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

Chapter requested by Hime1437

This is a long one...

Enjoy.

Previously:

It was a strange case that had Aaron and JJ handing Spencer, Henry, and Jack over to Haley.

"Jess said she's fine to have them. I convinced her of all three so if Sean isn't sure-"

"Thank you... so much, but Sean has been asking for a few weeks now to have the boys," Aaron said, ruffling Henry's hair as he took his bag from him.

Haley glanced at the boys as they hurried to the front room. She smiled awkwardly. "I know, but I've passed the boys off to Sean before and I feel bad."

"You've got work," JJ said, her own lips pulled into a sympathetic smile.

Haley shrugged but her smile remained sad. "Don't we all."

"I'd drink to that"

Haley had the boys for the night while JJ, Aaron, and the team worked their heads around an unsub who was piercing his victims together into jigsaw corpses and posting the other parts across several states.

Thankfully, the boys were far from those gruesome happenings. Haley took them to school the next day and dropped Spencer off at nursery.

Sean picked them all up later and took them to his apartment.

The kids were perfect for him the entire night. It wasn't until the morning that they started stirring trouble.

Sean was woken by Spencer who had tried to climb up into his double bed.

He sat up suddenly and saw Spencer's wet brown eyes looking back at him.

"Spencer?" he croaked in a sleep riddled voice. Spencer sniffled and nodded, rubbing his fingers in the sheets.

"What's wrong?" Sean sat up and squinted at his clock. It was half five.

Spencer licked his lips, dropping both his rabbits onto the bed and trying to pull himself up again.

"It was dawk," he mumbled. Sean leaned over and helped heave Spencer up.

"A-and I had a nightmawe."

Spencer curled up on himself and stared back at Sean.

"Oh... bud... I'm sorry."

"Tan I s'eep wid you?" Sean looked down at Spencer and his shimmering puppy dog eyes.

Sean fell back into his pillows, handing Spencer some of the sheets. "Sure. Try and get more sleep, buddy."

"Otay... fant you."

Sean woke up again at half six and he went to the kitchen, with Spencer following like a duckling follows it's mother.

Sean found a colouring book he'd kept from babysitting Jack and he set Spencer up with a clean page and a pack of squeaky markers while he made the boys' lunches. He also gave the toddler a bowl of dry Cheerios which he munched in between pen strokes.

Sean called for the boys while he worked and ten minutes later they slunk in, yawning and grumbling. They didn't say a word while eating their breakfast and it was only when Sean decided to get them into action that they started to rebel.

All he'd said was 'get changed,' and Jack was swooned by a sudden illness.

"I'm sick!" moaned Jack defiantly, lolling his head back against Spencer's shoulder who was too busy with his drawing to react. He got to his feet slowly and fell into the sofa, knocking Spencer with his foot. The younger boy gasped when his pen walked off the page. He put the lid on and mourned the ugly line across his work.

Sean rolled his eyes and pulled Jack off the couch.

"You were fine last night," he said, forcing Jack up straight while he tried to slump back onto the couch. Sean pressed Jack's shirt into his hand and pointed to the bathroom.

Henry grimaced, exchanging a contemptuous look with Spencer who was swapping his red marker with a yellow one. Spencer blinked dumbly at Henry before nosing the paper.

"You too." Sean made a grab for Henry but he flopped off the couch and clutched his stomach.

"I'm sick too!" he whined, drama flaring in his speech.

"Really!?"

Henry made a face, trying hard not to smile.

"Must have been your meatloaf," he added quietly, making a gagging sound. Sean shook his head and yanked the boy up by his collar.

"We didn't have meatloaf," Sean said gruffly. Henry staggered to his feet, careful to keep up his act.

"What was it?" he muttered in a tight and pained voice.

"Lasagne," Spencer replied quietly, poking himself in the nose with his pen as he swapped hands.

Jack walked out then, a miserable look on his own face.

Sean looked offended. "Next time you can have pickle sandwiches," he said.

"Better than microwave meals," muttered Jack bitterly.

Sean grit his teeth. How did his brother cope? He sat on the couch, avoiding kicking Spencer who lay at his feet.

