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Chapter 5
Lance was surprised how much he enjoyed school...again. The kids were friendly and encouraged him to join in their games. Today at lunch they'd all been talking about a movie that was on that they were going to see. The new Harry Potter one. Lance hadn't been to the movies for ages. He'd accepted readily when he'd been invited to join them. The problem was, he had no idea if he'd be allowed to go...not without adults, but he really wanted to. AND there was the problem of Parker coming. Everything would probably revolve around what the little prince wanted.
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Lance was so full of the stuff in his head that he almost walked straight past Booth who was waiting at the gate.
"Lance." Booth called.
"Oh hey Agent Booth." the startled boy said with a smile.
"Let's go buddy."
"Ok." Lance said with enthusiasm. Not.
They drove towards Booth's apartment in relative silence. Booth kept glancing in the rear view mirror at Lance's face.
"Everything alright there Lance?" he asked.
"Yep." Lance said.
"School was ok?"
"Yep."
"Are you hungry?"
"I could eat." Lance said. Booth frowned, something wasn't quite right but he couldn't put his finger on what it was.
"Want a burger?" Lance nodded.
"And a shake?" he asked. "And fries."
"Oh of course fries...goes without sayin." Booth said as he tried to draw the kid in and it worked for a while. Lance started to chatter about this and that...the trip to the movies was on the tip of his tongue but he just couldn't bring himself to ask. If he asked and the answer was no it'd be all over. This way he could maybe find a way and they wouldn't be expecting it. He'd get punished...but after the event.
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Lance followed behind Booth as he unlocked the door to his old apartment. They were going to have to decide what to do about all this...the living arrangements...it was silly to keep up two apartments like this. He looked at the bare space where his TV had been, at least he'd taken that. Bones' apartment had everything else, except for Parker's stuff, which was why they were there, he thought as he dragged himself back to the task at hand. He looked over and Lance was just standing there waiting to be told where to go next.
"Come on, lets get this done and we can go home." He smirked at himself. It was funny, this apartment had been his home for a while, but now home was with Bones and Lance, where ever that may end up being. Now all they had to do was to fit Parker into that too and all would be perfect.
But perfect for Lance it wasn't. The easy camaraderie they'd shared while munching on burgers seemed to evaporate as soon as they stepped into Parkers room. There were so many things in that room that cut through him like a knife. Photos of Booth and Parker...some of the two together happy and smiling at the camera and some photos of Parker by himself obviously taken by his doting Dad. Right. Why wouldn't Booth take photos of his son, he loved him.
"Hey Lance...pass me that tool over there will ya?" Booth called, pulling Lance from his thoughts.
"Yeah, yeah." he said as he did as he was bid. "When's he commin?"
"Tomorrow after school." Booth said. "You two are gonna get along like a house on fire."
"I bet." Lance said under his breath.
"What was that?" Booth asked.
"I said I bet we will." Lance said sarcastically.
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The next day at school, Lance made plans with his friend for the next day. The movie theatre was in the mall so he knew where it was and how to get there. He'd been there quite a few times since he'd moved into Bones home with his foster parents. All he had to do was figure out how he was gonna escape without being seen. Shouldn't be too hard, he mused. There was bound to be plenty of moments when Booth and Bones would be hangin all over Parker. He'd just duck out then.
After school Lance walked home to Mrs Johnson's house kicking every rock and piece of garbage he could find. His bottom lip protruded as he sulkily pondered the impending meeting with Parker. Perfect Prince Parker, he thought. The real one.
The real one was nowhere to be seen when Booth came to collect him that afternoon. He smiled. Maybe he wasn't coming...but then he did need the distraction...
"Isn't he coming?" he asked Booth with genuine disappointment.
"Cause he is." Booth said, pleased that Lance was looking genuinely disappointed that Parker wasn't there. "His Mom is dropping him off in about ten minutes. Bones is at our place in case he gets there early...so chop chop." he said. "Got your stuff ?
"Yeah." Lance said. Better not keep the prince waiting, he thought.
"Thanks Mrs Johnson." Booth said as he passed her an envelope. "We really appreciate your help."
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Back at the apartment, Lance went and dumped his bag in what used to be his room. He sighed at how cluttered the room now was with the extra bed.
"Lance...Parker's here!" Bones yelled from the living room. Lance walked slowly out to where Bones, Booth and the smaller version of Booth with blonde curls stood waiting.
"Parker meet Lance. Lance meet Parker." Booth said with a grin. The two boys eyed each other carefully. Parker didn't look anymore pleased than Lance did. "Well say hi." Booth said adding a small push to Parker's back.
"Hi." Parker said.
"Hi." Lance said. Bones looked on with confusion. Boys by nature were rambunctious and full of energy. These two boys didn't look like they were full of either.
"Lance...why don't you show Parker where to put his stuff..?" Booth said. This wasn't really going according to plan but it was early days. Lance walked off to the now shared room and Parker picked up his backpack and followed him with as much enthusiasm as his older sort of new sibling.
"We put your bed there." Lance said helpfully.
