Disclaimer: Criminal Minds and all its characters belong to CBS. I own nothing. I do not own anything you recognize.
Previously on Criminal Minds- "Sleep tight, Spencer" Hotch whispered before shutting his eyes and drifting off to sleep.
CM
Hotch strolled out of the bathroom, a cloud of steam following in his wake. As soon as he crossed the threshold, he immediately glanced over at the far bed and its lone occupant. Seeing the toddler still sleeping peacefully, he let out a relieved breathe. After the nightmare filled night they'd had, the surrogate father had been afraid the boy would be startled awake by another bad dream while he was in the shower. Thankfully, it seemed his worry was for naught. Deciding to let the youngster sleep a bit longer, Aaron crept over to the dresser. He opened the top drawer and pulled out a pair of boxers and undershirt. He then went to the closet, got his suit and shuffled to the bed. Dropping the towel from his waist, Hotch slid the smiley face boxers up his long legs before pulling the white undershirt over his head. After smoothing his shirt out, the BAU leader slipped his arms through his navy dress shirt. He swiftly buttoned it up and smoothed it out as well. Picking up his pants, the young man pulled them on and fastened them. He sat down long enough to slide on his socks and shoes before standing up with a sigh. Leaving his suit jacket until it was time to go, Hotch reluctantly went over to the other bed and took a seat beside his sleeping charge. "Spencer" he called, gently shaking the boy's shoulder. "Spencer, it's time to get up son."
Reid groaned as he slowly came awake. Sitting up, he sleepily fisted his eyes as he peered up at his boss. "I'b awate" he yawned.
Aaron frowned at the congestion he could hear in the youngster's voice. "Are you feeling okay?" he asked, placing the back of his hand on the toddler's forehead. Finding it cool, he relaxed a little.
"I'b" Reid started, stopping at the stern expression on Hotch's face. The mini agent slightly shook his head. "By nose is tuffed up." he admitted, "but I'b otay to wowt." His statement was mostly true. He just neglected to mention the headache that was making his head throb. He knew if he did Hotch would force him to stay in bed and that was something he could not do. They had a case to solve. Besides, he could work with a cold. It wasn't like he hadn't worked while ill before. They all had.
Hotch scrutinized his charge carefully before nodding. "Alright, if you're sure" he agreed. "Go lay out your clothes. I'll run a bath for you."
"Otay" Reid happily replied. Sliding off the bed, he hurried over to the dresser and yanked open the bottom drawer. Snatching a short sleeve button down shirt, a pair of khakis, and underwear, he slammed the drawer shut and headed for the bathroom. They had to case to solve.
CM
The BAU team strode into the tiny police department a little after seven. After acknowledging the rookie behind the front desk, they made their way down the hall to their home base. The profilers quickly walked into the room, took a seat at the table, and looked to their boss for their assignments.
Hotch stood at the head of the white, plastic table and stared at his team. Placing his hands on the table, he began. "Rossi, you and Prentiss go interview Mr. Martin and Mrs. Segar's neighbors." He instructed. "Morgan and I will talk with the others. JJ, you'll handle the family interviews. Mr. Martin's son is coming in at nine and Ms. Hastings' parents should be here a little before noon. They're flying in this morning."
"What do you want me *sniff* to do?" Reid questioned.
Grabbing the Kleenex box off computer desk behind him, Morgan slid it over to the tiny profiler.
"Fants Mowgan" Spencer said, taking a tissue and blowing his nose.
"You're welcome, Munchkin" Derek replied with a grin.
"Did you know…"
"Spencer" Hotch interrupted before the boy could go off on a tangent. "I want you to work on a geographical profile. It might give us an idea of where the unsub might strike next."
"Yes siw" Reid answered. Sliding off his chair, he grabbed the tissue box and rushed over to his map station. The mini profiler plopped down on his behind, picked up a marker, and got to work.
Hotch watched his littlest agent for a moment before gathering his things. "Keep an eye on him for me." He whispered to JJ.
"I will." JJ promised, patting her friend on the arm.
"Thanks JJ" Aaron quietly replied. "Call me if anything…"
"Hey Hotch! You coming or what?" Morgan called from the doorway.
