Here's the first real chapter! Hope you like it!
Chapter One
"Too Late Now"
The flight seemed to last forever. He knew it was only 5 hours in reality, but he couldn't wait to get back to DC.
Frank had really convinced him to take a break from war. He knew that was what he needed. He just needed his Bones. He became even more excited at the thought of seeing her, but he was apprehensive about the situation as well. Would she even recognize him after he'd been gone so long? Of course she would, how could she possibly forget him?
He had rented a car from the airport, since he had given up his FBI SUV years ago. But that was all going to change. He had called the Jeffersonian, and they remembered him. Brennan still worked there, along with Cam, Angela, and Hodgins. Along with a few new squinterns. Sweets was still the FBI psychologist, and he was sure that he would want an appointment with Booth as soon as he was available. He was getting his job back, along with his office, and his car. He had kept his apartment, because he originally planned to leave for one year instead of three, but he had been keeping up with the rent for when he did return.
Once he got to his apartment, he was in awe. Everything was exactly how he had left it. He even remembered leaving the empty coffee mug out on the counter before he left. Who would've guessed?
He unpacked all of his travel clothes, and put them back into their familiar places. When he went to the fridge, it was empty of course. He would have to go food shopping soon. He could just order Thai for dinner.
Just like he used to with Brennan.
He needed to go to work, and check in with all his old friends. Hacker was still around, and he had been promised his old office. He would also get his car back. Well, not the exact one, but a new and improved one, which he couldn't argue with.
Once he saw Brennan, maybe he could convince her to become partners again. That was something he had really missed while away, their partnership. Their late night heart to heart talks, and drinks after cases. Getting coffee, eating at the diner, riding in his car, teaching her about football, swimming in her pool with Parker.
Parker.
What was he doing sitting around his apartment? He had to go see his son.
How could he forget about Parker? He hadn't told his son he was coming home yet. They had kept in touch, talking every few weeks. Parker was now 11, and he hadn't seen him since the day he left. Hopefully he had turned out right. Over the phone he seemed like a pretty normal kid, who still liked shooting games and football. A regular preteen boy. He skipped going to work, and headed straight for Rebecca's.
He knocked on the door to their small abode a few times, praying that they were home. It was Saturday, so he shouldn't be at school and she shouldn't be at work. He waited, tapping his foot impatiently.
Just when he thought that no one would answer, the door knob began to turn slowly, and the door opened.
"Seeley?"
Rebecca had answered the door, still wearing pajamas. It looked like a lazy day after all.
"Rebecca, hey," He smiled, looking behind her into the apartment.
"What are you doing back? Parker was getting worried that you would never return," She said sadly, "But it's good to see you." She smiled.
"I'm back, for good," His smiled matched hers, wrinkle for wrinkle.
After a few moments of a non awkward silence, Rebecca turned her head to the side, calling out into the apartment.
"Parker! Come look who's here!" She shouted.
Booth heard a dull mumble from somewhere inside, and then the thud of child sized footsteps that shook the floor. But only slightly.
He saw Parker's face poke around the corner of the door frame, his eyes sleepy, and his hair tussled. Suddenly, his face lit up, and before he knew it, his son had jumped into his arms.
"Dad!" He heard his son yell.
"Hey buddy! Oh gosh, look how tall you are," He wasn't joking. Parker looked as if he'd had a growth spurt in his absence. He was probably a foot or more taller than the last time he had seen him. It made Booth regret his decision for staying on the other side of the world even more than he already was. How could he forgive himself for missing three years of his son's life?
"Dad! You're back!" Yelled Parker as he felt his son squeeze him tighter than he already had been.
"Alright Parker, you're strangling me! Loosen your grip a bit," He chuckled, breathing in when Parker did as he asked.
He saw Rebecca staring at them, her eyes filled with happiness for her son, and probably for him as well. He was slightly shocked at how much they had both changed, and was wondering if the same had happened to Brennan.
3 years later? Something must have changed, right?
Yet again, she would always be Bones.
He spent the rest of the day with Parker, taking him to get ice cream at the park. They played football in the fields for a few good hours before Parker had to go home and get ready for bed so he could get up for church the next day. They said goodbye with a warm embrace, and then he was off.
