Disclaimer: Criminal Minds and all its characters belong to CBS. I own nothing.
AN- My apologies for the lateness of the chapter. This one was the devil to write.
Oh and just to clarify: Anyone at FBI headquarters, police stations, crime scenes, or anywhere else connected to their work sees Spencer as an adult. Anyone connected to work, like another agent or an unsub will see Spencer as an adult. All other places they go and any other people, see Spencer as a child.
William saw Reid as an adult because they were at Quantico. If he had seen him somewhere else, he would have seen a toddler.
Previously on Criminal Minds- "Bye Honey" JJ called. Spinning on her heel, she headed for Rossi's office. She had a stubborn toddler to deal with.
CM
"Well, that's one more finished." Dave grumbled, tossing the manila folder onto the small stack on the table. Leaning back against the couch, he pinched the bridge of his nose. "Only a million more to go."
Hotch chuckled. "Need a break old man?" he teased. "I can always…" he broke off with a grunt as a folder whapped the back of his head. Aaron glanced over at his friend and raised an eyebrow. "Did you just hit me?"
Rossi smirked. "That's what you get for making fun of your elders." He playfully scolded.
"I can't help it you're old and grumpy." Aaron threw back. He managed to duck under the attempted swat this time. Sitting back up, he stuck his tongue out at the older profiler.
Dave gawked at his friend. "How old are you again?" he inquired. "Because right now I feel like I should be threatening to take you to the woodshed or something."
Hotch snorted. "Woodshed?"
"Yes, woodshed brat" Rossi replied, swatting the back of the younger man's head again.
"Hey!" Hotch called. "What was that…" a loud ringing drowned out the rest of his statement. Aaron's cell rang twice before stopping.
Recognizing Morgan's 'Strauss is near' signal, the two men quickly straightened their files and picked up their pens. Before they could begin their task however, the pitter patter of little feet drew the profiler's attention to the door.
Spencer pushed open the door and shuffled into the room. Spying his father figures on the couch, he tottled over and climbed up between the two men. The toddler leaned into Hotch's side, stuck his thumb in his mouth, and closed his eyes.
"Spencer, are you alright?" Aaron questioned as he palmed the boy's forehead.
"Umm hum, jut tiwed" Reid murmured around his thumb.
"I take it naptime wasn't very restful." Dave hypothesized.
Reid shook his head.
"Nightmares?" Aaron asked. Getting a nod, he frowned. "How bad? Did they make you sick to your stomach?" Another nod and a grimace was his answer.
"Did Will give you any medicine?" Dave inquired before getting up to get the trash can.
"Yes" Spencer replied, adding "unfortunately" under his breath.
"What was that, buddy?" Aaron questioned, rubbing the boy's back. "I didn't quite catch it."
Spencer internally winced. He hadn't meant for Hotch to hear that. He definitely didn't want to repeat his statement. That would only lead to uncomfortable questions he had no intentions of answering. It was embarrassing enough just thinking about it. Shuddering at the memory, Reid sat up, looked his boss straight in the eye, and said the first thing that came to mind. "Tan I have some watew? I'm fiwsty.(thirsty)"
The look Hotch shot him let the toddler know his father figure wasn't buying it. Dropping his eyes to his lap, Spencer readied himself to divulge the whole, embarrassing story. Thankfully, he was saved from the dreaded task by the clomp of high heel shoes on metal stairs.
Groaning, the three profilers hurriedly scooted away from each other. They grabbed case files and pens and pretended to focus on the pages in front of them. The agents tensed as the sound came closer and closer until…A frightened scream followed by several thuds startled the group. Leaping off the couch, they shot across the room and out the door. The two men and the toddler searched the bullpen until they came upon the source of the sound; a crumpled body at the bottom of the staircase.
"Strauss?" Rossi gasped, staring at the unconscious Section Chief who was surrounded by surprised agents. He raced down the steps, stopping on the last one. "Somebody call an ambulance!"
