1,080(Disclaimer: I do not own Criminal Minds or its characters)
It's been exactly nine hours so here is the second finale and the final installment ever.
I promised I'd finish this before 2021... I can't believe I can mark it as complete now.
I wish I could name every reviewer but I haven't got time. I have messaged all of you who have reviewed recently and I will continue to do that (SO CHECK YOUR INBOXES.) It is never too late to leave feedback and it is always greatly appreciated. It really brings a smile to my face when I see a review in my emails. So please review.
This story is already at novel length, whoops! Enjoy.
Spencer's lip trembled a little as he lifted the test tube to his mouth. He looked over at Aaron who was watching intently as the tube rested on Spencer's lips. The boy took a deep breath and tipped the vial up, pouring the contents into his mouth. He pulled it quickly away when he was finished and grimaced. "That wasn't pleasant," he muttered. Aaron only nodded and tried to smile.
Spencer put the test-tube back and he looked up at Aaron.
"Maybe I should go back to my appawtment until it wowks," he said and he glanced at the door and toward the stairs. "My bed hewe might be a bit small." He snorted and it brought a smile to Aaron's face. Dave has been paying for a new apartment for Spencer when Caroline had come into contact with them, they had stored his things in a storage container before that (since Spencer's lease had been terminated a month after his 'accident.'
Aaron nodded. "I'll stay with you," he said.
"You don't need to."
"You're still tiny, Spencer. I promise this will be the last time you'll need to rely on me." He smiled sadly and Spencer returned the look knowingly.
"Okay," he mumbled.
They got to his apartment a few hours later and Aaron made them both lunch before Spencer went to lie down.
Aaron fell asleep himself and when he woke up Spencer was in the kitchen. He was over six foot again and well into his twenties. He was also dressed in his old clothes and when he turned he smiled at Aaron.
"I'm back," he said and he laughed. Aaron looked at him for a moment, remembering the little boy who had been in his company just a few hours before. He smiled though and stood up to hug the young man.
"Thank you," Spencer said and he pressed his face into Aaron's neck.
Spencer didn't insist on going straight back to work. Instead, he put his things back to how they were before in his apartment and thanked Dave profusely for having paid the bills, which he had promised to pay back, (an offer Dave had promised to decline.) Rossi also insisted that Spencer was to come to his place that weekend and Spencer was more than happy to agree.
Which is what led Spencer to Dave's front door on his birthday, with a bottle of wine in his hand which he had no desire to drink, only to hand over to Emily who would happily take the drinking responsibility from him.
Rossi let him in and led him to the kitchen where Emily, Garcia, and Morgan were waiting.
"HAPPY BIRTHDAY!"
Spencer had to shake his head and wonder if a gun had gone off next to him.
Garcia shrank away with a shy smile before she lunged forward and hugged him. "Sorry, I'm just so excited!"
"Thanks, Garcia."
Morgan pulled him into a hug next and patted his back. "I wasn't sure we'd be celebrating your twenty-eighth until I was another twenty years older," he said with a laugh and Spencer pulled away and smiled.
"Yea," he muttered, accepting a hug from Emily.
Rossi returned to the kitchen and opened the oven door. Morgan turned as the smell wafted out and he leaned on the island.
"Aw, man," he muttered, closing his eyes and sucking in a deep breath through his nose. "That smells great."
Dave shut the door again and glanced over his shoulder as he took down another three wine glasses. "It's supposed to smell great," he said smugly and he set down the glasses and held one out to Spencer, holding the open wine bottle over it.
"How much?"
Spencer looked at the big glass and smiled nervously. "Only a little."
"Oh, yea, you're still getting used to alcohol," Dave said as he poured a bit more than Spencer had wanted.
Spencer accepted the glass with a thanks.
"And coffee," Emily added but Spencer was quick to shake his head.
"No, I didn't need to get used to that. I missed coffee!"
Spencer shuddered as he remembered his first taste of coffee again. It had been like a warm hug, welcoming him home.
He took a sip of his wine and shuddered but not with the same euphoric feeling as coffee. He put the glass down and swallowed to try and get rid of the taste.
Morgan started talking about taking Spencer out again, insisting they found some women while they were at it. Spencer was protesting when the doorbell rang and his nerves came back to him.
Garcia beat Dave to the threshold and she scurried to the front door.
