AN: Hey guys. How are you enjoying the season so far? I don't know about you, but I'm digging it. Anyways, once again you're all awesome. I meant to get this chapter up sooner, but school started kicking my butt. Thankfully the semester is almost over.

Check me out on Twitter: Eyes2TheSky21. Don't be afraid to drop me a line, I like to talk.

Disclaimer: I don't own Bones. I just own the characters of Achilles and Annalyse

Side Note: the names of the locations mentioned in this chapter are fictional.

Chapter 9: A Buddy for the Boy

"Hey dad!"

"Hey bud," Booth smiled as his nine-year old son Parker jumped into his SUV.

"How was school today? Did you learn anything new?"

"School was great. We didn't really learn anything new though. But we did start the buddy program today," Parker said with an excited smile.

Booth looked at his son in the rearview mirror. "Oh? What's the buddy program?"

"It's when students from the high school come to the elementary school. Each high school student is assigned to be a buddy to a younger kid. Our buddies mentor and the help us with our homework and stuff. It's like having an older brother or sister. And sometimes we get to hang out with them outside of school; Jake's buddy Teddy took him out for ice cream!"

"Is that so?"

"Uh-huh! My buddy really wanted to hang out with me after school, but he had to go to his football practice. He invited you and me to come watch his football game next week Friday. He said it's the last game of the regular season. If they win this one, they get to go to the postseason play-offs. Can we go dad? Can we please go watch his game?"

Booth frowned for a bit. "Eh, I don't know Park. I don't even know this so called buddy of yours. What's his name?"

Parker giggled. "I call him Ace."

"Like the card," Booth joked.

Parker gave himself a face palm. "No dad!"

Booth's brows furrowed. "What kind of name is Ace?"

"It's his nickname," Parker beamed.

"Why don't you call him his regular name?"

"I couldn't pronounce it, but he said I could call him whatever I wanted." Parker looked a little sad at that confession.

"Hmm. Well, how do I even know he's not some sort of criminal," Booth playfully joked.

Parker just rolled his eyes. "Dad you gotta chill out. They don't let just anyone be a buddy. All of the buddies need to be recommended by a teacher, have good academic standing, and pass a background and drug test. You got nothing to worried about. My buddy is super cool and like really smart! I think he's smarter than Aaron's buddy Brian. Ace helped me with all of my homework today. It's like super easy when he explains it to me. Ace is really tall and like super buff. He even plays football and baseball. You can meet him and some of his family members on Friday."

Booth thought about it for a bit. "Well, I tell you what bud. I'll talk to your mom about it. I'm sure she'll let you go. But, you have to be on your very best behavior. You also need to do as you are told and finish all your homework on time. If you can do all of this without any kind of complaint, I will take you to this football game."

Parker's eyes were as huge as saucers. "Yes! Thanks dad! You're the best."

The week quickly passed by and Parker made sure he was on his best behavior. He also made sure he helped around his mom's house and that his homework was done on time. Friday night quickly came and he was more than excited to be watching his buddy in action.

"Come on dad, we're going to be late," Parker shouted impatiently from the living room of his dad's apartment.

"Hang tight bud, I'm coming," Booth called as he pulled on a black t-shirt.

Parker anxiously paced around the living room as we waited for his dad.

"Ready to go," Booth asked finally emerging from his bedroom.

"Let's get this show on the road," Parker said excitedly as he grabbed his jacket and his dad's jacket off the back of the couch.

As Parker bolted for the door, Booth noticed what his son was wearing. "Parker, where did you get that football jersey?"

The jersey Parker wore was dark blue with white block lettering and numbers. 'Jr. Hoyas' was neatly stitched over the big number 7. Above the team name and to the left are the initials of the school's athletic conference; to the right was the Under Armour logo signifying their sponsor.

"Do you like it? It's cool isn't it? Ace gave it to me today! It has his last name on the back and this is number," Parker replied with as he turned to show his dad.

"Brennan. #7," Booth read aloud. "Huh, it kind of rhymes," he chuckled earning an eye roll from Parker.

"That was really nice of him to give you a football jersey. Did you remember to thank him?"

"Of course dad! He said I'd be the coolest kid at the game because only really special people get one," Parker exclaimed excitedly.

