Disclaimer: Criminal Minds and all its characters belong to CBS. I own nothing. I do not own anything you recognize.
Previously on Criminal Minds- 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."
CM
Marching down the corridor, Hotch contemplated various plausible scenarios that might explain his colleagues' behavior. After throwing out several as too far-fetched, he finally opted for the simplest and most believable excuse. Walking out of the hall and into the lobby, the BAU leader wasn't a bit surprised to see Captain Bellows storming towards him. He'd actually expected to meet the man sooner. Hotch opened his mouth to avert the explosion he knew was coming only to snap it shut as the policeman suddenly went off on him.
"What the Hell kind of FBI team are you running?" Captain Bellows shouted as he stomped over to Hotch and got in the agent's face. "I know you people are from the big city and all but there are some things we just won't tolerate around here!"
"Captain, if you'll allow me to explain" Hotch started, sighing as he was cut off once again.
"Dang right, you're gonna explain!" the Captain huffed as he crossed his arms.
"Captain, with all due respect, I believe it would be in your best interest to continue this conversation in your office." Hotch suggested, gesturing to a couple of elderly ladies at the front desk staring slack-jawed at them.
Glancing in the direction the BAU leader was looking, Captain Bellows flinched. He gave the ladies a shaky smile and a wave. "Sorry Mrs. Terry and Mrs. Garrett" he apologized. Turning back to Hotch, he frowned. "My office! Now!"
Nodding, Aaron followed the irate man through the main part of the station and into a minuscule room. He scanned the cramped space for a moment before matching glares with Captain Bellows. "Are you prepared to listen now?" he asked.
"Sure" the captain answered. Leaning back in his chair, he smirked up at the stern looking man. "As a matter of fact, this is one explanation I can't wait to hear."
"If you're expecting an entertaining explanation, I'm afraid you're going to be disappointed." Hotch informed the smug man. "My agents weren't doing anything immoral. They were merely role playing."
"Role playing?" Captain Bellows growled. "Son, I may be from a tiny speck of a town but that don't mean I'm some idiot."
"I wasn't implying you were Captain." Hotch stated.
"Yeah, then why are you giving me some bullshit story." The Captain challenged.
Hotch's eyes narrowed. "It's no story. It's the truth." He responded, the fib flowing easily from his tongue. "My team approaches crimes from a unique perspective. We profile the criminal responsible for the crimes. To do that we employ many different tactics; one of which is role playing. Since our theory is that either a former student or parent is responsible for these crimes, Agents Reid and Rossi were role playing various student-teacher scenarios that might have occurred between Mr. Martin and one of his students."
Captain Bellows took a few minutes to mull over all the information before slowly nodding. "Okay, I guess that sounds reasonable." He conceded. "I'll tell my officers to steer clear of your set up. Some of'em aren't world wise like me and I ain't got time to calm one of'em down every time I turn around."
"I understand." Aaron replied with a nod. "Now if you'll excuse me, I need to get back to my team."
"Of course, go right ahead" The Captain agreed, standing and shaking the agent's hand. "Hey, would you mind telling Officer Stubing I wanna see him on your way out? I'd like to set him straight before he runs off at the mouth, if you know what I mean."
"I'd be happy to." Hotch stated as he went to the door and opened it. Walking out the door, he had to fight back a smile. That had been far easier than he'd thought it would be.
CM
"We're here Champ." Rossi announced as he carried Reid into his hotel room. He walked over to the nearest bed and sat down, settling the clinging toddler in his lap. "How about we get you into your pajamas and tucked into bed?"
"S-sounds, achoo! good" Reid tiredly replied.
"Here you go, Spence" JJ stated, handing the toddler his PJ's and a pull up.
"Fants" Spencer simply said.
Knowing her presence in the room would make her friend uncomfortable, JJ swiftly came up with an alternative to standing there while he changed. "I'll just go to go check the first aid kit in the bathroom to see what supplies Hotch has." JJ informed her friends.
