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- We have a new little Reid story! It's A New Friend by QweenGwen! A huge thank you to Stosh and KASEY64 for finding it!
Previously on Criminal Minds- Wrapping his arms carefully around Spencer, Aaron closed his eyes and joined his son in dreamland.
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Emily wheeled herself halfway through the door and then stopped. Turning, she smiled. "Thanks Helen. You have no idea how much this means to me."
The RN returned the smile. "True but I think I have a pretty good idea. I have two little ones of my own and I don't know what I'd do if one of them was hurt and I wasn't able to see him." she related.
"Yeah, hearing he's okay just isn't enough. I need to see him for myself, you know?" Prentiss said.
Helen nodded. "I understand. I'd feel the same way if I was in your shoes." She replied before glancing at her watch. "I'll be back to get you in thirty minutes."
"Thirty minutes. Got it." Emily agreed though she had no intention of complying. Grabbing the wheels of her wheelchair, she turned and awkwardly made her way to Spencer's bedside. "Awwww" Prentiss cooed, reaching for her cell phone to snap a photo of Hotch sleeping with Spencer on his chest. It was too adorable! She scowled as she remembered her cell was in her purse which was back in the room. "Crap! Morgan, lend me your phone. I've gotta get a picture of this."
"Not a chance Princess" Derek whispered. "Garcia told me they had to give Pretty Boy pain meds a little while ago 'cause he was hurting so bad. I won't risk waking the kid up."
"Poor baby" Prentiss softly muttered, ghosting a hand down the slumbering boy's cheek. "This was the last thing he needed."
"You've got that right." Morgan grumbled. "And when I get my hands on the scum that caused our accident, he's going to find out just what I think of his trap."
Emily nodded. "I'll help you." she promised. The raven haired profiler reached out and gently carded a hand through Spencer's hair. "Have you guys figured out who did this yet?"
"No, but we've got quite a few suspects in mind." Derek explained, massaging the back of his neck. "My money's on Mr. Reid though."
After pondering the purposed unsub for a few moments, Prentiss shook her head. "I'm not so sure about that. William Reid might be an intelligent man and he certainly had a grudge against Spencer but I don't think he would have the know-how to rig the explosive. He doesn't strike me as the get your hands dirty mechanic type." She pointed out. "I think that so-called adoptive mother would be a better suspect. Anyone that leaves a suicidal child alone with orders to write their feelings down is the worst kind of scum. Plus the fact that when her favorite went through a small portion of the bullying Matt did, she had the whole family all over the poor baby doing everything they could to make him feel better. Add to that that even after she found out her youngest" she did air quotes at the last word, "had been bullied to the point of wanting to end his life, she not only allowed his siblings to bully him, but she also fussed at him if he stood up for himself. That witch makes my mother look like a saint and that's really saying something. I wouldn't put it past the no account sorry excuse for a mother to have either set this up herself or sent her cop friend or even her favorite to get rid of us for destroying her family." Seeing her friend's shocked expression, she sighed. "Sorry, I'm just not real big on moms right now."
"I take it your mother called." Morgan surmised.
"Yeah" Emily replied with a grimace. "That's one conversation I'd love to forget."
Morgan winced. "That bad?" he asked.
Prentiss tiredly nodded. "I'd rather not talk or even think about it. We've got more pressing matters to discuss anyway." She answered. "Is there anyone else who might be a viable suspect?"
Derek frowned at the change in topic but didn't call his friend on it. If Emily didn't want to talk about it right now, he'd respect her wishes. That didn't mean he wouldn't hound her about it until she cracked and spilled the beans though. He'd give her a day or two to cool off and then all bets were off. He might just send his mom to meet with the wicked witch before she flew back home. She'd set that old hag straight. Morgan smirked. That's one meet and greet he'd love to…
"Earth to Morgan" Emily called, swatting the muscular man on the arm to garner his attention.
"Huh? Oh, sorry I was thinking." Morgan apologized.
Prentiss rolled her eyes. "Get your mind outta the gutter." She playfully instructed. "And help me. Who else do we know that might want to do us in? What about that woman we met at that factory place? You know the one who had kidnapped her kids? She was definitely steamed at us. And the bat was vindictive enough to try something like this."
"True but I don't think that lady has the smarts to pull off something this elaborate." Derek pointed out, glancing down at his best friend when the boy let out a soft moan. Lowering his voice, he blew out a breath before adding, "There is one suspect we haven't considered."
"Who?" Emily inquired as she shifted in her wheelchair in an attempt to get comfortable.
"Foyet" Morgan whispered. "He's come after Hotch before and he's threatened his family."
Emily mulled that over before shaking her head. "Yeah, but this isn't his MO and we're not Hotch's family at least not by Foyet's way of thinking. And even if he considered us family, he wouldn't anonymously kill us. Foyet would do it face to face and he would take us out like all his other victims because he would want Hotch to know it was him."
"Maybe he just wanted to incapacitate us so he could take us out easier." Morgan hypothesized, swiping a hand across his mouth.
"Then why didn't he finish us off?" Emily countered. "He could have easily overpowered you when you left the Jeep to call for help and Spencer and I were both unconscious. Killing us would have been like shooting fish in a barrel."
"Something could have spooked him; driven him off." Derek suggested.
"Not likely" Prentiss replied, shifting once more. Between the drafty hospital gown and the wheelchair she was beyond uncomfortable.
Noting the movement, Morgan frowned. "Yeah, I guess you're right." He conceded as he stood and stepped behind the wiggling woman's chair. "Come on let's get you back to your room. All your dancing around is making me nervous."
