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- Thank you to everyone still reading! And a huge thank you to all the folks who have put the story on alert, favorites, and those who have reviewed!
I haven't forgotten The Lost Little One. It's next to be updated. It may take a couple of days though. At the demo Saturday, I was holding a board for another lady to break. She did break it with a front kick but she also kicked low enough to hit my ring finger. Its rainbow colored all the way to the second knuckle.
Previously on Criminal Minds- Nodding, Spencer snuggled into Rossi's chest with a smile. He finally had his friends back.
CM
After a couple more hours of playing, Hotch decided the time had come to leave. He gathered the family and together they made their way through the maze of video games and excited children to the doors. Once outside, the group tromped across the almost full parking lot and up the stairs to the side door of their hotel. Aaron swiped his key card and then held the glass door for the rest of the family before walking into the hallway himself.
"Any ideas for dinner?" Emily asked as they strolled down the narrow corridor.
"There's a steakhouse down the street. We could try it." Will suggested.
"That's a great idea! I love steak!" a raspy voice piped up from beside them.
Spinning around, the family saw a very familiar face etched into a nearby door.
"Gabe? What are you doing here?" Dave gruffly questioned, tightening his hold on Spencer. "Did you think of some new trick to try out on us? Or are you thinking of turning another one of us into a kid?"
"Chill gramps! I'm not here to cause any ruckus." The trickster assured. "As a matter of fact, I came to set a few things right."
"Things? What things?" Will demanded, stepping to the side to block the creature's view of his wife and son.
Loki rolled his eyes at the action. "Like that would save them" he scoffed. Smirking at the man's scowl, the being stuck his tongue out at the father before turning his attention to the tiny profiler in Rossi's arms. "Kid, I saw what happened at snack time and I've gotta say I was shocked! What kind of family runs out of their boy's favorite snack and drink? I mean really, how could they give the last of your stuff to big mouth over there and leave you with nothing but the crappy cookies?"
"Fey didn't mean to." Spencer defended.
"But they did" Gabe threw back. "And that is entirely unacceptable. So, as usual, I'm coming to your rescue. I've seen to it that you won't run out of the good stuff ever again."
"How'd you do that?" Morgan curiously inquired.
The trickster merely glared at the inquisitive boy. "And you! I made you a shrimp to teach you a lesson and what do you do? You make the kid's life miserable instead!" he ranted.
"He didn't…"
"Shut it, Shorty" Gabe growled. "Now where was I? Oh yeah, you. I can't have you ruining the kid's childhood. You guys have screwed that up enough as it is. So, your time as a mini muffin is up. I'm turning you back to your old, grouchy self. Try to make what's left of skinny minnie's second childhood happy, would ya? I'd rather not have to come straighten things out again." And with that, the trickster's face melted back into the door.
"Hey, what about…" Morgan gasped as a strange feeling overcame him. Clutching his stomach, he looked to the others for help.
The family's mouths dropped open as their friend began to rapidly grow. Buttons popped and clothes ripped as the boy grew into a man in the span of a handful of seconds.
"Loot Mommy! Untle Mowgan's nated!" Henry squealed, pointing to the man who was frantically trying to cover himself with his hands.
"Don't look Ethel!" Will joked in his best Ray Stevens' voice as he covered JJ's eyes with his hand.
"I, I, I've gotta go!" Morgan hollered before turning tail and streaking down the hall. He flung the stairwell door open and disappeared inside.
"Huh, I don't remember the weathermen saying there would be a full moon tonight." Dave teased.
"Oh my" Emily mumbled, staring after her friend. "He's, he's…"
"Simply gorgeous! My man is everything I thought he'd be and more!" Garcia squeed, grinning from ear to ear. That smile quickly dropped, however, as a thought occurred to her. "Ohhhh! I didn't get a picture!"
"Sorry, Pen. Morgan's long gone by now." JJ said.
"I can't blame him. I make a run for it, too." Emily stated.
"That was a good idea." Aaron seconded. "Unfortunately for Morgan, he forgot one very important factor."
"And what would that be?" JJ inquired.
"He doesn't have a key." The men chorused, holding up their hotel cards.
"You know, I'm suddenly not in that big a hurry to get to the room." Dave said, an evil smirk gracing his face. "What do you say we take the stairs?"
"Sounds good to me" Will replied with a snicker.
"Me too" Aaron agreed before turning to the ladies. "What about you three? Are you up for a little stroll?"
"You mean you're, you're, EEEEEE!" Garcia squealed, bouncing up and down on her toes. Turning, she raced for the elevators. "Come on girls! Let's go!" she called over her shoulder.
"Poor Morgan" Will commented, trying and failing to hold back a smile. "He's in for it n…JJ! Where do you think you're going?!"
JJ stopped and glanced back at her husband. "I have to go, Will. Em's not going to be able to hold Pen off by herself." She reasoned.
"She has a point." Spencer put in.
"I know but…"
"Don't worry Honey, you're the only one for me." JJ assured her man. She came back, gave Will a quick kiss, and then hurried after the other ladies.
CM
Ten minutes later the men and boys finally made it to their floor. They paused at the door, listening for their friends. Hearing an elderly woman's voice instead, they rushed through the door. Skidding to a stop beside Morgan, the three men swiftly surrounded him, hiding him from the elderly couple's view.
Dave passed his key card back to Morgan. Smiling at the senior couple in front of him, he waited for the snick of the door to explain. "Sorry about that ma'am. He got mobbed by fans right inside the lobby and they were a little too hands on if you know what I mean."
