Paranoia - s.reid

William

(You guys, I have not had any motivation to write this book but it is not over. Please accept this one crappy chapter and hopefully the next one will be better.

ALSO

'Princess' is out and if you're as in love with Matthew Gray Gubler as I am, please read it! It's one of my better works.)

Spencer sat in Hotch's office, a shameful look on his face.

He hadn't done anything wrong, quite the opposite really. He needed help making a decision, and he needed it desperately. He opened his mouth to speak. "Ellie and I, we're thinking of leaving the BAU since the third baby is coming and she's at 9 months now. It's either she leaves, or I leave, or we both leave and I don't know what to do."

Aaron didn't know what to say, Spencer had never come to him for help, especially when it came to Liz. He nodded. "Okay. Think about if she were to stay and you'd be a stay at home dad."

Liz entered the house quietly, careful not to wake the 3 sleeping children and hopefully her sleeping husband. She dropped her go bag to the floor, something she did that Spencer hated, but he couldn't blame her, he understood the exhaustion of a grueling 2 week case. 

Sleep was the last thing on her mind as she tiptoed to the kitchen, searching for food only to be met by Spencer. She jumped slightly, regaining her composure quickly. "Hey, love." She greeted.

"You said you'd be home 3 days ago and then you didn't call or text."

"Yeah, we had to rethink the geographical profile. I had the takedown, though, so Aaron gave me the entire weekend off." She smiled, eyebrows furrowing when he didn't seem happy at the news. "What's up?"

He contemplated arguing, but decided against it. She was tired and in all honesty, so was he. He just wanted to crawl into bed with her without the thought of her being whisked away on a case, and the long weekend she earned was registered as a blessing. "Nothing. I think Dee's still up if you want to go see her."

"I'll go now."

Aaron tilted his head. "Think about all the pent up jealousy and anger. Now, switch that around."

Although he was exhausted, Spencer still took the time to hang his go bag on the hook, trudging into the living room where Liz sat, cross legged. "You landed 5 hours ago. You said you'd been home 4 hours ago."

Shit. "I forgot, I'm sorry." He sat next to her. 

"Your children kept asking when you'd be home, and all I could say was 'Soon.' Where were you, Spencer?"

"I went to a bar with Morgan."

She scoffed. "Look, I get it. I get the cases, the hours. I did the same thing. But you can't do that, Spencer. You can't just not communicate, it's not fair to me."

"I know."

"Do you?" Liz sighed. "Dinner is on the dining table. I'm going to bed." She disappeared up the stairs as he walked to the kitchen, his eyes landing on the dining table.

The guilt that weighed on Spencer's heart stabbed him in the back as he saw his favorite meal covered in plastic wrap, being the lone plate on an empty dining table.

"Reid, I can't tell you what to do, but I don't think you want any of those outcomes."

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Christmas Eve would've been more fun if Spencer hadn't been taken away on a case and Liz had been forced to stay behind until her maternity leave was over.