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Chapter 19
"I don't see why we have to watch them every minute Booth." Bones said. "They're probably just going to be playing video games in there."
"They can play video games down here where we cam watch them."
"I don't see why either..." Lance said. It wasn't that he had anything to hide but if they were in the living room Parker was never going to leave them alone.
"Because I told Skye's folks that I would watch them...WE would watch them." Bones rolled her eyes.
"It's the whole man of the cloth thing again isn't it?" she said with a grin.
"No... It's the whole man of his word thing."
"Ok then..." Bones said with a smile.
"Oh come on...you can't just give up like that Bones." Lance pleaded. "Please?"
"Sorry Lance, Booth gave his word." Even if he shouldn't have she knew he wouldn't back down.
"So does that mean I can play?" Parker asked excitedly.
"See?" Lance whined..."That's why!" It irritated Parker when Lance always tried to get rid of him.
"You just don't want anyone to see you KISS your girlfriend." he teased, making kissy faces at Lance.
"She's NOT my girlfriend."
"Parker that's not nice." Bones said. "Really if you want someone to allow you to play it's probably not very smart to tease them."
"I am smart." Parker said offended.
"I know...you're VERY smart, so you should know to be nice to Lance if you want him to let you play." Parker considered this statement and smiled at Bones. He knew what she was like and he should have known he wouldn't say something mean to him on purpose. She just always said the truth.
"I'm NOT going to let him play!" Lance shouted. Parker's face fell. Maybe Bones was right...he shouldn't have teased him.
"STOP!" Booth yelled. "If you behave for most of the afternoon Parker then Lance will let you play a game with them before Skye goes home."
"Man!" Lance said.
"Yay!" Parker said with as much enthusiasm as he could muster.
"And Skye is NOT Lance's girlfriend."
"Ok Daddy." Parker said. Booth pinched his nose. His head hurt..sometimes he felt like he was walking a tight rope with this balancing act...one sway in the wrong direction and he would be plummeting into the abyss with miserable jealous children.
"She's just a girl...that's a friend...that Lance likes...a lot." Bones said. And a girlfriend who with a penchant for stating the obvious.
BONESBONESBONESBONESBONES
"Hi...Mr..." Skye said not really knowing what to call Lance's sort of father.
"Booth's fine." Booth said with a smile.
"MR Booth." The preacher said form behind his daughter. He'd gotten out of the car to deliver her himself and to no doubt check that parents were in fact going to be home. Booth couldn't really fault him for that. These kids had pulled some serious crap and they needed have an eye kept on them. Booth shook the man's hand and waved him off, grateful that he could do so before Bones came to find him at their door. She STILL didn't like the man and she wasn't one for keeping her opinions to herself.
BONESBONESBONESBONESBONES
"Hello Skye." Bones said with a welcoming smile.
"Hi..."
"Temperence." Bones said. "Or temp..."
"Ok." Skye said.
"Hi." Lance said his face pink and his smile shy. It was funny having Skye in his living room. Good funny. Except for the array of people that were in the room watching.
"Hi." Skye said.
"Can we go to my room?" Lance asked hopefully. It wasn't like they were going to do anything or anything he just felt embarrassed and weird with everyone watching them.
"No rooms." Booth said.
"They could leave the door open Booth." Bones said.
"Nope...not happening...I promised."
"The man is..." Bones started.
"Entitled to make what ever rules he sees fit for his daughter."
"It's ok." Skye said. She knew that Booth was right. Her father had only given in to allowing her to come here to please her Mom and he would take the privilege back in a second if he got a whiff that she hadn't stuck to the rules.
"What game are you gonna play first?" Parker asked.
"Hi little man...you must be Parker."
"Yep." Parker said happily. "I'm not allowed to play with you and Lance until you nearly go home."
"Oh why not? I don't mind if you play." Parker grinned widely.
"See Lance she doesn't mind!" Lance gave his little brother a non too gently shob=ve towards the kitchen.
"Well I do mind. Get lost shrimp."
"Lance." Booth warned.
"Sorry." he grumbled. "We had a deal...you can play ONE game later."
"But Skye said."
"Parker..." Booth said. He was back on that tight rope again.
"You know what Parker?" Bones said. "I could do with some help in the kitchen...we could make cookies for an afternoon snack." Parker brightened a little.
"Yay...do you know how to make cookies Bones?" he followed her out to the kitchen the lure of a sugary treat winning him over.
"I do with a mix." She chuckled. Booth sighed gratefully and plonked himself in a chair with the paper that he didn't feel like reading. Lance rolled his eyes and turned on the TV.
BONESBONESBONESBONESBONES
The platter of fresh cookie crumbs...the only remainder of Bones and Parker's efforts sat on the coffee table next to the drained glasses.
"Can I play now?" parker asked. "Please..." Lance sighed.
"let him play with us...we can take turns." Skye said. "He's cute." Parker gave her his best smile and snatched the control from Lance's hand.
"Guest gets the final say." he said.
"Who made up that rule?" Lance asked.
"It's one of those ones that nobody knows where it came from it just is...like ladies first..."
"I think they call it manners." Booth piped up.
"Yeah see... even Dad knows...it's manners."
"Just start playing though but when you die your out."
"What if Skye dies first?"
"Then I guess the game's over and we'll watch a movie and you're still out."
"No fair!"
"Just play!" lance said.
"Ok...ok you don't have to shout." Parker said with a pout.
BONESBONESBONESBONESBONES
Half an hour later and neither Parker or Skye had died. Lance sat pouting in a chair and Booth decided to intervene.
"Okay Parks." he said. I think you should let Lance play with his friend now."
"But I didn't die."
"Could seriously be arranged." Lance grumbled under his breath.
"Skye has to go home soon and she came here to see Lance."
"Can we at least go outside?" Lance asked.
"Yes." Booth said. Go shoot a few hoops or something." The two older kids headed outside. How about ypu set up for another game and I'll play with you. I'm just gonna have a quick word with Bones."
"Okay!" Parker said enthusiastically.
Booth found Bones in her office. "Hey..." he said leaning in to kiss her. "Can I ask you a favour?"
"Sure." Bones said.
"I'm just gonna play with Parker for a while.. can you keep an eye on the Lance and Skye?"
"Really? Where are they?"
"They're just outside. Shootin hoops...I hope."
"Booth...you don't think you're overreacting just a little?"
"I promised the Preacher Bones."
"I get that but I still don't know why."
"I just did...look if it's too much I'll do it."
"No Booth...I don't mind, I just feel like I'll be intruding on Lance's space."
"He's twelve Bones, we own his space."
"Ok." she said with a sigh.
"But Bones? Be discrete...ok?"
"Of course."
Lance and Skye were laughing and playfully shoving each other as they attempted to toss the ball through the hoop.
"Hey stop!" Skye said effectively curling her foot under Lance's as tripping him. He jumped up and knocked the ball just before it reached it's target.
"Gottya."
"Gottya first." Sky teased. The both stopped as Bones turned on the hose and started to water the flowers.
"What are you doin Bones?" Lance asked. Bones never did that. Booth always did the outside stuff.
"Me?" she asked …
"Uhhuh."
"Oh I'm...just... watering the plants while discretely keeping an eye on you."
Lance and Skye looked at each other and burst out laughing. That was Bones. You had to love her.
TBC
OK sorry to those of you that are sick of hearing this but for those of you that haven't yet... I just had my first book published. It's available from Blushing Books and Amazon Kindle. It's called Becky's Last Chance and the name I wrote it under is Constance Masters. I'm also on twitter and Facebook if you would like to follow or friend me. Thanks :)