"You two are going to school, whether you like it or not. And lying won't work. I may not be as good as your parents but I know what bunking school looks like."

Henry and Jack huffed, twin frowns painting their expressions.

"How about we make a deal?" Sean offered. The boys stopped moping for a moment; Jack glanced over his shoulder while Henry swiveled right around. Sean lifted his face from his hands and grinned mischievously.

"There's a circus set up a couple of miles from here," he said. He had both Jack and Henry's full attention then; Spencer was still colouring. "If you two go to school AND do your homework when you get back, then maybe I can find it in my heart to take you guys to the circus."

"Really! Really really!?"

"I'll go to school!"

Sean laughed but nodded. "If you two can agree to my terms-."

"Yes!" Henry and Jack yelled, and suddenly they were getting ready faster than Sean could have imagined.

They started chatting excitedly as they packed their bags and Sean raised an eyebrow at their sudden and miraculous recoveries. It was almost as fast as they had fallen ill.

"We're ready!" Henry said. Sean heaved himself up off the couch, off to finish his coffee but Spencer was still woefully distracted. Henry got on his knees in front of the boy who didn't bat an eyelid. He pulled away Spencer's colours and Spencer frowned down and then looked up.

"We're going to a circus, Spencer!" Henry said. Spencer scowled deeply.

"What?"

"Uncle Sean's taking us," Jack added for clarity.

"With lions and clowns?" Spencer asked and Jack and Henry nodded excitedly.

"And cotton candy and donuts and-"

"You're not having that much sugar, kid," Sean said as he walked back in. Henry shrugged and grabbed Sean arm.

"Come on Come on, let's go! Then we can go to the circus."

"After school," Sean said.

"Yea, yea, come on."

Sean adjusted his belt and leaned down over Spencer, gently tugging his colouring book away. "We better take these boys then, buddy. Ready for a ride?"

Spencer pouted when his book was closed but he nodded and shuffled to his knees. Sean picked him up and grabbed his keys, Henry and Jack leading the way.

"Let's go then, guys."

Sean was feeling pretty good about his childcare skills when he picked Jack and Henry back up from school. He and Spencer had finished his colouring and he'd let the toddler 'read' until he'd made him some small sandwiches. He'd gone straight down for his nap and had woken up and found his own way into Sean's arms, pressing both his rabbits up to his nose.

Spencer was awake and excited thereafter for the promised trip which Sean was prepared for. He had plans: first to go for food, McDonald's perhaps so Henry didn't have to stomach more of his microwave meals. Then to the circus, after which time Sean hoped the kids would be zonked out so he could just put them to bed.

It sounded perfect and would have perhaps worked out great if only they had bypassed the magic show.

They arrived at the circus after a quick stop at McDonald's. The boys all had happy meals and Sean had gone back to exchange their toys so they each had different characters.

"Leave them behind, boys," Sean said as he opened the door for Spencer. Henry put his toy back regrettably but was soon mesmerised by the pretty circus lights.

Sean lifted Spencer out of his car seat straps (something he was gaining experience with) and carried him on his hip to the entrance. He made sure Henry and Jack were ahead of him the whole time.

"Woah!" Jack said, gaping up at the big Ferris wheel while Sean negotiated tickets.

"How olds the little one?" the lady in the booth with freckle speckled hands asked, squinting into Spencer's young face. Sean had allowed one rabbit to come along and that was Darwin since it made Spencer look even younger with the way he clutched it. Three-year-olds and under got in for free. Plus the rabbit brought Spencer comfort, especially when in public places.

"He's two," Sean said, pulling Henry by his hand back toward them as he'd strayed beyond the gate.

"Alright, two kids, one adult, that'll be $17."

Sean released Henry to grab his wallet and pay.

"Boys, stay close."

Jack pulled back from the gate until Sean was done before he started forward.

Henry and Jack shot off the funfair portion of the circus and Sean watched them ride a few of the bigger rides while he and Spencer watched some animals in the near distance.

They looked around some stalls from gypsy palm readings (the woman being Scottish, her accent too thick for Sean to understand in passing) to donut stands.

