give me something to hold on to

the fall

This week has been hard on Spencer, to say the least. It's been case after case and now they're completing the mountains of paperwork that serial killers leave. Sitting in his uncomfortable desk chair, Reid's unconsciously rocking in his seat. A soothing back and forth motion to calm his buzzing nerves. The agent taps a steady melody on his desk as his agitation grows. He hasn't regressed in at least two weeks and has just been itching for that release. Catching himself chewing lightly on his sleeve makes him realize all the little things he's doing to subconsciously help himself regress. He puts a stop to it at once. Glancing around to make sure no one noticed his abnormal behavior; he catches Morgan's eyes before the other looks away.

Shit.

Now Morgan's making his way over. He's going to ask if he's okay and Spencer really can't trust his voice not to sound high pitched and childish right now. Unfortunately, Morgan is piss poor at ASL so signing is off the table. It's too late to think up a solid plan, because Morgan is standing in front of his desk, propping his forearms on the divider.

"What's got you all worked up, Pretty Boy?" Morgans voice is laced with worry, but he hides it with a smile. Spence doesn't make eye contact, which isn't out of the norm for him, but he usually flicks them up in greeting. Rather he stares at the deep crimson of the other agent's shirt. He's still swaying gently in his seat. Realizing Morgan is waiting for an answer, Spencer just shrugs.

F-I-N-E he fingerspells slowly. His hands shake. Morgan mouths the letters along with Reid's sign. "Are you sure, Reid? You just... seem like there's something on your mind."

Yeah, no shit.

The sweet honey that's been ever persistent in the boy's brain seems to thicken. He rubs a closed first over his eye to try and clear his head. This is not the time nor the place, but he can't help the way he looks up at Morgan with wide doe eyes, a slight pout on his features. Morgan thinks he looks adorable.

Reid's upset and quickly dropping into his headspace. He tries to say something, anything to make the man go away, but all that comes out is a string of mumbles. The thought of his team finding out brings tears to Spencer's eyes. Tears that Morgan notices. "Kid, what's wrong? Talk to me." he moves from behind the divider to in front of Spencer's chair and kneels to be at eye level with the boy genius. Spencer sniffles miserably.

The boy looks down at his plum-colored cardigan. "M' not s'posed ta be here." The childish tone and slurred words immediately take Morgan aback. He just blinks at the little for a moment.

"Why aren't you supposed to be here, kid?" Spencer's sleeve is back in his mouth and morgan can't help but cringe at the number of germs the boy is flippantly disregarding.

"Cause... kuz...cubs-" he trails off in a whine, unable to form proper sentences. Morgan can't help but coo at Spencer's babyish voice. He feels an intense desire to protect the boy.

Unbeknownst to them, JJ has taken notice of the situation. It takes her a moment of silent observation to figure out what's going on. The way Spencer's shrunk in on himself to make him physically smaller. The sweater paws and thumb that rests gently on his bottom lip, as if afraid to go any further. The rocking gently back and forth- well, that might just be an autism thing (she's half right, it's both. He always stims like that when he's little, but he's not always little when he stims like that.) She concludes that spencer is undoubtedly an age regressor. A large leap to have made if she didn't already have her suspicions.

JJ slowly approaches the desk. "Hi, Spence. How are we feelin' right now?" She hopes the addition of another person doesn't overwhelm him too much. The boy looks up at her through tear laden lashes, clearly distraught. "Spencer, i need to ask you a question, okay? You don't have to use big words, just nod or shake your head." He looks confused but nods his head regardless. "Are you little right now?" Something like fear crosses his features. He shakes his head vigorously.

"n- not" he argues in vain, fingers griping the hem of his cardigan.

"Oh, Spence... it's okay. I'm not angry at you kiddo. I've seen plenty of age regressors in my time here- and outside of work too." He seems surprised at the information. His simple mind not understanding that he isn't alone. Morgans incredibly confused expression catches his gaze. He had forgotten the other was here. JJ realizes at nearly the same time he does. She mouths something at him that spencer doesn't quite catch from his angle but is relieved when Derek nods and walk away.

"Hey, little one. Why don't we go to Hotch's office? How does that sound, kiddo?" She speaks ever so gently, the way she would with Henry. Spencer looks up at her and a few stray tears roll down his rosy cheeks. He shakes his head in response. "Can you tell me why not?" the words were meant to be coaxing.

"Cause he be mad at me..." The boy looks down sadly.

"No, baby, he won't be mad at you. Hotch will understand."

"M'kay, you pmomise?" His immediate trusting nature makes Jenifer audibly coo.

"I promise, Spence." she crosses her heart for good measure. Seeming to take her word for it, he reaches for her hand. She takes his hand in hers and walks the two of them to the unit chief's office.