Chapter 2 (Throwback to 100th Episode: Season 5 Episode 16: The Sum in the Parts of the Whole)
It was a hot humid day and Brennan had brought Booth several chilled drinks to keep him hydrated while mowing the lawn. She'd gone back in the house, folded two baskets of laundry, and gone upstairs to put away her children's garments. While placing a stack of small t-shirts in Hank's dresser drawer, she noticed the mower's drone had stopped.
She collected damp towels from their ensuite and the children's hall bathrooms, returned to the laundry room, emptied the dryer of Booth's socks and super hero boxers, and started a load of his dress shirts. Thirsty, she went to the kitchen for a drink and glanced outside. Booth was sitting in his Adirondack chair, legs crossed, leaning back. She smiled to herself in approval of his taking a break.
Continuing her chores, she emptied and reloaded the dishwasher, vacuumed the living room, cleaned the guest bath, and straightened magazines and coloring books in the basket next to the fireplace. Suddenly she paused, listening to silence; no mowing. Walking quietly to the back door, she looked out the window. Booth was still sitting where she'd seen him last.
For the last half-hour, he'd been there. This from a man who never stayed still for very long. Something was up. She studied his posture. Booth was hunched over, staring off into space, a rapidly-warming glass of iced tea forgotten on the table beside him.
Frowning, Brennan went to the fridge, filled two tumblers with water and ice, grabbed a box of raisins and opened the back door. Normally, Booth would have turned, smiled, and offered to help her carry stuff. She came up behind him, set the drinks down, leaned over, placed her hand on his shoulder and kissed his forehead.
"What's on your mind?" she asked softly.
He straightened up, and looked her way.
"Just thinking…."
She waited.
"About that night on the steps in front of the Hoover, after Sweets' stupid suggestion….about our reunion at the coffee cart…."
"Booth, that was 14 years ago."
"Yup, 14 years ago today, Bones! I went about things both those nights all wrong. The first one I totally botched; the second should never have happened…."
"How do you mean?"
"I shouldn't have rushed into that talk without thinking it over a couple of days, should've told you how wonderful I thought you were, should've just told you I'd wait for you," he said ruefully.
"Never should've mentioned that I had to move on….I should've shut up and kissed you, just like I nearly did; gently, softly, hopefully."
"And the coffee cart? Should've never happened like that; I should've told Hannah no; sent her on her way to file her report; never taken a walk with her out to that damned fig tree."
"Hell, I should've told Colonel Pelant NO, and gone with you to Maluku, kept you safe from those snakes!"
"I wish I'd kissed you that night at the Hoover, Bones. Let my lips say what my heart was feeling that way, not blathering on about moving on! I was such a fool!"
"Booth, I shouldn't have turned you down so abruptly, but explained my need for a little time and space at that point. I was tired of crime and death, victims and violence; I needed a break…..not as much from you, but from the work."
"Yes, your declaration and insistence caught me off-guard, scared me, but I should've told you how I felt, not clammed up like a frightened rabbit…."
"Running halfway around the world for a year wasn't the brightest thing I ever did. I should've gone on a much shorter dig, kept in touch with you and the team by email, immersed myself in the dust and the artifacts I love to clear my head. That split was as much my fault as yours."
She placed her finger under his chin, and gently raised his head to look into his eyes.
"I wish I'd kissed you then, too. What a short-sighted coward I was."
Booth gave her a watery, crooked smile.
"At least we came back together and finally got it right, huh?"
"Yes, we did." She leaned in and kissed him soundly. "I'm kissing you now, Booth."
He put his hands on his thighs and stood up suddenly, grasping her hand.
"Ya know what, the lawn can wait! We've got better things to do before the kids get back from the park, Bones. I hear our bedroom calling. Let's go kiss each other while we can! And plenty more!"
"Last one upstairs is a rotten egg," she exclaimed and took off.
"No fair, Bones, you got a head start!"
"I can outrun you, you know!"
"Try me, Booth, try me!"
