Spoilers: Aaarrhhh.
Disclaimer: I was originally going to have a shoot-up, or bomb or something in this chapter, but then my brain kicked in and I decided not to.
Author's Note: To state for the record (and to prove my emotionally traumatic state at the moment) I would like to say that I just found a pair of opened scissors on the floor, under my desk, in a place where it would have been very easy to slice my foot open without ever having seen the danger. I tell you: my house is crazy. I also have to admit that this chapter gets us virtually nowhere in the grand scheme of things, but still.
Lachlan took the badge from Booth's hand, eyeing it cautiously. Handing it back to Booth he stepped aside to let them pass, still holding on to Lili. She jumped a little, and he picked her up, smiling at her fondly. Lachlan led Booth and Brennan to the dining room, where his mother had led them the day before.
As they walked, Brennan took in his appearance; slim black jeans, navy blue t-shirt with something that resembled a green bear on it, and a mass of thick brown hair pulled up into a ponytail. He looked too clean to be an eighteen year old boy.
He put Lili down and turned to face her, smiling again. "Sweetie, why don't you get Agent Booth and Doctor Brennan a drink? I'm sure they'd like one." Lili cast a glance at Booth and Brennan before asking what they'd like. Lili walked into the kitchen, still in sight, and set to the task of pouring drinks.
Lachlan watched her, and began to speak. "Mom said you came by yesterday," he said, still looking at Lili. "About Max." He looked Booth in the eye, now. "She said you found him. What...Can...How did..." He took a deep breath. "How'd he die?" Brennan could hear the pain in his voice; he was struggling to speak.
She really did not want to answer this. She took a deep breath and opened her mouth. But Booth saw her face, and spoke first. "He, ah, he was beaten; kicked." Booth couldn't think of a nicer way to say it, yet he knew how cruel what he had just said really was.
Lachlan let out a breath quickly, as if he, himself, had been kicked. He put a hand to his mouth, trying to physically shove back his sobs, and wrapped the other hand around his waist. He shut his eyes tightly, and Brennan and Booth could see the tears fall down his cheeks.
Forgotten, Lili came out of the kitchen. "Do you want-" She stopped mid-sentence, upon seeing her brother. She ran over to him and pressed herself against his side, wrapping her arms around him. She looked at his face questioningly, and he grabbed her into his lap, hiding his face in her hair.
Brennan grabbed Booth's wrist, holding it tightly, still watching the siblings. Booth put a hand over hers.
"It's okay, Lachie. Don't cry," she said sadly, arms wrapped around his neck. "Don't cry, Lachie." Lili let out a soft sob, and Lachlan held her tighter.
Booth and Brennan looked at each other. Booth nodded towards the hallway and Brennan and he left to give the boy a little privacy.
"Dear God," Booth sighed as soon as they were out of hearing range. He looked over at Brennan, and could see that she was struggling to keep her emotions in check. He laid a hand on her shoulder, ducking his head to catch her eyes. "You okay?"
Brennan smiled weakly. "Mm. Fine." Booth smiled sympathetically in return, removing his hand.
"At least we can cross him off our suspect list. No one reacts like that if they already know the answer."
Brennan nodded, struggling to control her voice. "He would have been too small anyway, to inflict that sort of damage. The strength it would take to do that, even to someone so small, is more-"
"Agent Booth?" Lachlan called from the other room hoarsely. Booth and Brennan quickly made their way into the other room, taking their seats again. Lili was still curled up in his lap, eyes red, head on his shoulder. "I'm sorry. It's just that, after not having herad anything for so long..."
"It's okay," Brennan said quietly. "You don't have to apologize." Lachlan nodded his head slightly.
"Where are your parents?" Booth asked, suddenly realizing that they weren't there.
"They're just running a bit late, doing the grocery shopping. They...They didn't tell me you were coming by so early. I was already awake because I have study group today. I was just waiting here with Lili 'til they got home."
Booth nodded. "What are you studying?"
"Aeronautic engineering." Booth whistled through his teeth. "It sounds boring, but it's kinda my thing, you know?" He sounded not the least bit interested.
"No, it sounds...hard." Booth smiled, a look of slight awe on his face. Brennan couldn't tell if he was putting it on or not.
Lachlan smiled forcedly. "Yeah, that's why our study group runs so early. It takes us the whole day to begin."
There was a pause before Booth began his inquiry. "I'm sorry, Lachlan, but there's a few questions we have to ask you. If anything's too hard, just tell me, but you have to try to answer them all, okay?" Lachlan nodded, mute, again.
"Lili, go play upstairs, huh?"
She looked at Lachlan, indecisive. "Can Tempe come with me again?" Brennan looked over at Booth, then at Lachlan, then finally at Lili. Lachlan spoke again.
"Sweetie, I think Doctor Brennan needs to stay here with Agent Booth and I for a few more minutes, 'kay?" Lili looked around at the three adults for a few seconds, then nodded her head resignedly.
"'Kay."
"I'll come and play with you when we're done, Lils."
At this she perked up a little and nodded, skipping out of the room. The three sat and watched her exit the room obliviously. Booth turned to Lachlan.
"She's a sweetheart," Booth said with a little smile.
"Yeah. Yeah, she is. Agent Booth? I don't really remember much more about...that day than I did when I was little. I mean, I was only eight; I wasn't really paying attention to much...I've hated myself for it ever since."
"Sure, yeah, I know, man, you just gotta remember what you can. Besides, with the new evidence, anything could be useful. Even what you told the cops ten years ago." This seemed to encourage Lachlan a little, and he began telling them what they wanted to know.
"We were playing, the three of us, Max and my big sister and I, in the snow. Mom and Dad were sitting on a picnic mat watching us; laughing...Everything was so normal. Then...Then my sister and I went over to Mom to get a drink, and Max stayed put." Lachlan shut his eyes tightly. When he reopened them, they were full of tears.
"When we went back to play...he...he was gone."
Suddenly they heard the front door open. "Lachlan? Lili? We're home!" All three turned to face the doorway of the dining room. Grace and James Tucker entered the room, each laden with numerous shopping bags. Grace dropped hers in shock as she spotted Booth and Brennan.
"Oh, I'm sorry. I just wasn't aware you were coming so early," Grace apologized to Booth as he stooped to help her with the bags she had dropped. Brennan smiled inwardly. Always the gentleman, Booth, she thought.
Brennan stood to introduce them to Max's father. "James Tucker?" He nodded with a quiet affirmation. "I'm Doctor Temperance Brennan, this is my partner, Special Agent Seeley Booth." Booth and Brennan were both surprised at the feelings it brought, having their introductory-roles switched.
He shook her hand, and nodded to Booth, setting his groceries down. "You're here about Max. My wife told me you came yesterday." Brennan nodded. James looked suddenly, almost angrily, at Lachlan. "Where's Lili?"
"She's in her room, playing. I sent her up there a while ago," Lachlan responded, eyes diverted.
"Good. She doesn't need to see this." At this, Booth shot Brennan an odd look that she couldn't pick.
Both Tuckers took a seat at the table with Lachlan, and Brennan and Booth resumed their seats opposite them. As Booth again began his routine questioning, Brennan's phone rang. She excused herself and walked into the hall.
"Brennan."
"It's Hodgins. I found something."
Okay, so tell me what you thought of this chapter. That is, if you got this far...I'd really love feedback, because I'm not sure about this chapter. Any suggestions are valued highly! Thank you for reading!