Chapter Four
A week flew by since her arrival at the Mitchell's, and she was finding herself getting more comfortable with her new family. Her panic attacks were still present but she was able to keep a handle of things as she got used to her new surroundings. They had a small get together to introduce her to their son, Kevin, who was really nice and welcoming but she found herself fearful of other men except for Brad who reminded her a lot of her own father.
She hadn't seen Booth around too much with end of the year activities for school but had found herself at the coffee shop a lot talking with Megan. She had never had a friend before as awful as that sounded but found that she and the other girl seemed to click in a way she never thought she would have.
Despite having a decent first week in a new home she knew that the good would never stay. It never did and even though Lisa and Brad were wonderful to her she wasn't surprised when the bad news came. Lisa had made her an appointment with an orthopedic doctor to check on her arm and they quickly learned of the subpar care she had received during her hospital stay. While her break was said to be severe and Temperance had agreed with the assessment, the doctor had informed them quickly after the new x rays that it was not healing at all after a week and surgery was likely the next step.
The idea of surgery wasn't as terrifying as the fact that she had to deal with the injury for longer than she wanted. It was a constant reminder of what she went through and it was one that she couldn't hide like those on her body that were still in the process of healing. Brad had been tiptoeing the idea of her seeing a therapist but she had been dismissing the idea before it could be discussed. She hated psychology; it was a weak science.
She really just wanted to forget about the past all together but it seemed like she was never going to get that chance.
"Temp!" Lisa called after her as she sulked up to her room, not in the mood to be given another 'it's for the best speech' and she groaned as she laid down on her bed. She wasn't sure why she was acting so childish about this. It was just a surgery that would make sure she didn't have any issues in the future with her wrist but yet the thought felt like it was ruining her life.
If this is what Lisa meant when she said she wanted her to live life like a normal teenager, she really didn't want it.
Getting up she changed into more comfortable clothes. She had been there for a couple days when it was discovered she didn't have a lot to wear. Lisa and Brad took her shopping for new outfits and while she didn't want to accept things from them she had been grateful to have clothes that not only fit her but weren't worn out.
She heard the sounds of a ball on concrete and saw Booth playing outside. Going down the stairs Lisa and Brad were both in the kitchen. "I apologize for acting out, I guess bad news isn't sitting well with me." She admitted sheepishly.
"I'd rather you act out than not talk to us at all." Lisa said and she nodded because she supposed she understood that. It seemed like something her mom would have said and she appreciated that. "You're going to be okay, Temp. You're so strong."
Smiling at the two of them she ducked out of the house to the fresh air. Waking over into the neighbor yard she watched as Booth aggressively threw the basketball towards the hoop. "Shouldn't you be in school?" She asked knowing it was definitely school hours.
His head jerked around towards the voice coming from behind him and smiled awkwardly at his neighbor. "Oh hey, Tem." He greeted as he caught the basketball that was bouncing on the ground before it rolled away. "Uh yeah sort of, wasn't really in the mood today. Pops let me skip." He murmured not really wanting to discuss it. She looked a little sad and he cocked his head to the side a bit. "What's up?"
She shook her head and walked a little towards him. "Bad day I guess." She answered and he nodded understanding the feeling. He wasn't sure he'd ever like the day, maybe eventually. Tossing the ball to her she completely missed it awkwardly as she tried to catch it with her not casted hand and he couldn't help but laugh. "Not funny, I don't have both of my hands here."
He smiled and ran to catch it before handing her the ball. "Sorry, I sort of forgot for a second. Why'd you have a bad day? Things okay over there?" It was constantly in the back of his mind since he met her that he could have very well been in her same position in foster care if Pops hadn't taken him and Jared in. It was a new perspective he had never realized how lucky he was, even when he was reminded of his own past.
"Yes, of course. Lisa and Brad are so lovely and kind to me. They really want me to be happy and take my well being into consideration. It's much better than other homes I've been in." She answered and he was instantly relieved and then concerned over what she meant by other homes. Before he could question it she shrugged and held up her injured arm. "I had a doctor's appointment today and I'll have to have a small surgery done. It wasn't what I was hoping for so I guess it has me down or something. What about you? What made you want to skip?"
