Ok… so I'm really not sure how this story actually turned into what it turned into… I started writing this going for a humorous story of a conversation between Booth, Hank, and Max since both Max and Hank had the same question for him, the question of "Are you gay?"… well that got me thinking what if they met and cornered Booth about it… well this is what it ended up turning into…
This story takes place after the 100th episode and a short time before the gravedigger trial.
Also if you want to check it out I have another story up that I update every Sunday… that one takes place just before the last 2 episodes of season 4…
Hope you enjoy this little 2 shot… please review because I'm really not sure what I think of it… This was definitely unlike anything I've written before…
Disclaimer: If I owned Bones I would have more money…
The Three Generations of Alpha Males
Booth had taken the day off since him and the team of squints had just finished a case and all the paperwork that went with it the day before to go pick his grandfather up from his nursing home. He figured he could take the day off to spend a little extra time with him instead of working for most of the day and then going to pick him up. He really liked that idea because he was going to be missing most of the traffic too.
Pops was going to be spending the weekend with Booth. It had been his idea for a family get-together this weekend, but it was still unknown as to who was actually going to be there. Booth had asked Rebecca if he could get Parker this weekend for it and she had willingly agreed, but she called back earlier in the week telling him that Parker was sick so it depended on if he was feeling better or not. Jared was being Jared and didn't confirm or say no. He just said he didn't know and he'd have to see if there was something else he had to do.
As he was driving to the nursing home, his cell phone rang. He quickly looked at the caller id and answered when he saw that it was Brennan.
"Hey, Bones. What's up?"
"Hey, Booth, sorry, I know you're picking up your grandfather, but can I ask a favor?"
"Sure, Bones. No problem."
"My father was driving back to D.C. from wherever he was and got into a car crash—"
"He ok?" Booth interrupted, concerned for the conman.
"Yeah, he's fine, but he totaled the car. I'd go get him but Hodgins did another stupid experiment because he was bored and the lab is in lockdown currently, plus you're actually closer to him since you were heading out to pick Hank up."
"He needs someone to pick him up?"
"Yes."
"Alright, where is he?"
"You don't mind?"
"Nah. You said he's close by and I can drop him back off at the lab if it's out of lockdown when we get back or if it's still in lockdown he can crash at my place if he needs to until you get out. If you can, just let him know I'll stop by after I pick my grandfather up."
"I'll call the officer whose cell he used to call me, see if he's still at the scene."
"Alright. Where is he?" Brennan gave him the information that her father had given her, which was really just the intersection he was closest to and the street he was actually on.
"Ok. No problem. I actually know right where that is. It's only a couple of blocks away actually. I've ended up driving down those roads a few times when my normal one is under construction. I normally try to avoid them because of all the accidents on that road. Let your dad know I'm on the way and will be there after I pick my grandfather up… actually tell him it may be a little longer. I'm stuck in traffic now. It doesn't look too bad but it will take a little longer to get through. What was Max doing out this way anyway?"
"It's my dad. We probably don't want to know."
"Good point."
"Thanks, Booth. I'll call him now. Bye."
"No problem. Bye." They both hung up the phone. The traffic had just started to clear and Booth started to move when his cell phone rang about ten minutes later. He saw it was Brennan again.
"Hey, What's up? Traffic just started moving again."
"Just letting you know that the officer was still at the scene. I spoke to my father and told him that you were on your way, but that you had to pick someone else up first. He just requests that he doesn't get put in handcuffs this time if he gets stuck in the backseat again."
Booth laughed. "I'll be sure to pull a pair out to make him think they're needed… The lab still under lockdown?"
"Yes, and Cam is really not thrilled."
"How bad is she yelling at Hodgins?"
"I'm quite happy that I was in my office when the lockdown occurred. I can still hear her through the door."
"Ouch… You would think Hodgins would be more careful… Do you have any idea as to when you'll be released?"
"No. They're still trying to figure out what caused the lockdown. Why?"
"Since you have no idea, how's about we make the plan of I bring both Pops and Max back to my place and you call when you get out, then the four of us can grab some dinner."
"Sounds acceptable to me if it's good for them, too."
"Everything will be fine. We'll see you later. I got to go. I'm pulling up to the nursing home now."
"Ok. Tell Hank I said hello."
"You can tell him later when you see him. Bye."
