Hello readers:) So I started this new story and I really hope you enjoy it. Just to kind of give give you a general idea of how this is going to go without revealing too much-There won't be details of cases,just generals to fill in gaps and I promise no deaths! It's going to be more of exploring different dynamics between the team and Natalie. I hope you guys enjoy this,please read and review and let me know what you think! I'll be posting another chapter later tonight!
Reid awoke drenched in sweat. He ran his hands through his hair and took a deep breath. This was not how he enjoyed waking up. He looked over and saw it was 4:26 am, "Great,another night of only two hours of sleep," Reid said outloud.
He rolled off the couch. There was no point in him even trying to go back to sleep. He grabbed his clothes for the day and went and showered.
Morgan leaned back in chair as he looked at his watch, "Hey,has anyone seen Reid this morning?"
"I was just about to ask you the same thing," Emily said as she looked up from her paperwork.
Garcia was passing Morgan's desk when he reached out and grabbed her wrist, "Hey baby girl have you heard from Reid?"
"No,I haven't-boy genius isn't here yet?"
"No one has seen him or heard from him," Morgan said starting to get worried.
Morgan was about to shout up to Hotch when Reid came through the doors. Morgan looked at JJ and Emily and the three of them shared a three way glance, Reid looked like hell.
Reid was just settling into his desk when Morgan hit him with a foam ball, "Hey kid,where were you?We were getting worried."
"The train was late," Reid said as he started on paper work.
"You okay,man? You look like shit," Morgan said quietly.
"I'm fine,just rushed and tired," Reid kept his answers short and to the point.
Emily looked at Morgan and shrugged her shoulders. Morgan was about to ask another question when Hotch came out of his office, "Everyone briefing room now,we have a case."
"Does Reid seem okay to you?" Morgan asked Hotch quietly as everyone boarded the jet after solving a grueling case.
"I was hoping you could tell me. He wasn't himself,that's for sure," Hotch said looking over at his youngest agent. He could see the dark circles under Reid's eyes and thought he had gotten even skinnier.
"Yeah,like he seemed distracted-more then usual I mean."
"Keep an eye on him,will you? I mean,you're the one he is closest to," Hotch said as Morgan settled in a chair.
"Yeah,I will."
Everyone on the jet was sound asleep but Reid. He looked at his watch and saw they still had another two hours before they landed. He didn't realize he was tapping his fingers until someone put their hand over his,causing him to jump.
"Reid,what is going on with you? You've been antsy and tired and no one has really seen you eating," Hotch said quietly.
"Nothing, I'm fine."
"No,you're not. Everyone has noticed it and everyone is getting worried."
Reid looked out the jet window, "There is no need to be worried,everything is fine. I've just been busy with stuff and sleep hasn't been top priority."
"In our line of work it is,you need sleep to function properly. I can't have an exhausted agent out in the field,it's a danger to you and your team."
"I'm functioning just fine,I'm not exhausted just tired," Reid was getting agitated.
"Okay,just try and get some sleep. And you know we're here to listen if you ever want to talk," Hotch stood up and looked down at Reid.
"Yeah, I know."
Hotch moved across the aisle and pretended to sleep while watching Reid out of the corner of his eye. Reid was tapping his fingers against his leg again and showed no signs of sleeping anytime soon.
The jet landed and everyone was starting to wake up. Hotch stretched and looked over at Reid to find him already up and almost out the door.
Morgan looked at Reid's back and then turned towards Hotch, "Did he say anything to you?"
Hotch shook his head and moved to wake up JJ, "Jay we're here. Get up."
JJ woke up and looked around, "Where's Reid?"
"Gone already."
"Well someone sure was anxious to leave," Emily joked as Morgan pulled her out of her seat.
"He's anxious about something,that's for sure," Morgan said as he led the rest of the team out of the jet.
Reid got to his apartment and locked the door, "Get it together,Reid," he told himself.
"Talking to yourself is a sign you're going crazy you know," a voice said.
Reid jumped, "Geez Nat. What are you still doing awake?"
"I couldn't sleep," Natalie said as she looked up at her older brother.
"I'll make you some tea," Reid said as he dropped his messenger bag to the floor.
"Did you tell them yet?" Natalie asked as she followed Spencer into the kitchen.
"No,it wasn't the right time," Spencer answered as he put on the kettle.
"It's never the right time. Spence,maybe I could get a job. You know to help you out a little."
"You aren't getting a job don't be ridiculous."
"I just want to help out. You're exhausted. You are always working and you haven't been eating much because we don't have that much"
"Natalie,you are 15 years old. You need to focus on school,you're a kid not a little adult."
"I'm responsible. I can do it. Besides,I kinda already applied for a part time job," Natalie said as she poured hot water into mugs for the both of them.
"You what?"
"It's only two days a week from 3-6. Please Spencer? It's at the ice cream shop," Natalie gave Spencer puppy dog eyes that she knew he couldn't resist, "And since it is the start of summer school isn't an issue right now."
Spencer sighed, "Fine. But seriously, ONLY two days a week."
Natalie hugged her brother, "You're the greatest Spence."
Spencer hugged Natalie back, "You better say that Nattie. Now drink your tea and get to bed."
Spencer sunk into the couch. It wasn't ideal sleeping conditions but Natalie needed a bed and Spencer couldn't afford to buy another one for himself right now. He heard his phone beep and looked down to see a text from Morgan, 'Tomorrow we are having a guys night out-you me,Hotch, optional.'
Reid debated on whether or not to answer,he figured it could wait until morning. He turned on the television just to fill the silence of the house. Natalie was asleep which left Spencer to his own thoughts.
He wanted to tell the team but knew once he did everyone would be over eager to help him out. He didn't need their help,he could figure this out on his own. Except,it might benefit Natalie to have some kind of female influence in her life. He knew she was upset that he had to pull her from the boarding school she had been attending but after the cost of his parent's funerals and everything he couldn't afford it. He also knew she was trying to cope with their parents deaths just like him but they were doing it in their own ways.
Spencer closed his eyes as he thought about the last two weeks, his mom died from a stroke and the next day his dad died from a heart attack. He pulled Natalie from her school and moved her in with him. He started doing extra work to make extra cash but it was barely enough to make ends meet. He never told the team about his parents dying or Natalie moving in with him. Hotch hadn't blinked when he had asked for a few days off so he didn't feel the need to tell his boss what was going on.
"You're an idiot for thinking you can handle this on your own," was Spencer's last thought before he fell into a restless sleep.
