Challenging: Day 1

Word Count:  6,021

Summary of Events:

Reid came home from work drained and Gabrielle offered to reenergize him. Jennifer arrived home from work late and heard a voice that aroused her suspicion on a message Nicholas left her that she decided to investigate. Reid and Gabrielle got up, had breakfast, and talked so long that Reid ended up being late for work. Nicholas arrived home from Seattle and found to his relief that Jennifer wasn't home, but he was sorely tempted by her half-sister who babysat for them; she didn't stick around to give him satisfaction, though.

Excerpt of the Day:

"Reid stirred everything together and started eating while Gabrielle readied her oatmeal as well. She looked beautiful no matter what she did. Why couldn't there be a day off in the middle of the week to tide him over until the weekend?

"Is there anything I can do to help you?" Gabrielle asked.

"What do you mean?" Reid asked, looking up at her, puzzled.

"You seem like you're so weighed-down whenever you come home from work," Gabrielle said. "Like all your energy has been sapped; you don't even have the strength to interact with the boys like you used to."

Reid swallowed his oatmeal and stared at the bowl. He slowly raised his head and looked at her. She was gazing at him with eager anticipation, waiting for him to tell her how she could help him.

Looking down at his oatmeal again, Reid stirred it and took another bite. He didn't know what she could do to help him, short of petitioning his superiors to promote him or move him somewhere where he wouldn't have any interaction with Michael.

When he looked up at Gabrielle again he could see concern in her eyes, and worry was obviously expressed across her face. He was causing her enough trouble and worry without saying anything more.

"No," he finally replied. "There isn't really anything you can do."

"But is there even just a little something?" Gabrielle asked.

"No," Reid replied, keeping his gaze on his oatmeal.

"Oh, but Reid, I can't just sit around and watch you suffer," Gabrielle protested. "I need to do something to help you."

"You can't always fix it all," Reid said, looking up at her.

"I know," Gabrielle replied. "But I can help, can't I?"

"Not necessarily," Reid replied.

Tears glittered in Gabrielle's eyes, sitting on the threshold, waiting to fall.

"You're worrying enough Gabrielle," Reid said. "I don't want you to wear yourself out."

"But you're wearing yourself out," Gabrielle protested, her voice choked with sadness and a tear sliding down her cheek.

"Yeah, I know," Reid replied. "I'm banging my head against a wall, trying to get through it to some impossible dream that I don't seem to be allowed to have."

"It isn't impossible," Gabrielle said.

"Then why aren't we there yet?" Reid asked. "With the money I'm making we should be doing better than this, and we aren't. We're still here, still . . . stuck, like we can't go forwards."

"But we are so close, we're almost there," Gabrielle said. "Just until April, and then we have nothing holding us back. Can't you see the light at the end of the tunnel?"

"No," Reid replied. "I can't."

Gabrielle took a napkin and gently dabbed the tears from her eyes. Reid hated making her cry, but she seemed rather easy to do it to, especially lately. Reid got up from the table and took his dirty dishes to the sink."