Welcome back my Dear Readers. All the wonderful reviews and favorites have spurred me on . Things will move along a little bit this chapter, but you don't mind if this is novella length do you? I just don't want to miss out on any Spencer cuteness…
Don't own, no profit, no warnings.
Chapter 19
At 1200 sharp Ann's phone alarm sounded, and she was wide awake and up in an instant. She ran her fingers through dark auburn hair while bright green eyes sought out her young charge. Spencer was engrossed in the portrait he was drawing of a young African American looking woman, but looked up as his nurse approached the bed.
"Hello Miss Ann! Did you sleep well?" greeted the boy with a wide smile.
"I sure did Spencer, thank-you for asking" she grinned. "Who is that you are drawing? It's REALLY good."
"One of the ladies I saw in the basement where I was held," he replied. "Daddy said that Aunt Garcia could find out who they are by the drawing and that perhaps they will be better able to locate them and set them free."
"Spencer! Your speech is so much more advanced! I know you read a dictionary and other school books, but Wow! I'm really impressed honey."
"Thank-you" the child replied, looking shyly down. "Could you possibly bring me a more advanced English book? There is still much I do not understand."
"Trust me when I tell you that you are already far above your age level, but if that is what you want, of course I'll find you a better book. Now, it's time for medicine and lunch, so let's move your work over here, OK? Did you eat a snack for me at 10:00?"
"Uh, no" he admitted. "I was still way too full from breakfast. I am not accustomed to eating this much or this often and it has been difficult to adjust to. I am sorry-please do not be mad at me. I will be good and eat a snack next time-I promise."
"Don't worry honey, I'm not mad at you." Soothed Ann. "We are just pushing you to eat so that you can catch up on growing big and strong. You don't have to eat if you don't want too, but anytime you are even just a little bit hungry, let one of the adults know, OK?"
"Ok" the boy agreed with a smile.
"Alright then, now that your IV is disconnected, I need you to try to swallow these antibiotic and pain pills for me" the nurse explained as she handed him his half-drunk water and showed him the little paper cup of pills. Handing one pill at a time to the boy he got them all down successfully. "Good job Spencer!" she praised. "Now I'll be right back with lunch." And Ann stepped out into the sitting room to see if the child's tray had been sent up yet, just in time to hear a knock at the fire door. Glancing through the door's window she recognized the blonde head of one of her co-workers from Pediatrics holding a meal tray and let her in. "Thanks Nancy! Just what I was looking for" Ann grinned as her compadre handed over the tray with a smile.
"My pleasure hon," responded Nancy. "How's the little one doing? Do you guys need anything? We still have him registered in Peds, so we got the call from OT that they will be coming by at about 3:00 today, and Speech wants to arrange a time for an intake evaluation. What should I tell them?"
"Well…I'm not so sure he needs speech therapy so much as he needs say an 8th grade English textbook. You should hear him Nance-he sounds like a little adult now! Just no understanding of contractions, and his speech is overly formal. Could you page Dr. Martin and pass that on to her please? As for OT, let me know when they get to Peds and I'll come get them. Thanks a lot!" said Ann gratefully.
"Will do! See ya around 3" chirped the blonde as she headed back out the emergency door.
After setting Spencer's tray up for him and opening his milk and juice (adding straws of course), Ann headed back into the sitting room to find Hotch and fill him in on OT's impending visit, carrying along Spencer's latest portraits. She found the entire team gathered around a phone on speaker, listening to the chipper voice of their technical analyst.
"…and the dental records identified said John Doe as one Walter Payne, known pedophile and currently being sought by LVPD. I've sent the autopsy photos and report to your pads. I think, based on the drivers license photo-also sent to you-that he looks a lot like one of Spencer's drawings, but it isn't titled with which perv he is. None of the last 3 are."
"Did the ME tell you the estimated time of death? I'm wondering if this was truly a robbery or more clean-up work by Trinidad Jones." Hotch mused. "Any more luck on identifying the Chinese victims?"
"Not yet" responded Garcia, "but JJ's contact did come through as far as hooking me up with a database. Unfortunately, it is by no means inclusive of all missings. Many have never been reported due to the 'shame to the family' factor. I'm keeping on it. Time of death on Payne has been estimated to between 8:00 and Midnight last night. Strangely enough, though, some of his injuries appear to be older. Like maybe someone had interrogated him first? Just sayin'. Any new pictures available from my baby genius? Interpol is hoping to make a few more matches. Especially one or two young ladies belonging to influential European families who went missing without ransom demands."
"I have his latest right here" interjected Ann, stepping forward to the group and placing them into Morgan's outstretched hand. "He's having lunch right now, and I must insist he have a nap after lunch. He's still recovering from a lot right now and needs his rest."
"Oh, Hi!" squealed the excited tech Goddess. "You must be the famous Nurse Ann. I'm so pleased to meet you-well at least talk to you. Don't worry-what you say goes. Does my little wonderkind need anything at all? Please tell me!"
"Down girl!" laughed Morgan
"Actually, if you could track down an 8th grade English Textbook as well as a Senior level English textbook I could pick up around this area, that would help a lot." Ann replied with a grin.
"Consider it done! Now, my Chocolate Thunder, you can make up for your little comment by sending those portraits to me forthwith. Until later, crimefighters. Garcia out!"
"I like that woman!" declared Ann, chuckling and shaking her head. "FYI-Occupational Therapy will be here at about 3. I'm kinda thinking we don't need speech therapy at this point, and have left a message for his doctor about that. I'm assuming you'll be showing Spencer a photo of the dead guy for identification as to whether he is Angry Man, Lollipop Man or Grandpa. Drivers License picture only! And I will be present, understood?"
"Yes ma'am" responded Hotch with a twinkle in his eyes. "We are sending out for Mexican food-what do you want?"
"Mixed green chili and bean burro enchilada style with a Dr. Pepper please." Ann replied with a grin. "Now let's go check on your son Daddy Hotchner-he probably needs a potty break by now."
"Lead the way!"