Disclaimer: Criminal Minds and all its characters belong to CBS. I own nothing. Feel free to read and review, but please don't copy.
AN- Just a heads up. I go back to work Monday so things are about to get very busy for me.
Warning- Bad language ahead.
Previously on Criminal Minds- Aaron chuckled. "Time to go home." He whispered. Grabbing Spencer's jacket out of the stroller, he gently put it on the toddler and zipped it up before slipping on his own. The father then took hold of the stroller handle and started for the door.
CM
"Remember Henry" JJ said, ringing Morgan's doorbell. "Reid had a really scary morning so he may not feel like playing."
"Weid no pay?" Henry questioned.
"That's right, buddy. Reid may not want to play." Will repeated. He smiled as the door opened. "Hey Rossi, how's Reid? Did he get any sleep or was naptime a repeat of yesterday?"
"Well it started out like yesterday only worse. Once we got home, Spencer latched onto Aaron and Emily and wouldn't let go. They both ended up lying down with him." Rossi explained. Pulling out his cell, he showed the couple a photo of Reid sleeping sandwiched between an uncomfortable Hotch and Prentiss. "That didn't last long though. It was maybe twenty, thirty minutes before he woke up screaming. They tried again but the result was the same and Reid refused to lie down after that. So Aaron brought him out to the living room with us. The kid conked out on the couch a few minutes later and he's been sleeping peacefully ever since."
"It sounds like Spence just needed the security of his family being close by." JJ surmised.
Dave nodded. "I think our voices and Aaron's and Derek's back and arm rubs are keeping any bad dreams away." He replied, curiously eyeing the bags Will was juggling. "What's with all the luggage? You two taking a little mini vacation or something?"
"No, nothing like that. We just thought after everything that happened this morning, you guys could use a couple more sets of eyes." Will explained, hauling the suitcases over the threshold. "Well, that and neither one of us could stand the idea of being so far away from the kid with his psycho dad on the loose."
"I can understand that." Dave said as he led the family into the living room. Lowering his voice so he wouldn't wake the toddler stretched out between Hotch and Morgan, he whispered, "We've gained a few more campers for our sleepover."
"Auntie Pen!" Henry squealed. He immediately began to squirm in his mother's hold as he reached out for his godmother.
All adult eyes darted to the sleeping boy on the couch. For his part Spencer mumbled something before clutching his Ewok and turning over. Breathing a sigh of relief, the adults directed their gaze back to the rambunctious toddler who was being transferred to his aunt's arms.
"Hey Pumpkin!" Garcia brightly but quietly greeted as she hugged the youngster. Settling him on her hip, she smiled. "I've been waiting for you to get here. Reid has some brand new blocks in his room and I'm just dying to try them out. What do you say, Henry? Do you wanna play blocks with me until Reid wakes up?"
"Yay!" Henry hollered, causing another round of worried glances.
Garcia quickly toted her godson out of the room before he could wake her slumbering junior G-man.
"Come on Will. I'll show you where you guys will be sleeping." Morgan said as he walked over and took a couple of the heavy suitcases from the young father.
"He looks so peaceful." JJ softly remarked, claiming Morgan's spot on the couch. She ghosted a hand down Spencer's face. "Like he doesn't have a care in the world."
"I wish that was the case." Emily muttered.
"It will be. We'll see to that." Hotch determinedly stated.
"Yeah cause we've done such a bang up job so far." Rossi huffed.
Aaron glared at his friend. "I'll admit we've made a few slip ups." He admitted. Ignoring the senior man's sarcastic 'a few?' he continued. "But it won't happen again. We're going to get Spencer past this latest setback and then the rest of his second childhood is going to be filled with nothing but fun."
"And just how are we going to do that?" Morgan questioned as he walked back into the room with Will.
"I'm working on it. Right now that bubble wrap idea of yours is looking good." Hotch answered with a grin.
"Bubble wrap?" Emily asked.
JJ chortled. "That is one way to keep Spence from getting hurt again." She said. "I think we'd have a hard time explaining his new suit at work though."
