i'll keep you safe, criminal minds

013. derek

Mackenzie is curled up on the couch, watching TV and snuggled underneath a blanket. Her phone vibrates, the girl looking at the device that's on the coffee table. She groans, reluctantly moving from her comfortable spot to pick the phone up.

"Hey, Spencer." She greets.

"Hey. You okay?" He asks.

"Yeah. Hey, uh, would you care to explain why there's a dude staking out the place? You know, suit, name was Anderson." Mackenzie says.

"He's an FBI agent. He's there to protect you." Spencer says.

"From what?" She asks.

"From... from anything that could happen." Spencer says.

"Spencer." Mackenzie sighs.

"It-- there's something going on. Hotch put protective details on all of our families just in case."

"What's happening? Are you okay?"

"I'm okay. I-I'm safe right now."

"Right now?!"

"I-- I'm okay." Spencer promises. "Just-- just stay at the apartment, okay? Don't leave and don't open the door for anybody you don't know."

"Okay." Mackenzie says, feeling her worry spike a bit.

"I'll call you later. Bye."

"Bye. Love you."

"Love you, too."

+++

Mackenzie wakes up after somebody gently shakes her. She blinks, trying to wake up a bit more, and she looks up at Spencer.

"Hey." He quietly greets. "It's okay. Protective detail's gone. Everything's, uh... back to normal."

"What happened?" Mackenzie yawns.

"Long story." Spencer says. "Go to bed."

"You coulda just let me sleep on the couch." She grumbles, slowly getting up and trudging to her room, not seeing Spencer's amused smile.

+++

Mackenzie drags the balloons into the bullpen, batting them away when they get in her way.

"Redheaded beauty! What are you doing here?" Penelope asks.

"Oh, well, uh, somebody forgot to take the balloons." Mackenzie says, giving them to Penelope.

"Ooh. Yes. We were just scolding him about that." Penelope says.

"I apologized." Spencer says. "I'm the one who called her."

"Yeah, I, uh, I thought you had an eidetic memory." Mackenzie remarks. Spencer gives her an annoyed expression and she smirks. "Can I stay?"

"Don't you have school?" Spencer asks.

"I can miss P.E. No arguments. It's just gonna be dodgeball, anyway. My attendance is nearly perfect, missing one class won't kill." Mackenzie says. "Please."

Spencer stares into her pleading eyes for a few moments, pursing his lips as he thinks. He knows it's bad to skip school, but he also understands disdain for physical education.

"Fine. But you better be at your second period." Spencer warns.

"Deal." Mackenzie grins.

+++

They're in the round table room and wait for the door to open. When it does, Rossi and Derek step in, all of the others letting out cheers and greetings.