"Already done" Prentiss answered, holding up her cell.
"Great" Dave said. He then glanced at the rest of the group. "What happened?"
Morgan looked up from his spot beside the downed woman. "I don't know." He replied. "It was the strangest thing. She was stomping up the stairs and then she just fell back. It looked like she'd been pushed but there was nobody else on the steps."
"She must have missed a step or something." JJ surmised.
Dave nodded. "JJ go wait for the paramedics by the elevators. Morgan, you and Prentiss stay with Erin; keep her from moving around if she comes to. Everybody else get back to work! There's nothing to see here!" he ordered. Turning to his boss, he whispered, "I've got this, Aaron. Go take care of Spencer. I'll make sure you're not disturbed."
"You sure?" Hotch asked.
"Yeah, go put the kid down. I'll handle this." Rossi assured.
"Thanks, Dave" Aaron said. Turning, he placed a hand on Reid's shoulder and guided the boy into his office. After shutting the door, the father picked the youngster up and walked over to the couch. Taking a seat, he began to rock. "Go to sleep, Spencer" he whispered. "Daddy's got you."
CM
"You guys ready to go?" Morgan asked, peering around the door.
"Almost" Hotch replied without looking up.
"How's Spencer?" Derek questioned as he walked into the room. Taking a seat on the arm of the couch, he checked on the sleeping toddler. "Is he feeling any better?"
"I believe so." Aaron answered. He closed the folder he had been working on and gazed up at the two. "His stomach was bothering him for a while but he hasn't been sick. And he's been sleeping peacefully for the past hour. He wouldn't be able to if his stomach was still tied in knots."
"Good, another doctor visit is the last thing the kid needs." Morgan grumbled, glancing at his best friend. Seeing the little boy's eyes flutter open, he smiled. "Hey, kid! How are you feeling?"
Spencer slowly sat up and fisted his eyes. "Bet *yawn* tew" he rasped before sticking his thumb back in his mouth.
Derek slid off the arm of the couch and pulled Spencer into his lap. "You ready to get outta here?" he asked.
"Umm humm" Reid responded around his thumb. "I jut need to go to the bafwoom fiwst."
"I think we can handle that." Morgan said. He stood up, adjusted his hold on the toddler in his arms, and started for the door.
Reid immediately began to weakly wiggle and squirm. "Mowgan, put me down!" he hissed. "Somebody will see!"
"Relax Pretty Boy, we're the only people still here besides Garcia." He assured the worried agent. "Everybody else is gone. Most of them beat a path to the door as soon as the clock hit five. They're all taking advantage of Strauss being out of the picture. How is she, anyway?"
"The last word I received was that she had a broken leg, a couple of cracked ribs, and a concussion. She'll be out at least a week, maybe more." Hotch replied, attempting and failing to repress a smile.
"A week without Strauss the Grouse? Man, Christmas just came early!" Derek exclaimed.
"It will be nice to not have to deal with the tension her presence brings." Aaron mused.
"Or her…" Morgan paused to glance down at his squirming charge. "What's wrong, youngster?"
"I've gotta go!" Spencer loudly whispered.
Morgan's eyes widened. "Be right back, Hotch!" he called before sprinting out of the room.
Chuckling, Aaron went back to his work. He needed to finish so they could get Spencer home where the boy could rest properly. Hopefully with a little rest and his family surrounding him, Reid would bounce back. He missed his excited chatterbox of a son.
A few minutes later Morgan strolled back into the room with a much calmer Spencer. "Are you through now?" the muscular man asked.
"Just a second" Aaron advised, holding up a finger.
"A second is about all you've got. Any longer and Garcia will come bust the door down to see what's going on." Derek told the older man.
Aaron chuckled. "I guess I better hurry it up then." He said. Although he was the boss, he had no doubt the tech analyst would carry out that particular threat if she thought they were taking too long.
