Disclaimer: Criminal Minds and all its characters belong to CBS. I own nothing. The sentence in italics is from the book "I Ain't Gonna Paint No More by Karen Beaumont. If you haven't read it, you've missed a real treat.
Previously on Criminal Minds- Hotch sighed. "Morgan, I have just one thing to say to you." He said. He swatted the back of the younger man's head before calling, "Tag! You're it!"
CM
"JJ! Emily! Guess what!" Spencer hollered as he dashed across the lobby to his friends.
Squatting down, JJ braced herself to catch the toddler. "Inside voice, Spence" she warned, falling back a little when the little boy barreled into her.
"Sowwy" Spencer apologized. After giving his friends a quick hug, he backed up a little and latched onto each of their hands with his own. "Tome on! Hotch said we tould go to the Fun Fa'towy! And I'm bettew so I tan pay on the lides and the ball pit and…"
"That'll be fun, Spence." JJ broke in, smiling at the little boy. Standing up, she put her free hand on her hip and glowered at the men in front of her. "Which one of you fed him sugar?"
Rossi and Hotch's eyes darted to Morgan who timidly raised his hand. "I did." He quietly responded.
"Morgan" the media liaison began.
"I know." Derek interrupted. "I screwed up. But it won't happen again. You have my word."
JJ studied the man's face for a moment before nodding. "Okay" she agreed.
"Okay?" Hotch repeated. "That's it? You're not going to lecture him on the effects of sugar overload on a child?"
"No, I imagine spending time with Spence on a sugar rush was more than enough to drive the point home." JJ replied.
"Actually, it only took a few minutes to figure out my mistake." Morgan told them as the group headed for the doors leading to the outside.
"I'll bet. Wait a minute. JJ, how'd you know Morgan watched Spencer?" Prentiss asked.
"Easy, he's the only one that looks like he's spent the morning running a marathon." JJ pointed out.
"True" Emily snickered. She followed her friend through the doors before falling into step beside the young blond. They walked across the narrow drive and down the sidewalk. Swinging Spencer over the curb, the ladies crossed into the parking lot and hurried over to their vehicles.
Hotch and Rossi unlocked their respective trucks and climbed inside. After a moment's discussion, the rest of the team seamlessly split into two groups and hopped into the waiting SUVs. The drivers gave their passengers a minute to settle and fasten seat belts before pulling out of the parking lot and onto the highway.
After a short ride, the twin black Suburbans drove into the parking lot of the multicolored warehouse. The family exited the vehicles and quickly made their way across the lot and into the giant arcade.
The second Reid cleared the turnstile, he dropped Morgan's hand and shouted, "I'm going to pay!" before running towards the back of the enormous building where he knew the children's play area was located.
Having anticipated the little boy's actions, Hotch had no trouble foiling the escape attempt. He scooped the youngster up as he raced past without breaking his stride. "Not so fast, Quick Draw" he said as he settled the squirming toddler on his hip. "You need to eat first."
"But HHHotch! I wanna pay!" Spencer protested, trying to wiggle his way to freedom.
Aaron tightened his hold on the wiggle worm. "Stop it, Spencer." He sternly ordered. "You'll have a chance to play after you eat."
"If you behave and eat all your lunch." JJ added. She bit back a laugh as the toddler immediately went still. Patting the little boy's back as she walked by, the media liaison led the way through the jumble of arcade machines. Stepping into the eating facility, she was pleasantly surprised to find a clean, quiet room with a buffet set up on one side. Noticing that the restaurant was relatively crowded, she hurried over to one of the only empty booths left and took a seat. "You guys go ahead and fix your plates. I'll hold our table."
Morgan glanced at the booth with a frown. There was no way they'd all fit around that table. Looking around, he spotted a small, square table no one was using. "Hey Rossi" he called, motioning to the unoccupied table. He walked over to the table and with the older man's help carried it back to their booth. After setting it down, he went back for the chairs. "Now we're ready." He said.
Needing his hands free, Aaron set Reid on his feet. He took the boy's hand and they walked over to the buffet. The father picked up two Styrofoam plates, handed one to the toddler, and then looked over the multitude of fresh vegetables and toppings. "What would you like on your salad, Spencer?" he asked, taking the boy's plate.
"Tomatoes, cheese, tutumbers, twoutons, and wanch dwessing peas," Reid replied.
