Reckless

Chapter 31

When Toni made it back to headquarters, she was relieved to discover that Lucia was no longer hiding in the bathroom. She and Romeo were clustered inside Penelope's office with the door shut. Toni knocked softly on the door, smiling at what she saw when she entered. Luke's dog was sprawled out under the desk, snoring softly. Lucia was sketching out a portrait of JJ's younger son with one of Penelope's fluffy tipped pens. Penelope had Romeo on her lap, teaching him how to program a computer.

"Mamá!," he exclaimed, favoring her with a brief glance before he turned his attention back to the multiple screens in front of him. "Will you buy me a computer?"

"Absolutely not," Toni replied without a moment's hesitation. Despite her lingering concern for her brother, she stifled a laugh. Romeo didn't know everything about what was going on, but from how much he overheard with his nosy little ears before they left, he at least knew one of his uncle's was missing. Still, his top priority at the moment seemed to be securing himself a new toy to tinker with. He didn't even bother to ask if his Uncle Benny was okay.

Toni was expecting an argument from her son when she immediately declined to buy him a computer. Lately, arguing with her was pretty much his favorite pastime. Instead Romeo flashed her a big smile. "That's okay," he agreed. "I'll get Spencer to buy me one."

"What?," Toni asked, her mouth dropping slightly open. Penelope was trying to stop herself from laughing, and not doing a very good job at it.

"Yeah!," Romeo added with delight. "He bought me a tablet this morning so I can read all the books I want for free!" Toni turned her attention towards her cousin, signing to ask Lucia if his story was true. Lucia nodded her head, confirming that Romeo came home from breakfast with a new E-reader. "He's rich!," Romeo added. "If I'm good he said he'll buy me whatever I want."

Toni buried her face in hand, trying her best to hold back her own laughter. "Spencer did not say that," Toni countered. At least she hoped Spencer didn't say that, or he was going to go broke real quick around her house. The chances of Romeo being good for any length of time were slim, but she was always surprised by what her son could accomplish with the right motivation.

"...and Spencer's not rich. We have the same job. A computer costs a lot more than a tablet."

"How much does a computer cost?," Romeo asked.

Lucia flashed a few signs at him, not giving a particular figure but just telling him that it cost 'too much'. The roll of her dark eyes made Toni smile. Her family situation wasn't as bad as Toni's was growing up. Unlike Toni's poor excuse for a mother, Lucia's mother did the best she could. But they lived mostly off government aid, which didn't even provide for all their needs, let alone things they wanted. Like computers for a five year old.

"Lucia's right," Toni agreed, "Too much." She really didn't think a base model computer was that expensive. But given that she was about to have to figure private school tuition into her already limited budget, Toni was sure it was still too much. And even if she could afford it, giving Romeo that sort of access to the internet seemed like a recipe for disaster. Give him a month and he'd be hacking into the DMV quicker than Peter Lewis.

"I have an old one I could set up for him," Penelope offered, grimacing as she glanced back at Toni. Clearly, she was hoping her offer wasn't going to offend her coworker. Some people were funny about taking handouts, and Toni seemed like she might be one of them. "He's crazy good at programming, especially for being so young. He's so smart! But I guess that shouldn't be a surprise if you think about who his fa-" Penelope cut herself off, her face turning a shade paler before she continued. "I mean since you're his mother."

"Thanks," Toni replied, her brows knitting together as she considered what it sounded like Penelope was getting ready to say. Penelope couldn't know about Spencer being Romeo's father, Toni thought. Not unless Luke opened his big mouth. Toni knitted her dark brows together. That was a distinct possibility. Luke liked to gossip more than most women she knew.

"Uh… you're sure it's no trouble?," Toni asked. Penelope shook her head with emphasis. She tinkered with her computers twenty four seven, it wouldn't be a problem at all for her to set one of them up for Toni's son. "Can you make it so it won't connect to the internet?," Toni asked.

"Of course," Penelope chirped. "We can't have my new bestie talking to strangers on the internet. There's too many weirdos out there."

"Say thank you," Toni said, directing her words to her son. "...because it's time to go."

"But I just got here!" Romeo whined. Toni sighed. She thought she was getting a brief reprieve from his constant arguing. But now he was back at it with a vengeance. Just got here? He'd been in the bullpen all day.

