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- Here's another one a reviewer sent my way: Loud As a Whisper by IQof187. Anybody know any more?
Warning- Strong language ahead!
Previously on Criminal Minds- JJ turned her worried gaze on her husband and the toddler on his lap. "William Reid is here."
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"He's what?!" Will exclaimed, looking in the direction his wife was pointing. Seeing the tall, thin man, he slammed his hand down on the seat beside him. "Sh, crap! Doesn't that sorry excuse of a man ever give up!"
Henry startled at his dad's sudden outburst. "Daddy mad?" the frightened toddler questioned.
His son's quivering voice made Will feel like the worst parent ever. He took a deep breath and slowly let it out to calm himself before turning to face his little boy. "It's alright Henry. Daddy's not mad." He assured the youngster. The upset dad swiftly unfastened the straps of the boy's car seat and lifted him out, settling him on his free knee. "It's just been a long day for daddy and he's tired and grouchy."
"Daddy need a nap." Henry concluded with a nod.
Will chuckled. "I guess I do." He agreed, patting the boy on the back. He glanced at Spencer and then added, "Why don't we go back to the hotel? Daddy can take a nap while you and Reid play. How does that sound?"
"Sounds good to me," JJ replied.
"Me too" Garcia seconded. She was more than ready to leave the cemetery and get far away from Spencer's no account father. Glancing back at said little boy, she asked, "Are you okay with leaving, Sweetie?"
Spencer looked up at the adults, his expression eerily similar to Hotch's interrogation face. "No, I'm taying. I'm not going to let him tawe(scare) me off." He determinedly stated. "'Sides, we'we safe fow now. He won't bofew us wif so many people awound. He'll wait till we tawt(start) to leave to appwoach us."
"Are you sure, Sp, Reid?" JJ inquired. Getting a nod in reply, she sighed. "Okay, I guess we should go then. Come up here with mama, Henry. You can walk with me."
"Otay!" Henry agreed, eagerly crawling over the console to the front seat where his mother was sitting.
Steeling themselves for the confrontation sure to come, the adults slowly climbed out of the SUV and trudged to the graveside tent. They then took seats directly behind the rest of their family and waited for the minister to begin.
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William Reid fidgeted impatiently as he waited for the preacher to finish his lengthy "get your life straight" speech. Tuning the pompous windbag out, he searched the crowd for his son once more. He silently huffed when he saw no sign of the little know it all. Spencer was at the service. William knew that much. He'd seen some of the boy's colleagues when he'd walked up. The ungrateful brat must be hiding from him somehow. Well, no matter. He couldn't hide for long. Once the crowd started to disperse, the too tall youngster would be all too easy to spot. William would just have to bide his time till then. Plan in place, the scheming man leaned back in the metal folding chair and turned his attention to the still chattering preacher.
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Spencer held tight to Hotch and Rossi's hands as they walked through the cemetery to their vehicle. The service, as well as Stephen's rant afterwards, had been emotionally draining and he was spent. He could barely put one foot in front of the other. The boy didn't think he had the strength to deal with his father right now. 'Unfortunately, I don't have a choice.' he thought when he spied his father and a well dressed lady stalking towards them. Blowing out a frustrated breath, Spencer screwed up what was left of his strength and let go of his protector's hands. He shuffled ahead, meeting his tormentor half way. "Dad" he greeted, crossing his arms angrily. "What do you want?"
"Spencer! Is that any way to greet your old man?" William exclaimed, feigning hurt.
"Dr. Reid, I know you're upset about your colleague but that's no reason to take it out on your father." Julia scolded. "He came all this way just to be here for you. You should show him the respect he deserves."
Spencer glared up at the wealthy socialite. "Who awe you to tell me what I should ow shouldn't do?" he growled. "You'we jut his bimbo of the weet. I don't…"
"SPENCER REID! You apologize right this instant!" William bellowed, drawing unwanted attention their way. "I will not have you insulting Julia! Just because you're upset about your mentor, that doesn't give you the right to take it out on Julia! She's never done anything to you! You have no right to treat her that way!"
"You'we one to talw, you self wighteous SOB!" Spencer fired back.
