Paranoia - s.reid

Venom

The entire team stood outside apartment 23.

Of course they'd all gone to visit the Reids in the two months since Maeve's death. Garcia came with her gift baskets with Liz, Aaron came frequently with Jack for Liz to vent while Jack played with Diana and Lyle, Rossi came with home cooked meals knowing of Liz's exhaustion, JJ also came with Henry. Morgan and Alex came as much as they could, but they resorted to phone calls everyday. Spencer had gone back to work, so no one went out of their way to see him when visiting Liz.

They'd never visited them all together. They knew Diana and Lyle was with Liz's sister, so they thought now would be a good time to surprise Liz and maybe even see Spencer, if he was up to it.

Rossi raised his fist to knock, but a grip on it forced him to stop. Morgan. He placed his finger against his lips in a 'shh' motion. "The walls are paper thin, there's something going on in there." They knew it was wrong to listen to their friend's conversation, but they had to. So they did what any mature adult would do, they pressed their ears against the wall.

"What did you make them for dinner last night?" Spencer. He didn't sound too happy.

"Pancakes."

"Pancakes? Really? They don't need more sugar in their systems."

"Dee had a really good day at ballet yesterday, it was a treat. She's been feeling down, lately." 

"What's got her so upset?" The team had never heard Spencer's words reek with so much venom.

"She misses her dad, Spencer! Can't you see that everyday when she asks why you're not coming to drop her off at school? I'm not saying you have to put your entire life on hold for her, but I'm asking you to understand that you're not the only one going through things. I'm trying to play the role of both parents here!"

"And you're failing!"

"Yes, Spencer, I'm failing! Is that what you wanted to hear?" A loud shatter was heard, something had been broken. In reality, it was just Liz accidentally knocking over a vase, but the team didn't think so. "You don't get to be mad at me for being relieved about miscarrying! I would've refused to raise another child in this state whether I miscarried or not!"

"She miscarried?" Garcia stammered, her face resembling one of a sad puppy.

"You think I can't parent my own kids?"

"I don't know, but if you can, you choose not to! You chose to go back to work early, so while you're on cases, I'm doing everything by myself! I do everything myself even when you are here!"

"It's my job, and it's your job, too! You just don't show up for some reason!"

"She failed her psych eval?" Morgan knit his eyebrows together. Aaron nodded. "He doesn't know."

"Guys, I don't think we should be doing this." JJ interjected, only to be ignored before she sighed, pressing her ear back against the wall.

"The reason why I don't go is none of your business!"

"It is my business! We're married!"

"We're married? Well, we sure don't act like it!"

"And whose fault is that?"

"Yours!" Silence. Liz had never blamed any of their issues on Spencer before. "For years I've been blaming every issue and argument we've had on myself and I'm fine with that, I'm fine with taking the blame. I tried to help, I really did, but you kept pushing me away and god, you were always angry all the time. So yes, Spencer, I'm blaming this on you. Let me have one thing I can blame you for, please, because I am so exhausted."