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Chapter 4

Thomas and Elena had ended up spending the entire weekend at their grandfather's. They'd been walking dogs most of the time, enjoying their time together. Elena had walked Ripley once more, when Alex couldn't make it. She'd made sure to keep distance between herself and her little brother and grandfather. Alexander, she had to admit, hadn't behaved like the pain in the butt she thought he was. He'd been friendly to her family, even nice to her. And she really appreciated the fact that Alex had jumped between Ripley and her brother.

Today was another start of the school week, and Elena was looking forward to gymnastics practice. She was walking back to class after a bathroom visit when she saw Alex again. He was in his gym clothes and half-sprinted through the hallway. Again, he hit a younger kid and the scrawny boy fell against the lockers. "Alexander!" Elena shouted at him. She'd just decided to give him a chance and he'd managed to ruin it for himself within a day. Elena asked the boy if he was okay and helped him up. Then, she went after Alex. His bullying had to stop.

Alex' heart was racing as he ran blindly through the hallway. It registered that he had run into somebody, but it all happened in a blur. He ran out the building and around the corner. He sagged against the wall and fell to his knees. Alex closed his eyes and tried to think of Ripley. The soft feeling of the animal's fur, the warmth of his body, his cool snout. The way he would trustingly rest his head on Alex' lap. He pressed the heel of his hand against his eyes and did his best to block the memories, but they were stronger than the images of Ripley that he tried to focus on. His breathing was shallow and soon, he was hyperventilating.

Elena saw the door fall closed, Alex having run through it and disappeared. She ran outside, too, and heard his fast breathing before she noticed him sitting on the ground. "Alex?" She walked up to him and crouched so she could see his face. "What's wrong?" she asked, genuinely concerned as she saw the desperate expression on his face and the panicky flicking of his eyes. His hands were trembling and he seemed actually... scared. Elena couldn't help but feel concerned for him, and she placed her hand on his knee. "Just breathe," she told him, taking a deep breath and then slowly breathing out to show him what she meant.

Flinching when she touched him, he pushed her hand off of him, but he did his best to follow her breathing. Eventually, his breathing slowed down and his body relaxed slowly, leaning against the wall.

Elena let him take his time to calm down, but she didn't leave. She looked him over to see if he was physically injured. It didn't seem to be the case.

"Why... Look," he looked up at her, "I know you don't like me, so don't... don't bother okay? Just leave me alone." He struggled to stand, keeping one hand on the wall to steady himself.

"I can't not like you since you jumped in front of Ripley to protect my brother," Elena told him honestly. "What happened?"

"Bad memories, okay?" The school bell rang but Alex didn't move. He would go back and change after everybody left. He needed to wait just a few more minutes. The pills that he needed were in his backpack. As soon as he had taken those, things would get better.

"Maybe I should take you to the nurse," Elena suggested. He seemed very distraught.

"No!" He forced himself to stand without leaning on the wall. "No. There is no need for that. I will be fine. I just have a headache. There's a painkiller in my bag."

"I'll walk with you," Elena said and went to hold open the door for them to enter the school building.

Alex sensed that she wouldn't change her mind, so he mumbled a thank-you as he walked inside. By the time they got to the locker room, his backpack was on the floor, his clothes strewn around the room and his backpack emptied. Alex dug into it, and luckily found the pills in the small hidden place he always put them. "Oh no," he groaned as he started to gather his stuff. "My notes on Moby Dick are gone! My book report was due tomorrow. I'm never going to be able to read that damn book again and write a report on it!" The setback nearly sent him into another panic attack and quickly he swallowed a pill.

"Did you say Moby Dick?" Elena asked him, surprised.

"Yes! By Herman Melville. I read it weeks ago and I made notes, but they are all gone. I'm going to have to start over," his breathing sped up again, "and I have so much other work to do as well. I - I ..."

He was suddenly very vulnerable, and it tore at Elena's heart. "Don't worry about it," she told him quickly, eager to reassure him, "I happen to know Moby Dick by heart. Why don't you come to my place, and I'll tell you everything you need to know about Moby Dick," she proposed.

He looked up at her. "Really? Why - why would you do that?" He was slowly calming down, the pill taking effect.

Elena shrugged and gave him a small smile. "Why not? If you need a reason, make it because you protected my brother."

Alex nodded. "Are you sure your folks won't mind?" He breathed out slowly as he leaned down and started to gather his stuff, pushing it all into his backpack.

"They're working, and my brother's playing with our nephew." They exited the room and walked to the classroom where Elena left her bag before going to the bathroom and spotting Alex.

"Okay, then" Alex agreed. "Do you walk home? Or do you have a bike?"

"When the weather's nice, I walk," Elena replied as she got her back and apologised to the teacher for not coming back before class ended. They walked outside together and Elena showed the way to her home.

