By Kalnaman and Malinga
As/N: Thank you VirginSerpent for beta. Thank you to those who's given us reviews.
Spencer was finished getting dressed. He let out a sigh.
Hotch joined Gideon in the kitchen. "We need to talk, Jason."
Spencer didn't want to listen to what Hotch told Gideon; he was too embarrassed, so he stayed in the living room. He could see that Hotch kept a close eye on him from the door while he was talking to Gideon.
"Should I be worried?" Gideon asked Hotch while he looked over where Spencer took a seat on the couch.
Hotch looked Jason straight in the eyes, "It's serious, if that's what you mean."
"How serious," Gideon asked worriedly.
"Serious enough." Hotch answered, he didn't want to worry Gideon, but he didn't want to lie to him and pretend things were better than they actually were. "Please, sit down, Jason."
Gideon took a seat and braced himself for what he was going to hear.
Hotch heaved a deep sigh, "Reid may have wanted to hide it from us, but ever since the Hankel case he's been hurting more than any of us had realized. We didn't see it in time and now he needs both our help or we may lose him, Jason."
"What do you mean we may lose him?"
It looked like Hotch was in deep thought, so he said again, "So, Hotch, what do you mean 'we might lose him'?"
Hotch let out another deep sigh, this would be very hard for Gideon to take; it was still hard for himself and it would be hard for him to tell his friend what was going on with their youngest.
The silence worried Gideon more. "You're scaring me here Aaron."
"He's been hurting himself, Gideon."
"Hurting himself? How?"
Hotch took a deep breath and turned his eyes in Spencer's direction, who was still sitting in the adjoining room, his back to them. "He's been cutting himself."
"He what?"
Hotch turned his gaze back to Gideon's, "He's been cutting himself with sharp objects, Jason. Opening deep wounds on both his arms and legs."
Gideon rubbed his face. "How did you find out?"
"A doctor from the institution where Spencer's mother is being treated called me."
"He told me a patient had seen Spencer cutting himself and then when he confronted him, he noticed the bloody arm." There was a small pause as Hotch let all this sink in with his friend before he continued. "And a bloody knife in his pocket."
Gideon let out a frustrated sigh. "Did he have some advice on how to help him? Does he need to be institutionalized?" Gideon asked worriedly.
"Well, that's the thing. They agreed to a compromise, they won't institutionalize him so long as he's got someone to keep a close eye on him."
"As in you?" Gideon asked.
"Pretty much."
"I've never asked Spencer. Has he given his power of attorney over to you?"
"Actually, he gave us both power of attorney, that's why I wanted to talk to you. Aside from the fact that you're his friend, almost like a father to him, you also have the right, legally, to know."
Hotch sighed deeply and lowered his voice drastically, "and I need your help, my friend."
Gideon nodded, "And you will get it, and so will Spencer. I just can't understand why we... I didn't notice that he was hurting."
Hotch sighed and shook his head, his face showing he felt just as puzzled and guilty as he did. "I don't know. We mustn't forget he's a profiler after all, and a good one at that."
"Indeed. Well luckily a patient saw it and told someone."
"Yes, and now that we know we can do something about it."
"Yes. So does he need therapy? Or is it enough if he talks with us?"
"I'm afraid not. Part of the compromise consisted of him attending sessions with a therapist who specializes in people who've suffered similar traumas."
Gideon nodded; his gut feeling had told him so, but still he'd hoped that it wouldn't be necessary. "So when is his first session?"
As Hotch seemed to be in deep thought again Gideon repeated himself, "So when is his first session?"
Hotch finally snapped out of his trance, shooting up from his chair as if it was on fire. "Oh my, Jason! We should be there now!"
Gideon hurried off his seat too. "I'm coming with you."
"How could I have lost track of time like this." Hotch turned around suddenly and called for Spencer to get his jacket and get to the car.
Spencer let out a sigh; he just wished he could get out of going. He reluctantly stood up and got his jacket on. When he came close to Gideon he blushed. He didn't dare look him in the eye.
Gideon just wrapped his arms around him and said, "I'm sorry. I promise I won't fail you again."
Spencer just nodded and returned Gideon's embrace.
Hotch smiled warmly, silently making the same promise himself.
Spencer was annoyed when Hotch took his hand. "I'm not a toddler, Hotch." Spencer tried to get his hand away from Hotch.
"I know that, but I'd feel better if I have you close for the time being. Just bear with me, okay?" Hotch smiled reassuringly down at him. "Grant me a little request, okay?"
"Do I have any choice?"
Hotch's grin widened slightly, "No, no you don't."
Spencer let out a sigh once again and kept reluctantly holding Hotch's hand. He blushed when he heard an elderly woman say, "Aww, cute."
Hotch opened the backseat door for Spencer to get in, then he himself got in the car, behind the wheel and ready to rev the engine as soon as Gideon got inside as well.
When they were in the parking lot of the shrink's office, Spencer tried to open the back door of the car, "Why can't I open the car door?" Spencer asked.
"Just a little precaution, don't worry." Hotch answered as he got out of the car and opened the door for him.
