Disclaimer: Criminal Minds and all its characters belong to CBS. I own nothing. I do not own anything you recognize.
AN- Sorry guys, it's been a loooong week.
Previously on Criminal Minds- "Sweet dreams, buddy" Dave whispered, kissing the boy's forehead. Leaning back against the headboard, he picked up a book off the nightstand and settled in for a long afternoon.
CM
Seeing the timer count down to zero, Rossi swiftly pushed the door button before it could beep. He carefully took the red cup of soup out of the microwave and set it on the short counter. Going over to the bags on the table, the profiler sifted through the contents until he found the paper bowls. He took them out and pulled the plastic off them. Taking them back over to the counter, Dave sat them next to the microwave. He then dislodged the top bowl and placed it beside the steaming soup container. Using a wash cloth, he gingerly removed the lid and poured the chicken noodle soup in the bowl. Rossi took the bowl over to the table and stirred the soup with a spoon. Placing the spoon in the bowl, he then turned to the bed. Sighing, he walked over to the peacefully sleeping toddler. "Spencer, Spencer wake up buddy. Time to eat and take your meds." He softly called as he gently shook the toddler's shoulder.
Reid rolled over with a groan. Fisting his eyes, he slowly sat up and looked at his friend. "Do I have to?" he asked, sounding far more like his tiny size than his actual age.
"Afraid so" Dave answered, picking the youngster up. He carried the sleepy toddler to the table, took a seat, and settled the boy in his lap. "How's your stomach?"
"Talm for now" Reid answered, eyeing the bowl of soup like it was a monster that wanted to eat him.
"Maybe that means that particular side effect is over." Dave cheerfully reasoned. He knew of course that that wasn't the case. He'd had to wash and change the little boy while he slept; something he never intended to tell the kid.
"Maybe" Spencer echoed. Sending up a silent prayer that Rossi was right, the tiny agent picked up a spoonful of the soup, blew on it, and popped it in his mouth. Smiling when his stomach didn't protest, he hungrily dug into his meal. Finishing the bowl minutes later, he let out a satisfied burp. "Extuse me"
Dave laughed. "I take it you liked the soup?"
"Yes siw" Spencer replied with a nod. "Is fewe any mowe?"
"No, but I've got something better." Rossi informed his charge. Picking the toddler up, he settled him back in bed and then walked over to the fridge. Yanking open the freezer door, he pulled out the long rectangular box and ripped it open. Dave took something out of the box and then waltzed back to the bed. "How's a popsicle sound?" he asked, holding up the frozen treat.
"Yes!" Spencer hollered. Taking the grape flavored popsicle from the older man, he immediately popped it in his mouth. He happily licked his treat, making it halfway through before he felt the first sign of trouble. Hearing his tummy gurgle ominously, Spencer gazed fearfully up at his friend. "Uh Rossi, I fint I pote too soon."
CM
Hotch looked at the remaining folders stacked on the table. With Garcia's help the team had been able to narrow the field down to eight potential suspects but that was still a few too many. It would take most of the afternoon and probably on into the evening to track down and interview them. Knowing time was of the essence, the BAU leader reached over, picked up the top four folders, and slid them across the table to Morgan. "Morgan, you and Prentiss go interview these suspects." He instructed. "JJ and I will handle the other four. We'll meet back at…" Animals barking, roaring, meowing, and neighing suddenly cut him off. Aaron took out his cell phone with a sigh. He was going to have to have a talk with Spencer about their phones not being toys or tools for pranks. Pushing a button, he quickly scanned the text message: 'Expect all of you at seven thirty with casserole. No excuses. The kid needs you.' Closing his cell, he gazed at his co-workers, who had apparently gotten the same message. "Our meeting place will be the hotel."
"Seven thirty is only a few hours away." JJ observed.
"Yeah, that doesn't leave us much time." Prentiss added.
"Get to the ones you can. We'll go back out after we check on Reid." Hotch told them.
