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

Well, I guess the break between this and the last chapter wasn't too drastic, but I'm back! I'm finished with exams! Wooohooo! Let's get back to it.

This is the drama I've been promising... I hope I didn't hype it up too much.

This chapter is set about 2 weeks after Christmas.

Thank you to all you lovely reviewers. I'm sorry for not thanking you properly in the last chapter so I have to do this for both chapters so bare with me. From chapter 49, thank you to ahowell1993, lailyspenstar, FallWithMeOffACliff, Hippiechic81, CJ Fool, Guest (out your name so I can thank you personally), Ash59, Diana, Daisyangel, pechika, Rookblonkorules, Natasha, Aja85, Sarry22, GoodGodHenry, and Astrahan.

And for chapter 50 thank you fishtrek, lailyspenstar, ahowell1993, Rookblonkorules, Astrahan, Daisyangel, Mob85, FallWithMeOffACliff, CJ Fool, Diana, pechika, and guest.

Sorry, that was a little repetitive, but thank you to everyone who reviewed on one or both chapters, it really means so much to me, I wouldn't have the motivation to write at all especially lately without all of your amazing support.

So, if you haven't yet, give this story some feedback. I'm open to everything, I'm always looking to improve myself, just don't make me cry, (unless it's in a good way) ;D

Okay, so this AN was meant to be small but I guess that's gone down the drain, so I may as well run with it. I just wanted to say that this story is so close to 600 reviews! I know, I'm just as surprised! I remember a year ago I got excited about one reviewer (which was my average back then) which is why I always try to review every story I read. It's the best feeling in the world to see what you readers think.

Anyway, my point is... leave a review... thanks ;D

I promise to shut up...

Okay, enjoy!

Previously:

"I'm at an unfair disadvantage!"

"And why's that?" Emily asked with a false sympathy look on her face.

"You have hair."

"And you have a big head. We're even."

"Boys!" Hotch called into the front room. Spencer scampered over and stood patiently before Hotch, almost tripping over his too-long pyjama pants. Jack and Henry lounged a little behind.

"Yea, Dad?"

"Uncle Derek's coming over in an hour to take you boys to the park while I wrap up a consult," Hotch said. Jack and Henry looked at him in confusion. "Uh... some work," he corrected and the boys nodded.

"What about mummy?" Spencer asked, pointing to JJ who was walking by with a laundry basket.

"I've got to clean up the house because of you messy boys," she chuckled.

Spencer blushed. "I tan 'tay and help," he offered sweetly and JJ carded a hand through his hair and shook her head.

"No, baby, you have fun with uncle Derek."

"Awesome!" Henry exulted.

"I tan tate my bat and ball," Spencer said excitedly. "Uncle Dewek pwomised to teach me!" The small toddler sprinted to the closet where his soft baseball set had been put.

"Anyway, you boys will need to get ready soon, otherwise Derek will be taking you in your pyjamas."

Spencer looked down at his button-down pyjamas that were speckled with teddy bears and grimaced.

"Otay."

"If I get changed now can I watch TV?" Jack asked and Hotch nodded. Jack hurried towards the staircase, and Henry followed moments later. Hotch eyed Spencer who was pulling out his baseball bat and ball.

"Spencer lets get changed first."

"But-"

"Changed. Now," Hotch ordered and the toddler grumbled, but dropped the bat and stood up.

Once changed, Hotch helped Spencer downstairs and let him go back to examining his equipment. Jack gave the boy a too-big baseball cap, which Spencer wore proudly as he attempted to lift and swing his soft bat.

Hotch, who was drinking his coffee in the kitchen, watched Spencer's efforts in the corner of his eye and chuckled softly when the bat nose-dived back to the floor with a spongy thud. Spencer adjusted his hat and tried again. So damn stubborn, Hotch thought to himself.

"Woooo!" Jack's victory cry drifted from the front room as his favourite wrestler held his opponent into the ground, Hotch rolled his eyes.

A knock at the door jolted him from his stupor and he set his coffee down and headed into the hall where Spencer had his tongue stuck out, throwing the ball in the air and trying to hit it. The ball fell to the ground before Spencer could lift the bat. Hotch ruffled the hair stuck out of the back of Spencer's cap, bless him, he thought.

Hotch pulled open the door wide, ready to let Morgan in. But it wasn't Morgan. In his place we're two regimental looking people, a man, and a woman, the latter jutted her chin out, her arms glued to her side and her piggy eyes already sizing Aaron up.

"How can I help you?" Hotch asked as he eyed up the official looking people suspiciously.

Spencer, who had heard the door open, stumbled over eagerly.

