Clara spent the past week trying to hide any sign of distress from her dad. Which wasn't easy with him hovering over her before he had to go back to work.
Halfway through Spencer's first week back with the BAu, Clara told him she needed a day off. He immediately granted her the request, though a little hesitant. While he knows she shouldn't miss any more days than she has to, he also knows he can't get himself to force her to go to school.
After all she's been through, she needs all the mental health days she can get. If it were up to him, he'd grant her every single one. If it were up to him, he'd probably homeschool her and take her away from all the kids who think they know best and whisper about her every time something happens to her.
Plus, Spencer's noticed how over the past few days she's been jumpier than usual and quieter. He knows something's going on and has tried to get her to talk, but she just brushes it off. He knows if he pushes too much, she'll push him back and that'll get them nowhere.
Now, Clara is at the BAU, sitting in the round table room with everybody but Luke, Spencer, and Rossi while they get ready to play poker.
"You guys, you should have seen Reid." Luke says with a grin as he walks in and Spencer follows him. "He shot a 100." He informs, earning shocked and impressed looks. "Yeah, he qualified to shoot a possible."
Spencer stands behind Clara's seat and starts to play with her hair, combing through it.
"That's a perfect score. What, like, 200 agents have made the wall of glory." Matt says.
"He hit everything. I mean, at one point I thought he must have two guns." Luke says, sitting down.
"Maybe I did." Spencer shrugs, sitting next to his daughter.
"Okay, I think this will work." Penelope says, putting a big bowl of jelly beans on the table.
"Wow, where have you been hiding those?" JJ asks.
"So, Alvez, what did you shoot?" Tara asks.
"95." He answers.
"Phew. Tara?" Emily asks.
"100, come on." She scoffs.
"No. No way." Luke scoffs. "Okay. I mean, you're good, but you are not that good."
"That's not what your daddy said last night." Tara retorts earning exclamations.
"Ooh, lucky daddy." Luke chuckles.
"You wanna play?" Spencer quietly asks his daughter. When Clara was in middle school, Spencer started teaching her card games, even if some were against her will. But soon she started being more okay with them and eventually, she ended up beating him sometimes.
"I dunno." She mumbles with a small shrug.
"Well, it might distract you for a bit. Provide some source of joy even just for five seconds." Spencer says. Clara shrugs.
"I am loving this time right now." Penelope smiles. "But two days without a case, it feels weird."
"It feels like we could be doing some of this waiting at home." Luke comments.
"Fair point." Spencer says, glancing in Clara's direction.
"Yeah. Yeah, Rossi stepped out." Tara says.
"Rossi's getting married in two days, and we're still on the clock." Emily says.
"Guys, I feel like this is gonna be the hot seat." Matt says, pointing to Spencer.
"Yeah, you are aware he's been banned from every casino in Vegas, right?" JJ asks.
"Really?" Matt asks, turning to Spencer.
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.
