Greetings Dear Readers. I apologize for the time between postings. Thank-you for all of your support. Love you guys!
Disclaimer: I do not own Criminal Minds or cannon characters. I do own Nurse Ann
Chapter 16-The Night Continues
"So, how did it go?" inquired Rossi as Hotch re-entered the sitting room. "A lot better than I expected" responded the section chief. "I suspect things will get a bit rockier when Jack has to actually share my time with Spencer, but for now he is very excited about having a brother. Jessica was wonderful about it. I am a lucky man."
"You are" responded Rossi with a slight uncharacteristic wistfulness. "Hey-remember that you're the Godfather Dave" reminded the young father, "and that goes for Jack too. In fact, I need to make it official, for both the boys. You the Godfather and Jessica the Godmother. Between you two I'll never have to worry about their future if something happened to me."
"That you won't" confirmed the pleased older man, "that you won't. And-thanks." Hotch nodded and smiled.
Emily wandered back into the sitting area, as Ann had finished eating and returned to Spencer, urging Prentiss to get some rest. "Hey Hotch, I'm back. What next?" she inquired.
One look at the bags under her eyes had Hotch making his decision. "Let's see what JJ got from Garcia and then break for the night. We'll have Ann with Spencer and an LVPD officer at the elevator. I'll sleep in Spencer's room, JJ and Prentiss in one bedroom, Dave and Morgan in the other." All were nodding agreement as JJ and Morgan both returned to the group. "Ok JJ, let's hear it, then we'll all go get some sleep. What has Garcia found?" addressed the tired section chief.
"Pen had just received an Interpol report identifying 6 of the submitted drawings as matching women reported missing from Eastern Europe over the past 3 years. Their names and all available information will be faxed to us by 0600. Four of the women had reportedly responded to an advertisement seeking commercial models and two responded to ads for nightclub singers. According to Andy Swan's unit these are 2 of the oldest tricks in the human trafficker's book. They get the girls over to the United States, then confiscate their passport and force them into the sex trade. Many are sold into brothels or worse. Interpol is asking for any more drawings, as there are over 200 unsolved missing young women on their books over the last year alone." JJ reported.
"We'll ask Spencer to draw the rest of the women he remembers seeing tomorrow. The kid has had a traumatic couple of days and needs some rest. We all do. See you here at 0800. Morgan, you're with Rossi, JJ with Emily. See you in the morning." Hotch directed, and retreated to Spencer's room. He found the child to be sleeping peacefully, and Ann engrossed in her documentations, so he took off his jacket and tie and lay down on the bed near his new son, falling fast asleep. Ann smiled fondly at the sight and covered the sleeping man with a blanket before returning to her charting. Soon the only noises heard in the suite were soft snores and the ticking of clocks.
"NOOOO! Please, no! NOOOOO! Stop! It Hurts! Don't hurt boy-please boy been good!" screamed a terrified young voice, splitting the peaceful night. Aaron sprang instantly from his bed, tossing aside the blanket, and rushed to Spencer's side. He gently shook the boy's shoulder, calling his name and urging him to wake. When the screaming continued, he grasped both the child's shoulders, shaking him and calling out "Spencer, wake up! It's just a dream, you are safe. Daddy's here, you are safe! Wake up for Daddy!" The startled nurse stood nearby, ready to intervene if necessary, but thankfully the boy woke, launching himself onto Aaron and flinging his little arms around his protector's neck.
"Daaadeeee" he cried hysterically, "THE MAN was alive again, and him was cutting Spencer, and, and, it hurt, and, and there was blood, and then, and then,….." the terrified child trailed off into tears and sobs. "It's ok" soothed Hotch as he gathered the distraught child into his arms and held him, gently rocking him forward and back. "Daddy's got you, you're safe. The man is dead forever-he is not coming back, I promise. And Daddy will protect you. So will Uncle Dave and Uncle Derek, Aunt Emily and Aunt JJ, OK buddy? You are totally safe now. No more bad guys will get you, right Nurse Ann?
"That's right," Ann affirmed. "You are totally safe sweetheart. Your family is here to protect you, and so am I. And there is a brave policeman on guard too, OK? We are all here to keep you safe honey. Just relax, and try to go back to sleep. Nobody will hurt you." Urged Nurse Ann.
"No!" the boy cried. "Don't wanna sleep. Scared! No more dreams. Dreams bad."
"OK buddy. Do you want to watch TV for a little while then?" Suggested the resourceful leader. "Uhn Huhn" replied the child, and Hotch found a documentary on the origins of the printed word, expecting the child to become bored and fall back to sleep. Not hardly. His big brown eyes widened further with amazement as the program continued, and by the time the show recounted the printing of the Guttenburg Bible, he began to babble in excitement.
"Ok, time for plan B" murmured Ann, as she made her way to the telephone. 10 minutes later, 2 transport runners appeared with a rocking chair, and brought it into Spencer's room. Ann thanked them profusely and sent them along with some of the left over Chinese food. Ann picked up Spencer and settled him into her lap as she settled into the chair and asked him about the program hat had just ceased. As the boy reviewed the program with her while she rocked him, Ann clicked off the TV, and signaled Aaron to dim the lights. After about 10 minutes of rocking, the child fell back to sleep. Ann gently returned him to his bed, and suggested to Hotch that he get a bit more rest also. Soon the only sounds were once again soft snores, ticking clocks, and the quiet clicking of Ann's keyboard.