Little Things {Gumlee}

Chapter 8

The following few days were, needless to say, very very strange for everyone involved, especially Marshall Lee.

Barnaby and Lennon's dynamics clashed from the moment he arrived Thursday evening to the second he left Sunday morning. Constant arguing (most of it he couldn't even understand because it was in German) and glares behind the other's back were just a couple of awful things they did. It was very clear that they were related strictly because of their similar attitudes. Stubborn, persistent, and irritable. Anything the other did set the other off into a rant, which just started a never ending argument. The only way they were able to get the other to back down was by saying something personally offensive.

"Yeah, and that's why your wife left you." Barnaby said once.

"You're father would be so disappointed in you if he was alive." Lennon said another time.

It was horrible for Lee to be around. He couldn't stand being around that sort of toxic energy again and he certainly didn't want Valerie to be around it either. That's why for the most part he just tried to stay out of their way by staying in his room or playing music in the piano room. It kept him from interfering as well and saying something rude to Lennon, even though he deserved it.

He just couldn't understand how two relatives could hate each other so much. Especially when they were the only ones left in the family. One would think that'd bring them closer but, guess not. It made Marshall angry thinking about the way Lennon treated his nephew. Sure Barnaby didn't exactly try to be respectful, but he's a kid. A kid who has seen too much for as old as he is; Lennon has no excuse to be such an asshole. It was like he didn't even care about the awful, damaging things he said to Barnaby. Worst part is, Barnaby feels so threatened by him that he has to pretend not to care. He has to make himself look strong in front of his uncle so that he doesn't attack him more. That's what made Lee especially upset, because he had done the same thing back at his mom's.

It was hard seeing someone you care about go through something awful, especially when you can't really do anything to help. Lee did his best to be there for him, but during the day Barnaby usually just hid in his room when he could. During the night, however, the teen would knock on his door and ask to talk. They'd sit on Marshall's bed while Barnaby ranted about everything he hated about his uncle. Lee would give his honest two-cents on the topic and he thought Barnaby appreciated it, knowing someone was on his side. Good thing Valerie was a heavy sleeper because their rants got pretty passionate. Once it was time for her middle of the night feeding, Barnaby usually retreated back to his own room, leaving Marshall alone with his thoughts and snoozing daughter.

Friday was the strangest out of all the days. That was the morning Barnaby's social worker visited to check up on him. While preparing for her visit, the uncle and nephew argued in their language, fighting over god knows what, until the doorbell rang signaling her arrival. Within a split second, the two stopped arguing and put on smiles, going to greet the social worker together. Marshall could say that was probably the scariest thing he had ever witnessed, and that was saying a lot considering he'd seen childbirth.

Saturday night Barnaby didn't have much to rant about, but he still sat with him. Lee couldn't tell if it was because he had already said everything already, or because he was upset about something. Whatever it was, he didn't say, but Marshall did his best to comfort him regardless.

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Barnaby didn't even say goodbye when his uncle left, he just sat outside and watched the distant docks from his back porch like he did most mornings. It didn't matter anyway, they didn't like each other, and he'd be seeing him again in a few weeks.