Hello, Folks. Welcome to Installment #10 in the Saint in the Shadows fic series- Sacrifice of Spirit
For those of you unfamiliar with the series, it is an AU B&B 'Legacy' fic Series. I would recommend reading the other 9 stories at your leisure, but if you don't have time for that, you can pick it up just about anywhere, and the characters are fairly self explanatory... but you'll appreciate the flashbacks and the character's past if you read them... So please enjoy... and comment at your convenience, because reviews and comments are very important to my muse, and to ensure that the story is still working. Stories in order are as follows:
1. Saint in the Shadows
2. Spaces in Between
3. Shades of Grace
4. Shadows in the Sun
5. Saints, Sinners, and Saviors
6. Something is Lost
7. Space in the Soul
8. So It Goes
9. Sense of Danger
10. Sacrifice of Spirit
Tuesday, December 18th- 3:58pm
Temperance looked up from her paperwork and observed the small girl at the child sized table in her office. Her head was down, focused solely on the paper in front of her as her pencil slowly traced the letters and numbers on the page. Her blonde hair had been growing long, draped over her shoulder, and her cheeks had filled out a bit in her months living with Antonia and Aiden. Her dark blue eyes didn't seem to have that sad, hollow look to them, and her smile was one to be rivaled with the sunshine in July.
In the months following Grace's wedding, everything had moved extremely quickly and in a positive direction. Grace and Jack had arrived home from their honeymoon, ready to start their new life together in their newly rented apartment. They were a cohesive unit in marriage, just as they had been in friendship, and their current focus was on one another.
Parker had begun dating, though he kept nearly all of those details to himself. His privacy was always something that he kept near and dear to his heart, if not for his own protection, but the protection of his children and his family.
Antonia and Aiden moved into their new home, working diligently on getting the house prepared for the baby, as well as the important home visits for Melody. They had one or two left before the adoption was finalized, and each time the social workers were pleased with the little girl's progress. Melody had blossomed incredibly since the summer. She had started kindergarten in the fall, a small public school designed for education of deaf and hard of hearing children. Her new experiences, while difficult at first, were beginning to push through in her attitude and confidence. Melody was a bright and adaptable little girl, and if anyone could triumph through the tragedies in her life, it would be her.
Melody simply adored Temperance, with her even temper and honesty, as well as her focus on learning sign language, and her insistence at teaching it around the lab. It was almost as if she had changed the environment, just so that Melody wouldn't feel alone.
Booth was one person that she still found herself a bit skittish around at times. He was a much bigger man than some of the other people that she encountered. Booth's broad shoulders and sometimes frighteningly serious face often gave her pause. Aiden and Ace were tall and thin, her Papa Bean was also tall and thin, but Booth had this interminable presence that seemed to follow him. She watched the way people reacted when Booth spoke, how they moved just a bit faster when he demanded something, and never talked back or disrespected him. She did, however, also notice that the only people that were able to fire him up, only to wash the anger away with a laugh or smile, were his girls. She had observed heated discussions between Booth and Antonia, or Temperance, but in the end, it always turned out right. One of them would laugh, or take a step back, and the argument would disappear, bringing peace back to the rocking sea, and all ships would stand upright again.
She sat quietly at the little table that had been set up just for her, her pencil firmly in her hand, when she sensed that a pair of eyes were watching her. She lifted her head curiously to Temperance, a glitter of mischief shining through. Melody noticed that she was about to sign something to the little girl, when her head turned sharply toward the door, and her brow furrowed. She looked back at Melody, noting the little girl was now staring at the doorway, and back to Temperance in alarm.
Temperance wished for a moment there was a sign for the term 'blowhard', and rolled her eyes. "Pops has a big mouth." she signed, watching as Melody grinned, glancing toward the door. "I will be right back. Stay right here, please?" She said, pulling her glasses from her nose, she set them on her desk and walked toward the doorway to her office.
They didn't have a case, so he really didn't have to be at the lab, and they were currently down several interns due to the impending holidays. It was also nearly four in the afternoon, so the lab was fairly quiet. She could see Booth standing at the bottom of the steps to the platform, his finger pointing with a sharp exclamation toward the woman on the platform. He had a young field agent beside him, looking positively green as his mentor sniped at the woman. That woman atop platform, blocking his entrance, was of course their daughter, her swollen belly at 35 weeks was enough to keep her father at the base of the stairs as she simply listened to his diatribe, looking absolutely unimpressed by whatever he was shouting about.
