Adult-FanFiction.org : Television / Streaming

Growing Up Again	By : hatochiisai Category: 1 through F > Criminal Minds Views: 21443 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 1
Disclaimer: I do not own Criminal Minds, nor do I make any financial profit off of writing and posting this work.

Chapter List
- 1-Re-Birth
- 2-Age 1
- 3-Age 2
- 4-Age 3
- 5-Age 4
- 6-Age 5 & 6
- 7-Age 7
- 8-Age 8
- 9-Age 9
- 10-Age 10
- 11-Age 11
- 12-Age 12
- 13-Age 13
- 14-Age 14
- 15-Age 15
- 16-Age 16
- 17-Age 17
- 18-Age 18
- 19-Age 19
- 20-Age 20
- 21-Age 21
- 22-Age 22
- 23-Age 23
- 24-Age 24
- 25-All Grown Up
- 10
- 11
- 12
Eleven Years Old

Hotch blinked his eyes open when the phone rang, and Reid let out a loud whine a protest, sounding like a very disgruntled housecat.

Hotch fumbled for the phone, and answered.

“Hotchner.”

“Morning, sleeping beauty.”

“… what the fuck do you want, Dave?”

“Well. SOME one is in a bad mood.”

“… I’m exhausted.”

“Still going to the museum today?”

“… I dunno. Spencer?”

“… What.”

“We still going to the museum today?”

“… do we HAVE to?”

“No Dave, we’re not. He sounds as tired as I feel.”

“Okay.” Rossi said, smirking. He had heard Reid. “He’s still sleeping with you?”

“Honestly… I haven’t been able to keep him out, and last night I was too tired to argue with him.”

“Ah. Well, thunder storms today, in case you hadn’t noticed.”

“… Okay?”

“I’m on my way over with a gift for the kid.”

“… Should I be concerned?”

“that depends. But the whole team pitched in. But we’ve got a briefing in an hour, so I’m stopping by your place on my way to drop it off.”

“what is it?”

“a surprise.”

“what kind of surprise.”

“a part of childhood I’m sure Reid never got to have.”

“… Why am I afraid?”

“I think you’ll appreciate it too.” Rossi chuckled.

“If you say so.” Hotch sighed. “Bye.” Then he turned, and grinned. “You need a haircut.” He murmured, leaning over and kissing the long, messy hair.

“… I’ll live.” Reid mumbled into his pillow.

“Come on, son. Up and at ‘em. Dave’s coming over with a gift for you from the whole team.”

“… Should I be afraid?” Reid asked, slowly lifting his head and blinking sleepy eyes, rubbing the crusties from them. Hotch just smiled and got up.

“Go get dressed.” He said, and Reid slowly moved to do so, the pajamas he had put on last night now too small for him. Hotch grinned at that, then shook his head and went to do the same. When he came downstairs, Reid was sitting at the television eating Lucky Charms and watching ‘Dr. Who’ in a pair of jeans that were too big for him, and a baggy t shirt that had Einstein sticking his tongue out on it. A pair of new horn rimmed glasses were on his face. And with messy, uncombed hair falling nearly to his shoulder blades, he was quite the sight.

At the flash of a camera, Reid slowly turned his head and leveled Hotch with a cold glare. The man just chuckled and walked into the kitchen to have a bowl of raisin bran. But there was none to be found. In fact, to his horror, he could only find Reeses’ Puffs, Lucky Charms, Trix, Cinnamon Toast Crunch, and the old box of stale Cheerios he had been meaning to throw away. Making a face, he decided to make some toast instead, as he had run out of eggs.

He sat next to Reid on the sofa. The eleven year old didn’t even seem to notice, completely focused on Dr. Who. Hotch ate his toast in silence, then sat back and relaxed for not quite four minutes. Then there was a knock on the door. Hotch sighed and stood, going to open the door.

“… Dave. What is THAT?”

“What does it look like?!”

