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 found a wonderful Reid and fatherly Rossi story! It's The Formation of Planets by 96 Hubbles. It's a Reid is really Rossi's son story but the way they find out and the way it happened are totally different than the others I've read. It's only 3 chapters but it's a great story so far. Check it out if you get a chance.
Previously on Criminal Minds- Taking a deep sniff, he licked his lips at the delicious smells wafting in from the kitchen. He couldn't wait to taste everything!
CM
"Mowgan!" Spencer shouted as he ran into the living room. "Guess what! Fey've got a jatuzzi tub! And fey have fose wawming tiles on the bafwoom foow!"
"They do, huh?" Derek replied. He scooped the little boy up and sat the kid down beside him on the edge of the sofa bed.
"Uh huh" Reid answered, knuckling his eyes. "I didn't get *yawn* get told at all! It was awesome! We should put some of *yawn* of fose in ouw house!"
"Our house?" Morgan repeated, arching an eyebrow.
Blushing at his misstep, Spencer ducked his head. "I, I mean you should get some fow youw house." He corrected.
"I don't know." Derek muttered, rubbing his chin. "I kinda like the sound of our house better."
"You do?" Reid gasped.
"Yes I do." Morgan answered. "That house isn't a singles pad. It's a family home. And I can't think of anyone better to share it with than my little bro." He gazed up at the rest of the team. "That goes for you guys too."
"Awwww! A BAU family home! I love it!" Garcia squeed.
"Me too" Emily agreed. "We've needed a private place to unwind after a bad case for a while now and that house is perfect."
"Peating of tases, shouldn't we be distussing the tase?" Reid questioned.
"Not tonight Spencer" Hotch replied, shaking his head. "We already went over the specifics on the jet and the church ladies didn't have any new information so there is nothing to discuss."
"Besides, it's time for all little profilers to go to sleep." Dave said, smiling at the eye roll he received. Giving the others a pointed look, he added, "Well? What are you waiting for? An engraved invitation? Get your butts to bed!"
"Yes daddy!" the profilers chorused before erupting into fits of giggles.
Rossi groaned. "Go to bed brats" he grumbled, fighting to keep from smiling as the littlest agent's laughter rang out once more. Losing that battle, Dave ruffled the boy's mop of hair. "Come on kiddo. Help me out here. Show these cretins how it's done."
"O *YAWN* tay" Spencer sleepily mumbled. Rolling over, he crawled up to the pillows, grabbed his Ewok, and burrowed under the covers.
"Would you like to hear a story?" Aaron asked as he tucked the blankets tightly around the boy.
"No" Reid answered around his thumb. "I wanna he *YAWN* heaw fat twain song."
The three men grinned, thrilled that the little boy loved their singing so much that he was requesting it over his first love; books. Ignoring the ladies and the phones they were pointing at the group, Aaron, Dave, and Derek gathered around their tired little one. "I think we can handle that." Aaron told his son.
"No" Spencer whined. "You tan't! Will's not hewe! You tan't sing it wifout him!"
Hotch's brow furrowed. "But then how are you going to hear it?" he questioned.
"With this" Emily broke in, holding up her cell. Scrolling through her videos until she found the appropriate one, she walked over to the bed and set the phone on the pillow beside Reid. "Here you go, Sweetie"
"Fants" Spencer whispered. He let go of his Ewok long enough to push the start button on the video and then pulled the stuffed toy close and closed his eyes.
A teary eyed JJ stopped recording and sent the video to Will. Feeling her cell vibrate seconds later, she looked down at the screen, smiling at the message, 'I miss him, too Chere.'
The adults watched as the mini agent fell asleep to the soft singing of his family. Once they were sure he was out for the night they took turns kissing the sleeping boy. Then after bidding Hotch goodnight, the agents tiptoed out of the room.
