The finale! Part of me is sad, the other part relieved! This story took it out of me. I hope you all find Lance at a place you can live with. I know I threw a wrench at you with Ch. 21. Sorry, but it seemed realistic to me.
*hugs* to my readers! Thanks so much for taking the time to share in this world.
"You went back to her. I knew you would," Bea was saying as she gathered her things from Angela's office. She was moving to the forensics technology department within the Jeffersonian. She would no longer be working directly with Lance and Cam or the team.
"I don't know that I've gone back to her," Lance replied, his brow furrowed. Sure, they had slept together, but he was tremendously conflicted about Daisy. In fact, he didn't perceive sleeping with her as a moment of weakness, but rather his way of trying to figure out what he desired. If Daisy had really changed, did he want her back?
"Well, it's for the best, Lance. I love you, I'm just not in love with you. I know you feel the same way about me. We'll remain friends, I feel sure of it. Lulu needs your friendship too." Bea was resolved.
Lance had to admit the truth when he heard it. "What we had was very intimate—living together for half a year…but you're right. We aren't meant to be a couple."
With box in hand she moved past Lance toward the doorway and paused to kiss his cheek.
"Lance?" whenever she said his first name, he knew something serious was coming. "I'm really proud of you."
That he was not expecting.
"You were able to reach inside yourself and find the strength to conquer your demons. While you had help along the way, ultimately, this time you did it yourself. You've changed…for the better," she added when Lance looked slightly distressed.
He thought for a moment and said, "I guess I have." As he watched her retreating figure he felt a new emotion: comfort in his own skin. Sure he was always going to be a little deviant from the norm, a bit of a misfit, but he had reached a place where he was the anchor in his own universe. He was a good professor, a good friend, a strong person. He thought about Daisy—I don't have to figure this out right now. Maybe we can start something new and healthy. Maybe we can't. I don't need her to be me.
Lance, Wendell, and Hodgins did decide to train for a triathlon together. A month after the return of the team, they attempted a sprint-length tri as a warm up to see what they were made of.
Lance had seen Daisy a few times over the past few weeks. They had just been talking and getting to know each other for who they had become. He wasn't worried about her, for once. He was focused on being healthy without a partner. Furthermore, he was flush with friends and family again.
As the men began the triathlon in the lake, Lance's arms were gliding elegantly through the water. An excellent swimmer, he was leaving most of his competitors in his wake. He knew that he would fall behind a bit on the upcoming bike portion (his weak point), but he'd come out well enough on the run. All in all, he'd have a good race—he could feel it. He was strong, determined, and serene. He lifted his face sideways out of the water to draw an enormous breath and caught sight of the dazzling light reflecting off the water. It looked like a weaver had laced the brilliant blue with gold.