never grow up, criminal minds

060. puff, puff, pass

During the two weeks of Clara's grounding period, she and Spencer hardly talked. They'd have some small talk, Clara only ever offering short responses. She was forced to stay with Penelope the three times he went out of town for cases, spending hours in the blonde's lair. That's never as fun as it used to be.

Clara figured once her grounding was over, it'd go back to normal -- or the current state of normal, but she was wrong. Spencer has still been stricter. He still doesn't let her go out much, he brought her curfew up, and if she needs to stay with Penelope, he takes her to the BAU himself no matter how late it makes him.

The team are currently out on a case, Clara sitting bored out of her mind in Penelope's office.

"Can I go to your apartment?" Clara asks, spinning around in the chair.

"No. No, your dad does not want you out of my sight." Penelope says and Clara groans.

"Come on. I thought you were the fun aunt." Clara whines.

"Not when you're being so reckless." Penelope says. "We're all worried about you, Clara. Your dad drags you kicking and screaming to therapy, you don't talk to any of us."

"My friends and lifelong nanny got brutally murdered. Sorry for not being Miss Sunshine." Clara quips.

"I know what happened, sweet girl." Penelope says. "And we're just trying to help you."

"You're just pissing me off." Clara grumbles, slouching in her seat. "Lot of help that is." She scoffs.

Penelope sighs, not having any idea how to console or confront the young girl. She knows Clara's hurting, but Penelope's scared that if the girl keeps this behavior up, she'll get herself killed one of these days.

Penelope goes to talk, but her phone rings and she quietly sighs.

"Hey, what's up?" She answers, not having the energy for one of her witty greetings.

After Penelope gets Spencer the information he asks for, he changes the subject.

"How is she doing?" Spencer asks.

"Uh... she's seen better days." Penelope quietly says. "Very snappy. I forgot how awful teenagers could be. No offense. I still love her more than anything."

"Yeah." Spencer mumbles. "Well, she's... she's struggling." He says, a deep frown set on his face.

"I know." Penelope whispers, glancing back at the teenage girl who is on her phone. "I'm doing my best. Give you any updates I can."

"Thanks." Spencer tells her, the two hanging up.

+++

The team got back the next day, Clara going home with her father.

"Can Izzy spend the night?" She asks after they've only been home for a few minutes.

"No." Spencer answers.

"Dad--" She starts to protest.

"No." Spencer firmly states.

Clara rolls her eyes, stomping off to her room and slamming the door shut.

Spencer huffs, counting to ten in his head. He considers going to try to talk to her, but he knows it will be like talking to a brick wall. He decides to just figure out dinner before trying to get her to communicate.

+++

Spencer walks up to Clara's room and knocks on the door.

"Clary? I got pizza." He calls out, continuing to gently knock on the door. He sighs when he doesn't get a response. "Baby, come on. You still have to eat." He says. "Look, I-I know the past few weeks have been tough, but... but I'm only being, as you would put it, "majorly uptight and completely annoying." Well... teenagers probably use worse terms. But it's only because I love you, honey."