The Courage in the Scientist and the Mercy in the Heartbroken Man Chapter 4
They've decided to work on their partnership. Let's see how that goes. What happens when Booth invites Temperance and Hannah to Parker's baseball game? Can it turn out well? Not mine. Please review. Make my day.
"The damage to the patellas appears to have been caused by strain to the anterior cruciate ligament and the medial collateral ligament. This could have be caused by a sharp twist to the leg, separating the ligaments from the bone."
Hunched over the lab table, Bones was inspecting their latest victim. Caucasian, female, 5'9'', cause of death unknown. The body had been delivered only an hour ago and Bones had been inspecting it since.
Beside her, Hodgins was collecting particulates. There were several fibres fused to the bone that were of particular interest. Speculation on cause of death was beginning to annoy Brennan. There was no decipherable cause of death. Despite numerous injuries and a display of prolonged abuse, there was nothing to indicate an injury severe enough to have killed the woman.
So immersed in her work was she that Brennan did not hear the beep of a card being swiped and the swift click of standard issue dress shoes on the hard floor of the platform.
"Bones!" Booth's voice right beside her ear shocked Brennan, causing her to start and drop her tools.
"Booth! I have asked you not to do that." She gave him a glare before picking up her audio recorder. She felt a wave of anxiety wash over her upon seeing him. It had only been last night that they'd been discussing repairing their partnership. She'd never expected him to act on it quite so quickly. She wasn't sure how to deal with it.
"I must have forgotten. Hurry up. Get your coat." He gave her his winning grin, causing her stomach to flutter. He was way too casual with this. Was he not feeling uneasy? She gave him a quizzical look.
"Why?"
"Lunch, Bones. Lunch. Lets go." He tried to usher her off the platform, his hand falling into its old spot on her lower back. The heat of it burnt through the layers of fabric until Brennan could feel it tingling along her spine.
"I have work to do, Booth. I'm not hungry." She didn't fight him, however.
"Sure Bones. I'll bet you haven't eaten all day. We are going to lunch." He led her to her office, picked up her coat for her and whisked her towards the exit. Bones felt a little dizzy with the ease with which he practically kidnapped her. Hodgins watched these proceedings with a slight smirk. Something had definitely happened between the two in the last 24 hours. Angela came up onto the platform and stood beside him.
"What's up with those two?" She couldn't keep the grin off her face. It had been way too long since Booth and Brennan had done lunch.
"Not sure yet. There's something going on, though."
…
"Try the pie, Bones." Booth held his fork out for Brennan to take a bite from. Bones, however, remained in her seat and raised her eyebrows.
"I do not want pie, Booth." She gave him a smile, letting him know that she still found it funny that he was still trying to get her to eat pie. It felt normal. Booth grinned, waving his fork in her face.
"Just try it, Bones. You'll like it." He gave her his charm smile.
"I know perfectly well that I will enjoy it. But I do not want pie at the moment."
"Bones," Booth was obviously not going to budge. He urged the fork closer still. Brennan, realising that he wouldn't give up, gave in. She conceded and opened her mouth, just enough for Booth to slip the fork inside. His eyes lit up and showed his surprise at her acquiescence.
Brennan had to admit that the pie was good. Although, logically, she realised that it was impossible, the thought did cross her mind that it tasted better coming from Booth's fork. She gave him a small smile as she chewed.
"See? What did I tell you? Good?" Booth gave a self satisfied grin and took a bite of pie himself. He watched Brennan's eyes closed as she enjoyed the pie. He knew she'd enjoy it in the end. He'd always known. It felt like it meant something that she'd finally given in and eaten the pie. He didn't want to think too hard on it, though. There was something sexual about the whole pie thing. Even Dr Gordon Gordon had mentioned it. He felt his cheeks going red. He pushed those thoughts from his mind.
"So," he spoke finally, deciding that conversation was the best option.
"So." Brennan opened her eyes to take him in.
