Criminal Minds One Shots

*Stand By You (ReidxReader)

WARNING: depression | Requested by maskimoo | y/f/b = your favorite breakfast

At 6:01 on the dot a disruptive screaming rang through yours and Spencer Reid's shared apartment, signaling that you had an hour left to sleep.

Well, 59 minutes to be exact, you reasoned.

Reid got up and began his morning routine. Sometimes, if you were awake enough, you'd join him for breakfast. Today was not one of those days.

At 6:45 your boyfriend leaned down to kiss you goodbye. But, as his lips brushed your temple, Reid realized something wasn't right.

"What's wrong?" he sweetly asked.

"Nothing," came your unconvincing response.

"Please, tell me," he asked again.

You rolled over so you were on Reid's side of the bed.

Taking this as an invitation, Reid curled up next to you. As he stroked your hair, he coaxed you into opening up to him.

"It's just one of those days," you admitted.

Reid nodded, not needing any more explanation.

"And it's just so stupid. Like, nothing is wrong. It's just... I feel..."

"Numb?" Reid finished.

"Yeah. Numb. Like nothing."

Reid rubbed your back slowly.

The two of you laid like that until another ungodly screeching rang through the house.

Reid rolled over and turned off your alarm rather aggressively.

You didn't move.

Unbeknownst to you, Reid took off his tie. And his vest and button up. The clinking of his belt buckle caught your attention. By the time you turned around Reid was sitting on the edge of the bed in his undershirt and boxers looking much like how he did 59 minutes ago.

Well, 61 or so now, you thought.

"What are you doing? You're gonna be late," you said, unenthusiasm evident in your voice.

Reid pulled his phone from his discarded pants pocket and sent a quick text before tossing it onto the reading nook chair and looking back at you. "I can't be late to something I'm not going to."

You nestled yourself further into your blankets. "You can't stay back on account of me."

"Why not, love bug?" Reid had crawled under the blankets and pulled you into his embrace. "I'm a grown adult who is perfectly capable of making his own decisions."

You groaned. "But you can't waste your vacation days like this."

"Actually, I'm using a sick day," he corrected. "And I wouldn't call this a waste."

"Using a sick day when you're not sick? Bachi!"

Reid laughed. "Well, you're sick. And we're a team. So I'm technically sick, too."

You rolled over to face Reid. "But I'm not sick. Not really..."

Reid sighed. "Mental illness is just as real as physical illness."

You shrugged.

"Well, this won't fix anything, but it will make you smile." Reid threw the covers off the both of you and got up, grabbing his phone.

"What are you doing?" you asked, mildly intrigued.

Suddenly, music began playing.

Hands, put your empty hands in mine...

"Oh, Spencer!" you giggled.

Reid was mouthing the words and putting on quite the show.

Even if we can't find heaven, I'll walk through Hell with you. Love, you're not alone, 'cause I'm gonna stand by you...

The two of you had tears in your eyes from laughing when Reid crawled back on the bed with you.

"No matter what, I'll be with you, okay? You just have to tell me that you need me."

You nodded, leaning into him.

"Because, even though I can read 20,000 words per minute, I can't read minds."

"Thank you," you said into his chest.

"Anytime. Do you feel a little better?"

You nodded. "I guess I just needed a little TLC today."

Reid smiled at that. "Well, are you up to a little breakfast? Because I know this great restaurant with some y/f/b with your name on it."

"Umm, can we do take out?"

"Sure, love bug." Reid placed a kiss on the top of your head before turning off the music and dialing the restaurant.

Hey Humans!

Let the record show that I understand this is not how everyone's depression works. This is just how mine works; a lot of the time what makes me feel better, or marginally better at least, is spending time with someone I'm close to and comfortable with. It doesn't fix the depressive feeling, but it at least motivates me to eat and shower and such.