Hide n' Seek Chapter 3
Opening his eyes, Spencer jerked back startled by the unfamiliar surroundings. Not knowing what bedroom he was in or how he got to be there, Spencer threw back the covers shimmying off the bed with a thump. Getting to his feet Spencer ran out of the room, trying to find something familiar. Running into the room across from his, he saw an arm he knew well hanging over the side of the bed. Getting to the bed, Spencer climbed on top and pounced on top of the lump in the middle of the bed.
With a groan Morgan awoke, feeling weight dropped on top of his chest he was startled out of the dream he was having. Popping open his eyes he came face to face with big brown doe eyes filled with fear looking down at him. Sitting up and pulling the boy into his lap, Morgan pushed some of the hair back that had fallen in front of Spencer's eyes. "Spencer, what's wrong buddy? Did you have a bad dream?"
Shaking his head, Spencer said in a trembling voice, "No I wote up and didn't know whewe I was. I didn't wecognize anything and I got tawed."
"Ah Spencer, it's alright we're at Rossi's house. We came here last night after dinner, but I guess you wouldn't know that because you fell asleep before dessert." Morgan soothed rubbing a hand up and down Spencer's back trying to calm down the still trembling boy.
Seeing Spencer calm down Morgan looked over at the clock on the bedside table, noting that it was already 7:30, he decided that it was time to get up and start the day. Swinging his legs over the side of the bed Morgan stood up with Reid in his arms. Walking across the hall and back into Reid's bedroom, he grabbed some clothes and supplies and made his way into the attached bath. Setting Reid down on the ground Morgan turned around turning on the taps in the bath tub to the right temperature.
Turning around Morgan began to grab the bottom hem of Spencer's shirt so that he could undress him for the bath. Eyes widening in realization as to what Morgan was going to do, Spencer began pushing Morgan's hands away "No stop, stop. I tan do it myself. You tan leave now."
Morgan sighed realizing that this wasn't going as easy as he thought it would. Crouching down in front of Spencer and Morgan made sure to look him in the eye. "Pretty boy you're two and I can't let you take a bath by yourself, you could hurt yourself or worse drown. And I would be in trouble with Hotch and JJ, not to mention Rossi and Garcia and probably Prentiss if I let you take a bath by yourself. Now let me help you get bath and then we can go rustle up some dinner."
Seeing Spencer open his mouth to continue protesting Morgan helping him, Morgan decided to try another way to get through to the little boy. "Reid think about it, if you were babysitting a two year old Henry and he needed a bath would you let him take one by himself?" Reid looked down at his bare feet, shaking his head in defeat.
"Spencer, we all consider each other family and when we see another family member in need of help we help them. The team and I we just want you to enjoy this second chance at a childhood, so take this as a chance to let go of all your adult worries and truly act like a two year old. Okay?" Morgan asked looking down at the mop haired boy.
Spencer looked up a mischievous glint in his eye. "You want me to fully act like a two yeaw old and fowget all about tontwolling myself like an adult?"
Morgan nodded relieved that he was able to get through to the tyke. Turning back around to turn off the water, Morgan swivelled around so he could get Spencer undressed and into the bath. Morgan's eyes widened as he saw that Spencer was standing there as naked as the day he was born.
Spencer giggled at the look on Morgan's face and pivoted around dashing out of the bathroom and down the hallway with Morgan on his heels trying to catch him.
Rossi walked out of his bedroom, yawning and stretching he made his way to the kitchen so that he could get a pot of coffee started. Stumbling back in shock as a naked little Spencer slammed into his knees, Rossi bent down and picked the tot up. Looking between the two miscreants with a stern gaze, Rossi questioned "What in the world are you two doing, it's not even 8 in the morning."
Spencer giggled looking over at Morgan and pointing a finger "He *snicker* told me to act like a child. So I decided to show him *snicker* what a weal two yeaw old acts like."
Morgan growled taking Reid from Rossi he said "I didn't mean that pretty boy, but it seems that you've gotten over your embarrassment. Time to get clean, before the bath water gets cold."
Rossi shook his head as he watched the two agents walk back in the direction of Spencer's room. Smiling and humming to himself as he proceeded to the kitchen to get his much needed cup of coffee, Rossi thought to himself that Reid was going to have no trouble having fun during this second childhood.
Half an hour later Morgan walked into the kitchen with a freshly bathed Spencer in tow to find that Rossi had begun cooking breakfast for everyone. Walking over and sniffing appreciatively as he saw the spread of eggs, bacon and pancakes, Morgan asked Rossi "This smells great! Need any help with anything?"