“Tell me you just used the box and it’s not actually a…”

“Nope. It actually is.” Rossi said, shoving past Hotch and walking into the living room.

“Hey Reid. The team is leaving on a case, and we wanted to bring this by for you to keep you entertained.” He said. Reid turned, shoving his glasses up onto his face. His eyes widened.

“… Wow! Really?! I… I’ve never played video games before!”

“I kind of figured.” Rossi chuckled. “So I bought you an XBOX 360.”

“Wow…” Reid breathed, catching the bag that Rossi tossed to him as he began to unpack the video game console. Reid dug through the bag. “WOW!!! Look Aaron!”

“What is it, buddy?” Hotch smiled after sending Rossi a glare.

“HALO!” Reid exclaimed.

“Oh really?”

“Thanks, Rossi!”

“That’s from Morgan. The team each bought you a couple of games. Halo is from Morgan.”

“Assassin’s Creed!!!”

“That’s from Emily.” Rossi said with a smile.

“Jedi Academy and Knights of the Old Republic! The Force Unleashed…? I didn’t know there were Star Wars video games!!!”

“Those are from Garcia.” Rossi chuckled, crawling around plugging the game console into the television.

“Fable!”

“That’s from JJ.” Rossi announced.

“Batman!”

“That’s from Kevin.”

“X-Men Legends!”

“Sam Cooper.”

“really?” Hotch asked, grinning.

“Really. And when Perry saw, he had to prove that DC is better than Marvel, and got him ‘Justice League’.” Rossi chuckled, and Hotch rolled his eyes.

“Three Prince of Persia games!”

“Those are from Strauss.”

“… what?” Reid and Hotch both said in unison, looking startled and wary.

“She found out what we were doing and said her son loves those games.” Rossi explained.

“… Cool.” Reid said.

“That and she asks about Reid constantly. She thinks he’s cute.”

“EW!!!” Reid squealed, making Hotch and Rossi exchange grins.

“Anyway.” Rossi said, standing and turning on the television. The XBOX logo appeared, and Rossi sat down, showing Reid how to work the console, and navigate XBOX 360 Live. Hotch was mildly amused; he didn’t know the veteran profiler was a closet gamer…

But finally, Rossi left Reid to it, preparing to play the first Assassin’s Creed. Then he pulled Hotch aside.

“We may need your help on this case.” He murmured to the man. “Stay near your phone, and in the house today in case we need you via webcam.” And then he handed Hotch a folder. “Here’s the case.” Hotch nodded.

“Thanks. I’ll look over it.” Hotch nodded. Rossi left, and Hotch went into his office to look over the file. Half an hour later, he heard Reid loudly proclaim, “How can a game be so accurate and inaccurate at the same time?!” Hotch quirked an eyebrow, but sighed and shook his head, getting back to work.

“Hey Hotch?” He blinked. This was the first time Reid had called him ‘Hotch’ since being… de-aged… To be honest, he kind of missed the sweet little “Ahhn” and “Ah’ron” that Reid had been calling him not quite a fortnight ago. But he WAS eager to get HIS Spencer back… the wonderful young man he had fallen in love with…

“HOTCH!!!”

“Yes?” Hotch responded, standing and walking out to the living room.

“Can we order a pizza?”

“… You just ate less than an hour ago!”

“I mean for lunch!”

“Oh. Sure.”

“… and dinner?”

“Uh… no.”

“How about Pizza for lunch, Chinese for dinner?”

“… We’ll see.”

“Which means ‘no’.” Reid sighed. Hotch frowned at him, and the boy glanced up. “What?! It DOES!!! Any kid knows THAT. Jack knows that!” Hotch opened his mouth to argue, but then thought twice, and just left the room.

Lunch time came soon. Hotch ordered a stuffed crust pizza supreme with breadsticks, and he ended up on the sofa with Reid, playing ‘HALO’ and eating their lunch. Considering the fact that neither he nor Reid had ever played the game before, they did surprisingly well, cutting down the forces of the Covenant quickly and efficiently.

