Chapter Text
Derek burst into the room, looking around with his gun pointing in every direction for their unsub. "Clear!" He shouts but as he turns around to check another room his eyes land on a small ball in the corner of the room closest to him, at first he thought it was a blanket, but it began to shake rapidly. He inched closer, keeping his gun pointed at the object.
"We got him!" He heard Aaron's voice coming towards him. Soon he was right behind him and Rossi was leading the unsub outside. Derek stays silent, reaching down and quickly pulling the blanket that had been over the object. He realizes that it isn't an object at all, but a boy.
The boy curls up on himself as Derek motions for Aaron to go on and crouches down to be eye level with the boy. The boy's body begins to shake even more as his closed eyes clenched even further.
"Hey, its alright. He can't hurt you anymore. Nobody can. My name's Derek, I'm with the FBI. Im here to help, can you tell me your name?"
He doesn't speak a word as he slowly raises his gaze as Derek scoots forward. He tries to scoot back but there isn't any space left. He whimpers.
"I promise I wont hurt you. Just let me help you. Would you like some food? Maybe some water?" The boy was not only covered in dirt, but he was terrifyingly skinny. The boy uncurls just a bit. "I won't let anyone hurt you, I won't hurt you, just come out. Please?"
The boy lifts his head up and points to something around his neck. Derek notices and glances at it, seeing a collar and a small round tag attached to it. "Can I look at it? I won't do anything until you want me to." The boy gives a small nod. Derek wraps his fingers around it and reads aloud, "Spencer Reid. 1995. I'm guessing thats when you were born?" He gets a nod in return, "that makes you twenty, right?" Another nod. "Well Spencer Reid, I'm Derek Morgan, and I'm twenty two. Its nice to meet you."
He smiles at Spencer, reaching out his hand, grinning as the boy's smaller hand slowly reaches his and shakes it, not letting go. "Would you like to come with me? You can eat and take a shower, you're safe with me, I promise." Spencer nods again, and Derek, still holding the other's hand, stands, pulling Spencer up with him.
Derek's other hand grabs the clip on the collar and pushes, when he releases, the collar comes apart, and falls to the floor. "Do you want me to carry you or can you walk?" Noticing how unsteady the boy's legs look. Spencer shakes his head, not wanting to rely on a complete stranger, no matter how nice and safe they may seem. Derek tries to pull his hand out of Spencer's, but the other's grip tightens and he fights the urge to smile.
Hand in hand, the two walk outside, but once they get off the porch, Spencer passes out, leaving Derek to catch his lifeless body. EMT's rush over, putting the younger of the two on a stretcher.