Okay so it’s a new Jake story. People have begged me for another one and as I like writing them so much, it didn’t take much persuading. It’s going to be a Parker and Jake story really. I think they make a cute double act.

Jake is staying fourteen, I am ignoring his birthday, call it artistic licence. Fifteen is too complicated and I am a coward. Hey, The OC did it why can’t I? I know my readers will cope!

There will more of Angela and Jack in this one as they will have some issues to deal with as well. It’s gonna be angsty, ‘cos that’s what I write although as always there’s some fluff as well.

Hope you like it, review and let me know.

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‘’I am so knackered. That guy is a sadist.’’ Jake flopped on the sofa and stared at the TV.

‘’No pain, no gain kiddo you know that.’’ Booth wasn’t very sympathetic. He dumped his keys and kissed his wife who was making dinner.

‘’Whatever.’’ Jake shrugged without looking away from the screen.

‘’You’re freezing.’’ She said with a shiver.

‘’Yeah well, it’s cold out there. Your dad was at training.’’ Booth slipped his jacket off.

‘’Is he okay? I’m having lunch with him tomorrow.’’ She replied as she carried on cutting up vegetables.

‘’Yeah, he seems good. He’s bored, not a good idea considering his track record. He needs something to occupy him.’’ Booth picked up Nate who was buzzing around his legs.

‘’Hey Buster.’’ He held him above his head as the toddler screamed with delight.

‘’Parks what is this mate? It’s totally rank.’’ Jake flicked channel.

‘’Jake, I was watching. Dad, tell him.’’ Parker turned to his father for some help.

‘’Jakob, don’t you have homework?’’ Booth stole a piece of carrot as he held Nate in his arms. He offered him a piece of the vegetable. Nate shook his head and hid his face in Booth’s neck.

‘’Dad, I have just run a marathon. You’re a bloody sadist as well.’’ Jake was disgusted.

‘’Homework kiddo. Its part of the deal, you know that. Anyway, there’s no rest for the wicked.’’ Booth took the remote from Jake’s hand and switched the TV back.

‘’Go on. Dinner ‘ll be a while.’’ Booth offered Jake his hand and pulled him off the couch. Jake went without much enthusiasm.

‘’How was school, bub?’’ Booth sat down next to his middle son after popping Nate in his high chair.

‘’Okay, I guess.’’ Parker wasn’t very forthcoming.

‘’You sure?’’ Booth was concerned, Parker had become withdrawn and anxious over the last few weeks.

‘’I said it was okay dad. Boring as always.’’ Parker was very young to have such a negative attitude to school.

‘’If there’s a problem, you need to talk about it.’’ Booth was worried that Parker could be a little jealous. Booth had spent a lot of time with Jake recently, ferrying him around to soccer training and various matches. He was doing really well and making a name for himself. The coaches were beside themselves with enthusiasm. Booth didn’t want Parker to feel overshadowed by his brother, Booth knew how that felt.

‘’I don’t have a problem dad. I want to watch this.’’ Parker dismissed him with a wave of the hand. Booth glanced at Bones who was watching them from the kitchen, she frowned.

‘’Do you have any homework bub?’’ Booth asked gently. Parker gave him a grumpy look and stomped off to his room without a word.

Booth looked at Bones with a puzzled expression.

‘’He’s not very happy is he?’’ He stated the obvious.

‘’Rebecca called. She wants you to call her back. She spoke to Parker and he’s been like that ever since.’’ Bones had a suspicion what the problem was and she was considering how to tell her husband.

‘’Oh okay. It’s kinda late over there maybe I should call tomorrow.’’ Booth didn’t put two and two together.

‘’No, Seeley. I think you should call now.’’ Bones tried not to worry him.

‘’Why? Won’t it wait? It can’t be anything serious.’’ Booth was being dense.

‘’She’s home.’’ Bones didn’t want to tell him, let Rebecca do her own dirty work.

‘’Oh right. Okay, I’ll call her now.’’ Booth stood and lifted the phone.

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‘’Jake, can I talk to you?’’ Parker hung around Jake’s bedroom door. Jake looked up from his on line game, his homework lay next to him, he hadn’t even started it. Jake had decided that his future lay outside academic achievement. What was good enough for Fred and George was good enough for him.

‘’Sure Parks. Wanna play Resident Evil 4?’’ Jake held out a Play Station handset. Parker nodded and grabbed the control.

‘’Don’t tell dad. This is an M, he wouldn’t even like me playing it. He’d go crazy if he knew that I let you.’’ Jake winked conspiratorially.

They played for a while and Jake tried to be patient and let Parker talk in his own time. Parker didn’t say a word so Jake finally cracked.

‘’What’s the matter Parks? You’re off.’’

‘’My mom came home and she wants me to go live with her again.’’ Parker said softly.

‘’Oh.’’ Jake didn’t know how to respond. He’d forgotten that Parker had a mother elsewhere and he wasn’t very impressed that their brotherhood was going to be broken.