"We have to go visit uncle Benny in the hospital," Toni countered, hoping that would be enough to coax Romeo away from Penelope's screens without a fight. Toni answered her son's next question before he could even ask it. "He was kidnapped."

Romeo turned away from the wall of screens. But he still wasn't showing any signs of voluntarily climbing down from Penelope's lap. "Who kidnapped him?," he demanded to know.

Toni bit back her smirk, her mind immediately snapping to what Penelope just said about the dangers of the internet. "A weirdo stranger from the internet," Toni answered. She extended her hand, shaking her head when Romeo leaped down and rushed to grasp it. Lucia rose from her seat, staying as close as she could to Toni as they headed back out into the bullpen. She tugged on the back of Toni's shirt as they passed JJ's desk, stopping to leave the portrait she drew of the woman's younger son near a framed photo of him that was on the desktop.

After he collected his own son, Hotch offered to drive them over to the hospital. Normally, Toni liked to drive herself. But after her near accident that morning, she graciously accepted. Hotch was quiet on the way over. There was almost always a somber expression on his face, like he was thinking about something serious. But since he kept glancing at her, Toni assumed that whatever was occupying his mind must involve her in some way. She was relieved when he finally spoke up.

"I'm sure they could find an opening for your son at the private school Jack and Henry attend," he suggested. Toni wasn't the only one that noticed the pictures of her son suggested that Peter Lewis was actually inside Romeo's school. "They have added security measures. Only authorized visitors are allowed inside."

"That sounds great," Toni admitted. She glanced at him, hesitating before she continued. "But I'm still paying off my divorce. I'm not sure if I can afford the tuition."

"They have a scholarship program," Hotch replied. He slowed the car down as he pulled up in front of the hospital's emergency care entrance. "I can have them email you the paperwork... If that doesn't work out, I'll see if the department can absorb some of the cost as a security measure."

"Are you fucking kidding me?," Toni exclaimed. "Shit. I mean I'd really appreciate that," she said, correcting herself.

Hotch acknowledged her gratitude with a gruff 'you're welcome', biting back a slight grin. As he pulled the car to a stop, Toni slid towards the door, pushing it open. But before her feet hit the pavement, she slid back across the seat and wrapped one arm around her unit chief. Her hug was rough and quick. It left Hotch laughing after her as she corralled her son and cousin into the hospital. Every member of his team had their quirks, and Toni was no exception. He'd never really admitted it to anyone, but getting to know his agents was one of his favorite parts of the job.

Spencer glanced back and forth between Toni's two brothers. He was able to avoid their questions for a minute or two, by filling them in on all the details he knew about Benny's current medical condition. Benny was dehydrated and had a few deep lacerations on his ankles and wrists. His vocal cords were bruised. Spencer also suspected that he strained a few muscles in his legs, from pressing down for so long on the metal plate beneath him. But overall, it looked like he was going to be okay. He didn't need surgery and they'd be able to flush any remaining drugs from his system with a saline drip. Carlos and Matias were visibly relieved to hear this. But as they waited for Benny's precautionary x-rays to be done, concerns about his condition quickly gave way to the more pressing questions they had about Spencer's relationship with their baby sister.

There were two of them and neither seemed to be willing to let Spencer answer a question from the other before they asked another one. How long have you and Toni been seeing each other? Are you allowed to date someone you work with? Do you know she has a kid? Do you have kids of your own? Have you been married before? Why hasn't Toni told us about you yet? Spencer felt pressured to make a good impression, though he hoped his part in saving Benny's life would help with that. His nerves were increasing as he glanced back and forth between them, listening to the unique mix of Texan drawl and Mexican accent to their voices. Toni had a bit of an accent, but she did her best to hide it. It thickened if she was angry or tired, or when she was speaking in a partial spanish to her son.

"I uh… I've never been married. I don't have any kids. I know Toni has one. I taught him how to play chess," Spencer offered. He hoped that covered some of their questions. Being introduced to both of Toni's brothers without warning was a little overwhelming. He'd never had to meet his girlfriend's family before. He'd need a girlfriend for that. But this wasn't how he pictured it happening. Spencer was hoping he and Toni could fly down to Texas together, with her son of course, and he could meet her brothers over a nice dinner or something. But on the plus side, at least they didn't try to shake his hand.

"Wait," Carlos said, his slicked hair not moving one inch when he tilted his head to the side. "You met Romeo? Toni let you around him? How long did you say you'd been dating again?"