"May I help you, Agent Booth?" Temperance asked, crossing her arms over her chest as she approached the platform. Her eyes met Antonia's and the younger woman turned back toward what she was working on with a slight eyeroll.
"Why is she here, Bones?" He asked, nodding toward Antonia. "Why is she here?"
"She works here, Booth." Temperance said, tipping her head, her chin jutting out as she challenged her husband to say something further.
"She shouldn't be here on her feet, she should be at home resting." He stated with a frustrated grunt.
"Resting? Booth, do you know what century this is?" Temperance asked, watching her husband's jaw clench, listening to her daughter's slight snort. "Antonia, are you tired?"
"I'm fine, Mom." Antonia replied, continuing what she was working on.
"She's fine, Agent Booth. Thank you for your concern." Temperance nodded.
"Bones, she's had contractions for the past week, she shouldn't be here." Booth said, taking a step toward Temperance as she lifted her eyebrow at him curiously.
"Braxton-Hicks contractions are not labor, Booth. She's been keeping hydrated, resting when she needs to, and your added stress to her does not aid in the resting process. She is fine." Temperance argued, finally deciding to bring to attention the new person in the room. "Who is with you?" She asked, looking around Booth at the younger agent.
"This is Special Agent William Brower." He said gruffly. "Will, this is Doctor Temperance Brennan." He said proudly.
"He's Dad's new puppy." Antonia snipped, sending an icy glare over the platform to her father. "Aiden's replacement."
"Toni, he's not Aiden's replacement! Aiden will be on leave in a few weeks, and we need to have another agent working with the lab. You know that Aiden is working with Ace today. Why are you being so stubborn about this?"
"Because you only keep agents on with you for just about a year." She stated resolutely. "Aiden's year is up, and it just so happens to coincide with his leave. When it's time for him to come back, he'll most likely be transferred, and then his poor innocent fiancée and children will be forced to move to some distant city." She lamented dramatically, noting her mother's smirk.
"Antonia." Booth sighed.
"His fiancée will be forced to leave her job, possibly her career, and their children will be ripped from the arms of their Grammy, and Pop pop." She sighed.
"Don't call me Pop pop." He grumbled.
"I'm talking about Aiden's parents. Wow, the ego on you." She said, watching her father's eyes narrow. "Besides, who is going to play with little Seeley Joseph Fitzgerald? Who will read him Fluffy Bunny?"
"You are not naming my grandson after me!" Booth exclaimed.
"Well, how else is he going to know where he came from, since he'll never see you because you live here in Washington DC, and he will be living on the west coast with his mommy and daddy, possibly in a box or a shed. Real estate is very expensive in California." Antonia sighed, hiding her smirk.
"Antonia! I'm … I swear, I'm going to…" Booth stammered angrily.
"You're going to leave her alone now." Temperance said, nodding toward her office. "There is someone in my office that would like to see her Pops." She said, straightening her posture. "Agent Brower, if you are free for dinner sometime this week, our family typically hosts Agent Booth's…"
"Puppies." Antonia said, without looking toward them, but speaking loud enough for them to hear.
"Protégés." Temperance unconvincingly corrected. "We like to ensure that all members of our team feel welcome." She smiled, watching him nod. "Doctor Booth," Temperance said, gaining Antonia's attention, her eyes were sharp and focused. "Please show Agent Brower around the lab."
"Yes, Ma'am." Antonia said, flashing her father a slight smirk that didn't get past him. "I hope he's paper trained." She mumbled under her breath.
"Bones, do you think that it's a good idea? I mean…"
"Doctor Booth is a professional." Temperance said without another word as she turned and headed toward her office quickly.
Booth looked up at Antonia, her eyebrow raised and a slight smile on her face. "Behave." He said, then glanced to Brower. "Do what she says, or face the consequences." He said, glancing back to Antonia, who gave him her mother's smile. He shook his head and turned to walk toward Temperance's office. He just stepped into the room, when his legs were crashed into by Melody, her arms wrapping tightly around them as she looked up at him with a big smile.
"What did I tell you?" Temperance asked with a smile. "She was waiting for you." Seated at her desk, she watched Booth lift the little girl into the air as she giggled, and he sat down heavily on the couch, with Melody still in his arms. "I picked her up from school today." Temperance said, signing toward Melody as she cuddled against Booth.
