Go, Move, Shift

Invicta AU: "When life hands you lemons, make orange juice, then wonder how the hell you did it." Kelly walks away from her dream job and Brennan offers to help her make orange juice because that's what family does.

I'm trying something a little different here… each chapter (there's 3 or 4) is going to be in present time of my AU and then there will be a flashback. Kind of like a question and answer thing, except the answers are a little more abstract. I'm a believer that everything you do in life is a result of some previous experience, either directly or indirectly. My intention was to make this a Kelly/Brennan story, but I realized that I can't make it Kelly and Brennan unless there is Booth.

As always, all types of reviews and suggestions are welcomed.

The eastern sky was full of stars
And one shone brighter than the rest
The wise men came so stern and strict
And brought the orders to evict

You'd better get born in some place else
So move along, get along, move along, get along
Go, move, shift
~"Go, Move, Shift" Christy Moore

Kelly was off the case before it even started. Martin had thrown the file at her that morning saying, "Make sense of this, Pusher." And she had. Special Agent Seeley Booth, arresting officer. She took it back to Martin and as politely as possible, refused the case. Martin argued that she stay on, saying the only possible outcome would be the client would think that Kelly wasn't doing all she could as his lawyer and fire her. Martin looked at her sternly, "Just make sure that doesn't happen."

"With all due respect, Martin, I admire your diplomacy and shrewd business practices," She stood nervously across from his desk.

"But?" He eyed her over the top of his glasses.

"It's my brother." She said helplessly, hoping he would understand.

"Is it a conflict of interest?" He wasn't understanding, he was accusing her of being weak.

"No." She shook her head. "My interest lies in winning the case. There's no conflict there; I win."

"It's your brother." He sighed and looked back down at the case notes in front of him.

"Yes." She tried to get his eyes back on her, but he was successfully avoiding her. "The only reason I can't do it is because I know I'm going to win. I can work up a great case, I can find every loophole in the law. I can win this one." She put her hands on the desk and leaned forward. "You and I both know that."

"So win it." He took off his glasses and looked at her with a wily smile. "I refuse to take you off the case. I won't put you in the court room, but you're going to be the one who wins it for us." Kelly stepped back and looked at him with an empty look of surprise. "As for my diplomacy and shrewd business practices," He spat out mockingly "I know a gold mine when I see one, and you, Ms. Booth, are my gold mine. The only way you're off this case is if you walk out that door right now, pack up your things and never come back. A keen legal mind like yours will always be able to find work at Legal Aid."

"Mr. Schwartz," Kelly started, but stopped when he put on his glasses and looked at the notes again.

"The choice is yours, Ms. Booth." He said curtly. "Win a case or lose a job."

*

6 year-old Kelly Booth's favorite time of the day was right after school. She would sit with her grandmother at the kitchen table working on homework, while her brothers would flow in and out in between various sport practices and homework of their own.

Kelly's favorite educational aid was a cardboard clock her teacher had given her class to help them practice reading time. It had little cardboard arms that were attached by a brass brad and swung around easily. Every day, while her grandmother was helping her with her handwriting or addition, Kelly would place the cardboard clock on the edge of the table.

On his way to practice or hanging out with friends, Seeley would swing into the kitchen, grab a snack from the fridge, and on his way out, he would pick up the clock and ask her, "How many?" She'd pick an arbitrary number from 1 to 10 and Seeley would spin the hands of the clock, counting to that number. He'd place the clock back on the table in front of Kelly and she'd study it. After hemming and hawing, she would look up at her oldest brother and proclaim the time.

He'd smile when she got it right, proclaiming, "Right on, Shining Star!" and give her either a high five or flick at her ponytail. Most days, that was the extent of their interaction. Seeley would be out during dinner and wouldn't come home until she was already asleep. But every day, that clock was there on the table and her brother made her feel like a winner, like she was the world's smartest first grader.