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- The date has been set for the Fancon (formerly known as Author's Note Convention) and I am excited! I'm going this year! For those wondering Fancon is where fanfiction authors and readers come together for a day of fun. And the money raised goes to charity.

Anyway, the ladies putting this together are holding raffles before the event and several wonderful authors (including yours truly) are participating in Stories-4-Charity. There are authors from several different fandoms participating. You can get stories written from Supernatural, NCIS, Sherlock, and Criminal Minds! You pick the author and give them a story prompt and they write the story. All the details are at fandom dash con period com.

Previously on Criminal Minds- He fought for all he was worth but the blinking grew slower and slower before stopping as he drifted off into dreamland.

CM

Spencer woke to a fluffy tail in his face. He shoved the stuffed reindeer away, sat up, and sleepily fisted his eyes. Popping the pacifier out of his mouth with a yawn, he glanced around the room. His heart swelled at the sight of his family sacked out all around him. Sleeping sitting up was uncomfortable. He knew that first hand. But they had endured that and the aches and pains that were sure to come with it for him. Touched by their love and protectiveness, Reid decided to return the gesture. He carefully pulled back the blankets and slid off the bed. After ensuring he hadn't woken anyone, the mini profiler scurried out of the room.

CM

A wonderful aroma drifted into the living room, waking the sleeping agents. The men and women slowly sat up, groaning as their bodies protested their sleeping arrangements. They bent and stretched in an attempt to relieve the aches sleeping sitting up had caused.

"Ow" Morgan muttered as his back popped. "Remind me never to sleep in a soft recliner again."

"I concur." Dave chimed in.

"Guys shhhh!" Penelope softly scolded. "My baby bunting is still sl…He's not in bed! Where is he?! Where's my sweet angel?!"

"I'm wight hewe, Gawcia." Reid answered, walking into the room.

"Oh, thank goodness!" Pen gasped. She raced over and hugged the tiny boy. "I thought someone had spirited you away or something. Where were you?"

"I wote up eawily and decided to mate some toffee for you." Spencer explained.

"Bless you" Emily mumbled as she drug herself off the couch.

"Just coffee kid?" Morgan questioned as the group made their way to the kitchen. "You couldn't have whipped up something to eat while you were at it?"

Reid shook his head. "No, I didn't fint you would appwe'ate it if I twied to toot somefing." He replied.

"You're right about that." JJ agreed. Noticing a coffee mug sitting on the counter by the nearly full coffee pot, she frowned. "Spence, you didn't drink any of the coffee, did you?"

"Maybe" Reid hedged, drawing circles on the floor with his pajama clad foot.

Morgan grimaced. "With sugar?"

"Is there any other way?" Spencer tossed back, grinning from ear to ear.

"Aww man!" Derek groaned even as a smile spread across his face.

Hotch patted the younger man on the back. "Look at it this way, Morgan. At least he has a whole house to run around in."

"And fellow playmates" Rossi added, nodding towards the ladies of the team.

"What about you two?" Prentiss asked.

"Unfortunately, we have to go into the station this morning." Aaron explained. "We have a few loose ends we need to tie up before we leave."

"Uh huh, riiight" Emily scoffed as she picked up the loaded tray and headed for the dining room.

"Come on, it won't be that bad." Dave assured. He covered the casserole pan, carefully placed it in the warm oven, and then followed the rest of the team into the next room. Seeing the youngster in question racing around the table, he sighed. "Okay, maybe it will be that bad." He conceded.

"We'll be fine." JJ told the group. "We can move the furniture around in the living room so he can run and romp all he wants to. Just make sure you're back before he crashes."

Hotch nodded. "We will. It shouldn't take more than an hour or two to get things squared away in town." He assured her. Aaron caught Spencer as he ran past and after tossing him into the air a couple of times, settled him in a chair at the table.

"Here you go, Sweetness" Garcia brightly uttered, handing the fidgeting youngster one of his grape juice drinks.

Reid took a big swig of his juice. "Fants, Gawcia" he said, licking his lips.

