So I feel bad for not updating yesterday, so this is the first of two chapters that will be posted today, not sure when the second one will be posted, though it will likely be a bit late. Hopefully I will be able to get back on track tomorrow with another chapter as well. This chapter seems to me like an interloper, its just there, not really serving a purpose to the story beyond taking up necessary space. Either way,
Chapter eight, The Hotchner's
Nine o'clock the next morning Spencer had already called his boss. And found himself sitting in his living room while the second male inspected the crib set up in his room. He shook his head. What part of Engineering PhD don't they remember? He thought with a snort. He shifted the baby in his arms and settled back so he was half laying on the couch. He laid the baby on his chest and began to make faces at her while she scrunched her face.
Jack sat on the floor in front of Reid's TV watching cartoons, he had crayons spread out on the floor around him and a picture of stick men in his lap. The Hotchner's had been in Reid's tiny apartment for the better part of an hour. Hotch nearly immediately disappeared into his bedroom and had yet to return. Spencer was beginning to wonder if he was taking a nap. Shaking off the notion that Hotch had brought his son here so he could take a nap he turned to the TV.
Ten minutes later, Hotch returned from Spencer's room with a semi satisfied look on his face. He sat down on the empty cushion on the couch beside Spencer. Neither talked for a moment, but watched whatever ridiculous cartoon that was playing on the screen. A few minutes later Hotch shifted to watch Spencer instead. The younger man didn't notice for a moment, when he did, he raised an eye brow at his boss. "Yes?"
"You look comfortable. More comfortable then I have ever seen you. She is good for you." He said. "The crib looks good."
"Thanks, and that's what Morgan said when he insisted on checking it." Spencer said. He cuddled the girl closer to the chest.
"So what do you need?" Hotch asked turning to face Spencer more.
"I have to find someone to watch her while we are on cases, and I would like the week off to get everything set. I will also need time off later to move." Spencer said and looked at the older man.
"You're moving?" He asked.
"Yeah, Garcia helped me find some places to look at, she is going to go with me and look at them." He said. "I didn't think that this place was big enough for a baby and me."
Hotch nodded and glanced about. "No, not really. What about your car?"
"I got a Tahoe yesterday, Morgan took me out for it." Spencer looked around as well. "JJ helped with the baby stuff, and the car seat."
Hotch nodded again. "I could talk to Jess if yo want. She might be willing to watch her for you."
"Thanks Hotch."
The man and his son stayed in the tiny apartment with Spencer and Isadora until after having a lunch of grilled cheese and carrot sticks. They chatted and enjoyed each others company while they ate and then Hotch sent Jack to the living room to clean up his crayons.
"If you need anything, give me a call." Hotch said to his subordinate while he waited for his son. "I will arrange for you to have this week off, and starting Monday, desk duty for a few weeks. That way you can be home for Isadora."
"Thank you," Spencer quipped before he was interrupted by a small tug on the pocket of his pants. He looked down and Jack was holding out a piece of paper to him. He took the paper and unfolded it. Drawn on the paper was a stick figure holding a bundle and standing in front of an apartment building.
"That's you and the baby." Jack said pointing to the figure.
Spencer knelt down beside Jack. "Thank you Jack, its wonderful. How about you go stick it to the fridge before you go?" Jack smiled and dashed into the kitchen, picture in tow.
Spencer straightened himself and looked at his boss with a sheepish smile. "The Reid-effect isn't really as bad as you guys think, it just saves me from having to talk with the kids."
Hotch laughed and replied. "I never thought it could be as bad as it seemed, Jack always liked you and so does Henry."
Jack returned and the Hotchner's left leaving Spencer and Isadora alone once again. The rest of the day was spent in relative silence for the pair. A quick first outing to a grocery store to buy some more food to replenish and restock Spencer's fridge and pantry.
The next day dawned with a view of Spencer curled around a sleeping Isadora on his bed. She had kept him up most of the night and when she finally fell asleep, he had been too tired to move her. The man in question shuffled his way closer to the girl, pulling her in to rest beside his chest while he slept. Slowly his eyes opened and took in his room and position. He smiled at the little girl who was miraculously still asleep on the bed beside him, despite him moving. He carefully extracted himself from the bed and gently picked her up. Seeing that she was still sleeping, he settled her into her crib and quietly left the room.
Spencer made himself breakfast of eggs and toast, eating quietly and thinking to himself. He could hardly believe how attached he had gotten to that little girl in so few days. He smiled into his food, he felt lucky. His smile twisted into a grimace when the next thought found its way into his mind. How could some one do that, how could they leave such a precious thing as a baby? A little life?
Spencer cleaned the kitchen and put away his freshly cleaned dishes, tidied his living room and even began straightening the bathroom before Isadora finally woke up. Then he set about changing her diaper and clothes before heading back to the kitchen to make her a bottle and feed her.