“I never knew video games were so much fun!” Reid announced at one point, turning and smiling up at Aaron Hotchner. The man grinned back at him affectionately.

“they’re not my thing…” He admitted.

“But you ARE having fun.” Reid said.

“Yes. I am.”

“Even though I am SO out-shooting you.”

“Only in the game, kid.” Hotch snorted, then blurted “Shit!” as his character crumpled to the ground, the victim of a Jackal sniper. He then watched as Reid efficiently whipped out his own sniper rifle, located the culprit, and took him out with a single shot to the head.

“You have been avenged!” The boy crowed.

“My hero.” Hotch drawled sarcastically, taking up his controller as his character respawned.

The pair played all afternoon, and as it got dark out, Reid said, “So… Chinese?”

“We had take out for lunch, we should make something here for dinner.”

“Yeah. Make plates of the Chinese food we’ll have delivered.” Reid said.

“Spencer…”

“I want noodles!”

“Spencer, no, we—“

“Fine. YOU make your dinner, I’m ordering Chinese.”

“I’m not paying for it, Spencer.”

“That’s fine. In case you’ve forgotten, I work the FBI, earn my own paycheck, and I have a debit card.” And he leapt from the sofa and darted away, Hotch lunging to capture him. Reid let out a shriek and dashed up the stairs, Hotch on his heels. But he managed to get to the top, and slam the bedroom door, locking it.

“SPENCER!!” Hotch bellowed, rattling the door. Reid snatched up the phone and ran for the bedroom as he heard Hotch run down the stairs again, and then run back up, keys jingling. Reid darted through the bathroom and into the closet, looking around. Then, he began to climb the shelves until he reached the very top, and he tucked himself behind the linens.

“Yes, I’d like to place an order for delivery…”

Hotch made his way through the sitting room and into the bedroom. He knelt and looked under the bed, and checked behind the curtains. Then he headed into the bathroom. Reid wasn’t in the shower, the tub, it the cabinets or crouched behind the toilet… and so Hotch headed to the closet.

“Eleven, Twelve.” He heard the hushed whisper. “… 254. Alright, that’s fine. Thank you.” And then a little beep as the phone was turned off. And Hotch snatched the linens. Reid let out a bloodcurdling scream as hands seized him and dragged him off of the top shelf, fingers dancing over his ribs. The phone fell to the floor and Hotch carried Reid out of the closet, kicking and screaming and laughing hysterically.

“NO!!! NO NONONONONO!!!!” Reid begged, writhing and thrashing within the man’s grip. “AARON!!! AAAAH!!!” Grinning, Hotch headed out of the dark bedroom. But then, lightning lit up the world and a massive peal of thunder crashed over the house. Reid let out a shriek, and was immediately latched onto Hotch, his arms around the man’s neck. Hotch blinked. He could see the large eyes, shining in their fear.

“Hey… you okay?” Hotch asked, rubbing up and down Reid’s back.

“… Yeah.” Came the soft whisper.

“You sure?”

“… Yeah.”

“Alright… Come on now… let’s go back downstairs.”

“Yes please.” Reid whispered. “Did you know that tornados—“

“Spencer, no talking about tornados. You’ll scare yourself.”

“… Um… okay.” Reid mumbled, and allowed Hotch to carry him, even though he was getting too big to be carried. “Aaron?”

“Yeah?”

“… I love you.” Hotch paused and regarded the child before him, then smiled and hugged him tightly.

“I love you too, Spencer.”

“Even though I ordered Chinese?”

“Yes.” Hotch said, smiling. “… any chance you got something for me, too?” Reid blinked at him, then grinned.

“Of course!”

“Great.” Hotch chuckled. “I’d rather spend time with you than spend time cooking.”

“Really?”

“Really.” Hotch said, and Reid hugged him.

“Wanna play Assassin’s Creed with me?!”

“Sure!” Hotch smiled, setting reid down on the sofa. “But let’s get a fire going in the fire place, and get some plates ready, and we’ll play after we eat, okay?”

