{Sorry for the delay in this story. Inspiration hit much easier when I created "Temperance's first child" . I needed time for the creativity/inspiration to hit back with this story. Thank you for the continued support in my stories. I see many of you are enjoying that story, this one, and the others. I see you and appreciate all of you.}
Time had gone by and Alex's nightmares began to dwindle with the help of her Uncle Sweets. She still had not disclosed much about her abuse or nightmares to her mother as it was too hard for Alex to comprehend. Brennan had kept her promise about taking Alex to the Aztec department at the Jeffersonian and continued to speak to Alex in Spanish when she could. Alex continued to make friends at school but she also managed to acquire herself a bully. A girl named Courtney, she had blonde hair and green eyes, and always spent her days talking the ears off of her friends. Alex could tell she didn't care much about school or even bothered to do some of her assignments. She always had an excuse up her sleeve.
Alex was at her desk reading her new favorite book, a book her mother got her, The Ship of Shadows by Maria Kuzniar. It was supposed to be quiet reading time but Courtney was clearly not understanding the quiet part. Courtney nudged Alex's book tipping out of her hands. "Oops! Sorry, Alex. Did your fake mommy get you that?" Courney asked smugly. Alex sighed and picked her book back up, "My mom did purchase the book for me. Specifically for quiet reading time." Alex said fiercely. Hoping that her emphasis on mom and quiet were understood. But, as we know girls like Courtney believe rules don't apply to them. Courtney chuckled, "Just because you say it like that doesn't make it true. She's not your real mommy. Oh, that's right. You're real mommy is dead, right?" she asked, knowing the answer to that question. Alex placed her book down with her bookmark in its place. She raised her hand and glared at Courtney. "Yes, Alexandra?" her teacher asked, "May I go use the restroom please?" Alex asked. "Yes of course." her teacher responded. Courtney then retorted, "What you're gonna go cry now?" and Alex looked her in the face, "No, I'm trying to stay away from you. I can feel my brain cells dying every time you talk. Have fun reading your 3rd grade book." Alex said loudly. Courtney scoffed and put her Roald Dahl book away while some of her classmates laughed. Cortney's cheeks turned red and she continued to look at the floor and then at Alex's book.
Alex came back from the restroom to find her book where she left it and Courtney on the other side of the classroom, sitting on a beanbag chair reading a new book. Alex opened her book and smelled ink. She perused through the pages and found the ending of her book completely drawn in with black Sharpie. Alex's heart began to race, she was quickly filled with anger and stared at Courtney who was waiting for Alex's reactions. She smiled and waved. Alex at that moment remembered what her old classmates used to do during recess. Alex flipped Courtney off and kissed her middle finger and put it away. Courtney scoffed and her friends who were interacting with her gasped. Alex didn't know what that gesture meant but she knew it was bad. She just remembered her classmates doing it at recess and the other kids always seemed to back off. As soon as Alex placed her finger away and attempted to continue to read the legible parts of her book. Courtney's hand shot up, "Ms! Ms! Alexandra Brennan gave me the bird!" she yelled. Alex continued to read unbothered and her teacher walked up to her and asked, "Alexandra, is that true?" she asked. Alex, still fuming, looked up and said, "I don't know, ask Courtney if she defaced the last chapter of my new book while I went to the bathroom?" and kept her gaze at Courtney who foolishly still had black marker on her right hand, which she quickly hid when the teacher began to walk up to her. Their teacher placed her hands on her hips, "We do not tolerate these behaviors here. Girls pack up your things. We're going to the principal's office." she said. Alex did as she was told, a little concerned because she had never been to the principal's office before. Courtney began to whine as she packed up her stuff.
Brennan and Booth were working on a case where a body was found lying in a pool of purple water. They were at the vics house interviewing the vics mother. Her phone rang and she saw the caller ID, "I have to take this," she whispered to Booth and walked away while he continued talking to the older woman. "She did what? The Bird?" Brennan asked in disbelief and Booth thanked the woman for her cooperation and walked towards his girlfriend. "I'll be right there, thank you." she said as she hung up the phone. "Is Alex okay?" he asked immediately as they walked towards the car. Brennan looked at Booth, "She gave the bird to one of her classmates during quiet reading time." she said while trying not to laugh. Booth tried not to laugh too, but she was 10 so it was kinda cute to him. "Have you ever given the bird to someone, Bones?" he asked as he began to drive towards the school. Brennan scoffed, "Of course not! It's probably something she remembers from her past." she said as she continued to look at her lover. Both adults walked into the hallway where the two girls were sitting awaiting for their parents. Brennan looked at Alex before she walked into the principal's office where they were still waiting for Courtney's parents. Brennan placed her index finger on Alex's nose, "We will discuss this later, missy." she said in a playful tone. Alex nodded, "Yes, mama." she said quietly and looked up at Booth with a shy smile and whispered, "Hi Booth," and Booth kissed Alex's forehead. While Courtney just looked at her classmates' interaction with her parents. She scoffed and turned at the entrance waiting for her parents to arrive. Booth and Brennan heard the tiny scoff come from the little girl and they both shared a look and walked into the office. They waited a solid 10 minutes when they heard high heel clacking from Courtney's mother who was on the phone with a client. "Got it, listen, I'm at my kids' school. I'll be right back." the blonde haired woman said. She gave her child a look and walked into the office whose door was shut right away.