i'll keep you safe, criminal minds

005. move in

Mackenzie follows Spencer into his apartment, the man putting the duffel bag down. Mackenzie looks around, noticing all the full bookshelves, quaint living room.

"So, this is the living room." Spencer points out. Mackenzie walks around and observes everything. She skims over the bookshelf, her eyebrows furrowing at all of the unfamiliar titles.

"Do you read anything in English?" She questions, looking back at him.

"Not much." Spencer answers. Mackenzie nods a little. "Uh, this-- that's one bedroom." He points  to a door on the other side of the room. "And this is the kitchen." He leads her into the kitchen before leading her down a small hallway. "And then this is my room." He points to room, Mackenzie glancing in. "Bathroom." He points to the door at the end of the hallway. "And this can be your room." He opens the door that's across from his bedroom, letting her walk in first.

"It-- it's not the biggest, but--"

"It's good." Mackenzie assures.

"So, uh... Hotch gave me at least a week off to-- to help you get settled. I-I figured we could just order in tonight and then go shopping tomorrow. Food, clothes, anything else you may need or want. Enroll you in school."

"Uh... yeah. Yeah, sure." Mackenzie nods.

"Okay." Spencer nods. "I'll, um... let you relax and-- and we can figure out dinner in a bit."

"'Kay." She nods. "Thank you." She tells him.

"Of course." Spencer gives her a kind smile before leaving.

+++

"What about your parents?" Mackenzie asks, biting into her pizza.

"What?" Spencer looks up at her from where he's pouring her a glass of Pepsi.

"Do you, like... you know... still have your parents?" Mackenzie.

"Um... kind of." Spencer says. "My, uh... my dad walked out on us when I was ten. And my... my mom has, uh... she has schizophrenia. She stays at a hospital in Las Vegas, where I'm from."

"You were born in Las Vegas? Nevada?" Mackenzie asks, accepting the glass from him.

"Mm-hmm." Spencer nods, sitting next to her on the couch.

"You play poker? How many casinos have you been to?" She asks.

"Yeah, I'm, uh... I'm banned from pretty much all of them." Spencer says.

"Seriously?" She smiles.

"Mm-hmm." Spencer nods.

"Do you have any siblings?" She asks.

"No. Only child." Spencer informs. "So, uh... how long have you been drawing?"

"Oh. Uh... I don't know, forever, I guess. I always liked coloring and stuff when I was a kid and as I got older, it just... stuck." Mackenzie says. "Art's really the only class I can manage to get an A in sometimes. Rest are always Cs or Ds. Maybe a B sometimes."

"I can help you. Can't help to have a genius' help."

"Thanks."

"Do you need anymore supplies or anything?"

"I'm fine for now. Thanks."

+++

Mackenzie tosses and turns in her bed, attempting to sleep. She sighs, trying not to look around the dark room. Shutting her eyes, she tries to relax, but only feels her anxiety heighten and she tenses up.

Quickly getting up, she rushes over to the light switch and turns it on. Looking around, she's assured there's nothing. Mackenzie's eyes drift to underneath the bed, her thoughts nagging at her, convincing her there could be someone underneath.

Hesitantly, Mackenzie gets on her knees and leans down to look under the bed, letting out a breath when she doesn't find anybody.

"He's dead." She whispers. "He's dead. He's dead. He's dead." She repeats to herself. Her hand hovers over the light switch, but is unable to gain the courage to turn it off.

Mackenzie opens the closet door and turns the light on, keeping the door open. She looks around, making sure nothing is inside.

Turning the bedroom light off, Mackenzie returns to her bed, snuggling under her covers.

+++

Spencer pushes the shopping cart, letting Mackenzie get whatever she eats or wants to try, and he throws his own stuff in there.

"Could we..." Mackenzie falters.

"What?" Spencer asks.

"Could we get stuff to make chocolate chip cookies?" She asks, playing with her fingers.

"Yeah. Yeah, of course." Spencer nods, noticing Mackenzie relax at his answer. "Do you like to bake?"

"Um... kind of. I don't-- it's just... my mom and I used to bake all the time. More so when I was a kid, but... but I still liked doing it now. Or... or before she..." Mackenzie clears her throat, blinking any tears away.

"Yeah. Yeah, sure. We can get stuff for them." Spencer nods, a reassuring smile on his face.

"Do you ever bake?" Mackenzie asks.

"Uh... I'm not... not the most experienced in the kitchen." Spencer awkwardly chuckles. "Never had too much time to learn anyway given my job."

"Right." Mackenzie nods.

+++

Spencer goes back to work the next day and Mackenzie goes to school. He'll admit he's a little nervous about leaving her alone and her being at school. He just prays he doesn't get a case quite yet, wanting to give Mackenzie some more time to get comfortable before he has to leave her for days on end.

Spencer heads to his bedroom, stopping when he sees a light on underneath Mackenzie's door. Frowning in confusion, he steps closer. He gingerly knocks on the door, but doesn't get an answer.

"Mackenzie?" He quietly calls. He slowly opens the door and peeks his head inside, realizing the closet light's on. He looks around, the redhead fast asleep in bed. Quickly coming to the conclusion, he simply steps out and quietly shuts the door.

+++

The next day, Spencer gets home from work, Mackenzie already back from school.

"Hey. How, uh... how was your first day?" Spencer asks

"Not too daunting. Basic middle school experience." Mackenzie remarks. "How was work?"

"It-- it was good. Yeah. Lot of paperwork today." Spencer says. "So, um... I noticed a light on in your room last night and-- and it was your closet light. I, uh..." He notices her tense up a little. "I'm not trying to invade your privacy or-- or make you uncomfortable or anything, I was just wondering--"

"I can't really sleep in the dark." Mackenzie says. "I... ever since that night... you know, it was dark in my room when my mom..." She trails off, clearing her throat. "So I just... I haven't been able to sleep in the dark. I had the TV and bathroom light on when I was staying in the hotel. I just..." She lets out a humorless laugh. "How stupid is that? 13 year old scared of the dark."

"It's not stupid." Spencer argues. "I understand. The dark is terrifying. But, um... here." He puts a small box on the table. "I got you this." Mackenzie realizes the box is for a plug in night light. "Just so you don't have to keep the closet light on if you don't want to."

"Thank you." She tells him.

"No problem." Spencer gently smiles. "So, uh... know what you want for dinner?"