "Not yet," he added, barely shy of a whisper.
"Don't try and push it down. It'll just get worse," Morgan warned. Spencer bit his lip harder and turned his face toward the window. "Just...just tell me what happened at the park, okay?" Spencer didn't reply and continued to look at the window, refusing to let Morgan see him cry. He took a deep breath and thanked god that Garcia and JJ weren't paying attention.
"Just the park?"
"Just the park," Morgan confirmed.
Hotch picked up the flat biscuit and turned it in his hand with a frown fixed on his face.
"This is an Italian cookie?" He asked; doubt lacing his voice.
"They're called crostoli," Rossi explained proudly, taking a bite of the crunchy snack. He offered one to Emily as she scoffed down her third.
"Right," Hotch muttered setting his biscuit down and taking a plate. "I'm sure Spencer will appreciate one," he added, putting two on the plate.
"I will make you try one if I have to, Aaron," Rossi warned, setting one aside. The unit chief rolled his eyes and strolled from the messy kitchen.
Hotch wandered into the front room where Spencer was looking down at his feet curiously. Morgan looked as if he was going over something in his minds, but from his clenched fists and dipped brow, Hotch assumed it wasn't anything good. JJ and Garcia were chatting about shoes again and the conversation was lost on the small boy.
"Sounds exciting," Hotch muttered and Spencer looked up suddenly.
"Huh, oh, yea, wight. I don't weally undewstand," Spencer admitted. Hotch lay the plate on his lap and Spencer narrowed his eyes at it.
"Curtesy of 'uncle Dave'," Hotch teased.
"Oh! It's a cwostoli!" Spencer said, taking a big bite and grinning through a mouth covered in icing sugar.
"Well, I'm glad you like them." He turned to go and deal with Rossi, Emily and Jack's mess when the toddler cleared his through quietly.
"Uh...Hotch?" Spencer mumbled after swallowing a mouthful.
"Yea?"
Spencer wrung his hand nervously in his top, avoiding eye contact with the older man.
"Um...could you maybe...uh," he swallowed as his throat grew tight with pain. "Put on a movie?" He croaked, his eyes darting nervously up and down.
"Sure. Any preferences?" Hotch asked, heading for the DVD rack. Spencer's face lit up and he shook with excitement.
"Star Wars!" he cried. "Uh...please," he added politely. Hotch scanned the movie titles and at the bottom of the shelf he saw said title. He pulled it out and realised the DVD was still wrapped. He had a feeling they'd soon be able to quote it with Spencer's obsession with it.
He displayed it over his shoulder and Spencer hiccuped excitedly, covering his mouth; his cheeks burning red. Aaron put the DVD in the player and fiddled with the remote until the title screen and music came on which elicited another squeal from Spencer.
"I better go clean up the kitchen," Hotch sighed. He ruffled Spencer's hair as the boy took another bite of Italian biscuit, his eyes glued to the TV screen. "Aaaand you're not listening to me," he smirked.
"I did clean up!" Rossi grunted, gulping down his last bite of biscuit.
Emily, Garcia and Morgan had finally decided it was safe to leave Spencer, although they were all reluctant to get off the couch and they'd all made quick, anxious glances back at Spencer to make sure he was still there as they walked to the door. JJ had finally managed to convince them to leave by promising to text them with updates. Rossi was being a bit more difficult; complaining that he had to help them finish the crostoli's.
"You might of washed up but you didn't wipe down the counter," huffed Hotch.
"But wasn't it worth it?"
"No," Hotch deadpanned, but that soon broke when a smile spread over his face. "I won't be relying on you to babysit again."
"I'll have you know I'm an excellent babysitter. Isn't that right, Spencer?" He turned to the small boy who was still sat gandering at the television screen. "Spencer."
"Uh Huh, Yea," he agreed absentmindedly, not looking away from the TV screen.
"Yea...He's not a reliable source right now," Hotch scoffed.
"Well that's my cue to leave," Rossi wiped the crumbs from his shirt and stood.
"I'm available Monday to Friday, six to twelve at an hourly rate of $10," he added.
"But because you're 'uncle Dave' I'm sure you can do us a deal," JJ laughed as she stuck her head around the door. She had just slipped frozen dinosaur nuggets and chips in the oven after Spencer's stomach had fumbled while he was engrossed in the film.