"Uhhuh." Parker said. "I think I'd rather have that bed."
"That's MY bed." Lance said.
"No it's not. My Dad and I have stayed her before and I always sleep there."
"Well now it's MY bed and you can't HAVE it." Lance said.
"I can if I want..cos DADDY is MY DADDY. He won't NEVER be YOUR Daddy for real." Parker didn't know why he said it or why he was being so mean except that this boy was now living with his Daddy and HIS Bones everyday and he didn't want him to. He turned around and headed towards Lance's bed.
Lance saw red..he flew across the room and slapped Parker hard on the back, knocking him to the ground.
"Ow!" Parker wailed loudly. By the time Bones and Booth arrived in the room he was crying hard and Lance was almost in tears himself. He hid his pink hand behind his back.
"What's going on in here?" Booth asked.
"Are you hurt Parker?" Bones asked...what could have possibly happened in that short space of time?
"He HIT me!" Parker cried. Booth's face was astounded.
"You hit Parker?" Booth asked. It wasn't like Lance to hit someone...he always seemed kind of laid back. Bones lifted Parker's shirt.
"Let me see..." she said. Her loud sucked in breath alerted Booth to the truth and ducked his head to get a look himself. He couldn't believe his eyes as the red handprint came into view.
"Parker go with Bones." he said quietly. "I need to have a word with Lance."
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Bones walked Parker out to the kitchen and poured him a glass of milk and put a few of his favourite cookies on a plate. He climbed up on the breakfast bar stool and sat down. Rather than immediately dunking like he normally would, he just sat staring into space occasionally glancing at the closed door. Bones didn't say anything but something was the matter. She may not have know a lot about kids but she'd seen enough suspects to know when someone was feeling guilty.
"Something you want to tell me?" she asked.
"No." Parker said.
"You're not eating your cookies..."
"Not hungry."
"Oh." Bones said. That was a possibility. Perhaps Parker had just eaten something before he came. And he had just been hit rather hard judging by the mark on his back.
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Booth sat on the bed. He was shocked. He wasn't pleased but more than anything he was shocked. Lance was much bigger and this was sooo out of character. How did he react that was the question. His gut told him this deserved a spanking. Would that be right? Is it right to try and teach a child not to hit by hitting them? But then spanking wasn't hitting. He crooked his finger at Lance and the boy sidled over with a face that was a mixture of sadness and anger. Most of the anger had left him when he heard his hand crack against Parkers skin though. He never should have done was a fair bit bigger than the kid.
"Why would you do that Lance?" Booth asked. Lance looked at the ground and didn't answer.
"Did Parker say something?" Lance chewed his bottom lip. Should he tell? Nah, what would be the point...Booth wouldn't believe him and he'd get in trouble anyway for hitting a smaller kid AND one that was his own kid.
"I was just mad I guess.." Booth threw his hands in the air.
"Why?"
"Cos."
"Cos why?" Lance could see Booth wasn't going to give up here...he had to do something to throw him off the track.
"Cos I don't want his dumb bed in here." he said. So it didn't make a lot of sense but it was kind of the truth. Lance would be happy if both Parker AND his bed weren't in the room.
"You whacked an eight year old boy in the back hard enough to knock him over because you don't like his bed?" Booth asked incredulously. Lance said nothing but his eyes filled with tears. It was all going so wrong.
"I guess." he said.
"Well that's just not good enough Lance." Booth said. "You don't hit girls and you don't hit little kids. I'm gonna have to punish you." Lance nodded as a tear slipped from his eye and rolled down his cheek. "I don't want you to think that I'm doing the same thing to you by spanking you. I'm the adult here. It's my job to teach you right from wrong. So if I spank you it isn't the same as hitting. You understand that don't you ?" Again with the nod. "Answer me."
"I understand."
"I want you to remember how you're feeling right now and I don't want you to repeat this mistake." Tears were now running freely down Lance's face and Booth felt bad. Better get it over and done with. He took the boy's hand and bent him over his knee and brought his hand down with a loud smack in the centre of his jean clad bottom.
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Parker jumped at the loud clapping sound and Lance's cries. He looked at Bones who was looking sadly at the closed door.
"Lance is getting spanked for smacking you." She said feeling as though an explanation was necessary. This parenting required quite a lot of stating the obvious she mused. "Tomorrow will be a new start." Parker dunked the cookies and swallowed each one without hardly even tasting them. His Dad had never spanked him before and this had really been some of his fault. Maybe he should tell Bones what he did... "He'll be fine." Bones tried to reassure him.
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Lance sobbed and hung onto Booth's pants for grim death while the man's large hand bounced off his bottom rhythmically.
"Ow, ow, ow..." Lance yelped. "Please...it hurts!" he had burst into loud tears now. He'd made Booth really mad and he didn't want him to be mad, specially while Parker was here.
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But if he told...he might get a spanking. But if he didn't...and Lance told...then he'd really get it.
"Bones?" he asked.
"Yes Parker?"
"Um...Bones?"
"You said that." Bones said with a giggle.
"Um yeah...um...
