Disclaimer: Criminal Minds and all its characters belong to CBS. I own nothing. I do not own anything you recognize.
Previously on Criminal Minds- Setting the rambunctious toddler on his feet, Dave took the boy's hand and headed for the counter. It was time to make some good memories.
CM
Hotch looked up as his door opened and Derek Morgan walked into the doorway. "Something on your mind?" he questioned, gesturing to the empty chair in front of his desk.
"I was just wondering if you'd heard from Rossi." Morgan answered as he stepped into the office and took a seat.
"Not yet, but they should be back any time now. Why? Is something wrong?" Aaron asked.
"No" Morgan replied. "It's just that it's past Reid's nap time and the last thing we need is a grumpy Spencer especially tonight."
"Don't worry, Morgan. I'm sure Dave will…The shrill ring of his cell phone cut him off. Smiling, Hotch grabbed his cell and flipped it open. "Hotchner"
"Aaron, it's Dave" Rossi softly replied.
"Did everything go alright, Rossi?" Hotch inquired. "Are you on your way back?"
"No, we're not. That's why I'm calling." Rossi replied, glancing into his rearview mirror. "It's going to be a while before we're back at the office. Reid fell asleep as soon as I got him settled in his seat."
"I take it Reid wore himself out playing." Hotch said with a smile.
"Yeah, I think between that and the doctor's appointment the kid was done in." Dave speculated.
Aaron frowned. Something had obviously gone wrong. Seeing Morgan sit up straighter in his chair and lean forward, Hotch motioned for the younger man to wait. "What happened at the doctor's office?" he asked, running a hand across his face.
"Well, for starters Dr. Ridge is a huge, hulk of a man. Spencer started shaking the minute the guy came in the room." Dave explained. "The kid tried his best to keep himself under control but as soon as the doc touched him, he went ballistic. I've never seen the kid go at somebody like that. He managed to get several good hits in before I could get to them. It…"
"What do you mean before you got to them? Why weren't you right beside Spencer?" Hotch angrily inquired.
"Reid told me to go sit down; that he didn't need me "mother henning" him." Rossi calmly replied. "Truth be told, he didn't want me even going in the building with him. He said he was perfectly capable of going in alone. I quickly nixed that little idea, though. Needless to say, he wasn't very happy with me. So when Reid asked me not to stay by him, I decided to give him that. Guess I should have just told him no."
"No, you were right to acquiesce to his request." Aaron told his friend.
"Tell that to the doc. The guy's going to be sporting quite a few bruises courtesy of Reid." Dave said with a sigh.
"Was he able to remove the stitches or do I need to make an appointment elsewhere?" Hotch asked, pinching the bridge of his nose. He so didn't need this today.
"No need for that. A nurse came in and took the stitches out once I finally got Reid calmed down." Rossi replied. Hearing a whimper, he glanced in the rearview mirror. "Hang on a minute, Aaron. The native is getting restless." Twisting around in his seat, Dave reached back and gently rubbed the toddler's arm. "It's okay, kiddo. You're safe." He whispered, smiling as the boy immediately settled back down. Rossi watched Spencer for a few minutes to make sure the boy was sleeping peacefully once more before turning back around and picking up his cell. "Look Aaron, can I save the rest until later? I really want to get the kid somewhere he can lay down."
"Of course" Hotch agreed. "Would you like to take him to my place? I can give you…Just a minute, Dave." Placing a hand over his cell, Aaron looked at Morgan. "What did you say?"
"I said to tell Rossi to take Spencer to my place." Morgan repeated. "There's a house key in the glove compartment."
"Good thinking" Hotch praised. Putting the cell phone to his ear, the BAU leader cleared his throat. "Rossi, there's a key to Morgan's home in the glove compartment. You can take Reid there." he relayed.
"Good, the kid will sleep better in his own bed." Dave stated as he started the engine of his SUV. "Tell Morgan thanks. I'll call when we're on our way back." Flipping his cell phone closed, the profiler tossed it onto the passenger seat and backed out of the parking spot. "Let's go home, buddy" he softly whispered.
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"Reid, you just about through, kid?" Morgan asked, taking a seat on the corner of the younger man's desk.
"Almost" Reid answered without looking up from his work.
"Hurry it up, youngster" Derek urged. "We barely have time to get to Garcia's and get ready as it is."
"You guys doing something special tonight?" Anderson inquired as he walked up behind the two profilers.
"Uhh, yeah, Garcia recruited us to help her pass out candy to all the trick or treaters." Morgan fibbed. "What about you? You got a hot date lined up?"
"Not tonight. I promised my sister I'd go trick or treating with her and her kids. She said she wasn't comfortable going out alone at night." Anderson explained.
