Disclaimer: Criminal Minds and all its characters belong to CBS. I own nothing. I do not own anything you recognize.
AN- Thank you to everyone reading this story. And to the reviewers who have PM disabled, thank you for your review. I love hearing from you.
I'm headed to a fanfic author's convention in Virginia Friday so there won't be any updates from Friday to Tuesday. I'll try to get the next chapter out before I leave, though.
Previously on Criminal Minds- Dr. Hoffman put on a clean pair of gloves, opened a small package that was sitting beside Hotch, and carefully removed the contents. "Alright, kiddo let's take care of that boo boo of yours." She said.
CM
Garcia rushed through the endless hospital corridors. She needed to get back to her little Junior G-Man. She'd been away from him for far too long already. The tech analyst hadn't meant to be gone so long but finding the right stuffed animal for the injured youngster hadn't been easy. Everything in the gift shop had either looked too babyish or was a Disney character he already had. Finally, after a lot of searching the shelves and shifting the stuffed toys around, she discovered a tiny stuffed otter hiding in the bottom of a bin. Remembering the toddler's fascination with them at the park, Penelope had snatched it up and went in search of the cookies. That search had taken almost as long and wasn't as fruitful. Turns out the gift shop sold every kind of candy and snack food imaginable except for cookies. Frustrated by the turn of events, the busty blond had rushed up to the counter and set her items down along with a few surprises she'd found. After she'd paid, she'd politely asked the clerk for directions to the nearest vending machine. The twenty-something bubble head had given Penelope a look that she would have loved to slap off before blandly reciting the instructions. In true Garcia form, the tech wizard had given the calorie cop a look of her own along with a few choice phrases before grabbing her overflowing bag of goodies and strutting out of the tiny shop. From there she'd had to go half way across the county to get to the vending machine area. It had only taken her a few seconds to put the coins in the slot and procure the needed treat. And now here she was dashing through corridor after corridor as she attempted to get back to her friends. Making it to the end of the latest hallway, she dashed around the corner, sighing as the ER finally came into view. She headed for the double doors on one end, smiling as the doors opened and Hotch stepped out carrying Reid. Her happy expression didn't last long however. Taking in the way the boy was lying against Aaron, the thumb of one hand stuck in his mouth while the other hand had a white knuckled grip on the older man's shirt, Garcia quickened her step. "My poor baby" she gasped, noting the tear tracks on the toddler's face. "I thought that doctor said it wouldn't hurt."
"It didn't." Aaron replied as the two started for the sliding glass doors at the exit. "But the pulling sensation wasn't exactly pleasant."
"Oh Sweetness, I'm so sorry you had to go through all that." Penelope soothed. "Is there anything I can do to make you feel better?"
A slight shake of the head was followed by a mumbled, "I'm otay" that neither adult believed.
Walking out into the bright sun, Hotch shielded his eyes with his free hand. He quickly led the way across the lane and through the parking lot to their Durango. Turning to Garcia, he asked, "Garcia, can you get Spencer settled in his seat? I need to call the others and let them know Reid's alright."
"Sure thing, Boss Man" Penelope answered. Opening the back door, she set her gift bag on the floorboard before taking the toddler from the BAU leader.
Hotch took a few steps away from the SUV and pulled out his cell phone. Flipping it open, he punched in the number for the team member that he was sure was climbing the walls by now. "Morgan, it's…"
"Hotch! It's about time!" Derek exclaimed. "How's Reid? Was he hurt bad? Is he going to have to stay in the hospital?"
"Morgan…"
"What happened to him? Where was all the blood coming from? Did the doctors get him patched up?"
"Morgan…"
"He's not going to have to have surgery is he? Please tell me he didn't…"
"MORGAN!" Hotch shouted, smirking as silence filled the line. "Reid is fine. He had to get seven stitches in his forehead but that's it."
"Stitches? Ouch! Did Garcia tell you what happened?" Morgan questioned, holding up a finger to the rest of the team, signaling that he'd fill them in in a moment.
"Reid said he was in a hurry to get to the bathroom and jumped out of the bed. His feet got tangled in the covers causing him to fall and hit his head on the side of the nightstand." Hotch explained.
"Uh huh, sure" Derek sarcastically stated. "Now what really happened, Hotch."
"That is what happened, Morgan" Aaron said.
"Wait, you mean the BAU's resident genius got taken down *snicker* by a bunch of, of blankets." Morgan chuckled.
"It's not funny" Hotch grumbled.
"Come on, it's a little funny" Morgan gleefully told him.
"Alright, since you find it so amusing, you can hold his head while they stitch him up next time." Aaron tossed back.
"Not gonna be a next time, Hotch" Derek corrected, shaking his head. "Cause I plan on wrapping the kid in bubble wrap as soon as see him."
That thought had the corners of Hotch's lips curling up. "I have a feeling you'll have plenty of help with that task."
