Growing Up Again

Five & Six Years Old

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The soft sounds of turning pages were what woke the man in the morning.  Aaron Hotchner slowly opened his eyes, and found himself staring at a shaggy haired five year old with glasses reading a book on the side of his bed.

 

“…  Good morning.”  Hotch mumbled, and the child looked up and fixed a big smile on his face.

 

“Yay!”  And he flung the book and toppled out of sight off of the bed.  “Breakfast!”  And Hotch sat up and watched him bounce from the room.  He blinked, then shook his head and chuckled, getting up and following.  The child scuttled down the stairs and into the kitchen, sending Apollo and Artemis running for a hiding place.  Hotch followed, smiling when he saw little Spencer struggling to get the box of Lucky Charms out of the pantry.  Hotch just grabbed a bowl and spoon and the jug of milk.  He grinned when Spencer scrambled up onto his chair and opened the box, then dumped the cereal into the bowl…  and all over the table.

 

“Uh oh…”  Spencer mumbled.

 

“Yup.  Uh oh.”  Hotch chuckled, and began to work on cleaning up the cereal.  Reid just sat quietly, picking out the little marshmallows and eating them.  Finally, Hotch had swept all the cereal back into the box and had emptied the bowl of excess.  Then he poured in the milk and handed Reid his spoon before pouring a bowl of Raisin Bran for himself.  The pair then quietly ate their cereal.  As Hotch finished his bowl, Reid began to squirm. 

 

“Aaron?”

 

“Yes?”

 

“…  I have to go potty.”  Reid whimpered.  Hotch blinked, then smiled and lifted the boy to the floor.  Reid immediately made a run for the bathroom.  By the time Hotch got to the doorway, Reid had struggled out of his pull-ups and scrambled onto the toilet.  When he saw Hotch, he gasped.

 

“CLOSE THE DOOR!!!”  Reid shrieked.  Hotch’s eyes widened.

 

“Oh…  sorry.”  He apologized and stepped out of the bathroom, closing the door, grinning and shaking his head in amusement.  He waited for several long minutes.

 

“…  Spencer?”  He finally called.  “Are you okay?”

 

“Yeah!”

 

After another minute or so, he heard the toilet paper roll.

 

“Don’t use too much!”

 

“Okay!”

 

“Do you need help?”

 

“…  No.”  And a moment later, the toilet flushed.  “Aaron!”

 

“Yes?”

 

“Can’t reach the sink!”  Came the whine.  Chuckling, Hotch opened the door and grinned at the sight of Reid’s little tush as he stood on his tip toes to reach the sink.  Hotch lifted him up and watched Reid turn on the sink and wash his hands.

 

“There you go.”  Hotch smiled, setting the child down and watching him run from the room, leaving his pull ups on the floor.  “Spencer?  Your pull ups?”

 

“Don’t want ‘em!”  Reid called back from somewhere in the house. 

 

“Well, let’s at least find you some pants.”  Hotch answered.

 

“Okay.”  Reid said, and trotted over to the man, following him into Jack’s room.  He got Spencer out of his nightshirt and into a pair of red shorts with a white shirt with Superman on it.

 

“There you go.”  Hotch said, and Reid smiled up at him.  Hotch smiled back and ruffled the boy’s shaggy hair.  “It’s time for another haircut.”  He commented.  Just then, there was a knock on the door.

 

“Garcia!”  Reid cheered, and scampered away.  Smiling, Hotch followed. 

 

“Wait until I disarm the –“  He was cut off by a loud, high pitched tone.  “…  Alarm.”  He sighed, walking over to the front door.  Reid was standing there, eyes wide and hands over his ears, and Garcia was smiling in the doorway, amused.  Hotch deactivated the alarm, and ruffled the dark hair of the child.

 

“It’s okay.”  He said, recognizing the look on the boy’s face.  “You’re not in trouble.”  Slowly, Reid lowered his hands.

 

“I’m not?”

 

“No, Spencer.”  Hotch smiled, kneeling and pulling the child in for a hug and a kiss on the head.

 

“I love you.”

 

“I love you too, buddy.”

 

“Awww… you boys are so sweet…”  Garcia cooed.  “So now that he’s older, are you going to do anything special with him?”

