Chapter 9 – The Fallout

Reid slammed his hands down on the desk angrily, gaining the attention of the team.

"ENOUGH Fallon! Can you just back off and leave me alone for one damn day? I am perfectly capable of doing my job and living my life without you hovering over me 24/7! Now, I know you are used to bossing those poor children around that your mother and father raped and killed but I am not one of them!" Reid shouted bitterly only to receive a loud slap across the face from Lilith. Hotch and Gideon were looking on worried while Garcia, Morgan and JJ were shocked over what Reid had revealed about Lilith's past.

"How dare you, YOU of all people bring that up in front of others?! Now you listen here, Spencer Reid, I know you have been through a lot recently but that gives you have no right to talk to me like that! I have never once said that you are not capable of doing your job or living your life" Lilith shouted

"Now maybe if you pulled that damn needle out of your arm and stop wallowing in self-pity…" Lilith whispered so only he could hear.

"…You would actually realize what the date is and see that I didn't invite you over because I thought you needed me. I invited you over because I needed you, I need my best friend. So if you see him, tell him to come back soon because as far as I am concerned the Spencer Reid standing in front of me can go to hell" Lilith spat angrily.

The entire time, Reid looked at the ground, stunned. When Lilith was finished she turned on her heels, grabbed her bag and left the office, hoping no one could see her tears running down her cheeks.

….

Later that night….

Lilith sat on her floor, in tears, still in her work clothes from that day.

"Stupid Reid… stupid past… stupid Hankle…stupid drugs" Lilith muttered over and over again taking a drink of straight scotch after every word. Lilith was pulled out of her drunken rant by her doorbell going off.

Lilith stumbled to her feet and walked over to the door. She looked through the eyehole to see Haley Hotchner standing there. Lilith opened the door quickly.

"Is Hotch okay?" Lilith asked, slurring slightly.

"Yeah, he is fine. He was going to come over and see if you were okay after what happened but I, uh, thought that maybe you might need some girl time" Haley explained and Lilith looked at her sadly

"But if you need to be alone or whatever, just tell me to go" Haley added after Lilith didn't reply. She simply pulled Hayley into a hug and started sobbing into her shoulder.

….

Lilith walked through the bullpen, extremely hungover from the night before. It was empty since Hotch had called her in early which she was thankful for. She didn't want anyone seeing her at the moment. She walked up to Hotch's office and knocked.

"Come in, Fallon" Hotch said as Lilith walked in and shut the door. She walked over and sat down opposite Hotch.

"Firstly, how are you?" Hotch asked softly

"This is me asking as a friend, not your boss" Hotch added

"Didn't Haley tell you what I was like last night?" Lilith joked weakly

"Haley didn't tell me anything. She didn't know what you wanted me to know because I am your boss" Hotch explained as Lilith couldn't help but give a small smile.

"She is a good friend" Lilith whispered and Hotch nodded.

"I would like to request some time off. I have a few personal days saved up and now would be a good time for me to use them" Lilith requested and Hotch was shocked but nodded.

"Of course" Hotch said

"Thank you" Lilith said simply and stood up. She walked out of his office and down the stairs just as Reid, Morgan and JJ walked in. Lilith put her head down and ignored them, shoving Reid in the shoulder before storming out of the office.

"Where is Fallon going?" Morgan asked confused

"Lilith has requested some personal days which I've approved" Hotch said walking out of his office.

"For how long?" JJ asked

"As long as she needs" Hotch said simply

…

"Has anyone talked to Fallon in the past few days?" Morgan asked walking over to JJ and Garcia.

"No, she hasn't replied to either of our messages or phone calls" JJ said softly

"Mine either" Morgan replied

"Someone might want to go check she is still alive" Reid said casually walking into the room.

"What's that supposed to mean?" Garcia asked worried

"Lilith has a habit of abusing alcohol to numb her pain and considering the day that… that we closed our last case was the worst day of the year for her, she might be struggling again" Reid explained, changing what he was going to say mid-sentence. The entire time his tone was indifferent but the others could tell he was ashamed and worried.

"Hotch did say that when Haley visited her on the first night she was drinking" JJ commented

"Why was that day the worst day of the year for her?" Garcia asked and the 3 team members looked to Reid, but it wasn't him that answered.

"Because that was the day her parents killed their first victim and that was the first day she had to bury a little boy" Gideon said walking into the room.

"I don't think Lilith would have wanted you telling that to them" Reid muttered and Gideon raised an eyebrow at him.

"I think we are way past that, don't you?" Gideon asked calmly and Reid frowned annoyed.

"How do you know all this, I thought Agent David Rossi was the FBI Agent on the case?" Reid asked trying to shift the focus off him.

"He was, but I consulted. Rossi sent me the files, which included 12-year-old Fallon's statement. She may not have an Eidetic memory like you but she remembers every detail of what she had to do, down to the date, time of day and weather" Gideon replied before walking out of the room. Reid left the room as well, mumbling something about the bathroom.

"We should go check on her" Morgan said to JJ and they left the office leaving Garcia standing by herself.

"Well, I'll go back to my office then" She muttered to no one.

…