"Maybe we should check on him first." Morgan suggested, startling as the animal chorus started up again. Pulling out his cell, he flipped it open once more. Seeing a picture of a peacefully sleeping Reid with a caption under it reading, 'Don't you dare come tromping in and wake the kid', the muscular agent chuckled. "I guess that answers my question." He said.
Hotch saved the photo and put his cell away. "Alright people, head out. We have a lot of ground to cover." He ordered, picking up the stack of suspect folders and heading for the door. "Oh, and be sure to change the alerts on your phones before we meet up."
"You've got it, Hotch" Morgan replied with a smirk. Gathering his half of the folders, he hurried out the door. The sooner he got this done, the sooner he could check on his little brother.
CM
Rossi carried a freshly bathed Spencer out of the bathroom. He sat the toddler on the bed and then went over to the dresser. Opening the drawers, he pulled out a pair of footie dinosaur pajamas. After grabbing a clean pull-up out of the bag on top of the dresser, the seasoned profiler turned and walked back to the bed, frowning as he noticed the little boy was now lying on his side. All these bathroom visits were starting to take a toll on his charge and the surrogate uncle didn't like it one bit. At this rate, they'd be making another trip to the ER for Reid to be treated for dehydration. Sighing at that thought, Dave took a seat beside the ill youngster and set down the clothes. "Here you go, kiddo" he softly said. "You want me to turn around while you dress?"
Spencer miserably shook his head. "No, I, I tan't…" he stammered as a tear ran down his red cheek.
"No problem, buddy. I've got it." Dave soothed. Leaving the towel in place to preserve at least some of Reid's modesty, he picked up the pull-up and swiftly slid it up the toddler's legs and around his waist. The older man then unwrapped the fluffy bath towel from around the little boy and tossed it on the floor. Grabbing the pajamas, he unzipped them and started dressing the ill boy, talking as he did. "Hey Spencer, I'm thinking about inviting the team to my cabin for Thanksgiving. There's enough room for everyone plus it's in a secluded part of the woods so we wouldn't have to worry about nosey neighbors. I have an enormous kitchen so there'll be plenty of space for all the cooks and I bet Clooney would love running around with Mudgie. What do you think, Sport? Should I run it by the others?"
"Y-yeah, fat would be *yawn*, be gweat." Spencer sleepily replied.
"Consider it done." Dave stated, ruffling the boy's hair. He scooped the youngster up and turned down the covers before attempting to lay the sick toddler back down. Spencer's arms tightening their grip stopped him from completing his task however. Glancing down, Rossi was met with two, huge tear filled eyes. "What is it, buddy?" he asked.
"Tay wif me" Spencer rasped. "Peas?"
"There's no place else I'd rather be." Dave answered, kissing the top of the toddler's head. He sat down on the bed and slowly laid back. Settling Reid on his chest, he began rubbing comforting circles on the boy's back. "Go to sleep, Spencer. I'll be right here when you wake up." he assured.
Sighing in contentment, Spencer closed his eyes and drifted off to sleep.
CM
"Are you sure this is a good idea?" Emily asked as the team walked up the hall to Hotch's hotel room. "I mean if he's sleeping, we don't need to disturb him."
"We don't have a choice." Hotch replied, taking out his room key. "Something has happened with Spencer. Dave's last text said 'get here now.' He wouldn't send that unless something was really wrong." Opening the door, he hurried in with the rest of the team right on his heels. Seeing the littlest agent sleeping peacefully, he breathed a sigh of relief. Glancing back at the others, he placed a finger to his mouth before creeping over to the table where a harried Rossi was sitting.
"What's going on? Did Spence get worse?" JJ whispered as soon as they were all seated.
Dave nodded. "He was starting to get dehydrated from all the bathroom visits. I plied him with those Pedialyte pops and drinks every time he woke up, but it didn't seem to be making a difference." He recounted. "I ended up calling Dr. Sawyer. He gave the kid an injection of an anti-nausea medicine to stop the diarrhea and switched him to another antibiotic. He said to keep giving him the fluids and to keep a close eye on Spencer for the next few hours. And that if the diarrhea hadn't stopped by morning or if dehydration was still an issue, to bring him back to the hospital and the doc would top off his fluids again. That was three hours ago and he's been sleeping like a baby ever since."