"JJ and Hotch are here!" Garcia called and Spencer felt himself shrink into his chair shyly as if the two people about to walk through the door hadn't cared for him over the past year.
"Oh, and the boys!"
Spencer looked across at Dave who had set down the wine bottle. He smiled reassuringly at Spencer. "They explained," he said. Spencer's eyes grew wider.
"Explained?"
"There was no point in lying. What would they think if the little boy they saw as a brother vanished and their uncle reappeared?"
Spencer pressed his lips together, his fingers clenching against his glass stem.
"Right," he mumbled.
Dave leaned on the counter and Spencer shifted back.
"I'm fine," Spencer said quickly and Dave quirked an eyebrow.
"Really," he added.
"Alright, kiddo."
He stood back up, glancing down the hall where he heard Aaron's voice. Spencer hid his face in his hand, pretending the sound of Aaron's voice didn't make his chest clench sadly.
"Go easy on them." Spencer looked up to see Rossi looking back with a sad smile. "They didn't take it well."
Spencer opened his mouth but closed it and looked at the doorway. "Are they okay?"
"I'm sure they will be once they see you."
JJ walked in first with a smile on her face as she ushered Henry in. Spencer pressed his glass to his lips and took a deep swig before Dave pulled it away from him with a chuckle.
"Clam down," he hissed as Spencer swallowed hard, reaching up to his mouth to wipe away the wine dribbling down his chin.
"Hey, Spence," JJ said and she smiled at Spencer as he sat up quickly and gave an awkward smile.
Henry squinted at him for a moment before breaking into a smile.
"Uncle Spence!" he cried and he let go of JJ's hand and ran to Spencer.
"H-hey, Henry." Before Spencer could run his hands together nervously Henry had his arms around his legs, hugging them tight.
"I missed you!" he said. Jack came in and ran over too when he saw his estranged uncle.
"Hey Reid... I-I mean Spencer." Jack looked up at him for a moment and his eyes sparkled. He looked away and sniffed.
Henry lifted his head off Spencer's knees and he pouted. "You're so much taller now," he muttered.
"I was this tall before."
"Yea but you were..." Henry paused, and put his hand at his hip. "This big a few days ago!"
Spencer laughed and shook his head. "I wasn't that small," he said in his defence.
Jack shrugged. "You were pretty short."
"Well, I'm taller than both of you now," Spencer said and Jack looked him up and down and smiled.
"Yea," he said quietly.
Aaron walked in and put his hand on the small of JJ's back. He looked on at his boys... and Spencer and he smiled sadly.
"Happy birthday, Spencer," he said and he gave the small gift bag in his hand a shake. He remembered the trike he and JJ had been looking to get Spencer for his third birthday. Instead JJ had picked out some patterned socks, a sweater and some chocolates. Very boring in comparison Aaron thought.
They looked at one another for a moment and Aaron stood a little taller, looking on at Spencer proudly.
Henry pulled himself up onto Spencer's lap and he smirked at the wine glasses but Spencer pulled him away from them. Henry grumbled and tilted his head up to look at Spencer.
"We've been sad," Henry said as if he was justified to have a drink. He looked down at his lap. JJ and Hotch glanced anxiously at each other while Spencer frowned.
"Why?" he asked quietly.
"Because you were a cool brother," Henry muttered and he looked up into Spencer's eyes for a moment, tears welling in his own before he turned away.
"You were a pretty awesome brother too, Henry," said Spencer and Henry turned his head to the side and smiled.
"Yea?"
"Yea. You and Jack are amazing. But it's my turn to look out for the two of you."
Henry sighed, glancing over at Jack. He then looked back at Spencer and pouted. "Will you still play nerf wars with us?"
Spencer laughed. "If you really want me to. I'm not much better than I was before."
"That's okay! We can teach you!"
"Or we'll just have to shoot you till you learn," said Jack with a proud smile and Spencer smiled.
"I can't wait."
Thanks for reading! These two finales have been my plan since very early in the story when it was clear many people wanted to see this sort of ending. Personally, I wanted to keep Spencer young but I decided to try this way. As the story went on more reviewers asked for Spencer to stay young. This is why you have two endings.
I hope this does justice to those of you who wanted to see Spencer grown up again.
Thank you soooo much for everything you guys have done for this story. I never thought I would end it but here I am.
There is a poll on my profile, so you can head there to vote for what story you want me to write next (all story summaries are in my profile too.)
All I can say now is Thank you again, and goodbye.