Sean relented to the boys' eager cries and stopped at the next candy stall.

"One thing each, Alright. Henry, buddy, one thing! Cotten candy or the lolly, not both."

Sean pulled the lolly from Henry's hand and set Spencer down on his own two feet. He was quick to take Spencer's hand in his as the boy was already trying to peek up at the array of candy.

Henry reluctantly put his cotton candy back and took a big round, multicoloured lolly from a bunch.

"Can I have this one? Please?"

Sean took the lolly from him and set it on the counter. Jack handed him a bag of pick-a-mix which he placed next to the lolly.

Spencer chewed his lip as he glanced back and forth and he looked up at Sean for help.

Sean knelt beside him, putting an arm around his shoulder. "What would you like, buddy?"

Spencer smiled shyly and pointed to a bag of cotton candy hanging above their heads.

"You want that?"

Spencer nodded so Sean stood up and reached for the bags.

"What colour? Blue? Pink? Yel-"

Spencer pointed to a bag of multicoloured fluffed sugar.

"All fwee peas!"

Sean pulled the bag down and paid quickly so the antsy kids could have their candy.

He grimaced when reading the back of Henry's lolly. 'Warning: May have an adverse effect of attention in children.' He gave Henry the lolly anyway. He went to pick Spencer up but the boy seemed to be carrying his stuff well. Darwin was slung across his shoulder while his one hand held open the bag and the other was picking apart the Cotten candy and sticking it in his mouth. His fingers were sticky already and so were his lips and Sean kept his eye on the youngest to make sure he didn't walk into anything.

Sean smiled to himself at the sight of the three distracted boys in front of him. Spencer walking at his side, Jack leading the way and Henry zigzagging back and forth with his mouth full of lolly.

"Woah!" Jack stopped in front of a small arena where two young men were swallowing swords. Henry scampered over, his lolly coming out of his mouth so he could gasp. He looked back at Sean with blue lips.

"Look, Sean!"

Sean put his hand on Spencer's shoulder so as not to lose him as he looked on. "Don't get any ideas," he said with a chuckle. Henry stuck his tongue out which was a mirage of blues and purples.

"I'd cut my tongue!"

"It would cut you in half, Henry," Jack added with a gruesome grin.

"Thanks for that visual, Jack," mumbled Sean. "Look, Spencer."

Spencer's sticky hand fell into the bag of cotton candy (which he'd barely made a dent in) and he cocked his head.

"Only one in two-hundwed-and-fifty million people know how to sword swallow," Spencer said absently. Sean stared at him in astonishment while Henry and Jack just continued to watch the sword swallowers.

"Cool," Jack muttered, turning to another attraction.

"You're a smart kid," Sean said, still wondering where Spencer had pulled that fact from, as he maneuvered the youngster by his shoulders towards Jack. Spencer dug back into his cotton candy, having another sticky finger full before closing it. He continued to pad along beside Sean holding his sugar covered fingers out in front of him.

"Let me take that... and lick your fingers, Spencer," Sean said. Spencer glanced up and offered his bag. He then gingerly licked his fingers before running them down his shorts.

"Where are we going now, Jack!?" Sean called, hurrying Spencer along.

"Clowns!"

Sean swallowed thickly but followed his nephews into a tent. He stood anxiously to the side while the boys got balloon swords and a dog in Spencer's case and watched the foolish antics of the white-faced, pink-lipped, and red-nosed clowns. He allowed himself to shiver when they got outside again. He closed his eyes briefly, letting the boys laugh and shout before taking back control of them.

He opened his eyes and found Spencer watching him.

He stood on his top toes and ushered Sean down. Sean put his ear close to Spencer's mouth, kneeling down so Spencer didn't have to stretch.

"I know you'we 'tawed of clowns," Spencer whispered he smiled understandingly. "It's otay," Spencer said. "I'm 'tawed if da dawk. Youw bwave fow going inside, untle Sean."

Sean lifted Spencer into his arms then with a blinding grin on his face.

"I'll give in to what your mommy says: you are adorable." Sean tickled Spencer's stomach and the boy squealed, putting his arms and Darwin around himself for protection. "Wait... where's your balloon doggy?"

