i'll keep you safe, criminal minds

023. party of three

Most of the team are standing in the round table room, catching up on their first day back.

"So... you get to the bottom of Mackenzie's mystery boy?" Penelope asks.

"Oh, no." Rossi mutters.

"She keeps denying having a boyfriend or-- or even just hanging out with a boy." Spencer says.

"And you believe her?" JJ asks. Spencer shrugs.

"Ugh. They're so adorable when they're clueless." Penelope remarks, patting Spencer's shoulder, the man frowning.

"It's so great to see all of your faces again." Emily says, walking in with Matt and Tara behind her. "I have a couple of announcements. Please hold your applause until I'm done. As you have obviously heard, Dr. Spencer Reid has been fully reinstated. Welcome back, Spence."

"Whoo hoo! Yes!" Penelope cheers. "Oh. That's not the end, is it?" The team quietly laugh.

"I would also like to thank the newest member of our team, Matt Simmons, for holding down the fort when we were on the sidelines." Emily says. "IRT's loss is our gain. So welcome aboard, Matt."

"Thank you. It is great to be here, guys." Matt says.

"Is that the end?" Penelope asks.

"That is the end." Emily nods.

"Whoo hoo! Yes!" Penelope cheers again as the others clap.

"Okay, let's get things started." Emily says.

"Ah, allow me to provide the unhappy transition to the sad part of our day job." Penelope says as everybody sits down around the table.

+++

Mackenzie and Theo get to the apartment, the two stopping at her apartment.

"So, uh... my dad's on a case. He'll be out of town until tomorrow night, at least. Wanna come over?" She asks.

"Of course." Theo grins, leaning down to kiss her.

Before their lips can connect, they both hear a small sniffle, turning to find Lucy sitting on the steps leading to the third floor.

"Shit." Theo mutters, making his way over to her. He crouches in front of her, waving his hand in her line of sight, getting the girl to look up. "What happened?" He signs before resting a hand on her knee.

"Kids bullying me again." Lucy signs.

Theo lets out a sad sigh, pulling the girl into a hug, Lucy's arms wrapping around his shoulders, the girl nuzzling her face into his shoulder. Theo rubs her back and strokes her hair. He stands up, holding her, the girl clinging to him.

"Uh..." Theo looks at Mackenzie apologetically.

"We can have a party of three." She quickly says.

"What?" Theo asks.

"Well, if-- if she's up for it, she can hang out with us tonight. I mean, that takes making out off the table, but... we can have fun with her, too. Games, movies, and stuff."

"Are-- are you sure?" Theo asks.

"Dude, if I'm gonna date you, I'm gonna be hanging out with your sister, too." Mackenzie says. "Even if it's only sometimes. The family we do have that doesn't suck matters."

"So, uh... when am I gonna hang out with your dad, then?" Theo questions.

"You wanna hang out with my dad?" Mackenzie asks. Theo's face drops as he relays the statement in his head.

"No. No, actually, that... I-I'm good." Theo says, knowing the man has at least one gun.

"So... she up for a little hangout downstairs?" She asks, nodding to her apartment door. Theo gently shakes his sister getting her to pull back and look at him.

"Wanna hang out with Kenzie at her place?" He signs.

"Only 3 of us?" She signs and he nods.

Mackenzie watches them sign a bit more.

"She has one requirement." Theo says, still signing.

"What?" Mackenzie asks.

"Oreos." Theo says. Mackenzie smiles a little.

"We have Oreos." She says. Theo smiles and gives his sister a thumbs up making her grin.

+++

Theo and Mackenzie are sitting on the floor and Lucy is on the couch while she plays with Mackenzie's hair after getting the teenager's permission. Lucy works on tiny braids, mesmerized by the red hair, similar to her favorite Disney princess. Tangled is playing on the TV with the subtitles on.

Lucy taps Theo on the shoulder making him look back at her. Mackenzie glances back, seeing the girl signing something to him.

"Uh... she said that you're pretty." Theo tells his girlfriend. "And she really likes your hair. It's bright and soft." Mackenzie lets out a small laugh before turning to the girl.

"Thank you." Mackenzie signs. "I like your hair, too." She manages to sign using the alphabet. Lucy grins at the actions before signing "thank you" and resuming to braid her hair. Mackenzie looks at Theo who has a small smile on his face.

"What?" She asks.

"Nothing." Theo mutters, softly shaking his head and turning his attention back to the movie.

+++

Lucy is asleep, her head on Mackenzie's lap and her feet on Theo's lap, the two teens sitting on the couch.

"How much sign language do you know?" Theo suddenly asks.

"Oh, uh... just-- just "thank you," "I love you," and the alphabet." Mackenzie says. "Did you know anything before she was born?"

"No. No, I, uh, I had to teach myself and teach her at the same time." Theo says. "Learned together."

"Wanna teach a third person?" Mackenzie asks.

"Are you serious?" Theo asks, a small smile on his face.

"Yeah." She nods. "Yeah, I wanna be able to talk with her, too, you know? In case I get bored of you." She smirks.

"Oh, bored, huh?" He remarks and she laughs.

The two watch TV in silence for a bit.

"Do you... do you really wanna meet Spencer?" Mackenzie asks.

"Well, if we're gonna date, then I probably should." Theo points out. "Just... whenever you're ready." Mackenzie softly smiles and he leans over and pecks her on the lips.

+++