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- I am so sorry guys! I didn't mean to be this long updating. For some reason this time hit me harder than the previous ones. I had days where I was dizzy if I stood. Thankfully, the diet is over and so is the scan. No results yet but hopefully I'll hear soon.
And of course when I finally get a chapter ready, the site goes down. I spent yesterday afternoon and evening trying to get to manage stories so I could post this but only got error after error. Thankfully, the problem seems to be fixed now.
Previously on Criminal Minds- Aaron hurried over to Spencer's bedside. Dropping onto the bed, he enveloped his little boy in a bone crushing hug. "Spencer!"
CM
"Ho-daddy!" Spencer corrected, mindful of the nurse by his side. He returned his father figure's hug before grinning up at the man. "I feel all bettew! Tan I go home now?"
Aaron choked out a laugh. "Not so fast buddy" he replied. "The doctors need to make sure you're all better first."
"It won't be for long, Sweetie." Kelly, the young nurse, informed the youngster as she stood. "Dr. Sawyer said that he might let you go home as early as tomorrow morning. He's only keeping you to ensure you don't take another turn for the worst. I don't think your family wants to take you home and then you get really sick again."
"That's right, Little Man" Morgan seconded, ruffling the boy's hair. "We all want to be absolutely sure you're one hundred percent before we take you outta here because none of us can handle going through what we've just been through."
"Otay" Spencer agreed with a huff. He didn't want to stay but he guessed he had no…his stomach loudly rumbled reminding him he hadn't eaten in a while. "Ummm, I'm hungwy. Tan I have some jello?"
"Of course you can" Kelly responded. "I'll order a tray for you and have it delivered to your new room." She strode over to the open doorway. "I'll be back in a few minutes with an orderly and a gurney to take you to your new home for the night. If you need anything before then, just hit the call button."
"Fant you!" Spencer called after the retreating nurse. Once she disappeared from view, the little boy rounded on his family. "Do I weally have to…"
"WEID!" Henry squealed as he ran into the crowded room. He raced over to the bed and, with Hotch's help, climbed up next to his friend. "You'we otay! Untle Gabe weally made you bettew!"
"Was there ever any doubt?" the trickster said from his spot in the doorway.
Spencer looked over at the smirking being and waved. "Hi Untle Gabe" he called, being careful to keep the cute little kid smile on his face. While he knew he was missing something, something very important from the look on his friends' faces, Reid wasn't sure if he should question it now or wait till later.
"Howdy Sport!" Gabe cheerfully called back. "Bout time you decided to join us."
"Yeah, we were starting to think you were gonna sleep through Christmas." Will teased, eliciting a nervous chuckle from everyone.
Spencer eyed the group curiously. "Alwight, I tan tell somefing is bofewing you. What is it? What happened while I was leeping?"
"Ummm, before we go any farther do you think I could borrow the guys for a few minutes? There's a little video we need to check out." Gabe asked the youngster.
"You'll tome wight bat?" Spencer asked.
"Sure Short Stuff" the trickster answered, walking over to the bed. "We'll be back before you know it."
"Otay" Reid agreed. He slid off Hotch's lap. "Go ahead but I wanna know all the details when you get bat."
"You've got it, Pretty Boy" Derek agreed. He patted his best friend on the back and then headed for the door with the others.
Aaron paused at the doorway. "No one comes in unless you know them or they are with someone you know." He ordered.
"Don't worry, Hotch. We'll keep him safe." Prentiss assured the worried man. "You just catch whoever did this."
Aaron nodded before following the others out the door.
Spencer rounded on the ladies as soon as the door shut. "Alwight, spill." He demanded.
"Okay" Emily agreed. "It's like this."
CM
"I'm telling you sir. We need to…" Dr. Sawyer turned to the door at the sound of knocking.
"Come in" Dr. Houston called out.
Hotch, Rossi, Morgan, Will, and Gabe determinedly strode into the room and right up to the Chief of Staff's desk. "Dr. Houston, we need to see the video from the pediatric floor." Dave gruffly stated, flashing his FBI credentials.
Dr. Houston inwardly groaned. He had a feeling the family would come to him demanding answers. He just wished he had some. "I'm sorry gentlemen. There is no video to watch. There was a problem with the cameras on the pediatric ward. They were down during the time the alleged incident occurred." He explained.
Aaron felt his anger growing with every word that came out of the older physician's mouth. He was acting far too nonchalant for the profiler's liking. This was an attempted murder! The furious profiler opened his mouth to let the man know exactly what he thought of his cavalier attitude but fortunately for everyone, Gabe spoke first.