He looked around his feet as did Spencer.

"Oh... I dwopped it." Spencer shrugged, clutching his rabbit close. He glanced over at some dancing lights spewing out of a tent and Sean chuckled, leaving the kid in his own world.

"Alright boys," Sean said, stretching his arms up with Spencer in them and seating him on his shoulders. "One more thing, it's getting late."

"Oh what! We've only been to the clowns," whined Henry. He had put his lolly back in its packaging but his tongue and the insides of his lips were still tinted an unnatural bluey-green.

"We've been here a couple of hours already. And you went on the waltzers twice when we came in."

Henry looked at his feet as he kicked around a stone.

"One more thing?" Jack asked. He was leaning against a fence which held donkeys and a strange-looking horse inside. Sean nodded, careful not to knock Spencer off.

"Can we go to the magic show then? It said it started at 6." Jack pointed to a haphazard sign, stuck wonky in the ground. Sean turned and by default so did Spencer.

"It's in the big tent," Jack added while Sean checked his phone.

"Alright," he said. The show took half an hour. The boys might be in bed later than he hoped but what did it matter. "Alright, let's go," Sean repeated. "Then we have to go home."

For the first time that night Sean led the way to the lit-up tent. The big top was pin-striped from the top peak to the bottom, a gaping entrance in the centre where the light congregated.

"This way," Henry said, marching alongside Sean. The inside was almost full, a back-row was empty and so were some seats speckled around the room but Sean found four in one of the middle rows. The boys got settled in, dipping back into their candy supplies.

"Spencer likes magic," Jack said from beside Henry who was sandwiched between Jack and Spencer. "Don't ya, Spence?"

"Mmm hmm!" Spencer mumbled, nodding up at Sean.

"Our uncle used to be super awesome at magic," Henry said.

"Yea, uncle Reid. He was wicked," Jack whispered. He glanced back at the stage where a man was checking his microphone. Spencer stopped waving his feet and eating his cotton candy and he stared at his feet for a moment. He knew that name... he knew that name!

And even if it wasn't familiar, why hadn't he met uncle Reid? He'd met everyone else.

Spencer couldn't think on it much longer because the show started and a flamboyantly dressed magician started to speak on stage.

He watched the show in both awe and understanding. He knew how most the tricks were done but the guy's presence on stage was amazing.

He finished a trick with a bird flying out his hat when he asked for volunteers.

"Me!" Henry's hand was the first to shoot up. He got off his chair and held his straining shoulder with his other hand.

Sean rolled his eyes but didn't discourage the boy.

"Yes, yes you, young sir! With the green hoodie!" The magician called to Henry whose face lit up with excitement.

Spencer watched, hopping on his chair enthusiastically to cheer Henry on. Sean grabbed him, thinking he'd fall from the chair.

Henry got up to the stage and stood proudly with his hands behind his back. Spencer beamed at him, waving excitedly and tapping his feet on the chair.

The magician motioned Henry toward him but Spencer caught his eyes. "Is that another volunteer?" he asked and he pointed to Spencer. "Would you like to come up here too?"

"That's my brother," Henry said.

Sean frowned thoughtfully and lifted Spencer up into his lap.

"You wanna go up there? With Henry?"

Spencer nodded enthusiastically, squirming in Sean's hold to get to Henry.

"Is your little brother joining us?" The magician asked, his hand still out in offering. Sean released Spencer and the old couple at the end of their row moved their legs aside to let Spencer stumble by.

"Sure," Henry said, jumping off the stage and meeting Spencer part way.

Spencer grasped Henry's hand, a bright smiled plastered to his pink face.

They got to the stage and the magician led them up the stairs again.

"Wonderful, wonderful. Would you boys like to tell me your names and how old you are?" The magician held the microphone close to Henry's face and the boy grabbed it.

"I'm Henry, I'm seven and this is Spencer. He's two."

Henry gave the microphone back to the magician and waved at Sean who had his phone out. There were a few awes in the audience and Spencer clutched Henry's hand nervously and waved at Sean, trying to avoid looking at the other people in the tent.