"Go start the truck, Morgan. I'll be right there." Hotch instructed before turning back to the media liaison. "If he needs anything…"
"I'll call." JJ assured her worried boss. "Don't worry about Spence. He'll be fine. I promise I'll take good care of him until you get back."
"I know." Aaron said.
JJ smiled. "Good, now get out of here before Morgan gets impatient and starts blowing the horn." She teased.
Hotch cracked a smile. "I'm going, I'm going." He chuckled. Picking up his things, he strode to the door. He glanced over at Reid, who was already engrossed in his work, before going out of the room.
CM
"I hope this interview goes better than the last one." Prentiss muttered as she and Rossi walked up the cobblestone path to the quaint tan and grey cottage type house.
"Yeah, somehow I don't think "everyone hated the victim's guts" is going to narrow down the suspect list for us." Rossi grumbled. He quickly went up the steps and crossed the porch to the door. Raising his fist, he rapped on the wooden door.
"Not unless it was a group kill" Prentiss suggested. "But that's highly unlikely. The angle and depth of the stab wounds as well as the force of the hammering suggests a single unsub: one with a pretty specific grudge."
"I agree. Impaling someone with over fifty colored pencils is definitely sending a message." Rossi agreed, turning his attention back to the door as it slowly opened. Seeing an elderly woman struggling to hold onto her cane and the door at the same time, he swiftly stepped up and helped her out.
"May I help you young man?" the stooped, white haired woman asked.
"Yes ma'am, I'm Agent Rossi and this is Agent Prentiss." Dave introduced, flashing his badge. "We'd like to talk with you about your neighbor, Mr. Martin."
"Yes, yes of course, come right in" the eighty year old replied. She slowly led the way down a short hall and into her living room. The little old lady motioned for the profilers to take a seat on the sofa before she lowered herself onto her recliner. "It was just terrible what happened to that poor man! Did you catch the person responsible yet?"
"Not yet Mrs…"
"Blake but you can call me Annie." Mrs. Blake provided.
"Alright" Prentiss agreed. "Mrs., I mean Annie, what can you tell us about Mr. Martin?"
"Oh, he was a lovely man! Ernest always helped me bring in my groceries and put them away. And he'd come over and repair my appliances and things for me. The man was always willing to help anyone in need." Annie described. "He was a wonderful teacher, too. He was so patient and loving with his students. My grandson Charles was in his class. That boy is a real handful. He's so headstrong and willful. But he didn't give Ernest a minute's trouble. Charles learned a lot in that class."
"Did your grandson like Mr. Martin?" Rossi inquired.
"Charles said Mr. Martin was the best teacher he'd ever had." Mrs. Blake answered. "All the children loved him."
"Annie, can you think of anyone who might have a grudge against Mr. Martin? Maybe someone who didn't like him for some reason?" Prentiss questioned.
"Heavens no" Annie responded. "There wasn't a living soul who didn't like Ernest. That's why we were all so shocked by his death."
"What about the day he was killed? Did you notice anyone or anything suspicious?" Rossi asked.
"I'm afraid I didn't get out that day." Annie regretfully informed the profilers. "I'd spent the week in bed after I picked up a virus."
"Alright, well I think we've gotten all we need. Thank you for taking the time to talk with us." Rossi said as he closed his notebook and stood up.
"Oh, you're welcome young man. I just wish I could have been more helpful." Annie told the two agents.
"Actually, you've been a lot of help, Annie. Knowing what kind of neighbor and teacher Mr. Martin was will help us profile the person who took his life." Prentiss advised the older woman.
"I hope so. Ernest was a good man. He didn't deserve to die the way he did." Mrs. Blake declared.
"No one does." Emily mumbled, recalling the photo of Ernest Martin with his throat slit from ear to ear, a protractor firmly embedded in the middle of the gaping wound. Shaking her head to rid her of the image, the young woman walked the few steps over to the recliner and took Mrs. Blake's hand. "Thank you again for your time." She said, shaking the elderly lady's hand.
