Disclaimer: Criminal Minds and all its characters belong to CBS. I own nothing. I do not own anything you recognize.

Previously on Criminal Minds- Spencer stood frozen in place with one thing running through his mind: Will.

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Spencer ran over to officer Casey, grabbed his hand, and pulled him over to his daddy. "Daddy! Daddy! We've gotta go to the park!" he shouted as he yanked on his father's arm in an attempt to get the man up. "We've gotta get Will!"

Hotch pulled his son closer and placed his hands on the boy's shoulders. "Will? Isn't that the name of your new friend?" he questioned.

"Yes" Spencer answered frantically nodding his head. "We've gotta get Will daddy! Hurry!"

Aaron relaxed at that bit of information. He smiled down at the panicked youngster and said, "Spencer, Will won't be at the park this late. He'll be safe at home getting ready for bed just like you."

"Daddy's right Sweetie" Hailey seconded. "Will's home safe and sound. You don't have to worry about him."

Spencer growled in frustration. They didn't get it. They weren't going to help. What was he going to…Remembering the other person in the room, the four-year-old raced over to the older man and locked pleading eyes on him. "Uncle Dave! Please help me! We've gotta go get Will! He could be hurt!"

Rossi raised an eyebrow at the boy's plea. They must be missing something because his friend's explanation hadn't calmed Spencer down. But what? The profiler's other eyebrow shot up to join the first as he recalled Hailey's description of the boy and his injuries. Those combined with the little Hotchner's pleading could only mean one thing. "Spencer, did Will run away from home?"

Spencer nodded his head. "I promised I wouldn't tell the grown-ups because he was afraid they'd take him back but I have to tell now because Will could be hurt and I can't leave him there all by himself when he's…"

"Don't worry kiddo, Officer Casey and I will go get Will." Dave assured the boy before he could work himself up any more than he already was. "You just tell me where he's hiding at the park and I'll get him."

"No!" Spencer shouted. "You can't. He'll run and hide from you!"

"I'll tell him you sent me." Rossi countered.

Spencer continued to shake his head. "Didn't you hear me?! Will's terrified of adults! He'll hide from you! I have to go!"

Knowing time was of the essence, Officer Casey quickly stepped in to diffuse the situation. "How about if we take Little Bit with us? He can stay in the car with you while I talk with this Will kid." He offered.

Aaron ran a hand down his face. "I guess that would be alright." He finally replied.

"But daddy!"

"Spencer, you either go and sit in the car or you don't go at all." Hotch firmly stated.

"Okay, I'll wait in the car." Spencer huffed. While he had no intention to stay in the vehicle, agreeing would at least get him to the park.

Knowing the attitude was due to Spencer's fear for his friend, Aaron decided to ignore the behavior. Instead of lecturing, he picked up his son and the three men hurried for the door.

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Casey pulled up behind the fleet of patrol cars and cut the engine. He then scooted around in his seat and looked at his tiny passenger. "Alright Spencer, where has your little friend been hiding?" he asked.

"He's in the pipe by the big slide." The four-year-old told him. "But he's too far in for you to see him and the pipe is too narrow for any of you to go inside deep enough to reach him."

"We probably won't have to. I imagine the gun fire frightened Will so much he'll be thrilled to see us." Casey surmised.

"And if he doesn't, one of us will just have to go in after him." Dave added. He opened the door, climbed out, and then stuck his head in the doorway. "Don't worry Spencer. We'll have Will sitting beside you before you know it."

Officer Casey mirrored Rossi's position. "He's right, kiddo." He said. "Will's in good hands. But if you're still not sure, you can watch us out your side window."

"Okay" Spencer pretended to agree. He punched the button on his seat belt and slid down onto the floor. The youngster shuffled over to the window and watched as the two men hurried towards the giant slide. The men might be nice but Will would never willingly go to them. And no matter what they said there was no way they would be able to fit into the pipe. They were full grown adults! He had to get out and help! Spencer snuck a glance at his dad. While his protector was looking at him, he was still seated all the way on the other side of the bench seat. The four-year-old could make a break for it. He'd just have to be fast. Spencer glanced at his daddy one more time before reaching down and pulling on the door handle with all his might.

Aaron sighed at his son's attempted escape attempt. He'd known one would be coming. "The child lock has been engaged, Spencer. That means you can only open the door from the outside." He explained. Seeing the little boy eye the front door, he added, "That goes for all the doors, buddy."

Spencer flopped down on the seat. "But he needs me, daddy!" he protested.

Hotch scooted over and pulled his kid into his lap. "I know buddy. I know." He softly said as he rubbed the upset youngster's back. "But I also know your Uncle Dave is one of the best negotiators out there. He'll gain Will's trust. Just wait and see."

Spencer leaned back against his daddy's chest and stared out the window. He hoped his dad was right about his Uncle Dave because he was stuck in this car…at least until he found a way to get rid of that stupid child lock.

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Dave hurried across the bridge, up the couple of stairs, and over to the pipe slide. He scanned the outside of the slide for bullet holes. Seeing none, he let out a relieved breath and then knelt down beside the opening of the pipe. "Will" the profiler called out. "Will, my name is Dave. I'm a friend of Spencer's. He sent me to see if you were alright." Rossi listened for any type of reply but heard nothing except muffled sobbing. Sighing, he ran a hand through his beard and then tried again. "Will buddy, I know you're scared and that's okay. But I want you to know that you don't need to be afraid of me. I'm here to help you. I'm not going to take you back to your abuser and I won't allow anyone else to, either. That's a promise."