"I can hear Strauss right now." Prentiss snickered. She narrowed her eyes and adopted a stern expression. "Dr. Reid, what sort of ridiculousness is this? This is a government office. We do not parade around as the Michelin Man. Do I make myself clear?"
Morgan roared with laughter. "That, that's her to a, a t-tee!" he stammered through his chuckles.
"I don't know. I think her scowl has a more 'sucking on a lemon' look." Dave criticized before bursting out laughing.
"Good one, Rossi" Derek praised, wiping the tears from his eyes.
"What's so funny?" a sleepy voice called.
Morgan looked over at the couch and winced at the sight of his best friend slowly sitting up and knuckling his eyes. "Sorry Pretty Boy, we didn't mean to wake you up." he apologized.
"It's o-otay" Spencer replied with a yawn. He crawled into Hotch's lap, leaned against his chest, and stuck his thumb in his mouth. Glancing around the room, he smiled. "Hey JJ, hey Will. Whewe's Henwy?"
"He's upstairs playing with Garcia." JJ replied. "We were afraid he'd wake you up."
"Turns out it wasn't Henry we needed to worry about." Emily muttered.
Spencer slid off Hotch's lap and shuffled towards the stairs. "I'm going to see Henwy." He called over his shoulder.
"Not so fast, buddy" Aaron said, scooping the youngster up before he could get too far. "You and I have something we need to do first."
"We do?" Reid curiously inquired.
"Yes, we do." Aaron answered as he started for the kitchen. "We have to make the cookies for dessert tonight."
"Tooties! Tool!" Spencer shouted. A moment later his face fell. "But I don't know how to mate tooties."
"That's alright. I'll teach you." Hotch advised. He placed the little boy on one of the high chairs in front of the island and then went about gathering the supplies they would need. The father carried the items back to the counter and laid them out. After opening the cookie dough and flour, he sprinkled the flour on the foil and rolling pin. Stepping behind Spencer, Aaron helped the youngster roll the dough flat. He then took the cookie cutters and set them between the two of them. "Okay Spencer, pick out a cookie cutter and set it on the dough like this." Hotch demonstrated cutting out a shape and placing it on the cookie sheet.
Reid's eyes lit up as he gazed at all the different holiday images. Deciding on the turkey, he copied his father figure's motions. "I did it!" he exclaimed, beaming with pride.
"Good job, Spencer" Aaron praised. "Now make some more. We have to have enough cookies for the whole team and at the rate Morgan and Rossi eat them, we'll need a ton."
"I tan do fat." Reid confidently stated. Picking up his cookie cutter, he cut out several turkeys before switching to the pilgrim hat cutter. After several minutes of concentration, he placed the last shape onto the metal cookie sheet. "Fat's the lat one. Fewe's no mowe woom."
"Alright" Aaron replied. Taking the full sheet, he stuck it in the oven and set the timer. He grabbed the extra cookie sheet and walked back over to the island.
"What now?" Spencer asked. "Do we have to wait fow fose befowe we mate mowe?"
"No, we can go ahead and cut out the next batch." Hotch informed the youngster. Picking up the pieces of left over dough, he rolled it into a ball and handed the rolling pin to Reid.
Sticking his tongue out in concentration, Spencer swiftly flattened the dough and, grabbing a cookie cutter, set about making more cookies.
Aaron then picked up his own cutter and joined in. While they worked, he kept a watchful eye on his charge, noting every yawn or fisting of eyes.
Reid mentally rolled his eyes at the scrutiny he was receiving. He knew his friend was just worried about him but the constant looking after was starting to wear on his nerves. He was a grown man after all. He knew how to take care of himself. The others needed to just…the ding of the timer brought him out of his thoughts. "I'll get it!" he hollered, scrambling down from the chair.
"I've got it, Spencer." Aaron countered. "You're too short to reach the oven, remember?" Getting a disgruntled nod, he patted the boy's back. "Go finish cutting out the cookies. We have several more batches to make before we'll have enough for everyone."
"Otay" Reid grumpily agreed. Huffing, he spun around, climbed back into his chair, and snatched up a cookie cutter.
