Week 8 - UDC 4 - It's okay to want things...

36. A Little Bit of This

As he opened the trunk, Alan thought back to what he knew of those early days from Harry's notes. Repeating the Pi sequence and in shock, according to the responding police officers, for who knows how long, because Miss Lowell had seen him go inside earlier in the afternoon, and then no lights had been turned on after it had gotten dark. That he'd been in his shell the next day when Harry had tried evaluating him was understandable. Alan sighed as he glanced around at the houses in the darkness only punctuated by porch and street lights, and then looked down at the twelve-year-old standing silently next to him on the curb. "Do you want to stay here tonight, kiddo? Choices are important to have, and this one is yours."

Suddenly, Pete was hugging him tightly and Alan blinked, surprised at the outward emotional display. It shouldn't have surprised him, though, because of the admission that corresponded to the police report about the record player. If he had, indeed, come home to find it on but not playing...

37. Anything But That

"I'm sorry," a whisper came from his side and Alan shook his head.

"For what, Pete? Speaking your mind, or being emotional?"

A sniffle. "Both." He looked up at him. "And I want to see Chelsea and Noah."

Alan paused, taking that in, for he never made requests like that, to see anyone. "Oh? I'll see if I can arrange that."

Pete looked back toward the house, to see the three of them waiting and talking amongst themselves, and he sniffled again, an expression of longing on his young face in the darkness. "Is it okay?"

This kid, sometimes... "Is what okay, Pete?"

"To stay."

38. Not For Nothing

Alan smiled and got him to let go so he could bend down and look him in the eyes. "Do you want to?" Pete nodded fervently, and Alan could see the glistening of tears threatening to fall. "Then yes. It's okay. It's okay to want to."

Pete nodded, then frowned at the bag he was handed. "This isn't my book bag."

"No," Alan told him with another smile. "That is my 'Pete needs clothes his size' bag, because we didn't actually plan for this. And you left your school bag in the back seat." He'd taken to having a bag for Pete, just in case. He hadn't expected the just in case to be a sleepover, but life was full of surprises.

39. Everything Else

Watching the social worker interact with the boy from a distance, something occurred to her and Helen frowned, glanced at her son. "What were you even doing at Social Services, Nick?"

Nick shrugged. "Our JROTC advisor dropped us off there, since apparently Pete has a standing Friday appointment with Jenkins. Neither of them told me that, though. Jenkins did when they discovered us in the break room."

"And you went along because...?"

"He wanted me to, Ma. Mrs. Tomkins gave him that bracelet and then he was... I don't know. Tired and clingy?"

Helen nodded. "Then I'm glad you did. Phone calls. Not just for you to call that girl you like that we left in Tennessee." Nick winced and nodded. The phone rang just then. "Speaking of..."

40. What Matters Most

They re-entered the house to find both Walt and Helen mildly amused while Nick chatted on the phone, and Alan frowned when he beckoned Pete over to join him. "Who is on the phone?"

Nick smiled and handed the receiver to Pete. "Go on. Carole wants to meet you." Pete frowned at him as he set both bags down and took it uncertainly. "Talk, Pete."

"Hello?" Pete said into the phone, and then his eyes widened and he looked over at Alan, pulled the receiver away to stare at it, and then put it back up to his ear. "Nick said you wanted to meet me? Why?"

Walt leaned over to Alan with a smirk. "Doesn't talk on the phone often, does he?"

Alan shook his head and smiled as they were treated to Pete's face lighting up and then a shared conversation between Nick, Pete, and whomever was on the other end of the line.