Spencer had basically dragged Clara out of the house, not letting her get ready, the girl still in pajamas. He grabbed a pack of pop tarts before he put her shoes on and they left.
Her hand is tightly held by her father's as he walks over to a payphone.
"What are we doing?" Clara whines.
"I just have to make a phone call." Spencer says, grabbing the coins out of his pocket.
"They have cell phones for that." Clara groans. "Cell phones so you aren't dragging your half awake daughter out into the city in her pajamas."
"You beg to go to school in your pajamas. Eat your pop tart." Spencer tells her, dialing a number.
Clara sighs, but doesn't argue. She starts to eat her pop tart, watching her dad hit the numbers. He hangs the phone up, confusing her. Before she can question him, the phone rings and he immediately picks it up.
"Hello." His expression dims at whatever the other person says. "Yes." He says. Spencer digs in his pockets, putting a quarter in. He takes his bag off and dumps it on the ground.
"Daddy?" Clara frowns in concern, his urgency freaking her out. He quickly grabs more quarters and puts them in the coin slot.
"Hello, I'm still here." He says. Clara's chest tightens at the look on his face, it scaring her. "I'm sorry, could you please repeat that?"
"Daddy?" She quietly calls, tapping his leg. "Are you okay?"
Spencer quickly hangs the phone up and shoves all his stuff back in his bag.
"Daddy?" She asks.
"Come on." He picks her up, carrying her. He looks around, pulling his phone out and calling Hotch.
+++
"Just stay here, okay?" Spencer tells Clara as she sits in his desk chair. "Color or something." He gives her his bag, grabbing some papers out of it before he goes up to Hotch's office.
After a while, Clara is coloring and notices Hotch walk in.
"Hi, Uncle Aaron." She greets.
"Hey, Clara." Hotch manages to offer her a small smile before he goes to his office. "I got here as quick as I could." He tells Spencer, shutting the door to the office.
~ ~ ~
Clara had been forced to sit in Hotch's office while Spencer told the team about whatever was happening. After a bit, JJ walks into the office.
"Hey, sweetie." She smiles.
"Hi, Aunt JJ." Clara says, mostly focused on her coloring. "Can we go home yet?"
"Um... no. No, actually, I think you're gonna spend the day here." JJ says.
"What?" Clara pouts. "Why can't Ellie pick me up?"
"We have this new sudden case that your dad found and... he just feels more comfortable keeping you here." JJ says.
"Am I in danger? Is he in trouble?" Clara panics.
"No. No, honey, no. It-- you're both safe." JJ tells her. "He just doesn't want to be far from you. So you get to hang out at his work today. Hopefully we'll be able to finish the case before it gets too late."
"Is Aunt Penny gonna be with you guys?" Clara asks.
"Probably most of the time, yeah." JJ nods. "But if she's not busy, I know she'll immediately come to you."
"Fine." Clara sighs, not looking forward to being stuck in an office all day with very little to entertain her. JJ rubs her back for a moment before leaving.
+++
Clara huffs as she walks over to the round table room. The door's shut and she's aware she isn't just allowed to burst in. She raises both fists, knocking on the door until someone answers it.
"Hey, pretty girl." Penelope softly smiles. "What's up?"
"I'm hungry." Clara groans.
"Okay. Uh..." She glances back into the room. "Here, we will figure something out to eat and I'll order it in. Come on." She grabs the girl's hand and leads her away from the room.
"I want daddy." Clara says.
"I know, honey, but your daddy's really busy with the case." Penelope says. "You will have him all to yourself once this is over, I promise."
+++
"Daddy. Daddy." Clara gets out of the seat when she notices Spencer and Blake walk down the steps. "I'm bored. I wanna go home."
"I know. I know, it just-- we can't yet." Spencer tells her.
"Why can't Ellie pick me up? Or if one of my friends' parents--"
"No, Clara. You're staying here." Spencer states. "Just... we can go home later. Just keep coloring or something."
"My hand's tired." Clara whines.
"Get Garcia to put a movie on a laptop, then. I need to go work and I need you to stay here, okay?" Spencer tells her. Clara sighs, rolling her eyes and she slumps in the chair. Spencer feels bad for her boredom, given it's usually planned when she spends a day here so he's able to bring some of her stuff with them.
He dismisses the guilt, reminding himself he's keeping her here to make sure she's safe.
"I love you." Spencer tells her, kissing her forehead. Clara only sighs, still bored out of her mind.
Blake offers the girl a comforting smile as she follows Spencer out.
+++
The team are about to go to find Maeve and Diane.
"I just have to do something really quick." Spencer tells Blake before he runs over to Hotch's office. He quietly opens the door, peeking inside to see Clara fast asleep on the couch.
Spencer quietly walks over and grabs the blanket that's folded up, carefully draping it over her. He brushes some hair out of her face and kisses her cheek.
"I love you so much." He whispers, rubbing her back.
After a moment, he leaves, gently shutting the door. He goes down the steps, Penelope standing by JJ's desk.
"Can you--"
"I got her." Penelope promises.
+++
The team get back to the BAU, Spencer trudging in. Penelope hesitates on hugging him, knowing he may not want one.
"Hey." Penelope quietly greets, staring at the doctor in sadness.
"Where... where's Clara?" Spencer asks, his voice hoarse and quiet.
"She-- she's still sleeping in Hotch's office." Penelope informs. Spencer nods.
"I'm just... gonna go home." He says.
"Are you-- are you sure? Do you need anything?" Penelope asks.
"Just her." Spencer says, going up to Hotch's office.
He walks in, leaving the light off as he walks over to the couch. Spencer carefully picks her up, holding her. Clara remains asleep, though she nestles her face into the crook of his neck, arms loosely wrapped around him.
Spencer sniffles, keeping his tears back as he rubs her back. He grabs her jacket, walking out of the office.
YOU ARE READING
never grow up, criminal minds
Fanfiction[ criminal minds -- seasons 1-15 ] Clara Reid Stand Alone: Never Grow Up I DO NOT own Criminal Minds, any of the show's characters or storylines. I ONLY own my OCs and their storylines.