"Oh" the older man said.
His wife however, eyed Rossi skeptically. "He's famous?" she questioned. For what? Bodybuilding?"
"He's a world famous wrestler, ma'am." Will answered, taking over the fib. "He's the great, umm, the great Stud Muffin, the lightweight champ."
Spencer buried his face in Rossi's shoulder to prevent the couple from hearing his laughter. Shoulders shaking, he shoved his stuffed reindeer's head into his mouth to muffle his giggles. This was just too good!
Feeling the little profiler's head against his shoulder, Dave decided to use boy's position to their advantage. "Ma'am, I'd love to stay out here and chat with you and your husband but my grandson's really tired and I'd like to get him fed before he conks out for the night. So, if you'll excuse us."
"Oh, yes of course, we'll just be going. You folks have a good evening." Margaret, the elderly woman responded. She took a few steps towards the elevator before pausing and looking back at the group. "A piece of advice: you might want to order room service instead of going out. I'd hate for you to run into those fans again."
Dave laughed. "That's a good idea. We'll think about it." he said. "Goodnight ma'am" He waved at the couple before following Hotch through his hotel room door. Once inside, he set Reid on his feet. "Go wash up kiddo so we can go eat."
"Otay" Spencer replied. "I jut wanna chet on Mowgan fiwst." He tottled across the room and through the adjoining room door. Stopping at the corner, he knocked on the wall and called, "Mowgan, tan I tome in?"
"Go away" drifted through the partially opened doorway.
Spencer sighed. He hated when one of his friends was upset. It always made him feel like he'd done something wrong. He couldn't let his best friend stay angry. He had to help Derek. So Reid squared his shoulders, schooled his expression, and pushed open the door. He marched right up to the sulking older man. "Mowgan, awe you otay?" he asked.
"Am I okay? Am I okay? Hell no! I'm not okay!" Morgan ranted, pacing back and forth across the small room. "You guys left me swinging in the wind! Do you have any idea how embarrassing it was to be standing out in the open for anybody to see? Do you?"
Spencer shook his head.
"That's right, you don't!" Derek ground out. "I may have pranked you guys hundreds of times but I've never pulled one that would embarrass you!"
"Weally?" Reid squeaked, raising an eyebrow. "What about vol'teewing(volunteering) Wossi to be the he-man at the tunt show?"
"You helped!" Morgan growled.
Undaunted by the outburst Spencer continued. "Otay, how about giving me fat whistle when I failed my gun quali'tations? Or the time you put fat whoopee tushion on Hotch's chaiw at fat west'want(restaurant)? Or fewe was the time you…"
"Alright, alright, I get it." Derek interrupted. He dropped onto the end of the bed and scrubbed a hand over his head. "I guess I have pulled a few embarrassing jokes in my time. So it's only fair that I get paid back." he admitted, pulling the little boy up onto his lap. "But did you really have to sic Baby Girl on me?"
Spencer rolled his eyes. "Do you weally fint we tould have topped hew?" he countered.
Morgan barked out a laugh. "Yeah, she does tend to get a little carried away some times." He replied.
"A little?" Spencer incredulously repeated.
"Okay, a lot" Morgan corrected, wiping his eyes.
Spencer nodded before standing up and looking his best friend in the eye. "Mowgan, awe you till mad at me?" he softly inquired.
"Pretty Boy, I was never angry with you." Derek assured, holding eye contact with the little boy so Reid could see he was telling the truth. He smiled as the tension drained out of his friend's face. Grabbing the youngster around the waist, Morgan tossed him into the air, eliciting a shriek of delight. "Come on kid, let's go eat! I'm starving!"
CM
After a blessedly uneventful supper, the family made the trip back to the hotel for the night. They tromped over to the bank of elevators, making it just as the two youngest began to yawn. Knowing the boys wouldn't last much longer, the adults decided the stairs would be a better option than waiting. They hurried through the lobby to the stairwell and swiftly walked up to their floor. The family paused in the hallway long enough to say their goodnights and then split into pairs and disappeared into their various homes for the night.
Hotch locked the room door before turning and setting Reid on his feet. "Go get your pajamas while I run your bath." He instructed.
"O *yawn* tay" Spencer replied, tottling off.
Aaron strode into the bathroom, put the stopper in the tub, and turned on the faucets. He then placed the boy's collapsible stool beside the tub and set out the towels and wash cloths Spencer would need. After he'd made sure the temperature of the water wasn't too hot or too cold, he rushed out into the main room. Seeing practically every stuffed animal Spencer owned throw on their bed, the father sighed. In all the excitement he'd forgotten all about having that talk with the boy. Resolving to sit Reid down and talk once his bath was over, Hotch gazed down at his son. "Bathtime!" he announced. "Everything's already set up for you. Holler if you need anything, okay?"
Nodding Spencer shuffled over to his father figure and leaned against the man's leg. "Will, will you tome in wif me?" he shyly asked. "I'm *yawn* too tiwed to tate a baf by myself."
"Alright" Aaron agreed. He took the toddler's hand and led him into the bathroom. After helping Spencer undress, he lifted the boy into the tub. Taking a seat on the porcelain edge, Aaron picked up the soap and a wash cloth. 'No time like the present' he thought as he soaped up the white cloth. Setting the soap down, he cleared his throat and said, "Spencer, we need to talk."
AN- If you didn't really get Will's joke, look up the song The Streak by Ray Stevens on youtube. It's a hoot!