"Thanks JJ" Dave called after her. Looking down at his tiny charge, he frowned. The boy wasn't even attempting to change. "You need some help, kid?"
Reid shook his head. "I tan do it." he answered. Sighing, he reluctantly slid off the older man's lap. The toddler raised his shaky hands and grasped the top button of his shirt. He pushed and pulled on the button, attempting to unfasten it. After a couple of minutes of fighting unsuccessfully with the material, Spencer gave up. "Wossi, I tan't undo the buttons." He whined.
Dave smiled down at the youngster. "It's okay, kiddo" he assured the tiny agent. "Here, let me get that for you." Rossi quickly unbuttoned Spencer's shirt and slid it off the thin shoulders. He then helped the boy pull his pajama shirt over his head. With that task accomplished, Dave undid the toddler's khakis pants and slid them off his short, skinny legs.
"I tan g-get *sniffle* the west." Spencer stammered, stopping the older man's hands from reaching his boxers.
"Okay" Rossi agreed, noticing the boy's discomfort. "Do you want me to turn around?" Getting a nod, the profiler scooted around until he was facing the opposite direction. "Holler when you're finished."
After making sure Rossi wasn't looking, Spencer peered over at the bathroom door. Satisfied that JJ wasn't about to walk in, the mini agent hurriedly yanked off his underwear and put on the dreaded pull up. Reid then tugged his pajama bottoms over the hated undergarment before calling out, "I'b weady."
Rossi turned back around, smiling as Spencer leaned into his side. He pulled the toddler in for a quick one armed hug before reaching up to the top of the bed and yanking the covers down. "Alright Short Stuff, time for bed."
Spencer crawled up the bed and face planted on the pillow, sighing when Rossi tucked the blankets around him.
"Not so fast Spence" JJ called as she walked back into the room. "We need to see how high your temperature is and get some medicine in you before you go to sleep."
"JJ's right Sport" Dave agreed. "You don't want to get any sicker."
Seeing the toddler warily watching her approach, JJ smiled at him before turning to the boy's protector. "Here Rossi" she said, handing the older profiler a long, cylindrical object with a bulb on one end.
Taking the strange apparatus from the blond, Dave curiously turned it around in his hands. He inspected it from every angle and then glanced up at the young woman. "Ummm, JJ what is this?" he asked.
"It's a temporal lobe thermometer." JJ replied. Noting the profiler's expression, she smiled. "Here, let me show you." Taking the thermometer from Rossi, the media liaison stepped up beside the bed. She popped the cap off the bulb and gently placed it in the center of Spencer's forehead. Holding down a button on the front, JJ slid the instrument across the boy's forehead until it beeped. Pulling the thermometer back, she held it out so Rossi could see the reading.
"One hundred and one point six" Dave read, whistling at the high number. "No wonder you feel like crap, kid."
Spencer snuggled into Rossi's side. "Tan I go to achoo! leep now?" he rasped.
"Not yet Sweetie. We need to…"
A loud knock cut off JJ's reply.
"I'll get it." the beautiful blond called. She quickly walked over to the door and after glancing through the peephole, opened it. Taking the tray of food from the hotel employee, she thanked the man and shut the door. She carried the serving platter over to the dresser and set it down before turning to her friends. "I knew Spence would need to eat before he took any medicine so I ordered lunch on the way over." JJ explained with a shrug.
Nodding, Rossi looked down at his charge. "JJ's right son. Taking meds on an empty stomach is not a good idea." He told the trembling youngster. "Think you can handle a little soup?"
Reid grimaced as he stared at the tray of food. His stomach was letting him know in no uncertain terms that it wasn't very receptive to food at the moment. But logically, he knew his friend was right. Taking medicine without eating a little something first would probably result in him racing to the bathroom. In other words, he didn't have a choice. Spencer sat up and determinedly met Rossi's gaze. "I'll twy."