To say Jett was excited to see Mattie would be one of the worst understatements of the decade. He started jumping up and down and ran up and gave her a hug. And as Booth predicted, the first question he asked was where she had been.
"I had a family problem."
"Seeley, you were wrong! She wasn't sick."
"I heard, bub. I'm happy she wasn't sick."
"Me too! So, what are we going to do today?"
"Whatever you want to," Mattie answered.
"I want to go swimming!" Booth caught Mattie's eye, and saw her hesitation.
"I think it's supposed to rain today. Maybe tomorrow," Booth answered.
"Again? It already rained once this week."
"The weather doesn't have a pattern. It's random."
"That's not true, Booth-"
"Mattie, you have to admit no one knows one hundred percent what the weather will do."
"Yes, but statistics can determine a general climate a season."
"But it's never going to be right all the time or on a daily basis."
"I never said it would."
"But you implied it."
"Why are you two fighting about the weather? If it's going to rain, then we'll just go when it isn't. It's not that big of a deal," Jett grabbed his food and drink and went towards the den.
"We weren't fighting." Booth smirked at Mattie's comment.
"I think we were discussing our different opinions on how predictable weather is. Which is the same thing to an eleven year old."
Mattie shrugged before asking, "Is it really supposed to rain?"
"I think so. I don't know though. I gave a reason why it might not. But it is cloudy out." The girl just nodded. "So what are we going to do with him today?"
"I'll offer to take him to the park. It's closer, so we can just take umbrellas and it will work out."
"I might skip out on the park, if that's okay with you. I'm use to running, and I haven't had the chance since I got back to the states."
"I shouldn't have assumed you were going to the park without asking. And you don't need my permission."
"Well, I didn't know if you were able to handle him because of… you know."
"It's not the first time it's happened Booth. And usually I come over the next day."
"Okay, well, I might come to the park after my run- if you don't mind me being sweaty."
"I doubt either of us will mind." Booth smiled and nodded.
He went into his temporary room, and changed into running shorts and a white undershirt. It was what he usually wore when he exercised on base, and what he thought he'd be most comfortable in. He slipped on some white socks and slid on his tennis shoes.
He went back in to the room where Mattie and Jett were watching some Discovery Channel show. He still couldn't believe his cousin was watching that station instead of ESPN or something. "Hey, I'm going for a run, I'll see you guys later."
Jett and Mattie both looked towards him. "See you later, Seel."
"H-have a good run," Mattie stumbled, and Booth noticed that her eyes weren't directed towards his face. He also saw her face going a little red.
"Thanks. Have fun at the park." Jett threw up a hand as a wave, and Mattie said bye again.
Booth was outside, when he realized he had no idea how to get around the neighborhood. He ended up running towards west, so that the sun wouldn't be in his eyes as much. He ran about three blocks straight before turning south. He ran about four blocks that direction before heading east for three blocks and north another three. He figured he could continue this loop until he was ready to go to the park, and then he could get there from his cousin's house, which was only a block out of his running route.
He had been running for a while; he didn't know how long it had been, but that he had completed about four of his laps. He debated about going on one more lap, and decided it wouldn't hurt. He was head north, back towards Jett's house when he heard yelling come from up ahead.
"Where is that bitch?"
"How should I know? You were awake before I was."
"Kirra, I told her she was your responsibility! You're the one who wanted to get her."
"Hell, I thought the money would be worth it. Plus, she cleans after us."
"That only works when she's home, you moron!"
Booth slowed down to a jog when heard the argument. They were a couple standing in their front yard; the twenty-two year old didn't think they really fit into the neighborhood. In fact, he was sure they didn't. The house behind them had an overgrown garden and grass that looked like it should have been cut a week ago, while the neighbors on either side had well maintained yards. The man in front of the house was about six foot and maybe weighted two hundred pounds. His hairline had begun to receded, but the greasy, medium brown hair was still covering his head. His wife was about one- eighty and around five-three. Her frizzy, curly hair was somewhat lighter than her husband's. They were definitely a lot rougher than Booth would have expected to find in this neighborhood.
"Well, where the hell would she have run off too? She's been here a month and hides in her room all day."
"Except when she goes on those weird night walk-run thingies we've got her sneaking back from."
"We've got to find her. Damn social worker's going to be here in a few hours, Larry, and if we don't know where she is, then we're screwed!" Booth suddenly knew who these people were. He couldn't believe they had the guts to talk like that when people were out on the street. They obviously did care about Mattie any more they would a speck of dirty. Booth didn't realize, however, that he had managed to stop directly in front of the horrible couple. Kirra noticed him first. "What do you want?"