"New bones?" He asked, referring to the remains that Bones had been working on when he'd ushered her out of the Jeffersonian.
"Actually, they're quite old." Came her serious reply. Booth cracked a smile.
"A joke, Bones? Very good. Looks like I'm rubbing off on you." He laughed and sat back in his chair.
"Yes. I used a play on words. Because you mentioned new bones, implying that it was a set of remains that had just arrived at the Jeffersonian, and I was referring to the fact that they were actually over 300 years old. Which, in terms of age, is not particularly old for a set of remains. But I thought that the joke could still work."
Booth's eyes widened. Was she serious?
"Yeah, Bones." He said, a tad condescendingly. "Good joke." He had to grin when she gave him a beaming smile.
"You were actually inquiring as to what the remains are, weren't you?" She queried, sipping her tea. Booth nodded.
"Yeah."
"They belong to a male, aged 25 to 30. Caucasian. He appears to have been tortured. There are several markers congruent with repeated beating, stretching and stabbing."
"Murder?"
"Inconclusive at this point. Whilst there is significant damage to the bone, I have yet to find cause of death. The victim has been deceased for at least 20 years. Particulates suggest that the remains were buried in a shallow grave in wet soil for approximately 15 years before being moved. Hodgins is examining fibres that were fused to the bone."
"Any idea who he was?" Booth sipped his coffee, watching Brennan intently.
"Not as yet. I will release the skull to Angela once the flesh markers have been completed. Does the FBI have any idea who the victim is?"
"None. The body was found in Little Bennett Regional Park. Hikers stumbled over it."
"Why didn't you call me out to the scene? I would have liked to have investigated the remains as they lay." Bones couldn't help the chastising tone her voice held. She felt angry that Booth was about to start leaving her out after promising that they were going to work on their partnership.
"I didn't, Bones. Calm down." He held his hands, palm out, in a show of peace. "The hikers thought it would be a good idea to bring the body to the FBI. Special delivery. Got in there this morning to all kinds of crazy in the foyer. Apparently they walked right up to the reception desk and showed them the body. Didn't go down too well."
"I hope someone told them that they seriously compromised the remains. There are several injuries to the corpse that are unaccountable for. These may have been caused by improper transportation. Did they say how they got the body to the FBI?"
"In the backseat. Just chucked it right in there and covered it with a blanket." Booth cringed at the thought. There was no way he would ever throw a rotting corpse into his car. It was bad enough that he had to see them, smell them and be around them when working with Bones. But having one in his car? No way!
"Interesting." Bones muttered to herself. She seemed to be deep in thought. Booth waved his hand in front of her face, bringing her back.
"You there Bones?"
"Of course I am here, Booth. I was merely-"
"Ok! You just looked like you'd zoned out. Too literal, Bones." Booth cut her off, knowing that otherwise she was going to go into a detailed explanation of how it was impossible for her to physically be in two places at once. "Anyway, I better get you back. Squint squad wont know what to do without you." He stood to leave, throwing some bills on the table.
"They are more than capable without me, Booth. But yes, I should be getting back. My abrupt exit will have left Angela concerned for my whereabouts." Brennan stood also, grabbing her coat from the back of the chair.
"Angela saw you leave with me, Bones." Booth laughed, wondering at his partner's strange mannerisms.
"Yes, but it has been some time since we dined together for lunch. She may think that you have kidnapped me. Or that there is some emergency that she does not yet know about. Or, as likely is the case with Angela, she thinks that we have gone to engage in sexual intercourse." Brennan headed towards the door. Booth's coughing caused her to turn around. "Booth?"
Booth had gone quite red and was trying very hard to appear casual. He knew what Angela was like, but he really founding it disconcerting when Bones so casually spoke about people thinking they were having sex.
"Coming, Bones. Let's go." He caught his breath and followed the anthropologist out the door.