"I think you should check those video feeds again." The trickster calmly suggested.
Dr. Houston huffed. "Sir, I went down to the security office myself. Nothing was recorded." He replied. "Going down there again won't do any good."
"Humor me" Gabe said before gesturing towards the door.
Dr. Houston looked at the group of scowling men and nodded. "Fine" he agreed. He pushed his chair back and walked around his desk. "Follow me." The balding doctor led the men out of the room, down the corridor, and over to the bank of elevators. After several tense, silent moments the doors of the middle elevator swished open and the group trudged inside. They rode down to level M before stepping off. They then hurried down halls and around corners. The physician took the group all the way to the other side of the building and then went through a door at the very end of the corridor. "Hi James" he greeted. "Could you pull up the pediatric video from around six o'clock this evening?"
"Sir?" James questioned.
"I know. Just try it" Dr. Houston instructed.
"Yes sir" the security guard answered. He sat up straighter in his chair and cued up the video. Pushing a button, he wasn't surprised to see nothing but static. "This is it. As you can see there's nothing but…" his mouth dropped open as a picture of the pediatric nurse's station appeared on the screen.
The profilers, officer, trickster, and doctors gathered around the security guard's chair. They watched as a very familiar figure strolled up to the desk and scribbled something on a chart before setting the chart on Helen's desk and walking away grinning.
"Curly?" Dr. Sawyer gasped. "Curly's the one that tried to kill Little Britches!?"
"That son of a" Morgan swore. "I'm gonna tear him limb from limb!"
"Morgan" Rossi warned before turning his attention to Dr. Houston. "Where is Dr. Cavanaugh?"
Dr. Houston thought for a moment. "He should be on his rounds."
"Have someone page him and tell him to come to your office." Dave ordered. "That's it. I don't want him to know what's up until he walks in the door."
"I understand." The physician responded with a nod. Snatching up the phone, Dr. Houston mentally prepared himself for the fight to come.
CM
Dr. Cavanaugh confidently strode down the long narrow corridor. He'd been shocked when Dr. Houston ordered him to report to his office but the more he thought about it, the more he thought it was a good thing. The Chief probably wanted to praise him for his superior work or maybe he was going to offer him a coveted position on the staff. Then again, Dr. Houston could have summoned him to inform him that he was such a remarkable physician he was going to end his internship early. After all, he was far superior to all the other interns as well as the full-fledged doctors. He didn't need to be a lowly intern to prove himself; he'd already more than shown his stellar skills. Yes, that had to be it. A smile crept over his face as he took hold of the door knob to the Chief of Staff's office. This was going to be good!
Dr. Cavanaugh took a moment to compose himself and school his expression before rapping on the door and entering. He stopped short at the sight of the Hotchner men and Dr. Sawyer standing around the room. Michael frowned, glancing from the stone faced men to the annoying intern and back. While he couldn't read the boy's family's expressions, Sawyer's was no problem at all; he was pissed. So, that's why the Chief wanted to see him. Oh, this was too rich! Dr. Cavanaugh had to fight to keep the smirk off his face. He was going to enjoy this. "You wanted to see me sir?" he asked, barely managing to contain his glee.
"Yes, have a seat Dr. Cavanaugh" Dr. Houston instructed. He waited for the over eager physician to comply and then added, "Dr. Cavanaugh, I know you've worked with Dr. Sawyer these last few weeks. I'd like to know what you think about his work."
The corners of Cavanaugh's lips curled up. "Well, Dr. Sawyer is very friendly and easy to work with; most of the staff enjoy working with him. He's punctual and he does his best." He said, clasping his hands together to keep them still. "However, he lacks the needed knowledge to be an effective physician at this time. He needs to go back and study certain treatments and medications. Truthfully, I've been afraid he'd prescribe the wrong medication and hurt someone."
"Really?" Dr. Houston questioned.
"Yes sir" Cavanaugh replied, nodding his head. "Excuse me for asking, but why are you…oh dear! Something's happened, hasn't it?"
"You would know." Sawyer spat.
"Know? Know what?" Michael inquired, doing his best to play dumb.
Dr. Sawyer leaned closer to the jerk and pointed a finger in his face. "Don't play dumb, Curly. You scribbled that medication on Spencer Hotchner's chart and then put it on Helen's desk and you know it." he growled.
"I did nothing of the sort!" Dr. Cavanaugh shouted. "Don't go blaming your incompetence on me! I'm not taking the fall for your mistake."
