The Dictionary of Parenthood

by scarleteyes21

Detective Morgan should have known who she was once he saw her at that coffee shop, he knew he should kept in touch after he left. But now five years later, his anger and lack of bravery have come back to haunt him as the BAU is called to a case affecting the DMV area. He knew his daughter was not going to get along with him during the case. Why would she?

4. D-Dedication

The Dictionary of Parenthood

D-Dedication

By the time Spencer and Frankie got back to the MPD headquarters the whole station was filled with reporters blocking the main entrance.

"Woah," Spencer frowned as he turned to watch Frankie's reaction. "Is there a-?"

"Way ahead of you." Frankie reversed the car quickly and pulled out the main parking lot. The managed to drive off to the back of the police station that was closed off to all civilians. "I cannot believe I'm saying this but New York journalist weren't as fussy as them." She complained shutting the car door and leading the way with Spencer to the back door.

"So what did your friend say about the mics?" Spencer asked as they walked through the busy station. Frankie had convinced him to go to a circuit party in DC that was a hotspot for King's Life followers. At first Spencer thought it would be better for Callahan or Morgan to go, but Frankie showed him the ghost link online.

"I'm sure they look for their ages, but they would stick out at a circuit party like this."

Spencer looked at the invite, the two girls on the poster didn't look a day over 18 years old. "Okay…" he sighed, trying to relax in his seat as the fear of having to go what looked to be a rave clouded this thoughts. "What kind of circuit party though? Aren't they usually a three day affair leading to the main party?"

"Yeah, any day you go to a circuit party though, it's as big and boisterous as the last day. But King's Life is a big fan of them."

"How would we even known that the unsub would even be there?"

Frankie shrugged, "It's an anime theme, if the unsub is going for the cliché stereotype life then he will be there."

Spencer fiddled with his phone, "I would really appreciate some sort of percentage of the chances that we will actually find him."

Frankie massaged the bridge of her nose, exhaling while the two waited at the stop light. "We might be going blind here, but it's worth a shot." She passed him another phone. Spencer examined it cautiously.

"Is this a burner?"

Frankie nodded, "Press nine then hang up."

Spencer did what she said.

"What did I just do?" Spencer asked handing the phone slowly to her.

"You wanted to know your percentage, right?" Frankie asked, "You'll get it."

Back at the station Spencer and Frankie could see the officers and agents looking raged. Both froze in their spot as a maintenance guy walked past them holding a bathroom stall door, mumbling under his breath. They both noticed the hinges where damaged beyond repair.

"Case is getting to them." Spencer shrugged, sitting down his bag on the nearest table.

Frankie was about to answer when a loud female voice coming from the back offices called out her name. Spencer saw three people, two women and one guy. The women looked beyond cheerful, while the guy looked sheepish.

"Frraaannnnnkkkkkiiieeee!" The woman yelled out again, she looked familiar to Spencer. She had dark bronze hair and copper skin, making her navy blue suit stand out. The other woman had dark skin and a short afro, her smile infectious, while the guy, who looked Middle-Eastern, kept his head down. "OH Frankie love!"

Spencer's eyebrows went up, he finally recognized the woman. "Isn't that Director Gomez of the international trafficking unit?"

Frankie closed her eyes, "Excuse me. I have a family reunion to attend."

Spencer watched Frankie shuffle off to the group slowly. Spencer couldn't help but bite back a smile.

"Reid." Morgan appeared by his side. "How was the trip to see Malvo?"

Spencer shrugged, "Didn't get the answers we wanted to hear." He lied, he felt his stomach twist. He hated lying to his teammates, especially to Morgan. "Kind of a waste, but at least we were able to gather enough info by differing Malvo's personal to the unsub to gather a profile." He saw Morgan stare intently at the Frankie and the group. "Are you okay?"

Morgan looked tense, his shoulders slightly hunched. "Yeah, kid."

"You don't look it. Everything okay?" Spencer made an attempt to touch his shoulder but dropped his hand half way. "You've been tense since we got called to the case."

"I'm fine Reid. Drop it."

Spencer couldn't help but falter at Morgan's tone. It made the guilt of lying to Morgan ease up a bit.