 

“Like what?”  Hotch asked, standing again.

 

“I dunno…  things that he never got to do with his dad?”

 

“Like go to the zoo?!”  Spencer gasped, eyes wide.

 

“Yeah!  Like go to the zoo!”  Garcia cheered.  Hotch quirked an eyebrow as Spencer ran off into the house spouting off the names (both common and scientific) of the animals that could be seen at the zoo.

 

“NOW look what you’ve done.”  Hotch snorted, giving Garcia a look.  She just grinned and shrugged. 

 

“I think it’s a great idea.”  She said happily.

 

“Not today.”  Hotch sighed.

 

“Why not?”

 

“He’s too young.”

 

“…  No he’s not.  He’s five.”  Garcia said, blinking.  Then she saw the look of concern on her superior’s face.  “Ohhh…  you’re protective!”  She gasped, looking delighted.  Hotch looked at her.  “You’re worried something might happen to him!”

 

“…  Are you sure you’re not a profiler?”  Hotch asked with a slight smile.  She beamed.

 

“Most certainly, sir.”  She said.

 

“…  He got his head stuck in the fence the other day.”

 

“He what?!”

 

“Exactly.”  Hotch snorted.  “Even as a child he’s a trouble magnet.  And I…”

 

“You don’t want to take any chances.”

 

“…  No.”  Hotch said softly.  “I don’t.  He’s everything to me.”  She smiled at him. 

 

“It would mean a lot to him to do things with him that he never did when he was young.”  Garcia told the man.

 

“…  I know.  I’ll look into it.”  Hotch said.

 

“How about this.  I’ll plan a couple of days for the two of you.”

 

“Oh?”

 

“Yeah.”

 

“…  Hm…  okay.  Just…  wait until he’s…  I dunno…  twelve?”

 

“Hotch!”

 

“What?!”

 

“…  Six!”

 

“…  Ten.”

 

“Seven.”

 

The pair glared at each other.

 

“…  Nine.”

 

“Eight.”

 

Glare.

 

“…  Nine.”

 

“Eight.”

 

“Nine.  Final offer.

 

“I’m planning something for when he’s eight, no matter what your final offer is.” 

 

“…  Fine.”

 

“Deal!”  Garcia cheered, shaking Hotch’s hand.  “I’m gonna go get started right now!  YOU deal with the little man.”

 

“Oh gee.  Thanks.”  Hotch snorted, and the bubbly Technical Analyst was out the door and gone.  A moment later, Reid ran into view with a pair of shoes, waving them around.

 

“Zoo?”

 

“…  Not today, baby.”  Hotch said with a smile, scooping the boy up.  “In a couple of days though.  Garcia is going to plan us a few special days.  Would you like that?”

 

“Yeah!”  Reid gasped, flinging his shoes.  Hotch chuckled.

 

“How about today we got to the park?”

 

“YEAH!”

 

“Alright.”  Hotch grinned, and gathered the shoes, sitting down and getting Reid into them.  Then he went upstairs and dressed, put on his jacket, put Reid into one of Jack’s jackets, and then they left the house.  Reid pushed his glasses up onto his little pixie nose and then took Hotch’s hand, trotting by the man’s side.  When they passed the house that the poodle Reid had dubbed “Caligula” lived in, Hotch had to carry Reid.  The child stared at the poodle’s house with wide eyes until it was out of sight, and only then would he allow Hotch to put him down.

 

A few minutes later, they reached the park.  Reid stared with wide-eyed delight at the place…  the rolling hills, the soccer and baseball field, the basketball court…  and the playground.  A swing set, see-saws, merry-go-round, and a large, sprawling castle made of wood.

 

“Can…  Can I go play?”  Reid gasped.

 

“Of course!”  Hotch said, smiling.  And with that, Reid broke into a full on run.  Hotch blinked, surprised, then chased after him.  “Spencer, slow down!”  He called out the warning too late; Reid tripped and tumbled to the ground.  “Oh…  Spencer, are you okay?”  Hotch asked, hurrying over and kneeling by the child.  Reid picked up his glasses and shoved them back onto his face.