Raising an eyebrow at the toddler's reaction, Hotch made a note to send the boy to bed early. A sleep deprived Spencer was not a happy one.
CM
Three batches and a lot of grumbling later, the two profilers were finally through.
Aaron set the last batch of cookies on top of the stove to cool and then walked back over to the island. He looked at Spencer and frowned. "Spencer, what's that?" he asked.
"What's what?" Reid inquired.
"That" Aaron answered, tapping the little boy's nose and smearing flour on it as he did.
Spencer reached up and rubbed his nose. Feeling the flour, he quickly wiped it away with his shirt. "Hotch, top it!" Spencer growled.
"I'm sorry, Spencer. I was just trying to cheer you up." Aaron apologized. Deciding to curb the teasing for a while, he handed a dish towel to the youngster. "We need to clean up this mess before Dave comes in to cook. You wipe down the counter and I'll wash the utensils and put the flour away."
"I tan get it!" Reid hollered. Standing up in his chair, he stretched across the table, reaching for the large bag. His chair wobbled, causing the little boy to slam his hands down to steady himself.
"Are you two about through?" Prentiss questioned as she walked into the room. "Rossi said he…" POOF! The profiler was smacked in the face with a gob of flour. Sighing, she wiped the flour out of her eyes before leveling a glare at the shocked boy at the table. "You little…"
"I'm sowwy, Emily. I was twying to get my, my balance and my hand hit the end of the sp-spoon. It, it must have been sit-sitting atwoss the wolling pin, mating it a tatapult." Reid haltingly explained. "I didn't mean to. Honest."
Emily smiled. "I know you didn't, Handsome. You might play that prank on Morgan or Hotch or even Rossi but you'd never do something like that to me." She absolved, ruffling the boy's hair with one hand while she scooped up a handful of flour with the other. Seeing Hotch shake his head, she dropped her weapon and picked up the little boy instead.
"Emily, put me down." Spencer grumbled. "I'm not a tid."
"Sorry Grumpy" Prentiss replied, setting the unhappy youngster on his feet.
"Am not" Reid mumbled, crossing his arms. Needing to get away, he scurried out of the room.
"What's his problem?" Emily asked once the toddler was out of hearing range.
"I think it's a mixture of too much drama and not enough sleep" Aaron answered.
Emily nodded. "Yeah, having your abuser out there somewhere plotting to kidnap you would be hard on anybody but for someone has small as Reid it has to be terrifying."
It was Hotch's turn to nod. "Once William Reid's out of the picture, Spencer will bounce back to his old self. Until then we'll just have to stay close and reassure him that he's safe."
"Easier said than done" Emily pointed out.
"I know." Aaron replied with a smile.
"Alright everybody out!" Rossi commanded as he strode into the kitchen with Henry trailing behind him. "The chefs are taking over and we need quiet to work!"
"We'll leave you to it then." Aaron said.
"Shhhh!" Henry scolded, holding a finger over his mouth.
Snickering at the chef's mini me, the couple left the room. There was another little one they needed to check up on.
CM
After a delicious Italian feast that was enthusiastically consumed by almost everyone, the family retired to the living room. Mindful of the toddler in their midst, they turned the television on a station playing holiday shows. Henry was immediately enthralled by the colorful cartoons. Spencer, on the other hand, wasn't interested in the least. Grabbing the newspaper off the coffee table, he tottled over to a secluded corner and plopped down. The tiny agent opened the paper, spread the pages out around him, and immersed himself in the stories.
"What's up with Pretty Boy?" Morgan whispered as he worriedly watched his best friend.
"I'm not sure. He's been acting off since the attack this morning." Aaron answered.
"I think Spencer's tired and terrified. He knows his dad is still out there and that he's more than likely going to try again. He also knows that he's in no shape to fight him." Dave surmised. "Acting like the grown man he is is his way of coping with it."
"Okay, that explains the reading. Reid's always read to distract himself or for comfort. But why separate from us?" Prentiss questioned.
"Spence has always done that too. Think about it. How many times have you seen him sitting in a quiet corner of the jet reading after a really bad case?" JJ asked.
"Too many" was Morgan's response.