‘’I don’t want to.’’ Parker said simply before bursting into tears.

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Booth slammed the phone and tried to take a deep calming breath.

‘’Unbelievable. She thinks she can snap her fingers and I’ll just hand him back. She’s finished it with Drew and she's got some new guy, Brent. She's just dropped Drew and run back to the States. He must be some guy, thats all I can say. Rebecca's not what you could call spontaneous.She hasn’t even thought about how Parker feels about it.’’ Booth failed to control his anger and ran his hand through his hair irritably.

‘’She is his mother Seeley. This wasn’t ever permanent. She was always going to take him back, we always knew that.’’ Bones felt bad saying it but someone had to.

‘’I know Tempe okay? It’s just…’’ Booth stopped talking, he had been here before and it didn’t feel any better the second time around.

‘’You thought it was forever, I know but we have no choice. He should be with his mother’’ Bones couldn’t imagine being separated from her kids. She felt no empathy for Alison during their long running battle however this was different. Jake was better off with them but Rebecca was a good mother.

‘’Yes Tempe, that is very noble. It still hurts like hell though, doesn’t it?’’ Booth’s pain showed clearly on his face.

‘’Yes, it does.’’ Bones came over and put her arms around him.

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‘’Just say what you want. Say that you want to stay here.’’ Jake knew it wasn’t really as easy as that but he said it anyway. He had his arm around his brother and was waiting for him to stop crying.

‘’I can’t. She’s my mom and I love her.’’ Parker stated the obvious and Jake didn’t reply immediately. He understood, he had too much experience of the turmoil that Parker was currently experiencing.

‘’I know Parks, I know.’’ Jake felt he should offer some comfort and that was the best he could do.

‘’Jake.’’ Booth flicked his head as he walked into the room and Jake nodded. He got up with an anxious glance at his brother and started to walk away. He suddenly remembered the game and went back to turn the console off. Booth gave him a scathing look which made Jake baulk, he was totally busted and he saw his Saturday night disappear into the distance.

‘’Take your homework with you. Maybe you could actually do it this time.’’ Booth wasn’t stupid and Jake blushed. He grabbed his books and made a swift getaway.

Booth looked at Parker who was sitting hanging his head miserably.

‘’I spoke to your mom, she told me.’’ Booth sat on the bed.

Parker nodded and then threw his arms around Booth’s neck, he sobbed into his dad’s collar. Booth stroked his back and let him cry it out. Slowly, his sobs lessened and slowed to gentle hiccups.

‘’Hey come on bub. It’ll be fine. You’ll be nearby. You’ll see us all just as much. Your room will still be here. It won’t be so bad Parker, really?’’ Booth disguised his own distress to protect his son and tried to be upbeat.

‘’It won’t be the same.’’ Parker sat up and looked at Booth with a tear stained face.

‘’Yes, it will. You’ll come at the weekends just like before.’’ Booth did his best.

‘’I guess.’’ Parker wasn’t convinced.

‘’It will be great to have your mom back right? She’s so looking forward to it.’’ Booth didn’t hold a grudge against Rebecca, this wasn’t her fault. It was just life and what happened in modern blended families. It was tough on the kids but they were expected to adapt which was hard at times.

‘’I know but… I’ll miss you and Bones and Buster and Sarah. ‘’ Parker sniffed.

‘’Not Jake though huh? It means you can watch what you like on the TV doesn’t it? Plus you won’t have him tormenting you all the time.’’ Booth played along although he knew that Parker was going to miss Jake most of all. They were a team.

‘’No, I’ll miss Jake lots, lots and lots but….’’ Parker gave a small smile.

‘’What bub?’’ Booth returned it.

‘’Don’t tell him okay?’’ Parker confided.

‘’Don’t worry it’ll be our little secret. Promise.’’ Booth winked and Parker hugged him again. Booth held on and wondered how he was ever going to let go.

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‘’You kiddo are grounded and this goes in the trash. You’ve been warned enough times, this stuff is garbage and you are not supposed to bring it into the house.’’ Booth came downstairs in a bad mood and took it out on Jake who stared impassively at him from the table. Booth held the offending game in his hand. Bones watched the exchange quietly from the kitchen ready to step it when appropriate.

‘’Dad, it isn’t mine. Please don’t throw it away. I’ll give it back tomorrow.’’ Jake got up and tried to take the game. Booth held it out of his reach.

‘’So, you’ll have to pay to replace it won’t you or why don’t you get your buddy’s parents to give me a call and I’ll explain? I was not kidding, maybe this will teach you a lesson. Have you finished your homework?’’ Booth tossed the disputed object in the trash can and Jake blinked, a shocked look on his face. This was extreme even for Booth.

‘’Look dad, I’m sorry okay? I won’t do it again, please let me have it back.’’ Jake tried not to inflame Booth anymore.