Driving her back to the Jeffersonian, they made small talk. It was light and easy, but more casual than it had been on the drive to lunch. Booth was glad that they were slipping so easily back into their old relationship. He felt lucky. He wasn't unaware that he could have very easily lost Brennan. If this whole thing had gone slightly differently, he could have been breaking in a new partner. And he could have lost his best friend. Those were two things that he didn't want to do and was grateful that they weren't an option.
He parked, and they sat for a moment, listening to the engine tick.
"Parker has a big game this Saturday." He said, feeling a little embarrassed and just a little nervous.
"Oh yes? He must be excited. I know how he loves to score touch downs."
"Home runs, Bones. It's baseball. And yeah, he is. They made it to the finals." Booth looked proud at that.
"I believe it is customary for one to wish the player's luck on such an occasion. So, I wish Parker luck, Booth." Bones smiled, reaching for the door handle.
"Would you like to wish him luck yourself?" Booth asked softly.
"Pardon?"
"Parker wants you to be there, Bones. You know, cheer him on and all that." Booth rubbed the back of his head awkwardly. His son had been begging him to ask Bones to the finals. And Booth had been intending to. But in light of recent events things were a little awkward. And Hannah was going to be there. Booth wondered how it would play out.
"I would like that very much Booth. Sporting events are always fascinating from an anthropological view. Spectators seem to take a vicarious pleasure from watching athletes win."
"Yeah, well this is Little League, Bones. But they play a mean game. And Parker is pitching. It would mean a lot to him."
"I will be there, then."
"Yeah?" Booth grinned, inexplicably ecstatic at the knowledge the Bones was coming to his son's Little League game.
"Yes. I will see you on Saturday. Thankyou for lunch."
And with that she climbed out of the car. Booth waited for her to enter the Jeffersonian before driving off. He felt a bit anxious about the game, but was glad just the same. Parker and Bones got along really well and he didn't want his son to lose out on having Bones see him play. Booth sighed, wondering why everything had to get complicated. He resolved himself to not feeling awkward on Saturday. He trusted Bones to be civil and polite with Hannah. She was, after all, the master of compartmentalising emotions.
…
Bones parked her car at the baseball field and climbed out. Looking around she tried to spot Booth amongst the myriad of parents and children. There were two dominant colours. Blue and green. Bones was looking for blue. She remembered his team colours being blue and white. Just as she was about to pull her phone out to call Booth she felt someone wrap themselves around her waist. Looking down she saw Parker Booth hugging her furiously.
"Hello Parker," she smiled, hugging him back. "How are you?"
"Where have you been?" Parker asked, his voice almost desperate. He looked up at her with his huge brown eyes. Bones felt something pull at her heart. She was a little confused by his question.
"I only just arrived, Parker. I thought the game didn't start for another fifteen minutes." She allowed him to pull back. A big grin broke out on his face, showing his dimples.
"It doesn't. I meant where have you been before today? I haven't seen you in ages!" A small pout threatened to escape.
"I am sorry about that, Parker. Things have been…busy lately." Brennan gave an apologetic smile.
"Are you and my dad still partners?"
Brennan looked at the boy in shock.
"Of course we are. Why would you ask that?"
"Are you still friends?"
"Yes, Parker. We are still friends. Where is your father?"
"I thought maybe because he was with Hannah now you two wouldn't be friends." Parker did not relinquish his hold on Brennan. She took his hands in hers and crouched down to be at eye level with him. Despite feeling slightly awkward with children, there was something about Parker Booth that put her at ease. He was like a little man. He was like his father.
"You are a very perceptive young man, Parker." She told him with a smile. "But we are still friends. And I am very much looking forward to seeing you play today."
"Yeah?" his face lit up.
"Yes. Now lets go find your dad." Standing, Brennan allowed Parker to keep hold of one of her hands as they made their way through the crowd.
Booth had been searching for his son everywhere. One minute the kid had been standing right next to him in line for hot dogs, the next, he'd gone. Booth was pushing down the urge to panic. Unfortunately, his years as an FBI agent meant that he knew all too well the statistics on child kidnapping. But he also knew that Parker would never do anything stupid.