"Can't blame her for that, man" Morgan replied. "You can't be too careful."
"That's what I keep telling her." Anderson agreed. Glancing at the clock on the wall, he started. "Crap, I've gotta get going or I'm going to be late. You guys have a good time tonight. See you on Monday!"
"Bye Anderson" Morgan called, waving at the retreating man's back. Turning back to his friend, he asked, "Are you finished?"
"Yeah" Spencer said, closing the file on his desk. "I jut need to give fis to Hotch and we tan go."
Derek took the folder out of the toddler's hands and set it back on his desk. "Hotch left half an hour ago." he informed the toddler. "Now come on, get your coat and your bag and let's go."
"I'm toming, I'm toming" Spencer muttered, adding "bossy" under his breath. Sliding off his chair, he put on his jacket, threw the strap of his diaper bag over one shoulder and walked around the side of the desk.
The two friends quickly made their way out of the building and into the older man's truck. They joked and laughed as they made the short trip to Garcia's place. After parking in the closest spot they could find, the duo went into the apartment building. The profilers took the elevator up to the sixth floor and then hurried to their friend's door.
Garcia flung open the door before either of the two could knock. "It's about time you two got here! You were supposed to be here half an hour ago." She scolded.
"Sorry Baby Girl" Morgan apologized as he walked in and gave her a peck on the cheek. "Short Stuff had a report he just had to finish."
"No time for sorrys, we have to get changed and get to JJ's." Penelope replied, closing and locking her door. She shooed the two into her living room before taking charge. "Okay, Spencer, you go into the bathroom and change. Your costume is already hanging up on the towel rack for you and I put my stepstool in there in case you needed to go potty before we leave."
"Fants, Gawcia" Spencer said. He raced into the bathroom and shut the door.
"What about me, Baby Girl?" Morgan asked once the bathroom door closed.
"I put yours in the extra room." Garcia answered, starting for her bedroom. "Make sure you're out before Reid. I don't want him thinking we left him or something."
"Now don't go worrying your pretty little head. Nothing's going to go wrong. I won't let it." Derek assured his friend. He gave Garcia a quick hug before disappearing into the other room.
"I hope you're right." Penelope whispered as she walked into her bedroom.
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Reid jumped out of Morgan's truck and ran up to the porch where JJ was waiting for them. "Loot! I'm Lute Tywalter!" he shouted, waving his light saber around.
"I see." JJ replied, smiling at the rambunctious toddler. Seeing Morgan and Garcia walking up the steps, she held up a hand. "Wait, let me guess. You're Han Solo and Princess Leia, right?"
"You've got it my dear Snow White." Garcia stated, chuckling as Henry came stumbling out the door followed by Will. "Ahh, it looks like your Prince Charming has arrived."
"Yeah, and he brought ummm, ummm" Morgan broke off, scratching his head. "What are the dwarves' names again?"
Surveying the toddler's colorful robe, short white beard, and floppy hat, Garcia frowned. "My sweet baby better not be Dopey" she growled.
"Relax Pen, I wouldn't do that to him." JJ assured her friend. "He's Happy."
"That's Henry alright." Derek commented, squinting as headlights announced the arrival of the rest of the team. Sighing as the lights went off, he walked down the porch steps to greet his friends. Watching the doors to Hotch's SUV open, the profiler waited for the teasing that was sure to come from the other three. After all, there was no way the others would be dressed…His thoughts ground to a halt and his jaw dropped as his team mates exited the vehicle.
Hotch smirked as he walked up to Morgan. "What's a matter, Morgan?" he causally asked, patting the stunned man's shoulder. "You look like you've seen a ghost."
"You guys look fantastic!" Garcia exclaimed as she came to stand beside Derek. Turning to the still gaping man, she shook her head. "Honey, close your mouth, you're catching flies."
"But, but…"
"Tool!" Spencer shouted as he raced over to the newcomers. Gazing up at Hotch's pirate hat, red bandana, and long, black dreadlocks, he giggled. "You'we fat piwate we saw at Disney!"
"Captain Jack Sparrow at your service" Aaron said, taking off his hat and giving an exaggerated bow.
"And you are?" Morgan asked Prentiss, taking in her baggy white shirt, long red vest, and sword.
"I'm Elizabeth Swann" Emily replied, brandishing her sword. "You know, the lady in the Pirate of the Caribbean movies."
"What no big, poufy dress?" Derek teased with an evil grin.
Prentiss raised an eyebrow. "Do I look like a poufy dress kind of girl to you?" she countered, twirling her sword.
"Better watch how you answer that Morgan. She's liable to run you through if you say the wrong thing." Rossi advised.
Spencer walked over to the two men. Taking in Rossi's long trench coat and fedora, he giggled. "You'we Hofey Bogawt!" he hollered.