He frowned, it probably wasn't fun having to deal with a cast. "That's no fun, sorry to hear that." Booth answered watching as she used her left hand to terribly dribble the ball before it got away from her. Smirking he caught it and brought it back to her. "You have to sort of palm it like this." He gestured dribbling once before handing it back. "Uhm, today's the anniversary of my mom splitting." He finally said quickly. "No, don't really want to talk about it." He added as she looked at him though he was shocked that she didn't have a look of surprise on her face. It was almost like she was looking at him with understanding.
"That is a very good reason to skip school, while I would never miss school I can understand why you would do so. This is actually the only time in my life I've missed school though I guess you can't miss school if you're not enrolled." She mused as she tried to dribble once again doing a little better this time. "I am not very dominant with my left hand, perhaps if I am ever cast free I can try this again. Though I guess since I am going to be without my right hand for a while I could use this time to become ambidextrous."
"Ambi-what?" He asked unsure of what she just said, the way she talked sounded so put together and smart that he wasn't sure if he was actually the one older or not.
"Being able to use both hands interchangeably." She answered as she bounced the ball to him before rotating her left wrist. "You can train your hands to both be dominant but it's not always an easy thing to do. Most people who are left handed can often use their right hand, but that's because decades ago people thought being left handed wasn't normal so they forced left handed people to use their right." The fact was strange to him but he let her talk as he rolled the ball against the garage.
"I don't know why you would want to do that, but that's cool I guess." Booth said as he motioned for her to join him at the picnic table on the other side of the driveway. "So did the doctor just now decide you need surgery? Why not do it when you first broke it?" He asked. "Actually you don't have to answer that if you don't want to. I don't want to pry."
She smiled softly at him and he noticed how tired she looked. "I broke it a couple days before I moved in here, I was in the hospital but I had.. There were other concerns and it wasn't the best hospital I guess. The doctor said it may have been too swollen when the ER did the x-rays or it may have been missed that I would need surgery all together." Temperance spoke. "I was hoping it wasn't that bad and I could get the cast off early, it's the first thing everyone notices and.. And I don't like it."
"It's not the first thing I noticed." He murmured softly causing her to look up at him. "It's not the first thing I noticed." He repeated with a small shrug and his own smile. "I get being self conscious of it though, but I wouldn't worry about it. Though if you want we can decorate the cast after surgery. Make it look cool so if people do notice it they can notice that?" He offered, earning a small nod in return.
"I'm sorry this is a bad memory day for you." She said suddenly. "If I'm bothering you, you can just say. I'd understand if you just wanted to be left alone." Tem continued and he sat up straighter and shook his head embarrassed that he really didn't want to be alone.
"No, it's nice actually. I don't have to be lost in my head or whatever." He chuckled. "Uh, thanks though for being concerned. Jared went to school today, I'm not sure he realizes what days it is. He might but I don't think it bothers him as much." It was so long ago now it seemed that he wasn't sure why it bothered him, his dad had ditched after that and he didn't blink and eye when that anniversary went around.
"I think it's okay that it bothers you and not him." She replied, picking at the skin around her cast. "My… my parents both disappeared and my brother didn't seem to care too much." She admitted her lip sucking between her teeth as she hid her face from him behind her long brown hair. "Maybe it's just how Jared deals with it." Tem added after a moment before shrugging. "I don't like psychology but I'm sure there is a therapist that would say that we all deal with trauma differently."
He hummed in agreement. "I don't like psychology either, Pops made Jared and I both talk to someone when we first moved in with him and it really didn't go over well. I'd rather go on runs or play sports or something to deal with my feelings. Jared liked it though, well I don't think anyone can really like it but he went longer than I did." It made him sad that she had a brother but was alone, he wondered where he was but didn't want to ask.
"I've been asked to talk to someone, but I don't want to. I don't believe that it's beneficial, though I have not tried running to make me feel better, that does sound like a good use of my time. I spend a lot of time reading and studying, but physical activity could be useful." She mused and he grinned.
"Do you want to start running with me?" He asked thinking it would be fun to have someone to run with. "I go early in the mornings before school and sometimes at night before bed." He watched as her face lit up and nodded. "Perfect."