By Kalnaman and co-written with Malinga
A/N: Thank you so much to those who've given us reviewss, they are loved. Thank you VirginSerpent for betaing for us.
The spanking he'd just given Spencer hadn't helped; he still acted like a spoiled brat. Hotch hated what he was about to do for the second time in the last thirty minutes, but it had to be done. It would be for Reid's own benefit in the long run. He couldn't allow the boy to destroy his life like this, he just needed to make sure Spencer understood he wasn't alone anymore, and that whether he liked it or not, there were people who cared about him and wouldn't let him go down this road and he needed to know that certain behavior was just unacceptable. So with those thoughts in mind, he grabbed him by the upper arm and marched him into Spencer's room, over towards the bed and sat down bringing Spencer down with him and placing him firmly over his lap.
"What are you doing?!"
Spencer squealed and struggled, kicked and screamed, but to no avail; Hotch had him securely pinned down and without a word, he landed a hard, well placed smack to his rear-end.
Spencer jumped suddenly, eyes growing as wide as saucers and mouth hanging open. "STOP IT!!!... you... you ASSHOLE!!! One spanking was one too many! And now you're giving me another one?! You're really an asshole!"
Hotch sighed and shook his head, delivering an even firmer swat to the seat of Spencer's pants.
OW!!...." Spencer shrieked in response, "wha... w-who do you think you are?" He squealed in a shrill cry.
"I'm someone who cares about you and won't let you destroy yourself like this" Hotch replied while delivering swat after swat.
Spencer fought with all his might to get off of Hotch's lap and away from the spanking. He bit Hotch's leg. Hotch was shocked that Spencer would do something like that. It proved to Hotch that Spencer was for sure not himself, and that he was doing the right thing by making him stay here in his apartment. Hotch let out a loud sigh and reached under Spencer to unzip his pants, and then pulled Spencer's pants and boxers down to his knees. He then continued the spanking.
"You better start changing your behavior or we're going to continue this 'conversation' while you're over my knee. Are you going to calm down?!" Hotch said between swats.
"You have no right to treat me like this! First of all, I'm not a child you can spank! And second you're not my father!" Spencer yelled while fighting to get loose from Hotch's firm grasp.
Hotch sighed and spanked harder. But Spencer kept fighting him. Hotch lifted his right leg and spanked Spencer's under curve. "Maybe I'm not your father, but I am the closest thing to a father you have, beside from Gideon! And I do care about you and you for sure are acting like a child!" Then it didn't take long for Spencer to start sobbing and telling Hotch that he was sorry over and over again. Hotch stopped and helped Spencer up and helped him with his clothes. He then pulled Spencer down to sit on his lap. Spencer tried to fight it. "I'm not a baby, Hotch." "I know. Humor me. When was the last time you sat on someone's lap?"
"I was four I think. Maybe younger."
"I was afraid so. Let yourself loose."
At first, Spencer was a bit reluctant to accept Hotch's comfort and affection but slowly, he started to give in, gradually relaxing in his boss' arms. Letting go of his worries, he allowed himself to be comforted by the man he was steadily beginning to see more like a dad than his own father had been. Raising his arms with some hesitation still, he slowly wrapped them around him, burying his tear streaked face in the crook of his neck. Spencer drew in a long, shuddering breath and pressed his face deeper against the older man's shoulder, feeling safe and cared for, for the first time in a very, very long time.
After some long needed comfort moments, Spencer broke out of the hug and got off Hotch's lap. "Can I read for a little while?"
"You do that. And I'll go call your lawyer."
Spencer nodded sadly. "Do we really have to call him?"
"Yes we do."
oOo
Hotch had arranged with the lawyer for the lawyer to go to a judge for a temporary guardianship over Spencer, and to make sure to keep it confidential so as not to ruin Spencer's career at the BAU. Hotch had contacted Spencer new therapist and he agreed to give the judge his evaluation of Reid as soon as he had had some session with him.
oOo
Spencer wasn't happy when Hotch had forced him to eat his dinner and he was even less happy when Hotch told him it was time to get ready for bed.
"I'm not tired!"
"Spencer." Hotch threw him a warning look, his tone of voice alone saying more than any words ever could and raised his right hand up, index finger pointing in the direction of his room. Spencer knew better than to argue with that tone, heaved a deep resigned sigh, and rose from his seat at the table with a look of pure misery, as if taking the last steps to his own death. Even though he tried to restrain himself, a small smile escaped Hotch's lips as he followed the slumped figure of his agent slowly trudging forward and to his room.
Spencer got his toiletries and Hotch showed him to the bathroom and unlocked it, and they both went inside. "Do you want a shower before bed?"
"No."
"Okay. Then you better do what you need on the toilet and brush your teeth."
Spencer reluctantly did in Hotch's presence. He had to do number two, but didn't want to - so he held it. He knew it was unwise, but he hoped that he would be able to cheat his therapist into believing that he didn't need watching. So he hoped that he would go back to living in his apartment as of tomorrow.
oOo
After the bathroom visit, Hotch followed Spencer back to his room and tucked him in for the night.
He smiled down at his young agent, whom he was starting to see more like a son than he wanted to admit, and reached out to place a hand on Spencer's forehead, stroking his hair gently. "Don't worry, we'll get through this together, Spencer. You're not alone anymore." Spencer's eyes welled up with unshed tears and he nodded his head slightly. "Sleep well, son." Hotch gave Spencer's hair one last stroke, gave him a soft, encouraging smile and turned around to leave the room, leaving the door slightly ajar on his way out. Spencer didn't want to admit to Hotch that he kind of liked being tucked in by him. The truth was he'd never been cared for like he was now, and even though it sometimes was a bit annoying being told what to do all the time, it still felt somewhat comforting knowing someone loved you enough to be there and stay all the way through, whatever it took. Maybe this was what it would've felt like.
TBC