Disclaimer: Criminal Minds and all its characters belong to CBS. I own nothing. I do not own anything you recognize.
AN- I took a few liberties with parts of this one, especially the animal. And please remember, no medical knowledge here, y'all.(at least none relating to this chapter.)
Previously on Criminal Minds- Dropping his chin onto his knees, Spencer sniffled. He wanted to go home.
CM
"Please be a squirrel. Please be a squirrel." Reid chanted as he nervously eyed the shaking bush. He knew if it was any type of predator that he was in serious trouble. He wouldn't be able to defend himself in his current state. Trembling, he watched the bush twitch and rock as the animal or whatever it was got closer. "That's no squirrel" he muttered, keeping his focus on the bush. 'Unless it's a squirrel family reunion' his brain helpfully threw in. Rolling his eyes as the image of that commercial flashed through his mind, he slowly scooted further back in his hidey hole. Hopefully whatever came out of the bush wouldn't be able to see him.
Hearing twigs snap, Spencer sucked in a breath. Holding that breath, he watched as the bush shook violently one last time before a creature leapt out. The mini agent's eyes widened as he took in the reddish brown color, thick tail, and barred teeth of the animal staring at him. 'A red fox' his mind supplied. 'Omnivores that dine on anything from fruits and berries to small game. Frequent carriers of rabies.' Gulping at the recalled information, the toddler attempted to still the shaking of his body. He locked gazes with the predator, readying himself for a fight. Seeing the fox lick its lips and start slowly prowling his way, the youngster used his hand to search the ground beside him for a weapon. Coming up empty handed, he hugged his legs to his chest; his whole body shaking in fear. His trembling grew worse with each step the fox took. "Go away, go away, go away" he mumbled. Gasping as the fox got within a foot of his tree, Reid lifted his head and glared at his soon to be attacker.
The fox barred its teeth as it advanced on its prey. Slinking towards the toddler, it suddenly stopped dead in its tracks. The fox's head shot up and its ears twitched. It looked back at its prey and then with a swish of its tail it trotted away, disappearing into the thick underbrush.
Reid stared slack jawed at the spot the fox had just occupied. "Why did it take off like that?" he thought. His question was answered seconds later when a loud howl sounded in the distance. "Oh crap! A wild dog!" the toddler muttered. Knowing his only chance was to stay hidden, he scooted closer to the opening of his hiding spot. Reaching out, he pulled a handful of tiny branches off a nearby bush. The tiny profiler backed into his hole once more and quickly laid the branches on and around himself. Once he finished that task, he wrapped his arms back around his legs and dropped his chin to his knees. His breathing sped up as the dog howl sounded again, closer this time. 'Please don't see me! Please don't see me!" his mind repeated over and over. Hearing the bush begin to shake once more, Spencer buried his face in his knees. He couldn't bear to see the beast that was going to eat him. Nearly hyperventilating, the toddler listened as the dog burst through the bushes and bounded right up to his hiding spot. A snuffling noise was heard before the predator woofed and a wet tongue licked his face. Looking up in surprise, Reid found himself face to snout with a very familiar dog. "Too-too-ney!" he panted, hugging the dog's neck. Seeing the lab start to back out of the hole, he quickly scooted forward. Making it to the entrance of his hiding place, he noticed the dog sitting next to the feet of three worried men. "H-Ho-tch!" Spencer cried, raising his trembling arms.
Hotch immediately reached down, scooped the frightened toddler up, and hugged him tightly to his chest. "Shhh, it's alright Spencer, I've got you." He soothed, running a hand up and down the boy's back.
"Ho-Hotch, I, I, and, and f-fen a f-fox, it, it" Spencer stammered as he gasped for breath.
"Easy, Spencer, calm down" Hotch instructed. "Breathe with me. In…out…in…out…that's it. Easy does it." It took a few minutes and a lot of coaching but the toddler's breathing finally leveled out to a more normal rate.
"Good job, Spencer" Rossi praised as he worked to wrap the blanket around the shivering youngster. He threaded the cover between Hotch and Reid before cocooning the toddler in the heavy cloth. Finishing by tucking the edges of the blanket under Spencer's chest, the senior profiler shot Morgan a glance. "Lead us out of here fast, Morgan." He quietly ordered.
Hotch continued to comfort the distraught toddler as he followed his friends through the woods and across the grassy field. Making it to the road, they paused long enough to check for traffic before hurrying across the street. After rushing up the long driveway, the group split with Morgan and Clooney heading for the backyard gate while Hotch, Rossi, and Reid continued to the house. They dashed up the front porch steps and into the warm house.
"Hotch, take the kid upstairs and get him into some dry clothes and under the covers." Rossi ordered as he walked towards the downstairs bathroom. "I'll get the thermometer."