"School?" Booth said, sitting the little girl on his knee, he copied Temperance's sign for the word. Melody nodded her head happily, and then proceeded to sign very quickly about all of the things she did at school that day. She giggled at the perplexed look on Booth's face, knowing that he wouldn't be able to keep up, she leaned her head to the side and made eye contact with Temperance.
"She said that they made crafts today for Christmas, and that her school is doing a play on Friday, and she'd like for you to come." She signed, and looked to Temperance.
"There will be cookies." She signed to Booth, giving him a sly smile.
"I know that one, that's cookies." He said, grinning proudly, giving Melody a tickle.
"Good job!" Melody signed to him, watching his smile, she held out her knuckle to him, and he rapped his lightly on hers.
"Pops should probably get back to work now." Temperance said as she signed, watching as Melody nodded. She leaned up and kissed his cheek tenderly, sliding from his lap, she hopped to the ground and walked to her little table.
Temperance watched Booth watch after the little girl, tucking her hair behind her ear as she went back to her work. He turned his head and caught her eye, a bit of embarrassment for being caught flashed over his features. "So you're the babysitter while she stands out there pretending she's fine?" He asked as he stood up, moving toward the desk, he leaned on it slightly as to hide his words from the little girl, hanging over the desk.
Temperance took a slow, deep breath in, releasing it just as slowly. "She is fine. I am looking after Melody while I do my paperwork so that Antonia can do her job, Booth. Melody is not quite ready for daycare just yet, but they are trying. We don't have a case right this minute, Antonia isn't due for another five weeks. I was working up until the day that I gave birth to Antonia. She knows her body, she's fine." She said, watching a slight flinch at the mention of Antonia's birth. "I'd also like to remind you, Booth. Melody reads lips, but she also reads posture and demeanor, so when you stand like a vulture over my desk like that, she knows that you are not pleased."
Booth turned to see Melody looking up at him with big eyes, a hard gulp sliding down her throat. He gave her a slight smile and winked, only to note that her eyes narrowed, as if she didn't believe him. He then stuck his tongue out at her and made a face, watching as her anxiety melted away and she giggled, going back to her work. "I just worry."
"I know you worry. She knows you worry." Temperance said as she stood up, she reached out and touched his chin, turning his face toward her. "And if you ever think of allowing the FBI to transfer Aiden anywhere, and take my grandchildren away from me, you may need to consider the future of our marital status."
"Noted." He nodded, leaning in for a quick kiss, just as his phone rang. He dropped another quick kiss on her lips, putting the phone to his ear. "Booth." He said, his face still very close to Temperance's. He watched her eyes as he listened on the line, and took a step back. "Okay, send the details to my phone. I'll get a crew out there for evidence. Thanks." He said, hanging up his phone, he slipped it into his pocket. He took a deep breath as Temperance lifted an eyebrow. "Case." He said with a slight grumble.
"I will let Antonia know." Temperance said immediately, walking toward the door. Booth thought for only a split second to reach for her to resist Antonia being involved. He then thought briefly about the pain that she would probably send through his wrist if he physically stopped her, so he waited and watched as she stepped into the lab. He remained in the doorway of the office, watching as she approached Antonia. There was a brief conversation, and Antonia appeared to be agreeable. Temperance then turned around and headed directly toward Booth, her eyes smiling back at him. "Antonia is just about done with her analysis. If you don't mind waiting a few minutes, she will be able to take Melody home, and you and I can head to the crime scene with Agent Brower."
"You and I?" He asked, a slight smile on his lips, his eyebrow lifted as she narrowed hers playfully at him.
"I do go out into the field on occasion, Agent Booth. I don't always send my people." She said, watching his smirk turn into a grin.
"But you never go with me. It's always Ace. Ace is your partner." He said, watching her eyes roll slightly.
"Ace is a good partner, a worthy partner, and a trusting partner, but he's not my first choice." She said, sliding past him, allowing her hand to run down his arm, she gave his wrist a small squeeze and walked into her office and behind her desk.
"Oh yeah?" He asked, walking toward her desk, he leaned across it slightly, and she looked up.
"What did I tell you about leaning on my desk like a vulture?" She asked, narrowing her eyes playfully. He turned his head toward Melody, noting that she was still looking at her paper. "Just because she's not watching now, doesn't mean she's not paying attention." She said with a smile. "Go get your puppy." She nodded toward the lab. "Make sure your daughter hasn't locked him away in a kennel."
"You got it, Partner." He said with a grin, as he made his way quickly out to the lab.