Welcome back Dear Readers! So sorry on how little Spencer was mentioned last chapter. This one is guaranteed to include Spencer cuteness. Thank-you for all the wonderful reviews and follows/favorites. Remember, the Fan decision was for William to spend his life as a prison bitch, and I stay true to my word….
Chapter 26
Hotch quietly eased into his new son's room to check on him, and found the boy clutching his bear with one hand and the other thumb ensconced in his mouth. He seemed calm at the moment-breathing even and steady, muscles relaxed. Hotch removed the open book from his bed and adjusted the covers up to his sweet chin. Taking a seat in the chair next to the child's bed, he prepared himself to watch over him for the rest of the night. Sleepy hazel eyes opened though, and the boy murmured "Daddy?" then reached out with both arms. Hotch eased the sleepy child into his lap and snuggled him into his chest. Spencer sighed contentedly and slipped back into slumber. Hotch soon joined him.
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Meanwhile, Rossi and Morgan entered the secured area of the hospital and waited for the appearance of William Reid, currently being cared for in the emergency room. The paperwork promising a private room in the hospital and a private cell in the jail was held in Rossi's hand. As with the other agreement, the arrangements in the state penitentiary were left up to the facility. After about an hour's wait, the object of their interest was wheeled into the room in which they waited.
"Hello again, Mr. Reid" spoke Rossi. "I have here paperwork guaranteeing you a private room here in the hospital as well as a private cell in the Clark County Jail. In return, you agree to share with us all information you have regarding the dealings of the McCormick brothers. Are you prepared to sign it?"
"Do you think me an idiot?" growled Reid. "What about the prison cell. That is what I am worried about."
"I'll take the 5th on that one Reid," declared Rossi. "As far as prison accommodations, we have no input. Prior to that, well we have some arrangements. Take it or leave it-the choice is yours. Personally, I'd love to see you spend some time here with a couple of Marine friends of mine. They have a particular fondness for child molesters. Like I said, the choice is yours." Morgan and Rossi both stood, as if to leave.
"Ok, damn you! I'll take what I can get. Give me the papers," barked the pedophile. Rossi handed them over with a smirk, then tucked the signed documents inside his jacket.
"Now, let's start with everything you know about 'Master Anthony' and his repeat business…" began Rossi, while Morgan took notes.
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Hours later, the exhausted profilers returned to the team's accommodations, as eager for news of their injured colleagues as they were for food and rest. Ann met them at the elevator, and guided them in to see JJ and Emily sleeping peacefully in their room-which had been rapidly furnished with hospital beds and other needed equipment. She then let them peek in on the adorable sight of Hotch and Spencer cuddled together on Hotch's bed, where the nurse had convinced him to transfer earlier in the long night. After feeding the men sandwiches and water from the fridge she herded them off to bed for a few hours of sleep, assuring the profilers that they would work better afterward. Once her charges were all settled, Ann sat down and returned to her charting with a satisfied smile.
Dawn came all too soon, and as the hospital stirred to life so did the occupants of the penthouse suite of rooms. After Hotch took his son to the bathroom, he settled him back in his bed so Ann could tend his wounds and give him medication. He then peeked in on Prentiss and JJ, who were still sleeping peacefully-soon to be disturbed for their own tending by the kindly nurse. Deciding it was his turn to fetch breakfast, Hotch headed downstairs after exchanging greetings with the LVPD officer. He soon returned laden with several bags from McDonalds which he sat on the counter as he went about brewing coffee in the kitchenette. Soon Rossi and Morgan emerged to the pied piper smell of the caffeinated brew, and caught sight of the bags.
"Oh man. You rock!" exclaimed Morgan as he claimed an Egg McMuffin from the bag and poured himself a mug of coffee. Rossi followed suit, with an amiable nod in Hotch's direction. "I'm assuming the pancakes are for the little one" he grinned, taking a bite of his sandwich."
"Uh, that's a yes" admitted the unit leader. "Ok, so I'm spoiling him a little. He deserves it."
"No argument there Aaron. The little guy has been through a lot." Replied Rossi. "Go feed your son. That'll give Morgan and I a chance to update the board. Then we can all meet and put this puppy to bed."
"You got that much?" asked the unit leader in surprise.
"Along with what we got from Black, I think we can shut this ring down and bring home at least some of the missing women. Now go-eat, feed Spencer. We all need some energy to bring this home. See you in a bit." Rossi assured him.
With a smile, Hotch retrieved the pancake meal, a milk from the fridge, a sandwich from the bag, and a cup of coffee for himself, then walked quietly into the child's room. He exchanged cheerful smiles with the boy as he pulled over the bedside table and set it up with their breakfast. "Pancakes!" squealed Spencer in delight, as he watched his caretaker pour syrup over them. "Thank-you Daddy!"
"My pleasure" replied the pleased young father. "Now, eat it all up and I'll bring over your box of books to pick from."
"Really? Thank-you! Can I pick out 2?" the excited child exclaimed.
"Yes, but only if you clean you plate, okay buddy?" responded Hotch.
"Yes sir!" declared the boy, nearly bouncing with pleasure, as he enthusiastically dug in to his breakfast. Hotch followed suit, and was soon wheeling over the box for Spencer to pick. No shock, he picked the textbooks. Hotch shook his head and went with it.
