Chapter #2: The cruel reality
Seven month had pass since Booth resign to the Jeffersonian and the FBI. Brennan try call him after her meeting with her new partner and hearing his last message on the phone, just to learn that Booth left his phone to Cullen. She also tried to get information about him during this time, but no one tell her anything about concernig his location. She had realize that she made a huge mistake.
The only information she got was from her partner, and he inform her that he was reassign to a special mission but he does not know the place or the time that he will be out of the city. That was the official information that Cullen release to the Bureau about his absent. But right now, she does not what to think anymore. The relationship with his partner was fine. She had to admit that Booth had told him how to treat her, because he was a gentelman with her and the rest of the team. But she had to admit that she miss him, more than she tought she will. On one special ocation, she try to speak with Parker in the park that she knew Parker play in the afternoon. She was sure that he would know about his dad, but the only thing Parker say was that he made a promise to his dad, and he would not brake it.
Despite not having seen or hear about him during all this time, she does not loose the hope to meet him again and give an apology. Booth's office in the FBI was the same as is he was working, the only thing is that the office is now occupied by Carl. Angela and Jack decide to postpone their wedding until Booth returned, but not knowing where he was or when he will came back was making things difficult for them. But still they will wait for him. Also Zack got a girlfriend. They meet in a crime scene two months ago, as she works for the FBI.
The day was cold, but is not strange for first days of December. It was snowing outside. Bones sit in his apartment, looking trough the window the white snow bolls that fall from the sky. She had to admit that this was really beautiful. Since Booth gone, she starts to admire the small details of everything like he does. She never appreciate the fact that Booth always there to protect her and when finally she knew the reason, she just realize that he put his career in jeopardy just to make her happy, to make her live.
The morning pass slowly, the air in the lab was sad and cold. The same way that had been since he was gone months ago. Even Angela decide that this christmas wont be the same without Booth.
"I'm sorry Angela but I already had plans for this afternoon" Said Zack to Angela
"With your hot blond girlfriend? Ask Angela with a smile in her face
"Yes Angela" said Zack. He still does not get it why his personal life was so important for Angela.
"What are you going to do?" She was decided to get as much information as she could.
"I really don't now, she just tells me the office presonel arrange a Christmas welcome party surprise for a friend, I really don't know." Zack was telling the truth, at least that was what his girlfriend told him a few days ago.
Angela stop and look towards Jack. "Are you thinking the same?" She ask to Jack with a huge smile in her lips.
"I think it" Said Jack moving toward Zack now. He put his right arm acroos Zack shoulders "Zack, my men. Did you know the name of her friend?"
"No Jack, I don't and trust me I don't think its Booth." Said Zack with a sad tone in his voice.
"Why?" Ask Angela with a now pain expression in her face.
"Because I ask for him a few weeks ago, and she said that his mission is getting longer than the expected. So if you mind, I have to go." Said Zack composing himself.
"You what?" Ask Angela in disbelieve.
"I ask for the day off. I just came to finish some paper work." Zack said smiling genuine to her and leave.
Angela went to Brennan office right after Zack leave.
"Hey sweetie, did you knew something about a FBI party today?" She will get all the information he could about this mysterious party.
"Well I hear Carl talking to someone by the phone yesterday. I believe it was talking to Cullen. He said something about picking him up at the airport, but did not know anything else" She answer to Angela without looking her.
At the same time, Cullen was standing in small airfield in the outside of Virginia. In front of him, a private jet had finally stop and the door of it was opening. He start smiling a few minutes later, as a tall men walk toward him with crutches, and a backpack.
"Hi agent Booth. How are you? Ask Cullen while both men shake hands.
"Hi Sir. I'm better and please I'm a civil now." Said Booth with a smile.
"Well technically yes, but remember that I promise you that your job will be waiting for you when you came back. Lets get inside, its cold in here." Cullen told him as he wait for Booth to move toward the waiting SUV.
Booth smiles as he enters the SUV. Cullen was happy to see him, but he was worried about his look. He had lost some weight and look tired. Also no hair but that is common in his condition.
"Well Booth, were you want to go?" Ask Cullen to Booth.
"Home. I want to rest for a while, before see Parker" Say Booth with a huge smile.
"You look tired" Said Cullen looking into his eyes.
"I am sir" Booth said with a slightly breath that he was holding.
"How are you?" Ask Cullen obviously worried about him
"Better. The doctors let me take the final round of treatment here, so I can spent a little more time around." Booth was smiling now.