The three adults turned to the kids who were utterly enthralled in their movie. Jack was sat cross legged on the floor, his mouth open as he stared at the TV. Spencer wasn't much different, but his eyes were open even wider and he kept turning his head thoughtfully.
"Hmmm, I think your pushing it there," Rossi said smirking.
When Rossi left and Hotch wandered back into the front room he found the boy's were now watching extras, having finished the movie.
"Can we get the second film?" Jack asked his father.
"I guess."
No sooner had Hotch taken a seat did the doorbell ring again. JJ held a hand up for Hotch to sit back down and peeled herself from the couch. Jack, Aaron and Spencer continued to watch the film. Spencer was trying to work out the math and the science behind each scene, wondering if it was accurate. Hotch and Jack were more inrigued with how the spaceships were flying around space and featuring in epic battles.
"Jack! Spencer! Henry's home!" JJ's voice called from the hallway.
JJ took Henry's bag from Will who was about to open his mouth to speak when she shut the door on his face. Henry darted into the front room where his 'brother's were watching TV. He stopped dead when he caught sight of Spencer, sat with his arm elevated and too many bruises for a 4 year old to count over his body.
"Spencer!" Henry cried upon seeing the injured boy nesting in the sofa.
"Henwy?" Spencer croaked in reply, his throat still painful.
"What happened!?" He demanded, turning to JJ and Hotch.
"He got kidnapped," Jack said in a hushed voice, but Spencer still heard them and he turned his face away, knowing he'd betray his fear on the subject.
"What's that, Mummy?" Henry asked, his small eyebrows handing over his eyes in confusion.
"Someone took Spencer. But it's okay, we got him back," she added quickly when Henry's lip started trembling.
"I told you he needed me!" The small boy yelled, his eyes watering. "I'm never leaving him again!" He shouted, running over to the sofa with tears falling down his cheeks.
"Don't cwy, Henwy," Spencer whispered. Henry looked up at him and pulled himself onto the couch. He opened his arms wide and gave Spencer a hug.
"I'm sorry! I won't leave you again!" He promised, squeezing Spencer's shoulder.
"Henry, don't be too rough," Aaron warned and Henry sent a deathly glare at his moms boyfriend.
"You can't make me leave again," he added darkly.
JJ managed to pry Henry off Spencer when their dinner was ready and she carried a still distraught Henry to his seat before going back for Spencer who was already rubbing his eyes.
"Cool! Dinosaur nuggets," Jack gasped, shovelling one into his mouth greedily and grinning at Henry with his mouth full to show off.
"Don't do that, please," Hotch chided and Jack closed his mouth and chewed politely. Henry looked at Spencer and waited for him to take a small bite of his chicken nugget before he started. He continued to watch Spencer like a hawk, jumping at any sudden sound and glaring around: ready to attack.
"Can we do something fun tomorrow?" Jack asked as he polished off his chicken nuggets.
"You've got school," Hotch reminded him. Jack groaned and looked at his dad with a pleading look.
"I don't have to go," he muttered.
"You're going. But tomorrow's Friday and we can do something Saturday if you want," Hotch added as Jack began to show signs of a temper tantrum.
"You can pick where we go," JJ put in and Jack smiled broadly.
"Hey! What about me?" Henry whined.
"You can help choose."
"I wanna go to Disneyland!" Jack shouted. Henry looked as if he was about to argue his own choice, but he realised that he too would like to go to Disneyland so he joined in excitedly.
Spencer continued to eat slowly and tiredly, watching the boys beg wildly.
"We're not going to Disneyland!" Hotch bellowed, interrupting the boys.
"Ohhh!" Henry and Jack whined.
"Aaron," JJ mumbled, an eyebrow raised and a smug smile on her face. Hotch turned to her and frowned.
"JJ, you aren't seriously considering it," he whispered, leaning in and giving JJ a serious look.
"Well, we could go somewhere."
"Like where?"
Sorry if that was short, I wanted to do a chapter for Christmas, but this is a little mundane. It's actually Boxing Day now. It's 1.21 am and I am exhausted! But what a day!
I hope you all had a wonderful Christmas!
Please leave a review in the spirit of giving and I will see you in the next chapter!