Sorry, RT-there is more suspense ahead as to the teen. This is a rather fluffy chapter, in which Lance basically processes things. You know, like we do on PMs. Oof-Gretchen keeps trying to type to you-it's driving me crazy! Shoo! :) Sweetfavoritethings, thanks for the encouragement! Peanutmeg, I live for Sweets-Booth, Sweets-anyone interactions on the show. There are never enough! Which is why fics are a necessity for any Sweets fan. Booth's not actually in this chapter, but Sweets is obsessing over him. I imagine Sweets does this a lot. Why else would he write a BB book, you know?
Lance was headed over to the Jeffersonian to borrow Daisy's car in order to pick up Parker. He couldn't get Booth's words out of his head. Do it right, Sweets: get married, get settled, then have kids. Lance sighed. He didn't want to wait until the universe happened to throw him the mystical soul mate. He wanted to heed his friend's advice, which he knew was sound, but really, you made your own fate. Lance had to believe that, otherwise he was just some hapless pawn tossed about on a cruel chessboard. Lance did not want to amount to the bad things that had been done to him. His actions, his choices framed his life's outcomes. His parents had taught him that.
But Lance wasn't just pondering his own feelings as a result of Booth's words. As usual, he was extremely sensitive to Booth's emotional state, and he sensed that Christmas was the most difficult time of year for his friend regarding parenthood. Rebecca had been known to haul Parker off for a Vermont ski vacation without much warning. Booth could never completely rely on getting to see his son during the holidays. Indeed, before leaving Booth's office, Lance had asked him if he had Parker this Christmas, and Booth had solemnly replied, "No, he'll be in Quebec." Lance's heart ached for Booth. He was a wonderful father. In some ways, Booth reminded him of his own dad.
Furthermore, thought Lance, he couldn't remember the last time Booth had had a date. It was natural to feel lonely at the holidays without a partner. This Christmas would inevitably be harder for Booth on this front than the previous one. Ever since Booth's tumor had been removed and he'd had an epic dream in which he 'd been married to Brennan, he had become acutely aware of his love for his partner. He'd wanted to proclaim this to Brennan earlier in the year, but Lance had encouraged prudence. He hoped he'd counseled Booth correctly, but he also knew that Booth had his own mind. If Booth hadn't told Dr. Brennan yet it was because he believed the timing wasn't right. This was not going to be an easy Christmas for Booth.
Daniel Chace—Lance pondered next. He had asked Booth to call in the kid for questioning tomorrow. Lance had only gotten a fleeting glance at the boy, but he seemed to have ethereal, almost feminine features. Lance was brimming with curiosity as to what this boy might mean for the case. Why had he sought out Lance or had that been some sort of coincidence? The team needed to act fast on the case, as school let out this week for Christmas break.
Besides Booth and Daniel, Lance was also worrying about the two most prominent women in his life—Daisy and Temperance Brennan. Brennan had seemed really down earlier today. Daisy's mood, however, had cheered significantly once the pregnancy test had come up negative. It had been well past 3 by the time they'd gone to bed this morning, and she'd snuggled up to Lance like nothing had ever gotten between them. He had to admit, this expert in human behavior was completely bewildered by Daisy.
With all of these thoughts consuming the young psychologist, he entered the Jeffersonian and began to seek out his girlfriend. Something was amiss. Dr. Brennan was on the platform directing the intern sternly. Wasn't she supposed to be somewhere else?
"No, that's incorrect. Look at the Parietal and Occipital bones—see how they are—Miss Wick?" Brennan tapped her foot impatiently.
Lance felt bad—he had obviously distracted Daisy with his presence. Now both women were regarding him, one looking severe, the other a bit like a begging dog with its paws up.
"Dr. Sweets?"/"Lancelot!"
"I'm sorry to interrupt. I just needed to borrow Daisy's car to pick up Parker for Agent Booth," Lance said apologetically.
Angela came up behind Lance. "Hey, Sweets. Actually, I'll take you. I was heading out to pick up some food—I skipped lunch. Then I can drop you and Parker back at the FBI."