"That will be great Agent Booth. Did you want to return to work?" Cullen ask with a smile.
"Well if I can yes. But I would need some time off." Said Booth serious.
"I know. But your position is still waiting for you." Cullen had fulfilled his promise to Booth.
"Sir, I assume it was filled long time ago" Booth said in disbelieve
"Well Booth I don't want to loose my best agent, so the first two weeks after you go, I filled for sick leave, since you accept to help Carl with his cases, I filled for a home working leave. So technically you have been continuing working. Your paycheck was always deposited on your bank account." Says Cullen to Booth happy.
"Thanks sir. I always think that the money is from my sick days and vacations. Thanks, I really don't have time to check my accounts." Said Booth a little embarrassed.
"I knew that Booth and I make sure that your rent was always paid." Cullen had taken a lot of care of Booth things during the past months.
"Thanks sir, I don't know how to repay you all the things that you have done for me." Booth said to Cullen with his chest filled up with love and gratitude for this man.
"There's nothing to repay Booth, believe it was my pleasure to help you. Booth, there's something else you need to know. Well two things." Cullen said a little uncomfortable now.
"If one of them is about Dr. Brennan, I already knew that has been looking for me. My son told me, a few months ago." Booth said knowing he already guess one of the issues in Cullen mind.
"Ok, so there's only one thing that I have to tell you. The personnel of the office knew that you are coming from your "mission" so there arrange a Christmas Party in the afternoon for you." Cullen said calmly not knowing what the respond will be.
(Booth smile) "That will be fine sir. But since I can't drive…" Booth said in a low voice.
"I just arrange that, you will have an Agent with you so you can move." Cullen said.
"Thanks Sir, but I can't accept that." Say Booth nervously his boss.
"Don't argue with me agent Booth" Said Cullen in a hard voice but with a smile in his lips.
"Ok. I talk with Rebecca this morning she is going to drop Parker at my place at noon. It's there a problem if I take Parker to the party?" Booth wants to spend all the time he could with Parker to make for the time he was out of the city.
"No, no problem." Said Cullen to the agent happily that he agrees to go into the party.
"Sir. Did someone else apart from the office know that I'm in town?" Booth was concerned about that.
"No Booth, We said to the personnel that you are coming just to see your son, so the came with the idea. They missed you, specially the ladies. But if you don't want to see them, I understand." Cullen says to him honestly. "I personally told them to not spread that you was in town. So I guess they don't want their boss mad at them."
"No sir. I think that seen familiar faces make me good. And thanks for everything." Booth tells to his boss with a shy smile.
"Well we are going to get together in the conference room of the Bureau. The party is to start at 3" Booth just knotted to his boss.
Booth enters in to his home and see that everything was clean. Cullen must order someone to clean the house. He think as he left his backpack in the couch as an agent put his suitcase in his room. Slowly he goes toward his room, looking at everything. Then he enters his room and sit on his bed taking off the baseball cap that he was wearing. Then pass his hand on his now bold head. It felts odd. He smiles at his sight. He let his body felt over the pillows and slept a little before facing Parker for the first time in months.
His phone rang, waking him form his dreams.
"Hi daddy" Said the extra happy voice of Parker.
"Bud, are you here?" Booth was getting up from the bed.
"No daddy, mom said me to call you, will be there in five minutes" Parker responds to his father.
"Ok bud, I just wait for you." Booth said with a smile, while he grabs his crutches form the floor.
"Mom said that I'm going to stay with you today?" Ask Parker almost in a whisper.
"Only if you want to…. Ok… I wait for you… bye…." Booth closes the phone with a huge smile in his face. He finally was going to see his son.
The meeting with Parker was great. Booth felt so happy, the first time in months as he recoil. But the worried look of Rebecca made him smile nervously. "I'm fine" he told her as both of them hug.
"Seeley, what happen?" She ask in complete shock by his appearance.
He knew that the time to face his reality finally had come.
"Will you mind to enter Rebecca, the cold air does not make me any good" He smile as she enter into his home and he close the door behind him.
"Parker did you mind go to my room, there is something for you." Booth said with a smile to his son and wait until Parker enter his room.
"Rebecca, I just…" Booth stop as Rebecca interrupt him.
"Seeley, what is it? you seen so…" Rebecca does not know who to tell him.
"Sick. believe me, I've been worst" He said trying to rest importance to the theme.
"But are you going to stay?" She ask worried about him.
"Cullen give my job back, so yes. I still need one more round of therapy, but the doctors said I can have it here, so I think that yes." Booth said happy.
