never grow up, criminal minds

034. growing up

"When do I get to stop meeting new people? Can't you guys just keep team members for longer than 2 years? Or at least get Aunt Emmy back." Clara complains as Spencer leads her into work.

"She's a nice person. You have nothing to worry about. And I can't control how long anybody stays or Aunt Emmy." Spencer says. "Look, I know you're 11 and you-- you're getting a lot of new emotions, some not so pleasurable ones. I know you'll more than likely be snarkier as you get older, but remember your manners."

"Yeah, yeah, yeah." Clara waves him off.

Spencer leads her into the bullpen, knowing she'll want to see everybody else before she locks herself in the Batcave with Penelope.

"Hey." JJ smiles at the two.

"Hi, Aunt JJ." Clara smiles, hugging the blonde.

"How are you?" JJ asks.

"Good." Clara smiles.

"Clary, this is Tara Lewis." Spencer introduces. "This is my daughter, Clara."

"Hi, Clara. It's a pleasure to meet you." Tara smiles at the girl.

"Hi. You, too." Clara says, giving the woman a small smile. "Can I go say hi to everybody else?"

"Yeah, go ahead." Spencer squeezes her shoulder. Clara starts to leave. "Hey." He calls making her turn back. "Get Penelope to go with you to Derek." Clara nods before running up to Hotch's office to greet him, knowing he'll have Tootsie Pops to give to her.

+++

Clara is home alone, Spencer having gone to pick up dinner since the restaurant doesn't deliver and he's okay with leaving her home alone for little bits at a time.

She goes to the bathroom, pulling her pants down only to be greeted by the red stain.

"Oh, my God." She mutters. "No. No, no, no. He said it was possible to wait until you were 14." She whines.

She goes to the bathroom, putting some toilet paper in her underwear. After flushing and washing her hands, she runs out of the room and grabs the phone from the living room.

"Emily Prentiss."

"Aunt Em." Clara calls.

"Hey, Clara. What's up?" Emily greets.

"I started my period." She states.

"O-oh." Emily mumbles, not expecting this call to be that. "Um... congratulations."

"No. No, not congratulations. Dad said women get cramps and-- and then you're bleeding 24/7 and-- and there's this one thing that starts with an E that totally sucks, but I don't remember. Something about organs on the outside or something and a lot more pain." She rambles.

"Okay, okay, honey, hi. Relax. Breathe." Emily softly instructs. "Every girl goes through this. It's okay."

"I don't want to bleed all the time." Clara whines.

"You don't bleed all the time. Just 5 to 7 days out of one week once a month." Emily says.

"That's still terrible." Clara rolls her eyes.

"I agree." Emily says. "But it's nothing to freak out about. Is your dad home?"

"No. He went to get dinner. I'm home alone." Clara says.

"Okay. Did you get anything on your underwear?" Emily asks.

"Yeah, that's how I found it." Clara huffs.

"Did you put toilet paper down there so it doesn't stain more?"

"Yes."

"Okay, good. See? You're already a pro at this." Emily compliments. "So, you need to tell your dad--" Clara groans, "and you two need to go to the store, pretty much any drug store or grocery store. Here, write down what I'm gonna tell you."