Actually, he hadn't said. Spencer shifted nervously in his seat, hoping he hadn't already managed to say something wrong. From her brother's tone, it was clear that he disapproved.

Spencer desperately scrambled for an answer. He wasn't even sure what the answer was. He met Toni six years ago. But they just started seeing each other a few weeks ago. Now that he was thinking in timelines, it really hadn't been very long. How drastically his life had changed in the last few weeks almost made his head spin. A few months ago, he had nothing in his life but work. Now he had a girlfriend, a potential stepson, and a whole new extended family to contend with. These weren't bad problems to have, he thought with a smile.

"Well… we uh…," Spencer stuttered. His brows lifted as he rose from his chair, raising his arm and waving it to make sure Toni saw them. It wasn't the first time Toni proved to him that she had the best sense of timing in the universe.

"Hey! Hombrecito!" Matias teased, calling out to his nephew the moment he spotted the boy. Spencer watched with amusement as Luke joined in along with Toni's brothers, all of them vying for Toni's son's attention. Romeo darted towards them. He weaved around Luke and ducked under the outstretched arms of both his uncles, tossing his skinny arms around Spencer's legs and holding on tight. Spencer was so surprised by the boy's gesture of affection, it took him a moment to respond. He had no idea Romeo even liked him. And certainly not more than his uncles or Luke, who he seemed to adore.

"Hey," Spencer said, leaning down to scoop Romeo up into his arms. Romeo wrapped his skinny arms around Spencer's neck and held on tight. Spencer closed his eyes as he hugged the boy against him. If someone asked him a month ago when the last time was that he hugged someone, he would have had to count back to the last time he visited his mother. Until he and Toni started sleeping together, he didn't realize how starved he was for physical affection. Not sex even, it felt good just to be hugged and touched by another person.

"I guess he missed you," Toni observed. Spencer opened his eyes to her smiling face. As she stroked the back of her knuckles back and forth across Spencer's arm, her expression softened before it turned into the heated one he was more used to seeing on her face when she looked at him. They locked eyes. For a moment, it was like there was no one else around.

"Sorry," Toni offered, speaking to her brothers once she tore her gaze away from Spencer's. "He bought Romeo a tablet earlier today."

"I see," Matias teased, reaching over and tickling Romeo's ribs with the tips of his fingers. "What do I have to buy you to get a hug?," he asked.

"Uncle Matt!," Romeo squealed, as though he only just realized two of his uncles were present. Spencer smiled as Romeo wriggled down out of his arms and started jumping all over his uncles. When he was done with them, Romeo attached himself to Luke's leg and started begging for a piggyback ride and three snacks from the vending machine.

Spencer didn't realize Toni was in his arms until he felt her head against his chest. Spencer tightened his grip on her for just a moment, the danger she'd been in earlier still fresh on his mind. He would have held on longer, but embracing her in front of a live audience was pushing the boundaries of his comfort level.

Matias and Carlos started asking a lot of questions again. But to Spencer's relief, at least most of them seemed to be directed towards Toni. The brothers spoke in Spanish to her, asking her who the hell he was and why she didn't tell them that she had a boyfriend.

"First off, he speaks Spanish so you can knock that off," Toni huffed with a roll of her eyes. "...and second, my personal life is none of your business."

"If he's around my nephew," Carlos announced, "...then it's my business."

"A Spanish speaking white boy," Matias teased, "...now I know you're in love."

Toni told her brothers to shut their traps. She sounded like she might actually be irritated with them, but neither brother seemed to care. Spencer looked on with amusement as Matias and Carlos took turns hugging Toni and ruffling up her hair like she was a child instead of a grown woman. She was hollering at them to stop, but it was only making them laugh louder.

"Excuse me!"

Toni turned to see an irritated nurse standing a few feet away. She must have tried several times to get their attention before resorting to yelling.

"Anyone that's here to see Benjamin Ramirez, you can go in now."

Toni caught Romeo by the hand and coaxed Lucia out of the corner chair with the other before she started corralling them both towards the room. Spencer took a step in that direction, but he wasn't sure if he ought to go into Benny's room with them or wait until the actual family got a chance first. It was Toni's brother Carlos that turned back and called out to him.

"Aren't you coming?," he asked, gesturing for Spencer to hurry up. "Come on," he urged with a chuckle, "Benny's gonna want to meet you too."