12.
The next time Lee wakes up after the conversation about his father's culpability in what happened to him, neither of them quite knows what to say to the other. They'd never talked about that sort of thing before, preferring to keep such personal feelings to themselves. Now that it's out in the open, it's hard to go back to the way things were.
They sit in silence for a long time, each trying to think of something to say, neither succeeding.
Lee hears his father sigh quietly, knows he wishes just as badly as Lee does that their relationship was an easier one.
Bill shakes his head, finally tired of the quiet, and says the first thing he thinks of.
"How are you, Little One?"
Lee shrugs slightly, tries not to wince at the movement. "All right. Better than before." Then, as the attempt at conversation seems dangerously close to falling flat, he also says the first thing that comes to mind.
"Why do you call me that?"
"What?"
"Little One."
"Oh." To Lee's surprise, his father smiles. "I guess you mother never told you. She was probably embarrassed to admit it. For about two weeks after you were born, you didn't, uh… you didn't exactly have a name."
Lee stares at him, all awkwardness forgotten. "What?"
Bill has to laugh at the look on his son's face. "We couldn't agree on what to call you. So until we settled on a name, I just called you Little One."
"It took you two weeks to come up with Lee?"
"Your mother had suggested Leland the first time we talked about it. I said no. Two weeks later, I finally agreed, on the condition that she allow me to shorten it to Lee," Bill laughed.
"Oh." Lee isn't quite sure how he's supposed to feel about this, but after a moment, a smile slowly appears on his face. "I suppose I should thank you for that."
"Damn right, you should," Bill chuckles. "Imagine if Kara ever found out that your full name is Leland."
"I'd really rather not," Lee admits, still grinning.
Maybe there is a way for him to have an easier relationship with his dad, Lee thinks as Bill launches into another story from Lee's early childhood. If they can get better at focusing on the good memories instead of the bad ones, maybe they'll be all right.
A/N: The 'Little One' thing is a headcanon that I will only give up when it's pried from my cold dead hands. Also, I really can't help wondering if and when Kara ever found at that Lee's full name was Leland. I just feel like she would have found that hilarious ;)