"Do you know who they are?" Morgan cocked his head towards the group. "Brunette looks familiar."

"That's because that's Director of International Human Trafficking, Director June Gomez and the other woman is most likely senior field agent, Zoe Meta." He halted his hand midair: "And I don't know who the guy is, but considering the styles of Lynch and Garcia, I'm going to go with a technical analyst." He could only stare back at Morgan and the group. "Morgan?"

"Hey Reid!" Director Gomez's voice carried through the office. "Come over for a second." Gomez waved him over. Spencer could see Frankie covering her face with her hands as the guy spoke to her with sheepish smile still.

Spencer looked at the group smiling before turning over to Morgan, "Guess I'm going over to the popular table." Spencer grinned awkwardly before leaving Morgan to watch the group intently. Spencer could feel the agitation permeate from Morgan with each step he took closer to the group. He knew something was wrong between Morgan and Frankie. Morgan usually got along with everyone except Frankie for whatever reason.

"Doctor Spencer Reid!" Gomez greeted Spencer by pulling him by the arm as he closed the distance between him and the group. "I've heard so much about you. It's nice matching a face to the stories." Gomez smiled sweetly. "Kate has told us you're quite the puppy, but what I never thought to believe was that you're so young for a person who's been with the bureau for over a decade!"

"Thank you?"

"Now I've heard you're the smart one supposedly."

Spencer nodded, he was use to the title and sort of liked it. "Yes, I have an IQ of 182, but I never believed that intel-"

Gomez cut him off with a wave of her hand. "Frankie's IQ is 192. So there's that." Spencer winced as he took the chance to look at Frankie who looked beyond embarrass as Gomez's actions. "I just wanted your opinion as to why such a highly skilled agent who's been with the trafficking unit since the age of 19 would stop to work with the MPD. Hmm?" Gomez asked hauntingly, casting a glance at Frankie. "When will you come to your sense and drop this act?'

Now it was starting to feel like a family reunion. "Gomez." Meta grinned, loving the tension, "We have our bets, don't try forcing her to make a decision just to win."

"Well if she's insisting on working for MPD then doesn't that mean she can't use the FBI equipment to solve her cases then." Gomez reminded Frankie pointedly.

Frankie finally looked up and frowned at the man who quickly avoided Frankie's glare. "What?!" Ali shouted back as Frankie closed in on him. "I couldn't lie! Plus, you texted me right when she was talking to me!" Ali reasoned as Frankie closed her eyes again.

Spencer pointed to Ali, "Tech analyst."

Ali nodded.

"Can I ask you something? Is it required for tech analyst to wear loudly colored clothing?" Spencer asked inquisitively as he pointed at Ali's Tommy Bahama shirt. This led to Gomez and Meta to dissolve in fits of giggles.

Ali became defensive, "This is a style! Not that you two would know anything about that since you two are so attached to your Barney's card."

Meta continued to laugh as she spoke, "Please, for the love of God, spare us the spiel of shopping at a thrift store for when there is alcohol around."

"Speaking of things I would like to buy, who is he?" Gomez pointed at Morgan, who was still watching them intently as JJ and Rossi chatted by him.

Frankie immediately looked to see who Gomez was pointing at. "Please no."

Meta's eyes became lit, "He looks yummy." She smiled sidling next to Gomez. "Who is he? And why haven't I dated him yet?"

"Please stop." Frankie begged again, looking queasy.

Ali laughed this time, looking surprised at Frankie. "You know how they get around good looking guys."

"He's agent Derek Morgan." Spencer answered, slightly concerned for how Morgan was being talked about.

"He. Is. Delicious." Gomez smiled. "Mmm, I don't understand why you're so adamant about not transferring to the BAU. If I knew he was on the team I would drop everything."

Ali scrunched his face in disgust. "Please, the guy is old enough to her father."

This cause Frankie to go stark white, she held her hand close to her stomach.

"Hey some of us like older men we could call daddy." Meta laughed.

"I say, Yes, daddy, I do, gimme brain like NYU." Gomez sang as she continued to laugh with Meta.

Frankie could only blink a couple of time before rubbing her face. "I used to like that song."

