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Hotch was woken up by his phone ringing, "Hotchner" he answered "ok I'll be right there" he said hanging up and glancing at the clock, 3am, what a wonderful time he though sarcastically. He got up and got dressed before going to wake up Spencer, "Spencer" he said quietly as he sat on the edge of Reid's bed "wake up buddy, we have a case"
Spencer mumbled something incoherent and pulled up his blanket. "I got ya" Hotch said as he picked him up and wrapped a blanket around him, lucky their go bags were already in the car. This was their first case since Spencer had been turned into a child so he hoped that Garcia would be able to cope with the extra responsibility of looking after Reid while working
Spencer didn't even stir when Hotch strapped him into his car seat or when he took him out again and carried him into the BAU; he took the sleeping child into his office and laid him on the couch before going to the conference room to meet the team
"Reid is in my office Garcia, he is still asleep so he might be confused when he wakes up, now what's the case about?" Hotch said as he walked into the room and sat down
"Well a body has turned up in Texas with stab wounds all over his body and three fingers missing from each hand"
"Is this the first body?" Asked JJ
"No it's the second body within two weeks, the first one was a young woman named Tania Harris, same thing, she was badly stabbed and missing three fingers from each hand"
"Wheels up in 30" Hotch said as they all stood up and went to get their things together
"Garcia, you might want to work in my office until Spencer wakes up"
"Yes sir"
"His bag is in my office, it should have everything you need in it. JJ told me that you can always call Will to come and get Spencer if it becomes too much for you, ok"
"Oh I'm sure that we will be fine sir, but I'll keep that in mind if it all gets too much for him"
"Thanks Garcia, he's still reluctant to accept help for anything so let him do as much as he can for himself, he hasn't really come to terms with being a child again and realising that he needs help with things"
"As I said, we will be fine, now get your stuff and go before the jet leaves without you"
"Ok I'll just go and say goodbye to Spencer"
"Let him sleep sir, when he wakes up he can call you if you like"
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Where am I? Thought Reid as he woke up, I'm not in my bedroom anymore. He rolled over on the couch and the first thing he saw was Garcia sitting at Hotch's desk.
"Garcia?" He called
"Good morning pumpernickel, did you have a nice sleep?"
"What's going on, where's Hotch?"
"The team got called away this morning so you're stuck with me" she smiled "good thing you're awake I need to get back to my office, the team will be landing soon so I need to be ready, come on" Garcia got up and grabbed Reid's bag
"Can I get dressed first? I don't want to walk through the halls wearing my pyjamas" he yawned
"Sure honey" she said taking an outfit out of his bag and handing it to him "do you need me to help you?"
"No I'm fine" he sighed "why does everyone want to help me with everything?"
"Because you are adorable and we want to make your life as easy as possible, that's why, so you should do us a favour and just except the help" she said smiling at him
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"He will be fine Hotch" Rossi said
"Hotch was absently looking out the window "I know but what if he needs me?"
"He has Garcia, and I'm sure she can deal with anything that comes up"
"You're right Dave,... it's just hard being away from him already"
"I think we're all feeling that way. I know that JJ has already been sending msgs to Penelope to check on him"
"She sent me a message saying that he's awake and has had breakfast, so I know that he's fine but I still worry about him, the same as I do when I'm not with jack"
"That's what fathers do" replied Rossi
Hotch didn't answer but went back to staring out the window and hoped they would be able to solve this case quickly so he could get home to Spencer.
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The team had been working on the case for 2 days, Reid had done a geographical profile and they were getting closer to finding the unsub.
"Naptime Spencer" Garcia announced as she handed him a sandwich
Spencer yawned "The team might need my help, I can't sleep now"
"Yes you can and if the team need you I'll wake you up, ok?" Reasoned Garcia
"But...but..." Spencer said trying to find another excuse
"No more arguing"
Spencer pouted but did as Garcia told him and ate his lunch then went and laid down on his small bed, he ran over the events of the last few days in his head. He had gone from being an independent grown man to being a 2 year old in Hotchs custody; it was insane to think that it could actually happen. The team, especially Hotch, had always looked out for him but now it was worse than ever, they all wanted to do everything for him and make all of his decisions. They decided on what he would eat, when he would sleep and even what he would wear. Hotch had even carried him into the office the other night like he was a baby who couldn't walk on his own.