 

“Yeah!”  He gasped, scrambling to his feet and bouncing towards the playground again.  Smiling and shaking his head, Hotch stood and followed, hearing some parents on the benches laughing.  He looked at them, and a woman waved.  Hotch walked towards them.

 

“Haven’t seen you here before.”  A red head announced, standing and holding out her hand.  “Shelley.”

 

“Aaron.”  Hotch said, nodding and taking her hand.

 

“Lisa.”  Said the taller of two blondes, and the shorter introduced herself as “Nicole.”

 

The brunette stood and walked over to her little boy who had come running over pointing to a ‘boo-boo’ on his hand, which was just a tiny scratch.  She kissed it better, and he returned to playing.  “Denise.”  She greeted, turning and smiling at Hotch.  “Your little boy is adorable.”

 

“Oh.  Thank you.”  Hotch said with a nod.  “But…  he’s not mine.  He’s uh…  my cousin’s son.”

 

“I’ve seen you around…  don’t you have a son?”  Shelley asked.

 

“I do.”  Hotch nodded.  “He lives with his mother.  We’re divorced.”

 

“Oh.  I’m sorry to hear that.”  Shelley said.  “What’s your uh…  cousin’s son’s name?”

 

“Spencer.”  Hotch said with a smile, turning to watch the boy climbing through the castle, eagerly exploring every inch.

 

“He’s certainly energetic.”  Denise laughed, as Lisa waived to her little boy who had made it to the top tower.

 

“This is new.”  Hotch chuckled.  “He’s usually really quiet and shy and just wants to curl up in your lap and read a book.”

 

“So…  You dating?”

 

“SHELLEY!!!”  Nicole gasped, and the women all burst out laughing.  Hotch quirked an eyebrow at them, and a moment later they were all looking at him, waiting for an answer.

 

“…  Actually, I’m in a very serious relationship.”  Hotch said with a slight smile.  “We’ve been together for a little over a year and he and I finally moved in together.”

 

“He?”  Shelley asked, looking surprised.  “Is that why your marriage broke up?”

 

“Shelley!”  Denise scolded.

 

“Whaaat?!”  Shelley asked.  Hotch fought back an amused smile.

 

“No.  I learned that about myself after the divorce, actually.”  Hotch admitted.  “It just…  took the right person.  SPENCER, GET DOWN FROM THERE!!!”

 

“…  I can’t!” 

 

The women laughed as Hotch sighed and trudged over to pluck the child down off of the outside railing of a little bridge, gently scolding him and then sending him on his way with a hug and little pat on his rump.  Soon enough, Reid joined the other little boys in playing hide-n-seek in the castle, and so there would be minutes of silence followed by shrieks of surprise and delight. 

 

Hotch found himself in the midst of “Mom Talk”, and so he remained silent unless specifically asked a questions, forcing his profiler to shut up from time to time.  And while the women were nice, after two and a half hours of sitting in the middle of it, but being too polite to just get up and leave, Hotch was ready to eat his gun.  He didn’t CARE about the latest celebrity scandal, or the recall of a popular makeup brand or how to get their husband’s attention or how to make their kids eat their vegetables.

 

Finally, one of the boys trotted over and ran up to Lisa.  “Mommy, I’m hungry.”

 

“Alright, Jake, go get your brother and we’ll go home for lunch.”  Lisa said, and the other mothers stood and began calling their children in.

 

“You’re welcome to join us tomorrow.”  Shelley told Hotch.  “We’re here every morning, weather permitting.”

 

“We’ll see.”  Hotch said with a smile, scooping Spencer up when they child reached him.  “…  You need a bath.”

 

“I don’t wanna!!!”  Reid whined, and the women grinned.

 

“Good luck with that.”  Nicole laughed, and Hotch bid them goodbye and headed home. 

 

“I’m hungry.”  Reid told him.

 

“Well then…  after a bath, we’ll have some lunch.”

 

“…  Okay.”  Reid sighed, sounding mildly annoyed.  Smiling, Hotch kissed his head and carried him all the way home.  Once there, he ran a warm bath and undressed the little boy, who proudly used the toilet all by himself again.  Reid was quiet for his bath, obviously tired after playing in the park.  Once he was dried and dressed, Hotch took him to the kitchen and made him Chef Boyardee Beefaroni.  And once Reid had eaten, he carried him into Jack’s room and tucked him in for a nap.  Reid drifted off immediately, and Hotch removed his glasses, setting them on the bedside table.

