Criminal Minds Imagines <3

I Need You (P.G)

⚠️ TW grief, LaNgUaGe⚠️
⚠️LOWNG⚠️

March 9, 1998

*Penelope's POV*

"Oh my goodness! Do you remember freshman year when fricken Gabriel put that whoopee-cushion that had the really liquidy mud on Mr.Yangly's chair?!" Daniella asked my little group of friends who I'd been out with, "Yes! Oh my gosh! He was LIVID!!" We all laughed.. and then I looked at the clock.

"Oh shit! It's past my curfew!" "Girl! You're 18– in college nonetheless— and your parents still do that curfew shit!?" Holly blurted, "My parents are so lameee!! See yall on Monday!" I grabbed my purse and got a taxi to take me home.

I unlocked the door and stepped inside. "Ooooohh Penny you're gonna be in troubleeee" my 13 year old brother, Carlos, greeted me from the dining table. "I knooow! Where's mom and dad? I didn't see a car outside" "They went out to look for you" he informed me, "Well I guess I should let them know I'm home"

I called. No answer. I called again. No answer. Again. No answer. Again. No answer. 10 more times. No answer.

*Ding dong*

Who would be at the door at this hour? I walked towards the front door and could see red and blue lights out front...

I opened the door...

"This the Garcia residence?" "Yes— I- I'm their daughter.." "I'm sorry. Miss— I regret to inform you.. your parents were in an accident.." his voice began to muffle, "They were struck by a drunk driver... they didn't survive.. Your parents are dead. My deepest condolences." I could hear my heart beating out of my chest. "Penny?" The muffle went away, "Penny, what happened? Are mom and dad okay?" I turned to my little brother, "Penny? Penelope! Answer me!" I speedily walked over to my brother and engulfed him in a hug. "Carlos... I am so sorry." "What happened to them?" "They were in an accident—," "THIS IS ALL YOUR FAULT!! WHY COULDN'T YOU JUST COME HOME ON TIME?! THEY WOULDN'T HAVE BEEN OUT THERE IF IT WASN'T FOR YOU!! I HATE YOU!!" Carlos pushed me off of him and stormed upstairs.

I gave the police my older brother's numbers so they could call them too. And when the police called and my brothers didn't believe them, the cops had me verbally tell my brothers the same thing. Something I'd never thought I would have to say..

It was now after 2 A.M and the cops were finally leaving. I locked the door and went upstairs to check on Carlos. His door was locked. I knocked, "Carlos?" I heard a sniffle on the other side of the door, "Carlos.. let me in please.." "No.." "Then I'll sit right outside your door until you're ready.." tears quietly streamed down my face.

I can't do this. I can't live with this guilt. What if all my brothers blame me and hold it against me? Carlos used to look up to me.. now I'm the person who ruined his life.. I don't have anybody anymore.. I've lost everyone who cared about me.. I'm all alone... Gosh— I haven't peed in hours.. I really gotta go! "Carlos? I'm gonna go to the bathroom but I'll be right back!" I announced before standing up.

I went to the bathroom in my bedroom and peed. On the mirror and lining the counter were a bunch of pictures and trinkets of me and my best friend Y/N. We've been friends since preschool and I do have a little crush on her. My parents never had any problems with her. They didn't always think my friends were the absolute best influences. But they always wanted me to be around Y/N. No wonder though. She was a great student with perfect grades, perfect attendance, and was a true people person. In fact, Y/N was valedictorian in high school and got accepted to every Ivy League and university she applied to. I remember I got mad at her because she was getting in everywhere and I was struggling to get accepted anywhere because of my low SAT scores. "Pen— honey—" she said, "if you aren't getting accepted then it's the schools that are the problem. Not you. I don't know anybody else who can hack a data base as well as you can. And you gotta be pretty smart to do that." She wound up staying local, "You're my bff! I'm not gonna go to a school on the other side of the country! Besides, I'm going for film editing and we live in California sooo this is a pretty good market"

Y/N is best known for her hugs. I could use one right now, and I bet Carlos needs one too.

I picked up my phone and called Y/N. After a few rings, she picked up. "Mmh Penny? It's 2:46.. what you need?" I sniffled, "I need you" "Woah— are you crying?" "Yeah— uh— my uh— my parents were in a car accident.. and they didn't make it.." "What the hell?? Who did it?? Do you know??" "Yeah it was a drunk guy.. Jesse Wilson" "I hate people that drink! Honey, I'll be there soon!" She hung up.

10 minutes later, my front door unlocked. "Penny?" "Upstairs!" Y/N kicked off her shoes and bolted up the stairs. She hugged me so quickly that I stumbled back. "Penelope, I am so sorry.." "Thanks.. I know they were like a second set of parents for you.." "Yeah.. they definitely cooked a lot better than mine.." she let out a little chuckle as she wiped my tears away gently with her thumbs.

Carlos's door unlocked and opened slightly, "Y/N?" I heard his small, raspy voice.. "Cayó!" "Y/N!" He ran out his room and hugged Y/N tight. "Long time no see buddy!" "I saw you two weeks ago..?" "And I used to see you almost every single day!" She smiled down at him, "You're almost taller than me niño!" He eventually stopped hugging Y/N, "Hey Carlos.." I said and he started up another conversation with Y/N, "Woah there.. your sister is talking to you." "She's not my sister." "Hey— no— Carlos, go back in your room, we need to talk." He listens to Y/N, "I'll be back Pen"

*Your POV*

I closed the door behind myself. "Cayó, what the hell was that? Hmm?" "She didn't tell you why my parents were out did she?" He threw a tennis ball at his ceiling. "No.." "She missed curfew and my parents went out to look for her.. it's all her fault!" "Nobody could've known, Carlos. You're a bright kid, you know that. Penelope would never have made something like that happen on purpose. She feels terrible and probably feels like she's lost everything. You're her little brother and she just wants to make you proud. She can't think you hate her—," "I do hate her! She got my parents killed!" "No! Carlos listen to me!" I caught the tennis ball before he could. "Your parents got killed because of some selfish idiot who went out driving after getting blackout drunk! That was that persons' fault! Not your sisters and not your parents! They did what they believed was best and your sister probably didn't ignore the curfew on purpose! Now stop taking it all out on her because your people who care about you and that you can trust are limited right now. Your brothers are far away so you have your sister and you have me. Now, I love you, but you need to go apologize."

I opened his bedroom door with Penelope standing right outside. "Come on in.. Cayo has something to say to you.... Go on.." "Penelope, I'm sorry for lashing out at you. You are my sister.. and wh- what happened to our parents isn't your fault— at all. I love you." "Thank you, Carlos. You'll always be my baby brother.. I love you too" Penelope responded, "Now hug it out you two.."

They cried in each other's embrace. "You guys know what?" "What?" "What is it?" I laid down in the middle of Carlos's bed in a T-pose, "Y'all know what to do! Don't act clueless!" "Bond-cuddles!" The siblings exclaimed in sync. Penelope laid on my right side and Carlos laid on my left. They snuggled in close, "Thanks Y/N" Carlos said, "Always." I squeezed him gently and a few minutes later, he was out cold.

I heard a sniffle and felt my shoulder getting wet, "Penny... honey... everything will be okay.. I promise... I love you..." "I love you too" I kissed her forehead and we drifted off to sleep.

I feeeel like I should make a part 2 to this....

🩷💜💙