Nodding, Aaron swiftly fixed a child sized salad and turned to the little boy. "What kind of pizza and drink would you like, Spencer?" he questioned.
"Cheese pizza and a lem'ade" Reid responded, licking his lips as he gazed longingly at the desserts.
Chuckling, Aaron handed the partially filled salad plate to the toddler. "We'll get a bowl of ice cream after we eat." He assured the youngster. "Go ahead and take this to the table. I'll be there in a minute." He instructed.
"Yes siw" Spencer answered as he took the offered dish. He carefully maneuvered around furniture and people until he got to their table. After handing his plate to JJ, he climbed up beside her and sat up on his knees.
"Wouldn't the booster seat be more comfortable?" JJ inquired, patting the plastic child seat.
Reid shook his head. "Nuh uh, it's too hard." He answered, turning red.
"Too hard?" JJ quizzically stated before wincing as she recalled the boy's bruised backside. "Oh"
"That's quite a spread they have." Dave commented as he set his overloaded plate on the table and took a seat. He raised an eyebrow at the toddler's uncomfortable position. "Need a softer seat, youngster?" he asked.
"I'm otay." Reid told his friend.
"Now why don't I believe that?" Rossi stated, standing back up. He went around to the other side of the booth and dug through Prentiss' bag. Finding the object of his search, the senior profiler shuffled back to his seat. "Here you go, buddy." He said, handing the fluffy pillow to the toddler. "This should help."
Spencer gratefully took the pillow and laid it on top of his booster seat. He slowly sank down on his newly padded chair with a relieved sigh. Finally comfortable, he mumbled a quiet "thank you" before digging back into his meal.
"Oh man! This is the best pizza buffet I've ever seen!" Derek boasted as he slid in beside Emily. Seeing Hotch pass Reid a plate with a slice of cheese pizza, he grimaced. "Plain cheese, Pretty Boy? Are you kidding me? There's every kind of pizza imaginable and you ask for plain cheese?"
"I lite cheese pizza." Spencer defended, spraying the table with bits of food.
"Don't talk with your mouth full, son." Aaron reminded.
Spencer chewed and swallowed what was in his mouth before answering, "yes siw". He then picked up another piece of his pizza and popped it in his mouth.
"Kid, don't you wanna try another kind?" Morgan questioned, holding up a large slice. "They've got veggie pizza and cheeseburger pizza and even buffalo chicken pizza."
"Morgan, leave Spence alone. If he wants to eat cheese pizza, he can have cheese pizza." JJ huffed.
"But the kid needs to…OW! What was that for?" Derek growled, rubbing the back of his head.
"That was a warning." Hotch replied. Keeping his stern expression, he added, "Do not make me take you to the bathroom, young man."
The entire table cracked up at the father's remark. Their laughter increased as Morgan turned a bright shade of red.
"Derek's gonna get it! Derek's gonna get it!" Emily sing-songed before breaking into a giggling fit.
"Don't wowwy, Mowgan. I'll let you bowwow(borrow) my pillow." Spencer stated with a mischievous smirk.
"Good one, kiddo" Dave praised, ruffling the boy's hair.
"Look! He's pouting!" JJ chuckled.
"Am not," Morgan threw back, resisting the urge to cross his arms.
"You so are." Emily countered. Pulling out her cell, she quickly snapped a picture. "Pen's gonna love this!"
"Don't you dare!" Derek growled, reaching for the phone.
"Uh, uh, uh" Prentiss said as she held her cell just out of his reach. "Cell phones are only for big boys."
"Hand it over, Emily." Morgan snarled. "I mean it."
"Oooo, I'm so scared!" Emily mockingly squealed.
"Guys! Quiet down!" JJ ordered, gesturing to their youngest who had fallen asleep sitting up.
"About time," Dave whispered as he reached down and picked the sleeping boy up. Smiling when the youngster snuggled into his chest, he lightly kissed Reid's forehead before turning back to his meal.
Taking their cue from the Italian, the rest of the family went back to eating. The sooner they finished, the sooner they could tuck Spencer into bed.
CM
A loud noise startled Spencer awake. Jumping, he turned over and promptly fell off the couch, hitting the floor of the jet hard.
"Spence! Are you okay?" JJ worriedly inquired as she knelt down beside the boy and carefully checked him over. "You didn't get hurt, did you?"