"Mowgan!" He cried, but he paused when he saw the wide woman who produced a tight smile.

"This must be 'Spencer'," she grunted.

"How do you..." Aaron trailed off when the man presented an ID. "CPS? You must have made a mistake," Hotch started.

"No mistake, Mr. Hotchner, is that correct?"

Hotch nodded slowly.

"We have had orders to remove this child from the premises."

"Excuse me!?" Hotch gasped, Spencer backed up anxiously.

"Right now you have no authorisation to keep the child. We must take him," the woman deadpanned.

Spencer peeked up from under his cap. "Whewe's Dewek, Daddy? I wanna go to da pawk," he said, hoping to convince the people that Hotch was not a threat.

"We will, Spencey," Hotch whispered before whipping around to the CPS agents. "You can see for yourself that he is happy here," Hotch said, his voice edging on a growl.

"That may be so, but we have no paperwork to show any sort of arrangement, therefore, he cannot stay in your custody," the woman hissed and Hotch stood straighter as his mind ran quickly over when they'd taken Spencer in. Paperwork... there has to be some, we had to have signed something... he thought desperately, but he came up blank. Had they really forgotten?

Spencer lent against Hotch's leg and looked up nervously.

"Daddy?" He murmured.

"It's okay, buddy," Aaron whispered and he grabbed Spencer's hand.

"We can sort out any paperwork; we have always been prepared to adopt him. He can stay with us-" Hotch started but the woman interjected.

"I'm sorry, sir, but until we find this child's biological parents we cannot condone your custody."

"We work for the FBI for christ sake," JJ retorted from where she'd been standing in the kitchen doorway. She revealed her and Hotch's badges which didn't seem to impress the agents, in fact, they didn't react at all.

"Even so, ma'am. We are under orders to collect the child until further notice."

"From who?" Hotch demanded. His fatherly tone disappeared and his work frown fell into place.

The woman took a step forward and handed Hotch the official documents. While Hotch was distracted the woman whispered something to the man beside her and he stepped towards Spencer who was clutching Hotch's leg and shaking. Spencer saw him coming and he darted to the kitchen where JJ was hovering.

"Mummy," he cried, reaching his arms out towards her. JJ went to pick him up but the man was quicker and he scooped up the toddler and started towards the door.

"Hey!" JJ cried, lunging out at him but the man was already out the door.

Hotch thrust the documents back into the woman's hands and darted past her. Being a lawyer in his past he knew he could do nothing. The papers had the authority to remove Spencer and any intervention could send them to court.

"Can't we be his guardians until we finish the adoption," he pleaded.

"If the child was brought to us as soon as he was found this would be much easier, but since he wasn't, this is what must happen," she grumbled and she followed the screaming toddler in the man's arms to the car.

"Don't let dem tate me away!" Spencer sobbed as he squirmed desperately.

"You can't do this!" JJ snapped and she wrestled with the man who shoved her away. Spencer smacked at the man's arms uselessly and stretched his fingers out to JJ.

"Jenifer," Aaron warned.

"If you have a problem with this you must get into contact with the head of child protective services."

"M-M-Mummy," Spencer blubbed as the man yanked open the car door and forced the boy into the car seat they had set up. Spencer fought against him, but the man grabbed his hands and forced them away. "Ow! Ow! Help!" He cried and Hotch tried to push the man away.

"You're hurting him," he growled but the man was equally as strong and shoved Hotch back.

"I'm doing my job," the CPS agent snapped back and he strapped Spencer in.

"Daddy," Spencer whined and he reached out towards him, pushing against the straps. Hotch was about to pull Spencer back out when the CPS woman touched his shoulder.

"Any intervention at this point will land you in jail, sir. You would be breaking the law," she muttered and Hotch paused and whirled around to her.

"Can't you see that this is the wrong course of action?"

"This is in the child's best interests."

"Best interest!?" JJ yelled. "Look at him! You call that a 'child's best interests'? He wants to stay with us!"

"I do believe there is something called Stockholm syndrome, ma'am," the woman replied, not bothering to look back at the wailing toddler.

Spencer was yanking against his seat straps and his watery brown eyes were locked on Hotch and JJ.

"Wait!" JJ yelled and she sprinted toward the house. The CPS agents didn't stop, the car door slammed on the hysterical child and the workers made their way to the front seats. JJ bolted back out through the front door, where Jack and Henry were watching fearfully, their TV show long forgotten, neither caring who won the match. "Please!" JJ caught up with the woman as she was ducking into the car and she thrust Spencer's stuffed rabbit under the woman's nose. "J-just give him this," She panted. The woman pursed her lips before taking the rabbit. She got into the car and JJ could hear Spencer's heartbreaking sobs.