"You better believe it. We'll have the kid in protective covering so fast it'll make his head spin." Morgan assured the older man. Noticing the glares JJ and Emily were sending his way, he winced. "Listen Hotch, I gotta go. I need to deliver the good news before I spontaneously combust from the death rays being aimed my way. You are headed back now, right?"
"Yes, I'm just going to drop Garcia and Reid off at the hotel first." Hotch informed his friend. After a few last minute instructions, the BAU leader flipped his cell closed. He pocketed the device and then walked back to the SUV and climbed inside. Finding the passenger seat empty, Aaron glanced up in the rearview mirror where he saw the tech analyst sitting beside Reid's car seat. He opened his mouth to ask why Garcia was riding in the back only to stop as his eyes landed on Spencer's tiny hand wrapped around two of the young woman's fingers. Knowing that the toddler needing comfort wasn't a good sign, Hotch decided not to comment on the situation for the moment. He'd talk with Reid after dinner tonight if the boy was still acting clingy. That reminded him, "Reid, have you eaten, yet?" he asked as he backed out of the parking space.
"No siw" Spencer quietly replied.
"Do you think you could eat? It's a long time till dinner." Hotch questioned, glancing at Reid in the rearview mirror before turning his attention back to the winding parking lot driveway.
Reid thought for a moment. He really wasn't hungry but he knew if he didn't at least try to eat something, Hotch and Garcia would worry about him. And that was something he couldn't let happen. They needed to focus on the case, not him: which left him only one option. "Yeah, otay" he hesitantly said.
Nodding his approval, Hotch pulled onto the highway and immediately scanned both sides of the street for a restaurant with a drive through. Spotting the perfect place up ahead, he drove to the fast food establishment and quickly turned in. He pulled into the drive through lane, stopping in front of a sign containing the menu. "Hamburger or chicken?" he asked.
"Chiten" Spencer replied, hugging the stuffed otter Garcia had given him.
"Chicken, it is." Aaron stated. He inched the SUV up and swiftly ordered a DQ kid's chicken strip meal and two coffees. He then pulled up to the window and paid for their order. Taking the change and drinks, Hotch thanked the teenage clerk before requesting extra napkins. A couple of minutes later, the girl handed him a bag and a handful of napkins. He took an item out of the sack, passed the bag and napkins to Garcia, and drove to the exit. Stopping to wait for a break in traffic, the BAU leader ripped the package he was holding open. He folded the wrapper around the stick and then turned and handed it to a very surprised toddler. "Better eat this before it melts, Spencer" Aaron advised.
"Weally? I tan eat fis fiwt?" Reid gasped, taking the chocolate coated ice cream bar from his boss.
"You'll have to. It'll go to waste otherwise." Aaron told the youngster as he pulled onto the highway.
"Fants, Hotch!" Spencer said, biting a hunk out of the bar.
"You're welcome" Hotch replied, keeping his focus on the heavy traffic surrounding them. "Now let's get you and Garcia back to the hotel so we can all get back to work."
"About that" Garcia nervously started, "I think maybe it would be a good idea if Spencer and I went to the station with you. I mean, he's awake now so we wouldn't have to worry about the cops catching him sleeping and he'll be with you guys so you can watch him and make sure he's okay."
"Garcia, if you're worried about his injury, don't be. The doctor said he was fine. He'll probably have a whopper of a headache when the numbing medicine wears off but that's all." Hotch assured his friend.
"It's not that, sir. I just think he'd be safer with you guys." Garcia clarified. "I mean, he got hurt on my watch and…"
"Fat wasn't youw fault." Spencer broke in. "It was an ass'dent."
"Reid's right. It was an ass'dent." Aaron parroted, grinning from ear to ear at the mispronunciation. "It could have happened to anybody."
"But if I'd been paying more attention, I could have prevented it." Garcia argued. "I should have stopped what I was doing and gone over to the bed. Then Reid wouldn't have gotten hurt and we wouldn't have had to make a trip to the hospital and he wouldn't have stitches in his cute little forehead."
"Welcome to the wonderful world of parenthood, Penelope. Parents, second guess almost every decision they make from what to feed their child to what school to send them to. And when that child gets hurt, they question not only their decisions but their fitness as a parent." Aaron explained. "I remember the first time Jack fell and skinned his knee. Haley was convinced it was her fault for not being right there with him. She went so far as to follow him everywhere he tottled which at his age wasn't far. She'd probably still be doing it if it wasn't for her sister. Jess reminded her something their mom always said, "Accidents are a part of childhood. It's one of the ways children learn."
"But sir"
"But nothing" Hotch broke in. "I imagine if you thought back to your own childhood, you'd recall several accidents that ended with you hurt. And I bet you don't blame your parents for any of them, do you?"