"Bye." They both hung up. Booth saw that Hank was already waiting for him in front, so he just pulled up to the curb. Pops climbed into the front passenger seat and handed Booth a cup of coffee.
"I know how you get when you haven't had enough coffee and had to get up early." Booth laughed, taking the cup and pulling away from the curb.
"I'm not that bad, and it was actually my choice to get up this early, so I'm good." Booth took a swig of coffee and then put the cup in the holder. "Before we head back to my place I need to make one more stop quickly. Bones' dad was in a car accident and he's near here and she's stuck in the lab. Me and Bones were also thinking that I could take him back with us and the four of us could grab some dinner when the lab gets out of lockdown."
"Sounds good, Shrimp. I've been wanting to see her again." Booth picked up the coffee again and took another swig. "So have you slept with her yet?" Booth started choking on the coffee and ended up choking hard enough that some came out of his nose. He glanced over to Pops quickly and saw that Pops was smiling.
"You did that on purpose. I should have known you wouldn't give me a free coffee without a devious plot," Booth said laughing.
"And you say you're prepared for anything… So are you?"
"No, Pops, and please behave when we pick up her father." Booth had the feeling that he should start dreading having offered to pick up Max. He was just remembering now how both of them have asked him at separate times if he was gay. What were they going to put him through when he was trapped in the same car with them?
Booth drove the couple blocks to the street where Max was. He ended up parking further down the street because there were still a few cop cars there. "Wait here. Just let me go get him and I'll be back in a minute," Booth told his grandfather, climbing out of the car.
He walked down the block to the three cars that were basically crushed together. There was one in front of the second and the third was tilted in to the one in front, smashed into the driver's side. He saw Max standing off to the side, the officers talking to each other, and the drivers of the other cars standing and talking to the other members of their family that was in the car. Booth walked over to Max.
"Hey, Max."
"Booth, Thanks for coming to pick me up."
"I was near here picking someone else up anyway. So, what happened? You ok?"
"Fine. I was in the first car. The one to the side swerved into me and the car behind me couldn't stop in time to avoid hitting me. Cops say it's pretty straight forward."
"Until you give them a fake ID, I'm guessing."
"So, who were you picking up out this way?" Max asked, ignoring Booth's statement. Booth chose to let it go, knowing he probably didn't want the answer.
"My grandfather. He's waiting in the car. Bones told me you requested no handcuffs," Booth said smiling. Max laughed.
"I didn't think she'd actually pass on the message."
"You asked her to, so she did. You clear to go?"
"As soon as I get my ID back and everything since no one is pressing charges or looking for money." A police officer came back with Max's ID and a copy of the report that still had to be filed.
"Ok, Mr. Sebastian, everything is taken care of. You're free to go whenever, and the arrangements have been made to get your car taken care of like we spoke about."
"Great, thanks," Max said taking the papers and ID. He looked to Booth. "Now we can get going." They started walking down the block.
"Sebastian? Really?" Booth asked, trying to hide his amusement and shock at that one.
"Ok, so it wasn't one of the better ones my guy created, but it worked."
"What were you doing out this way anyway?" Booth asked, his curiosity finally getting the better of him.
"Actually, I was coming to surprise a friend of mine a visit. Haven't seen him in a while. Been kinda busy. Thought I'd drop by though and see how the guy was doing." They got to the car and climbed in. Booth went to introduce the two.
"Pops—" he was cut off by Max.
"Hey, Hank, how's it going?"
"Good, real good. You should stop by more often, then you might not need to ask. What've you been doing to avoid coming see me?"
"This and that." Booth was looking back and forth between the two.
"You two know each other?" he asked, as he turned his attention to the road and pulled out.
"Yep," Max told him.
"And you didn't think to tell either me or Bones?"
"We never really did the last name exchange thing. Never made the connection. Never said a daughter or grandson's name either," Max said.
"The topic did come up often enough, but we never really named anyone past our own first names," Pops added. Booth nodded, slightly confused and stunned.
"So, how did you both meet?" he asked. He quickly continued, "Never mind, knowing both of you, I probably don't want to know."
"It's not so bad, Shrimp. We met at a club years ago."
"I really don't think I want to know the rest of this story…"
"Most times its just quick phone calls here and there to talk. First time we're actually seeing each other in… what… about a year?"
"Something like that. So, how's it going?"
