Sorry for the delay in posting Dear Readers, but life got in the way. Thank-you for your continued support and reviews. I feel so blessed.
Disclaimer: I don't own Criminal Minds or cannon characters. I am making no profit from this story.
Chapter 17-The Case Advances
0700 rolled around inexorably, and the profilers found themselves waking to their various phone alarms. By 0715 the entire baggy-eyed team had gathered in the sitting room, hair combed and teeth brushed, to discuss breakfast. "Where's Ann? She's not in the room," inquired Hotch of the elevator guard.
"She ran out to pick up some books for the kid from Pediatrics. She said to tell you she has breakfast covered so don't order anything," came the response. "Oh please, let it be something warm!" came Prentiss's fervent prayer. She looked up at Rossi's chuckle, and said "Oh, did I say that out loud?" and grinned.
Just then the elevator bell sounded and the doors opened, unleashing a delicious smell upon the ravenous profilers. There stood Ann, canvas totebag on her shoulder, arms laden with, of all things, pizza boxes. "Fear not," she declared, stepping from the elevator, "This is not mere pepperoni my friends. Here we have an assortment of 'Chef' Lori's famous breakfast pizza, baked in the kitchens of this very hospital. This stuff is so good doctors have been known to fight over the last slice. Here we have ham, this one is bacon, and here is sausage" Ann described as she laid them out on the counter in the "kitchen" area. "Luckily for you, Lori is a tremendous David Rossi fan, and insisted on making these for, and I quote, 'The world's best and cutest author'." She then pulled plates and napkins from the tote, and bade them to dig in. Ann put a piece of the bacon, egg, cheese, and white gravy masterpiece on a plate for Spencer, and walked into his room as the rest of the group attacked like a pack of wolves.
Ann pulled the bedside table over for the boy, and put his pizza, napkins, and the cartons of milk and juice she had in her pocket onto it, then shook the child's too-thin shoulder gently, other hand brushing honey colored curls out of his face. "Good morning sweetheart" she cooed, "time for breakfast". His big amber brown eyes slowly blinked open, and he found himself taking a deep appreciative sniff of the odors wafting up from his breakfast. "Yum! That smell good!" the boy declared. Then a distressed look crossed his face. "Miss Ann, where Daddy? I hafta use da bafroom!"
"Right here Buddy", came Hotch's amused voice from the doorway. "I kind of thought you might. Here Ann-I grabbed you a couple slices," he laughed, handing a plate to the nurse. "I'll take him." Ann smiled at Aaron and took a big bite off the top slice, gesturing toward Spencer with a flourish as she chewed. Soon business was taken care of and the hungry child was back in bed and addressing his breakfast with gusto. With the practiced ease of a floor nurse, Ann had made short work of her pizza, and was busy opening cartons and plopping in straws for the boy as his new daddy sat in a chair next to him and finished his own breakfast. The companionable silence was broken when Ann went to the tote she had laid on the bed and removed a couple of books. One was a third grade English book and the other a thick Winnie The Pooh story book. Spencer squealed with excitement when he saw the tombs, and reached out eager hands for them. "After you finish breakfast sweet pea, Ok?" Ann smiled. "Yes ma'am" the happy boy responded, as he quickly took two last bites and slurped up the rest of his milk. "All done now!" he declared. Fondly shaking her head, the nurse cleared his tray handed over the books.
To the adult's surprise, Spencer dove right into the English book, asking for a pencil so he could do the lessons. Ann pulled one out of her spacious pocket and handed it over, along with a small notebook of paper, suggesting he write there rather than in the book. The boy cheerfully agreed and set to work.
Ann told Hotch she needed to get a bit of sleep until Spencer's antibiotic was due at lunchtime, but to wake her if the boy needed her for anything at all. The tired nurse then kicked off her shoes, emptied her pockets, leaving the bedside table overflowing, and lay down on the bed near the enthralled boy. Hotch informed the busy child that he would be right outside the door to the room and to call if he needed anything. Spencer nodded distractedly and said "Um hum". Hotch grinned at him, then joined the rest of the group in the sitting room area.