Less than thirty seconds later he was proven right when a loud banging sounded. The profilers looked up just in time to see Garcia burst through the doorway. "Okay, that's it. I've given you more than enough time." she declared as she stomped over to Hotch's desk. Stopping beside the stern faced man, she reached out and closed the folder in his hands. "It is time to go. Whatever you're working on can wait till Monday."
"Garcia, I have to…"
"Monday Boss Man" Penelope cheerfully said. "You do not want to incur my wrath."
"I'd listen to her if I were you Hotch. You and I both know what Baby Girl can do when she puts her mind to it." Morgan reminded.
Aaron had to concede that one. He'd seen and heard about some of the ingeniously horrible and embarrassing things Garcia had come up with as retaliation for one thing or another and he had no intention of being her next victim. Wincing at the Cheshire cat grin on the tech analyst's face, Hotch nodded. "Alright, we'll go." He said, grabbing his suit jacket.
"I thought you'd see it my way." Penelope gloated. Catching Spencer fisting his eyes, she flounced over to Morgan and took the sleepy boy. "Oh my poor Snook'ums!" she cooed. "Did bad old Derek interrupt your nappy time?"
"Gawcia!" Spencer whined, turning beet red.
"What my little dumpling?" Garcia asked.
Knowing that his son was in no mood to be teased, Aaron quickly intervened. Taking Spencer from the bubbly blond, he strode to the door. "Let's go." He called over his shoulder before disappearing from sight.
Derek walked up beside Penelope and wrapped an arm around her shoulder. "You heard the man. Let's get outta here!" he said. He gently led his friend across the room and out the door.
CM
Will came into the kitchen and set the long rectangular plate he was carrying on the counter. "Evening everybody" he greeted. "Here's a key lime cake for dessert."
"Evening Will. I'm glad you could join us." Hotch said as he sliced a tomato. "Spencer needs his whole family around him right now."
"How is he doing? Is his stomach feeling better?" Will asked. "JJ brought the anti-nausea meds if he needs a second dose."
"Thankfully, he seems to be doing better. He hasn't been sick again and he hasn't held his stomach since he woke up from his mini nap." Aaron explained.
"That's great news." Will said, popping a baby carrot in his mouth. Surveying all the pots, pans, and food lying on the counter, he turned to the head cook. "Anything I can do to help?"
"As a matter of fact, there is. You can go make up with Spencer." Rossi instructed. "The kid winces every time someone says your name. I don't know what happened between the two of you but I want it fixed. Understand?"
"You've got it, Hoss" Will agreed. He snitched another baby carrot and then headed into the living room. Stopping in the entryway, he eyed the two toddlers in the room. It was more than evident that Reid was still feeling the effects of the bout of sickness as well as the medicine. The usually energetic, fast talking boy was sitting quietly on the floor building what looked like a treehouse out of Legos with Prentiss while a giggling Henry raced to the staircase for another go on the twisty slide. 'Some fun childhood he's having.' Will thought. 'What's next, a hospital stay?' Shaking his head at that, he walked over to the silent boy and dropped down beside him. "Mind if I join the fun?" he asked.
Spencer merely nodded.
Sensing that the two needed some time alone to work things out, Emily swiftly came up with an excuse to depart. "I'm gonna go see if they need any help in the kitchen." she fibbed before hurrying away.
Will snickered. "Think it was something I said?" he joked.
Spencer shrugged, steadfastly keeping his gaze on the blocks in his hands.
Sighing, Will ran a hand across his face. He was no good in situations like this. Joking and teasing usually worked with Henry but he was a real toddler. Will had no idea how to make things right with a genius in a child's body. He only knew if he said the wrong thing, he could make the problem ten times worse. Sitting back, he mulled over different tactics. Finally after several minutes deliberation, the father decided the direct route was the best course of action. But first he needed the youngster's attention. "Reid, Reid look at me son." he called.
Spencer shook his head. He couldn't look at Will after what had happened that afternoon. It was just too embarrassing.
