10-That's Flyer Hockey
"Hey, Bones," Booth said into the phone.
"Hi, Booth. What's going on?"
"Well, I tried to get some baseball tickets but the Phillies are playing the Mets this weekend so it's all sold out. Big rivalry. But, um, well…would you wanna go to a hockey game?"
Brennan smiled. Ever since she saw Booth play hockey she secretly loved it, even though she didn't really understand it. "I would love to."
"Great!" Booth responded enthusiastically. "Parker and I will be by soon to pick you up." They said their goodbyes and Brennan was nervous. She didn't know what to wear or what to expect at all. She bit her lip and courageously faced her closet.
A half hour later Booth's knock permeated the apartment, followed by Parker's excited voice. Parker leapt forwards once the door was opened and babbled about excited he was. Brennan looked up and saw Booth standing quietly in the background, watching the exchange between her and his son. Her breath caught in her throat at that image of him. "Hey, Bones," he said softly. "Parker," he said, getting the boy's attention. "Go to the bathroom and we'll leave." The boy hurried off and Booth and Brennan sat on the couch.
"I'd say he's excited," Brennan said. Booth looked at her and they both laughed.
"Here," he said, reaching into his coat pocket. "I almost forgot." He pulled out a long orange and black striped scarf that said "FLYERS" in bold black letters. Booth stretched out the scarf and carefully laid it around his partner's neck. He smiled as she touched it while holding his gaze.
"Dad, Dr. Bones, come on!" Parker whined, breaking the moment.
"Let's go, pal," Booth said, standing up and swinging a giggling Parker over his shoulders.
They arrived at the Verizon Center quickly thanks to Booth's FBI driving. The walk to the building was a little cold as the wind whipped lightly around them, and Brennan was grateful for Booth's scarf. "Luckily the Flyers are in town," Booth said as they made their way to their seats. Brennan sat between Parker and Booth and let Parker explain all the players to her. Booth then explained some of the rules and the game was underway.
Halfway through Parker climbed on to Brennan's lap. "Having fun, Bones?" Booth asked with a smile.
"Of course," she replied easily. "I have to confess…" she trailed off, her eyes flicking towards the floor.
"What?" Booth asked softly.
Brennan took a deep breath. "Ever since I watched you play hockey…I've always secretly liked it."
"Really?" Booth asked, surprised. She nodded. "Bones, why didn't you tell me?"
"Well…I know sports are your thing. I didn't want to take that from you," she answered honestly.
"Bones, look at me." She did. "I love hockey. And when you love something you want to share it with the people you lo-…with the people you're close to." Brennan smiled, apparently not catching Booth's almost-slip of the tongue. They were again staring at each other when Booth heard the crowd roar and out of his periphery saw something coming towards them. "Woah!" he let out as he stuck out his left hand and caught the puck that had gone out of play.
"Way to go, Dad!" Parker cheered happily.
"Booth, are you alright?"
"I'm fine, Bones."
"Dad, look!" Parker exclaimed, pointing. Booth's and Brennan's eyes followed to see Booth on the big screen, so he waved and the crowd cheered, rewarding him for catching the elusive puck-gone-out-of-play. Booth handed Parker the puck and kissed him on the head.
"Booth, let me see your hand," Brennan said after a moment. "It might be broken."
"It's just bruised," he said lightly as he thrust his hand towards her, palm up. She touched it gingerly and he winced. She pushed a little harder and he yelped. "Geez, Bones, what are you doing?"
"Sorry, I had to make sure. But it doesn't seem to be broken."
"See?" he countered, smiling. "I told you there was nothing to worry about."
The Capitals iced the puck and the Kiss Cam came on. Booth looked up and sunk a little in his seat. They won't show her, they won't show her. There are thousands of people here, he reassured himself as he watched everything from pecks on the cheek to almost X-rated groping take place. But they did show her. Just not with him. There he was staring at the woman he loved and his eight-year-old son appearing on the Kiss Cam.
"Dr. Bones, we have to kiss!" Parker shouted. He squirmed in her lap until he was facing her and threw his arms around her neck, planting a kiss right on her lips. The crowd laughed and awwed while Booth ran a hand over his face. His son had gotten farther with Bones than he had. And to make matters worse, it was 2-1 Caps in the third.