"You had it on child lock?"
"Like I said, it's just a precaution. For my own peace of mind, mainly. Don't worry about it, okay?"
"You're treating me like a child. And I'm not, you know."
"You may not be a child physically, but mentally I wouldn't be so sure at the moment."
"Gideon - tell him it's not true, and that he needs to stop treating me like a child!"
"Well, where Hotch is right - he's right."
Spencer pouted.
When Spencer was out of the car, he prayed that Hotch wouldn't take his hand again.
Hotch grabbed hold of Spencer's hand, not paying any mind to the young man's glare as he led the way to the doctor's office.
Spencer pouted big time and he hated the looks people gave him, including the secretary at the desk to the shrinks office.
"You're mean Hotch!"
Hotch merely smiled down at the young man, pulling him along with him to the secretary's desk.
"Hello, miss. My name's Agent Aaron Hotchner, this is Agent Jason Gideon and Dr. Spencer Reid." Hotch introduced themselves to the young lady at the desk.
"We have an appointment with Dr. Nimoy."
Spencer looked up when he heard the doctor's last name. And smiled for a second there, as he wondered if the doctor looked like the actor Leonard Nimoy.
The secretary looked at her computer screen. "Okay, take a seat and Dr. Nimoy will be ready for you soon."
Spencer was annoyed when he was told to sit between Gideon and Hotch like a little kid sitting between its parents.
Luckily for him, he didn't have to wait long as the doctor opened the door to his consulting room and called his name.
"Can I get an ice cream after this, Daddy?" Spencer joked when they were on the way to the doctor. Well, if they treated him as a child then he would act like one, and he was sure they would get tired of it soon and start to treat him as an adult instead, since he in fact was one!
"So can I have an ice cream, Daddy?"
"Very funny, Spencer."
"But I want an ice cream, Daddy!"
Gideon just shook his head. He was happy that it was Hotch he was nagging and not him.
Hotch threw him a stern glare.
"Spencer, I wouldn't recommend throwing a tantrum now, unless you want to sit on a sore backside during your session with Dr. Nimoy".
Spencer tensed. And stopped it at once. He for sure didn't want to get spanked here in front of all those strangers. Though, he only decided to behave when at the shrink. He wanted to get revenge.
Spencer was surprised when he saw Dr. Nimoy. He really kind of looked like the actor who played Spock prime. He looked for the pointed ears, but sadly he hadn't any.
Spencer blushed when he noticed the doctor looked at him holding Hotch's hand. Spencer looked at Hotch and whispered, "You can let go off my hand now."
Hotch let go reluctantly.
Dr. Nimoy motioned for them to take a seat by his desk.
"Please, sit down, gentlemen."
Spencer was once again annoyed that he was told to sit in between them.
He was starting to scratch at his scars.
He hoped they would start to bleed and hurt soon; he needed to feel the pain.
Spencer didn't hope that either the doctor, Gideon or Hotch noticed him scratching at his scars.
Hotch elbowed him lightly, shot him an intense glare and mouthed, "Stop. It"
Spencer pouted once again and wrapped him arms around himself. Gideon leaned close to him and whispered, "You better behave or both Hotch and I are going to spank you when we get back to Hotch's place." Spencer looked shocked over at him. "You wouldn't." "Try me."
'This is so unfair! Two against one,' Spencer thought.
"So tell me, Spencer. What brings you to my office?" Asked Dr. Nimoy.
Spencer rolled his eyes, "Dr. Norman and Hotch must have told you already, haven't they?" Spencer said not so nicely.
"Spencer!" Hotch chided, "Answer the doctor properly."
Spencer looked angrily over at Hotch.
Hotch looked angrily back at Spencer, a warning clearly written all over his face.
Gideon then whispered to Spencer, "Remember what I promised you." Spencer gulped and then turned his attention back to the doctor. "Sorry. Dr. Nimoy. Dr. Norman caught me in the act, so to speak, and he's forcing me to see you, and if I don't he'll lock me up."
Dr. Nimoy nodded his head thoughtfully, "I see, and what about you? How do you feel about these sessions?"
"It sucks big time. It's nothing personal against you, Doctor."
Dr. Nimoy chuckled lightly, "No offense taken, don't worry."
Spencer smiled lightly, "Are you related to the actor Leonard Nimoy?" Spencer asked curiously. "You look like him a lot."
The doctor laughed lightly at this, "I'm afraid not, if I was I'd probably be retired and much better well off than I am."
Spencer was disappointed. It would have been so cool if he were.
"But most patients ask me that same question; I'm getting so acquainted with the actor I guess I may as well be related to the man." He smiled gently at Spencer.
Spencer's eyes glowed brightly, but then he remembered where he was. "I promise I won't hurt myself anymore and I'll talk to Hotch and Gideon. So please let me go. Allow me to go home to my own place."
The doctor frowned and shook his head lightly. "I'm afraid it's not that easy, Spencer. These things don't just go away by just wishing them away. It takes time, a lot of time and I'm afraid it's not something you can do on your own, son." Dr. Nimoy elaborated gently.
TBC