"We can try," John said resolutely. "And living in a monastery is 
NOT normal."

Gibson grinned. "No, it isn't," he agreed.

"What about school?" Monica asked. "What grade are you in?"

"Grade?" Gibson snorted. "I haven't gone to school in years."

John and Monica shared a concerned grimace over the top of his 
head. "How many years?" Monica asked. A shrug was all the answer 
Gibson offered. "You need to get an education, Gibson," Monica said 
sternly. "Especially if you want a normal life."

Gibson grimaced and looked to John, but John maintained a stern 
face. "Gibson, school is important. The fact that you question it 
shows how badly you need it," John said somewhat 
condescendingly. "Didn't you go to a school for the deaf for 
awhile? Did you take courses there?"

Gibson nodded. "I learned sign language, and how to be a freak among 
freaks," he said with disgust. "They were quiet though. And easy to 
beat at chess."

Monica couldn't help smiling. "They surely had other good 
qualities." Gibson rolled his eyes but Monica persisted. "And 
surely you learned a thing or two..."

Gibson signed an answer, and from his cynical expression John and 
Monica knew he was signing something they wouldn't have wanted to 
hear. John laughed, much to Monica's dismay and Gibson's 
delight. "You'll have to teach me that," John snorted. Monica shot 
John a punishing glance, but he didn't notice, as he and Gibson 
shared mischievous grins.

"Sure," Gibson mouthed as he made the sign for the word.

Monica sighed, this time in exasperation. "Well you should at least 
get your GED, Gibson. You don't have to go to school to do that. We 
can tutor you."

Gibson rolled his eyes and looked to Doggett for support, but Doggett 
was gazing admiringly at Reyes. "I agree," he said. "You need to 
get that diploma, Gibson. Stay with us, or stay here... Either way, 
we'll make sure you'll get your education." Gibson's eyes began 
pleading, but Doggett was adamant. "You want to be normal? 
Well...?" Gibson pursed his lips in defeat.

"I don't know if anyone can give you a completely normal life," Reyes 
added, her voice at once soothing and resolute. "But we can try." 
She stood and walked away, glancing over her shoulder several times 
as if afraid they might disappear.

Gibson and Doggett looked at each other for a long moment, their 
expressions changing from mischievous to awkward to embarrassed as 
they realized they had nothing to say to each other. John studied 
Gibson's face, noting the fresh pimple on his cheekbone and the soft 
fuzz over his lip. Gibson's flush and glance away reminded John that 
Gibson knew what he was thinking. "Sorry," he apologized. "I 
remember what it was like. ... waking up and finding big zits on my 
forehead, trying to cover them up at school... going to my first 
dance... my first kiss..." Gibson looked pained by these 
reminiscences of a life he could never hope to have. "Of course, 
that first kiss was NOT at my first dance. That first dance was a 
disaster. I had NO idea how to dance..." John chuckled. "Still 
don't!"

"I bet," Gibson snarled.

Doggett was taken off-guard by Gibson's remark but he persisted. "I 
know what you mean about wanting a normal life, Gibson," he said 
kindly. "Even though there were some times I wanted the earth to 
swallow me up..." He nodded his confirmation when Gibson's face 
showed surprise. "I wouldn't trade those memories for anything. You 
deserve the same chance to look foolish in front of your first 
girlfriend." John smiled, and the sparkle in his eyes made Gibson 
smile in spite of himself.

"Thanks," said Gibson. "...I think."

"And I'll never forget learning to drive," John snorted. "My dad 
didn't want me learning from some drivers ed. teacher, so he tried to 
teach me himself. I don't know whether I was dense or if he just 
made me nervous, but I stalled that stick shift half a dozen times 
before we got to the end of the block!" He wiped a tiny tear from 
the corner of his eye. "Ohhhh," he sighed. "That was so funny... 
Dad was so embarrassed, I was so frustrated..." He chuckled some more 
then grinned at Gibson. "If you want, I could teach you to drive," 
he offered, tears of laughter glinting in his blue eyes. "But I 
can't guarantee anything if it's a stick shift."

Gibson grinned. "Can I drive the SUV?" he asked enthusiastically.

"Sure," Doggett smiled. "How about now?" He stood up and patted the 
boy on his shoulder. Gibson eagerly followed his lead, and the 
two "men" sauntered toward the door.

While Doggett and Gibson drove the SUV around the perimeter of the 
monastery, Monica pored over the offerings in the tiny library. A 
sister she hadn't met, Sister Agatha, logged her on to a computer, 
and the two looked together for resources for Gibson. They settled 
on a home-schooling system which Agatha paid for. "If you don't like 
it, God will send us someone who does," Agatha assured Monica. Monica 
smiled weakly. She wanted to believe, but this rationalization was a 
stretch, even for her.