Nodding, Hotch quickly made his way up the stairs and down the hall to Reid's bedroom. Needing to set his precious bundle down for a moment so he could procure dry clothes for the toddler, he hustled over to the car bed. His attempt to put Spencer down met with resistance, however in the form of the toddler's arms and legs tightening their hold. "Spencer, I'm not leaving you." He assured the youngster. "I just need to put you down long enough to get you some dry clothes, okay?" Feeling the boy's head shake against his shoulder, Aaron sighed. "Alright buddy, you win." He whispered. Turning, he quickly strode over to the dresser and yanked open the top drawer. After getting underwear and the warmest pair of footie pajamas the boy owned, the BAU leader walked back to the bed. Taking a seat on the end of the bed with Spencer in his lap, he set the clothes beside them. "Do you think you can get these on by yourself or do you need some assistance?" he questioned.
Spencer sighed before reluctantly letting go of his protector. "I tan, tan do it." he mumbled. He slid off Hotch's lap and motioned for the man to turn around. Seeing his father figure start to get up, Reid quickly grabbed hold of his friend's arm. "D-don't g-go" he pleaded.
"I'm not going anywhere, buddy" Aaron assured the toddler, tenderly palming the boy's cheek. "I'll just turn around right here, okay?" Getting a hesitant nod, the worried profiler turned towards the door to give the tiny agent some privacy.
Spencer pulled his arms out from under the blanket and slowly took off his shirt. Grabbing his pajama shirt, he shakily put it on. Taking a deep breath, the toddler wiggled the rest of the way out of his warm cocoon. He shivered as he reached for the button on his pants. Frozen fingers latched onto the metal button and began to twist. Spencer pulled and tugged as much as his ice-cold digits would allow but the button didn't budge. After repeated attempts did nothing but cause his hands to ache, Spencer had to admit defeat. "H-Hotch" he called, "I tan't und-do the, the but-ton."
Aaron turned back around at the toddler's call. He reached over and unfastened the button on Spencer's pants. He then helped the boy wiggle out of his wet pants and underwear before wrangling the dry underwear and pajama pants on the youngster. "There you go, Spencer" Aaron said as he picked up his charge and hurried around the bed. He turned down the covers before settling the mini agent on the bed and tucking him in. Taking a seat beside the toddler, Aaron smiled as Spencer snuggled into his side. Wrapping an arm around the shivering boy, the surrogate father kissed the top of the toddler's hair. "It's alright. You're safe now, buddy." He soothed.
"How's he doing?" Dave asked as he strode into the room.
"I'm o-ot-ay" Spencer stuttered, shivering despite being wrapped in two blankets.
"Now why don't I believe that?" Rossi questioned, taking a seat on the edge of the bed beside the toddler. Pulling the thermometer out of his pocket, he held it up for the boy to see. "Alright kiddo, open up. Let's see what the damage is."
Reid obediently opened his mouth for the instrument. Holding it under his tongue, he snuggled closer to Hotch's warm body. Closing his eyes, the toddler melted into the safety of his friend's embrace.
Dave waited for the thermometer to beep before gently removing it from the toddler's mouth. Glancing at the readout, he frowned. "97.7" he read, "No bad, but not exactly good either."
"Hy-hypofewmia doesn't otew(occur) until the body temp'tuwe dwops lowew fan ninety-five degwees." Spencer recited, blushing as both men leveled glares his way.
Aaron shook his head at the boy's announcement. "You think he'll be okay?" he asked, looking at Rossi.
"I think the kid will be lucky to get out of this without getting sick as a dog." Dave huffed. He rubbed the back of his neck for a moment attempting to relieve some of the tension there. "Look, we need to take it one step at a time. Morgan's starting a fire in the fireplace downstairs and I'm going to make some hot chocolate. Let's get Short Stuff warmed up first. We'll deal with the after effects as they come."
"Agreed" Hotch replied. Hearing Morgan's shouted, "Fire's ready!", he smiled. Pulling Spencer into his arms, he stood and placed the trembling toddler on his hip. He took the thick blanket Dave handed him and wrapped it securely around his charge before following the older man out of the room and down the stairs. Once downstairs, Aaron strode over to the rocking chair. Taking a seat, he gently settled the little boy in his lap.
They sat in front of the fire and slowly rocked back and forth until Rossi entered the room with the promised hot chocolate. Taking the smallest mug from the senior profiler, Aaron helped Spencer hold the Goofy adorned cup and take small sips of the delicious brew.
Finishing his drink a few minutes later, Reid handed his empty mug to Morgan before leaning back against Hotch and closing his eyes. The toddler let out an enormous yawn as he fisted his eyes sleepily. His thumb snaked its way into his mouth as the tiny profiler's breathing evened out in sleep.
"Looks like somebody wore himself out" Morgan observed with a chuckle.
"Yeah, well considering the stress of the last few…" Rossi cut off as shrill ring of Hotch's cell sounded. Exchanging concerned glances with the others, the senior profiler swiftly grabbed the phone off the coffee table and flipped it open. Answering the call, he spoke into the cell before handing it to the BAU leader.
"Hotchner" Aaron said into the cell. He spent the next several minutes listening to the caller as she imparted all the crucial information to him. Rubbing his temples, Hotch nodded. "Alright, call Prentiss and Garcia. Tell them we're meeting in the conference room in thirty." Flipping his cell closed, the weary profiler looked over at his companions. "We have a case."