Henry got to help first. The magician did some disappearing tricks before turning to Henry and using him for a simple card trick.

Spencer smirked when the magician revealed Henry's card and the boy nodded vigorously. Spencer knew how that trick was done. He paused for a moment, wondering how he knew but soon realising it didn't matter.

"For my next trick, my young volunteer here is going to... disappear and then reappear elsewhere!" The crowd clapped quietly in response to the grand speech and Spencer clapped with them. That was until he realised the magician was talking about him.

Before he could protest one of the star spotted sheets were lifted to reveal a black box, around the height of JJ.

"Our brave young volunteer here will step inside the box. I shall shut it and we will say the magic words and he will reappear..." The magician tapped a shorter box to his other side. "Here."

The audience applauded again. Spencer stared at the box and then looked at the magician. He shook his head.

The magician chuckled and patted the back of Spencer's head, pushing him forward.

"Come on young sir, step inside. Spencer looked up at him, his bottom lip pressed between his teeth.

"No..." he whispered but the magician's hand crept down his back and shoved him heartily. Spencer staggered forward, nearly falling into the box. He turned just as the door closed behind him and sunk him into darkness.

The panic was instantaneous. Spencer fell to his knees, trying to drag in the suddenly thick air.

The darkness was strangling him and he tilted back, falling onto his backside as he rasped. He heard something behind him creak and he whined loudly.

"Get me out..." he whimpered, pressing his palms into his wet eyes. Something moved behind him and he started to sob.

Sean watched apprehensively as Spencer was pushed into the box. He pressed his hands into his knees when the box was locked.

"Now with a few magic words, we will make little Spencer... disappear," the magician said, elongating the final word for effect.

Sean knew Spencer had trauma. When Aaron explained it all to him he'd been horrified. He also knew his nephew was terrified of the dark.

He didn't like this show anymore.

Henry stood grinning at the magician's side but Sean saw it fall as the young boy peered at the box.

"Jack," Sean whispered. Jack stood up, craning his neck when he heard a small cry from the box.

The magician had revealed a wand as Henry tugged on his tailcoat.

"Um... mister, I think we should let him out," Henry said.

The magician threw his hips away from Henry's hold on his coat and hissed "let me finish my trick, kid."

Sean stood up too and started shuffling to the end of the row. Jack followed as the magician started to tap the box.

Suddenly, a muffled wail cascaded from the stage and Sean bolted toward them.

"Get him out of there!" he yelled, pointing to the box where Spencer had started to scream.

"He'll be out of there in a minute. It's all part of the trick," the magician said but Sean snatched the key from his hand, haggling for it.

"He's terrified!"

"Listen, pal, I'm finishing this trick-"

Sean yanked the keys from him causing the man to fumble for his dollar-store wand which promptly clunked to the floor.

Sean jammed the key into the lock while Spencer's sobs grew more frightened.

The magician grabbed his wand and flashed the audience a fake smile and turned to his box. Henry parked himself between Sean and the magician as the lock clicked out of place.

The magician gave Henry a half weary, half angry grin.

"Excuse me, young sir."

"Not till my brother gets out."

Sean pulled the lock off the door and flung it open. Spence was curled up on the floor, shaking badly, his eyes rounded and twitchy.

Sean went to his knees and gently dragged Spencer to him so he could scoop him up.

"Hey, buddy, you're alright... um... shhh, you're okay."

Spencer grappled for a hold on Sean like a squirming kitten, his fingernails digging into the skin around Sean's neck. He was still crying, it wasn't muffled anymore but it wasn't as panicked as it had been. He was trying hard to keep his breathing steady as he sobbed but Sean could feel his heart thumping.

"Come on Henry," Sean quipped to the boy who was still stood with his arms folded between him and the magician.

Henry gave the guy one last scowl before following.

The magician rolled his eyes as he picked up his lock and key. He turned back to the audience. "Some people are just not meant to be volunteers, my friends," he said with a self-indulged chuckle at the end. Sean threw a glance back angrily as he rocked a still shaking Spencer.

"He's two-years-old, and he said no."

The magician continued to laugh it off. He called for new volunteers and Sean stopped his decent from the stage and faced off with the magician.