Undeterred, Will gently grasped the toddler's chin and forced his head up until they were eye to eye. "There, that's better." Will said, smiling at the blushing boy. "Reid, I'm sorry if I upset you or made you uncomfortable when I gave you that, umm, medicine. I didn't mean to. I just wanted to make you feel better."
"I know." Spencer admitted, dropping his gaze. "It was jut, jut…"
"Embarrassing?" Will filled in. The tiny profiler's wince showed he had hit the nail on the head. The young man tapped the boy's chin, smiling when Reid timidly peered up at him. "Spencer, you shouldn't be embarrassed about what happened. You were sick and I gave you medicine. There's nothing embarrassing about that. I'm sure any one of your friends would have done the same thing for you if they had been there."
Spencer's eyes snapped up to meet Will's before his tiny face screwed up in disgust. "Ewwww! Fat's an image I didn't need tut(stuck) in my head." He grumbled.
Will threw his head back and laughed. "No, I guess not." He agreed. Seeing the corners of the toddler's mouth turn up, he relaxed. It looked like the talk had gone his way. There was just one more thing he needed to know. "So, are we okay now?"
Spencer nodded. "We wewe always otay, Will." He assured his friend.
Will scooted closer to the little boy and patted him on the back. "Good" He said before looking suspiciously down at the boy. "We don't have to kiss and make up, do we?" he teased, making kissing noises.
"N-no" Spencer giggled, pushing his friend back.
"That's good cause I don't think JJ would like that." Will loudly whispered.
"Do I need to separate you two?" JJ sternly asked, pointing a finger at the laughing duo.
"No, we'll be good Chere." Will promised, crossing his fingers behind his back an action that elicited another round of giggles from the toddler at his side. "Right, Reid?"
"Wight" Spencer agreed, attempting to look innocent.
"You better" JJ stated.
"We will." Will assured. He waited for his long time fiancé to turn her back and then causally picked up a block and lobbed it in her direction.
Feeling something hit her behind, JJ glanced back at the two miscreants on the floor. Seeing the man and toddler pretending to be building while they tried hard not to laugh, she narrowed her eyes and growled, "Will"
"Yes dear?" Will innocently called.
"Don't start anything you can't finish." The media liaison warned.
"You mean like this?" Will questioned as he tossed another Lego in her direction. He laughed as Spencer copied his actions.
JJ stared in shock at the two for a moment before a devious smirk crept onto her face. "Em" she said, cracking her knuckles.
"Yeah?" Emily replied with a smirk of her own.
"GET'EM!" JJ yelled.
CM
"Is it ready yet?" Morgan asked as he walked into the kitchen. "The natives are getting restless, not to mention sleepy."
"It's almost done. I'm just waiting on the rolls." Dave replied. He glanced at the timer. "Go ahead and get the rugrats washed up. Supper should be ready by the time they finish."
"I'll do it." Aaron volunteered. He started for the living room entryway only to stumble back a few steps when Spencer barreled into him. "Careful buddy" he admonished.
"Sowwy" Reid apologized.
"It's alright, kiddo. Just try to be more careful in the future." Aaron suggested. Getting a solemn nod and a whispered 'yes sir' in response, he frowned. He hadn't meant for the toddler to think he was being chastised. He opened his mouth to correct his mistake but closed it at Henry's stage whispered 'Pensew tan go?" from the doorway. Hotch bit back a laugh as Reid rolled his eyes dramatically. "Something you want to ask me, Spencer?" he questioned.
"Yes siw" Reid answered, nodding his head. He shuffled from foot to foot nervously for a moment before blurting out, "Tan we go to the aiw and pace mooseum wif JJ and Will and Henwy?"
Hotch smiled at the hopeful look plastered on the boy's face. It looked like Spencer was bouncing back faster than any of them had suspected. "If JJ and Will don't mind, I don't have a problem with you going with them."
Spencer's face dropped. "You, you don't want to, to go?" he stammered as he toyed with the hem of his shirt.