"I'm o *yawn* otay." Spencer mumbled, sleepily fisting his eyes. Looking up, he found himself surrounded by his family. Yawning, he pushed to his feet before tottling over to Hotch and raising his arms.
Aaron immediately picked the youngster up. Feeling Spencer's head drop onto his shoulder and his tiny fingers playing with the hair on the back of his head, he sat down on the couch and started to slowly rock. It only took a moment for Reid's breathing to even out in sleep.
"Is he alright, Aaron?" Dave softly questioned.
"Yes, he's just tired. I don't think he got his nap out yet." Hotch answered as he settled back against the leather couch.
"Morgan's ring tone probably woke him up." Emily pointed out. "It was loud enough to wake the dead."
"That's 'cause Pretty Boy turned the volume up while I wasn't looking." Derek told her. "It was his idea of a prank."
"I'll have a talk with him about playing with our cells." Aaron said as he gently laid the sleeping toddler on the couch and tucked his blue blanket around him.
"Good" Dave stated. He reclaimed his seat at the table and picked up his cards. "Morgan, why was the Captain calling you anyway? Did something happen we don't know about?"
"No, nothing like that. He just wanted to let me know that Brandon Hickman, the little boy from Fun Factory, had been reunited with his father and was on his way home." Morgan informed the group.
"What about the older boy, James?" Emily asked.
Mr. Hickman wanted to take him, too but the kid refused to go with him. And since he's not Hickman's biological son, CPS couldn't turn him over to the man." Derek related. "The captain said James already ran away from the foster home he was placed in so they put him in a group home for now. They're hoping they can locate a family member willing to take him in."
"It'll have to be someone with a boatload of patience. From what I saw, it's going to be hard to get him back on the right path." Aaron said.
"Yeah, he was almost as bad as his mother." Morgan agreed.
"The right person can change all that." Prentiss stated.
"Let's hope he ends up with that person." Rossi said. The others nodded their agreement. Dave set down his cards and picked up the scraps of paper lying on the table. "Come on, let's finish these before the kid wakes up."
Smiling, the profilers each grabbed several pieces and scurried off in different directions.
CM
Reid slowly awoke. Fisting his eyes, he started to turn over, stopping at a hand on his back.
"Oh, no you don't. No falling off the couch a second time." Morgan said as he picked the toddler up.
"I fell off the touch?" Spencer curiously asked.
"Sure did" Prentiss replied, handing the youngster a box of animal crackers.
"I don't 'member falling off." Reid said, popping a rhino cookie in his mouth.
"I'm not surprised. I don't think you were really awake when you did it." Dave told him as he scooted over to the chair by the window so Morgan and Reid could sit by the table.
Picking up his cards, Derek got back in the poker game while Spencer ate his snack. Once the youngster was through, Morgan handed him his antibiotic and juice. "Down the hatch, kid" he instructed.
Spencer obediently took the nasty tasting medicine before downing the rest of his juice. Sliding off Morgan's lap, he shuffled over and put the empty boxes in the trash. He then walked back to the table and climbed onto Morgan's lap. "Tan I pay?" he asked.
"Actually you have something important to do." Aaron said, handing the little boy a slip of paper.
Spencer glanced down at the writing on the paper before frowning. "A widdle?" he huffed.
"The first of many," Dave told the confused toddler. Seeing the question in the boy's eyes, he smiled. "It's a kind of scavenger hunt, Spencer. You have to find and answer all the clues to get to the prize."
"Fewe's a pwize?" Reid squealed.
"Of course, there's a prize." Aaron replied. He made a show of checking his watch. "But you better get started or you won't find it before we land."
Reid's eyes widened at that announcement. Shifting his gaze to the paper in his hand, he cocked his head to the side in thought and read: "I am youw fwiend. Fat is twue. You tate me evewywhewe wif you." "My Ewot!" he shouted. Spencer raced over to the couch and grabbed his stuffed toy. Spotting a piece of paper sticking out of the Ewok's robe, he yanked it out and unfolded it. 'I'm squawe and told and have lots of uses. I hold many good fings, intluding youw juices.' "The fwidg'watew! Too easy!" Spencer hollered, dashing to the back.
The adults watched in amusement as the toddler ran from one side of the cabin to the other, chasing down the corny clues. Seeing the youngster so excited made them all smile.