Aaron let the song play through one more time before carefully stopping the video. He picked up the cell being careful not to disturb his charge. After setting the phone on the marble table beside the couch, the young father stripped off his clothes, changed into a tee shirt and jogging pants, and slid under the covers. Wrapping an arm around Reid's shoulders, he snuggled the little boy into his side. "Good night Spencer" he softly uttered, pressing a kiss to the youngster's forehead. Aaron then closed his eyes and let the soothing sound of his son's soft breathes to lull him to sleep.
CM
Early the next morning the BAU filed into the police department and strode down the hall to their postage stamp sized headquarters. Shrugging off their jackets, they gathered around the card table. All eyes then turned to their leader.
"Dave, I want you and Morgan to go to the second crime scene. See if you can find any evidence the police missed. Prentiss and JJ you will be interviewing the victims' family members as well as a handful of potential witnesses. The Sheriff reserved a private room in the courthouse across the street for the meetings to give you a little more room." Hotch instructed, looking to each member in turn. "Garcia, set up your computers. We'll give you perimeters for a search as we narrow down the suspect profile. While you wait, you can help Reid with the evidence board. Once that's through Reid I need you to start work on the geographical profile."
"Yes siw!" Spencer eagerly replied, already reaching for the map and his markers.
"Alright people head out" Hotch ordered, grabbing his coat. "There's only four days till Christmas Eve. That doesn't leave us much time."
Nodding their agreement, the profilers threw their coats back on and hurried out the door.
Garcia and Reid exchanged amused looks before sorting through what little the police had left them. They carefully arranged the photos and papers on the table and then carried them over to the marker board. The tiny profiler handed the various pieces to his much taller friend, giving her specific directions on where and how to place each piece. The two were so intent on their work they never heard anyone entering the room.
"Well, would you look at that!" Phil exclaimed, smirking when the two agents startled. "The FBI went and left these two here doing the grunt work. Now why do you suppose they did that? Huh Tony?"
"Isn't it obvious Phil?" Troy responded. He leaned against the wall by the door and crossed his arms. "Those two are their go-fers. I mean, look at'em. They look like Jack Sprat and his wife. There ain't no way they're fully fledged FBI agents."
"You got that right. Neither one of them is in any shape to be in law enforcement of any kind." Phil added, leaning against the other side of the doorway. "Why I bet they're new recruits or trainees or something like that."
"A'tually I've been wif the FBI fow six yeaws, five monfs, fiwteen(thirteen) days, fwee houws, and seventeen setonds." Spencer informed the goons without turning around.
Glancing back at the slack jawed men, Garcia had to fight not burst out laughing. She settled for smiling cheekily at the two. "Reid's a genius. He has an IQ of 187, an eidetic memory, and can read 20,000 words a minute. He was also the youngest person ever to join the bureau." She proudly told the furious officers.
"And Gawcia's ouw tomputew expewt. She tan…"
"Tony! Phil! What the hell are you doing in here?! You're supposed to be on patrol not harassing the FBI!" Sheriff Mendenhall growled. "Now git!"
"Yes sir" the two cops replied, trying their best to look contrite. It didn't work. Seeing their boss's glare, they ducked their heads and hurried out of the room.
The sheriff watched them stomp down the hall and out the back door before turning to look at his guests. "I'm sorry about those two." He apologized. "They're usually pretty nice guys. They're just a little miffed that I called in the feds."
"It's otay." Reid absolved. "Talling us in bwuised feiw(their) egos so fey awe tating it out on us. It's nofing we haven't dealt wif befowe."
"Well, they won't be bothering you again. I can assure you of that." Jake adamantly stated. "I'll let you get back to your work now. Holler if you need anything."
"Thanks we will!" Penelope answered, giving the man her best fake smile. She waited for the man to leave and then turned back to their board.
CM
The next few hours flew by as Garcia used her computer prowess to define and then refine searches while Reid alternated between adding new info to their board and working on his profile. The two agents worked seamlessly together in the cramped space. They rarely stopped or even paused. In fact neither one had been out of the room in hours; something that Penelope's body was beginning to protest. Fingers flying, the tech analyst wiggled around in her seat in an attempt to put off the inevitable. She kept her focus on the screen in front of her, ignoring her body's needs until it was almost too late. Jumping out of her chair, Garcia raced to the door. "Reid, I'm going to the little girls' room! I'll be right back!" she called over her shoulder.