"You'd be fidgeting too if you were stuck in this crappy chair." Emily huffed. "And forget my room. Wheel me to the gift shop instead. I wanna pick up a deck of cards. I need something to do if I'm going to be stuck here."
"Already taken care of Princess" Derek said, taking a new sealed card box out of his pocket."
"Morgan, you are a lifesaver! I was dying of boredom in that room!" Emily exclaimed.
"Just call me your knight in shining armor" Morgan teased, starting for the door.
Emily snickered. "Home James" she ordered.
"Yes your royal highness" Morgan joked. Laughing, he pushed his friend out of the room.
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Aaron smiled as he looked out at the beautiful blue sky. It was one of those rare quiet moments at work. The usually crowded courtyard was deserted save for Hotch and a handful of pigeons. No talking or arguing, or agents expected him to have all the answers; nothing but the BAU leader and nature. Sighing, Aaron leaned his head back, relaxing as the warm sun shone down on his face. He closed his eyes. This was para…something cold and wet hit him on the cheek. Frowning, the profiler opened one eye and checked the sky. But there wasn't a trace of a raincloud. Putting the feeling down to his imagination, Aaron closed his eye and settled back once more. Just as he managed to get comfortable another cold drop landed on his face. Growling, he snapped open his eyes to see…"Spencer?" he muttered, looking up at the grinning boy. Wait? Looking up? Confused, the profiler glanced around the room. It only took a moment for the fog to clear and the agent to get his bearings back. Propping himself up on his elbows, Aaron looked up into the syrup covered face of his son.
"Hotch! Loot!" Spencer squealed, holding up a clear bowl of half melted ice cream. "Wossi bwought me an ice tweam sundae!"
"I see." Aaron replied. Sitting the rest of the way up, he took the wet rag Garcia was holding out to him and began wiping the sticky mess off Spencer's face, neck, and hands. Once every bit of syrup and ice cream was gone, he dropped the used wash rag onto the nightstand.
"Uhh Aaron I don't think you got it all." Dave said, gesturing to his own nose.
Hotch glanced at Reid's tiny button nose. It was ice cream and syrup free though the rest of his face was quickly becoming a mess again as the de-aged profiler chowed down on the remainder of his treat. "Spencer doesn't have any" he broke off recalling the drops hitting his face in his dream. Reaching up, Aaron swiped a hand over his nose. He frowned at the sticky, wet lump on the tip of his nose. "How did this…" He rounded on the smiling boy beside him. "You little imp!"
Spencer flopped down on his pillow, giggling with glee. "You, you l-looted lite F-Fwooosty!" he cackled.
"Really?" Aaron skeptically said, raising an eyebrow. He wrapped his hand around his chin and rubbed his thumb and index finger over it in mock thought. "Hmmm, I think I need to see that for myself." He swiftly dipped a finger in the ice cream bowl and painted the youngster's nose. His lips twitched up in amusement. "You're right. It does make you look like Frosty."
Spencer pouted as laughter rang out in the room. "It's not funny." He grumbled, crossing his arms with a huff. The littlest agent turned away from the cackling crew intent on ignoring them for the rest of the day. His bladder however, had other ideas. It expressed its displeasure, painfully pressing against his side. Spencer started panicking. Since he was hooked up to an IV and a handful of other machines, there was no way he could slide off the bed and walk himself to the bathroom. And he absolutely refused to wet the bed again. He was going to need help and fast. So after pinching himself to hopefully prevent an accident, Spencer carefully flipped over while attempting to move as little as possible. "Hotch" he called, nudging his father figure. "Hotch, I've gotta go!"
Aaron immediately scooped up his son and climbed off the bed. He grabbed the IV pole with his free hand and as soon as Rossi finished disconnecting everything else, he hurried to the bathroom.
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"Hey guys" Emily greeted as Garcia pushed her wheelchair into the room. "Look who got her walking papers!"
Spencer cocked his head to one side. "Walting papews? But you tan't walt." He helpfully pointed out.
Prentiss snickered. She'd forgotten how literal the boy genius could be. "No Sweetness, walking papers is just another word for your release papers." She explained.
"Oh" Spencer said, turning beet red. He hated it when he misunderstood things. It always made him feel like his preteen self, trying to navigate his way through the middle school and high school scene. For all his book smarts he had been incredibly lacking when it came to the social aspects. The other kids would say things, usually about him that had the rest of the group rolling with laughter. But he never got them. The references they made eluded him and no one ever bothered to explain them to him; at least not until he became one of the BAU members. His friends were good about explaining things to him so he could get the joke, too. Sure they laughed at him first but it was all in good fun. They didn't mean any harm by it. Spencer smiled at the warm feeling that came over him at the thought of his second family. They'd never know how thankful he was to be part of their family. They were the best! Grin widening, he looked his friend in the eye and said, "I'm glad you get to go home. The do'tow said I had to tay at least anofew day."
"Don't worry my Bandaged Baby. You'll be out before you know it." Garcia cheerfully supplied.
"I know." Spencer replied, fiddling with his Ewok's cloak.
"Come here you" Prentiss ordered, holding out her arms.
Spencer didn't need to be told twice. He quickly and carefully scooted to the edge of his bed and then crawled into his big sister's lap. "I, I love you." he whispered around the thumb in his mouth.
"I love you too Handsome" Emily said, wrapping the little boy in a hug.
Sighing, Spencer burrowed into Prentiss' chest, closed his eyes and fell asleep.
"Awwww, my poor baby" Emily murmured. She kissed Reid's forehead before reluctantly relinquishing the boy to his father.
Aaron gently tucked his little boy back into his bed. Turning to the others in the room, he was about to ask Rossi if he would take Prentiss to the hotel when the hospital room door flew open and Morgan and Will rushed inside.
"We have a problem."