"Nope it is almost done, but you boys can set the table." Rossi answered turning back to the skillet where he had pancakes cooking. Morgan walked over to the cabinet and took out some plastic cups, handing them to Spencer he instructed the two year old to take them over to the table. Grabbing a stack of plates for himself, Morgan followed behind Spencer helping the toddler set the table for everyone.
The team members started making their way one by one to the kitchen as the smell of breakfast began to permeate the air. Digging into the feast that Rossi had set on the table, the team ate and teased and talked, enjoying the simplicity of spending time with those they considered family.
Finishing his meal and patting his stomach, Hotch looked around at all the happy faces at the table. Stopping at the littlest face Aaron chuckled to himself, it had seemed that Spencer had managed to get syrup everywhere. There was even syrup dripping from his hair! Pushing back his chair, Hotch made his way around the table and snatched Reid from his booster seat. Holding Reid away from him so that Hotch wouldn't get any of the syrup on his clothes, he made his way down the hall and into the bathroom.
Coming back with a syrup free Spencer, Hotch set him back down in his booster seat and turned to his team. "So today I need to go into the office and brief Strauss on our situation. Garcia you need to try and track Fowler see if you can pick him up anywhere. Rossi and Morgan I want you to look through the case file and see if there are any clues as to where Fowler would go. JJ and Prentiss you guys can help Rossi and Morgan." Hearing the team leader's orders the other agents got up and started to get ready so they could go into the office.
Walking into the BAU with Spencer in his arms, Hotch made his way towards Chief Strauss's office. He had decided that he would need evidence of Spencer's transformation if he was ever going to prove it to the section head, that was why Spencer was going to be joining him in this meeting. Knocking on Strauss's door and hearing a brusque "Enter", Hotch opened up the door and stepped in preparing himself for what will be an unpleasant meeting.
"Good Afternoon Chief Strauss." Agent Hotchner greeted.
"Aaron." Strauss nodded looking up for her papers. "Why do you have a child with you Agent Hotchner?" Strauss questioned.
"Well, this is actually what I wanted to meet with you about." answered Hotch. "See, this is Agent Reid, it seems that while we were on our last case we stumbled upon a very sinister scientist's lab. When Reid was clearing the lab one of the chemicals had exploded, engulfing Reid in the fumes. When Reid inhaled the fumes he was shrunk down to this size and this was how we found him, ma'am."
Strauss stared back at the toddler with a very disbelieving look on her face. "I don't know what sort of prank you are trying to pull Agent Hotchner, but I will have you know that I do not find it funny in the least."
"Unfortunately it is not a joke ma'am. What I said was the truth, and you can ask Agent Reid here any question you like for us to prove it too you." Hotch answered, nodding towards the boy in his arms.
Strauss's mouth went into a thin line and her eyebrow raised however she did address the toddler in Agent Hotchner's arms. "If you are Agent Reid, than you can answer me this, who was the man that kidnapped you and made you dig your own grave in the cemetery?"
"Tobias Hankel, Chief Stwauss." Reid answered.
"And what did you cut yourself on went you were poisoned by anthrax?" Strauss asked, staring intently at Agent Reid.
"A wose bush." Reid supplied, staring back at Chief Strauss trying not to show any fear.
At that answer Chief Strauss sighed, taking off her glasses and pinching the bridge of her nose she leaned back in her chair. The boy had answered all of the questions correctly and she couldn't dispute the fact that this was indeed Agent Reid. However this did nothing to calm her worries.
Opening her eyes and looking at Agent Hotchner in the eye she said "I believe you, but the question is what are we going to do about this. If this falls into the hands of the media, there will be public outcry. Not only that but one of our key agents can't even reach the top of his desk and won't be able to work."
"I understand you concern's Chief, but I have thought this through and I have a couple suggestions. Right now nobody besides our team and a doctor at a hospital, who has sworn she will not tell anyone, knows about this situation. We can tell everyone that Reid here is my nephew that has come to live with me, while my brother is out of the country for the next few weeks. As for the case, my team will continue to work it trying to find Greg Fowler and the antidote that he has to make Reid big again. I agree with you that Reid shouldn't be working when he is this small, however he will need to come with us whenever we find Fowler so that he can take the antidote. I propose that while he is with us out of state, I will spare another one of my agents to essentially babysit him, while the rest of us continue the search. "
"Okay I'll agree to the suggestions you made, but I want to make it clear that although Agent Reid may travel with you to the different cities, he is not to be involved in the case in anyway. That means he doesn't even step foot into the police stations or go anywhere near where the unsub might be. Do I make myself clear?" Strauss asked while leveling a stern gaze on the two agents.