"Otay!" Spencer replied. Grinning, he turned back to his work becoming totally absorbed in seconds.
CM
Phil was incensed! It was humiliating enough that the sheriff had called in the FBI! But to be called to the carpet and scolded like some errant little kid for bothering said agents! That was going too far! They didn't need the FBI here especially some skinny little know it all. The smarty pants was probably one of those entitled kids. Phil bet the little brat had gone to the sheriff and demanded Jake take action. Yeah, that had to be it! The kid was to blame for his and Tony's reprimand! Well, he'd take care of that. The little snob would regret complaining about him. He'd was gonna make sure of that!
"Phil, you okay?" Tony asked, placing a hand on his partner's arm.
The older man jumped at the contact. "What?" he grumbled, gazing at his friend.
The shorter, more muscular officer frowned. "I asked if you were alright." He repeated. "You look like you're getting ready to rip somebody's head off."
'I am' Phil thought. To his partner though he merely smiled and said, "Yeah, I'm okay; just a little miffed that we got our asses chewed out because of those FBI misfits."
Tony snorted. "That was a little harsh." He agreed. "But I'm guessing he didn't have a choice. He has to keep the FBI happy so they'll stay and solve the case."
"We don't need them. We could solve that case ourselves." Phil bragged.
"I hear you man." Tony responded. "Unfortunately, Jake doesn't see it that way. And since he's our boss, there's nothing we can do but go along with it." He patted his partner's back. "Now come on. We need to get to the car before Jake finds us slacking off."
Phil shook his head. "You go ahead. I've gotta hit the john first."
"Phil, don't…"
"Relax Tony" the older officer broke in. He pasted on his most innocent expression. "I'm not going near them. I promise."
"You better not be." Tony muttered.
"Get outta here Runt!" Phil teased, swatting the back of the younger man's head. He waited for his friend to start walking away before quickly striding down the hall. Hearing the clomp of high heel shoes, he ducked into an empty interview room. Phil watched as the chubby blond rushed out of the feds' room and down the hall to the bathroom. The furious man's smile widened. "Perfect timing" he quietly mumbled. Knowing the woman would be a while, Phil ambled into the BAU's headquarters. He walked right up behind the young genius. "Well, well, well what is this? The FBI's high and mighty genius sitting on the floor coloring like a little kid?" Phil scoffed. "Is that what you get paid the big bucks for? Coloring?"
Reid rolled his eyes. "I'm not tolowing. I'm wowting on the geo'waphic pwofile." He huffed. "I'd expain it but I don't have…" he broke off, his breathing increasing, as he realized just how close to him the man was. Fighting to keep his composure, the little boy stammered out, "Go 'way! I, I'm busy!" as he scooted away from the intimating man.
"Oh, no you don't!" Phil yelled. Grabbing the younger man's arm, he slammed the kid against the wall. While the fed was still stunned, the angry officer put an arm across the profiler's throat and pressed down, smiling at the strangled gasp his actions elicited. "Now listen and listen good you little punk!" he growled, grinning manically. "You are going to go to Jake and take back whatever it is you told…OW!"
Reid was unceremoniously dumped on the floor as the pressure on his neck was suddenly released. Gasping for breath, he looked over at his attacker who was now curled in a ball on the floor with Garcia standing above him pummeling him with her purse while calling him every ugly moniker she could think of.
"You, you big bully!" Penelope roared, hitting the cowering man with her pocketbook over and over. "How dare you hurt my junior g-man! He hasn't…"
"What in blue blazes is going on in here?!" Sheriff Mendenhall hollered as he rushed into the room. Seeing one of the agents attacking his downed officer, he swiftly ran over and disarmed her. Throwing the suspiciously heavy purse onto the table, Jake wrapped his arms around the woman who was now pummeling his deputy with her fists. "Miss Garcia stop!" he commanded, pulling the fighting lady away from Phil. "Calm down and stop fighting ma'am!"
