Chapter 36

The next morning dawned clear. Dave got up at the usual time, made a pot of high-test coffee for himself and Morgan while Morgan went for a run, made his usual bowl of cardiologist-approved yogurt and granola while Morgan made some green thing in his blender, and settled in with the latest notes from his editor while Morgan settled with some case files. They waited for the sleepyheads to roll out of bed which they did eventually, not long before noon, which was about when he expected. "Good morning." He said when they came down. "And it is still morning."

"Good to know." Spencer said. "Thank you, by the way."

"You're welcome. I enjoy the company."

"You don't have to cook." Laura told him, "If you don't mind my using your kitchen."

"Sit bella. Let me spoil you both for a day or two." He went to start with the coffee. "Now, are you sure about the decaf?"

There was no answer. After a moment he turned and found her sitting there, her hand over her mouth, her eyes too bright while Spencer gently rubbed her shoulder. "You could." She said quietly, looking at him.

"Not if you're not." He replied.

"I just don't want…I should still…" She sighed and turned back to Dave. "Yeah, decaf. Please."

"Okay." Dave turned back to the press pot. There was something about this that was familiar. Something about this was something he knew. "So, any plans for the day?'

"I should probably get debriefed at some point." Spencer said.

"Ample time for that later." Of all people Spencer could take his time before a debriefing. It wasn't like he was going to forget.

Spencer turned to Laura. "You should see about a doctor."

"You're not going to let that go, are you?" She asked. Spencer shook his head. "I'm not even ready to leave the house. I don't think I can…." She sighed and drooped again.

"I'm not saying you have to go today." Spencer replied. "Just get online and do some research. Make an appointment."

"If you want help you can call Garcia." Morgan pointed out. "Net searches are a specialty."

Laura sighed. "No, I can do it. Can I borrow a computer after breakfast?"

"You can use my tablet." Morgan replied.

"Thanks."

Breakfast happened. Morgan asked for, and got, a couple of sausage patties to nibble on and Dave decided to help himself to some of the whole grain toast. They knew that Spencer would burn off anything in a five block radius, so seeing him eat an enormous farmer's breakfast wasn't a surprise, but the both privately wondered where Laura put it all. "Still part of the experiment?" He asked when it was over.

"Mmm-hmm," she nodded. "Can I borrow your tablet now?" She asked Morgan.

As she moved away from the counter Spencer gave Dave the sigh. "She's eating." He whispered. "Don't stop her."

"She wasn't for a while?"

Spencer sighed. "After everything fell apart she lost her appetite. Not surprising but she needs her strength back."

"All right. Maybe you should find a doctor for her and get an appointment." Things might be worse than they were letting on."

"Maybe."

All of a sudden Laura put the tablet down, hard enough to get attention. For a long moment she started glassy eyed at the far wall. "Would you like some more coffee?" She asked Spencer, a little too loud. "I'd like some more coffee. Mind if I make some more coffee Dave?"

"I can put the kettle on." Dave replied.

"No, no. I am perfectly capable of making coffee. In fact I'm perfectly capable of a number of things." Laura got up and went to fill the kettle, but her movements were too sharp somehow, too nervous.

"What happened?" Spencer asked gently.

"Someone told my family that I was okay." She replied as she watched the kettle fill. "Dad sent me an e-mail asking me to not contact any of our friends in California because Karen told them all I was dead and she doesn't want to look like a liar."

"Nice." Morgan muttered.

"He wants me to pretend to be dead." She looked at Spencer, her eyes glassy again, anger mixing with something else in her voice. "He has absolutely no clue what that means."

"Laura…"

"Not a clue. He doesn't realize that means you're not here anymore. He doesn't realize that means you're meat! All he cares about is keeping that crazy whore happy so he won't have to stand up to her!" Thankfully Dave had a sturdy kettle, because it hit the counter harder than it should. "What kind of a father won't even stand up to someone who just uses harsh language to defend their daughter?"

Dave and Morgan stepped back as Spencer stepped around the counter to try to settle her.
"Love…"

"Not a good one." She continued, backing away, her eyes too bright, her hands coming up against him. "Now I know. A good father would do anything for his daughter. A good father would do anything for any of his children. A good father would hurt himself to protect them until he threw up from it! A good father would get between them and a gun! A good father would do anything so why does he get to be one and…and…." Something broke, just then. She threw a punch at his shoulder, the kind you throw when the pain is too much, and she let out a heartbroken wail and crumbled to the ground. He caught her as she fell, pulled her into his lap and his arms as she wailed out the emotion she'd been holding in so long. "It's not fair! It's not fair!" She said as she sobbed.

"Shhh." Spencer tried to soothe her as he cradled her and rocked her. "I know. I know."

Dave looked at Morgan. "Go tell Hotch." He said. "We're all missing something."

.

Note: I accidentally posted chapter 36 as chapter 35. Please go back and read chapter 35, it's different now. Sorry.