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- Smiling, JJ turned and started down the stairs. She needed to warn the other ladies of the impending war.
Attitude Adjustment
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Spencer munched on his cookie as he carefully pieced together the cockpit of his Lego starship. He'd been working on it since he finished breakfast and while he'd gotten a good bit done, he was quickly becoming bored not to mention restless. He longed to run; he needed to run. His tiny body just wasn't meant to stay still for long periods of time. And the two hours he'd been sitting constituted a long time for him. Spencer was certain if he didn't move soon, he'd explode. But Hotch had forbid him to play in any way. Reid frowned. Just who did Hotch think he was anyway ordering him to rest? Spencer knew his body and what it needed better than his boss. And his body was telling him to move. The angry boy snapped another piece onto his ship. Forget Hotch. He was going to listen to his body.
There was just one little problem; how to do that. He couldn't jump up and start running. With his stubby little legs he wouldn't make it two feet before Morgan caught up with him. If he was going to expend his excess energy, he was going to need a plan. Smiling to himself, Spencer continued to work on his craft as his mind whirled through a multitude of possible scenarios before finally stopping on the one that had the highest odds of success. 'Time for some fun.' The youngster thought. Reid carefully set his creation down, placed his hands on the floor, and pushed himself up. "I'm going to the bafwoom." He told Morgan.
"K" Derek replied with a nod. "Need any help?"
Spencer rolled his eyes. "I fint I tan manage going to the bafwoom by myself." he huffed.
Morgan held up his hands in surrender. "Okay, okay" he conceded. "Just don't come crying to me when the tidy bowl man grabs you by your…"
"Mowgan!" Reid whined, turning beet red.
Derek chuckled. "Chill youngster, I'm just yanking your chain." He said, ruffling the tot's hair. "Go on to the potty. I need some time to think up my next prank anyway."
Resisting the urge to grin like an idiot, Spencer nodded and toddled out of the room as fast as he dared.
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Hotch and Rossi tromped into the living room and plopped down on the sofa. Aaron glanced around the room, raising an eyebrow when he didn't spot his youngest. "Where's Reid?" he asked.
"Pretty Boy's taking a bathroom break." Morgan answered before quietly adding, "Is everything set?"
Dave nodded. "Everything's unpacked and ready to be put together as soon as the rug rats go down for their nap." he whispered.
"Perfect" Derek said, smiling at the thought of what was to come. "I can't wait to see…OW! JJ what was that for?!"
JJ leveled her infamous mother glare on the three profilers. "There will be no pranking while the boys are sleeping." She ordered.
"If you boys wake my sweet babies at nappy time, I will see to it that you regret it." Garcia warned as she walked into the room.
"That goes double for me." Emily seconded.
"And me." Fran chimed in, giving her son a look that had all three men swallowing hard.
"Relax mama, we have no intention of pulling anything while the youngsters are conked out." Derek assured his mother. "We've got something more important to do at nap time."
"He's telling the truth." Dave told the women who didn't look the least bit convinced. "One of Morgan's friends built a surprise for the boys and now that Reid's on the mend we figured it was the perfect time to set it up."
"Speaking of Reid, where is he?" Prentiss questioned.
Morgan frowned. "He said he was going to the bathroom but that was" he paused to look at the mantle clock, doing a double take when he saw the time. "But that was half an hour ago."
Aaron's brow furrowed. "I better go check on him." he muttered. He stood and started for the entryway. "Was he going to the one down the hall?"
"No, he went up the stairs." Derek replied. "His stool is in that hall bathroom, remember?"
Nodding, Hotch hurried out of the room.
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After a check of the bathroom came up empty, Aaron turned to look at the closed doors that lined the hallway. Tamping down on his anger, he quickly switched from father to agent. He silently stood and listened for any sound that might lead him to the errant tot. Hearing a muffled squeaking noise, Hotch crept across the hall to the door the sound was emanating from; his own bedroom door. The father took a deep, steadying breathe before grasping the doorknob and yanking the door open. "Spencer Reid!" he shouted.
Startled by the shout, Spencer jumped too close to the edge of the bed.
Aaron watched in horror as the little boy bounced off the bed and flew through the air. Reacting faster than he thought possible, he raced across the room. He barely managed to catch Reid before the boy hit the floor. Shaking with the fear of what could have happened, Hotch shuffled over to the bed and dropped onto it. "Spencer are you alright? You're not hurt, are you?" he questioned as he checked the boy over.
"I, I'm fine." Reid answered, trying to calm his breathing.
Finding no injuries, Aaron swiftly went from frightened to furious. He picked up his son, stormed over to a corner of the room, and set the boy on his feet. "Nose in the corner! Now!" he angrily ordered. "I'll be back to deal with you once I've calmed down."
"Deal wif me?!" Spencer scoffed, glaring up at his father. "You tan't do anyfing to me! I'm a gwown-up! I have…" he broke off with a yelp as a heavy hand landed on his behind. "Top hitting me!"
"Spencer Reid lose the attitude right this minute!" Aaron warned.
"No!" Reid shouted, stomping his foot. "I am an adult. I tan have an a'tude if I choose to! And fewe's nofing you tan do about it!"