"If you need anything just ask ok." She was truly meaning everything she said.
"Thanks Rebecca, but believe me, I arrange myself to take care of me. I have to learn to depend in others for sometimes, but ill be fine." Booth said to her sharply.
"But…" She was going to try and persuade him, but again he stop her.
"I have to stay in the hospital a few days after the treatments, until the secondary effects pass, then they let me go. I'll be fine, don't worry." He said trying to keep her mind off his health situation.
"I'm so sorry Booth" She said to him as she gave a smile.
"I know Becca, but this is not your fault." Was the response he gave her as he smile.
When Rebecca left, Parker and Booth sit in his bed. There many things the both of them have to say to each other. Parker just looks amazed at his dad.
"What happen to you legs… you hair?" Ask Parker to his dad in a serious worried tone.
"I have been sick a little buddy" Booth told his son as he hug him.
"But you are not going to leave again?" Parker was worried about him, and Booth can see it in his little eyes.
"No bud, I'm going to stay." Parker gave his father the biggest smile he can possible give.
"All right, I'm happy that you are back. I love you daddy." Parker hugs his father neck and put his face over his shoulder.
"Are you hungry?" Ask Booth to Parker see in the hour in the wall clock.
"Yes" Respond Parker rapidly.
"Were you want to ate?" Booth knows that he does not have anything to cook in the house.
"The dinner?" Ask Parker.
Booth don't think that's a good idea, but he just can't said no to his son.
"All right, the dinner is. Let me make my bag, and we can go ok." Booth get his crutches and stand up.
"You bag?" Ask Parker wanting to know.
"Yes, my medicine bag you see." Booth show the back to Parker and smile as his son try to help him prepare it.
This was a needed routine that he gets use to it, and since he is going to meet their co workers, he may need a lot of things. Also, the temperature outside are cold and for him is not the best situation.
-o-o-o-o-o-o
While in the Dinner, Booth just drinks a cup of tee. The waiter gives him a cup of coffee and a piece of pie, she remembers the usual meal, but hi does no eat. The treatments make him no want to eat at all sometimes. Booth smiles at the sight of his son eating. He misses that.
"Daddy. are you not hungry?" Parke ask when he saw his father holding only a cup.
"No son, I'm not." Booth tell his son with a smile.
"You are not feeling well?" Parker asks concerned.
"Why you said that?" Smiling at his son.
"Cause you are not eating anything." Parker said while he drank from his coke.
"No buddy, is just that the medicine the doctor gave me, make me don't want to eat. So you can eat my pie if you want. I ate something later." Booth said to his son.
Parker ate his father pie with a huge smile in his face.
"What are we going to do now?" Ask Parker to his father.
"Well we are going to the office. They made a surprise party for me, and I want you to come with me. If you want off course." Said Booth to his son.
"Ok daddy. Did bones are going to be there?" Parke had not seen Bones since the time she ask him at the park for his dad. And he miss her.
"I don't think so bud" Booth note the sadness in his son words.
"Ok!" respond Parker as soon his father answer him.
Booth paid the bill, and stand up, he was walking slowly, the cold temperature does not help him at all. His bones ache and make him go slower than usual. Today was a hard day for him. He just wants to stays in bed all day. But right now, he has to face his new routine. Parker opens the door to let his father step out of the Dinner, while Booth smiles at him. When Booth put his crutches out the dinner, one of them slips and he felt his body falling. A pair of hands grabs him.
"There you go!" Says a familiar voice to him. He closes his eyes trying to think that it was just a bad dream. The person gave him the crutches back.
"Are you alight sir?" Ask the gentle voice. The baseball cap was hiding his face.
"Dr. Bones!" Yelled Parker, as the sight of her.
"Thanks" Said booth as he grab his crutches again and lift up his face.
"Parker can we go?" Booth want to left the dinner. He does not want to see her.
"But daddy!" Said Parker not wanting to go.
"Please Parker lets go. I'm cold and I need to keep going. Please." Boot tell his son in a nice tone.
Parker knotted, and after giving Bones a kiss run toward the SUV that was waiting for them. Bones stay still looking at this man. This can't be him.
"Thanks Dr. Brennan, for the help."
And by saying that, he continues to move slowly to the SUV. The agent take his bag and his crutches while help him get into it. By the time the black SUV move toward the traffic, Bones stay looking at them.
"This can't be him. It can't be." She said in her mind over and over again.
-o-o-o-o
The first chapter was edit and re post. I hope you like this one...
Thanks for the comments and the suggestions...