Alright, so I'm officially lame for not updating in over a month. The good news is I updated now. The bad news is the wait will probably happen again, but I'll try not to. I hope you enjoy chapter four. And on a side note, if any of my readers were affected by yesterday's (April 16) school shooting in Virginia, I am deeply sorry. Please know that my prayers are with all of you.
No Exception
Chapter Four
Booth looked at himself in the mirror, surveying his appearance. His lip curled when his gaze reached the red and black checkered tie that sat on his chest. He quickly undid the knot and threw it over his head. It landed on the floor as he began to dig through his top drawer, pulling out every tie he owned.
Brennan stood by the front door of Booth's apartment, tapping her toe on the hardwood flooring. Her watch informed her that they were half an hour late. She had wanted to get an early start at work to clear away some of the mess, but now it looked like she was going to be putting in her usual amount overtime. She cranked her neck, trying to see into the next room.
Booth had eight ties draped around his fingers. He held both hands up to his shirt and squinted. He grimaced; everything looked wrong. He wanted to prove that he had moved from his fraternity days. He was a federal man now and was ready to display it. He moved to the tie pile on the floor and lifted the red and black one.
Brennan sighed when her watch hand hit the hour mark. Her heels clacked on the floor as she moved to the back room with her arms crossed and eyebrows raised.
"What exactly are you doing?" she asked.
"I'm getting dressed. I need to look good. I have dress code to follow, you know," he replied and secured a solid green tie around his neck.
"Since when do you care about dress codes?" She scanned his body, noticing he had once again abandoned his trademark socks. "You didn't shoot another truck, did you?"
He turned around, a dark blue tie in hand. "No. Why do you assume that?"
"The last time you dressed this boring was because your therapist told you to."
He removed the green tie and knotted on the blue one. "This is all me."
"Who are you trying to impress?"
The words caught in his throat. "No one." He grabbed his keys off the nightstand. "Ready to go?"
She pointed to her watch. "I've been ready to go for two hours."
The lab was bustling by mid-afternoon. Everyone had at least two cases under their belts and were loaded with the extra pressure of elementary school tours. They had all been instructed to put on smiling faces when the young children came in to explore. Brennan looked ready to burst at the idea of a hundred seven-year-olds wandering around her sanctuary, but held her tongue at a harsh look from Booth.
He was listening to her explain a bone anomaly when a shout came across the room.
"Seeley Booth," a woman hollered, "I hardly recognize you."
He looked up and his eyes widened when he rested them on the figure of a short red-headed girl. He descended the platform stairs and walked over to her, leaving Brennan to her bones.
"Katie Haas," he replied, "you don't look a day over eighteen."
She brushed a curl from her eyes, "Now I know that's not true." The pair hugged. "How have you been? Good, obviously. Gosh, what's it been, seventeen years?"
He stuck his hands in his pockets. "Closer to eighteen.
"Well, they've done you good," she gushed.
"And how about you?"
On the other side of the building, Angela and Hodgins watched the scene with interest. Brennan was standing off at an angle, trying her best to read the mysterious woman who seemed so taken with Booth.
"Who is she?" Hodgins asked.
"Apparently she's Booth's old friend," Angela answered. Her eyebrows perked up when she heard the red-head chuckle.
"Is this going to be another Cam thing? Do you think she came down here to try to steal Booth away? Do you think he'll go with her?"
"Whoa, Hodgins, easy on the theories. We don't know anything about her. She could just be an old newspaper delivery girl coming to collect some pay."
He scoffed. "I know you don't believe that."
She frowned in her best friend's direction. "It's a better idea than yours." She sped off toward Brennan, her fists neatly balled at her sides.
"Go over and introduce yourself," Angela said.
Temperance tilted her head to the left. "I don't think so."
"Fine. Go over and make him introduce you." She was given the same reply as before. Angela adjusted one of her earrings and added, "If you don't, I will."
Brennan sighed and walked to where the Special Agent stood.
"I honestly never thought I'd see you again," he said to the red-haired woman.
"It wasn't something I planned. I was stopping in town and just thought I'd check in on you." She smiled softly.
"How's Dani?" he asked hesitantly.
"She's just fine. She's waiting in the car. You can meet her later."
Brennan stepped closer to him, bumping his side with her arm.
He glowed when he noticed her presence. "Katie, I'd like you to meet Dr. Temperance Brennan."
Katie held out her hand and grinned when the shake was accepted. "Seeley, could this possibly be the girl you were telling me about yesterday?" She stuck her finger in his stomach.
"Yes. This is my girl." He caught himself when Brennan seemed to alter her stature. "I mean, this is my girlfriend. I don't own her."
Katie chuckled. "That doesn't mean you haven't tried."
"I know my boundaries."
"Well, listen, I really have to be going; it isn't a good idea to leave a kid in the car, even if she's seventeen years old and has a license. We should all get together for dinner tonight. Where's a good place?"
Brennan stood in awe of the woman who commanded so much attention from the man standing next to her. She didn't have to put up a fight for him to follow through with her wishes. There was something there, lurking just beneath the lines; Brennan just couldn't discover what it was.
Brennan and Booth looked up as three shadows fell over their menus. Katie was standing in front of their table, in between a man and a teenage girl. She smiled brightly.
"Seeley, Dr. Brennan, I'd like you to meet Kyle, my boyfriend, and Dani, my daughter."
Everyone took turns shaking hands and soon all the chairs at the table were filled. Small-talk circled the area, but they mostly kept to themselves. Brennan wasn't a master at social situations, but she easily perceived that there was underlying tension between Booth and Katie. Dani kept alternating her glance from person to person, trying to hide her eyes behind a napkin.
The plates of food were delivered and Booth was glad for the distraction. He could sense Katie wanted to have a conversation with him, a conversation they'd agreed never to have. He didn't want anyone to get hurt, particularly since he'd lived so well for so long.
The checks had been placed on the table and Booth and Kyle rose to pay the tabs. Dani excused herself to the restroom, leaving Katie and Brennan alone at the table. Katie leaned forward, searching for anything that would help break through the barrier or uncomfortable silence.
"How long have you known Seeley?" she asked.
Brennan sipped a glass of water. "I've been working with Booth for a couple of years now."
Katie nodded. "Do you like his muscles? I always liked his muscles."
"He is built very well, but there are more important things in life than physical appearance."
She smiled awkwardly. "I think I'll go check on Dani."
Brennan rose when Booth was on his way back to the table. Dani had exited the restroom and was standing at the coat rack. Her face was illuminated by the evening light, and Temperance was staring at her.
"You okay, Bones?" he asked.
"You know, Booth, Dani looks a lot like you." Her eyes wandered over the girl's face. The two had similar bone structure.
He stuck his hands in his pocket for the second time in a day. "There's a reason for that."
And although she was usually inept in all social situations, Brennan could sense there was an underlying message in that statement. Her eyes widened and her jaw clenched.
Booth watched as the brunette's expression twisted into a complex mass of pain and anger. Her emotions were ready to come out and that was probably not good.
She hoisted her purse high on her shoulder.
He sighed. No, this was definitely not good.
WHAT? I can't believe I stopped there.
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Thanks to all those who reviewed last chapter.
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