Thank you all for reviewing. Have an oatmeal and butterscotch chip cookie. :P
This is a little plot that many of you have asked for in the past, and though it's not my area of expertise when it comes to writing, I hope it's what you wanted. Enjoy!
Stronger language advisory closer to the end, and fairly minor suggestions (or thoughts) of child molestation, not too severe.
Spencer groaned tiredly as he slowly sat up from bed, for some strange reason, he didn't sleep that well last night, it was the first nightmare-free lack of sleep night he's had since... well, he can't quite place when it last happened at the moment, his head was aching from the mere five hours he managed to get. He was glad that it was Saturday, but that doesn't mean a case couldn't pop up at anytime. He really hoped they would truly have a day off, at least for today.
Please JJ, don't receive any cases today. He thought as he squinted his sensitive eyes at the bright morning sunlight before turning away from the assault coming through the window. It wasn't very often that he didn't get a good night's sleep and have it be where a bad dream was not the cause. He stifled a yawn and trudged toward the bathroom, there he splashed cold water on his face, which effectively increased his senses, but he was still tired. He honestly felt like going and lying back down in bed, even after his mini 'cold shower'. He really couldn't remember the last time this happened, either he was too tired to, or it never actually has. Either way, to lie in bed until maybe noon was sounding very tempting. Both Hotch's and Jack's bedroom doors were closed and downstairs appeared to be quiet, so going back to bed wouldn't hurt. After using the bathroom, Spencer shuffled back to his room and slid back under the covers of his cozy bed, he sighed as he pulled the blankets up closer to his chin, rested his head on the pillow and shut his eyes. His headache had already relieved some after doing this, it was right then and there that he knew a little extra sleep will do him good.
Soon he felt relaxed as he slowly drifted off back to some much needed sleep. He caught a glance at his alarm clock beforehand, it read 7:58 AM. He yawned once more and snuggled deeper into the covers.
Suddenly, a blur dashed through the doorway and came bounding onto his bed and began jumping up and down.
"Wake up, Spencer!" Jack shouted happily. "It's Saturday! Wake up!"
Reid's crusty eyes snapped open, he was sure that if he looked in the mirror, they would be bloodshot. His headache was present once again, he covered his mouth and yawned before he fisted his eyes, ridding them of their crustiness.
"Jack, can I sleep for just a little while longer?" Spencer asked softly, he felt his eyelids start to get heavy.
"But you said we would surprise daddy with breakfast since he always makes it fir us." The boy argued, he seized his jumping and hung his arms by his sides.
The young doctor swallowed and held back a whimper, his eidetic memory had let that slip from his mind. So much for catching up on sleep he supposed, he sighed and removed the warm covers before sliding off of bed and standing up. Jack grinned and leaped off the bed and onto the floor, nearly crashing into a wall.
"Careful, Jack." Reid said. The FBI agent and the child headed downstairs, seeing Hotch's door was still closed as they walked by. Spencer felt envious of the BAU leader at the moment, he really wished he was still sleeping right now. After descending the stairs, they entered the kitchen, the first thing Spencer did was go to the coffeemaker and start a batch of his favorite morning beverage, plus he desperately needed some too.
"Um, what should we make Hot- dad for breakfast, Jack?" He asked, the boy pondered for a moment, rubbing his chin with his finger.
"Scrambled eggs, bacon and hash browns?" Jack suggested.
"Good choice." Spencer began to pull out a couple frying pans and place them on the stove. He honestly wasn't much of a cook, but he at least knew how to make things, he was also glad Jack chose something that was fairly easy too. He retrieved a bottle of cooking spray and lathered the two pans, then put the container back. He pulled out a package of bacon and a carton of eggs from the fridge while Jack grabbed a few potatoes from the cabinet. Spencer cracked five eggs and put them on the pan, the yellow yolk danced around as he shook it free from the shell. Jack handed the young genius the potatoes and he sat them on the counter before finding a cheese shredder in a drawer. He started shredding the potatoes when the coffeemaker emitted a sound, indicating it had finished brewing. Spencer stopped what he was doing so he could get a cup for some of the caffeinated drink. He poured some into his mug and quickly retrieved some sugar and dumped a few spoonfuls of the sweet crystals into his coffee. He eagerly took a couple sips before he sat it back down and turned his attention to the eggs.
"Hey, Jack, could you set the table?" Reid asked as he began to scramble the eggs.
"Yeah!" The child nodded enthusiastically. He ran into the dining room and pulled a chair into the kitchen so that he could reach the plates. He then went and grabbed three forks and went to go put them on the table before coming back and grabbing three cups. He returned once more to put the chair back.