Spencer stood awkwardly in the middle of all this, it appeared that this type of conversation was the norm amongst the group, but he honestly felt put off by how informal the group was. He was starting to get why the sex crimes unit was known for making dark jokes and sarcastic comments.

"Is there any reason why he keeps staring at us like we're the criminals?" Ali asked worriedly. Frankie only shrugged as her face remained pale.

Spencer, again felt responsible to answer for his friend, "He's just really protective." Answered unknowingly causing Frankie and Ali to look as if he had just told the biggest secret in the world.

"Of you?" Gomez asked, her demeanor had changed from joking to studious.

This caused Spencer to be thrown off. "Um, what?"

"Well," Gomez started sounding devious, "He doesn't know Frankie enough to become protective of her, unless he has some sort of hero complex that I'm unaware of. Is he usually protective of you?"

Spencer stammered as he answered, "I-well, no, I mean yes! Yes, Morgan is uh-he's a good teammate. He always makes sure that we're safe." Spencer could feel himself being broken apart by Gomez. He knew what he saying wasn't really truthful. Of all the people on the team Morgan was overly protective of him for some reason.

"Good thing to have, don't you think? A caring teammate one your back is better than none, right?" Gomez asked him. Her small knowing smile caused a Spencer to shiver. She knew he wasn't telling the truth.

Frankie finally stood up, "I think that enough of grilling my prospective teammate Gomez." Frankie warned putting herself between Spencer and Gomez.

"Aww, Frankie relax, I just want to know what sort of team dynamic you were going into." She answered. "And I wanted you to let you know after this case your contract with MPD will be expired."

"I know." Frankie whispered solemnly.

"You should also know that if you don't return back to your original post you'll be transferred to the BAU." Gomez informed her seriously. Spencer watched in fascination as Gomez and Meta's personality shift from joking to maternal. They clearly cared about Frankie and missed her.

"I'll have my answer for you before this case ends, okay?" Frankie promised.

Gomez patted her on the shoulder, "I know, but just a reminder, until then, not FBI toys." She cocked her head at Ali, "So stop asking for favors." Gomez reminded her again.

"I just need it this once, please?" Frankie begged.

Meta pursed her lips before pinching the bridge of her nose. "You think you're close to finding the killer?"

"Yes." Frankie answered hurriedly. "He's gonna be at a circuit party tonight."

"How sure are you that he's going to be there?" Gomez asked, her brows scrunched.

"Contact informed me."

Gomez and Meta both rolled their eyes at that. Gomez pointed her finger at her, "That's another thing we need to talk about before you return. All that contact mess only flies by with me because I have faith in you and I'm willing to risk it, Agent Hotchner might not appreciate his agents getting info from people he himself will never be able to speak directly with."

Spencer piped up at this, "He doesn't." earning a scowl from Frankie.

"This is your last time with a freebie Rustin, use it well." Gomez warned her, moving Ali towards her. "After this, you're cut off." She pointed a finger at Ali. "And I mean it."

Ali had his hands up again, "Got it!"

Gomez set her sights on Spencer again, pulling him closer. "You and I both know that's not a look of concern," she stated looking at Morgan, "that's a look of disdain and caution. Should I be worried for Frankie?"

Spencer became insulted, he knew there was friction between Frankie and Morgan, but he knew Morgan wasn't capable of harming Frankie in any way. "No! Morgan is intense at times, but he would never hurt anyone for no good reason." He didn't want to explain why Morgan looked so menacing, honestly he wasn't too sure yet as to why. But he had a hunch.

His answer seemed to alleviate Gomez's concern.

"He better not." Gomez stated darkly before waving goodbye to Ali and Frankie. Meta hugged the two, "We're going to go say hi to Kate before leaving. Be good, okay?" Meta asked before leaving with Gomez to find Kate.

Ali looked at the both of them before speaking up, "Well mommy dearests are gone." He clapped his hands together, "Let's get messy!"

Frankie smirked at his antics. "Circuit party won't get started till midnight at the latest. We have time Ali."

Ali rolled his head back and forth, "Well...yeah true. But getting ready for it will be half the fun. It's an anime focus circuit party. You're gonna dress up, right?"