They walked to her house together and when they stopped in front of the large two-story house, Alex whistled appreciatively. "Whoaw, you live here? This is nice, Elena."

She didn't mention anything about the house being a compensation because they'd had to run for their lives after her father solved a case. "It's a good home," she merely said and used her key to let them in. "You can put your coat over there. Tea? Oh and I have to say beforehand; we need to do this in an hour; I have to get ready for practice tonight." They hung up their coats and Elena put her bag away. She started to boil some water for tea. "So where do you live?" she asked him.

"Close to school, other part of town, though. So when will your parents and your brother be home?" he asked her. He'd already taken one pill, but he could already feel the need for a second. He had to wait until he could leave, though, because after the second pill, he'd be high. And maybe she wouldn't notice, but an adult would.

"Also in about an hour. I usually have about twenty minutes with them before I leave for practice." Elena poured them both a cup of tea and put them on the dining table. "So, Moby Dick. Hold on, I'll get my book." She quickly ran upstairs, grabbed the worn book and joined Alex in the kitchen. "I'll give you a synopsis and analyses on all the characters," she offered.

Alex frowned and looked at the book. "So, I take it this is your all-time favourite?" He gave her a lopsided smile and added, "My favourite is Jungle Book by Kipling. So if you ever need a synopsis and analyses on that book, I'm your man." He dug into his backpack and got out his notebook and a pen. "Okay, let's have it then."

Elena lectured him for almost the entire hour, enthusiastically bringing the characters to life. She actually had a good time, and Alex seemed calm again.

As he was writing down the last of her helpful comments, the door opened and an enthusiastic 8-year-old ran into the room. "Elena, I'm hoooo... oh hi, Alex!" Tommy smiled at him before he launched himself at his sister. "I'm home. I missed you."

Elena caught her little brother and cuddled him. "I missed you, too, silly," Elena laughed and kissed his cheek.

Booth held open the door and waited for Brennan to enter, before he walked in, closing the door behind him. "Hi, sweetheart. Who is your friend?" He had heard Tommy refer to him as Alex, so he knew who it was, but Elena knew perfectly well not to take anybody home without asking, so he decided some good-natured teasing was in order.

"Hi, Dad," Elena said and gave her father a kiss. "This is Alexander. His notes got stolen so I helped him with his book presentation on Moby Dick."

Brennan walked in and she, too, was surprised to find a boy in Elena's presence. She shook Alex' hand. "Temperance Brennan, I'm Elena's mom," she introduced herself.

Booth held out his hand and shook Alex'. "I'm Special Agent Seeley Booth, Elena's father. Nice to meet you."

Alex' heart skipped a beat, but he did his best not to show it. "Nice to meet you." He started packing. "Well, my book report is done and I know Elena has practice, so," he stuffed his backpack as fast as he could, "I should get going. I have to be home on time for dinner anyway." In his hurry, he didn't notice that the small plastic bag fell from his backpack to the floor. "Elena, thank you very much for your help. I'll see you tomorrow at school. Bye." He didn't give her a chance to walk him out. "Bye, Tommy, Mrs. Brennan, Mr. Booth."

"Bye!" Elena called after him. He seemed to be in a hurry all of a sudden. Elena shrugged. They'd had a nice afternoon and she needed to get ready for practice. "There's Rooibos tea. I'm going to change," she told her family and noticed the bag with pills as she lifted her book from the table. Deciding she'd give it back to Alex the next day, she took it upstairs with her and put it in her drawer. When she was changed and ready to have a snack and then leave, she came downstairs. "Sorry for not telling you he was here. I just really felt sorry for him when I saw him at school. He was all panicked, I had to help him out."

"It's good of you that you wanted to help, but you know the rules, little monster," Booth told her as he hugged her. "If you want to have someone else over, you ask us. Especially if it's an older boy." Booth became serious. "I mean it, princess. It's not that I don't trust you, it's that I don't trust teenage boys."

"I get it, Dad. It won't happen again." Elena hugged her father back. "Dad? Could you please drive me to practice today? I'm a bit late. Please?" Elena gave him the look she knew he couldn't resist, though it quickly evolved into a grin.

Booth winked at her as he grabbed his car keys again. "Is your bag ready?"

"Yes!" Elena exclaimed. "Best dad ever." She grabbed her little brother and gave him a kiss, then she hugged her mother.

"Do your best, enjoy practice," Brennan told her daughter as she tucked a rebellious curl back into Elena's tidy bun.

"I will, Mom. See you tonight." Elena grabbed her bag and smiled at her dad. "Ready!"

So, what do you think the deal is with Alex? Is he going to be dangerous for Elena? Next chapter, we'll be back with Booth and Brennan. Stay tuned!