The Actor in the Play.
This is my first 'case' fic…I bow before the experts…
We'll see how this goes.
The Kennedy Center is proud to sponsor the 50th anniversary of West Side Story the card had said…
"Bring your partner" Cullen had added… "Oh, and Booth?"
"Yes, sir?"
"It's
black tie."
"Of course it is."
So that is how he found himself in a tuxedo sitting in a box at the Kennedy Center with two diplomats from Puerto Rico and Bones, well, plus two agents in black behind them. Not a normal Friday night, but his three box mates seemed to be having a good time, so who was he to complain. The story wasn't that bad, actually, and except for the singing and dancing gangs (what was that about?), he liked most of it. He especially enjoyed watching Bones watch the stage. She was concentrating in her special way and it gave him a chance to really look at her. She really was very pretty. She'd actually taken a couple of hours off early to get ready. He was amazed that someone who hadn't really had a mother during her high school years, never watched TV, or read girly magazines always managed to look great. Angela probably. Hmmm…what would she do if he put his arm around the back of her chair? He'd been trying to subtly advance their relationship.
He realized he was staring at her, and she was looking back at him.
"Booth?"
"Hmmm?" He moved his hand to run his index finger along her shoulder.
"Um…could you move?
It's intermission…and well…you're kind of blocking us
in."
"Oh…yeah, sorry Bones."
"Booth, are you okay? You look kind of flushed, maybe you're coming down with something?" She placed her hand on his forehead. He cleared his throat.
"Hmmm…now that you
mention it, it's kind of hot in here."
"Oh well…maybe we
should go."
"No, no…I'll be fine."
"Okay, if you say so."
She walked through the curtain. Booth turned to the Puerto Rican diplomat. He and his wife were both smiling at him. He pulled at his collar. Was he that obvious? Apparently some things didn't need translation.
Brennan reentered her seat as the orchestra gave their cue for the second act to begin. She said something in Spanish to her seat mates, and they both laughed. Booth was impressed. As the musical began again, he went over their stats in his mind. Wealthy, kind couple, visiting Washington D.C. as part of a coalition to make Puerto Rico an official state, and in a nice turn of events, their nephew was playing the part of Chino in tonight's performance. Their status had warranted an FBI escort.
As the second act continued, Booth found himself growing more interested in the story. He'd read (sort of) Romeo and Juliet in high school, so he knew how it was going to end, but he actually found himself hoping that this time, the two lovers would be able to make it work.
Everyone in the room felt the tension building as Tony killed Bernardo. He could feel Brennan gasp beside him as Chino pulled a gun on him later and Maria screamed for mercy. He took her hand in his. Without looking over, she squeezed his in return.
Booth was brought out of his current reverie when the most realistic gun shot he'd ever heard brought the actor playing Tony to his knees. The woman playing Maria screamed a real scream.
"He's dead…he's really dead…someone help…please, will someone help."
'Chino' stood in shock and looked back and forth from the weapon in his hand to the actor lying on the ground before running off the stage.
"Bones, let's get down there……You…" he barked at the agents guarding the box seats, "get these two out of here…safely…you know what to do." They both nodded.
"Booth…what?"
"I don't know Bones, but I think we just witnessed a real murder"