"You're welcome my baby bumble." Penelope responded, ruffling the boy's hair. "I'll have a plate full of that breakfast casserole for you just as soon as Rossi takes it out of the oven."

"Gimme about fifteen minutes to get everything warmed up." Dave informed them. He picked up Spencer and set him on his feet. "Go get washed up, kid. It should be ready by the time you get back."

"Yes siw!" Reid replied before bounding out of the room.

Chuckling at the littlest profiler's enthusiasm, the group went about getting things ready. They needed to wrap up the case and get back home. There were only three days left until Christmas.

CM

After a long scavenger hunt filled plane trip, the BAU finally landed in their home state. They swiftly grabbed their go-bags, put on their coats, and hurried off the jet. At their trucks the family split into two groups for the short ride to work where they would hopefully be able to finish off their paperwork. They were more than ready to put the grisly case behind them and enjoy what was left of the holiday season.

The team talked about ideas of things they should do the next couple of days while they drove. The only plans they had made beforehand were a dinner with Dr. Sawyer and an ice skating adventure that Garcia insisted they just had to try. Everyone else offered suggestions for the extra time. A Christmas light tour and the office holiday party were agreed on as well a trip to the mall to take in the decorations and buy any last minute gifts.

By the time they pulled into their parking spots in the FBI's garage they pretty much had the days up to Christmas Eve planned out. Chattering excitedly about the various activities, the family opened the doors of their vehicles and started climbing out.

Hotch stopped Reid before he could unbuckle his seat belt. "Stay there. You and I have somewhere we have to be." He advised the youngster.

"Whewe?" Spencer inquired, settling back into his seat.

"We're going to get your second flu shot. I called Dr. Sawyer once we landed and he told me to go ahead and bring you in; that he'd fit you into his schedule." Aaron explained.

"But, but I don't wanna go!" Reid protested, sounding every bit his size. "I'll get sit again!"

"Not if you drink this." A voice called from the DVD player hanging on the back of the driver's seat.

Looking at the screen, Spencer cocked his head to the side as he stared at the trickster dressed as Willy Wonka. "Gabe?"

"The one and only" Loki replied, grinning cheekily. "Now come on, turn that frown upside down! It's almost Christmas!"

"I know." Reid grumpily stated, crossing his arms. "But I haf to get a shot and its gonna mate me sit and fen I won't get to have any fun."

"Not on my watch buddy boy" Gabe growled. "You are set to have nothing but fun! Fun! Fun!"

"But…"

"Uh, uh uh, no back chat Short Stuff" the trickster light heartedly reprimanded. "Now here, drink this so you won't get sick." Seeing the boy hesitate, he sighed. "Come on kiddo, reach on up and take it."

Reid scooted up a little and then reached out and took the Scooby Doo topped plastic container from the hand sticking out of the DVD player. He glanced from the drink to Gabe and then to Hotch before popping the top and taking a small sip. "Mmmm, fis is good." He mumbled.

"Good and good for you" Gabe corrected. "My patented no reaction juice will prevent you from getting ill again and screwing up the holidays, something a certain someone seems intent on doing." He looked pointedly at Hotch.

"I'm not trying to screw up the holidays as you put it. I'm trying to avoid that by getting him the immunization." Aaron told the being. "Spencer is somewhat of a trouble magnet. If he doesn't get the second injection, I have no doubt he'll fall ill right in the middle of our holiday celebration."

"HIM? A trouble magnet? NO!" the trickster mock gasped before bursting out laughing. "Yeah, you're right about the squirt. Trouble does seem to follow him around like a little lap dog." He smirked at the duel glares. "Okay more like great big honking demonic mutts"

That earned him the famous Hotchner smile. "That's a better description." The father said. "Now, if you'll excuse us, we have an appointment to get to."

"Got it. I'm outta here." Gabe replied. "Drink all that juice now, kid. Later"

"Bye Gabe" Reid called, waving at the already blank screen. Popping the drink top back in his mouth, he settled back in his seat for the long ride to the hospital.

