Adoption 18
Surprisingly for Dave the first wave of meetings went well. He was met by his literary agent, Mark, at the airport who brought him to meet his new-found publisher. Things were set for, Deviance: The Secret Desires of Sadistic Serial Killers, to come out mid-August and for Dave to do promotional then and a bit into September.
He really hated that he had to leave Spencer for a bit when he was just starting school but his son could come with him on the first bit and Mama seemed willing to help him out. And Dave realized that the press tour and promotional was definitely different than if he was gone all the time with the BAU cases. Nobody in the BAU had much luck with relationships or personal life it seemed. Max Ryan had lost his family years ago, and had no personal life even after retiring. Gideon was divorced from his wife and estranged from his son. Hotch was having troubles with his wife already and they were putting off having children.
His publisher thought that there was a definite public interest in serial killers and that people would be interested in his book. Dave really hoped that it was true. His first divorce had been amiable but his second and third had not been and he was stuck paying alimony. Though with the agreements he had the amount would not change if his income went up, so they wouldn't be able to touch his book royalties too much, and he could use the money on and for Spencer.
The calls to Spence the two nights he was gone relieved Dave's fears. His son sounded happy and upbeat telling him all about his day and promised to show him pictures of where they had visited. As well His mom assured him that Spencer was doing well.
Dave came through the terminal and looked around for his mother and son, noticing them against one wall. But before he could daw their attention Spencer turned and ran towards him.
Dave bent to give his son a hug, ruffling Spencer's hair as he did so.
"Hi buddy"
"Hi Dad"
"How are you Spencer? Where you good for your grandmother?"
"I'm good and of course I behaved for Mama." Spencer responded,
At this point his mother had caught up with Spencer and told Dave, "Spence is a well-behaved child unlike somebody else I can think of at that age."
Dave smirked, "I was merely rambunctious"
"You were more than a little and I would use a few more adjectives but lets get you home. I have dinner in the crock-pot for you and Spencer."
"You have to join us Ma" Dave responded, at the same time that Spencer piped in, "Mama you promised you would help me show Dad the pictures."
"Well I guess I have to say then" Mama responded, before leading her two babies to the waiting car.
As soon as they had finished inner Spence pulled out the computer, explaining, "Mama helped me take the pictures from the camera and put them into the computer. Then I picked my favourites and put them into a slideshow to show you."
"I'd like that Spencer" Dave replied, as the three of them settled onto the coach with Spencer in the middle holding the lap-top.
Spencer explained as he showed his dad the pictures of their trip to the National Museum of the Marine Corps, "We started in the Making Marines exhibit where I got to see how the Marine Corps transforms its men and women into team-oriented warriors. Did you know that apparently the Marine Corps experience is so memorable that most Marines still recall the names of their Drill Instructors, decades later?"
"That would definitely make sense Spencer. I still remember names of some of my instructors at the FBI training course."
Spencer pondered his dad's response before continuing on, "Then Mama took me through the Legacy Walk in the museum which illustrates more than 200 years of Marine Corps history."
Spencer flipped to a new set of pictures which Dave instantly recognized as Arlington National Cemetery. He had been there many times in his life, including for funerals of friends that had chosen to join the military.
Spencer as if recognizing his dad's memories was quiet as he flipped through the pictures of him and his grandmother at Arlington, including ones of the rows upon rows of headstones, the Columbarium, the group burial for those killed on 9/11 at the Pentagon, the Memorial entrance, and of President John F. Kennedy's grave with the eternal flame.
"We didn't have time to see the whole cemetery but I thought maybe you and I could go back there one day." Spencer proposed,
Dave put his arm around his son and responded, "I'd like that Spencer."
Spencer continued on, "This morning we went to the National Air and Space Museum Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center before we picked you up. I got to see the Enterprise space shuttle and the Wall of Honour for the thousands of people who contributed to aviation and space exploration."
"Sounds like you had a really neat trip Spencer. Thank you for showing me the pictures. I'm glad you had such a good time with your grandmother" Dave told his son after the slid-show had finished and then turned to his mother, "Mama thank you for watching Spencer and taking him to all those places."
"Nonsense Davie. It was my pleasure. You simply need to give me time with Spencer more often."
After bidding Mama goodnight, both Spencer and Dave headed to bed. Spencer was clearly exhausted from all the site-seeing and Dave was worn out form the meetings and the flight.
Author's Note: Thank you everybody for your kind reviews and all your encouragement as I write this story. The reviews defiantly help keep me motivated and inspire my muse to write. I'm not going to abandon this story and chapters will keep coming but I am warning you that I am busy with a summer course and work that both keep me busy.