"Of course not Hotch! They couldn't have…" Garcia stopped midsentence. "Oh"
"I take it you understand?" Aaron asked as he drove into the hotel parking lot.
"Yes sir" the tech analyst softly replied.
"Good, cause I would have hated to have to sic Morgan on you." Hotch teased, grimacing at the expression on the woman's face. "On second thought, that might not be the wisest of ideas."
"I think it's a wonderful idea, sir!" Garcia said with a mischievous grin. "I bet my Stud Muffin would know exactly what to do to make me feel good."
"Gawwwwcia, I'm twying to eat hewe!" Reid groaned.
"Sorry, Sweetness, I forgot there was a baby on board for a minute." Penelope apologized, though she didn't sound remotely sorry. "Well, would you look at that? We're at the hotel, already. Hang on Short Stuff, I'll have you out of that contraption in a jiffy."
Hotch waited for Garcia to exit the vehicle before turning to face Reid. "Take care of Garcia for me, alright? This whole situation has really upset her and you know how she gets when she's upset."
"I'll mate suwe she's otay, Hotch." Reid promised.
"Good man" Aaron praised. Reaching across the seat, he gently ruffled the toddler's hair.
The back door opened then and Garcia leaned in. She packed the remainder of the boy's lunch back in the bag and handed it to Reid before releasing the straps on the car seat and carefully lifting the youngster out. Grabbing her bag from the floorboard, she scanned the backseat for anything she'd missed. Finding nothing, she turned to Hotch. "We'll see you tonight, sir."
"I'll have Morgan swing by to pick you up about seven thirty if nothing comes up with the case first." The BAU leader informed the bubbly blond. "Oh, the doctor said it was alright for Reid to take Children's Tylenol if his head starts hurting. There should be some in his go bag. If not, there's a bottle in my bag."
"Got it!" Penelope replied.
"Spencer, you tell Garcia if you're hurting, understand?" Hotch asked.
"I will. Pwomise." Reid solemnly stated.
"Good" Aaron said. He waited for Garcia to start to shut the door before yelling out, "Oh and Reid if anyone mentions bubble wrap, run!" Laughing at the confounded expression on the toddler's face, he waited for the two to get safely inside the hotel before pulling out of the parking lot and heading to the station.
CM
Garcia snuck another glance at the toddler on the floor. Seeing him busily coloring in a section of the map, she turned back to her computer screen. She typed in a new set of perimeters for her search fighting the urge to check on the boy once more. She was really worried about the little guy. Penelope had attempted to get Reid to rest when they got in the room but he steadfastly refused, saying he needed to finish the geological profile. That had been an hour ago. The numbing agent had to have worn off by now. The kid had to be hurting but he had yet to say a thing and she wasn't sure if she should intervene or not. Another glance at the tiny profiler answered that dilemma for her. She needed to take action; now. "Spencer, come here a minute, Sweetie" she called.
"I'm toming" Reid softly said. He reached up and discreetly brushed away the tears that were rolling down his cheeks, willing his baby body not to make any more. They were like a neon sign announcing his pain. And while his head was killing him, Garcia didn't need to know that. It would only make her feel guilty again. Not to mention the fact that they both had work to do. There was no time for either one of them to slack off. Once he was sure the tears were gone, the toddler used his hands to push himself to his feet and walked over to his friend. "What's wong?" he asked.
Garcia reached down and picked the little boy up, settling him in her lap. Seeing wide, tear filled eyes staring at her in confusion, she got right to the point. "Your head's hurting, isn't it?"
'Busted' Spencer thought. Maybe he could downplay his pain; make her think it wasn't that bad. It was worth a try. Gazing up at his friend with what he hoped was an honest expression, Reid said, "Yeah, it huwts a little bit." Seeing the pointed look Garcia leveled at him, the toddler sighed. "Otay, otay, it huwts weally bad." He admitted.
"I thought so" Penelope clucked. Swiping the Children's Tylenol bottle sitting beside her laptop, she quickly opened it and poured the recommended dose. "Take this" she instructed, holding the plastic cup out to the toddler. "And no, you don't have a choice. Now drink unless you want me to get the box JJ brought and give you the medicine the hard way."
Reid vigorously shook his head, groaning as the pain spiked. "No, I dwint it!" he hollered. He grabbed the cup and downed the nasty tasting medicine in one gulp. No way did he want her using one of those things on him!
"Good boy" Garcia praised, patting the boy's back. She snuggled the youngster against her. "Now, you just sit right here and close your eyes till the medicine starts working, okay?"
"But Gawwwcccia…"
"Shhhh, my little Snuggle Bunny" the tech analyst shushed. "It's sleepy time."
"But…"
"Shhh, unless you want your but to feel like your head," Penelope threatened. Feeling the toddler still, she smiled. "I thought you'd see it my way." she mumbled. She slowly began to rock back and forth as she one handedly worked the computer. Spencer was asleep in minutes.