"Yes of course, I would have it no other way." Agent Hotchner answered.
"Good, I expect to be kept updated on this case." Strauss said going back to her paperwork. Hotch nodded turning around to walk out the door. "Oh and Agent Reid, you do make for one cute toddler." Strauss called a smile peeking out as she continued to look down at all of the papers on her desk. Reid not expecting this compliment, dropped his mouth open in shock as he was carried out of the Chief's office.
Going back into the bullpen, Hotch walked over to Prentiss, JJ, Morgan and Rossi where they were gathered around Morgan's desk. Stopping at the group of agents, Hotch informed them about all that was said in Strauss's office. "Now since Spencer is not allowed to be involved in this case anymore, I am going to assign you JJ to look after Reid for the rest of the day while we stay here and continue working." Hotch ordered, handing Spencer over to JJ.
JJ slightly surprised that she was the one that was chosen to babysit Spencer today, took the toddler from Hotch's arms. "Well I am sure me and Spence can find something to do today, while you guys slave away in here." Walking over to her desk, she stopped to pick up her bag and car keys, making her way over to the elevators with Spencer on her hip.
Looking in the rear view mirror, JJ watched as Spencer looked out the window at all the cars going by with a contented look on his face. "Hey Spence, I thought we could go to the park today and maybe have a picnic. Also I was thinking I would pick Henry up from kindergarten early so the two of you could play."
"That sounds like fun! But what awe we going to tell Henwy about who I am?" Spencer asked, worried about how JJ was going to explain his shrinking to a five year old.
"Well I thought that we could tell Henry, that you are Hotch's nephew that I am babysitting for today. I'm sure he won't think too much about it." JJ assured the youngster.
Getting a nod in response, JJ steered her car in the direction of Henry's school, excited that she could spend a day with her son and Spencer.
Getting to the park later in the day JJ opened the back door of the car, unbuckling Spencer from his car seat and setting him on the ground. Henry then crawled out from the backseat and jumped down, jittery with excitement that he got of school early for the day. "Okay boys you guys can go and play on the playground and I'll set up our stuff underneath that tree over there." JJ said pointing to a tree that was beside the playground equipment and would provide some shade for their picnic lunch. Henry nodded grabbing Spencer's hand and dragging him off towards the set of swings. JJ smiled picking up the blanket and lunch that she had packed she made her way over to the tree, sitting down and watching as the two boys ran and jumped from piece of equipment to piece of equipment.
JJ's head snapped up as she heard a cry of pain, knowing that voice from anywhere JJ jumped up and made her way over to where the boys were playing. Seeing Spencer on the ground clutching his knee, JJ sped up her pace. Reaching the boys JJ surveyed the scene and came to the conclusion that Spencer must have tripped and scraped his knee. Letting out of breathe of relief that it wasn't anything more serious JJ knelt down next to Spencer.
"Ah Spence, it's okay it's just a scrape we can fix that up in no time." JJ soothed while brushing hair back from Spencer's eyes.
"Mama we were just playing tag and Spencer tripped over a rock and he fell. I promise I was looking out for him it was just an accident." Henry spurted out, wringing his hands in worry.
JJ reached up palming her son's cheek "I know Henry, you were being such a great big boy and looking out for Spencer. Accidents happen it wasn't your fault." Henry nodded still worried for his little friend and the booboo he had.
JJ sighed picking up Spencer and bringing him back to the blanket she had spread out with Henry trailing behind her. Putting Spencer in her lap, JJ rummaged through her bag taking out the first aid kit that she had placed in there earlier. After JJ cleaned out the scrape and placed a band aid on top of the cut, she leaned down and placed a kiss on top of Spencer's knee. "There now it's all better." JJ said cuddling Spencer into her.
Looking up she saw that Henry still had a worried look on his face. "Spencer's all better now, right Spence?" JJ asked looking down at the toddler in her lap. Spencer nodded giving the older boy a watery smile. Henry satisfied that Spencer was going to be alright ran off to go play on the playground some more. JJ sat there cuddling Spencer to her and humming a familiar song from her youth.