CM

Doctor Sawyer smiled as he walked into the exam room. "Well, well, well if it isn't my favorite patient!" he exclaimed, ruffling the little boy's hair. "Bout time you came to see me. I was starting to think you didn't like me anymore."

Spencer giggled. Pasting on his little kid grin, he stood up on the table and gave his friend a big hug. "Hi Dw. Sawyew!" he yelled.

"Hiya Little Bit" Josh greeted, hugging the boy back. "I am so glad you came by today. See, I need your help. One of my other patients was trying to put together a puzzle earlier and he kinda left the pieces all over the counter there." He motioned to the half-finished puzzle. "My nurses have been giving my He-heck all morning about not cleaning it up but I just haven't had the time. And since I know you like puzzles, I was wondering if you could maybe put it together for me. Course you'd have to do it one handed since I'll need the other one." He pulled a surgeon's mask out of his pocket and slid it on the boy's face. "So what do ya say, Dr. Spencer? Think you can operate on that puzzle for me?"

Reid grinned. "I tan do fat." He agreed.

"Alrighty then, let's just put you over here." Dr. Sawyer said as he picked his tiny patient up and sat him on the tall stool he'd placed in the room once he found out the kid was coming. "And then we'll just scoot this over here and Voila! You can reach the puzzle and I can reach your arm."

Spencer studied the dog puzzle. At only fifty pieces it was going to be a breeze even with only one hand. He glanced at the picture on the box and the handful of pieces already put together before diving into his task. His fingers flew as he picked up piece after piece and snapped them together. In mere minutes he was down to the last three pieces. The tiny profiler snatched up the next piece only to drop it at the doctor's announcement of 'all done'. "Wh-wh-what?" Reid asked, staring down at his band-aid covered arm in surprise.

"I said you're all done, kiddo." Josh repeated. "Unless you want me to give you another shot."

Reid vigorously shook his head. "Nuh uh" Spencer responded. "No mowe oweees."

"In that case you're good to go, Sport." Dr. Sawyer told the boy.

"But I'm not finished wif the puzzle!" Spencer whined.

Aaron let out a well-rehearsed sigh. "Spencer, I'm sure Dr. Sawyer has…"

"Let Little Bit finish" Josh suggested not wishing to see his favorite patient have a meltdown. "It'll save me the tongue lashing I'm sure to get from the nurses if he leaves it there."

Aaron smiled knowing exactly what the good doctor was doing. "Alright, Spencer you can finish." He conceded. "But it goes back in the box once you're through."

"Otay" Reid happily agreed. He put the last few pieces into place and then looked up at the two men. "All done" he sing songed.

"Good job, kiddo!" Dr. Sawyer praised. "You just earned yourself a lollipop young man."

"Tool!" Spencer cried, reaching for the tasty treat.

Hotch quickly took the sucker from the physician. "You can have it after you put the puzzle away, Spencer." He advised.

Nodding, Reid hurriedly took apart the puzzle and scooped the pieces into the box. He then closed the lid, handed the box to Josh, and turned his gaze to his father figure. "Tan I have my lollipop now?" he politely asked.

"Of course" Aaron replied. He handed the sucker to the tiny profiler before picking him up and settling him on his hip. Looking to the doctor, he said, "Thank you for seeing us on such short notice."

"It was my pleasure." Dr. Sawyer answered, ushering father and son out of the exam room. "I've missed the little guy. It's been kinda boring without you folks here to liven the place up."

Hotch laughed. "Are we really that bad?"

"Are you kidding?" Josh scoffed. "I'm actually shocked y'all have made it more than two days without one of you needing my services." He grinned. "You're like an accident waiting to happen, dude."

The corners of Aaron's lips turned up. "I guess it's a good thing you're coming over tonight for supper then." He teased. "There's no telling what might happen when we're cooking our Christmas feast."

Dr. Sawyer snorted. "I'll be sure to bring my bag." He joked. Hearing his name called, he sighed. "I've gotta go. See y'all tonight!"

"Bye!" Reid hollered, waving at the doctor's retreating back. Sticking his lollipop back in his mouth, the little boy laid his head on Hotch's shoulder and smiled as he thought about the fun to come.