"Sure, if you don't mind. Thank you, Angela. Um, Dr. Brennan, aren't you supposed to be interviewing someone with Agent Booth right now?" Lance asked in confusion.
"I informed Booth that he could handle the interview by himself. It is vital that I spend this time instructing Miss Wick. She is my intern and my responsibility."
Angela and Lance exchanged glances. Lance asked, "Dr. Brennan, could I have a quick word with you?" His tone was gentle, so Dr. Brennan took off her gloves to follow him to her office. Daisy looked a little worried as if their conversation was going to be about her. "I'll be out in a minute, Angela."
"Ok, Sweets. I'll pull the car around."
In Brennan's office, Lance thought carefully about how to phrase this. "Dr. Brennan, sometimes when we're faced with reminders of traumatic incidents from our pasts, we want to retreat—to hide in our work or avoid our friends."
Dr. Brennan had pulled up her chair to her desk and was staring at her computer.
"Besides all that, it's Christmas. Christmas is a difficult time for those who've had family problems in the past. Are you doing something with Max this year?"
Brennan fixed her green eyes on him. "No, I'm going to El Salvador to do volunteer work."
Lance nodded, "Running away."
"I'm not running," Brennan snapped.
"Well, you don't have to run from Agent Booth or anyone else here. You don't have to try to leave before we leave you. No one's going anywhere."
"I don't know what you're talking about. I'm the one going somewhere."
"Well, you're a highly intelligent woman. I'm sure you'll figure it out," Lance smiled and headed off to meet Angela.
As he was leaving, he felt a warm hand on his arm. He looked down into the pretty face of his girlfriend.
"Lance? Wanna come over to my place to stay tonight? I thought we could start over." This was all said rather suggestively, Daisy's eyes shaded by batting eyelashes.
"What about your roommates?" Lance asked. He was always apprehensive about staying the night at Daisy's. She was somewhat unfettered in her affections.
"They won't mind," she winked.
Lance shrugged and kissed her. "I'll see you tonight then." Something was bothering Lance about Daisy. It was like, the pregnancy scare was over, so back to business as usual. And business in Lance's relationship with Daisy was almost always sex. With their busy schedules, there was little time to do anything except sleep together. Still, what kind of man complained about that? Lance thought with a little smile.
Driving to pick up Parker, Angela and Lance were fairly quiet at first. Angela had on a deep purple scarf that contrasted beautifully with her eyes. Lance couldn't help it, though he had told Hodgins that any attraction he'd had for Angela had been wiped away by meeting her terrifying father, he still found her utterly gorgeous. He even felt a little nervous alone in the car with her. To boot, she had mistletoe handing from her rearview mirror.
"Uh, Angela, can I ask you a question?"
"Sure, Sweets."
"Do you think Dr. Brennan's alright?"
Angela shifted in her seat. "I dunno. Why do you ask?"
"I think this case is getting to her. It's drumming up feelings she's repressed from her teenage years. And…well, it's almost Christmas, and she's not spending it with Max."
The corners of Angela's mouth turned up slightly; she seemed touched at his concern. "Well, I'll check on her, Sweets." She glanced over at him and smiled fully now.
"What are you doing for Christmas?"
At this question, Lance went very pale and turned away to look at the gray afternoon sky. He swallowed so loudly that he felt like the children on the playground might have heard it—one of whom was Parker, wearing a giant puffy coat.
Angela had stopped the car.
"Err…I, I don't really celebrate Christmas." Lance said, fleeing out the passenger door as quickly as possible.
Angela's smile melted. "Don't celebrate Christmas?" She held his arm for a moment. "The man who Brennan once told me wore elf ears to the diner to teach her about the importance of lying about Santa Claus to children doesn't celebrate Christmas?"
"Oh that," Lance almost giggled and then reddened. "I just wanted to help lighten the mood."
"Well, I guess you'd better retrieve Parker, but don't think you're getting off the hook that easily, Sweets. I'm getting to the bottom of your rejection of Christmas. The last thing we need is another Grinch like Brennan on our hands."
Lance hurried off. Angela had no idea what she was getting into, asking him about Christmas. He caught sight of Parker and waved. The sweaty boy came galloping up to him. Lance couldn't help but smile.
