Paranoia - s.reid

Birthday Boy

The case was closed.

The bomb that was once clinging to a man had been diffused. The culprit, Walker, was dead. And Bale was back in prison.

3 days had passed and it was now the weekend. Elizabeth Bundy sat on the floor of her apartment, dog sitting next to her,  two empty orange bottles sat in front of her as she listened to a familiar tape, blocking out the words. She just wanted the tape to give her company, she didn't want to listen to it.

A key rattled and the front door swung open. Liz didn't need to look to her left to see Spencer Reid sitting there. "I'm surprised Teddy hasn't barked at you."

"You haven't been to work in 3 days."

"Was there a case?" Her voice was monotone as the tape stopped playing.

"No. But that's not the point. Two bottles of pills in days. You haven't been going to the gym. I can tell you haven't been eating. You're pale, and I can already tell that you can barely stand. You need help, Ellie. Why are you doing this?"

"I'm sorry. I know." She broke down into tears as Spencer pulled her into his chest, attempting not to squirm as her tears soaked through his shirt. "Please don't tell anyone. I'm getting help, I promise. Just please don't tell. They'll take my badge away." Liz continued to cry and sob.

"I won't tell, as long as you tell me what's going on. What did you know?"

"It's not that I knew, it's how I knew. When I was 7, dad and I were at a fair and there was this man. He followed us, kept looking at me and when he got his chance, he began touching me, trying to grab me. But I screamed, and dad came to the rescue. He pinned the man against a wall, threatening to kill him if he ever touched me or looked at me again. Two days later, that man was declared dead, murdered. I knew. I asked him about it and all he said was 'Bad men like him don't deserve to live, baby.'

I knew something wasn't right, I was a smart kid. I knew those women weren't a coincidence. It finally hit me when before he sat in that electric chair. He wasn't afraid of death, he wasn't resisting or anything. He knew he deserved it, because he was one of those bad men." Liz broke down into more tears, listening to the doctor's soft "It's okay, it wasn't your fault."

 Spencer helped the girl onto her feet, guiding her to the bathroom as she calmed down. "I trust that while I go get towels and fresh clothes you can have a bath?" She nodded.

20 minutes later, Liz walked into the bedroom, finding a large sweater, leggings an undergarments on the bed. It was the same black, netted bra that Spencer had given a few weeks ago. She dressed and exited the bedroom, finding the doctor in the living room.

"This sweater looks familiar, where's it from?" Spencer looked up at the sound of Liz's voice, smiling. "I believe you took it the night we, uh, yeah." Liz made an 'o' with her mouth.

"Do you regret it? Would you rather have done it with JJ instead?" Her voice was barely above a whisper as the doctor's eyes narrowed at her. "What do you mean, Ellie?"

"You know what I mean, Penny."

"No, I wouldn't have done it with JJ."

"That doesn't answer my question and you know it. Do you regret it or not?"

"I don't. I really don't." Everything went silent. They didn't know what this meant. Did he just confess his feelings? Should they do something? What? 

Thankfully, some questions were answered when girl pulled Spencer down, joining their lips. It took a few seconds, but he began to kiss back, lifting Liz up on he toes slightly before pulling away. "I want to take you somewhere. Get in the car."