Booth got a coffee from the coffee stand in the park. He took it, and sat down on a bench. He enjoyed the calm surroundings. It was so different from Afghanistan, the place he had been for the past three years, and yet so familiar. Children playing, parents talking, dogs barking, people laughing, the faint song of the merry-go-round in the distance, all were sounds he had not heard when he was away. Well, he had dogs bark, but not in any way that was playful.
He was glad he had come back, and he didn't realize how much he had missed it. The green grass, the trees, the freedom.
He sat until dusk came, reveling in the beauty.
Once he was driving again, he found himself heading towards Brennan's apartment. He hadn't really planned to, but he felt that seeing her would make his day even better than it had already turned out. He could only pray that she missed him as much as he missed her. And that she had forgiven him for his harsh words.
He wasn't surprised to see the lights shining through the windows of her apartment as he pulled up, like they always used to be. He wondered, if by some chance, she was eating Thai food. Probably not.
He looked at the little chart in the lobby, she still lived here. In the same place she had always lived. He smiled, and continued onward.
As he rode the elevator up, he contemplated what to say to her. His last words had been hurtful, and he wanted to make things right again. Could he just say hi? Would that be enough? No, he had to apologize. He had to say he was sorry, he couldn't just expect her to jump into his arms. She would never do that.
The thing that made him most nervous though, was the fear of being rejected, again. Not as a lover though, but as a friend. What would he do if she didn't forgive him? How would he cope with that?
No. She had to miss him. Even if it was just every now and then, there was no way she could forget him. They had been best friends, partners... How could he have given that up?
He had told her to meet him a year later.
He never came back.
The thought of her waiting, alone by the reflecting pool... It just broke his heart.
And he couldn't imagine how she felt.
He had caused that pain. And he had to fix it.
He approached her door, looking at the knocker. He reached up, hesitant at first, but he grasped it firmly in his fist, and hit it against the door three times.
And then he waited. The seconds seemed to pass as minutes, and still no one answered.
He avoided the peephole purposely, not wanting her to choose not to answer.
This is it Booth, no turning back now.
He was just about to give up hope when he heard the click of the doorknob turning, and the door opened slowly.
He looked up to face level, expecting to see a surprised Brennan, but instead, his gaze met that of a tall, dark haired green eyed man. Sporting nothing but a pair of sweatpants.
At first Booth thought he had the wrong apartment, but he knew that wasn't what was wrong. He had double checked the number before knocking. The man stared at him, with as much confusion as Booth could feel in his own gaze. The man scratched his head, playing with his medium length hair.
"Can I help you?" Said the deep voiced man, still twisting his hair in his fingers.
"Does Bones live here?" He asked, only realizing his mistake after it was too late.
"Bones?" Asked the man, genuinely concerned.
"Sorry, I mean Temperance. Does she live here?" He asked once again. Maybe someone else had moved in while he was away.
The man just stared at him, Booth was positive he had the wrong apartment. This man, who matched his height almost equally, seemed to be annoyed by his presence, he could feel it. He was about to say never mind, and walk away, but that's when he heard it.
Her voice.
"Who is it?" He heard from deeper inside the apartment, muffled by the distance.
Booth stared behind the man, seeing the familiar furniture, but not who he was looking for.
The man stood uncomfortably in the doorway, and turned his head to talk.
"Some guy. Says he knows you," He said into the apartment.
Booth heard faint footsteps from inside, and after a few moments passed, he saw her.
She was dressed in what he assumed was lounge wear. A vibrant blue tank top, and gray yoga pants.
Her face changed dramatically when she recognized him, her eyes went wide and her mouth dropped open. He stood awkwardly in the doorway, the unknown man in between them seemed confused as to what was happening, he stared at Brennan, waiting for her to say something.
He wasn't the only one waiting to see her reaction.
"Hey Bones," He said casually.
Had she forgotten who he was?
Was she angry at him? Too angry to speak?
Why wasn't she saying anything?
"Booth."
he let out a sigh of relief. She wasn't terribly angry with him.
"How do you know him Tempe?" Said the mystery man.
"He used to be my partner..." She said quietly.
But before either of them said anything else, Booth heard the last thing he was expecting to at that point.
"Mommy?"
Out of the corner of his eye, he saw movement. He looked down to Brennan's legs, where two tiny hands were grabbing onto her pants. In the dim light, he saw a small head of brown hair and a pair of bright green eyes looking up at him. He looked back to the man standing next to him. Their eyes matched, perfectly.
And at that moment, Booth felt his heart break harder than ever before.
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