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"I'm...s...r...r..y." Lance wailed after a couple of sharp smacks met the tops of each of his thighs. Booth stopped and helped him to stand.
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Parker blinked hard as Lance last wail cut right through him.
"Yes Parker do you need something?" Bones asked.
"Um...can I have some more milk?" he asked.
"You haven't even drunk that milk yet silly." she said.
"Oh yeah." Parker said suddenly draining the glass. The smacking sounds and the yelling had stopped finally and Parker didn't need anymore milk. He felt a little sick.
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"Hey, hey.." Booth crooned as he pulled him into his arms. Lance dropped his head onto Booth's shoulder and sobbed noiselessly into his shirt.
"I do...n't wa...nt you to be m...ad at ..me." He sobbed wiping his nose on Booth's shirt. Booth took a handkerchief out of his pocket and handed it to the distressed young boy.
"You now how this works Lance...it's over...you don't do the same thing again and we all feel better."
"You s..ure you're not st..ill mad?" Lance's breathing had calmed now to slow hitched breaths.
"Positive." Booth said as he gave him and extra squeeze. "But I want you to apologise to Parker."
"Ok." Lance said. He'd apologise cos he shouldn't have hit him, but he didn't know how nice to him he could be.
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Parker looked up when Booth flipped off the TV.
"I'm sorry I hit you." Lance said. His butt throbbed. "Really he added. That wasn't a lie in hindsight it hadn't been his smartest move.
"That's ok." Parker said.
"Can I go to my...the ...room now?" he asked. Of course...Booth thought finally, that's what all this was about. The room...Lance's room. It was a territory thing. He was really gonna have to talk to Bones about getting a bigger place.
"Yes you may." Booth said. He watched as Lance slowly walked into his room and closed the door.
"Can I go in there too Daddy?" Parker asked.
"How's about we give him a minute?" Booth said. "Besides you haven't given your old Dad a hug." Parker launched himself at Booth and let him be gathered up in his Dad's arms.
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After he'd had a cuddle with Parker and then switched the TV back on Booth headed to the kitchen to see Bones.
"Hmmm Bones...what's that delicious smell?" he asked.
"Lasagne." she said with a proud smile.
"You made lasagne Bones?"
"Well I bought it...but I took it out of the package and put it in the oven...does that count?"
"It counts a lot." Booth smiled. Actually he hated store bought frozen lasagne., but he didn't have the heart to tell Bones that. "And you don't even eat meat..."
"Well ACTUALLY ..." she said with a giant grin...THAT'S the beauty of this...it's a vegetarian lasagne."
"Oh a vegetarian lasagne." he smiled. This was sounding more appetising by the minute. "Should be a favourite with the boys."
"YES! That's what I thought...lasagne...that kids like...with vegetables that they don't like so much...see one offsets the other."
"Uhhuh Bones...did you get garlic bread?"
"Yes I did." She was pleased that she'd thought of the obviously important ingredient of dinner without being prompted by Booth.
"Then we're all set." he said.
"Is Lance ok?" she asked the smile now gone from her face.
"He's fine."
"Why would he do that Booth?" she asked.
"I think it's about the room...about losing his space."
"Oh."
"Hmm...still no excuse for slapping Parker like that."
"No." Bones said.
"Bones sooner or later we're going to have to talk about a bigger place." She nodded.
"I can see that." She didn't know why she'd been holding out on a full blown relationship. Perhaps she hoped that with a shortage of rooms Booth would join her in her bed, thus alleviating the need for her to commit to something she may regret later. As it was, he was unwilling to participate in any sexual activity while they were not together as a couple. They were at an impasse.
"We'll talk." she said.
"Well good Bones." he said. It was a start. Yes it was it was a start.
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In the bedroom Lance lay on his tummy on his bed partly feeling sorry for himself and partly planning his escape. So far he hadn't come up with anything that was doable. He just had to hope that something would come up at the right time.
The door squeaked open and Parker's blonde curls poked through. Lance turned his head the other way.
"I'm sorry Lance." Parker said. He had to admit, apart from feeling guilty, he felt quite a lot of admiration for the older boy who'd had his bottom smacked...a lot by his Dad. When he didn't get an answer he tried again. "I know you didn't tell...thanks."
"No point...no one would have believed me."
"But I never knew he'd do that...you know spank you...he's never spanked me before." Lance turned his head and glared at Parker.
"That makes me feel sooo much better."
"Well...he prolly woullda if you told on me."
"Uhhuh, I'm sure he would." Parker didn't know what else to say. He quietly sat on his own bed and stared at Lance who turned his head towards the wall.
"Does your butt hurt much?" Lance sighed.
"No I like sleeping on my tummy." he said sarcastically. "Of course it hurts doofus." Parker tried to think of something that would help Lance to forgive him.
"I'll just sleep in my own bed then."
"Ok."
"If you need anything just ask."
"Ok."
"Bones is making lasagne."
"Hmmm."
"Bones don't cook much."
"I know."
"Are you sure there's nuffin you want?"
"There is one thing." Lance said.
"What?"
"Shut up."
TBC