Frankie looked perplexed for a moment, "Do you think this is going to be comic con? We're not going to dress up."

Spencer perked up at the idea of dressing up, he enjoyed going to conventions in the past (comic con, awesome con, and Otakon being the few that he had attended in the past year). "Actually we would better integrate into the party dressed up versus just going there dressed in civilian clothing. Maybe we could attract our unsub better that way." Spencer advised.

Frankie sucked in her cheeks, "Fine."

Spencer waved his hand between the two, "How are we going to pass this with Hotch though? We can't tell the team how we found out?"

Ali rolled his eyes, smirking at him, "You really need an excuse to have some fun dude?" he shrugged, "Tell 'em that you and Frank are heading out clubbing."

Spencer made a face, tucking a piece of his hair back bashfully. "Yeah…they know me to well to fall for that."

Now it was Frankie who shrugged, looking like she was actually buying into Ali's suggestion. "They don't know me. I'll tell them I'm taking you out for a small get together. They'll buy that, won't they?"

"Are you serious?"

"Yeah, I mean I'll make it seem that I'm tricking you into going out. I'll say that I thought we deserve to unwind as the city goes crazy. That going to a club didn't seem like a big deal, if crap goes down then we say that we were at the wrong place at the right time. If things are calm then we're cool. No one needs to be told that we went to a circuit party." Frankie explained looking resolute. She sounded confident and looked decidedly calm when explaining their plan to get into the club without detection from the group.

Spencer didn't have a doubt in him about her. "Okay"

Ali smiled, clapping Spencer on the back. "Oooh, you get to meet Corinne dude! She will love you!"

"Why?"

Ali continued to smile as though it was a wonderful secret. "You'll see."

It was around nine o clock when Spencer arrived at Frankie's. It was small town house near Embassy Row. Frankie's place seemed to stand out the most with its Tardis colored exterior and BLM flag in front of the door. Spencer smiled to himself, this was Frankie's home for sure.

A dark skinned woman with teal box braids opened the door, Spencer looked her up and down for a second. She looked familiar to him, her smile was contagious as she pointed at him. "Columbia roast, three spoonful of sugar, and cream. Blue berry muffins on Tuesdays and our honey crunch toast wraps on Fridays." She stated smoothly.

"Oh god!" Spencer smiled, "You work at Honeys." It was a fact. The woman in front of him worked at his most favorite coffee spot by Anacostia.

"I own Honeys." She smiled moving aside to let him in. "I'm Corinne Baxter."

Spencer gave a short wave. "Spencer. Well, Doctor Spencer Reid. But people call me Reid. Or Spencer. You can call me either." He stammered under her glaze. The smile had turned to a smirk.

"You're adorable. Figured you would be bringing that man you always talk to on the phone."

Spencer thought back and began to remember the times Derek would call him when he was at the café. Derek liked their Ethiopian roast to the point where Spencer would buy a 1 pound bag. "Um…no." Spencer said slowly, "Uh Derek wasn't invited to this."

Corinne smiled, "Is that his name? Aww, maybe next time then." She grabbed Spencer's hand and led him through the house to where a pile of men's clothing where laying on the couch.

"What is this?" Spencer asked, picking up a bright yellow blazer.

"Well Frankie told me you two were going to an Anime circuit party." She waved her fingers at Spencer's sad attempt of trying to look cool. He thought he looked great as Spike Spiegel.

"And this looks horrible."

Spencer felt hurt. He looked down at his costume. "It's Spike though!"

"Sweetie you look like you just left a futuristic prep school academy not the Bebop." Corinne chided, pulling out a purple blazer and holding it against Spencer. "You do pull off the prep boy look good though." She turned his face the other way. "Not my Heath but definitely my Jared." She mused.

"What?" Spencer was confused as she pushed his hair back.

"Nothing darling. Just thinking out loud." She snapped her fingers after pulling out a pair of purple pants, she tossed it at Spencer. "You're going to love this!" She exclaimed as she open a small carry on case that was resting on the table next to Spencer.