"That's right-2 dozen long-stem red roses to the hospital kitchen, the card addressed to Chef Lorie, and inside write 'To my favorite fan-I wish I wrote as well as you cook!' and sign it Gratefully, David Rossi. Yes, this morning would be best, gratzi. Oh, please include a nice tip for the delivery person. And you have a wonderful day as well Bella!" Rossi flipped closed his cellphone and dropped it into his pocket, leaning back with a contented smile. "Now that was what I call breakfast" he declared.
"Want me to have Garcia find out if she's married?" teased Hotch. "Don't tempt me" replied Dave with a grin. "Speaking of the Goddess of all things electronic, she called earlier. We have an ID on our friends from yesterday. She said to call back after you finished having breakfast with, and I quote, 'Baby Genius Hotchner'. Also, William Reid's lawyer called. It seems a certain deadbeat dad is willing to talk now in return for certain considerations. He's asking for a meeting." continued the amused Italian.
"Don't tell me we'd even consider making a deal with that son of a bitch!" exploded an outraged Morgan. "He sold his own flesh and blood to a pedophile, then came back and raped him afterward! He deserves whatever grief he's gettin' now from his cellmates and he damn sure deserves what he'll get in prison."
"Little ears Morgan!" chided Hotch, looking meaningfully at Spencer's room.
"I agree with Morgan!" declared an angry Prentiss. "Please sir, there has got to be a better way to solve this case than to deal with that piece of sh….uh slime."
"You all know that we may have no choice, but I fully intend for us to follow all other possible avenues first, believe me," said Hotch in a serious voice, letting the team know he meant it. "On that note, let's get Garcia on the line and see what new leads she has for us".
JJ called Quantico on the unit phone, putting it on speaker for all to hear the perky blonde tech bubble out "Office of the wizard-what wisdom do you seek oh travelers?"
"You're on speaker with the whole team, and little ears are nearby Garcia, so behave!" grinned JJ. "We are all hanging on your every word, so dazzle us".
"That's what I do!" replied the Computer Goddess. "Ok, as far as Mr. Creepy, he was identified as Alexander Godonov-a medium level thug in Russian organized crime circles, originating from Moscow, current address in Brighton Beach New York. The scuttlebutt is that he branched out on his own with this Las Vegas trafficking ring, and without the blessings of his boss by the way. His DNA also matched one of the 7 recovered from Spencer, but his face didn't match any of the drawings. The hired gun is known as 'Adrian Black', but it is doubtful that is his actual name. Mr. Black, currently a soprano may I add, is refusing to talk. I have a feeling this may change though, since the guard 'accidentally' let it slip that a 6 year old kid put him in his current condition during a kidnapping attempt, and his room-mates in the hospital jail ward are a pair of Marines arrested for injuring 7 Hell's Angels in a bar fight. Give it a few more hours and I think he might just be feeling a bit more cooperative."
"Semper Fi!" interjected Rossi with a slight smirk.
"Garcia, any further luck with identifying the other 2 women Spencer drew?" inquired Hotch.
"Not yet Mon Capitan" replied the enthusiastic voice of the technical analyst. "They both look Chinese to me, but I've not had a lot of luck so far getting access to the database of Missing Persons in China. It's also possible that they have never been reported as missing. Has boy wonder produced anymore of his fabulous drawings yet? Interpol has provided quite an extensive list for cross-matching, and of course our home-grown missings list is depressingly large. The more that are identified the closer we come to finding something in common-what am I saying, you're the profilers, you already know that!"
"Spencer's engrossed in a schoolbook right now. As soon as it can be pried away from him we'll get him started drawing again." Responded the proud new father.
"Garcia, I'll call in a couple favors from my time in the State Department and see if we can't get you into that Chinese database." Offered JJ
"Thanks Jayge-that will help a lot" gushed Garcia. "I'll be awaiting that call and the wonderkin's drawings. Garcia out."
Hotch left the group to check on Spencer and found the child just finishing the last lesson in the English book. "Done already buddy? I'm really impressed" praised the proud papa.
"Yes, and I have learned quite a lot" responded the boy. "I am so happy Miss Ann found this book for me."
"Wow" thought Hotch, "Definitely going to need to get him tested!"