"Not till I've beaten that cretin into next week!" Penelope hollered, reaching for the object of her rage.
"Whoa!" Jake shouted, trying to hold on to the bucking woman. "Miss Garcia calm down! Please! Come on now! What could Phil have possibly done to make you this angry?"
"What did he do?! What did he do?!" Pen screeched still attempting to escape her captor. "That, that piece of filth tried to strangle my junior g-man!"
"HE DID WHAT?!" a voice bellowed from the doorway.
Spencer's eyes snapped to the newcomer. Seeing a seething Hotch storm into the room with Prentiss and JJ right on his heels, the mini profiler shakily stood. "Ho, Hotch" he croaked, swiping at the tears talking caused. "I'm otay."
Hotch glanced over at the youngster. His eyes narrowed as he took in the damage. "JJ check on Reid. Prentiss get some ice." He ordered. He then leveled a glare at the sheriff and his still downed officer. "Sheriff Mendenhall, release Agent Garcia."
Jake quickly did as instructed.
As soon as she was free, Garcia made a bee line for Spencer. "Oh Honey" she gasped, ghosting a hand over the boy's bruised neck. "I'm so sorry you got hurt! I never should have left you. I just, just…"
"Garcia" Hotch called, using the tone he reserved for victims and their families. He waited for the frazzled woman to look his way before asking, "What happened?"
"I'm not sure, sir." Penelope answered. "I went to the ladies room and when I came back, Officer Phil had Reid pinned to the wall with his arm across my Sweet Baby's throat."
"Is that true Phil?" Sheriff Mendenhall inquired.
The officer remained silent.
Hotch sighed. The deputy's silence and body language spoke volumes to him. The sheriff, however, was a different story. It was going to have to be spelled out for him. And that meant… "Reid, are you able to tell us what happened?"
"Yes siw" Spencer rasped. "Officew Phil was angwy 'bout being wepwimanded(reprimanded) and he fought if he fweatened(threatened) me, I would talt to the shewiff fow him." The tiny profiler stopped to drink a few sips of water. "Fants Pwentiss" he said, handing the mug back. Looking at his father figure, Reid continued his tale. "He gwabbed me and pinned me to the wall wif his awm atwoss my fwoat. Fen Gawcia tame in. She, she…" he took another swig of the cold water and cleared his throat. "She tited(kicked) him wight in the gwoin and he dwopped me. Fen she tawted hitting him and fat's when the shewiff tame in."
"I've heard enough." Sheriff Mendenhall growled. Hauling his deputy to his feet, Jake spun him around and snapped cuffs on the surprised man's wrists. "Phil Matcom, you are under arrest for assaulting a Federal agent." The sheriff announced, pushing the man towards the door. "You have the right to remain silent. Anything you…"
"Jake! Jake, you know me!" Phil pleaded. "You know I'd never do anything like that!"
"Phil, you have the right to remain silent. I suggest you use that right before you dig yourself a bigger hole than the one you're already in." Jake angrily instructed, shoving his prisoner. Turning to the profilers, the sheriff said, "You folks don't need to worry about this one. I'll deal with him. You guys go ahead back to working on the case. Okay?"
Hotch nodded. Assured that Reid's attacker would be properly dealt with, the BAU leader hurried over to his injured agent. "How bad is it?" he asked as he examined the boy's neck.
JJ sighed. "Well, Spence's neck is bruised and a little swollen." She explained. "But it doesn't look too bad."
"See? I'm otay." Reid wheezed.
"I think we should get him checked out though just to be sure." Emily put in. "It may not look that bad but I'd rather be safe than sorry."
"Me too" Garcia whispered, wrapping the boy in a one armed hug.
"No! I don't need…"
"Hotch! What's going on? Why is the sheriff arresting one of his own men?" Morgan questioned as he and Rossi walked into the room.