"I'm sure his parents will be thrilled to hear about your misconduct. Did I forget to mention they both work for the FBI? No?"

The magician paled significantly, his wand held loosely in his fist. Sean took Henry's hand, his other arm holding Spencer tight and he started out. Jack joined their side while the circus music began again. He glared back one last time before they left the tent.

Sean got to the car park which was starting to empty. He buckled Spencer in quickly, trying to distract the boy from his panic attack with the appearance of his second rabbit. Sean glanced at a blue sedan leaving through the exit on the left side and decided to take a similar route, hoping to make it home quickly.

Sean thanked god he took that turn and that the sedan was fast because he quickly changed his mind about going to his apartment. Spencer started sobbing about missing Aaron and JJ and of course that set the other two off. And Henry then insisted they had to go home. The route they'd taken went by their house so Sean fumbled in his glove compartment and found their key.

"Alright, boys, we're going to your home... j-just... just... You'll see them soon, just stop crying... please."

JJ and Aaron walked through their front door in single file.

They'd messaged Sean saying they'd be back and he sent several relieved emojis.

Leaving their bags at the door, they flicked off their shoes and let out a united sigh.

JJ sauntered toward the kitchen while Aaron paused and groaned.

"Kids," he mumbled sleepily.

"I can go get them," JJ offered, flicking the kettle on.

"No need."

JJ jumped, nearly dropping a mug from the cabinet. Aaron glanced around the corner of the door just as Sean walked out from the front room. He raised his hand and waved and Aaron smiled with relief.

"Boys are in bed," Sean added as Aaron walked forward to hug him.

"Why are you here?" JJ asked, letting Sean pull her into an embrace. She smiled at him when they pulled back.

"Figured you'd be back soon, I have a spare key, and they missed you both," Sean said with a shrug of his shoulders, playing off his disastrous trip home as he did with most situations.

"Well, thank you," Aaron said. Then with a pointed look, he asked, "they were good right?"

"Sure. Haley said they were loud and excitable. I took them to the circus to get some of the energy out... a-and um... they've been quiet since."

Aaron scowled at the doubtful tone of his brother.

Sean was eager to leave too and Aaron exchanged a concerned look with JJ. She just shrugged and started to climb the stairs.

"He'd tell us if something was wrong," she said over her shoulder. Aaron huffed and went to Jack's room. He pushed open the door quietly and stuck his head inside. He pulled back suddenly and turned to JJ, a deep frown on his features.

"What?"

"He's not in there?"

"What do-"

"He's not in there, Jennifer," Aaron hissed. He gazed at JJ in terror as she opened Henry's door. She shook her head.

Aaron glanced over at Spencer's door before bolting for it. The night light was even gone from his room.

"Wait... what if..." JJ turned her head to their room and Aaron followed her gaze, closing Spencer's door behind him.

"They better be..." Aaron grumbled.

JJ and Aaron opened their door, holding their breath as they did. JJ laughed aloud in relief, causing Jack to stir.

"Alright, that's adorable," Aaron said quietly as they looked on at the three sleeping boys snuggled in their bed. Spencer's nightlight was plugged in near the door.

"We can't put them to bed."

"No... wait, why not?"

Aaron turned to JJ who was already pulling off her top. She quickly replaced it with her loose-fitting nightie, pulling off her jeans and socks too.

"As you said, it's too cute."

"Where are we sleeping?"

"We'll fit."

"What? On there!?"

"Shhh." JJ grinned behind her finger as she shushed Aaron. She slid under the covers, pulling Henry to her.

Aaron rolled his eyes but followed, changing quickly in the dark.

Henry pushed away from JJ, kicking her in the leg as he did. JJ sat up and plucked Spencer from his place in the middle. She hugged him to her chest instead and smiled when he cuddled into her.

She looked up as Aaron got in on the other side, with very little mattress keeping him from the floor. He shot her an amused smile.

"Just tonight?"

"Maybe..."

"Jen..."

Phew! That took a lot of work to write.

Please review. Your ideas will be featured in future chapters, I'm very much enjoying writing them.

Next chapter is suggested by Pechika.

See you then.