Chapter Six

Clothes shopping with Spencer was definitely interesting. The boy was extremely skinny but tall for his age so finding clothes that fit was a definite challenge. That combined with Spencer's nervousness, which Dave realized was the child scared of being abandoned or sent back, made for a bit of tiring day. He tried to let Spencer pick clothing that appealed to him while intervening when the boy started picking out cheap items that would soon fall apart.

"Spencer, let me worry about money buddy. I know you are calculating the prices in your head, and I know you can't stop it but I need you not to worry about it."

When they got back from shopping he could see the light flick on in Spencer's brain, "You really are keeping me."

"Of course. You are my son, nothing is going to change that."

"It's just that families kept taking me in and then a few days later I would be back or sent to another foster home. But none of them ever bought me clothes or anything else like you have."

Dave pulled Spencer into him in a hug whispering, "You are my son. I can't logically explain it for you but it is true."

After a few minutes of them just standing there Spencer spoke again, "Why are we going to my school?"

"To figure out what grade and school you should be placed in. I want you to have the best education possible."

"I get to leave elementary school?" Spencer asked excitedly

"If that is the best option for you Spencer but we have to think about social development."

"We?"

"It's your education Spencer and I think you should get a choice in it"

"I do?"

"You definitely do and I want to hear your thoughts on the matter."

"I want to rush ahead and learn new things on the hone but I don't want to be ridiculed and I realize social development is important for children."

"I was thinking we would look into gifted schools for you but I have a feeling even those won't keep you occupied for long." Dave began,

"Agreed. Those types of schools tend to be for children and youths with IQs of around 120-150 as anybody with an IQ of over 130 is classified as a genius."

"What we could do is find a school like that and you could finish your elementary and secondary school education as quickly as you would like to and then whatever University you choose I'll go with you for as long as you need me directly there. But you do need to try social type activities."

Spencer simply smiled and agreed, "Deal"

"We still have to attend the meeting though."

"Okay, Can I go watch TV for a bit?"

"Go ahead. I'll join you in a sec."

Dave stepped outside the hotel room, pulling out his phone to dial Hotch who picked up on the second ring, "Hotchner"

"Hi, going crazy yet?" Dave asked,

"Not completely and your office is a mess."

"Sorry about that. But now you get a bigger office. Have my official retirement papers gone through yet?"

"Yes, Strauss approved them this morning. Seems somebody wants to get you out of the office."

"Thanks Hotch. I'll see you all when we get back to Virginia. I'm going to have a small get together to celebrate my adoption of Spencer."

"I'll let everybody know" Hotch replied, before he hung up the phone.

Dave peeked into the hotel room seeing Spencer content watching an HBC special on the Second World War and decided now would be a good time to call Mrs. Finn and see how the paperwork was coming along.

"Mrs. Finn, it's Dave Rossi calling."

"Hello Mr. Rossi. Paperwork does take time. I will call you when it goes through." She grumbled

"But what is holding it up?" he inquired

"Paperwork takes time, especially when you are taking a child out of state but it is going through."

"Okay, thank-you." Dave responded, before hanging up the phone and heading back to the hotel room with Spencer who was engrossed in the special.

When Dave sat down beside him, Spencer blurted out, "Did you know that More US servicemen died in the Air Corps than the Marine Corps? Or did you know that between 1939 and 1945 the Allies dropped 3.4 million tons of bombs, An average of about 27,700 tons of bombs each month."

"I didn't know that Spencer. That is definitely interesting." Dave responded, "Do you want to order-in for lunch or go out buddy?"

"Can we order in please? This special is really interesting and coming up next they are doing a special on intelligence operations in the Second World War."

"For sure buddy."