'Okay, maybe I spoke too soon.' Aaron thought as he stared down at the now anxious toddler. Kneeling down in front of his charge, the father palmed the boy's cheek. "Of course I want to go." He assured the youngster. "I just assumed you wanted to go with JJ and Will."
Reid vigorously shook his head. "JJ said you tould go, too. She said we tould all go." He informed his surrogate father.
"In that case count me in." Rossi called from his spot in front of the stove.
"The air and space museum! Cool! I'm in!" Emily exclaimed as she walked into the kitchen. She scooped Spencer up and tossed him into the air. "Come on Handsome. The flight to the table is now departing." Holding the toddler out flat like a plane, Prentiss 'flew' him into the dining room and over to his chair. Once Spencer 'landed' safely in his booster seat, the raven haired beauty sat down beside him.
Moments later Rossi, Hotch, and Morgan walked into the room carrying the night's meal. They set the plate of baked chicken and the pans of dinner rolls, salad, and steamed vegetables on the table. After a quick grace, the family dug into their meal.
CM
"The End" Will whispered before closing the book. Glancing down at the boys in his lap, he was surprised to see Spencer still awake. "Are you alright, Reid?" he softly asked.
"Y *yawn* yes" Spencer replied, stubbornly blinking his eyes back open.
"Do you want me to read another one?" Will questioned.
Reid shook his head. "No fant you" he said before sliding off the man's lap. He tottled across the room to the couch, where the rest of the team was sitting talking. The sleepy toddler shuffled over to the senior member of the family and raised his arms.
Rossi swiftly complied. "Hey buddy, did you enjoy the story?" he inquired as he settled the youngster in his lap.
Spencer nodded into the older man's shirt. "Will's funny. He does diff'ent *yawn* voices fow *yawn fow all the tawa'tews(characters)." He quietly answered.
"I'll have to try that next time." Dave said, smiling down at the barely awake boy. "Are you ready to go to bed now?"
Spencer shook his head once more. "Wot, peas?" he asked.
"Sure buddy" Dave agreed. He picked up the toddler, settling the boy's head on his shoulder and strode through the room and over to the fireplace. Taking a seat in the rocking chair, he slowly began to rock the littlest profiler. Spencer was asleep in seconds.
CM
Morgan eyed Hotch as he shuffled into the kitchen. "How bad did it get last night?" he asked, handing the tired man a mug of hot coffee.
"Pretty bad" Aaron replied. He took a sip of his coffee and then set the mug down. "We were up every couple of hours but it could have been worse."
"I don't see how." Dave muttered as he stumbled into the room followed by Prentiss.
"Me either" Emily said, dropping into a chair at the table. "I'd consider the screaming I heard last night an eleven on a scale of one to ten. What could have possibly made that worse?"
"Being sick for one" Aaron answered.
"So he didn't get sick?" Morgan questioned as he set the coffee pot in the middle of the table and took a seat.
"No, thankfully Spencer didn't throw up at all last night." Hotch relayed. "He is, however, still very clingy. He wouldn't let me out of his sight even when he took his bath. And Garcia had to stay with him while he dressed so I could get a shower."
"It'll get better, Aaron." Rossi optimistically said.
"I hope so." Hotch responded. "I just hope we're not making a mistake by taking him to the museum today. I'm not sure being around a lot of strangers is going to help."
"Hotch this is Reid we're talking about. The little geek loves museums." Prentiss pointed out. "He'll have a great time squeeing over all the exhibits."
"She's right, you know. Pretty Boy is sure to have a blast at the museum. A few hours there and he'll be back to his old self. I'm sure of it." Morgan added. "Besides, it's a museum. What could possibly happen?"
Rossi scowled at the cocky young man. "You just had to say that, didn't you?" he growled.
"Chill man, today is going to be a good day." Morgan assured his friend.
"It better be." Rossi grumbled.
"Dave…"
The Spencer Express is leaving in five! Hop aboard or be left behind!" Garcia called from the other room.
