So… After reading the last chapter, someone said they were going to vomit a double rainbow across the sky… Is that an insult or a complement? =/ Speaking of the last chapter, I've made some minor edits and reposted it. Nothing that affects the plot or storyline, but I think the phrasing runs a little smoother. =)
Hank Booth was not a man who was easily moved. While he and his late wife had been very much in love, he had never been a romantic man. He did not watch sappy movies, he didn't cuddle up to his wife for long, slow walks through the park, stealing kisses under street lamps (really he just thought those fools were asking to get mugged), and he thought dancing was for wusses.
Hank Booth did not find any enjoyment in watching another couple being affectionate.
But he couldn't help the quiet grunt of approval when he returned home to find his grandson completely wrapped around the slip of a girl draped across his chest, a contented smile on his face.
He was in the kitchen making his 'famous' grilled cheese when the grandson in question came ambling through the doorway, stretching his arms overhead and yawning.
"Mmm, smells good. How was Joe?" Seeley plopped himself down in a kitchen chair.
"Son of a bitch is getting old. Beat 'em at dominoes three times, old geezer." The Booth boys smirked, settling into a comfortable silence while Seeley rubbed the sleep from his eyes.
"So, a tutor huh? Is that what they are calling it now days?" Hank turned to see his grandson redden at the implication, staring a hole in the floor while he twiddled his thumbs nervously.
"It's not like that, really Pops. She is my tutor. She's just… having a bad day."
"Huh, didn't look like she was too bent out of shape about you using her like a downed comforter." Seeley grimaced but refrained from commenting.
"Have you told her?" Hank flipped a perfect grilled cheese onto a plate, keeping his back to his grandson.
"Told her what?" Hank rolled his eyes.
"Have you told her that you like her?"
"And what makes you think I do?" This time Hank did turn, abandoning his skillet for a moment to fold his arms and raise his eyebrows at Seeley, who maintained his stoic expression for several long seconds before sighing in defeat.
"No. I'm not even sure she would let anyone call us friends. She's… stubborn."
"So? And you aren't?" Hank snorted and moved to plop another grilled cheese into the frying pan.
"I don't want to push her. She… I think she has enough on her plate."
"Don't we all," Hank muttered under his breath.
"I mean it. Like today, the reason we left school, she… She gets bullied Pops." Hank flipped a sandwich.
"And? I thought you liked to be the knight in shining armor, Shrimp? Be chivalrous, you're good at it. Just don't get yourself suspended and you have my full support." He was surprised to see Seeley glowering at the floor when he turned back to his grandson. "Unless there is something else you aren't telling me." He watched as Seeley continued to frown at the floor for several tense seconds.
"Pops…" He started in a strained whisper, "I don't want to jump to conclusions. I mean, it's really none of my business. And I don't want to offend her, but I get so worried every time and, I mean-"
"Just spit it out son." Seeley let out a deep, pained sigh.
"She's always… covered in bruises," he spoke in a whisper. He looked up to see his grandfather had become tense as well, a deep grimace marring his features. He obviously understood the implication.
"From the bullies?" He was almost hopefully. Bullies could be dealt with, particularly if Seeley went into 'white knight' mode, but when his grandson stiffly shook his head, Hank grunted in anger. "Her ankle?"
"I think so." Hank was quiet for a moment.
"Well son, then you had better be damned ready to go for the mat for this girl, even if she tells you not to, or just forget about it right now. Because if you ask her to fall, and you aren't ready to catch her? She might not survive the landing."
Seeley looked up from where he had been boring holes into the linoleum.
"She is Pops. She's worth it. And so much more."
Hank was not a romantic man, but his chest constricted when he saw the fire in his grandson's eyes, and he was proud.
"Then why the hell are you in here with me?" The Booth men shared a grin before Seeley leaned back in his chair, feeling more relaxed now that he had voiced his suspicions, even if he hadn't put a name to them. A calm settled over the kitchen.
"So I punched Daniels in the face this morning." Hank froze for just a moment before resuming his movements over the stove.
"Yeah? Did he deserve it?"
"Hell yes! He deserved more!" Hank tried and failed to hold back his smirk.
"Could you at least try not to get suspended? Do you really think Daniels' nose is worth $80,000?" Seeley looked confused and Hank winced. "College loans."
"You think I'm going to lose a scholarship because I punched one ass hole in the nose?"
"No, but I know you to be no academic either. And unless your 'tutor' in there has a magic wand and a pair of ruby slippers, I'm willing to bet any scholarship money will come from football."
"Well I don't know about a magic wand, but I wouldn't bet against her." Seeley grinned and his grandfather snorted.
"Well then, I guess you'd better tell her how important her time with you is." Hank grinned and Seeley glared, glancing around for something to toss at his grandfather. "And really Seeley, 'Bones'?" Seeley's hand hovered over the dish towel he had finally located and he turned to smirk at Hank.
"Yeah, I know. But Temperance? And she's just so damned adorable when she's frustrated." And then he launched the towel at his grandfather's head.
Hank tsked his grandson before flipping a final sandwich onto the heap on the counter.
"Well you had better go wake her up. My famous grilled cheeses aren't fit to scrub pots with once they are cold." Seeley winced as he stood up.
"Wow, I have never been so glad that Jared and I do the dishes." He grinned as he ducked the flying dish towel and trotted out of the kitchen.
Look at that! Three chapters written in one week! I don't know how fast I intended to post these but I am pleased that they are turning out so quickly! This one was a little harder to write because it was the first that wasn't centered on Temperance's thoughts and actions. Plus I had a fight with the characters about Booth voicing his suspicions. They won. Stupid stubborn characters. :( But I would only allow implications, not actual accusations! So I like to think it was a compromise.
Happy reviewing!