"OK sweetheart, enjoy your books, and Daddy will be right outside your room with the team. Just call me if you need me, and I'll come running. Miss Ann will be sleeping right here too, alright?"
"OK!" chirped the child happily, and he engrossed himself in the book in his lap, brow furrowed in concentration. Adorable didn't even begin to describe the sight. Hotch grinned and moved into the sitting room to join his team.
JJ and Emily were both already present, having been treated by Miss Ann and provided coffee and breakfast sandwiches by Morgan and Rossi. The 2 men had already summoned the LVPD chief and fed him as well, before updating the white boards with the new information they had gathered. It was astounding-there were addresses on almost everyone involved, thanks to Garcia in part, and there were names of buyers connected with all 25 of the missing.
Hotch was impressed to say the least. "Good job everyone" he praised, looking over the data presented. "So, let's discuss retrieval plans. Chief, this is your city-you tell us the best way to proceed."
After nearly two hours of planning and plotting, the rescues and raids were ready to proceed. Swat teams had been called in and assembled at the station, and the local FBI office agents were suited up and ready to go. JJ and Emily were upset to be excluded from the plans, until Hotch told them that they were responsible for protecting his son and his nurse, which he considered the most important job of all.
After everyone else had vacated the penthouse, Emily took point at the elevator, and JJ sat in the room with the sleeping nurse and the engrossed child. She gave the boy a bottle of water and pot of Jell-O, insisting that he finish each before returning to his study. The hours passed slowly. Ann awoke and passed out medications to all-with JJ and Emily refusing the narcotic pain meds for now, which Ann replaced with high dose Ibuprofen. Lunch consisted of sandwiches and soda from the fridge, with donuts for desert. Spencer finished his first book and was midway through the second when the team finally returned. Emily and JJ were promptly relieved of duty and ordered back to bed, as an LVPD officer took elevator duty, and the team gathered in the girls' room to relate the details of the team's activities.
The news was both good and bad. Of the women not already accounted for via coroner's reports, all but 2 were found alive and rescued from their "owners" in fairly good condition. The other 2 were found too late, having succumbed to the violent ministrations of "Master Anthony"-one Anthony DiAntonio, who made the mistake of resisting arrest by Derek Morgan. He ended up hospitalized in the secure ward of the same hospital as a pair of rather feisty marines. Rossi had a brief word with them about their incoming new roommate. They assured the agent that they would provide him a warm welcome.
All of the "owners" were, of course, arrested, and several gave up the names of others in attempts to make deals. An additional dozen women were then rescued from their slavery, and their enslavers arrested. The ring was broken, and a noticeable dent was made in human trafficking in Nevada as four brothels dealing in trafficked women were closed for good, and the remaining associates of the McCormicks and Adrian Black were arrested. All in all, a good day's work.
With the case solved and all of the unsubs under arrest, the only thing keeping the team in Vegas was medical releases for the injured. Hotch contacted the hospital administrator and requested that he send the doctors up to clear his team and son so that they could return to Virginia as soon as possible. The Nervous man was happy to comply. Dr. Martin was pleased with Spencer's weight gain and overall progress, and was willing to have him discharged in the morning, after his antibiotics. The injured agents were likewise cleared for discharge in the morning so long as they followed up immediately with their personal physicians and stayed off work for 2 weeks minimum. Needless to say, the group was pleased to be heading home in the morning, and sent Rossi out to find them something 'fun' for dinner.
The agent returned with a plethora of Italian food from a restaurant he swore was run by a cousin of his Mother. Lasagna, fettuccini, pizza, spaghetti, garlic bread, salad, cannelloni…the hungry group attacked with gusto. Rossi had also managed to smuggle in a jug of wine, which Ann declined but swore total ignorance of as it was served to the adults. Spencer got milk. The atmosphere was festive, and talk flowed like water. The agents did a lot of describing Virginia for the fascinated child, and extolled the virtues of DC, with its museums and multiple sites of historic significance. The excited child squealed with glee at the description of the Library of Congress, and demanded a promise to see it as soon as possible upon arrival. Soon after, though, his mood became somber. Hotch noticed, and figured that the fact that he was soon to leave the only home he had ever known was sinking in for the boy.
"Spencer, would you like to go and visit your Mother before we leave tomorrow? I'm sure she would be very happy to see you, and I want to make sure that she knows what good care I am going to take of you." Hotch suggested.
"Really?! Yes! Thank-you Daddy! I miss her, even though I have not seen her in over three years. Do you think she will recognize me? Will she even remember me? Sometimes, before I was taken, she did not remember me and thought I was a government spy…"Spencer said, starting out excited and trailing off sadly.
"I can't answer you for sure Buddy, I guess it will depend a lot on whether she is having a good day or a bad one. But, let's go anyway, and hope for the best, OK?" replied Hotch in a reassuring tone.
"Ok" he agreed, fighting to adopt a cheerful face, and finishing his milk. "I am tired. May I go to bed now?" the boy asked.
"Sure honey" answered Hotch, picking the boy up from his seat on the couch and carrying him in to bed. "Goodnight Spencer, I love you." And he kissed the boy gently on the forehead.
"I love you too Daddy" the boy replied sleepily, as he cuddled up to his stuffed bear and stuck a thumb in his mouth.
Turning down the level of the lights of the room, Hotch tucked the blanket up to Spencer's chin, and quietly crept out.