A/N: Okay, so this is a super short one shot ficlet (extra short fanfiction). I normally don't do 'missing scene' fics, but I couldn't help myself.
Title: Family Talk
Summary: What would have happened if Doctor Addy tapped on the window five minutes later?
Rating: K
Disclaimer: I don't own BONES, nor do I make any money by writing fanfictions. The storyline is © WolfMyjic 2006.
Spoiler: For 'Judas on a Pole', Episode 211: first aired 13 December 2006
"There's more than one kind of family," Booth said, as he reached out a hand and with one finger under Brennan's chin, lifted her head until she looked him into his eyes.
"My own flesh doesn't want me," she told him quietly. "How could anyone else?"
"There's an old saying," Booth began, "that says that we don't pick our family, but that's a lie. We can choose whom we call family. It has nothing to do with blood, it has to do with how you feel." He saw in her eyes that she was thinking over what he had said- applying her anthropological knowledge to his words and beliefs.
"What did he mean?" she finally said, and Booth drew his brows together in confusion.
"What did who mean?" He dropped his hand from her chin.
"My father," Brennan clarified. "He told you to take care of me? Why would he have done that?" Booth felt has heart skip a beat at the question. He slowly licked his lips as he tried to think of an answer. "Booth?"
"He meant…just what he said."
"Which was what?"
"Why does it matter, Bones?"
"Because, Booth, my father finally comes out of hiding to visit me, and then when he's running away from me again, he tells we to take care of me. Why?"
"Because he knows I'm your partner, Bones. That's I'm your friend." He stopped and then decided to take a leap. "He knows that I can be more if you just let me."
Brennan took a step back. "What do you mean by that?" she asked, worried.
"I just mean," he began, closing the distant between them again. "That I can be part of your family. We all can. Angela, Hodgins, Zack. They're all your family, Bones. I'm your family. Haven't I proven that to you time after time? I've been there for you in the past, I'm here for you now, and I'll be here in the future. Just like family is suppose to be. You're father told me to take care of you, but I didn't need someone to tell me. I gladly do that by my own accord." Brennan searched his eyes as he talked.
"You're right," she finally agreed. "I do belong to a family."
"We might be a little dysfunctional," Booth teased with a smile. "But we're family."
Brennan returned the smile and her agreement, "True." They were silent for a moment, and then Booth stepped forward and wrapped her in a hug. "What's that for?"
"Just making us even," he said.
"What are you scared about?" she questioned, remembering their conversation from earlier.
"You have no idea how scared this whole case made me," he said. "I could have lived without my job, but I don't know what I would do without you." Brennan returned the tight embrace.
"But I'm fine, Booth," she said as he pulled away.
"I know," he said. "And I'm gonna make sure you stay that way." A tap on the glass pulled their attention away from each other and to the new Doctor Zack Addy. They smiled as he waved them both in.
"Our family is calling us," Brennan said with a smile.
"You better not tell the squints I called them that," Booth protested as he allowed Brennan to pulled him along and into the diner.