"Exactly" JJ said. "Give Spence a little time. He'll come back to us once he's come to terms with what's happening."
"Okay" Garcia reluctantly agreed. "I'll give my little Snook'ums tonight but if he's still down tomorrow morning, I'm hugging the stuffing out of him whether he likes it or not."
"That goes double for me." Morgan seconded.
"Me, too" JJ chimed in.
"Now that we've got our morning scheduled, how about we get back to other things, like our Thanksgiving plans?" Dave suggested.
"Yeah, we still haven't discussed when we should leave or how long to stay." Emily added.
"And we have to decide if we're going to have our first annual tree decorating the day after." Penelope reminded.
"Well then, what are we waiting for? Let's get to it while the boys are occupied." Will softly said.
Agreeing, the family gathered around the coffee table to plan the perfect Thanksgiving.
CM
Spencer shuffled into his bedroom and climbed up on the bed. Resisting the urge to grab his Ewok, the stubborn toddler crawled to the end of the bed and burrowed under the covers.
"Are you sure you're alright with Henry sleeping with you?" Aaron whispered after tucking the blankets around the little boy.
"Yes" Reid simply answered, placing his hands under his back to keep from sucking his thumb like a baby.
"Alright, but if you need me for anything, I'll be right here on this mattress beside the bed." Hotch assured his second son.
"I know." Spencer replied. Closing his eyes, he quickly drifted off to sleep.
Aaron leaned down and kissed Spencer's forehead before laying down on the lumpy air mattress. He still didn't think this was a good idea but the boy had insisted so he'd had no choice but to go along. He just hoped his decision didn't come back to bite them all in the behind.
CM
Spencer shot up in bed, his nightmare father's last words ringing in his ears. Panting, he nervously glanced around the room. Seeing nothing but a sleeping Henry and Hotch, the little boy breathed a sigh of relief. Reid laid back down and swiped a hand across his face. After the nightmare he'd had, there was no way he would be able to fall asleep. He needed something to take his mind off it for a while. Recalling an article about the Leonid meteor shower, he smiled. Watching meteors streak across the sky would be the perfect distraction. He couldn't remember all the times he'd sat outside and watched the various meteor showers after a particularly bad day at school or home. The beautiful show had always had a calming effect on him even if they were hard to see because of the bright lights of the city. But Reid was in the country this time so the sight was sure to be extra beautiful. Decision made, the tiny boy threw back the covers and carefully slid out of bed. After grabbing his shoes, socks, and flashlight, he crept across the room and out the open door. Spencer quietly made his way down the hall to the staircase. He peered through the banister to ensure the coast was clear before descending the stairs. He stopped on the bottom step long enough to put on his socks and shoes and then hurried over to the desk. Grabbing the chair, he pushed it over to the door and clamored up. The little boy yanked his jacket off the coat rack and slid it on before unlocking and opening the door. Jumping off the chair, he raced outside.
CM
A muffled beeping sound woke Hotch from a sound sleep. Sitting up, he glanced in the direction of the sound. Spotting his watch sticking out from under a sock on the floor, he shook his head. He really needed to have that talk with Spencer about messing with their electronic equipment. The BAU leader grabbed the watch and swiftly shut off the alarm. He then looked over at the bed to check on the boys. Seeing an empty spot where his youngster should have been, Aaron leapt to his feet and rushed to the door. He hurried down the hall to the bathroom. The open door and dark room told him his charge wasn't there. Thinking the boy might have had a nightmare and sought out comfort, he quickly did a room by room check. When that failed to turn up the tiny toddler, Aaron began to panic. He went back to Reid's room long enough to grab his service revolver and crept through the hall and down the stairs. Spying the partially open door and bobbing light, he rushed to the front door. After peering out the crack in the door, Hotch kicked it the rest of the way open and stepped out, gun raised. Seeing Reid peacefully sitting on JJ's car watching the stars, Aaron lost it. He stormed over to the boy. "Spencer Reid, what the hell do you think you're doing out here in the middle of the night?" he demanded as he picked the little boy up.
"Put me down. I'm watching the met'ow showew." Reid snapped back.