Spencer let the eggs sit for a minute so he could take another sip of his coffee before he resumed shredding potatoes. Once all of the potatoes were finished, he grabbed the second frying pan and pushed the shreddings along the counter top and onto the pan, then he went and sat it on the stove. He stirred the eggs around several times before turning off the burner and grabbing two oven mitts so that he could safely set it on the counter. He began to work on the hash browns next. As he flipped them around, his finger came a little too close to the pan and the hot surface scorched his skin.
"Ow, damn it." He cursed before sticking his pained appendage into his mouth. His eyes widened when he noticed Jack watching him with a shocked expression. "I'm sorry, Jack, please don't repeat that around your father."
The boy nodded in understanding and he waited there while Reid finished the hash browns. He turned off the second burner once they were done and sat the sizzling pan next to the eggs after he placed two more oven mitts beneath it. He then proceeded to open the package of bacon, he grabbed a large plate and sat a paper towel over it, then placed multiple strips of the salty meat on top before putting it in the microwave and giving it the designated cooking time. While that went on, he carried the pan of eggs and shredded potatoes to the table, then he went back to the kitchen and pulled out a carton of orange juice and returned to the table.
(Spencer Reid!)
Hotch awoke to the smell of food, he had no doubt right then and there that Spencer made breakfast. He smiled fondly and got out of bed, then exited his bedroom. Sure enough, both of his boy's doors were open and their rooms were vacant, he could hear Jack laughing about something downstairs, further confirming his thoughts. He headed down the stairs and saw Reid and Jack at the table, there was a pan of eggs, hash browns and a plate of bacon strips, and a carton of orange, but only Jack's cup had any in it. There were two empty glasses that stood next to two coffee mugs.
"Good morning everybody." Hotch announced, catching their attention. He went and took a seat next to Jack, Spencer sat on the other side of the boy.
"Good morning, daddy!" Jack exclaimed, unaware that Spencer immediately cringed at the loud noise, he was reminded once more of his headache due to the lack of sleep he got last night. He managed to regain his composure before Aaron noticed.
"Good morning, Hotch." He replied softly, he cleared his throat once. The young man waited while Hotch began to serve himself and Jack before handing the food to him so that he could fill his own plate. Before he did, he took another sip of his coffee, hoping that the caffeine and sugar would help with his headache and his tiredness.
They finished their meal and Aaron complimented Spencer on the good job he did, he also thanked him for making breakfast. Reid went to fix himself another cup of coffee while Jack went into the living room to watch cartoons. Hotch retreated back upstairs to a corner of his bedroom that he made his new office, he had some paperwork he'd been meaning to finished up. He noticed a file about a child abuse case they took several months ago, it instantly reminded him of Spencer, as well as his suspicions of William. He sighed, and while it's been a quite some time since Reid's last nightmare about his biological father, he still wasn't sure when he should try and ask him about the possibility of him being abused.
Perhaps he should just try and get it over with, after all, it's just going to further eat him up on the inside the longer he waits, and if Spencer had been abused, Hotch could only guess how he feels. He took a deep breath, mentally preparing himself for whatever may come. He left his bedroom/office, having forgotten the paperwork he was going to do, he had something more important to take care of first.
He went back downstairs, Jack was too engrossed with a Scooby Doo cartoon, so now may be a good time to try and talk to Reid. The young profiler was sipping his second or third cup of sugar and coffee, Hotch couldn't recall the last time he drank that much, something's up, maybe he should hold off a discussion until later.
No, it's now or never. He stepped toward Spencer, who barely acknowledged his presence.
"Reid, can I talk to you about something?" He asked. The younger agent noticed the seriousness in his voice and met eyes with him. He was curious on what Aaron wanted to talk about. Then it dawned on him.
"Hotch, I'm sorry I said a bad word in front of Jack, I promise I'll never do it again." Spencer sat his cup down and prepared for any lecture that would come.
"You swore in front of Jack?" Hotch raised an eyebrow.
"Oh," Reid blushed. "I thought you were-"
"I wanted to ask you something actually." He cut him off.
"I, uh... Okay."
"Now, this may be a little difficult since it involves your f- William," Spencer tensed at the name so Aaron continued. "And I just would like to ask; did he ever abuse you?"
"Dr. Aled asked me that and I told him 'no', you were there, you heard me." His response was almost immediate and automatic.
"Was it the truth?"
"What do you mean?" Spencer's sad eyes had a hint of indignation. "Are you asking if I lied?"
"No, I'm asking if it was the truth." Hotch kept his voice even and calm.
"Yes, of course." The hesitance when he spoke told a different story. They may both be profilers, but Aaron had experience, and Reid was a terrible liar.
"Reid, it's okay-"
"No, it's not." His aching head wasn't getting any better, and he was still very tired even after all the caffeine he's consumed. "You don't need to poke into my personal life all the time."
Hotch was slightly taken aback by his youngest, but he hid it well. "Reid, I was just asking-"
"And I told you already what you need to know." Spencer snapped, pinching the bridge of his nose.