 

By the time Reid awoke clouds had rolled in, and it was raining.  Hotch parked the little boy in front of a movie while he did some work with the team over a web cam.

 

“So…  the connection between the victims is a hot dog stand?!”  He blurted, sounding skeptical.

 

“Looks like it.”  Garcia said over the video feed.  “They all visited it the day that they died.  I have them on a security camera.  All eight of them.”  And the eight pictures appeared on Hotch’s screen.

 

“…  Lemme see!”

 

Hotch jumped and the team looked on in amusement as little Spencer scrambled into the man’s lap.

 

“Awwww…”  Garcia, Emily and JJ all cooed. 

 

“Spencer, go back and watch your movie.”  Hotch told him.

 

“It’s over.”  Reid said, frowning at the photos and pushing his glasses up on his nose.  “…  There.”  And he pointed.  Hotch blinked.  “There’s a man watching them.”

 

“Wait…  what?”  Rossi asked.

 

“In the window.”  Reid said.

 

“Oh…”  Garcia breathed.  “Oh!  He’s right!  Look across the street!  There’s a man at a desk in the window!  And it looks like he’s watching all of the victims!”

 

“Garcia, can you blow up the image and sharpen it?”  Morgan asked.

 

“Doing it…  Right…  Now…”  Garcia mumbled, tapping away.  “There!”  The image came up on the screen.

 

“…  Wait a minute…  We talked to that guy!”  Emily exclaimed.

 

“Let’s pick him up.”  Rossi sighed.

 

“…  Did a five year old just crack our case?”  Morgan asked, grinning.

 

“I think he may have.”  Rossi chuckled.

 

“Good job, Spence.”  JJ praised, and Reid beamed.  Hotch smiled slightly, bowing his head and pressing a kiss to the dark brown locks.  Reid twisted around and hugged the man around the neck kissing his cheek.  The girls all squealed.

 

“Goodbye.”  Hotch drawled, and ended their webcam connection.  Then he hugged Reid tightly, kissing his cheek right back.

 

“I love you, Spencer.”  Hotch said softly, and Reid smiled.

 

“Will you read to me?”  The five year old asked.

 

“…  Of course.”  Hotch said with a smile, and he lit a fire in the fireplace and he and Reid spend the rest of the afternoon curled up on the leather loveseat in the study, reading before the fire.

 

Dinner consisted of hot soup and crackers, then more time reading before the fire.  After that, Hotch set Reid in warm bath while he grabbed a hot shower.  Once he was dry and dressed, he plucked Reid from the tub and got him into a large t shirt again, kissing his cheek. 

 

“Let’s get you to bed.”  He said, gently, and headed downstairs.

 

“NO!!!”  Reid howled.  “WANNA STAY WITH YOU!!!”

 

“Spencer…  You’re big enough to sleep by yourself.”

 

“NO!!!”  Reid cried, tears immediately running down his cheeks.  Hotch stopped halfway down the stairs, staring at Reid in dismay.  His heart clenched in his chest.

 

“Please don’t leave me!!!”  Reid sobbed, clinging tightly to the man’s shirt.  “PLEASE!!!”

 

“…  If I put you in Jack’s bed, you’re just going to come creeping into my bed in the middle of the night, aren’t you?” He asked, and Reid sniffled and nodded.  “…  Alright.”  Hotch sighed and Reid perked up, giving the man a hopeful, watery smile.  “One more night.  But tomorrow you’re six.  And you’re sleeping in Jack’s bed.”

 

“…  Okay.”  Reid whispered, nodding.  Hotch hugged him tightly. 

 

“I love you, Spencer.”  Hotch murmured softly, burying his nose in the wet hair.  “I love you so much.”

 

“I love you too, Aaron.”  Reid said softly, smiling and closing his eyes as Hotch carried him back upstairs.  He laid Reid down on the left side of the bed, the side furthest from the bathroom doors, and tucked him in, kissing his forehead.

 

“Good night, Spencer.  Sleep tight.”

 

“Don’t let the bed bugs bite!!!”  Reid sang, and Hotch smiled.

