So it had been a rough couple of weeks. Booth and Bones agreed he would transfer schools and decided that a week before entering his new school would be acceptable. Lance had been hiding in his room for the whole week licking his wounds and healing from a traumatic few weeks.
"Booth I think I found a school" Bones said as they drove home on evening.
"Ok but"
"There is no but"
"There is always a but"
"Okay its expensive and I just need to know if we are willing to put the money in?"
"Whoa Bones you never ask"
"I know but I understand that you feel emasculated when I do that"
"Okay Bones I don't and stop using that word, but thank you"
"Ok the school is for the deaf and hard of hearing." Bones started. "I've done some research and its basicly a regular school, but there are programs for families to learn how to sign. And if we are committed to Lance..."
"Of course we're committed I mean we are right?" Booth asked. "I just feel like a failure. We let this happen. We know nothing."
"I think the logical thing to do is talk to him"
"Yeah? and say what?"
"That we are sorry."
...
That night at dinner Lance sat never looking up so he couldn't be apart of the conversation.
"Bones why don't you start getting everybody ready for bed." All the kids groan but start for the stairs and continue to ramble about their day. It fills Booth with joy to see all their children be so happy.
Lance starts for the stairs also but Booth pulls him back and for a moment they just stand their doing nothing. It was almost so still they could feel the earth move.
Booth pulls the other into a hug. Its like the night they come back from the police station. Its filled with love and warmth, something Lance isn't use to. He grips Booth tight taking it in and acknowledging the comfort. He ran his hands through the ink curly locks bringing Lance more comfort.
"We are sorry" Booth said having the other look at him.
...
That Monday Booth woke Lance up for school and the house was buzzing with energy. Everyone was talking, but Booth was nervous he didn't want anything to go wrong.
"Bones why don't you take the kids, and I'll take Lance."
"Okay we can meet back here afterwards."
"Sure... yeah"
And that was how the two had ended up outside of Lance's new school. Lance started to get out but Booth pulled him back and kissed his head. It was sweet and loving.
"Have fun" Booth signed smiling. Lance looked pale but nodded.
...
"Hey how was Lance?" Bones asked as they rode to work.
"Good I guess. He looked so scared and I just want to protect him. I mean with our other kids I know that one day they will be able to take care of themselves. But Lance I just don't want to coddle him when I know he can do it himself"
"Booth you're not giving him enough credit. He has been taking care of himself. I think you just feel like you have a deep bond."
"I love all our kids Bones"
"Of course but maybe because he has lived in a similar environment you did as a child you connect" She explained holding his hand.
"Yea maybe" It had been one of those nights where she had comforted him the night before, holding his head in her lap and stroking his hair.
...
Lance came home and kept to himself until he was forced to come down for dinner.
"How was school everyone?" Booth asked then signed to Lance.
Everyone just stared and Lance signed slowly then paused.
"I think he said fine" Booth double checked looked at Lance who nodded.
Booth and Bones got the kids settled doing homework before the F.B.I agent snuck upstairs and went into the young boy's room.
'was it good' Booth wrote on a paper
'yea it was' Lance looked really happy and shy.
'make friends'
'one she is really nice'
'a girl' Booth chuckled and pulled the other close in a hug causing Lance to blush.
'just friends' wrote quickly still blushing.
'yea ok just have fun if you need anything or talk come get us' Booth wrote getting up and ruffling the others hair before walking out.
...
Then days went back where there was no commotion in the household. Kids shuffled to school. Booth and Bones working cases then back home for dinner. A silent weekend at the park of just watching the kids run around. Even Lance came along only to sit and read but still there to be there and present. Booth wanted to connect because this was important for him to know that even though he had all these kids they were all different and deserved a distant and important relationship with their father.
Bones found that the more she studied and practiced with Lance the more she found herself seeing how smart he was and how much he craved conversation and not just blind leading words shouted at him. This was the final step in defining that Bones slowly taught all the kids sign language and everyday they used the basic ones at the dinner table.
Everything was going good until it wasn't anymore. That one thing that brings everything down.