"That is it young man!" Hotch growled. He snatched the rebellious boy up and stalked back over to the bed. After taking a seat on the end of it, Aaron flipped the fighting youngster over his knees and proceeded to tan his hide. He didn't hold anything back this time. The father landed swat after swat on the upturned backside. By the time he was done Reid was a sobbing mess. Aaron turned the crying child over and gently settled him on his lap.
Spencer fought his way off Hotch's lap and scurried across the room. He swiped at the tears streaming down his face and then pointed an accusing finger at his father figure. "I, I tan't believe you!" he hollered. "You teep, teep telling me I tan do fings fow myself yet evewytime I do, you jump down my fwoat about it!"
"Spencer listen…"
"No! You liten! You'we being a big meanie and I, I hate you!" Reid shouted before running out of the room.
Aaron winced at the slam of the door. Closing his eyes, he pinched the bridge of his nose. That had not gone well at all. Not only had Spencer alm…Hotch leapt to his feet and dashed out of the room. He needed to make sure Reid made it down the stairs alright. Making it to the landing, he looked down, sighing in relief when he saw the boy stomp off the bottom step. Aaron hurriedly followed his son down the stairs and into the living room. He wanted to talk to his son. He was halfway through the room when he was stopped by a hand on his chest.
"Let him go, Aaron" Dave advised. "He needs some time alone to cool off."
"But he, he…"
"We know. We kinda heard." Morgan said. Getting a questioning look, he added, "You must have left the door open."
Nodding, Aaron sank down onto the couch and dropped his head in his hands.
Fran walked over and took a seat next to the upset father. "Don't worry Honey. Reid didn't mean what he said. He's just mad." She assured him. "All children put their parents through this at one time or another. I remember when Derek told his dad and I that."
"Mom" Morgan groaned.
"He was five." She continued, ignoring her son's protests. "He was so angry that he decided he was going to run away. So he packed his little back pack and stomped right out the front door. He made it all the way to the corner too."
"That's where you caught him?" Garcia asked.
"Oh no. We didn't catch him." Fran replied. "He sat at the corner for a little while and then turned around and came back home."
Prentiss glanced at her embarrassed friend. "Why didn't you go any further than the corner?" she inquired.
Fran answered once it became clear her son wasn't going to say anything. "He didn't go further because he wasn't allowed to cross the street by himself."
The group burst out laughing.
"That's hilarious!" Penelope exclaimed.
"It's not that funny." Morgan grumbled.
"Uh oh! Somebody's grumpy." Emily sing songed.
"Am not" Derek disagreed.
"You so are!" Garcia crowed.
"Okay ladies that's enough." Aaron warned, not wanting to have another upset profiler on his hands.
"Yeah, cut Morgan some slack." Dave instructed. "I doubt he's the only one that's ever done something like that."
"Alright" Prentiss replied, adding "party pooper" under her breath. "So what do you suggest we do now?"
"How about a few games of poker?" Rossi said. "The loser of each round has to recount an embarrassing childhood moment?"
"I'm in!" Garcia excitedly yelled.
"Me too!" Emily called.
Dave went over to his desk and pulled out a brand new deck of cards. He walked back and reclaimed his seat before breaking the seal and beginning to shuffle the stiff pile of cards. "Okay folks, let's get this party started!" he said, passing out the hands.
After Morgan gave everyone a handful of peanuts to use for chips, the players picked up their cards and the BAU poker tournament began.
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"Lunch is served!" Will called from the entryway.
"Coming!" the card players hollered back. They set down the cards and hurried into the dining room. Their stomachs growled as they gazed at the various sandwich fixings, soups, and salads covering the table. Taking their seats, they swiftly said the blessing and dug into their meal.
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Will picked up his empty glass and scooted his chair back. "I'm gonna get a refill." He announced. "Anybody else need one?" Getting a chorus of no's, he walked out of the room.
As soon as Will was out of sight, Spencer scanned all the food at the table and then asked, "Awe fewe any pitles(pickles)?"
"They're in the fridge." JJ replied.
"I'll get them." Morgan volunteered, climbing out of his chair.
"Fants Mowgan" Spencer said, following his friend with his eyes.
Seeing the mischievous glint in the boy's eyes, Dave frowned. "Reid, what's…"
AAAHHHHHHHHHHH!
Spencer burst out laughing at his friend's girlie scream.
A fuming Derek stormed through the dining room and out of view.
"Reid, what just happened?" Emily asked.
"Will, Will" Spencer giggled.
"Will what?"
"Will just got even." The Cajun informed the others as he waltzed into the room holding a realistic looking toy mouse on the end of a string.
"You didn't." Aaron said a smirk forming on his face.
"Didn't what? Pull the mouse across the floor and scare the crap outta Morgan?" Will questioned before grinning like the cat that ate the canary. "Yes, I did."
Laughter suddenly filled the room. The family giggled and chuckled until tears ran down their faces at the thought of big brave Morgan being scared by a plastic mouse.
"Good one!" Dave chuckled, wiping his eyes.
"Yeah, that was a perfect prank to pull on Morgan." JJ said.
Derek huffed as he walked back into the room. "Laugh it up while you can. Your time is coming." He warned Will.
"Bring it." Will threw back.
"Boys" Fran quietly growled, nodding to the two sleeping tots sitting at the table.
"Come on. Let's get the kiddos to bed." Will whispered. He walked over and gently picked up his son while Morgan scooped up Reid. The two men then started for the stairs. It was nap time.