Prentiss rolled her eyes as she listened to the next clue. "Who wrote these things?" she asked. "They're way too easy for Spencer."
"Garcia wrote them." Hotch replied, chuckling as Reid dashed past again. "The point of the game isn't to get him thinking. It's to give him a safe outlet for his energy."
"It's definitely doing that." Morgan agreed as he watched the toddler dig through his bag. "I wonder what gave her the idea?"
"Pen and I talked about how hard long trips were on Spencer a couple of days ago and she told me she was going to find a way to help the time pass." JJ related. "I didn't think she come up with something like this though."
"I'm glad she did. The kid's having a blast." Rossi said, flinching when the toddler tipped and almost fell. "Careful, kiddo" he warned.
"Otay" Spencer called over his shoulder. He slowed his pace a tiny bit as he hurried towards the front of the cabin.
"Come on, let's get back to our game." Morgan suggested. "I wanna chance to win my chips back before we land."
Nodding, the adults reluctantly turned back to the table. Keeping one eye on the rambunctious youngster, the group set out to finish their game.
CM
A couple of hours later Spencer opened one of the cabinets by the mini fridge and pulled out a brightly colored present. "I found it! I found it!" he shouted, holding up his prize.
"Well, what are you waiting for, Pretty Boy? Open it already." Morgan urged.
Plopping down on his behind with a wince, Reid set the rectangular gift in front of him and tore into the wrapping. Scraps of balloon covered wrapping paper flew as the youngster ripped it away to get to his prize. After several minutes of yanking off paper, Spencer finally made it to the box. "A 'mote tontwol toptew! Tool!" he hollered, scanning the box excitedly.
"Let's see what you've got there, buddy." Dave called.
Reid pushed himself up off the floor, carefully picked up his prize, and raced over to the others. "Loot!" he squealed, holding the box out for his friends to see. "It loots lite a mil'tawy toptew and it has lights and a tamewa!"
Aaron took the helicopter box from the toddler and looked it over before handing it back. "Why don't you try it out?" he suggested.
"In here?" JJ asked.
"Sure, why not?" Dave replied with a grin.
"Don't you have to charge those things first?" Morgan pointed out.
"I think you'll find it fully charged and operational." Aaron smugly said.
"Fants, Hotch!" Spencer hollered, hugging his father figure. Setting the box on the table, he climbed into the man's lap and scooted the box closer to himself. The little boy carefully opened the box and pulled out all the parts. He took out the instructions, swiftly read through them, and then grabbed the remote. "Pencew toptew, weady for tate off."
Morgan put a hand over his mouth and made a static radio noise. "Roger that, Spencer copter." He answered. "You are cleared for takeoff. Repeat, you are cleared for takeoff."
"Fants, I mean wogew." Spencer said. Giggling, he pushed a couple of buttons and then slowly moved a lever up. He grinned from ear to ear as his new toy took flight.
CM
A few hours later a weary BAU team trudged down the stairs beside their jet. They shuffled to their SUVs and stowed their go bags in the trunk.
"It's too late to go to the office." Hotch declared without looking at his watch. "Let's find a place to eat and…"
"Oh, I almost forgot. I got a text from Garcia a couple of hours ago. She and Will are fixing supper for us at my place." Morgan advised. "She said to be there or else."
"Or else what?" Rossi asked.
"I don't think I wanna know." Emily stated with an exaggerated shudder.
"Good point" Dave said, grimacing as he recalled some of the things the tech analyst had done to people in the past.
"Let's head out." Aaron instructed. "Morgan, text Garcia and tell her we're on the way."
"Will do," Derek replied. Pulling out his cell, he climbed into the passenger seat of the closest SUV.
The rest of the team filed into the vehicles and the trucks backed up before driving out of the parking lot and onto the highway.
CM
"Gawcia! Tooney! We'ew bat!" Spencer shouted as he ran across the porch and into the house. Seeing the bubbly woman rounding the couch, the toddler rushed over and jumped into her waiting arms.
"Oh Sweetie Pie! I missed you so much!" Penelope cooed as she squished the boy against her chest. "Did you play my game? Was it fun? Did you like it?"
"Uh huh" Spencer replied with a nod. "Fant you for the toptew. We payed wif it all the way home."