Two weeks after smooth sailing they woke up late. Bones getting the lunches and breakfast as she got ready then Booth dressed the kids. He rushed into Lance's room yelling loudly and doing everything you're not suppose to do. He pulled Lance out of bed shaking him yelling in his face, pulling clothes of drawers and shaking them. He was snapping fingers in front of the others face and not even looking at Booth while Lance tried to sign until he had enough.
"STOP!" Lance screamed. Booth didn't want to hear it not because he didn't care but because it was extreme when Lance spoke. Only did it when need be. His breath harsh as he looked up at Booth. "Look...at me" Lance demanded his voice thick and scratchy. Lance had a voice of a child thick with an unfamiliar accent to spoken language. The organ had difficulty in understanding the demand of the words. His eyes burning with frustration and pain. A flush coloring his face red in embarrassment. Then he started signing demanding something Booth couldn't deliver and understanding of what he was saying.
"What Lance I... I...cant" Booth tried. Then it hit him. Hadn't he been doing the same think forcing Lance to understand only seconds ago.
...
"Daddy?" Daisy called all the kids standing looking. They all had entered the house at one point alone and learning the rules in the new home, but they all soon found that this home held no abuse. All of them were happy to be here but right then they saw Booth hurting Lance in a way they didn't understand.
They all had grown intensely close to Lance in the short few weeks that a protect nature had come over them in seeing something like this. Lance played with them and even though communication wasn't something they could achieve at the moment there was more than one way to talk.
"Stop hurting him!" Wendell cried running to shield Lance who looked stressed at being touched but just smiled softly trying to show everything was ok.
"Go...mom" Lance tried pushing him forward his jaw already aching from the over usage. Fisher herded everyone out seeing the two needed to finish talking.
...
"Lance Im sorry but we're running late"
"Out!"
"Lance..."
"No!" Lance screamed and Booth nodded heading out.
Lance slammed the door barricading it with his body he cried. He was tired of living with these people who could hear when all he needed them to do was listen. Everything was going great but that was the story of his life a little disorder always brought so much chaos.
He dressed and left the house without saying good bye except for the slam of the door. The table silent. Except for a few sniffles.
"Lancey not coming back?" Daisy cried.
"Yes Daisy he just left to school so hurry up we need to drop all of you off" Bones said eyeing a upset Booth
...
Lance made it to school and while he enjoyed the school because he could understand he found it weird to be excepted when all his life he was rejected. Then he met a girl Cam. She was strong willed and sweet. He really liked that and she was turning into his best friend which meant he could talk to her.
'you wouldn't believe what he did he just started talking to me like I would understand. like don't you think I want to I don't not hear for the fun of it' Lance signed with a sharpness.
'yea I get' she soothed
'I yelled at him and I hated myself for that. I hate talking...the idea got the feeling feels disgusting' Lance tried his hair bouncing in his movements.
'I get that this is hard for you Lance but these are newbies try talking to them'
'what if that doesn't work?'
' It wont if you don't try' Cam said pointedly. That's why Lance really loved hanging out with Cam. She always saw things so different compared to himself but she was great.
...
Lance walked home going over every possible way to talk to Booth but it was going badly he couldn't decide what to say or how. He felt frustrated and awkward especially trying to explain his view to a hearing person.
By the time he got home no one was there so he relaxed and watched tv but Booth walked in only seconds after. Then froze looking like he had been caught.
'were you following me' Lance signed but one look at Booth face said he hadn't been practicing any signing. So he wrote it out.
'yes...but just cause I wanted to make sure you got back and I wanted to talk but...' Booth stopped he had been rambling on paper. 'Im sorry'
'me too bad situation' Lance wrote
'we good...'
'yes' Lance got up and started walking away. Booth stopped him. "youre not mad?" Booth started Lance cupped his face making the other look at him as he spoke. then shook his head.
Lance wrote on the paper and went to his room.
...
All night once the kids were home and Bones was back from her squints meeting the family hung out, but Booth couldn't help but feel even worse after the talk. Lance made it seem like it was okay but it made Booth feel like he was no better but now he wasn't any better than those abusive homes.
"Booth whats wrong?"
"I talked to Lance but I feel even worse. He said it was alright but I feel like now I am no better than any of those abusive homes. I just want him to know he is in a better home."
"That's not" Bones said as they laid in bed together don't feel like."
That night Booth didn't sleep but he did come up with a way to make everything better.