"You took him to the ER without informing us?" Aaron growled, wincing as the toddler whimpered. Tiptoeing to the bed, he carded a hand through the boy's long locks. "Shhh, Spencer, you're okay. Go back to sleep." he soothed. Once he was positive the youngster was sleeping soundly again, he silently walked back to the table. "Well?" he quietly said, crossing his arms.
"I didn't call you because I didn't take him to the ER. I had Dr. Sawyer come to us." Rossi explained.
"You got him to make a house call?" Emily incredulously asked.
Dave shrugged. "What can I say? Being an FBI agent does have its perks."
"I'll pretend I didn't hear that." Aaron said as a smile broke out across his face.
"Hear what?" Morgan joked with a chuckle.
"Do I smell turkey?" Rossi inquired, skillfully diverting the conversation.
"You bet! The restaurant had a turkey and dressing dinner that looked absolutely to die for." Prentiss informed the senior profiler. "They even had a children's plate that included Spencer's hash brown casserole.
"Well then, what are we waiting for? Let's eat!" Dave declared.
In seconds the bags were emptied and seven take out trays of mouthwatering food were distributed among the group. "What about Spencer?" JJ asked as she set the last of the drinks in front of Morgan.
"I'll get him." Dave volunteered. "He needs to eat so he can take his new medicine anyway."
"I've got him, Dave." Aaron countered, laying a hand on his friend's shoulder to keep him from rising. "You go ahead and eat." The surrogate father walked over to the bed and gently shook the toddler's shoulder. "Spencer, time to wake up buddy" he called.
Reid slowly opened his eyes and blinked up at the older man. "H-Hotch?" he croaked.
Aaron smiled. "Hey kiddo, are you feeling any better?" he asked, brushing a stray bang out of the boy's face.
Spencer shook his head.
"You will." Aaron assured his second son. "That new medicine will have you up and around in no time."
"I hope you'we wight." Reid muttered.
"Have you ever known me to be wrong?" Hotch questioned, raising an eyebrow.
Spencer thought for a moment. "Well, there was that time in Texas when you…"
"You little imp!" Aaron light heartedly scoffed, ruffling the boy's hair. Picking the toddler up, he carried him the few steps to the table.
"What? You asked?" Spencer innocently stated with a dimpled grin.
"Sounds like somebody's a little better" Emily observed.
"Does that mean I can't have his casserole?" Derek teased.
"Dewek Mowgan, you touch my tassewole and I'll tell Gawcia whewe to find fat pi'tuwe of you." Reid threatened. "You know the one wif you…"
"Whoa! Whoa! Whoa! Enough said. The casserole's all yours." Morgan hollered, holding up his hands in surrender.
"What picture?" JJ asked.
"Yeah, Reid, spill." Emily prodded.
"Sowwy, my lips awe sealed." Spencer replied. He leaned back against Hotch's chest before adding, "for now."
Snickering, the team dug into their food. As they ate, the adults kept a close eye on the toddler. Once they were satisfied that the boy was managing to eat at least a little bit, they began to relax.
Uncomfortable with all the scrutiny, Spencer decided to try to divert their attention. "So, what have I missed? What's going on wif the tase? Do you have a suspe't?" he inquired.
"Spencer, I don't this is the appropriate time to discuss the case." JJ lightly scolded.
"Actually, I think it's the perfect time." Aaron disagreed, knowing Spencer needed a distraction from his illness. "I'd really like to get Spencer's take on the situation if he's feeling up to it."
"I'm *cough* good." Spencer answered.
Figuring the mini agent needed something to occupy his mind, the team took turns filling him in on the profile as well as the information they had gathered so far.
"That's where we're at now." Aaron concluded. "Amy Beyton was our strongest lead but unfortunately that went nowhere. Her father died years ago and there were no brothers to seek revenge."
Spencer mulled over all the information as he slowly chewed his mouthful of casserole. Cocking his head to one side, he set the spoon on the table and looked at his friends. "What about her boyfriend?"