Spencer was beginning to develop an ulcer when he saw her pulling out a can of green hair dye. "You're turning me into the Joker?!" Spencer nearly shouted. He loved the character but never thought of dressing up as him. "The Joker isn't an anime character!" Spencer reasoned.

Corinne pursed her lips, murmuring something that sounded a lot like Portuguese. "Please, like some losers aren't gonna go dressed up like Avatar or Legend of Korra."

Spencer paused at that. "Okay, that much is true." He sighed, Frankie was nowhere to be seen and was most likely getting ready upstairs. He let his hands drop to his sides loudly as he sat on the couch to allow Corinne to dress him up as the Joker. "I should be made that you called me a goody two shoes." He huffed.

Corinne looked impressed. "You know Portuguese." She smiled as she sprayed parts of Spencer's hair green.

Before he could respond Frankie's laugh interrupted him. She looked amazing dressed up as Harley Quinn. Frankie's eyes were covered in black make up and had intricate lace like designs on the side. Her entire outfit consisted of black and red pants, a ripped black and red tank top with a sheer underlay and tall boots, she hat the jesters hat on her head and what looked to be a half skull mask around her neck. "She got you to dress up as Joker, should have figured." Frankie walked over to them, examining Corinne's work as she applied white face paint on Spencer.

"I feel like this was planned." Spencer pondered looking up at Frankie with disdain.

"It was." Frankie confirmed, "Chica always makes up some excuse to dress me up as Harley Quinn. Nearly freaked when I told her I was just going to go out as Michiko."

Corinne sucked in her cheeks, looking annoyed at the thought alone of Frankie dressed as Michiko. "Again, you would have looked hot but there's absolutely nothing to show who are dressing up as when you cosplay her!" Corinne reasoned, "Besides it's this or you go with prep school boy here." Corinne nudged her chin at Spencer.

Frankie took in Spencer attempt of dressing up as Spike. "You win." She moaned, earning her a kiss from Corinne.

An hour later Spencer was told he could finally look at the finished product and was directed to a mirror by the kitchen. "Woah." Spencer took in the green hair slicked back and styled, the vast amount of black make up surrounding his eyes that made them look intense, especially with the white face makeup blended in that made his naturally curious face look ominous. It matched well with Joker's classic purple costume, he definitely looked like the Joker. "This is amazing!" Spencer nearly squealed. He hugged Corinne thanking her for the makeover and completely forgetting that they were going undercover and not to party until his phone rang. "It's Morgan." Spencer told the two.

Corinne completely missed the look of contempt on Frankie's face. Instead she pointed down the narrow hall on the side of the kitchen. "You can talk in the bathroom, it one door down."

Spencer nodded his thanks as he walked into the room. "Yes?"

"Hey Reid. Things okay?" Derek asked clearly concerned. "You never came back to our room."

"Oh, uh…" Spencer had informed Hotch and Kate about him leaving to visit Frankie but not Morgan. Which he didn't really think would bite him in the butt, but… "I'm at Frankies'." He answered smoothly, it wasn't planned but this could work in their favor.

"Why?" Morgan nearly barked.

Spencer had crossed off Morgan and Frankie ever dating or hooking up as the reason for why the two seemed to dislike each other. Spencer had gotten a short and very sugar coated version of Frankie's dating life while Corinne did his makeup and hair. Spencer had known Morgan for over a decade, none of Frankie's past residencies matched Morgan's. It didn't leave a lot of other explanations as to why they were acting like this around each other, but it did leave two possible explanations for their relationship. And if either were true…Spencer shivered at the idea of the team finding out.

"Frankie invited me to a reading at a friend's house. She thought I would like it, apparently it's this up and coming anthropologist from Stanford who discussing how postmodern linguistic affect group dynamics and mob mentality, and how within that realm modern media and journalism is being twisted to fit with globalizations ideals. It's actually really fascinating, you should come!" Spencer rattled on, knowing full well that Morgan would turn the invite down. If Frankie wasn't enough of a reason, the idea of sitting at some stranger's house as another stranger discussed the breakdown of individual identity would definitely assure Morgan never wanting to come.

"Uh, Think I'll take a rain check kid." Morgan replied uneasily.

