We had to write a multi-genre paper in Creative Writing.. And I chose Dr. Spencer Reid as my topic. One of the pieces I did was Flash Fiction, and this is what I came up with. It's a very quick drabble, but I thought I'd share it.
This is my first time posting anything for Criminal Minds, and like said earlier, this is just a drabble. Hope you enjoy a small moment between Spencer and his mum x
A Mother Knows
"Spencer, I know that look."
His eyes hesitantly traveled to his mother's, who was watching him concernedly. He had seen the look too many times; it showed itself every time he came. His job... it left him this way. While he loved what he did, saving people, it left him feeling broken and unsure of everything. It left him thinking that everyone around was a possible murderer... which, really, isn't that crazy. It's entirely possible. Anyone he sees could've murdered someone in the past.
He sat down next to his mom, immediately observing his mom's shaking hands. He wished he could still them, but unless he found the cure for schizophrenia, he wouldn't be able to. By the age of twenty, he was hoping that he could've fixed the disease. He had failed himself.
"What case was it this time?" She asked softly, slowly rubbing his arm. He wanted to shy away; he didn't deserve to be comforted.
"Schizophrenic man," He instantly answered, his voice rushed. He never had a problem telling his mom things. "He didn't want to kill anyone, but he thought people were after him. A-And I shot him, I had to, he was going to kill Hotch..." His gaze fell to his shoes, the ones he really needed to replace. He just didn't have the heart to do so, and he really wasn't sure why. They were just a pair of shoes.
His mom nodded in understanding. "You did the right thing, you saved your teammate." She whispered, her shoulder ticking upwards. He was used to seeing the motion, but internally, he still screamed when it happened. All he wanted was for it to stop.
"I know, but... if I had done what I was supposed to do, find a cure, he wouldn't have killed anyone. He'd be alive, and so would his victims. And Hotch, he wouldn't be in the hospital." He sniffled, rubbing at his eyes once. No, he wasn't going to cry. His mom would just worry more. That was something to do alone.
"Spence," He knew that tone, she used that on him when he was a kid. She used it when he was disappointed himself, which was often. Even with all his smarts, he tended to fail because he aimed too high, and he ended up hating on himself. "You're smart, a genius. But you don't owe the world, nor me, a cure. You're in the FBI, saving lives. For all you know, there simply isn't a fix."
He knew she was right. Easily, there could be nothing he could do. But he didn't try hard enough, he couldn't come to that conclusion yet.
He sighed to himself, leaning his head on his mom's shoulder. "You deserve to be better." He murmured, defeated.
"You make me better." She whispered back, and somehow, he felt a little better. He knew that wasn't fully true, but in a way, maybe it slightly was.
He still wasn't happy with himself, but at least his mom was okay. If she was okay, that made everything a whole lot better.