"Not bad… been traveling 'round mostly." Booth was still completely confused at the knowledge that his grandfather and Bones' dad knew each other for years, and from a club. He really didn't want to picture that one. He still remembered his grandfather at Club Jiggle-Jiggle… he really didn't want to think about both of them going to a club together. He grabbed his coffee to take a swig and try and get the thought of them at a club out of his head. He was caught off guard by Max's next question. "So, still crocheting?" Booth spit out the coffee he just attempted to drink.
"Max!" he choked.
"Ignore the prude. Apparently I didn't raise him right since he still gets so flustered at talking about it."
"Pops!"
"Loosen up, Shrimp. It's just a question…"
"…that I really don't want to know the answer for." Booth was getting tempted to turn the sirens on to get them back quicker so that he could bail. He tried to change the topic and said the first thing he could think of. "Oh, Max, I also forgot to mention before that Bones came up with the idea that, since she is currently stuck in the lab and doesn't know when she'll get out, she could give us a call and the four of us can meet for dinner." Booth realized right after he spoke that he probably just dug himself a bigger hole and wanted to smack his head against the steering wheel.
"Sounds good… so are you sleeping with her yet?" Booth groaned, having realized that was going to be his next statement.
"No, I'm not." Max leaned forward from the backseat to stick his head between the two front seats.
"You're not really gonna making me ask again in front of your grandfather, are you?"
"I'm not sleeping with her."
"Not the question I was referring to."
"What was the question you were talking about?" Hank asked looking at Max.
"Just drop it, Pops, please!" Booth basically begged knowing what question Max was actually talking about. "And the answer is still no."
"You sure?" Max asked Booth. "I really doubt that answer."
"What was the question?" Hank asked. Max knew Hank was pushy when it came to his grandkids, so he told him.
"I asked him if he was gay. He keeps claiming no." Hank laughed.
"You asked him, too?"
"Yeah, a while ago… after some issues were… resolved. I had always thought they were together, so I told him he was good for her, then he told me they weren't like that so I asked," Max said shrugging. Booth was now clenching his jaw in the front seat, really not liking the turn in conversation. He was starting to think he should have left the conversation about the clubs going. It would have been awkward, but much better than where he knew this conversation was going next. If it went that way, he wasn't really sure he was going to be able to stop himself from snapping at Max.
"Seriously, Shrimp, go for it. I told you she's a keeper. I also told you Rebecca wasn't good for you, so will you start listening to me already."
"Pops, just drop it. Me and Bones, not gonna happen."
"Why, she not good enough or is it cause of my past?"
"Max…" Booth warned. He had the tone of you really don't want to continue with this conversation.
"Come on, Booth, what's the problem? They're not hard questions." Booth was just about done.
"You're right they aren't difficult questions, but are you sure you want to know the answer?"
"Yeah."
"Alright… you're right, you are the problem, but not for the reason you keep asking." His eyes flashed to Max through the rearview mirror. They were dark, and it was very clear as to what he was referring to: Max's abandonment.
"That was years ago. What's that got to do with it? It really shouldn't mean anything with your relationship."
"Wrong again, Max… You fucked up, and she's the one who got hurt." Booth then looked over to his grandfather. "Sorry, Pops, but it's about time he heard it." Booth was pretty embarrassed over his grandfather hearing him basically tell off Max. Max knew he should change the conversation.
"So, what happened at the lab?"
"Not really sure, Bones just said Hodgins did some stupid experiment again. Probably blew something up again. Cam was pissed. You can probably find out more from her later."
"What would he have blown up this time?"
"It's Hodgins… I tend to not want to find out."
"Hodgins is the bug guy you've told me about, right?" Hank asked.
"Yeah."
"What's bugs got to do with exploding things?"
"I've found it's best not to ask when it comes to him. Then you won't have to worry about being dragged down too." Booth's cell phone rang. He picked it up without looking at the caller ID.
"Booth."
"Hey, Seeley," Rebecca's voice came through the speaker.
"Hey, how's he feeling?"
"Still not good. He's still got a fairly high fever. I've scheduled a doctor's appointment for him tomorrow. Sorry, Seeley. He was looking forward to it too."
"Don't worry. We can try to do another soon. Still not really sure of what's going on with it anyway."
"I'll tell him you said that so he isn't too disappointed. He also asks that you tell your grandfather that he says hi."