He had just handed Hannah her hot dog and they were walking through the crowd to find Parker when he saw them. His breath caught in his throat as he took in his partner with his son. They looked so natural together. And they matched. To an onlooker, Bones could easily be mistaken for Parker's mother. Booth shook the thought out of his head. He gave Hannah a smile.
"Found him." He said, pointing to his approaching son. Hannah looked up. She smiled upon seeing Parker and Bones, but there was a flicker of something behind her eyes that made Booth do a double take. He wondered what that was. Hannah had never had any problems with Bones before. He mentally slapped himself. He was imagining things now.
"Parker!" He called, moving to the couple. He ruffled his son's hair. "What have I said about running off?"
"Not to do it," Parker droned. "But I saw Dr Bones. I wanted to bring her over." He beamed up at his dad.
"Hey Bones," Booth greeted, smiling at his partner. She gave him a small smile back.
"Parker was telling me about how many points he's scored this season."
"Runs, Dr Bones!" Parker corrected. Both Booth and Brennan laughed at that. He really was just like his dad.
"Hello Temperance." Hannah greeted, joining them. Booth watched them both carefully. He didn't know what he was expecting. He was on edge. Did he think that they were going to leap at each other and cat fight? Why would they? Hannah didn't even know about Bones' confession. Booth once again tried to clear the thoughts from his mind.
"Hello Hannah. I see that Booth has convinced you that wearing the team colours makes the team win." Brennan indicated to Hannah's Blue Jays cap and shirt. Hannah laughed good naturedly.
"Yes, he was very convincing. And we want Parker's team to win the pendant this season, so I thought it couldn't hurt."
"It is unlikely that the wearing of team colours would have an impact on the outcome of the game. However, it is possible that the morale raised by seeing their team colours on the spectators would make the athletes perform more satisfactorily."
Booth and Parker looked at each other and rolled their eyes. Hannah looked a little lost. The Booth men laughed.
"She always does that," Parker giggled. He retook Brennan's hand and started pulling her towards the stands. "You have to sit here! Then you will have the best view." He pushed her into a seat in the front row. From there she had a clear view of the pitching mound. Parker was waving something blue in front of her.
"What is this?" She asked, reaching for the proffered object.
"A spare hat. Dad said you wouldn't come in blue so I brought something for you to wear." He gave her a sweet smile. "I know you don't think that it will help, but I know I'll play better if I see you wearing my team colours." He gave her another dimpled grin, watching her put the hat on her head. He swelled with pride.
"Of course I'll wear it, Parker." Bones couldn't help feeling good at seeing the little boy's joy. She knew it wasn't logical, but she found it hard to deny Parker this small request. After all, it wouldn't do her any harm.
"Alright kiddo, we gotta get down there." Booth swooped in and started ushering Parker to the field where the rest of the team was gathering. He glanced over his shoulder at the two women.
"You two will be alright?" He asked, giving Bones a cautious look. Hannah laughed and put her hand on Bones' shoulder.
"Seeley, get on the field! We're big enough to look after ourselves." She gave him a loving smile and shooed him away. Booth gave them both a grin and followed his son.
Down on the field the team were warming up. Booth started hitting fly balls for the kids to catch. He enjoyed coaching his son's team. It gave him that extra time with the boy. And it was fun. He was able to let down his guard and just be a dad. He didn't have to think about war or criminals or getting killed. He could just switch off and feel the leather of the ball as it hit the wood of his bat and enjoy the crack it made on contact. There was something very satisfying about it.
But today he couldn't quite switch off his brain. He was constantly checking over his shoulder to the two women watching him and his son. As the whistle blew for the start of the game Booth found his mind not wholly focussed. He had to pull himself together. That was his boy up there on the mound.
"Alright Parker, remember, stay calm. Nice and easy. Just put it in the pocket." He gave his son an encouraging grin. His boy gave him a thumbs up.
