Oklahoma Getaway Chapter 2
The days between Thanksgiving and New Year's Eve had sped by, as holiday seasons usually do. Booth and Brennan found themselves nestled together on a comfortable new sofa which had been their mutual gift to one another. The one Brennan had brought to their household was stylish and modern but decidedly uncomfortable. The one Booth had inherited from Pops' and Grams' basement TV room was just plain old and lumpy. The couple shopped after-Christmas furniture sales indefatigably, exhausting several salespeople, before finding a couch they could both agree upon.
Max was keeping Christine and Hank overnight, delighting his grandchildren with animated readings of their favorite stories in a chorus of varied voices, and plans to visit the Jeffersonian's current Toys and Childhood exhibit. Running during the holiday season, it displayed a plethora of tinplate and cast-iron toys; airplanes, boats, miniature horse-drawn wagons which had delighted kids from post-Civil War times into the 1950's. Max knew Christine would love seeing antique circus toys, like movable clowns, acrobats and a Ferris wheel. Hank's recent fixation on toy cars would be satisfied by all the little vehicles the collection had to offer. The National Museum of American History enchanted DC's children each year with changing toy exhibits followed by hot chocolate, candy canes, and Santa's lap.
Meanwhile their parents were enjoying a rare quiet evening alone. Booth and Brennan discussed the important aspects of forensic crime investigation they had been asked to cover during their Oklahoma City presentation over Thai takeout from their favorite new restaurant. Once the boxes and chop sticks were stowed in the trash, they set their laptops on the coffee table to peruse Oklahoma's travel attractions they wished to visit. This pleasant anticipatory activity was soon supplanted by a different kind of mutual entertainment, and the couple strolled arm in arm up the stairs and down the hallway to their bedroom for some 'afternoon delight' after dark.
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Returning to work at the lab the morning after the Jeffersonian Gala, Hodgins entered the elevator and greeted Dr. Brennan with a compliment on her attire the night before. Enthused about her upcoming trip to Oklahoma City with Booth, he regaled her with snippets of his and Angela's experiences when they had gone to tape his presentations on particulate matter collection at crime sites. Ever delighted by the wonders around him, Hodgins waxed poetic about the beauty of sunset over the Mississippi River as they flew from DC to OKC in his private jet. Suddenly, he stopped mid-sentence. Brennan looked at him, puzzled by his abrupt silence. A broad grin spread across Hodgins' bearded face.
"You can take my Cantilever jet to Oklahoma City! The views you see while airborne are so much better than from 35,000 feet. Henderson is an excellent pilot and the trip takes half the time of commercial airliners. His mother lives in Tyler, Texas. I'll give him the time off to visit her while you two are roaming around Oklahoma and then he can fly you back to DC at the end of your trip!"
"Dr. Hodgins, we can't impose on you in that manner," Brennan protested.
"Nonsense, Dr. B, of course you can! It's no imposition at all. Henderson visits his mom each year in the spring, and his schedule is predicated by corporate travel needs. He'll be delighted to have a break with his family, and it will suit your situation perfectly! I insist!"
Meeting Booth at the diner for lunch, Brennan recounted Hodgins' thoughtful offer, and Booth smiled happily. "It's wonderful having wealthy generous friends. That jet is soooo much more comfortable than the cramped seats in coach, Bones! I think I'm in love with Hodgins!" he remarked slyly, watching Brennan's face for her inevitable scowl.
"You're not allowed to be in love with anyone but me, Booth!" she protested.
"Bones, I'm kidding you. But Hodgins is a very considerate guy, you must admit."
"That he is, Booth, that he is."