Dave scowled at the sight of their youngest member's bruised neck. "What happened?" he demanded.
"The deputy attacked Reid. He thought Spence had gotten him into trouble with the sheriff and he wanted Reid to fix it." JJ filled in.
"Excuse me a minute" Rossi and Morgan chorused as they turned and headed for the door.
"Freeze" Hotch ordered, smiling as both men stopped in their tracks. "You don't have to go teach him a lesson. Garcia already took care of that."
"She did?" Morgan queried, the surprise clear in his voice.
"Oh yeah" Emily answered with a snigger. "She kicked him right in the family jewels."
"Ouch!" Derek exclaimed.
"Yeah ouch" JJ repeated. "Though I'm not sure that hurt as much as being beaten with her pocketbook did."
Dave smirked. "Kitten, is that the purse that has the mini baton and the wooden jewelry box in it?"
"You better believe it!" Penelope proudly answered, returning the man's smile.
The agents laughed as they high fived the bubbly blond.
Hotch gave his team a few minutes to decompress, knowing they needed it. He even joined in. He joked and laughed with the others.
One quiet little whimper was all it took to put an end to the festivities. All eyes shot to Reid who squirmed under the unwanted attention.
JJ sighed. "I'll go ask the sheriff for the nearest doctor's name." she stated before hurrying out of the room.
"I don't need…" Reid began, stopping at the expression on Hotch's face. "Fine, I'll let the do'tow loot at my net."
"Thank you Spencer" Aaron said, rubbing the boy's back.
Wanting to be out of the spotlight, Reid looked over at Morgan and asked, "Did you find out anyfing while you wewe out?"
Morgan shook his head. "Not really" he replied. "The police did a thorough job at that crime scene."
"We did overhear a couple of men talking about a man confessing to killing Mrs. Warthen though." Rossi told the group. "They said he told the whole bar he did it."
"What's his name?" Hotch questioned.
"Fred Mein" Morgan responded.
"Garcia"
"Way ahead of you, Boss Man" Penelope called over her shoulder. "Let's see; Fred Mein, fifty-one years old, no steady job. He lives on the outskirts of town in his family's farmhouse. His father, mother, and older brother are all dead. He's…"
"Dr. Overton is on her way." JJ announced as she walked back into the room with the sheriff.
"It shouldn't take her too long. Her office is right down the street." Jake told them. He glanced over at Reid. "Are you doing alright, son?"
Spencer smiled. "I'm otay siw." He replied.
"That's good to hear." The sheriff said. "I'll let you folks get back to work now."
"Sheriff, before you go can you answer a question for me?" Hotch called out.
"If I can" Jake responded.
Aaron nodded. "What can you tell me about Fred Mein?"
Sheriff Mendenhall looked taken aback. "Fred?" he uttered. "Fred may be a little odd but he's no kidnapper."
"What do you mean odd?" Rossi inquired.
Jake scratched his beard. "Don't get me wrong. Fred's a nice enough fellow. He's just kind of strange." He explained. "I don't think his elevator goes all the way to the top if you know what I mean. And it's been worse since his mama died. He worshipped the ground that woman walked on. But even with all his troubles, Fred's still managed to keep himself a float. He may not be able to hold down a steady job but he does do odd jobs for folks. He's even a regular babysitter for some of the kids in town. Fred may have his little quirks but I'm telling you, he's not your man."
"I'd still like to talk with him." Hotch declared.
Sheriff Mendenhall shrugged. "Whatever you say" he replied. "Get your jackets and I'll take you out there."
"Thank you sheriff" Aaron said, grabbing his coat. "Morgan and Prentiss, you'll be coming with me. The rest of you keep working on the profile."
"Yes sir" the team chorused.
Aaron slid on his heavy coat, pocketed his keys, and strode to the door. He paused and glanced over at his injured son before turning and following the others out of the room.
AN- Anybody know where I got the idea for the case?