Chapter 03. Keelie's Confession Part. 01
The following day Penelope was standing by the front door sorting through the mail when Reid and her son came bustling down the stairs.
Reid had a big box in his hands that overflowed with supplies and Travis had eyes that were as lit up as a Christmas tree.
"Hey Garcia." He smiled brightly. "If you need us, we'll be in the garage building our mountain of death."
She watched him set the box down and could help but to take a peek inside.
"Derek told me you were interested in helping Travy with his science project. That's really sweet of you boy wonder." She beamed.
"This volcano is going to have molten lava, miniature trees, and tiny little villagers running for their lives."
Penelope and Travis exchanged impressed looks as Reid held out one of the toy figures and began to make him dance.
"Say hello to Pedro." He mocked in his best Spanish accent.
Penelope giggled and waved a hand. "Hello Pedro."
"He's a blacksmith. And he's about to die."
Her son sounded intrigued about the coming events and it slightly worried her.
"Can I play with them?" Travis asked as he reached for the box.
Reid pulled the box away from the boy in a selfish manner, getting Penelope's attention immediately. Dr. Spencer Reid felt her questioning gaze on him so he turned his head around to look at her as he did that awkward laugh he does when embarrassed.
"I mean, just be careful buddy, they're fragile." He hands over the toy figure and they continue their walk to the garage.
The front door opens behind Penelope and in walks Derek and Keelie.
"Penelope, there's been another incident." He removes his leather jacket and hangs it on the coat rack.
"I was just-"
"Sit down." Derek says firmly brooking no argument from his daughter.
"Derek what happened?"
"I was called down to pick up Keelie from school and apparently she got into an argument from some girl and punched her in the mouth."
"What?" Penelope gasped. "Kee is this true?"
"Now you know how it is on the playground... one minute we're standing around drinking, the next we're throwing punches." Keelie tried to be funny but failed miserably when she noticed her fathers glare.
"Hey guys." Came the voice of Aaliyah as she walked through the front door. "Hey Kee baby." She teased, knowing her little sister hated it when she called her that.
"Liyah, I wouldn't necessarily call your sister a 'baby' right now, she punched someone at school." Penelope offered.
"Ohhhhhh, I knew it was only a matter of time before the privileged kid, snapped." She teased.
"Spell 'privileged'." Keelie crossed her arms in front of her.
Aaliyah looked flustered being put on the spot, and pulled out a tube of lipgloss.
"Spell 'no'."
"Okay spell 'knock it off'." Derek said as he walked to stand between the two. "Alright girls, we don't have time for this Aaliyah and Keelie love fest."
He folded his arms once again. "Keelie, what's going on with you?"
"Nothing." She said with annoyance.
"We're losing her Derek. We're losing her to the mean streets of Quantico." Penelope shook her head in disappointment.
"Why would you punch some girl?"
"It's how she shows affection." Aaliyah ended with a pop of the tongue.
"That's right. So why don't you come over here for a little hug." Keelie responded with a crook of the finger.
"Woah woah woah... low blow. Knock it off. I mean it." Derek said with force, making his daughter slump further in her seat.
"Keelie start talking." Penelope was now becoming fed up.
"She started messing with me so I took a swing at her. It's no big deal." She stressed.
"Oh I think a little girl going home from school with an ice pack pressed to her face is a big deal" her father growled.
"What on gods green earth made you snap?" Penelope asked with concern.
"Have you considered the fact that she's a total psycho?" Aaliyah instigated.
"Shut up!"
"You shut up!"
"Girls! This is your last warning." Derek's voiced thundered.
"I gotta get outta here." Keelie pushed herself up from the seat and started walking towards the kitchen.
"Keelie!" Penelope raised her voice, causing her daughter to pause. "What did that girl do to make you lose it?"
Everyone turned their attention to Keelie waiting for an answer, but what she tells them they did not see coming.
"She called Aaliyah a slut, okay! She called Aaliyah a slut, so I punched her." She shrugged and continued to walk away.
"Oh my gosh, my psycho sister loves me."
Aaliyah gushed with honor while her parents exchanged looks of surprise.
Finally Derek spoke up. "Keelie, standing up for Aaliyah?"
"I hear the words, but I can't quite wrap my head around them." Penelope motions her hands around her head before falling back onto the couch.
"I cannot believe that girl called me a slut." Aaliyah rolled her eyes. "I was so far from a slut, I was a tease!"
"Aaliyah, if you were a tease, I wouldn't be a grandfather yet."
Penelope pretended to be distracted by picking at her nails. Her daughter didn't have a come back, so she remained quiet and crossed her arms along with her legs.
"Even if Keelie was standing up for Aaliyah, we still have a huge problem. She decked that girl."
"But she was defending a member of our family baby girl. Which is what a Morgan would have done." Derek defended.
"Derek if I didn't know better, I would say you approve of this." Penelope quirked a brow.
"That's not what I'm saying Goddess and you know it.
The three of them sat their quietly in thought before Keelie walked back through the living room.
"Keelie." Aaliyah jumped up from her spot on the couch and ran around to block her sisters way.
"Look at me." She took both of her hands into hers. "I want you to hear me when I say this."
Keelie waited.
"I love, you...loving me. I do." She caressed her cheek.
"Wow. That almost wasn't about you." Keelie said flatly as her sister forced her into a hug smashing the side of their faces together.
"Keelie we're all very proud of you for sticking up for your sister,"
"Yes. But hitting that girl was wrong and there needs to be consequences. So." Penelope started then turned around giving Derek the floor.
Derek sighed and stood to his full height of six foot one walking over to his daughter who was still in the embrace of her older sister.
"Guns N Roses concert next month that you wanted to go to, consider it forgotten."
Keelie made a quizzical face. "Who the heck is Guns N-"
"Ahh ahhh! Don't push it!" Derek's voice drowned out hers as he stepped away and pretended to regain composure.
Penelope cracked a grin.
"I never knew you felt that way about me." Aaliyah continued.
"Can we please not make a big deal out of this?"
"Anything you want!" She blurted out in excitement. "Because as of now, we are spending every free moment together. I'm taking you to the mall." Aaliyah tugged on her little sisters hand dragging her out the front door.
TO BE CONTINUED...