"I'll let him know. Tell him to feel better too and that I'll see him soon."
"Ok. Bye."
"Bye." Booth hung up the phone and looked to his grandfather. "Sorry, Parker's still sick and won't be able to come. He says hi though."
"What about your brother?"
"Unknown."
"So right now it's just me and you?"
"Sounds like it."
"Did I miss something?" Max asked from the backseat.
"We were doing a family get together this weekend, but it seems as if it's down to me and Pops."
"How's about your squints, shrimp?"
"Yeah, when Bones calls that they're out of lockdown I'll tell her to invite them over. Probably move it to the park for a BBQ then too, more room than in my apartment."
"Am I invited?" Max asked from the back.
"Why not… We'll make a party out of it." Booth saw that the traffic was slowing down again. He slowed to a stop as all of the cars in front of him stopped. "Great, more traffic." The three men fell into a fairly awkward silence after their initial conversation. None of them knew how to get onto a different topic and they knew Booth wasn't going to continue with the previous conversation. Max and Hank figured they'd have to try again later, when Booth was distracted and maybe more likely to answer.
The cars were still at a standstill when Booth's cell started going off again. He looked at the caller ID and saw it was Brennan. He answered.
"Hey, Bones. How's it going at the lab?"
"It's actually getting much better. The incident is actually not nearly as bad as initially thought. Cam is still furious with Hodgins though. We should be out of lockdown within the hour."
"That's great. We might actually be out of traffic by then. Give a call back when you're free and we'll come pick you up since at this rate we'll still be in the car anyway."
"I was calling to see if you made it back to your apartment yet, but I guess I just got my answer… The traffic is really that bad?"
"Yeah… I'm guessing there's an accident up the road… Also Pops suggested to invite the rest of the squints and you to a BBQ Saturday. He wants to meet the team. Can you ask them about it and let me know later who's going to come."
"Yeah, sure. I'll let you know who said they'll come when you pick me up."
"Sounds good. See you soon."
"Bye." Brennan hung up.
Booth glanced at the two others in the car briefly. "So she's inviting the squints for the BBQ and thinks they'll be free soon. I told her that we'll pick her up at the lab when we get out of traffic to go get some food. It'll be a little early for dinner, but all of us didn't have lunch because of the lockdown and traffic."
"Sounds good, Shrimp."
"So where we going for food anyway?" Max asked.
"Probably the diner like normal. I figured ask Bones when we pick her up; see if she has anywhere she'd rather go."
After some time of crawling along in traffic, Booth was finally nearing the Jeffersonian. His cell phone rang. He answered, seeing that it was Bones again.
"Hey, Bones. Finally out of lockdown?"
"Yes. Where are you now?"
"Pulling up in front of the lab entrance now actually. Come on out." Booth said pulling up to the entrance.
"Ok. I'll be out in a few minutes." Brennan hung up. After Booth pulled up, Hank climbed out of the front seat and into the back, figuring Brennan would want her normal seat.
Brennan came out and climbed into the car a few minutes later, like she said.
"Diner work for you?" Booth asked.
"Sure. Hodgins, Cam, and Angela all said that they'll be at the BBQ. They also told me to tell you to call any of them if you need someone to bring something."
"Ok. I'm pretty sure I got everything covered though… Did you know that Pops knows Max?" Booth responded, pulling away from the lab.
"We're still here, and can hear you, Shrimp?"
"Yeah, I know," Booth responded to Hank
"I did not know that… How?" Brennan asked.
"You really don't want that info."
"Booth, she's nowhere near as uptight as you… We met at a club years ago… The ladies liked us… thought we were pretty good looking and funny back then…"
"Ok, Max, seriously…can we change the conversation now?"
"I actually have to agree with Booth for a change. While it is perfectly natural, I find I'm not too fond of the idea of you going… what does Angela call it?..."
"Clubbing," Booth told her.
"Yeah." They happened to get to the diner at this point and Booth pulled into a spot.
"Come on, peoples. I'm hungry and could really go for a slice of pie right now too," Booth said starting to climb from the car.
"You always want pie," Brennan and Hank told him at the same time, then they all laughed at how well they both knew him as Booth shrugged, not denying it. They walked into the diner.
Ok so that was part 1 of 2… let me know what you think please as I said before I'm not sure what I think of it… I'll post 2 soon hopefully in a few days…