Chapter Text
Spencer curled around himself and clutched his chest tightly. He ducked his head in between his knees and struggled to breathe. “Hang in there, Spence,” Morgan said, holding him and rubbing circles into his back. “You’re alright. Breathe, buddy.”
His eyes glazed over and he struggled to stay awake. Rossi broke quite a few laws, but he finally reached the hospital. As Morgan ran the child inside, Rossi went to get help.
An attendant took the child from Morgan, and he watched the woman take him down into the hallway. “No!” Spencer screamed, coughing. He was placed on a gurney and a nurse tried to hold him down. “Don’t—!”
The frazzled agents sat down in the waiting area. The others arrived a bit later, with the exclusion of Will, who was left to watch the two boys back at home.
They waited anxiously, all of them used to long hours in hospital waiting rooms. Their prayers were answered hours later when a four foot tall woman stumbled in. “Family of Spencer Reid?” They all stood up. “Uh, I can only take two immediate family members back there.”
They all looked at each other. Garcia beat the others to it and swung an arm around Morgan’s shoulder. “Hi, that’ll be us.”
The lady lead them to a room where Reid was sat up on a bed. His small feet dangled over the edge of the bed, and he struggled to reach for his shoes. “You’re okay!” Garcia said, running to him. She engulfed him in a hug, eliciting a small cough from the boy.
“Baby girl, careful,” Morgan said, ever the hypocrite. He hugged him next with his papa bear strength, “What happened?”
“Asthma attack,” the nurse said. “It says in the system he hasn’t needed a prescription for years, which doesn’t make sense… because he’s three.” She sighed suddenly. “Our system is messed up, but as soon as we get it all fixed up, he’ll be free to go home!”
Garcia bit her lip, processing the fact that they’re going to be here a while. She sat down on the bed and pulled him onto her lap. “How’re you feelin’, sweet thing?”
“M’ okay,” he mumbled weakly. “Wanna go home.” He coughed weakly.
Morgan raised an eyebrow at his coughing. “I had his prescription sent to this address?” the nurse confirmed, flashing Morgan her iPad.
“I’ll have Hotch pick it up for you,” Morgan said, ruffling his hair. Morgan stood up, signaling that it was time to go. The nurse sputtered in confusion, but before she could stop him, a well-dressed man appeared in the doorway.
“Ma’am, I’m with the FBI…” John spoke, and Garcia snatched Reid and wondered out back into the waiting room where the rest of the family was waiting.
The others stood up on sight and went to circle around the tiny kid. A chorus of “what happened” and “I’m glad you’re okay” surrounded him.
“It was an asthma relapse,” Morgan explained. “He’s gonna be okay.”
“I was so worried!” Emily cooed, bonking him on the nose. Reid giggled slightly before breaking off into a wheeze. The smile fell off her face as she watched the tiny boy struggle to regain his composure.
“Sorry,” he apologized, giving one last cough.
“This wasn’t a relapse,” Hotch said suddenly. “You knew.”
The group went quiet. “I…”
“Is that true?” David pressed, face stern.
Reid huffed, “Yes, but I was careful! I know my limits.”
“Clearly,” Morgan scoffed sarcastically.
“Then why’d you push if you knew this was going to happen?” JJ asked gently.
Reid looked to the floor, not wanting to make eye contact. “Unacceptable, young man,” Hotch grumbled. “Eyes up.” He reluctantly pried his eyes off the floor, but he still didn’t look him in the eye. “Spencer.” Spencer crawled to the edge of the hospital bed and reached for Rossi.
“I wanna go home,” he mumbled, burying his face into Rossi’s pant leg. With a sigh, he picked him up and cradled the shaky child.
“Don’t avoid the question,” Hotch said.
He didn’t say anything and continued to bury his face into the blazer. He coughed weakly, and Hotch had to back off because Garcia stepped between them.
“Give him a break, Hotch,” Garcia said.
It was useless to ask.
He knew why.
He’s reckless, insanely so. Adult Reid was a magnet for trouble, but child Reid was so much worse.
He had no coping skills. Vulnerable, alone. This version of Reid was desperate for attention.
He was starved for it.
“Over 648,000 people get infections from hospitals each year, you know,” Reid spoke suddenly. “We should go.”
“Knowing Spencer’s luck, he’ll catch some deadly, incurable disease,” Morgan grumbled.
Garcia punched him in the arm. “Don’t even joke about that.”
As things ended up, he got to go back to the beach house soon enough — now, though, with inhalers stashed in each team member’s bag.
They were set on not letting this ruin the vacation. A week off is a rare occurrence.
Actually, last time they were given a week off, it was interrupted by the Fisher King.
It’d been a rough week for them all.
But everything was okay. Spencer was at ease here. With his family.
Then they got the phone call.
“You really think it’ll work?”
Spencer was dressed in a peds gown with a blanket draped over him. His teammates filled up the small room with a doctor.
“I know it will,” she said, pushing up the oversized glasses on her face. “This will turn you back to normal.”
Relief washed over him. He could finally be free.
Free.
When did that word become synonyms with alone?
His relief turned into despair. He didn’t want to go back.
He did and he didn’t. Things were difficult like this, but if he went back… he didn’t want them to leave.
The doctor had brushed a cleaning cloth against his shoulder, which made him jump back. “Wait!”
She pulled back, surprised. “Not a fan of needles?”
He was stunned.
This was it.
“I… I want to say thanks.” He had to clear his voice. “You… You guys were very kind to me this whole time, and I know I caused a lot of trouble. More than I’m worth.” He gave a wry smile at his own joke. “Thank you.” He turned to the doctor. “I’m ready.”
It was over quickly. She injected the shot, but nothing happened.
In a panic, he looked down at his small body and to his concerned teammates.
“What the fuc—“
And then it was over.
In a flash, he was big enough.
The gown was stretched, and Spencer held up his hands to look at himself. “Hah!” he exclaimed in victory, overjoyed at his deep voice.
Well. Deeper, anyways.
“I’m big again!” he exclaimed, cheering. His teammates didn’t look as amused.
JJ was covering her eyes. “Uh, Reid.”
“Oh.” He adjusted the blanket, pulling it up a little higher. “Can someone get my go bag?”
As soon as Spencer was dressed, he was pulled into countless hugs by his team members.
Garcia especially couldn’t find it in her to let go.
Standing in the parking lot, she held on to him. Spencer tapped her, guiding her to let go. “I hope you like big me as much as little me.”
“You’re still cute,” she cooed, pinching his cheek. “You are baby. ”
Squawking, he raised an eyebrow. “Am not! Garcia, how can you even say that?”
“You know what?” Morgan hummed. “I will miss tiny Reid.” Hurt flashed across his face for a moment before Morgan continued, “He was a lot easier to pick up.” Morgan through him into a headlock a moment later.
“Hey!” he said, resisting his hold.
They both turned at the clearing of a throat.
Hotch stood next to Rossi with his arms crossed. “You ready?”
“We have a case?” Reid asked, confused.
“What? No,” Rossi denied. “We have a vacation to finish.”
“Even though I’m not…?” Reid trailed off.
“You can drive, Reid.” Hotch tossed the keys to him, and he caught them and grinned.
Yeah.
Things were going to be okay.
***
“That’s not the way to the beach mansion,” Hotch said, definitely regretting letting him drive.
Spencer scoffed at him. “Are you kidding me, Hotch?” he asked, swerving into the Starbucks. “I’m not stopping until I’m right under the maximum amount of caffeine I can have until I die. ”
“You know how many germs are in this place ?”