never grow up, criminal minds

038. earache

Clara gets home from school and shuts the door, dropping her bag by the door. She turns around, stopping at the unfamiliar woman in scrubs that's in her living room.

"Hi." The woman greets.

"Hi?" Clara frowns. "Um... who-- wha-- dad!" She yells.

Spencer comes running out of the kitchen.

"Hey, baby. How was school?" Spencer asks, kissing her on the head.

"It was school." Clara says. "What's happening? Who is that?" She points to the woman.

"Uh... let's go in your room and I will explain everything." Spencer says, picking her bag up.

"Everything?" Clara gives him a worried look.

"Come on." Spencer ushers to her room.

~ ~ ~

"So grandma's living with us?" Clara asks.

"Yes." Spencer nods. "I really think that her staying here will help her."

"How?" Clara asks.

"Because she'll be around family and in a stable environment." Spencer says.

"Stable environment?" Clara gives him a bewildered look. "You're home 3 days out of the week most of the time. And even if you are in the city, you get home late half the time."

"It will work." Spencer tries to assure.

"I don't think it will." Clara argues.

"Okay, well, you're 12 so you don't get a say." Spencer says. "Just act positive."

"You wanna raise a 12 year old and a... grandmother?" Clara questions, not knowing her grandma's age.

"We're gonna get an in-home nurse to take care of my mom, at least for most of the time." Spencer informs. "That's who the lady out there is."

"Sounds very stable. Very familial." Clara quips.

"Clara Reid." Spencer warns.

"Well, we're not religious, but... God speed." Clara tells him, getting up and going to get a snack.

+++

Clara lays in Spencer's bed, watching a movie on the TV. She cuddles her octopus stuffed animal from Penelope, snuggled under the covers. She had woken up with an earache yesterday, and luckily her fever is gone today, but her ear is still a pain.

Spencer finishes getting ready for work and rushes in.

"Do you need anything else? More juice or something?" Spencer asks, glancing at the half full cup of apple juice and half eaten piece of toast on his bedside table. Clara only shakes her head.

"Are you sure you don't want me to stay? I can go back tomorrow." Spencer offers, stroking her hair.

"No, you're fine. I'm okay with Ellie." Clara assures.

"Are you positive? I really don't mind. Em would understand." Spencer says, knowing she usually prefers him over anybody else whenever she's sick. She had been glued to him yesterday, he figured it'd be the same deal today.

"Really, daddy. It's okay." Clara says. "I'll be sleeping the whole day anyway -- hopefully."

"Okay." Spencer mumbles, frowning at her in concern. He feels her forehead and cheeks, sighing in relief when they're a normal temperature. "Call me if you need anything -- and I mean anything." He tells her and she nods.

"Grandma and her nurse will be here all day, but don't worry about that. Just get some rest, drink lots of fluids, and try to eat. And don't resist the ear drops." He instructs, making sure she has everything she needs.