‘’No Jakob. I have told you over and over, you need to listen.’’ Booth wasn’t up for a discussion.

‘’Seeley.’’ Bones came around the counter and put her hand on Booth’s arm to calm him down. It didn’t work, he was mad at the world and Jake was in his firing line.

‘’Tempe, read the back of it and then tell me what you think.’’ Booth fished the game out and handed it to her.

‘’Oh Jake, why would you want to play this? It’s horrible.’’ Bones was shocked by the graphic nature of what was supposed to be a fun item.

They were tag teaming now and Jake’s brief glimpse of redemption vanished in an instance.

‘’Nope, this goes in the trash. Your dad is right.’’ Bones threw it away again.

‘’You cannot do that. It’s not mine, technically you’re stealing it.’’ Jake was outraged.

‘’Call the cops then but don’t even think about getting it out of there. I’m warning you.’’ Booth didn’t even try to be reasonable.

‘’I hate you! I really, really hate you and you can stick your dinner cos I don’t want it.’’ Jake tried to leave the room but Booth grabbed his arm to stop him.

‘’Oh no you don’t. You sit there.’’ Booth dumped him back in his chair.

‘’And do your homework. Go on, get on with it. ’’ Booth was mad as hell and Jake conceded defeat. He picked up the pencil and started to write.

Booth sat down on the couch and stared angrily at the TV. Bones watched Jake who kept glancing at his father warily. He was being very harsh and Bones decided it was time to calm her husband down.

‘’Jake, honey. Take your homework upstairs.’’ She said.

‘’No, he stays there. He’ll just play on the computer if he goes to his room.’’ Booth wasn’t having it and contradicted his wife. Jake stopped, he was caught in the middle and looked to Bones to rescue him.

‘’Seeley, please. Just let him go upstairs.’’ Bones was concerned, Booth was being totally unreasonable.

‘’He is my son and he will do what I tell him. Jakob, I told you to do your homework so do your damn homework.’’ Booth said coldly and Bones felt like he‘d punched her. Jake looked at her with stricken eyes, he had never heard Booth use that tone of voice with Bones before.

‘’Seeley, I need to speak to you right now.’’ Bones snapped. Booth glanced at her with steel in his eyes before looking away.

‘’Well, you know what Temperance? I am done being ordered around by the women in my life. So whatever you want to say, I don’t want to hear.’’ Booth didn’t even look at her as he spoke. She stood rooted to the ground and Jake widened his eyes in shock. He bent his head over his books and tried to pretend he was somewhere else.

‘’Right. That’s fine, you just sit there and sulk then.’’ Bones pulled Nate from his high chair.

‘’Perhaps you could at least watch your daughter.’’ Bones turned and walked swiftly up the stairs taking a crying child with her.

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‘’Can I go now? I’m done.’’ Jake asked nervously.

‘’Have you done it properly?’’ Booth didn’t sound like he’d calmed down at all.

‘’Yes dad. I’ve done it properly.’’ Jake really wanted to get out of there.

‘’Let me see.’’ Booth held out his hand and Jake looked at him in disbelief.

‘’Look Dad, I know that you’re pissed about Parker but you don’t have to take it out on me. It’s not my fault okay?’’ Jake tried to be reasonable.

‘’Are you sure about that?’’ Booth stood up and walked over to Jake. He looked dangerous and Jake gulped.

‘’What do you mean?’’ Jake played nervously with the pencil.

‘’You haven’t exactly been a good influence have you? Why can’t you just behave once in a while?’’ Booth leant over and talked to the top of Jake’s head. Jake glanced at him and then looked away.

‘’I wouldn’t be that happy if I was Rebecca either. The video game is pretty typical.’’ Booth realised at that point that he was being a complete son of bitch and shame swept over him. This was not the way to handle this, he was losing one kid, persecuting the other wasn’t going to help. Jake sensed the shift in his father instantly.

‘’I’m sorry dad. I’m going to miss him too.’’ He said softly. Booth stood up straight and let out a heavy sigh.

‘’No Jake, I’m the one that’s sorry. Why don’t you get the game out of the trash? Just give it back tomorrow okay? Go upstairs until dinner.’’ He said gruffly.

‘’Thanks.’’ Jake moved carefully around his dad and walked away as quickly as he could getting the game as he went. He paused at the door and looked back at Booth who was standing with a lost look on his face. Impulsively, he ran over and gave him a quick hug which Booth returned.

‘’It’ll be fine dad.’’ He said before leaving. Booth felt guilt, he didn’t deserve that and he was a lucky man.

Sarah gurgled from her chair and Booth grinned at her. He picked her up and kissed her head. It calmed him down as her baby smell filled him up. He looked up the stairs and tried to summon up some courage. Bones was going to be really pissed at him and he was going to have to work hard to mend some bridges.

‘’Come on princess. Let’s go find mommy. Daddy needs to give her a kiss.’’ He said as Sarah waved her plump little arms and he felt much better all of sudden.