Welcome back Dear Readers! I apologize for my delay in updating-I have a condition and it was giving me issues…anyways: No Own, No Profits, Small warning for sexual reference.
Chapter 20
After taking care of business, Hotch tucked Spencer back in to his bed and pulled the table with his meal over in front of him. Cartons and cups were opened and straws deployed for the boy, and he eagerly dug into his lunch as the adults repaired to the sitting room to address their Mexican takeout. Soon, tummy happily full, Spencer dropped off to sleep, cuddled into his bear, and the adults returned to evaluating the available evidence in search of inspiration.
About an hour later, Ann approached the group of profilers and announced that they could wake Spencer up now and show him the driver's license photo for identification. Hotch followed her into the boy's room with the photo printout, and waited as the nurse gently shook the child's shoulder and called his name. Moments later he was awake and alert. Ann explained to him that they needed his help in identifying a bad guy and Spencer readily agreed. After close examination of the proffered photo the child exclaimed "That is Lollipop Man. He always asked me to suck his lollipop, but it was really his penis. He gave me candy lollipops after though. Sometimes I was really hungry and ate them before THE MAN could take them away. HE got mad!"
"Good job, buddy! Thank-you for helping Daddy." Hotch said in a gentle tone. "It's OK that you ate the candy-you were hungry and needed to survive. Know that you never have to do anything again to earn food or water, OK? Any time you are hungry or thirsty just tell Daddy or one of your Aunts or Uncles and we will give you what you need, OK?"
"OK Daddy." Responded the boy, tears in his eyes. "But, HE always say 'Nothing is free for me, so why should anything be free for you?' and not want you to be hurt to pay for mine…I can be brave and do my share of da wok, uhm the work!"
"Oh, my valiant little Spencer" cried a touched Hotch as he picked the child up and hugged him, then sat in the rocking chair with the boy in his lap. "McCormick was evil and the things he did to you were wrong. He lied to you. 'Work' doesn't mean being hurt and abused by somebody. Work is doing a job, an activity, in exchange for money. You know about money, right? From the math book?" Hotch waited until the boy nodded before continuing. "Ok, so grown-ups do a job and get money, then they exchange that money for things that they need, or that their family needs. Families often include children. It is the responsibility of the adults to provide for the needs of the child in the family, until they grow up and take on a job of their own. While it IS true that goods and services are not free, it is a lie that a child has to work in order to be given food and water and shelter. At least in this country. Do you understand?"
"I think so," responded the thoughtful child. "So, your job is to catch the bad people and put them in jail, you and the aunts and uncles, and you are all a family and I am the child so all of you will pay for my food and water and shelter until I am big enough to catch bad people too?"
"Well…you might decide to do a different job than catching bad people, but yes-that's correct. You are very smart Spencer, and I am proud of you." Responded a pleased Hotch.
Spencer looked around and noticed that the team had drifted into his room during his Daddy's explanation. He smiled at every one and said "Thank-you for taking me into your family and for caring about me. I never had Aunts and Uncles and a Godfather and a good Daddy before. I know that I am dirty and disgusting, but I promise to always be good for all of you to make up for that."
Emily was the first to recover from the shock his words had produced. "Honey, it is normal that you would feel dirty and disgusting after everything that has been done to you, but that doesn't mean that you ARE dirty and disgusting. You aren't. You are brave and sweet and have good character. The bad men wanted you to feel like a bad person to control you. Do you understand what I am telling you?"
"But that is how I feel Aunt Em'ly. I do not know how to make that feeling go away. But it makes me very happy that you all see me differently than those men did." Spencer replied. "Maybe someday I can stop feeling so dirty and used, and see what you see."
They were all flabbergasted by the maturity of the boy's statement, and didn't know how to respond. They were saved by the entrance of Ann and the Occupational Therapist.
"Hi Spencer, I'm Jeannie, and I'm here to teach you a few things that you missed out on learning while you were down in that basement, Ok?" the bouncy young brunette began. "So let's put your bear in this chair and take down the railing so we can get started."
The team returned to the sitting room to continue working the case while Jeannie taught Spencer dressing and undressing-so far as was possible with a cast on his left leg-hair combing, teeth brushing, shoe tying…all the things a child would have learned by six years of age. She was amazed at how quickly the boy picked up on everything she taught him, and soon realized that the one session was all he needed. After praising the boy effusively, Jeannie discussed how bathing skills would have to wait until after the cast came off but she had no doubt he could easily learn them from his Daddy. Spencer agreed, a most serious expression on his little face. It was so cute Ann had to step out of the room a moment to control her grin. Soon after the therapist took her leave and went out to fill in Hotch with the child's progress. He was, of course, proud of Spencer's performance, and assured the brunette that he could teach all bathing skills at a later date. Satisfied, Jeannie left to dictate her report and finish her notes. Hotch once again found himself thinking that he was definitely getting his little genius tested.