"No problem Dad." The kid smiled. He took his place on the pitching mound, waiting for the batter. As he wound up for the pitch Booth felt himself standing on edge. He always loved watching his son play. He never felt so proud as when Parker was having fun.
Parker sailed a curve ball straight across the plate. The batter didn't have a chance. Of course, from the stands, Bones had no idea what was going on. The game was relatively fast paced and the spectators were enthusiastic. She was impressed by Parker's skill.
"You have any idea what's going on?" Hannah asked beside her. Brennan turned to look at the other woman. Despite initial feelings of unease and discomfort, she had managed to push aside these emotions and resign herself to being polite.
"In terms of the game, no. But I am impressed by Parker's throwing skill. He has highly developed deltoids and brachialis for someone his age. And extremely good accuracy."
Hannah looked at her for a moment, slightly perplexed, before smiling and nodding.
"Booth trains with him. They've been working on his pitching technique for a while now. I also think that Parker is showing off because you're here."
Brennan hid a small smile at that. She felt strangely pleased by Hannah's admission. She looked up to find Hannah watching you intently.
"Parker admires you quite a lot, Temperance." She said amicably. Brennan nodded. She had to agree with that.
"I suppose that he appreciates interacting with someone with several doctorates and a highly developed array of interests." She admitted.
"Yes, I'm sure that's what it is." Hannah laughed. "I envy you, you know?" She caught Brennan's confused look. Hannah sighed and turned her eyes back to the game.
"I'm not good with kids. I told Seeley that before he introduced me to Parker. And Parker put me through the ringer to begin with. It's not easy competing with you."
"I don't believe we are competing," Bones said, confused.
"That's what you think. I think Parker had expected you and Seeley to wind up together. He didn't seem pleased about his dad meeting me." She saw Bones about to argue. "Don't get me wrong. I'm glad things ended up the way they did. I have you to thank for that. And Seeley is great. He's loyal and loving. And he really cares for me. He wants to get married."
Bones took this in. She didn't know what to say. And she felt a little uncomfortable having Hannah discuss Booth with her like this. It didn't seem appropriate. Nor did she want to know about Booth's relationship with Hannah from the woman in question. But Booth had not mentioned an engagement. This hurt more than the engagement itself. She'd thought he would tell him something as important as that.
"Booth asked to marry him?" She asked incredulously.
"Not in as many words. But he's the marrying kind. I think you told me that not so long ago. And he is. He's the settle down and have a family, white picket fence kind of guy."
There was a long pause. Brennan churned this over.
"And you are not?" She finally asked. Hannah looked at her for a long moment.
"Who knows," she shrugged noncommittally. Turning back to the game she quickly changed the topic. "Way to go Parker!" She yelled.
Brennan turned her eyes back to the game but she wasn't really seeing it. What did Hannah mean? Was she planning on leaving Booth? This made Brennan uneasy. She didn't want Booth hurt. But Hannah hadn't really said anything. Bones shook it off and watched the game. Parker's team was batting and it appeared that they were doing very well.
The rest of the game continued much the same. It was close. It was down to the final innings, the Blue Jays fielding. Parker was winding up for the pitch. Blue Jays were two runs in front. There were two on base and two strikes on the batter. All he had to do was strike this guy out and the Jays would win the pendant.
Parker spared a glance at his dad. He was giving his son a big thumbs up and a great big encouraging smile. Parker could tell that his dad was nervous. Looking into the crowd he could see Hannah standing and waving her arms, cheering at the top of her lungs. That felt good too. Knowing that his dad's girlfriend wanted him to win the game. But it was when his eyes fell on Dr Bones that he felt his confidence really grow. She was also standing, looking awkward and unsure in her blue hat and clapping her hands. She was also cheering something but he couldn't make it out with all the noise. It was the look on her face that did it. She was smiling and looked confident in him. Like she knew he was going to throw the winning pitch.
