DISCLAIMER:
I DO NOT OWN CRIMINAL MINDS! Nor do I own any other copy-righted things mentioned.
It took Hotch six solid minutes, but he managed to corral Perdita and calm her down. Jack had stopped running after Hotch caught Perdita. Jessica was standing behind Jack, anxiously looking at the little girl sobbing into Hotch's shoulder. He was rubbing her back and telling her that everything was okay. Jack even pitched in, telling her that Spencer would be okay because he was a superhero like his daddy.
Perdita, being a logical child, dismissed what Jack had said. Well, not entirely. The words gave her some comfort knowing he cared, so she said nothing about it being illogical. She just huddled closer to Hotch, right now the only person making sense in her mind. He worked with her uncle, knew him. She felt she could trust him to tell her the truth. She looked up at him, her hazel eyes wide with hurt.
Hotch almost flinched as he looked into her eyes. The eyes that had once looked at him in shyness and in trust now gazed at him, hurt and betrayed. He looked up at Jessica and asked, "Did you tell her the whole story?"
"I didn't get a chance," Jessica said. "She knew something was up and became very upset."
Hotch looked back at the face that reminded him of the genius. He then said very softly, "Dita? Dita I need you to listen to me. Spencer is alive. He's hurt, but alive. He was in a—"
"Car accident?" Dita finished on the verge of tears. "I had a nightmare about it."
Hotch just stared for a moment. He then asked, "Perdita…have you seen your father lately?"
"No," she answered. "I haven't seen my grandmother either."
"Do you think they'd try to hurt Spencer?" he asked.
Perdita just stared at him before asking, "They did this didn't they?"
"We don't know Dita," Hotch said quickly. "I'm just asking."
He saw the pain in her eyes and knew she felt betrayed yet again. He looked at Jessica and asked, "Do you think you could take her to the hospital? I have to get back."
Jessica sighed and nodded. She looked at her nephew and asked, "Would you like to come see Uncle Spencer too?"
Jack nodded and then asked, "Dita isn't your mommy in the hospital? Can I meet her too?"
Perdita looked at him and said, "She is…maybe we could see her."
Jessica smiled softly at the kids. She patted Jack on the head and rubbed Dita's shoulder. Hotch kissed Jack on the forehead and hugged Dita before he left. Dita looked at Jack and asked, "Why do you want to meet her?"
"Jus' 'cause I want to meet her," Jack said. "I'd show you my mommy, 'cept she's in heaven."
Dita gave Jack a sympathetic look. She hugged the smaller boy and he hugged back. It was moments like these that made Jessica forget the child she was watching was seven. There were times Perdita seemed older than she truly was, something her and Spencer had in common. They appeared so young, yet acted older than they were. Jessica told her to go get some clothes on and to grab her bag. She nodded and disappeared to go get dressed.