A/N: This is just a fluff one-shot, possibly more, just to get my brain moving from such a boring day at work.
Disclaimer: Fox owns the characters. I just like them.
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Outside, rain pounded on the building of the Medico-Lab of the Jeffersonian. Inside, somber technicians and scientists continued their work. Dr. Temperance Brennan sat at her computer completing the final review of the last intern available to possibly add to the Jeffersonian's team. The prospects had her wishing for a dig in some other country where the weather was dry and warm and your greatest fear was the locals with machine guns.
The rest of the team was on a much needed vacation from the last few weeks of misery. Brennan felt it illogical to replace productive research and book writing with endless days of sitting by the pool with Angela and Hodgins or camping like Booth was with Parker that weekend. Besides, she needed to fill the position now vacant at the Jeffersonian.
Once, when Zack had left for Iraq, Hodgins said that there was no replacement for Zack. It was true. Her brilliant grad student was irreplaceable, both at the lab, and in her heart. Now she needed to find someone to just help out around there. Someone whom she was sure would not worm their way into her heart to leave when their time to move on came.
What Brennan didn't realize, was someone else who had wormed their way into her heart, was standing just outside her office door. He noticed how tired she looked and noticed that her couch looked slept on with the blanket tossed at the end and a pillow at the other. She probably hadn't eaten anything all day, he mused.
Special Agent Seely Booth was technically on vacation. Having had to spend two weeks recovering at a safe-house, and tricking his friends into believing he was dead bought him some special down time. He had chosen, with Rebecca's permission, to spend the weekend at the lake with Parker.
His son was one of the few people who had been told the truth. He was told to keep it a secret. Rebecca didn't know she could trust her overly expressive son not to blab to one of his classmates, so she and Parker spent most of the two weeks with her parents in West Virginia.
Booth hadn't paid any attention to the weather report however, and now was extremely bored even with his son's enthusiastic chatter to keep him company. He needed to see is Bones. Having to spend two weeks away from his partner had been pure agony. He had re-assured her that it was entirely his intention that she be notified of the FBI's plan to fake his death. He thought for sure Bones would deck Sweets just as hard has she had planted one on him at his funeral, but she agreed with his rational.
He had been elated that she had jumped to his aid to take down the underground crook that had come to dance on his grave. "Nice Shot!" he remembered saying before stars exploded in his head. He couldn't stop wondering what it would have been like if she had planted a kiss on his jaw rather than her fist. Well, no wishing for what can't happen, right?
Booth was brought out of his reviere by the sound of Bones sighing heavily and saw her closing the file on her computer. Another person much smarter than him didn't make the cut, he thought. Booth entered her office while clearing his throat to catch her attention. He didn't want to wake the sleeping, sandy haired boy curled up against his shoulder.
"Booth", whispered Brennan not very softly "what are you doing here? I thought you were going camping with Parker."
"Shhhhh, Bones, can't you see he is sleeping," whispered Booth back much softer than Brennan's.
"Of course, that is why we are whispering."
Booth laid Parker down on the couch and covered him with the discarded blanket on the side. He then led Brennan out of her office with his hand on the small of her back. He shut the door behind him so that they could continue the conversation without disrupting Parker.
"Ya, we were going camping, but then the weather changed and we had to come back. Parker started whining that he was bored and frankly so was I. Being stuck in a tent when the lake is just a few feet way is no way to spend a weekend."
Brennan stood with her back rigid and her arms crossed in front of her. She wasn't paying much attention to Booth. Or, rather, she was trying to anything but look at Booth. Ever since she had barged into his bathroom to confront him on his lack of notifying her about his fake death, she had been unable to look at him as she had before. She already knew he was all man, a warrior and well structured. She just hadn't really pictured him in that capacity before.
"Bones…." said Booth as he waived a hand around her face, "earth to Bones." Booth couldn't help but notice the slight coloring in Brennan's cheeks as she failed miserably at trying to ignore him. "Listen, we picked up some movies and snacks and we were wondering if you would like to join us. Since the rest of the crew have taken some time off, you should too."
Brennan remained staring back into her office and at the little blond head resting on her pillow. She liked Parker and thought he was a very smart child. He was also just as irresistible as his father. Brennan knew that if he wasn't asleep, he would be aiming a child sized "charm" smile at her just as the older Booth was a that very moment.
"Sure, just let me gather my things," said Brennan.
Booth turned and opened her office door for her and silently scooped Parker back up against his shoulder. As he and Brennan left the office and made their way through the Jeffersonian, he once again placed his free hand on the small of her back. Each of the partners sent a silent "thank you" skyward that this was even possible.
End chapter 1