Turning back to the game, Parker refocussed. He held the ball in his hand, nestled inside the pocket of his glove. He ran his fingers along the seams, deciding on the pitch he wanted to throw. His arm was feeling tired now, and he didn't think he had much more left in him. But he wanted to show Dr Bones what he could do.
Finally he stepped into the wind up, raising his leg before pulling back and then releasing the pitch. A smooth, clean slider sailed straight down the line. The batter pulled back, preparing his swing. As the ball crested the plate the batter opened up his hips and swung straight through. There was a collective gasp from the crowd as they watched.
Then there was the dull thud of the ball landing in the catcher's mitt. The crowd went crazy. Jays fans were screaming and cheering. The team were gathering to shake their opponents hands. Booth was grinning like mad. Parker was feeling a little dazed. The Booth men, once finished with the team celebrations, made their way towards the crowd, searching for Hannah and Bones. They found them standing near the dugout. Hannah pulled Booth to her in a kiss before hugging Parker and congratulating him. Bones stood back, watching. Parker went to her excitedly.
"Did you see? Did you see?" He asked, his brown eyes glowing.
"Yes. You were excellent up there on the hill Parker." She smiled, hugging the boy.
"Mound, Dr Bones. It's called a mound. And it was because of you."
"Because of me?"
"Yeah. I saw you watching me. And I knew I could do it. Because you believed I could do it." He grinned up at her. Bones glanced at Booth who looked surprised at his son's words. He saw that Bones was about to explain that logically one couldn't know they were going to do well because someone else believed they could. He shook his head at her, telling her to let it lie. Parker had obviously connected with Bones and although she didn't know how to deal with kids that well, he was proud that she got the message loud and clear.
"What do you say we go get some lunch, Sport?" Booth asked his son. He directed the question at Bones as well, opening the invite to her.
"Yeah! Will you come too Dr Bones?" Parker asked, still holding onto the anthropologist.
Despite wanting to please Parker, Bones didn't feel that it would be right for her to go to lunch with Booth and Hannah. She felt that she had had enough time with Hannah for one day. Even her own firm resolve was getting stretched thin.
"I am afraid that I must get back to work, Parker. Perhaps next time." She gave the boy a smile. Parker nodded firmly.
"Ok." He agreed. "Thanks for coming to my game." He gave her a grateful smile before glancing up at his dad.
"Thankyou for inviting me. Congratulations on your win." She let the boy go and looked to Booth and Hannah. "Goodbye," she said in farewell.
"Goodbye Temperance." Hannah smiled, giving a small wave. "Parker, why don't you show me what the view looks like from the pitching mound." She tactfully exited, taking the boy.
Booth shook his, smiling and still very proud.
"Thanks for coming, Bones." He smiled. He wanted to hug her. She looked great in that hat.
"Yes, it was very interesting. I enjoyed watching Parker play. He is very good."
"Isn't he? He's gotten a lot better." Booth was trying not to boast. Bones gave him a look that told him she knew just what he was doing. "He was really glad you came, Bones." He said slowly. "So was I."
"I better get back to work." Brennan said awkwardly. She turned to leave.
"I'll call you, Bones. Let me know if you get any leads. I hate this part where I have nothing to do." Brennan turned back to him.
"Enjoy your day with your son, Booth. And with Hannah."
With that she left. Booth watched her go. He could hear Parker explaining the difference between a slider and curve ball to Hannah. Turning, he felt pride as he saw his son interacting with his girlfriend. Booth wasn't completely blind. He knew that Parker had had trouble accepting Hannah. But his son was making a real effort to make her feel welcomed. Despite this, Booth couldn't deny that Parker and Bones had a special relationship that he hadn't noticed before. He'd never realised how connected to his partner his son had become.
With these thoughts weighing on him he went to join his girlfriend and his son on the field.
Well I feel quite proud of Temperance. She was cool calm and collected. And she was nice to Hannah. But what was that conversation all about? And how cute is Parker? Such a great kid. Read and review! Lets get that next chapter churning…