"It's okay, Spence, we'll get you back," she shouted as the door slammed. She pressed her palm against the window and Spencer tried to stretch his tiny fingers to touch hers but suddenly the car flew up the road leaving JJ standing with her hand outstretched. Hotch already had his phone pressed to his ear.

"Garcia."

Spencer sobbed throughout the long drive, despite both CPS agents shushing him gently and then firmly.

They finally arrived at a large house, with outdoor children's toys littering the frosty grass.

Spencer hiccuped from his seat as he looked out curiously before a cold pair of hands unbuckled him and pulled him out.

"This is where you'll be staying, Spencer," the woman explained and Spencer stared up at the big, almost frightening house and covered his eyes.

"I want to go bact to my mummy and daddy."

"They aren't your parents. We will find your real parents," the woman said and she started soldiering up the steps to the entrance. They walked inside where there was a desk with a small woman sat behind.

"We got a new one," the large woman said revealing Spencer to the younger woman.

"He's young," the other pointed out.

"You know the schedule for the under 3's right?" The wide woman asked as she transferred the sniffling toddler over.

"Yes."

"Okay, get him fed and changed and put him down for a nap. We need to locate his biological parents. Oh, and the woman who was caring for him gave me this."

The bunny was exchanged and Spencer snatched it up and pressed it to his face.

"He might be a fighter," the CPS agent put in before marching back to the car.

The new woman carried a squirming Spencer into the front room where there were several other children sprawled out all over. Some were engaged in games between one another, but the majority seemed to be engrossed with the TV.

The carer trotted into the kitchen and expertly strapped Spencer into a high chair. "Let's get you something to eat," she said, searching through the cupboards until she landed on one filled with baby food.

"I wanna go home!" Spencer wailed. The woman paused as she scooped a pot of baby food into a bowl; it looked like smoosh.

"That's a lot of words for a little boy," she muttered, walking over and sitting down beside Spencer. Spencer stared at her with sad eyes as she mixed the food up. "I bet you're hungry."

Spencer shook his head miserably.

"Come on, baby," she whispered, filling the spoon with whatever gloop was in the bowl. Spencer felt tears spilling again. "Here comes the airplane," the carer said and she forced the spoon into Spencer's mouth. Spencer's eyes went wide and he reluctantly swallowed and stuck his tongue out at the taste. "Just a few more," The carer muttered and before Spencer could protest another spoon pried past his teeth. On the forth, he spat it back out and the carer sighed.

"Okay. Good boy," she ruffled his hair and scraped what was left in the trash.

"Lynn," she tapped another carers arm. She had just set a young girl on the floor who had to be 2 or 3. Spencer watched the child toddle into the front room, but a third carer picked her up and set her on a playmat. Spencer turned his head, looking for an open window to escape from.

"Can you change his diaper while I warm some milk?" Spencer's carer asked and Lynn nodded. Spencer, on the other hand, shook his head.

"No! I don't need won," He wailed. Lynn rolled her eyes at her friend and lifted the boy. Spencer gasped when she pulled his jeans down a little to check.

"Uh... Nat, he doesn't have one on," she muttered.

"Well, I'm not taking any chances, he barely looks two, so I think it's best if we just put him in one."

Spencer screamed the entire time. Kicking at the woman called Lynn. When he was finally changed she gratefully handed the sobbing child (now dressed in a soft baby grow with elephants dotting the white fabric) back to the other carer.

"You owe me one, Natalie," she said. "He is not as cute as he looks. I think I have bruises-"

"Lynn, don't upset him," Natalie mumbled, motioning to the baby who's lip was trembling more violently as if he realised he'd hurt Lynn... but babies couldn't express such feelings... could they?

Before Spencer could start crying again, the carer named Natalie stuck a bottle between his lips and started towards one of the many rooms. Spencer stared at the bottle in shock and tasted the bland milk... this is why he always drank coffee milk was too... wait. Spencer sucked the milk and scowled. It had a different flavour which wasn't all that terrible. In fact, he found himself enjoying the drink, barely noticing as they entered a nursery. He grabbed hold of the bottle to give himself a bit of control and soon he felt his eyelids growing heavy.

"That's it, honey. Nap time."

Smaller chapter today because... well, my chapters are just way too long which is why updates were getting harder, so chapters will get a little shorter, however, I'm really bad at keeping to word limits so don't hold me to that.

Also, I know very little about the care system so I'm sure most of what I said could be wrong. I'll ask my mum who works closely with a version of CPS in this country, maybe I can get it a little bit accurate.

Please review.

Next time we'll find out how the team reacts... can they get Spencer back!?

See you then.