They needed to realise that he could still be independent and do things for himself, he had never needed anyone to look after him when he was a real child, and he had survived. He knew that Hotch was waiting for him to start acting like a child but he was determined to fight all the voices in his head telling him that toys looked like heaps of fun and cuddles when he was tired would be great. He didn't need any of that did he?
When Spencer woke up Garcia was taking a picture of him,
"Stop that!" He said sitting up and stretching
"Sorry sweetie, I can't help it, you're too cute!" She exclaimed reaching down and picking him up and giving him a squeeze
"Stop it" he squirmed
Garcia just laughed and kissed him on the head before putting him down
"So the team are about to board the jet. They caught the guy hiding in a local motel room. So I was thinking that now that we have some time we should go shopping. I heard that you are still wearing Jacks hand me downs?"
"Yeah but that's ok I don't need new clothes" Spencer said
"Well I can't bear to see my baby genius wearing second hand clothes when there is no need too, so let's go, and I'll let you pick whatever you want, within reason ok? And maybe we could get some ice cream on the way?" She smiled
Forgetting his rule to act like an adult at all times, Spencer started cheering "Yay! Ice cream!
Can I get coffee flavour? I looooove coffee ice cream!"
"I think that Hotch would kill me if I gave you coffee, but you can have any other flavour"
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The problem with clothes for children his age was that they were all so babyish. He couldn't wear T-shirts with dancing bears on them to work! He found a nice shirt but it had tiny dinosaurs all over it, and despite insisting he didn't want it, Garcia brought it anyway claiming that it would look adorable on him. The other problem with shopping was that he had to act like a normal 2 year old child so people wouldn't notice him so he sat in the shopping cart and tried not to die of embarrassment.
"What about this sweetie?" Garcia asked holding up a plain white shirt with a small blue bow tie
"Sure, that could be good for work" he replied quietly making sure that no one was close enough to hear
Garcia added the shirt to the huge pile of clothes in the cart already, "ok I think we have enough for now, let's pay and then get ice cream!"
In spite of himself Spencer smiled, he loved ice cream.
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"What flavour do you want honey?" Garcia asked as they walked into the ice cream shop
Looking at the smiling shop lady he looked up at Garcia and did his best impression of a 2 year old, "chocolate!" He cried clapping his hands
Smiling Garcia turned to the lady at the register, "I'll get a chocolate baby cone and a large mocha swirl thanks"
Spencer took the ice cream cone from the lady and didn't waste a minute before he started
enjoying his frozen treat
"Say thank you baby"
"Thanks" he mumbled around a mouthful of ice cream
Garcia smiled as she watched Spencer enjoying his ice cream. He really needs to just give in and embrace his second chance at a childhood, if he would only see it as a blessing in disguise, he could have the kind of childhood that every child wants. He is surrounded by people who love him and want him to be happy, he's finally free to have a little fun without worrying about looking after anyone. He can finally be taken care of and spoilt the way every child should be.
"Ok sweetie, time to go now, I told daddy that we would meet him at his place, ok?"
"Ok" Spencer replied he was looking forward to seeing the rest of the team and in a weird way he was missing Hotch
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"Honey I'm home!" Laughed Morgan as he walked into Hotch's house.
"Hi everyone!" She called back "we'll be down in a minute, dinners on the table!"
Spencer came running into the dining room all freshly washed and in a clean pair of pjs.
"Hi guys!" He greeted everyone
"Hey pretty boy!" Morgan answered
"Hi Spence" smiled JJ
"Hi buddy" said Hotch bending down to Spencer's level. To the surprise of both of them, Spencer threw his arms around Hotchs neck. Aaron rubbed his back as he stood with the boy in his arms
"Miss me huh?"
All of a sudden Spencer realised what he was doing and got embarrassed "no" he said quietly, squirming to be put down "I'm just tired, you can put me down now"
"Ok then, have you had something to eat yet? This looks delicious" Hotch said looking at the food on the table
"Yeah I helped Garcia make everything then we ate before I had my bath" Spencer yawned
"Ok well how about you sit with me while I have something?" Hotch suggested
Hotch picked him up and sat him on a chair beside him while they all got comfortable to eat.
As Spencer listened to the team talk about the case he tried to stay awake but he couldn't keep his eyes opened, when Hotch picked him up and put him in his lap Spencer didn't even object, he was too tired to fight it and laying against Hotch was comfortable.