"Not anymore you're not" Aaron declared. Tightening his hold on the struggling boy, the angry father stomped across the grass and porch and into the house. He paused long enough to lock the door and remove their jackets before going to the couch. Hotch took a seat, upended Spencer over his knee, and wore the boy's backside out, lecturing as he did. As soon as the spanking ended, he picked the little boy up and attempted to comfort him. To his surprise, the crying youngster pulled away from him instead.
Spencer scurried to the other side of the room before rounding on Hotch. "Y-you had no, no wight t-t-to do fat!" he cried, rubbing his sore bottom.
Aaron frowned. "I disagree." He countered. "I think the punishment was completely acceptable in this case. You know better than to sneak out of the house at night. Anything could have happened to you."
"I, I was jut…"
"What's going on down here?" Morgan interrupted as he shuffled into the room. Seeing his best friend crying, he hurried to his side. "What's wrong, Pretty Boy?"
"What's w-w-wong? I-I'll tell you wh-what's wong. He, he panted me!" Spencer stammered, pointing an accusing finger at Hotch.
Derek ran a hand across the back of his head as he glanced from a fuming Spencer to an equally upset Hotch. Wondering what could have possibly happened to cause this reaction from the two, he asked, "Why? What did you do?"
Reid looked offended. "Me? I, I didn't do any-anyfing. I was jut outside watching the met…OW! Mowgan!" he hollered, skirting out of the man's reach. "What was fat fow?"
"If you don't know, then maybe you should take another trip over Hotch's knee." Morgan hotly replied.
"NO!" Spencer shouted, stomping his foot.
A scowling Rossi trudged into the room. "You three better have a damn good explanation for waking everyone up." he growled, glaring at the three combatants.
"Oh, there's a good one alright." Morgan answered, looking pointedly at Reid. "Go ahead Kid. Tell Rossi what all the yelling is about."
Dave pinched the bridge of his nose. He should have known. "Come here Spencer" he called.
Reid hesitantly tottled over to the older man.
"Now what did you do to cause all this ruckus?" Dave patiently asked.
Spencer's eyes narrowed. "I didn't do anyfing!" he yelled. "I was jut watching the met'ow showew and Hotch…OW! Will you top hitting me?"
"Who's hitting my Honey Bear?" Garcia growled as she stepped into the room. Kneeling down, she opened her arms to the boy. "Come here, Sweetness. I'll save you from those meanies."
Reid took a few steps towards her and stopped. "Nu uh" he said, shaking his head. "You'll jut pant me, too."
"Spank you?" Penelope gasped. "I could never spank you, Love Bug. Promise. Now come tell Auntie Pen what's wrong."
Spencer hesitated for a moment before walking over to his friend. "Fey, fey panted me tause I went out to watch the met'ow showew and didn't tell fem." He explained.
Garcia enveloped the toddler in a hug. "Oh Sweetie, it's alright. You're okay now." She soothed. "I know you're upset and that you don't think going out to watch the show was a big deal but you have to remember you'll little now. You can't go outside by yourself, especially not with your father on the loose."
That was apparently the wrong thing to say.
Enraged instead of comforted, Spencer pushed his way out of her hold, knocking the stunned woman to the floor. Turning, he swept everything off the coffee table before running over to the shelf by the door and knocking everything off it as well. "I tan't do fis!" he hollered continuing his rampage. "I wanna be big again! I tan't be a tid!"
"Spencer!" Hotch called, heading for the boy.
Dave quickly blocked his path. "Leave him, Aaron." He instructed. "You and I both knew this would happen sooner or later. He's been a ticking time bomb since he was turned into a toddler. The kid's finally hit his limit and he's taking his anger and frustration out the only way he knows how."
"Rossi's right. We've all had days where we needed to work out our anger. This is just his way of doing that. And personally I can't blame him. I wouldn't have lasted a day as a kid without exploding. Let him be. He's not hurting himself or anybody else." Morgan expounded. "And before you say it, there is nothing in his reach that is breakable or could hurt him."
