Disclaimer: Criminal Minds and all its characters belong to CBS. I own nothing. Feel free to read and review, but please don't copy.

Previously on Criminal Minds- Gunfire has been reported inside the Middleton courthouse where the trial of the serial killer known as the Paxton Slasher is currently underway. It appears an unknown assailant stood up during the testimony of an F.B.I. profiler and began firing. According to sources inside the courtroom, several people were shot including the agent on the stand.

CM

Henry picked up his small red fire truck and toddled over to his mother. "Mommy, why Weid no pay wif Henwy?" he innocently asked.

"Reid's waiting for a phone call, baby." JJ told her son. "He'll play with you after he finishes talking to his daddy."

Henry mulled over the explanation for a moment and then smiled brightly. "Otay" he replied. Racing over to his toys, he plopped down and started happily playing with his cars and trucks.

'I wish it was always that easy.' JJ thought as she watched her son crash two of his cars together. Grabbing her book off the corner table, she settled back in her chair to read. She got as far as opening the cover before there was a knock on the door. Sighing, JJ set her book back down and climbed out of the comfy recliner. She trudged to the door and after glancing out the curtained window, threw it open. "Em, what are you doing here?" she asked, stepping aside to give her friend room to pass.

"Well, I took Pen out for an early supper after work. I figured she'd rather eat before she got home to Mr. Barf. After that I stopped by the store to pick up a few things. I got what I needed and was headed to the checkout when this display caught my eye. It was for this new strawberry flavored syrup and I remembered how much Spencer loved the strawberries at Disney and that he loves waffles, so I thought he might like to have some." Prentiss explained, handing her friend the bottle. "I would have waited till tomorrow but I figured he'd need it for breakfast."

"Thanks Em, I'm sure Spence will love it. Why don't you take it to him? He's in the kitchen with Will." JJ suggested, handing the syrup back to the raven haired profiler.

"Are you sure that's okay?" Emily asked. "I mean I don't want to intrude or anything?"

"Nonsense, Spence would love to…" the sound of shattering glass and Will's upset voice drowned out the rest of JJ's remark. Knowing something had to be horribly wrong for her husband to sound like that, JJ dashed across the room to the kitchen with Emily hot at her heels. She rounded the entryway, gasping at the sight of Will attempting to calm a panicking Spencer. "Will? Will, what's going on? What happened?" she questioned as she rushed over to the two.

"Turn that thing off!" Will ordered, keeping his focus on Reid.

"Turn what…oh no!" JJ threw a hand over her mouth. Flipping off the TV, she shared a worried look with Emily before turning her attention to the hyperventilating boy sitting on the counter. "Shhh, Spence, shhhh! It's alright, Honey." She cooed, rubbing the youngster's back.

"Come on kiddo, you've got to slow it down." Will instructed. When his words had no effect, he took Reid's hand and placed it against his own chest. "Breath with me. Come on…in…out…in…out." He coached exaggerating his own breathing to help the trembling boy get control.

'No, no, no' Spencer thought as he stared at the now blank television screen. Images of Hotch and Rossi in caskets flashed through his mind causing him to shiver. He couldn't lose them too.

"Come on Handsome, listen to Will. Slow it down." Emily urged as she began carding a hand through her tiny friend's sweat soaked hair.

Spencer's vision tunneled as his mind raced through the various terrible scenarios that might have played out in the courtroom. His friends' voices sounded farther and farther away as the reenactments grew worse and worse.

"Look at me Sweetie." JJ directed. She grasped the struggling boy's chin and gently turned him to face her. "Deep breaths Spence, you've got to slow down or you're going to make yourself…"

A whimper was the only warning they got before Spencer threw up all over himself and the counter.

"Whoa kiddo!" Will exclaimed, thrusting a bowl under the boy's chin. He held Reid steady with his free hand while the gasping youngster expelled his supper. "Easy buddy, you're okay. That's it. Get it all out."

Spencer gagged, struggling to breathe through the violent episode. After what seemed like forever, the heaving finally stopped. The shaking, sweating youngster then gasped one last time before his eyes rolled back in his head and he passed out.

CM

Aaron ran a weary hand across his face as he lumbered through the waiting room and out the emergency room's sliding glass doors. He went over to a small, metal bench and gratefully sank onto it. The last few hours had gone by in a blur of flashing lights, medics, and police interviews, leaving the profiler beyond tired. And it wasn't over yet. Aaron still had about a million things left to do starting with… Sighing the profiler pulled out his cell. He needed to let the rest of the team know what had happened and that they were going to be alright. Flipping the phone open, he smiled at the photo of a smiling Spencer riding on a carousel. At least his youngest hadn't been with them. Reid would have freaked out if he'd witnessed the shooting or even heard about it. Fortunately, the boy was safely tucked away at JJ's house. And since Will and JJ hardly ever turned their TV on, Spencer was blissfully unaware of the afternoon's attack. 'If only I could keep it that way.' Aaron thought as he punched in the number to JJ's home phone.