Julia gasped. She couldn't believe the son William spoke so highly of was speaking to his father this way. Deciding to set the boy straight, she marched over to the fuming young man. "How dare you!" Julia ground out. "Your father gave his all to raise you! He scrimped and saved to ensure you had everything you needed and this is how you repay him?!"
That one statement sent Garcia over the edge! The usually bubbly woman stormed over to the arrogant couple and raised her bulging pocketbook. "You, you liar!" she shouted, smacking the senior Reid with her purse. "You didn't do any of those things! You didn't stick around long enough for that! You left your ten year old son with his mentally ill mother and never looked back! Spencer was the one that gave his all! He saw to it his mother took her medicine and ate, went to school, did his school work and the housework and pinched pennies to make sure they had enough money to buy food, not you! You never even checked on them!"
A stunned Julia glanced from William to his silent son and back. "William, is that true?" she asked. "Did you leave him alone to care for his mother?"
"Julia, honey I…" William began only to be interrupted by a loud, obnoxious voice hollering his name. He spun around, searching for the source.
"Yoo hoo! Willie!" a young man with short brown hair called as he waved at the senior Reid.
The profilers' mouths dropped open in shock as they stared at the trickster who was decked out in lime green pants, matching button down shirt, and an ascot. Holding back laughter, they watched the Loki skip his way over to a horrified William.
"Willie, honey! I've been so worried about you!" the trickster said, locking arms with the surprised man. "You haven't been answering my calls!"
Julia looked the newcomer over with a frown. "William, who is this person?" she questioned.
"I, I don't know Julia. I've never seen him before in my life." William replied as he tried to pull his arm free.
"Oh Willie, I'm hurt!" Loki gasped, holding a hand over his heart. "You and I have been a couple for years now. Why would you lie about us?"
"Wh-what…"
"Oh, and this must be little Spencer" the trickster continued. He looked the youngster up and down before smiling mischievously. "I can see why he was your boy toy as a tot." Ignoring the William's blustering, Loki glanced over at his next target. "And this must be the rich bimbo you're banging for bucks." He said before throwing a hand over his mouth. "Whoopsie! I didn't mean to let the cat outta the bag!"
Julia saw red. Taking off the enormous ring she was wearing, she threw it at William. "William Reid, the engagement is off!" she furiously stated. "I'm going home!" With that the enraged woman turned and stomped away.
"Julia! Julia wait!" William hollered, chasing after his irate ex-fiancé.
The trickster watched Mr. Reid for a moment and then burst out laughing. "Did, did you s-s-seeee his f-face?" he chuckled, doubling over.
"It was *snicker* kinda funny." Emily said before dissolving into giggles.
"Kind of? That was awesome!" Penelope crowed, high fiving the still laughing Loki.
"That was one of my better tricks." The trickster bragged. He cocked his head to one side and sighed. "I've gotta go. Duty calls. You folks do me a favor. Take care of the kid, will ya? I made him a little guy so he could have a fun childhood, not so he'd be exposed to every bad thing out there."
"It's not like we're not trying." Derek defended.
"Well try harder" Loki snapped.
"Don't worry, my little Snuggle Bunny will have nothing but happy times from now on." Garcia promised.
The trickster grinned. "Girl, I have got to introduce you to two uptight brothers I know once this is all over. You'd have them smiling in no time." He glanced to the right and sighed. "Speaking of, I've gotta go rescue the two idgits before they kill each other. Later gators!"
Will stared at the spot the trickster had just occupied. "That is one strange dude." He commented.
"Yeah, but he was right about one thing. Reid does deserve a happy childhood this time around." Emily said as the group walked over to their vehicles.
"And he'll have one." Dave declared, passing Spencer to Hotch. "Just as soon as we get this will reading out of the way."
"The reading is today?" JJ asked.
"Yes, Gideon had it set up that way to ensure we would be available to attend." Aaron explained as he buckled a sleepy Spencer into his seat.
"Why do we have to be there, anyway?" Morgan questioned.
"He mut ha *yawn* ve left somefing to us." Spencer answered around the thumb in his mouth. He leaned against Hotch, who was sitting beside him, and closed his eyes.
Dave quietly shut the back door and turned to the others. "Let's go get this over with." He suggested.
The others murmured their agreement and separated into the two vehicles. Pulling onto the highway, the family hoped that the will reading would go smoothly. They'd had more than enough drama for one day.