Couple of hours later, JJ let herself into Rossi's mansion walking down the hall and placing a sleeping Spencer in his bed. Turning around JJ went back to her son who was waiting patiently in the family room. She decided to settle Henry with a movie while she called into the office for an update.
"Hey my gorgeous blonde in arms, how was yours and buttercup's day together?" Garcia answered her phone.
JJ chuckled at hearing the new nickname that Garcia had come up with for Spencer. "It was great, I decided to pick up Henry from school and we went to the park and had a picnic. I'm just calling to see how it is going over there at the office."
"Well we're not having as much luck as we'd like. Rossi, Morgan and Prentiss added to the profile but nothing that will lead us closer to Fowler." Garcia said, some of her earlier energy deflating.
"Oh, that's too bad. But I was thinking that if you guys could get out of there at a decent time that maybe we could have a summer cookout in the backyard." JJ suggested.
"Oooh, don't worry I will make sure that we get out of here by five. They won't be able to resist the wrath of Garcia."
"Well then I guess I can be sure that you will all be here for dinner." JJ chuckled, ending the conversation.
After checking on the two boys and seeing that Spencer was still asleep and Henry was still occupied with the movie, JJ decided to start preparing some food for the barbeque that night.
Around 3:30 in the afternoon Spencer awoke from his nap, taking his thumb out of his mouth and stretching Spencer walked out of his bedroom in search of JJ. Finding her in the kitchen, he toddled up to her and wrapped his arms around her legs leaning into her.
Looking down JJ saw that Spencer had gotten up from his nap, his hair all sleep rumpled. Carding a hand through his hair JJ smoothed down the out of place strands. "Hey Spence, have a good nap?"
Spencer nodded still slightly dazed from sleeping. JJ smiled at how cute Spencer was when he just woke up. Bending down and picking up the toddler, JJ made her way back to the bedrooms to clean Spencer up for the barbeque that night. Since the weather had warmed throughout the day JJ decided to change Spencer into shorts and a t-shirt.
Once that was done, JJ and Spencer made their way back to the kitchen. Deciding to employ the boys to help her prepare the food for dinner, JJ placed Spencer on a stool next to the counter so he could reach. Calling for Henry she set out another stool beside Spencer for the older boy. JJ got out the ingredients and helped the boys measure out all the things they would need to make chocolate chip cookies. Hearing the boys giggle as they got flour and sugar all over the floor and counters, JJ smiled happy that Spencer was enjoying his childhood and getting to have normal child experiences.
The team walked through the door at 5:30 on the dot, defeated from a day at the office with little results. Their spirits lifted as they walked into the kitchen to see that JJ had prepared all the food to put on the grill. Looking outside they saw that Spencer and Henry were running around in the midst of a game of tag. The team walked outside, eager to get the cookout started and just be with family and friends.
Rossi and Morgan went over to the grill and fired it up, starting to put meat on it. Hotch and Prentiss went over to the two boys, joining in on their game. Garcia went to go help JJ with the rest of the preparations in the kitchen.
With their bellies full from all the good food that they had consumed, the team lounged around the table content with just being in each other's company. "Hey Hotch, why don't you bring Jack over sometime so all of the boys can play." JJ asked Hotch, looking across the table at him.
"I will soon, but Jack is at an overnight summer camp right now since his school finished a couple of weeks ago." Hotch said. "But when he gets back I'm sure he would love to come over and stay here with the other boys."
"That's great, I thought I could also bring Clooney over from my place. I'm sure he is getting lonely over at my house all by himself. Also it's going to be funny to watch Spencer interact with a dog, it should be interesting to see if the 'Reid effect' still works even if he is a toddler." Morgan said as he began to clear all of the dishes from the table. Walking into the kitchen, he peeked through to the living room where Spencer and Henry sat playing with a Lego set. The team followed him into the kitchen with the rest of the dishes. Starting to put everything in the dishwasher, they heard a ding coming from the area of the living room.
"Oh, that's my alert that I set up on my computer when it came across something about Fowler." Garcia explained making her way over to the table where her laptop sat. "It seems that my facial recognition software picked up an image from a video feed in North Carolina. Fowler has checked into a hotel in Raleigh. "
"Well I guess we are headed to North Carolina tomorrow." Hotch ordered, going over to phone Strauss and update her on the new information.
AN: Well here is Chapter 3 done, as you can see each chapter is going to have a different team member babysitting Spencer and they can go and do something while the rest of the team is working. So if you want to see any specific experiences that Spencer will have please review.