A headful of hair appeared from around the bend in the pipe followed by two frightened but wary eyes.

Dave smiled at the boy and held out his arms. "Come on buddy. Let me help you." He urged.

Will hesitated for only a moment before scurrying through the pipe and into the man's waiting arms. He wrapped his arms and legs tightly around Rossi and burrowed into his chest. "D-d-doooon't ttttakkkkke mmmmmmmmmme ba-back! Pllllleeease!" he stammered through his tears.

"I wouldn't dream of it, kiddo." Dave assured the boy, tightening his hug. Keeping his hold on the child, he carefully stood and then quickly made his way off the brightly colored equipment and across the playground to the car. Once there, he threw open the passenger side door and climbed inside.

"Will!" Spencer hollered. He crawled off his dad's lap and onto the bench seat and then jumped over into the front beside his new friend. "Will! Are you okay?"

Will nodded but otherwise didn't move.

Spencer's little brow furrowed in confusion. "What's wrong, Will?" he asked.

When the boy in his arms didn't reply, Rossi stepped in to answer. "He isn't hurt, Spencer." He assured his nephew. "He's just a little shook up is all."

"Oh" Spencer said. He reached up and started running a hand up and down his friend's arm like his daddy and mama did to him when he was upset. "It's gonna be okay Will. Uncle Dave will take good care of you."

The driver's door opened, startling the kids. Officer Casey plopped down in the driver's seat and smiled down at his tiny passengers. "Hey kiddos! Are you ready to get outta here?"

"Yes!" Spencer enthusiastically replied.

"Don't you need to stay on the scene?" Dave questioned.

"No" the policeman answered as he started up the vehicle. "I told my colleagues I needed to escort a witness to the hospital."

Rossi grabbed the seat belt, pulled it around himself and his charge, and fastened it. "Good because I don't think Aaron or I either one would be able to drive since our hands are already full."

"Full of what?" Spencer inquired. Noting his friend's octopus impression, he smiled. "Oh" His smile dropped when he remembered the other boy's predicament. He glanced back at his father. "Daddy, can Will stay with us?"

"We'll see." Aaron told him. "First, we need to go to the hospital and have him checked out."

Officer Casey nodded. "Next stop the hospital" he announced. Gazing down at his youngest passenger he said, "Hop in the back and buckle up kiddo."

Spencer sighed but did as he was told. He wanted to get his friend somewhere safe and he knew that wouldn't happen until he followed the man's directions.

Once everyone was buckled in, the policeman put the car in gear and quickly pulled out.

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"Daddy, how much longer till they come out?" Spencer asked for the tenth time in as many minutes.

Aaron sighed. "Dave and Will will be out when they're through." He patiently answered.

"But they've been in there forever!" Spencer whined, flopping back in his chair dramatically.

Hotch hid a smile at the boy's theatrics. His kid was acting like a, well, kid and he couldn't be happier. He just hoped Mrs. Robesh would allow them to…his thoughts ground to a halt as said woman walked out of the exam room. Alone. Worried, Aaron quickly stood and met the CPS worker half way. "Mrs. Robesh is anything wrong?"

"I'm afraid so." She replied. She knelt down in front of the littlest Hotchner. "Spencer, your friend is refusing to tell us who hurt him and I can't help him if he won't talk to me. Do you think you could help me get Will to talk?"

Spencer confidently nodded. "I'll help. Will trusts me."

"Thank you Spencer" Mrs. Robesh said. She stood and ushered the Hotchner men into the exam room where Will was curled in Rossi's lap.

"Will!" Spencer squealed, running over to his friend. He hugged the older boy and then crawled up in the chair beside his uncle. "Will, Mrs. Robesh is a friend. She'll help you. Promise. But you gotta talk to her."

"He's right buddy." Dave seconded. "I promised you I wouldn't let you go back to your abuser and I want to keep my promise but you have to help me."

Spencer grinned as an idea came to him. He sat up on his knees and faced his friend. "Will, if I tell you about what my father used to do to me, will you tell me who hurt you?"

Will thought for a minute and then nodded.

Spencer grabbed his dad's hand. "Okay, it was like this…

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Rossi looked at the two clean, pajama clad boys and sighed. He'd hoped to be Will's emergency foster parent. Unfortunately, since he hadn't ever filled out the stupid paper work, Mrs. Robesh had nixed that idea. She had given him a ray of hope though. If he came in the next morning and filled the crap out, she'd do her best to push it through and get Will assigned to him. That didn't help him tonight though. He guessed there was nothing he could do but say, "Good night boys. I'll see you in the morning."

"NO!" Will shouted. He ran over to his rescuer and wrapped his arms tightly around the man's legs. "You can't go! You promised to protect me!"

Dave leaned down and pried the little boy's arms off his legs and then scooped the youngster up. "I know and I'd love to stay but…"

"The air mattress is all set up for you Dave." Aaron called as he walked into the room. "I placed it and your go bag in the Spencer's room. I figured you'd want to stay close tonight."

"When did…how did" Rossi stammered before letting out a breath and whispering, "Thanks Aaron." He then turned to the boys and smiled. "Come on kiddos! We're having a sleep over!"