"We sure did, mama." Derek said as he strolled into the room. "That was the perfect gift for the kid."
"I thought that looked like something my little Cabbage Patch Cutie would like." Garcia told them.
"Mommy! Mommy!" Henry hollered as he raced into the room.
"Hi Sweetie" JJ said as she scooped up her son. "Have you been helping daddy and Aunt Penny?"
Henry nodded. "Daddy sayed I tould slide when you got home." He relayed. "Tan I go slide now?"
JJ studied the slide and pillow pit for a moment before nodding. "It's okay with me but you need to ask Reid first. It's his slide."
Henry turned his puppy dog gaze on Spencer. "Weid, tan I slide?" he asked.
Spencer grinned. "Suwe!" he agreed. "Tome on! Let's go!" Getting out of Garcia's hold, the mini profiler took Henry by the hand and led him up the stairs. The two boys dashed across the landing to the slide. "You tan go fiwst, Henwy." Reid offered.
Henry glanced at the slide and his mother standing at the bottom before backing away. "Too high" he whispered.
"It's fun!" Spencer exclaimed. "Watch, I'll show you." He boldly stepped up to the slide, plopped down on his bottom, and pushed himself off. Laughing, he whooshed through twists and turns before flying out of the end and landing on the soft pillows.
Seeing Reid giggling happily was all it took to convince Henry. With a cry of "Me twy! Me Twy!" he launched himself down the slide. Face planting into the pillows seconds later, the toddler sat up and grinned at his friend. "We go again!" he shouted, latching onto Reid's hand.
The two boys hurried back up the stairs, ran over to the slide, and slid down once more. Giggling, they raced round and round until Will announced that supper was served. Panting, the toddlers went to their respective parents and headed for the dining room.
CM
"Are you ready for bed, kid?" Morgan asked as he walked into Reid's bedroom.
"Almost" Spencer replied. He slid off his bed and tottled over to his go bag. The toddler unzipped his bag, pulled out a paperback book, and then shuffled over to his friend and raised his arms.
Smiling, Morgan picked the youngster up and carried him to the bed. He pushed back the blankets before sitting down and leaning against the headboard. Settling the toddler in his lap, he took the book out of Spencer's grasp. "Whatcha got here, Short Stuff?" he asked. Turning the book over, he snickered at the picture of the boy covered in paint. "Looks like a good book." He said, handing the book back to the little boy.
"You w *yawn* wead, peas?" Spencer quietly questioned.
"Sure kiddo" Derek agreed. Making himself comfortable, he opened the book and started to read. "One day my mama caught me paintin' pictures on the floor…"
CM
"I'm telling ya kid, you do that and I'll see to it that you accompany Garcia on her next shopping trip." Morgan threatened as he and Reid walked into the bullpen the next morning.
"You wouldn't dawe!" Spencer countered.
"Try me, Shrimp" Derek threw back, struggling to keep his expression neutral when the toddler looked at him worriedly.
"Derek Morgan, you stop teasing my Junior G-Man before I Photoshop you!" Garcia warned as she hurried over to the two. Turning her attention to the toddler, she handed him a small tin. "Something for when you get the munchies" she said before giving him a quick hug and disappearing down the corridor.
"Morning Morgan! Morning Reid!" Emily called from her desk.
"Morning Emily" Spencer greeted as he climbed onto his chair.
"Better get to work, guys. Strauss has been breathing down Hotch's neck all morning." JJ advised.
"Great" Morgan groaned. Heaving himself off the corner of Reid's desk, he trudged over to his own. He dropped onto his chair with a sigh. "Guess we better get busy."
"Yeah" Spencer and Emily responded. The three profilers grabbed the top folder off their overflowing in boxes and got to work.
CM
Morgan tossed the completed file onto his desk and stood. Stretching, he groaned as his muscles protested the long period of inactivity. "I'm going to get coffee." He stated. "Anybody need anything while I'm gone?"
"No thanks" Emily replied without looking up.
"A tootie?" Spencer timidly asked.
Morgan smiled. "One cookie coming up." he said, ruffling the little boy's hair.
Huffing, Reid patted his hair back down before focusing back on his work. He pulled the next file off the stack and opened it, frowning as a shadow covered the papers.
"Spencer?" a voice softly called.
Reid's eyes snapped up and his mouth dropped open. "Dad?"