Aaron sighed with slight frustration, he understood that Reid was sensitive about personal matters, regardless of what they were about, but he really did not like his current attitude.
"Reid, I don't appreciate your tone you're using." He stated sternly, yet calmly.
"I'm an adult, Hotch, I can talk however I want." Spencer mumbled, looking away from his boss' glare.
"What has gotten in with you today, Spencer?" Aaron folded his arms, the sternness in his voice briefly dissipated.
"You're asking if my father abused me, that's what."
"Did he?"
"Yes— No! No, it didn't, I mean, something like that never, um, you know, didn't ever happen." His cheeks were flushing his trademark blush, and judging by the way he was gazing to his left, he wasn't being very truthful right now, and it hurt Hotch on the inside. Reid knows very well that he can trust him, and that he greatly dislikes being lied to by him, especially to his face, which the younger man was looking at anything but at the moment.
"Spencer, you don't have to be ashamed, I will help you." He said softly, using a hand to hold Reid's chin up so that he was facing him, but his eyes were looking at the floor.
"I can help myself." Reid muttered, removing his face from Hotch's grasp and returning his gaze to the floor. He was so tired, he wanted to just lay down and sleep right in the middle of kitchen. Aaron was shocked to say the least, the last time Spencer acted remotely like this was during the Owen Savage case, but that was because he related to him personally, this on the other hand was different, though it still involved something personally, Reid was acting defensive when Hotch asked if William abused him, and from the way he stuttered, he figured the answer was 'yes', but the young man wasn't willing to admit it, even though Aaron already had a good idea what the answer was.
What would Gideon say? Hotch thought, right now Spencer was standing in front of him, refusing to make eye contact. Taking a silent deep breath, he began. "Spencer, I know how you feel-"
"Don't talk to me like a victim." Reid suddenly shot up. Aaron opened his mouth to protest, but he didn't get a chance to speak. "You don't know how I feel, I don't need to be treated like some little kid all the time, I'm 30 years old, damn it! I don't my hand held for every bad fucking thing that happens to me! I can take care of myself, I don't need everyone I know butting into things that's none of their business!" He reached up and gripped his long curls. "Son of a bitch!" He cursed out loudly, so loud that Hotch thought that it was heard from every crevice in the house, including the next room over where his son was.
Right then and there, Spencer wished a hole would appear in the ground and just swallow him entirely after realization struck him like a speeding bullet train. The mixture of shock, anger and hurt on Aaron's face only made things that much worse, Reid felt his eyes water, he wasn't sure if he should try to hold back the tears or just let them fall.
"Hotch?" His voice was barely whisper it was so quiet.
"Reid, your room, now." The older man pointed a finger out of the kitchen to where the stairs were, his voice boomed with authority, the now stoic expression on his face made no room for argument. Reid tried desperately to hold back his emotions, but he wasn't very good at doing so.
"I'm so sorry." Was all that he heard before Spencer rushed passed him and up the stairs. Once he was out of sight, he lowered his arm to his side, trying to get over what just happened. His youngest just had an outburst, but why? He was only trying to help him, not hurt him. Was he embarrassed? What could have William done that made Spencer feel that way? Unless...
Aaron swallowed thickly, that can't the reason, can it? No, not in a million years, right? Surely there was a logical explanation, but to be honest, he wouldn't put it past that man to...
He began to think, Spencer never has been a man to look at girls, unlike Morgan, in fact he was always shy and at times clumsy when around them, like as if he didn't know how to act around females, but should it be the case that William actually had... done something to the youngest of his team, he had to know. Reid needed help, and right now, Hotch wanted to go to the prison where William was being kept at and beat him to a pulp.
Because the BAU leader now believes that William Reid did more than just abuse his only child, and was Diana ever aware of it?
I must admit that I hadn't planned on the plot going here, but it certainly worked out I think, even if it did kind of make it's way in as I wrote along. Also, I hope I gave you the fix of a defiant Reid that many of you have been ever so craving, it's not the easiest thing for me to write, but knowing that it satisfied makes it worth the effort. And as you all know, this is so not the end. :P
Speaking of fixes and cravings, how about a spoiler?
If you don't want to be spoiled, avoid reading the text below.
He stared long and hard at the little bottle in his hand, he only had one left, and it was his only physical memory from the Hankel case, as he'd already used the other one up and thrown it away years ago, but afterward, he managed to get help and stay clean ever since.
But perhaps now would be a good time to break that clean streak, he still had an unused needle and a syringe. He filled it to the top with the liquid, it was all ready and prepared to be injected into his veins, but there were two things he hadn't been counting on at the moment; someone knocking on his door, and the fact that his door didn't have a lock.
"Reid, may I come in?" Hotch's voice spoke from the outside.