"Here's looking at you, kid." Dave said with a wink, eliciting more laughter from the youngster.
"Wossi, you'we…"
"Weid! Weid!" Henry shouted as he ran up to the group. "We go twick tweat, Weid!"
"I think that's our cue to leave." Morgan said with a grin. Scooping Reid up, he settled the boy on his shoulders. "Come on guys! Let's get this show on the road!"
The group of mismatched characters fell into step behind Morgan and Garcia. They walked down the street a little ways before stopping at a small, red brick house.
"Alright boys, here's the first stop" Will told the two toddlers. Taking Henry by the hand, he waited for Morgan to lower Spencer to the ground before heading to the house. The two men led the boys up to the door and stopped.
"Are you guys ready?" Morgan asked. Getting twin nods, he turned and knocked on the door.
A short, rotund woman swiftly opened the door. "Oh my! Who do we have here?" she asked.
"Twick tweat!" Henry shouted, eagerly holding up his bucket.
Spencer peeked out from behind Morgan's legs. "Twick ow tweat" he shyly murmured.
"Aren't you two just the cutest things!" the woman cooed as she placed treat bags in both boys' buckets.
"Fant you" the toddlers politely said.
"You're welcome, sweeties" Mrs. March replied. "You two have fun now."
"Bye" Spencer said. Running back to his friends, he proudly held out his bucket. "Loot! We got tandy!"
"And that's just the beginning, Mon Ami." Will told the youngster. "Those buckets will be full by the time we're through."
"Tool! Let's go!" Reid shouted.
Smiling at the excited boy, Hotch took Spencer's hand and started for the next house on the block.
As the group made their way around the block, they talked and chatted keeping the conversation light. When they got to the end of the street, the ladies headed back to the house to start supper. Knowing both boys would be tired, they needed to have the food ready and waiting by the time the two finished trick or treating. After saying their goodbyes, the men and toddlers crossed the street and began to slowly make their way back to JJ's home.
Spencer grew braver with each house they stopped at to trick or treat. No longer hiding behind Morgan, he walked up to the doors and yelled trick or treat along with Henry. By the time they made it to the last house on the block, Reid was ready to go solo. Instructing Morgan and Will to wait for them at the curb, Spencer took Henry's hand and the two marched across the lawn and up the porch steps. Reid eyed the scarecrow sitting on the porch for a moment before walking past it and knocking on the door.
"RAAAA!" the scarecrow yelled, reaching out to grab the toddlers.
Spencer didn't think; he reacted. Pulling his hand back, he swung the full trick or treat bucket around, clocking the scarecrow in the face. He then kicked out with all his might bringing the costumed trouble maker to his knees.
Having seen the scarecrow jump at the boys, the entire group rushed to the porch. Leaving Will to deal with a crying Henry, Derek knelt down in front of his tiny friend. "You okay, Spencer?" he asked.
Mindful of his audience, Spencer let the tears come. "Daddy, him tawed(scared) me and, and my tandy falled!" he wailed, wrapping his arms around Morgan's neck.
Will glared at the short scarecrow as he attempted to comfort his crying son. "Joseph, does your mama know you're out here scaring the little ones?" he growled.
"No sir" the scarecrow replied, dropping his gaze to the ground.
"I didn't think so." Will said, rubbing comforting circles in Henry's back. "Alright, here's what's going to happen. First, you are going to help Spencer collect his candy and then you and I are going to be having a talk with your mom. Understand?"
"Y-y-yes sir" Joseph answered. Pulling his mask off, he hurriedly started picking up the candy that was scattered around the porch.
Several minutes later, Spencer's candy was safely back in his bucket along with a couple extra bags of treats Joseph's mother had given them after she'd been filled in on her little darling's game.
Assured that Joseph's scaring days were over, the small group started the long walk back to JJ's. They trudged across the lawn, stopping at the curb to wait for traffic to pass.
Yawning, Spencer set his heavy bucket down beside him and leaned against Hotch's leg.
Aaron quickly leaned down and picked the toddler up. Feeling tiny fingers playing with his dreadlocks, he smiled. All in all it had been a good night. With the road now clear, he took a step off the curb only to stop when Reid suddenly started wiggling around. "Spencer, be still." He warned.
Getting a muffled response, he frowned. "What was that?" he asked.
"I said don't leave my buttet." Spencer repeated.
"I wouldn't dream of it, kid." Morgan said, holding up the overflowing, purple bucket.
"Fants, Mowgan" Reid told his friend before laying his head down on Hotch's shoulder.
Seeing the toddler's eyes close and his thumb snake up and into his mouth, Rossi hurried the group across the street. They needed to get back to JJ's before it was too late.