"I've got it." JJ quietly called. She hurried over and snatched up the phone. "Hello"

"JJ, its Hotch"

"Oh thank goodness!" JJ exclaimed. "We've been so worried! Are you and Rossi alright?"

"Worried?" Aaron repeated his brow furrowing.

"Yes worried. Spence and Will saw the news report about the shooting and…"

"Spencer knows?!" Aaron questioned.

"Yeah, Will always listens to the news while he does the dishes and Spence was sitting on a stool waiting for your call when the story broke." JJ explained.

Hotch pinched the bridge of his nose. "How'd he take it?"

JJ sighed. "Not well at all. He had a major panic attack." She replied. "I've never seen one that bad, Hotch. Spence was shaking and gasping for air and, and…"

"JJ? JJ, its okay. You don't have to continue." Aaron broke in before his friend could get too upset. "How is he now?"

"He's sleeping." JJ told the worried father. She peered around the corner of the entryway. "Will's sitting in the rocker with him just in case but I'm sure he's okay. The attack just wore him out. What about you two? Are you and Rossi alright?"

"I'm fine. My arm was grazed by a stray bullet but it's barely more than a scratch." Aaron answered. "Dave wasn't quite as lucky though. He was on the stand when the shooting starting. A couple of rounds caught him in the shoulder."

JJ sucked in a breath. "How is he?"

"The doctors said he's going to be just fine. The bullets went straight through his shoulder." Hotch assured the worried woman. "Dave will be back to his old grouchy self in no time."

JJ laughed. "That's good to know." She said before sighing. "Spence is gonna blow a gasket when he hears that."

"I know." Aaron admitted, grimacing at the thought of his son's face when he heard that news. "Have him call me when he wakes up. It might be better coming from me. Being able to talk with Rossi and I should soften the blow."

"Definitely" JJ agreed.

Hotch glanced at his watch. "Listen JJ, I need to go check on Rossi. See if they've put him in a room yet. Will you let the rest of team know we're alright for me?"

"Sure Hotch, you go ahead and go back to Rossi. I'll handle the others." JJ replied with a smile. "Give Rossi a kiss for me and tell him I hope he feels better soon."

Aaron pulled the phone away from his ear and stared at it incredulously for a moment before holding it back up. "A kiss?" he repeated.

JJ snickered. "Sorry, I couldn't resist."

The corners of Aaron's mouth turned up. "You've been hanging around Morgan and Reid too long." He teased.

"Riiight, like they're the only pranksters in this family." JJ scoffed. "You and…"

"Mommy! I's weady fow ouw towy!" Henry loudly announced as he raced into the kitchen.

"Go read Henry his story." Aaron instructed with a smile. "I'll talk to you in the morning."

"Night Hotch" JJ said before hanging up the phone. Turning, she took her son's hand. "Come on, Henry. Let's go night night."

CM

Spencer slowly awoke. Yawning, he sleepily blinked his eyes open to half-mast. He glanced around the darkened, unfamiliar room with a frown. His eyes widened as he took in the hospital bed and surrounding equipment. Disoriented and frightened, the little boy began to shake. Hearing a soothing voice telling him it was alright, Spencer turned his head and looked up into the smiling face of… "H-Hotch!" he shouted. Sitting up, he threw his arms around his surrogate father.

"Morning Spencer" Aaron greeted with a smile. He brushed a stray bang off his son's forehead. "I was beginning to think you were going to sleep the day away."

"M-m-mowning? What? When did…whewe…Hotch, what's going on?" Spencer croaked.

"Sounds like somebody needs some water." A voice called from the bed.

"Wossi?!" Spencer hollered, craning his neck to try to see his friend. "Wossi, awe you otay? Did you get shot? How bad is it?"

"Easy, Spencer" Aaron urged, rubbing the youngster's back. "Dave is going to be alright."

"But, but…"

"Aaron bring Spencer to me." Rossi ordered as he raised the head of the bed a little.

"I don't think that's a wise…"

"Either you bring him to me or I'm coming to you." Dave threatened.

"Fine" Hotch huffed. Scooping up the tiny boy, he toted the youngster over to the senior member of the family and carefully sat him on the edge of the bed beside Rossi. "But I still don't think it's a good idea."

"Yeah, yeah" Rossi muttered, waving the younger man away. He then turned his attention to Reid who was staring at him wide-eyed. "Come here you." He said, snuggling the little boy into his side.

Taking the water pitcher off the tray table, Emily poured a small amount into a plastic cup and handed it to Spencer.

Spencer gulped down the water, sighing as he soothed his raw throat. "Fant *yawn* you" he said, handing the empty cup back.

"Anytime Handsome" Prentiss replied.

Spencer turned and stared up at Rossi. "Awe you weally otay?" he asked the injured profiler.

"I'm going to be just fine." Dave answered, ruffling the youngster's hair. Seeing Spencer yawn and sleepily knuckle his eyes, the man smiled. "Close your eyes buddy. I've got you." He whispered. He lowered the head of the bed before kissing the now sleeping boy's forehead. Snuggling the boy closer to him, Dave closed his eyes and joined Spencer in sleep.