Disclaimer: Criminal Minds and all its characters belong to CBS. I own nothing. I do not own anything you recognize.
AN- An early Christmas present for you. Thank you so much for reading this story! Y'all are the best!
I meant to have this up earlier but my niece went into the hospital this afternoon to have her first baby and things aren't exactly going smoothly. If you have a minute, please say a prayer for her and her baby.
Previously on Criminal Minds- Growling, Spencer picked up Luke and ran him after a retreating Vader. Catching up, Luke swung his light saber around hitting his enemy in the helmet. And the battle was on!
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"Sorry to break this up gentlemen but I've got to hit the road if I'm going to make it to the store and back in time to fix lunch." Rossi announced, setting the tie fighter he was "flying" down. He slowly stood and stretched with a groan.
"You'we gonna mate lunch?" Spencer excitedly asked.
"Of course I am. You're not going to live off hot dogs and fast food if I have anything to say about it." Dave replied, stumbling back a step as the toddler suddenly hugged him.
"Yes!" Reid shouted. "Awe you gonna mate fat cheesy lasagna lite you did lat Chwis'mas?"
"Not this time, Sport" Rossi responded, shaking his head. "I thought spaghetti might be a little easier for you to eat. Don't worry, I'll make sure I add lots of cheese."
"Tool!" Spencer exclaimed, jumping up and down. "Tan I help? Peas?"
"You and Morgan are both going to be helping me with the cooking." Dave said, ruffling the boy's hair. "That's if you let go of me so I can go to the store."
Spencer immediately released his grip and scooted back a few steps. "Sowwy" he apologized.
"Not a problem, kid" Rossi replied before turning to Morgan. "Anything you need while I'm going?"
"Nothing I can think of." Derek told the older man.
"Okay, I'll be back as soon as I can." Dave said as he started for the door.
"Take your time, man. Reid and I will be alright on our own for a while." Morgan assured the senior profiler. "It'll give us a chance to clean up a little."
"You'll do no such thing." Rossi warned. "This place finally looks like a kid lives here and that's the way it's going to stay. Understand?"
"Yes sir" Morgan replied, giving his friend a mock salute.
"Smart ass" Dave fondly muttered. Gazing down at Reid, the profiler rolled his eyes. "Do me a favor, kid. Keep your eyes on Morgan for me. Okay? He's got that "I'm about to do something stupid" look in his eye."
Giggling, Spencer nodded. "I'll watch him." he promised.
"Good" Rossi said as he opened the door. "You" he pointed at Morgan, "no touching the toys on the floor and you" he changed and pointed at Reid, "go outside and play. It's too nice a day for you to be cooped up in here."
"You got it!" Morgan called after the older man. Once the door closed, he turned to his lone companion. "Well, what are you waiting for? You heard the man! Get your coat and let's get outside!"
"Yea!" Spencer hollered. He raced across the room, grabbed his coat and hat, and hurriedly started putting them on. He couldn't wait to get outside!
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Morgan raked another clump of leaves into his ever growing pile with a sigh. He couldn't believe his yard had some many leaves especially since he'd already raked and disposed of fallen leaves twice in October. "Oh well, at least Clooney isn't tromping through the pile this time." He thought as he shook off his rake. Taking a break, the muscular profiler leaned on the end of the tool and gazed across the yard at Reid, who was currently engaged in a tug of war with the lab. He was definitely going to have to invite the kid over at least once a week from now on. Reid was a great playmate for Clooney or maybe it was the other way around. It was hard to tell who was having the most fun; the kid or the dog. Chuckling as the toddler fell back on his behind his prize tightly clutched in his hands, Morgan shook his head and went back to work.
"Fetch Tooney!" Spencer commanded, tossing the rope ball as far as he could. He watched the lab streak after the toy for a moment before looking back at Morgan. Spotting the giant pile of leaves, he sighed. He'd volunteered to help but the older man had only shaken his head. Derek had told him that the best way he could help was to keep Clooney occupied so he wouldn't jump in the pile. Cocking his head to one side, Reid studied the pile. He recalled watching other kids jump in leaf piles when he was growing up but he never really understood the attraction. They were just leaves after all. Besides, jumping in the leaf pile wouldn't do anything but scatter the leaves again and make the person raking angry. Would it? Thinking on it further, the BAU's resident genius came to the conclusion that he must be missing something. There was no way the tradition would continue if that was the only outcome. There had to be more. Deciding he needed to research the custom, Spencer silently crept over to a huge tree near the pile. He stood behind the tree, watching for just the right moment. Seeing Morgan shaking off his rake, the toddler turned to his partner in crime. "Otay Tooney, we go on fwee." He quietly instructed. Peering around the tree, he said, "one…two…THREE!" Racing around the tree, Spencer leapt as high as he could. Leaves flew out of the pile as the toddler landed smack in the middle of it.
"What the he…Reid!" Morgan gasped. His mouth dropped open as the giggling youngster tossed a handful of leaves into the air. "Oh, you think that's funny, do you? Well, let's see what you think about this." He said, snagging an armful of leaves and dumping them on the toddler's head. "How's that, kid?"
Breaking the surface of the leaf pile, Reid shook his head to rid himself of his leaf hat. "You'we gonna pay for fat, Mowgan" he promised as he picked up an armful of his own and tossed it at the older man. Leaves flew back and forth as both boys tried to get the upper hand. The two continued the leaf battle until the sound of a truck coming up the drive stopped them in their tracks.
"Come on Pretty Boy, play time's over." Morgan called as he stood and brushed himself off. "We've gotta go help Rossi."
Spencer waded out of the pool of leaves and shook himself off. "Wace you!" he hollered over his shoulder as he ran towards the house.
Shaking his head, Morgan hurried after his friend.
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Rossi scowled as two leaf covered profilers headed for the kitchen. "Stop right there!" he ordered, throwing up a hand in warning. "You two are not setting foot in this kitchen until you've washed up." Raising an eyebrow when neither youngster moved, he growled, "Git!" He watched the two disappear around the corner before going back to his preparations.
The two friends reappeared several minutes later minus the leaves and dirt. The freshly scrubbed duo walked into the kitchen and waited for their instructions.
"Morgan, I want you to fix the salad." Rossi directed as he chopped up a tomato. "I set everything out for you already."
"Mix up a salad, got it" Derek said. He walked over to the island and quickly set about his task.
When Rossi turned back to his chopping without giving him a job, Reid sighed. It looked like he was going to be sidelined again. Seeing Dave trying to juggle several different things at once, the mini agent frowned. Rossi sure looked like he needed some help. Maybe if he asked nicely, his friend would allow him to help. Deciding it was worth a shot, he trudged over to his friend and tugged on the man's pants leg. "Is fewe somefing I tan do?" he hesitantly asked.
Rossi looked down at the toddler and smiled. "As a matter of fact, there is." He replied. Bending down, he picked the youngster up and set him on the counter beside him. "You have the most important job of all, Buddy. You are in charge of all these bowls."
"Tool" Spencer whispered. "What do I do?"
"I want you to hand me the ingredients when I ask for them." Dave instructed. "Then when we get to the cheese, I'm gonna need you to sprinkle it in the pan. Think you can handle that?"
"Yes sir" Spencer confidently replied.
"Okay then let's get to cooking!" Rossi exclaimed.