'Bingo.' Spencer thought. "Are you sure? Frankie said this guy would be amazing, he sounds like it. I actually read an article he wrote for the Post where he explained-"

"Maybe next time kid. I just want to make sure you're okay." Morgan explained.

"I am, what makes you think that I'm-." Something in Spencer's peripheral view got his attention. He turned around to finally notice he was in a small dimly lit office. A black and white portrait of a small black girl stared at him. Her eyes looked empty and her smile tired. She was beautiful but she looked so lost. Her skin was smooth except for a small scar on her cheek and the small diamond earring in her eyes made her look regal. Spencer felt something in his stomach dropped. A feeling of déjà vu washed over him as he touched the picture gently, feeling the rough texture of the canvas juxtapose with the image of youth.

"Reid you still there?" Morgan's voice broke him out his thoughts.

"Yeah." He said slowly, looking at the picture still, "I'm still here and I'm fine." He snapped back, "Don't worry, okay."

Morgan sounded hesitant still, he gave a small groan over the phone that made the hair on Spencer's neck stand. "I know, but I'm still going to worry about you. I just want you two to be safe."

'Two…he's worried about Frankie too.' Spencer made a mental note of that. "I will be, I'll call you when I'm heading back okay?"

"Sure."

Spencer disconnected the call, the picture of the girl continued to stare back at him.

"LaRae Sterling." Corinne's soft voice made him jump.

"What?"

Corinne nudged her chin at the picture. "LaRae Sterling. She went missing from Berry Farms two years ago."

Spencer's mind reeled, that's why she looked familiar. LaRae was six when she went missing from her home. Another team was deployed on the case but Spencer was fully aware of the case due to it being a national story. LaRae's mom was accused of selling the girl to an ex-human service worker for money and allegedly lied about LaRae's disappearance to everyone in her life. It only came into light when LaRae's school reported her missing after missing nearly a month of school.

Two years later she was still missing. Believed to be either dead or sold into the sex trafficking world.

"It was a case that Frankie was assigned to. She was so pissed when everything came to a dead end and frustrated with DC's CSA that she nearly got dismissed when she yelled at the social worker assigned to LaRae." Corinne stated solemnly.

"Is that why she's at MPD?"

Corinne nodded, "She couldn't leave LaRae. I get why though…Nikka is the same age as Frankie, she hates that woman more than anyone."

Spencer peered over at the desk and wall behind him, there was a huge board with pictures of LaRae, Nikka (LaRae's mom), the ex-human service worker, and a bunch of other items tacked on the board. "She's still trying to solve the case." Spencer said softly.

Corinne sighed, "She's never going to leave this case alone. I don't know what she's going to do if she has to accept the BAU offer."

"Are you guys ready?" Frankie yelled from the kitchen.

Corinne pressed a finger against her lips, "Nothing about this to Frankie, okay? She's pretty quick to become defensive about it."

Spencer shook his head. Everyone on the team had a case that affected them personally, a case that could haunt them or break them. He had plenty.

"Ali is getting set with his van by the club so we gotta head out now before the lines get mad long." Frankie explained putting on a black and red coat.

"Sure. Let's head out." Spencer agreed he waved his goodbye at Corinne, thanking her again for the makeover.

"You two have fun." Corinne kissed Frankie good bye before closing the door behind them.

Once in Frankie's car the two headed off towards the club. Spencer thought the ride would be calm and just talk about what they would do once they arrived but Frankie had other plans. "So Spencer, any reason as to why Park, Gomez, and Meta think you and Morgan are a couple?"

Spencer felt as though someone had poured ice water over him. "Say that again?"

"You heard me the first time Spencer." Frankie glanced over at him with a cheeky know it all grin.

Yes, yes he did hear her the first time. He just didn't want to answer.

The ten point difference in their IQs would bite him in the bite tonight.

Dedicated to MK- you taught me how to balance business and anarchy when dealing with people.

So I get a sort of month break from things. Hopefully I get one chapter updated soon before my so called break ends. Next chapter: tension rises as Reid and Frankie hit a snag at the club, Morgan faces his fears, and Kate, Hotch, and Frankie remind him that fatherhood shouldn't be taken lightly.