The profilers exchanged amused glances before dumping their mugs in the sink and hurrying out of the kitchen.
CM
A couple of hours into their museum experience the family began to see the first signs of Reid coming out of his shell. It started with little comments here and there about different exhibits and steadily grew as the morning wore on. By the time lunchtime rolled around, the toddler was chattering nonstop about everything they saw. And they let him. The boy was acting like his old self for the first time since his dad had appeared and they weren't about to stop him, no matter how many shocked stares or whispered words his commentary garnered. They could listen to him…
"Daddy, I's hungwy!" Henry hollered from his stroller.
Will glanced at his watch. "Oops! Looks like its past lunchtime." He told the others.
Aaron nodded. "I guess we better find the cafeteria." He suggested. "I don't want the boys falling asleep before they've eaten."
"Sounds good" Morgan said. He pulled out the museum brochure and checked the map. Sticking it back in his pocket a moment later, he started to the left. "This way guys"
"Wait!" Spencer called, banging on his stroller to get his friend's attention.
Derek froze. "What is it, youngster?" he asked as he walked around to the side of the stroller.
"I've gotta go to the bafwoom." Spencer replied, pointing to the restroom sign on the right.
"Oh, okay" Morgan stated. "Come on, I'll take you." He bent down to pick the toddler up, frowning as the boy scooted away from him. "What is it, Pretty Boy?"
"No mens woom" Reid whispered, toying with the hem of his shirt.
"No problem, you can go with me." Emily offered with a smile.
"Fants" Spencer said, raising his arms.
Emily picked the toddler up, settled him on her hip, and started for the bathroom. "You guys go ahead. We'll catch up." she called over her shoulder.
"Are you sure? We could wait until…"
"Go, Spencer and I will be just fine on our own. Right, kiddo?" Prentiss asked.
"Wight" Spencer answered, nodding emphatically.
"Alright, we'll go." Aaron conceded. "But if you're not there in ten minutes…"
"You'll send the SWAT team after us. I know." Emily finished, rolling her eyes. "Go on, we'll see you in a few minutes." She watched the others reluctantly turn and leave before starting over to the bathrooms.
CM
William Reid huffed as he stalked through yet another museum. He'd hoped his son's love of anything new and educational would have led him to one of the museums in the area but the young man hadn't been in either place he'd checked. In fact the only people he had seen so far were tour groups and fami…his thoughts ground to a halt and his mouth dropped open at the sight of the raven haired woman from his son's job. Stepping behind a large poster, he watched the woman as she crossed the floor carrying a small child with long brown hair. The boy turned to glance his way and William felt his legs go weak. The toddler looked exactly like Spencer did at that age. That boy had to be his son's which meant he was a grandfather. Things were really starting to look up. His fiancé might be happy to meet Spencer, but she would be over the moon to see that little one. Not to mention the fact that the child looked to be about the same age Spencer was when he and the boy started having their little personal time together. Yes, things were definitely going William's way. All he had to do was get the baby and his daddy would follow. Then he'd have both of his boys to play with. Smiling at the thought of having two different playmates, William discreetly followed the raven haired woman down a long empty hallway to the restrooms. Waiting outside, he quickly formulated a plan. After pulling the paperweight he'd brought out of his pocket, he crouched beside the closed door.
Emily helped Spencer wash and dry his hands and then walked to the door. Pushing it open, she stepped out and gasped as a sharp pain hit the back of her head. Yelping, she fell to the ground, unconscious.
"Emily? Emily?" Spencer cried, shaking the woman's shoulder. Hearing the floor creak, he looked up only to find himself face to face with his worst nightmare; his father.
"Hello little guy" William pleasantly greeted, taking a step towards the boy. "I'm your grandfather, William."
Reid backed up as a million thoughts ran through his head. "Go away" he whispered.
"Sorry kiddo, I can't do that." William replied as he lunged for the boy. Grabbing the collar of the terrified toddler's shirt, he scooped the boy up and raced for the exit.