Seeing the old woman struggling to get back on her feet, Rossi quickly placed a hand on her shoulder. "You don't have to get up, Mrs., Annie. We can find our way out." He assured the kind woman.
"Thank you Handsome, these old bones just don't work like they used to." Annie replied with a tired smile. "You two be careful out there now. And catch that hoodlum before he harms another person."
"We'll do our best, Annie" Prentiss promised. "You just…" she cut off as she realized the older woman had drifted off. Sharing an amused glace with Rossi, she tiptoed over to the couch and picked up the throw off the back. She carefully laid the blanket over the sleeping woman before following her partner down the hall and out the door, making sure to lock it behind them.
CM
JJ walked out of the tiny interview room just as Rossi and Prentiss came into the station. Going over to the two, she asked, "Did you find out anything?"
"Not exactly" Prentiss hedged as they walked down the corridor to their current headquarters. "Most of what we did learn about the victims muddied the waters even more. The facts about the victims contradict each other. And I'm not just talking about their gender. They seemed to be opposites in every way."
"I guess that means the unsub isn't going after the bad teachers." JJ commented.
"Evidently not" Emily agreed. "What about you? Did you learn anything new?"
"Nothing that could help us. According to Mr. Martin's son, the man was a saint." JJ informed the profiler. "He said that the crime had to be a random act because his dad was loved by everyone in the community."
Rossi listened to the ladies banter back and forth as he followed them into the lounge. Heading to their crime board to add what little they had learned, he froze when he saw movement out of the corner of his eye. He glanced to the left, frowning as he caught sight of Reid shivering. Changing directions, he quickly walked over to the little boy's side. "How's the profile coming?" he asked, leaning over the tiny profiler.
Fever glazed eyes peered up at the older man. "O *sniff* tay" Reid rasped.
Noticing the twin red spots on the toddler's cheeks, Rossi muttered a few choice words. He knelt down beside the trembling boy and placed the back of his hand on Reid's forehead. "Guess you didn't escape your little walk about unscathed, huh Sport?"
Reid shook his head. "N-n-no" he stammered, reaching up to wipe away the tear that was rolling down his cheek.
"Hey, none of that now" Dave softly said. Seeing another tear spill over, he held out his arms. "Come here, buddy"
Spencer pushed himself up and flew into the older man's arms. He wrapped his arms around Rossi's neck and buried his face in crook of his neck.
"Awww, kiddo" Rossi whispered. He adjusted his hold on the toddler before standing and taking a seat on the couch. Settling the ill boy on his lap, Dave pulled him into his chest.
Watching the scene from the other side of the room, Hotch could have kicked himself for not checking on Reid the second he got back to the station. Knowing there was no way to rectify his mistake, he settled for taking charge of the situation. "JJ, you and Rossi take Spencer back to the hotel." Hotch instructed. "We'll handle things here."
"Yes sir" JJ replied. She took the SUV keys from her boss and started for the sofa.
"Agent Hotchner!" Officer Stubing called as he burst into the room. "Captain Bellows said to tell you…" he drifted off, eyes widening as he took in the sight of Reid on Rossi's lap with the older man hugging him close. "Oh, uhh, I didn't mean to ummm, interrupt. I'll, I'll just go, ummm, go b-back to my, my desk now." Spinning around, the rookie practically ran out of the room.
Hotch pinched the bridge of his nose. "I guess I better go do some damage control." He voiced, raising an eyebrow at the chuckle that echoed through the room. Turning, he glared at the source of the laughter.
"What?" Morgan innocently asked, fidgeting under the scrutiny of the rest of the team. "I couldn't help it, okay? Did you see Barney Fife's face? I think you guys scarred him for life."
"Morgan, it isn't…" Hotch was cut off as another giggle sounded from the opposite side of the room this time. Looking towards the source, he was shocked to find the culprit was…"Spencer?"
"What? *cough* It's a little *sniffle* funny." Spencer defended, hiding his face in Rossi's side.
Hotch shook his head in exasperation. "Dave, get Spencer to the hotel. I'll handle Barney, I mean Officer Stubing."
Rossi nodded. "Come on kiddo" he said, standing up and walking to the door. "There's a bed back at the hotel calling your name."