"Really?" Sawyer huffed. "So if the video shows you writing on the kid's chart, it's wrong?"
"Video? There's no video! I made sure of that before I…" Michael broke off, throwing a hand over his mouth as he realized what he'd said. "I mean, I, I…"
"That's enough Dr. Cavanaugh!" Dr. Houston bellowed. "You are already in enough trouble. Don't add lying to it."
Dr. Cavanaugh hung his head. He'd just lost everything and he knew it.
Josh sighed. He was having a hard time believing this. Dr. Cavanaugh had so much going for him. He was a damn good physician even if he was arrogant and obnoxious. It just didn't track that he'd throw it all away. Sawyer looked over at his former rival. "Why'd you do it, man?" he softly asked.
"I, I didn't have a choice." Michael quietly replied.
"What do you mean you didn't have a choice?" Dr. Houston demanded. "There's always a choice!"
Dr. Cavanaugh shook his head. "Not this time" he told the infuriated man. "This young man came to see me a couple of days ago. He wanted me to do it; gave me this big spiel about how the Hotchners and Sawyer had split up his family and ruined his life and so on and so forth. I, of course, couldn't have cared less and I told him so. The boy said he figured as much and that he came prepared for it. Then he pulls out this envelope full of, of photographs and tells me he'll send them to my wife if I don't do as he says."
"Photos? What kind of photos?" Rossi questioned, though he had a pretty good idea.
"I ummm, I've been having a, a tryst with young lady I met at a club a few months ago. The pictures were of the two of us in rather, intimate positions." Michael answered, turning beet red.
Dr. Sawyer smirked. "Dr. Cavanaugh! I'm shocked!" he exclaimed. "I didn't think you had it in you!"
"Dr. Sawyer" Dr. Houston warned, massaging his forehead tiredly.
"Sorry sir" Josh apologized, having the good sense to look contrite.
Hotch, who had been silent up to this point, stepped up to the Chief's desk and propped on it. Crossing his arms, he leveled a glare at the man who'd attempted to kill his youngest. "This young man that blackmailed you" he said, keeping his tone level, "what did he look like?"
Dr. Cavanaugh frowned. "He was tall and thin with short black hair." He cocked his head to one side. "He actually looked a lot like you, only younger."
That description got Rossi's attention. He knew exactly who the physician was describing. Walking over, he stood next to Hotch. "When are you meeting with him?" he demanded.
"I, I'm not sure." Michael replied. "I'm supposed to send him a picture of the boy's body and then he'll text me a meeting place."
'Yeah right' Dave thought. The doctor was being played. Anyone would know that; see right through it. Well, anyone except Dr. Cavanaugh.
"Don't tell me you fell for that." Dr. Sawyer scoffed, shaking his head. "Dude, that's the oldest trick in the book. He's not gonna meet you. As soon as he gets what he wants, he's gonna book it and leave you holding the bag. Anyone with one eye and half sense knows that."
"But, but he…"
"Alright, here's what you're going to do." Aaron authoritatively stated, garnering everyone's attention. "You're going to text him. Tell him you have the photo but that you refuse to send it to him. Tell him you want to meet him and exchange pictures."
Dr. Cavanaugh nodded. He pulled out his cell and flipped it open. "Where should I tell him to meet?" he asked.
"How about the Denny's across the street?" Josh suggested. "Most of the medical personnel I know go there to get a break from the hospital or to get a decent meal. And it's where we tell patient's families to go to wait or eat. So it should be nice and crowded. Y'all could easily lie in wait for the kid."
"Good idea" Dave praised.
Dr. Cavanaugh typed in the message and hit send. After less than a minute, his cell pinged and a response appeared on the screen. "He said to send it or he'll personally deliver the photos he took to my wife."
"He's bluffing. He has no intention of meeting your wife. He's too smart to expose himself like that." Rossi theorized. "He's just trying to scare you into doing what he wants. Tell him if he takes them to your wife, you'll go to the police. And that you'll be waiting for him at Denny's in one hour. If he's not there by," Dave checked his watch. "Ten sixteen that you're going to the cops."
"O-okay" Dr. Cavanaugh stammered. He punched in the requested message and sat back to wait. Thirty seconds later a four word reply appeared. "He said fine. I'll be there."
"Perfect" Hotch said. "We're going to get everything set up. Dr. Cavanaugh, you are to stay here with Dr. Houston until we come for you. Dr. Sawyer, I know you're tired and more than ready to go home but I'd appreciate it if you stayed here until this is over."