The next thing Reid knew he was being tucked into bed. "I didn't get to say goodbye to everyone!" He whined as he realised what was happening
"Well it's too late now they have just left, but the ladies all kissed you goodnight"
smiled Hotch
"Ahhhh!" Mumbled Reid as he rolled onto his stomach and snuggled into his pillow
"Goodnight" Hotch said as he left the room
—
When Reid woke up the next morning he carefully went downstairs and found Hotch in the
kitchen making pancakes
"Good morning Spencer." Hotch smiled
"Good morning Hotch" Spencer replied
"So Spencer" Hotch started "Haley is dropping Jack off today to spend the weekend with me..."
"I understand, I'm happy to go and stay with one of the others..."
Hotch smiled "no that's not what I was going to say, we need to discuss what we are going to tell Jack and Haley before they get here that's all"
"Oh, ok"
"I was thinking that we tell them that you are just staying with with me for a while, then when they get used to you being here I'll tell them it's become a permanent situation. What do you think?"
"What happens if I stay this age until I turn back? How will you explain that?"
Hotch thought about it for a moment, "Well if that's the case I'll come up with something, a rare disorder or something that stops you from growing?"
"I suppose that could be believable. What do you want me to call you while Jack is here? I can't call you Hotch? And won't Jack think it's weird that I have the same name as one of your co workers? And where will I sleep? I can't sleep in Jacks bed?"
"You can call me Aaron if you like or daddy if you feel Iike it? I'm sure Jack won't even think about the fact you have the same first name as someone I work with and I have been meaning to go shopping and get you your own bed and things to make the spare room your bedroom, maybe we could all go and do that today? The only thing is that while Jack is here you'll have to act like a real 2 year old"
"Well until they get here I'm going to go and read for a while" Reid replied taking his book and getting comfy on the sofa
When the doorbell rang Spencer put his book on the coffee table and turned on the TV while Aaron went to answer the door
"Hi Jack, hi Haley" Hotch greeted them "come in"
"I can only stay for a minute, I'm on my way to have lunch with my sister" Hayley said as she
walked into the room.
"Oh who's this?" She asked as she spotted Spencer on the sofa
"This is Spencer, he will be staying with me for awhile, why don't you go and say hi Jack?" Hotch smiled
Jack excitedly jumped onto the sofa next to Spencer "hi! I'm Jack!" He said getting right in his face.
Spencer flinched back without meaning too and Aaron quickly picked him up and sat him on his lap "it's ok Spencer this is Jack, he's going to be here for the weekend"
"Hi" Spencer said quietly
Hayley was watching this with her arms folded and a look of disapproval on her face "Aaron why is he here? Surely there are better places he could be? Where are his parents? What about foster care? How do you think you can take care of him with your work schedule?"
"I can't tell you everything at the moment but he will be staying with me for the foreseeable future, work is not an issue, I hired a nanny to be here when I'm called away unexpectedly, not that it's any of your business" Hotch replied shortly
"Hmmm well I just hope that you have more time for him than you did for us!"
Hotch stood up and placed Reid back on the sofa "Hayley now is not the time to discuss this.
Don't you have lunch with Jessica to get to?"
"Yes I do. Jack come and give me a kiss goodbye"
"Bye mum" jack said giving Haley a kiss and hug goodbye "Spencer do you want to come and play in my room?"
"Goodbye Haley" Hotch said as he closed the door behind her and turned to the kids "ok boys you can play for a few minutes then we are going to go shopping. Jack how would you like to help me choose a bed and some toys for Spencer so we can set up the spare room for him?" Hotch smiled
"Yeah dad! That sounds like fun, can I pick out some toys for me too?"
"Ill think about it" Hotch laughed
Great, thought Reid, how can I act like a real kid? I have no idea how to be a normal child!
What do they do for fun?
"Jack go and put your bag in your room and then we'll get going?" Said Hotch
Once Jack had left the room Hotch turned to Spencer "it's ok Spencer I won't let him pick out toys that are too babyish"
"How do I be a child Hotch?"
"Well you just need to let go of all your troubles and let your imagination take over, play, laugh and just try and have fun, does that make sense?"
"I'll try I suppose" Spencer said sounding dubious
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