Just wanted to reiterate, I took Lance's birth month from Rochelle Templer's The Heart of the Family here on FF. Didn't want to get too much credit! Everyone's reviews have been very kind! Thanks.
sweetfavoritethings-thanks for your comments on April. I appreciated reading your take on her, as it helps me to better envision this ill-defined person.
RT-I'm glad I could take you on a rollercoaster of emotions. I know I was laughing out loud envisioning Lance blasting ppl to bits and then soup dribbling down his chin. There is something so boyish about him. Oh this reminds me, I have some Daisy thoughts to pass on in a PM. OH and I keep forgetting to say, thanks for visiting my LJ! ;)
Mendenbar-good point about Lance being too inwardly turned for April. She seems much more outwardly expressive to me. I do think she's not the best at picking up on social clues. Like for instance, when Cam is trying to ask Dr. B about work, and April thinks Dr. B' asking her about her sex life. Gah!
Halloween came and went, and the brilliant orange and ochre leaves began to loosen from their branched bondage. Lance was headed up to his office for another meeting with the dynamic duo—their first in weeks. The psychologist wasn't thinking about them, however. He was deep into a fantasy based on the morning he had spent with April. Hot, sweaty bodies, entangled in the sheets—
"Oof!" Lance exhaled as he smashed headfirst into Caroline Julian, a prosecutor in the U.S. Attorney's office.
"You know, if I were the youngest profiler ever to be hired by the FBI, I might keep my head up and watch where I was going!" Caroline said dogmatically.
Lance was a little frightened by Caroline. "Sorry, Ms. Julian!" he said frantically trying to slip by her imposing form.
"Not so fast—I hear you've been doing good work lately. I heard that you actually helped put Agent Booth on the right trail in that Halloween case. They caught and killed the guy—Pete Someone, an EMT. I know I shouldn't be smilin', but I sleep better at night knowing creeps like that are dead."
"Oh, great! I hadn't heard that they caught him!" Lance's ego was doing tiny jumping jacks of success. He was so pleased it was plainly written on his face.
"Well don't get too smug there, Cherie. We only catch 'em sometimes." Her eyebrows flattened out over her piercing gaze, and Lance excused himself.
Fifteen minutes later, Booth and Brennan were sitting across from Lance. Sitting was actually not what Booth was doing. Booth was pacing around, ordering Sweets to profile a new case. Lance was still feeling pretty self-satisfied about his previous success, regardless of Caroline's warning, but he wasn't about to let Booth derail this session.
In fact, Lance had devised a new tactic based on the realization that he had been taking himself too seriously. He would be firm in directing the conversation but remain lighthearted when Brennan and Booth attempted to push his buttons. He had actually envisioned an entire arc for how this session would go, complete with role playing. Therapy shouldn't always be fraught.
"That's not what we're here for today, Agent Booth," he responded to Booth's demand that he profile. "This time is for you and Dr. Brennan." Though he had to admit, he was flattered that Booth was asking for his help.
Lance looked over at Dr. Brennan for support and sensed her agitation. She looked almost hostile. But, for once, not at him.
"So have any conflicts or issues arisen since our last session?" Lance asked gazing at Brennan.
Booth assured, "Bones and I are doing just great."
Lance ignored this. "You look angry Dr. Brennan."
For once, Dr. Brennan appeared eager to be read. She opened up, "I told Agent Booth a private," as she said the word private, she held up a hand to block Lance from inquiring further, "story about my childhood…and he laughed."
Lance looked at Booth for confirmation. It was clear that Booth had actually hurt Brennan's feelings. She was seeking Lance's help. His pride swelled a little more.
"What no! I was appreciating it! Don't get him involved," Booth said desperately.
As Brennan retorted, "Snorting does not suggest appreciation," Lance realized he finally had the upper hand with these two. They were no longer a completely united front.
Booth divulged that the story Brennan had shared involved a cartoon character from the 1980s, and Lance eagerly pointed out that childhood icons were often meaningful to people. He confessed his own past attachment to Voltron, his heart swelling slightly at the memory. God, he had always wanted to be Keith the commander and pilot of the Black Lion!
He got crickets in response and sensed his edge slipping away.
He tried, "You're hurt, Dr. Brennan, because you feel you've opened up to Agent Booth, and he betrayed that trust…" Booth interrupted but Lance pressed on. "Perhaps a way to bring this relationship back into symmetry is if you reveal a childhood story about yourself. Show your vulnerability."
Lance guessed that Booth had great difficulty opening up about his past. He sensed Booth had painful secrets, and his tough guy exterior was his defense mechanism, rather like Brennan's rationality. While the story Brennan had chosen to share seemed strangely comical, given that it involved Smerfette, Lance could see plainly on Brennan's face that this incident had shaped her. The Booth-Brennan partnership was off its axis, and Lance was their guide back into equilibrium.
Annoyed, Agent Booth suggested that Brennan go play Voltron with Lance. Clearly he resented the fact that Brennan had turned the tables by ganging up with Lance instead of Booth. Usually, Lance was the butt of all ridicule.
Surely Agent Booth had been that guy in high school, Lance thought. The popular kid, the one everyone liked. A smooth talker and a bit of a class clown. Lance had always been a little jealous of people like that. He, possibly like Dr. Brennan, had been the withdrawn intellectual, who kids either taunted or ignored.
Even now Lance couldn't help but say a little spitefully to Booth, "You were the golden boy who could get away with anything by turning on the charm."
Unsurprisingly, this accusation was sloughed off by a defensive Booth: "That's ridiculous! You don't even know who I am!"
Lance had begun a verbal war yet again. He explained to Booth that he was holding onto that persona, was afraid to reveal himself.
"I'm an FBI agent—I get shot at every day! I'm not afraid of anything!" growled Booth.
While the conversation seemed to be escalating for Booth, Lance felt eerily calm. He had learned how to diffuse Booth's ire. Booth was sarcastic and sometimes snarky, but Lance had already glimpsed the man's light-hearted and kind core. The way to tame the savage beast was not to take Booth too seriously. Besides, he still had Brennan on his side.
Almost smiling, Lance said calmly, "Ok, this is obviously very difficult for you, but you shouldn't be ashamed," he paused for effect, "to ask for help."
Dr. Brennan was nodding sagely, also a little amused at Booth's outburst. "You shouldn't," she agreed.
Booth seemed to have nowhere to turn. "Ok, I apologize. I do need help…"
Lance smiled. Had he finally won by not allowing himself to be riled?
Booth finished, "With this case!" Lance deflated slightly like a balloon. "So while you review this, I will reveal myself to Bones."
The innuendo caused Lance to frown, but he did note that Booth was taking his advice. All in all, a win. Lance finally took the file, if for no other reason than to get Booth to stop shoving it into his face.
The psychologist had successfully diffused the tension, so it seemed an appropriate moment for…
"Now for the remainder of the time, we'll do roll play!" Lance exclaimed encouragingly. He produced two hats—a cowboy hat and Sherlock Holmes cap. Brennan obediently put hers on, her face a little like a poodle who was being forced to wear a bow. Booth was more overtly displeased.
The agent muttered, "Now I know why I'm not allowed to bring my gun in here."
Lance giggled with amusement. If only he had a camera. He wanted to remember the look on their faces for a long time. He found that he rather loved Team B today. He also believed with triumph that he had finally learned to manage these two. The massive cloud of insecurity that had been hanging over the new therapist for weeks began to dissipate.
Therapy with Dr. Brennan and Agent Booth was an odd rollercoaster of power struggle, amusing banter, and fascinating character study. It was exhilarating.