 

“Sweet dreams.”  And he turned off the lights before climbing into bed and pulling the covers up over himself.  He smiled as Reid wiggled over and curled into his side, before giving a sigh of contentment and falling asleep.

 

But there were no sweet dreams that night…  Hotch was woken at a few minutes past four am by the child’s cries.  He sat up and turned on the light, then looked down.  Reid lay curled up beside him, rocking himself and crying, one hand on his soft cheek.

 

“Spencer?”  Hotch asked.  “Spencer?  Baby, what’s wrong?”

 

“It hurts!”  Reid cried, his jaw trembling at the pain.  Hotch gathered the little boy into his arms and cradled him close. 

 

“Alright, sweetie…  open up and lemme see.”  Hotch said, gently.  Reid did as he was told, tears flooding down his cheeks.  Hotch adjusted Reid’s head so that the light would shine into his mouth.  Hotch frowned, not really seeing anything that stood out.  “Hmmm…  I don’t see anything, baby…”

 

“It hurts!”  Reid wailed again, and Hotch pulled him close. 

 

“Shhhh…”  He soothed, and kissed the child’s head.  But three hours later found him pacing the living room, cradling the child in his arms as he cried.  Hotch was tired, but he was concerned for the little boy in his arms.  Every now and then, Reid would doze off, but he would only sleep for ten to fifteen minutes before he woke crying again, even after Hotch gave him some children’s Tylenol.

 

Finally, Hotch carried Reid into the kitchen.

 

“Try to eat something for me, baby.”  Hotch crooned, gently.  Sniffling, Reid nodded.  Hotch handed him a Pop Tart, and Reid nibbled.  He was halfway through the first pastry when he suddenly let out a shriek.  Hotch hurried to his side and watched as Reid’s tongue fumbled, and then the little boy spat out his food.  It was streaked with blood.  Hotch’s eyes widened.

 

“There’s a tooth…”  He murmured, then looked up at Reid.  The child was watching him through his new set of glasses, sniffling.  “You’re losing your teeth, baby…”  Hotch told him, gently stroking his ruffled hair.

 

“How long will it take?”  Reid asked, a whimper in his tone.

 

“I don’t know, sweetheart.”  Hotch confessed.  “I don’t know…”  Reid sniffled again, then let out a sob before suddenly spitting out another tooth.  Blood trickled down his chin, and dripped onto the table.  When he saw it, he began to cry again.  Hotch was incredibly distressed, seeing the child crying hysterically in both pain and fear at what was going on.  Hotch gently cleaned his face and gave him some water to wash the blood out of his mouth, then gathered him into his arms and carried him out to the living room. 

 

When Garcia arrived for her morning check on her boys, Reid was able to stop crying long enough to smile for Garcia to snap a few photos of him without his two front teeth.  She was there when he spat out a third tooth, and she hugged him and comforted him while Hotch ate breakfast and got dressed.  But eventually she had to go to work. 

 

Hotch settled down on the sofa with the little boy and rocked him.

 

Reid cried all day.  Every hour or so, he would spit out another tooth with a fresh trickle of blood.  He didn’t eat all day.  Neither did Hotch…  the man couldn’t stand to put the crying child down.  The only time they separated was when Reid had to go to the bathroom.  Other than that, Hotch spent all day either pacing the house or sitting on the sofa with Reid in his arms, crying at the pain as his adult teeth broke through his gums.

 

It was seven pm when the last baby tooth had been lost and the last adult tooth had come in.  Hotch knew it was over when Reid finally relaxed into a quiet sleep on his shoulder.  He woke him just long enough to drink a little bit of juice and chicken broth, and then he set him into a warm bath.  Reid fell asleep while still in the tub.  He hardly stirred when Hotch took him out, dried him off and dressed him in a large t shirt. 

 

The poor boy was so exhausted, he never even woke throughout the whole process.  And then, Hotch couldn’t find it in his heart to put the child in Jack’s bed…  and so thirty minutes later, when the exhausted Unit Chief crawled into bed, he turned off the lights and lay down, resting a hand on the child’s chest, just to make sure he was there, safe and sleeping peacefully…

 

And soon, so was Hotch…