"You've got it Hoss." Josh answered.
Aaron cracked a smile. He really liked the young doctor. Standing, he turned to his colleagues. "Let's go gentlemen. We have less than an hour to get set up." he ordered. The BAU men plus Will and Gabe swiftly strode out of the room. They had work to do.
CM
Forty five minutes later Rossi and Hotch watched as a young man warily approached Dr. Cavanaugh's table. The very familiar boy sat down across from the fidgeting physician and began to talk. The profilers listened as the aggravated man demanded to see the photos and to hear all the grisly details of Spencer's demise. As furious as the youngster's cavalier attitude made them, they held their positions, waiting until the boy finished crowing about his plan before signaling the undercover agents to move in. The two then came out of hiding and hurried towards the table, making it just as the angry young man was being handcuffed.
"Adam Pringle, you are under arrest for the attempted murder of three federal agents." Hotch announced. Looking to the agents, he added, "You know what to do."
"Yes sir" Agent Maxwell responded. Putting a hand on his prisoner's shoulder, he quickly led the culprit out of the restaurant.
"Let's go Cavanaugh" Rossi ordered, reaching for the physician.
Sighing heavily, Dr. Cavanaugh stood. "You'll remember I helped, right?" he questioned as he walked to the door with the profilers. "You'll tell the police that I helped you and they'll be lenient on me."
"I'll think about it." Dave replied. He pushed the glass door open and shoved the physician outside and into the waiting arms of two police officers. "Okay, I've thought about it and the answer is no."
"But, but" Dr. Cavanaugh protested as he was put in the back of the patrol car. "But I help…" he was cut off as the door slammed shut.
Rossi waved to the still protesting man in the police car and then turned to his companion. "Come on Aaron. Let's go question our suspect before Morgan gets his hands on him."
"I don't know." Hotch hedged even as he started walking. "Maybe we should give Morgan a few minutes."
"Aaron" Dave warned.
"Sorry" Hotch apologized, massaging the back of his neck. He blew out a frustrated breath. "Let's go."
Rossi put out a hand to stop his friend. "Aaron if you can't do this, tell me now." He softly said. "I can always have Morgan or Prentiss stand in."
"No, I'll do it." Aaron responded. Seeing the skeptical expression on the senior profiler's face, he added, "I promise I'll be nothing but professional."
Dave eyed his friend critically. "Fine, but if it gets to be too much, let me know." He instructed. "That little punk isn't getting off because one of us lost our temper."
"Agreed" Hotch answered, opening his truck door. After fastening his seat belt and starting the SUV, he carefully backed out of his space and then drove towards the exit. He wanted answers and he wanted them now!
CM
Dave and Aaron walked into the interrogation room where a smug looking Adam Pringle was sitting. "Well, well, well, if it isn't two of the agents that destroyed my family." He angrily greeted.
"We didn't destroy your family. We merely removed a child due to neglect." Rossi corrected as he took a seat across from the young suspect.
Adam snorted. "You mean that brat Matt? Mom did more for him than he ever deserved." He huffed. "He just didn't appreciate it. He wanted to be the center of attention and when he found out that wouldn't happen, the brat thought up a way to get attention. And you played right into his hands; gave him what he always wanted. That was fine with me or it would have been fine except my other siblings slowly went to him. It started with Dennis. I don't know what you said to him but he believed Matt's pitiful pearl story from the beginning. He started going over to Matt's new place. And before long he was staying there and just visiting our house every once and a while. Then he started taking Penny with him. And once Jenny healed enough, she began going with him, too. In a few short weeks my family went from a mom and five kids to a mom and one kid. Only mom wasn't the mother I knew. She was spending all her time and energy trying to find a way to get Matt and the others back. All that happened because of you! My mother spending her time researching, my brother and sisters deserting us, even Officer Ramiro dying! All of those happened because of you and Matt!"
"So you're not happy to have your mother to yourself?" Hotch questioned.
"Of course not" Adam growled. "Not when she's like this. If my other brother and sisters hadn't left, she'd still be her old loveable self and things would be alright; wonderful even."
"Because you would be the center of attention" Rossi threw out.
Adam scowled. "I can't help it if my family happens to favor me." He defended.
"So this is all about you." Hotch summarized.
"No" Adam argued. "It's about getting my mom back."
"Do you really think you attempting to kill a child is going to endear you to your mom?" Rossi incredulously asked.
"Please" Adam scoffed. "I learned at a young age that Ms. Pringle will excuse anything I do due to the abuse I suffered before she saved me. She'll come running when you call her and I'll have her undivided attention just like I did after she thought I was bullied."