"Alright" Aaron reluctantly agreed. He knew the others were right, but it was hard to just stand by and do nothing while his youngest fell apart. Hearing the creak of the stairs, he glanced up to see an alarmed JJ and Emily standing at the top. He might not be able to help Reid but he could at least minimize the damage. "Garcia, go upstairs and tell the others to go back to bed." he ordered. Seeing her open her mouth to protest, he quickly added, "Spencer doesn't need an audience for this."
Penelope sadly nodded. Getting to her feet, she headed for the stairs. "Take care of my Junior G-Man" she whispered to Morgan.
"Don't worry Baby Girl I will." Derek assured her as he gave her a quick hug and walked her to the staircase.
"You better." Garcia warned before hurrying up the stairs.
Turning their full attention back to their charge, the three men took up positions in different parts of the room and waited for the mini profiler's meltdown to come to an end.
After what seemed like an eternity, the rampage finally came to a halt. The toddler's legs buckled and he dropped to the paper covered floor. "I tan't do, do fis." He quietly rasped.
Aaron was at his side immediately. "It's going to be alright, Spencer." He soothed, pulling the crying little boy into an embrace. "You're going to get through this. I can promise you that."
"I hate fis." Reid sobbed. "I, I hate being so weat and, and help, helpless."
"You're not weak or helpless, Reid." Dave said, taking a seat beside the boy and Hotch.
"Y-y-yes I am." Spencer argued.
"Really?" Dave asked, raising an eyebrow at the kid's nod. "Tell me, how did you get away from your father at the museum?"
"I used fat fwoat(throat) move Mowgan taught me." Reid answered.
"So, you escaped all by yourself?" Dave prodded, smiling as the light bulb went off.
"Yeah, but, but I'm till no good to you on tases." Reid argued.
"That's not true and you know it." Aaron replied. "Little or not, you've helped solve every case we've been on."
"He's right, buddy." Dave concurred. Seeing the boy put his thumb up to his mouth only to snatch it away again, he frowned. "Spencer, can I ask you something?"
A nod was his only answer.
"Are you enjoying your second childhood?" Rossi asked.
Spencer stared up at the man through heavy lidded eyes. "Pawts of it. Paying is fun and, and I enjoyed the twips. I, I even lite all the hugs and, and cuddling." He admitted, turning red. "But…"
"But what?" Morgan prodded.
"But not being able to tate tawe of myself or be alone or do what I want, when I want is hawd." Reid said around his thumb. "And so is, is not be *yawn* ing big enough to wea-*yawn* weally help you on a t-tase."
"Like we said, your size doesn't matter. Your help has been vital in every case." Dave reiterated. "As for the rest, I think we could come up with something that would help. We'll sit down together and discuss solutions but not tonight. The only thing we're going to do tonight is go to bed. It's way past all our bedtimes."
"I second that idea." Derek said, letting out a huge yawn.
"Sounds like a good idea to me. What do you think Spencer?" Aaron asked.
Spencer tiredly nodded before laying his head on Hotch's shoulder, closing his eyes, and falling asleep.
"I'll take that as a yes." Aaron quietly teased. He carefully stood and started for the stairs. It was time to put his little one to bed.
CM
Breakfast was a quiet affair. The angry, sullen boy from the day before had become quiet and withdrawn. Rossi was sure a big part of that was embarrassment over his nighttime meltdown but he resolved to make certain. He refused to wait and let things build up again. Seeing the object of his worry pushing his food around his plate, the man sighed. "Eat up buddy. We have a morning of cleaning ahead of us." He reminded.
"Yes siw" Reid answered. He dutifully poked a piece of his waffle and shoved it in his mouth. Shifting in his pillow covered seat, he looked up when a solemn faced Hotch walked into the room.
"Aaron, what is it? Do we have another case?" Dave asked.
"No, in fact we have rest of the week off." Hotch announced, leaning on the island for support.
"What? Why?" Morgan questioned. "Does it have something to do with Strauss' fall?"
"It's nothing like that." Aaron assured.
"Then what? Come on, Hotch. What aren't you telling us?" Emily asked.
Aaron took a deep breath and released it before delivering the bad news. "Gideon's dead."