“Okay!” Reid cheered. “Can we fold out the sofa bed and have a video game sleep over party?!”

“who are you inviting?” Hotch asked.

“Just you!”

“Aww… I’m honored, Spencer. Why don’t you go get some sheets to make up the bed. We’ll just sleep down here tonight, okay?”

“YEAH!!!” Reid shouted, and bolted. And so did the cats, who had come out of hiding. Hotch just smiled, shaking his head and kneeling before the fireplace and starting up a flame. A moment later Reid trotted into the room, arms laden with sheets, blankets and pillows. Hotch smiled and the pair removed the cushions from the sofa and folded out the bed, putting the sheets and blankets on it, and setting up the pillows.

Then they set the table, and as if the delivery man had known it was time to eat, the doorbell rang. Hotch answered the door, forged Reid’s signature on the receipt, and carried the food into the kitchen. He and Reid dished out the food, Reid happily explaining the plot line of Assassin’s Creed II to Hotch, and then they sat down to eat, Reid still chattering animatedly. Hotch had to remind him to eat several times, but finally they were finished. They cleaned up, bathed and got into pajamas, and then they made themselves comfortable in the sofa bed and played Assassin’s Creed until midnight.

Finally, smiling at the child asleep on his shoulder, Hotch tucked Reid in and turned off the TV and XBOX.

“Aaron?”

“Yes?”

“… Don’t go.” Reid mumbled. Hotch blinked down at him, and smiled. He sat beside him and leaned over, kissing his cheek.

“I love you, Spencer.” He murmured. Reid didn’t respond. Hotch frowned, staring at the boy’s eyes. They were glaed and contemplative, and… sad. “Spencer?” Hotch asked gently. Reid heaved a large sigh. “Spencer, what is it?”

“… I wish…” Reid began, but stopped.

“Wish what, baby?”

“I wish I’d had a dad like you.” Came the soft confession. Hotch blinked again, and then winced. He felt his heart breaking as tears filled the little boy’s eyes, especially when he realized that by the time Reid had made to this age, his father had already abandoned him. At this age, Reid was already taking care of himself, AND his mother.

Slowly, Hotch lifted Reid up off of the bed and held him close to his chest, hugging him tightly and stroking his long hair. And he closed his eyes as Reid began to sob brokenly into his shoulder.

“I’m sorry, Spencer…” Hotch murmured, now stroking a hand up and down the small back. “I’m so sorry, baby… You deserved so much more… SO much more. You are amazing. One of the most incredible people I have ever had the immense privilege of knowing. And your father was a fool for walking away from you.” Reid sobbed harder. “Do you hear me?!” Hotch demanded. “He’s a damn fool!!!” He leaned back, taking Reid’s face in his hands and making the child look at him. “There is not a single soul on this earth that can come CLOSE to you. And I will never… NEVER leave you. Because nothing on this earth could make leaving you worth it.”

“… Really?” Came the tentative inquiry from amongst the sniffles.

“Really.”

“… Promise.” Hotch said softly with a smile. “Forever.”

“Til death do us part?” Reid asked, perking up a bit. Hotch smiled and latched pinkies with the little boy.

“Til death do us part.” He pledged, and then pulled the child close and hugged him tightly, rocking him until the boy’s trembling abated. And once it had, Hotch lay the sleeping child down on the bed, kissing his little cheek and tucking the blankets around him before lying beside him and stroking his hair for a few minutes before his eyes closed and his hand fell still to rest on Reid’s back.

And things were quiet.

Artemis and Apollo leapt onto the bed and curled up together in the blankets at the corner, closing their eyes and adding their purrs to the soft breathing of the slumbering man and child. Both human and feline were soon peacefully resting, completely oblivious of the storm raging outside of the safety and warmth of the cozy house.
- 10
- 11
- 12
You need to be logged in to leave a review for this story.You need to be logged in to leave a review for this story.
Report Story

Growing Up Again