Chapter 6: Liar Liar
"Yo, kid! Have you seen my headphones around here anywhere?" Morgan called out. It was his day to watch Spencer while the rest of the team was at work. "I thought I saw Aunt Garcia with them the other day, but I'm not sure," Spencer lied. "That's odd. I'll call her." He pulled out his phone and dialed her number. "Hey babygirl," he flirted. "Well hello my sexy hunk of man, what can the queen of technology do for you today?" she asked. The agent laughed. "I can't seem to find my headphones anywhere. The kid said he saw you with them. Where'd you put em?" he inquired. Spencer was around the corner, listening to their conversation. He regretted making up a story. Why hadn't he just said he hadn't seen them?
"He said that? I have my own headphones that are much better than yours, by the way. Why would I be using yours?" she replied with sass. "Okay, okay. Calm down mamas. And hey, lose that attitude before I drive over there," he reprimanded jokingly. "Maybe that's what I want," she replied back with a smirk. "Mhm I'm sure it is. Well anyways, I'll find em. Thanks babygirl." "Anytime sugar cakes," she blew a kiss into the phone before hanging up.
"Spencer!" Morgan called out to the boy. "Yeah?" Reid asked, slowly making his way into his uncle's room. "Garcia said she hasn't used my headphones. You're sure you saw her with them?" he questioned. "Uh, yeah I-I thought so," the toddler gulped. "Weird. I don't know why she would lie about something like that," the man raised his eyebrows but decided to brush it off, "well, I can talk to her about it later. For now, what do you say we go somewhere for lunch and then maybe hit a park afterwards?" The toddler nodded and smiled at the idea, happy the topic had been dropped. "Sweet. Let's go grab your shoes," he said, taking Spencer's hand and leading him into Hotchner's room.
"Maybe they're under your bed?" Morgan inquired when the pair couldn't find his shoes. "No! Don't look under there!" Spencer yelped. His uncle gave him a questioning look. "Why's that, kiddo?" he asked, confused at his outburst. "Um I-I just know th-that they aren't u-under there," the anxious child stuttered. Morgan leaned down next to the bed. "No, no please don't," Spencer begged. However, it was too late. His uncle had already pulled the knotted headphones from underneath the bed. "Spencer Reid. Are these my headphones?" He demanded. Tears filled the boy's eyes as he began sobbing out an apology. "I-I'm s-s-so s-sorry it was an a-acc-ident and I-I was t-t-too s-scared to tell you so I h-hid them," he cried, a blubbering mess at this point. "Woah, calm down kid. It's okay. Just breathe," he soothed, lifting him into his arms and rubbing his back. Once the boy had calmed down enough to speak, Morgan asked him to explain what had happened. "So I was playing with your headphones the other day during my naptime. I got them all tangled up and I was too scared to tell you so I put them under my bed. I got nervous when you asked where they were so I said it was Aunt Garcia. I'm so sorry, please don't be mad," Spencer explained, bursting into tears again. "Hey, pretty boy. I'm not mad. I'm disappointed that you would lie to me like that. It's never okay to lie and it's especially not okay to put the blame on someone else. You know that right?" he lectured the boy, gently. "I-I know. I am so sorry," he apologized, "please don't tell Hotch." "You know that I have to, buddy. Go stand in the corner while I call him, okay?" Morgan sighed and Spencer obliged.
"Hey kid, you can come out now," Morgan said as he entered the room. He lifted him onto his lap as they sat on Hotchner's bed. The boy had calmed down, but he was still feeling incredibly nervous, knowing there was no way he'd be off the hook with just a timeout. "What did he say?" he gulped, knowing his father must be furious with him. "Well, he isn't happy with your behavior. He said that you know better than to lie like that. And I have to agree with him on that one," he reprimanded. "Am I in trouble?" Spencer asked, though he already knew the answer. "Yes, you are. Have you ever had your mouth washed out, Spencer?" his uncle asked. The toddler was confused at the question. His mother had given him a few timeouts and spankings here and there growing up, but he had never heard of having his mouth washed out. He shook his head. "Well, that's what your dad and I decided would be the best punishment for your lying," Morgan explained, standing up with the boy in his arms. He carried him into the bathroom and sat him on the side of the bathtub. "What are you gonna do?" Spencer gulped. "I'm going to put this bar of soap in your mouth and you are going to keep it there for two minutes," he explained, running water over the bar of soap. Fear washed over Spencer and he begged for any other kind of punishment. "Wait no Uncle Morgan please. Can I just have a spanking instead? Please I really don't want that in my mouth. It will taste so bad. Please," he begged. "It will taste bad. That's the point. You're getting this instead of a spanking because we need to wash out those lies. Only truth should be coming from your mouth unless a woman is asking about her appearance. Understood?" Morgan explained. Spencer nodded, letting out a small giggle about his uncle's joke. "Good. Now open up," he demanded but Spencer denied. "Kid, don't make it three minutes," he warned. Spencer was hesitant but he did as he was told. Yuck! It was so disgusting that it nearly made him gag. "I know, I know. I've been in your shoes before. But this is what happens when you tell lies," his uncle lectured, setting a timer on his phone for two minutes.
Spencer couldn't seem to decide if this was worse or better than being spanked. One was disgusting and the other hurt like hell. After what felt like ages, the timer went off and Spencer spit out the soap and mouthful of bubbles, rushing over to the sink. "Woah, woah, woah not so fast. Before you can rinse your mouth out, you need to apologize for lying and promise that you won't do it again," Morgan lectured. "I'm sorry for lying. I promise I won't do it again. Really, I'm so sorry, Uncle Morgan," he apologized, trying his best to avoid tasting the soap on his tongue. "Good, I forgive you. Now wash your mouth, pretty boy," he said, ruffling the boy's hair. Once any and all soap residue was out of his mouth, Spencer reached his arms up to his uncle. Morgan picked him up and held him against his chest. "Hey, we're all good. I love you, kiddo," he soothed. "I love you too , Uncle Morgan," he smiled, hugging his uncle tighter. But, Spencer jumped when three swats landed on his bottom. "Oh and that was for getting out of bed during your naptime," Morgan explained. "Yeah, that seems fair," Spencer agreed and the pair giggled. "Now here's the thing, I know you don't want to but Hotch wanted me to have you call him once we were finished," Morgan explained. Spencer sighed, just wanting the ordeal to be finished with.
"Hi daddy," the toddler answered the phone with a gulp. "Spencer, I am very disappointed in you. What were you thinking lying like that? And why were you sneaking around during your naptime? You know that is unacceptable," Hotch lectured sternly. "I know. I'm so sorry. It won't happen again," he assured the Unit Chief. "Oh it had better not. I know you've already been punished but you can expect to go to bed straight after dinner tonight," Hotchner continued. "I understand," the child assured his dad. "Good. I love you very much, kiddo. I will see you tonight. Be good for Morgan," Hotch comforted, losing his stern attitude. "I love you too! And I will, I pinkie promise!" said the mini genius. His dad laughed and said another goodbye before hanging up the phone. "I don't know about you but I'm still starving. How about we go grab some lunch like we talked about earlier. What are you in the mood for?" Morgan asked, rubbing his grumbling stomach. "Anything but soap!" Spencer laughed before racing his uncle to the car.