"Thought?" Hotch repeated.
Adam smirked. "Yeah, thought. I dropped enough hints to make them think I was being bullied. I even paid a couple of guys in my class who were known bullies to beat on me a little."
"You paid someone to rough you up?" Rossi questioned.
"Yes" Adam replied.
"That was a stupid move. They could have hurt you badly or even killed you." Rossi pointed out.
"Not a chance" Adam told him. "I was acquainted with those guys. I knew they wouldn't go too overboard. They were too good at what they did to do that."
"Wait a minute." Hotch said as a memory rushed to the forefront. "These wouldn't be the same boys that bullied Matt would they?"
"The very same" Adam smugly answered.
"And you know that how?" Rossi inquired. "Your mother said you didn't know about your brother being bullied."
Adam's smile widened. "Who do you think set up the bullying and filmed it?" he revealed.
To their credit neither agent showed the horror that statement brought. Narrowing their eyes at the arrogant young man, both men stood and leaned over the table. "You set up your own flesh and blood?" Hotch questioned.
"The brat deserved it." Adam responded with a shrug. "The little brainiac was always going around spouting off all these useless facts. It was annoying. Nobody liked it, not even the teachers. They bumped him up several grades so they wouldn't have to listen to him. Do you know what it's like to have a younger brother in a higher grade than you? It's embarrassing! So I sicced those guys on him. They put him in his place."
"That's why you said he deserved it." Rossi muttered.
"Actually I told him that in the hopes that he would off himself." Adam admitted. "I didn't expect him to come after me. It worked out to my advantage however. I pretended to be traumatized by the incident and my whole family turned against the little cry baby. It was great!"
Rossi shook his head. "Let me guess; you showing up at that therapist's office was your idea, too."
"It was." Adam replied. "I wanted to remind him of what he lost. But then he took them all away from me. So I had to find a way to take them back."
"Kid, this isn't going to get them back for you. It's probably going to drive them away." Rossi informed him. "After all, there aren't many people who want to be around someone charged with attempted murder of a child."
"Please, they'll never believe I did any of this." Adam confidently stated. "Neither will anyone else. I'll claim I was scared and that the two of you ganging up on me caused me to have flashbacks of my tortured childhood. So I said what you told me to."
"You don't say?" Hotch asked, hiding a smirk of his own. The boy had been taped since he'd been put in the patrol car. He could deny all he wanted to but it wouldn't make a difference. The truth was all there in black and white.
"Yeah" Adam growled. "And, and my therapist will testify on my behalf. She'll vouch for me. She'll even point the finger at Matt."
Rossi's brow furrowed. "Why would she say it was Matt's fault?" he inquired.
Adam smiled. "Because I'll tell her he made me do it." he answered. "You see, my new therapist, Ms. Beastly, has a little side project that she's very interested in. It has to do with psychic children and their powers. I've already told her all about Matt; how he knows things before they happen and how he appears smart because he goes into people's minds to get the answers he needs. I even told her my learning difficulties were due to Matt digging through my mind and stealing information. The old bat believed every word. In fact she was so impressed she stalked Matt and his new family. She showed up there time and time again trying to interview him. They of course kept telling her no and to leave them alone but she didn't. She wanted contact with Matt. Eventually, his family got a restraining order against her. So now the only way she gets any info on him is through me. I tell her he made me come here and try to kill the kid and she'll believe me. She'll say whatever I want. She won't risk losing her only connection to the biggest psychic she's ever heard of."
"You're a real piece of work, kid." Rossi huffed.
"Thank you" Adam replied. He willed tears to his eyes. "I, I think I'd like to make that phone call now."
Rolling his eyes, Rossi headed for the door. "Let's go Hotch. We're not going to get anything else out of him."
Aaron nodded. He followed his co-worker to the door and walked out, stopping in the entryway. "Oh, and for your information you've been videotaped since you stepped into the station tonight." he said before going out and closing the door on the now screaming young man. Hearing the litany of cursing coming from the other side of the door, Aaron snickered. "Come on. I wanna get back to the hospital before Spencer conks out for the night."
Smiling, the two men headed back to the hospital and their family.
AN- Originally, Stephen Gideon was going to be the unsub. But then Wednesday on the way to get my radioactive iodine pill, I got the idea for the whole scene between Adam, Rossi, and Hotch. It sounded a lot better and smoother on the way to the hospital. Unfortunately, by the time I got back home I'd forgotten how it went.