A flash of memories came to Booth as he and Parker walked into Armstrong Stadium at Georgetown Lab School. The enthusiastic cheers of the crowd, the smell of stadium food, and the bright stadium lights filled his senses and brought him back to his own high school football days.

"This is so cool," Parker said excitedly as he took in his new surroundings.

"Come on bud, let's go get some food before we go sit down."

Booth and Parker navigated their way through a sea of blue and white Georgetown Lab 'Jr. Hoyas' shirts and red and white Patrick Henry 'Colonials' shirts to a very busy concession stand. Fifteen minutes later and laden down with cheeseburgers, fries, pretzels, and sodas, Booth and Parker went in search for seats.

"Where did you want to sit bud," Booth asked as he looked at the quickly filling seats.

"Ace said we could sit in the family section. It's right behind their benches."

"All right lead the way."

Booth and Parker started towards the family section when someone called for their attention. "Booth! Parker," the voice called from behind.

Booth and Parker turned to look and were greeted by one Doctor Jack Hodgins. "Hey Hodgins what are you doing here?"

"What are you guys doing here," he asked in surprise as he readjusted his grip on a plastic bag full of bottled drinks.

"I asked you first," Booth pointed.

"I'm here with Angela, Dr. Brennan, and Annalyse."

"Bones is here," Booth asked with a light excitement in his voice.

"Yeah, her son plays on the varsity team," Hodgins replied as he shifted the large bags of popcorn in his other hand.

"I didn't know that. We're here because Parker's mentor from the Buddy Program at his school is playing in the game too."

"Yeah he's so cool! He said we could sit in the family section," Parker added.

Hodgins turned his attention to Parker. "Did he now? Well why don't you come sit with us then? We have two empty seats in our row."

Hodgins motioned for Booth and Parker to follow him down the concrete stairs to the very first row. Angela and Brennan were chatting while Annalyse took in her surroundings with her wide blue eyes.

Booth chuckled when his gaze fell on the tiny t-shirt Annalyse was wearing. It was the same Georgetown blue and white exclaiming: "#7 IS MY BIG BROTHER!"

"Cute shirt," he commented not making the connection.

Hodgins smiled and shook his head. "Angela made it. She has Brennan dress Anna in that shirt for every home game they attend."

"Look whom I found roaming around," Hodgins announced as he passed the bags of popcorn and bottled drinks over to Angela.

"Hey there G-Man and little G-Man," Angela said with a smile.

"Hi Ange," both Booth boys replied at the same time while giving her matching lopsided grins.

"You guys are too cute," Angela laughed.

When Brennan's eyes fell on Booth she felt butterflies in her stomach. "Hey Booth, Parker. I didn't know you were coming here."

"Yeah, Parker's mentor from the buddy program at his school invited him to come watch the game tonight," Booth replied as he sat in the empty seat next to Brennan.

A look of surprise and realization flashed on Brennan's face as she looked at the game jersey Parker was wearing. "Wait…you're Parks?"

"Yeah that's what he calls me. Look he even gave me a mini version of his game jersey," Parker said excitedly as he plopped into the empty seat on the other side of his dad.

Brennan gave a laugh. "Parker, I believe your mentor is my son Achilles."

"Really," both Booth boys asked.

"Hey Parks! You made it," a voice called from in front of them.

Parker turned to look at his buddy and mentor. He gave him a wide smile. "Ace!"

Achilles smile. "Looking sharp in that jersey Parks. The ladies will love it."

"Thank you again for giving it to me," Parker replied looking up at his mentor with nothing but awe and adoration.

"Aw, anything for you big guy."

Parker and Achilles shared a 'secret' handshake before Achilles turned his attention to Booth. "Agent Booth? You're Parker's dad?"

Booth laughed as he shook Achilles' hand. "Yes I am."

"I thought he looked like someone I knew. You know, Parker is a really great kid Agent Booth. He's very smart too," Achilles commented as he reached over the railing to ruffle Parker's blonde hair with his gloved hand making Parker giggle.

Achilles turned to do the typical handshake hug greeting guys did with Hodgins. "You filming the game?"

"Yes sir. I got the video camera right here," Hodgins said producing the silver handheld digital video camera. Achilles patted Hodgins on his shoulder as thanks.

He turned to Angela and kissed her cheek in greeting. "Good luck out there kid," Angela said patting Achilles' shoulder pads.

"Thanks Angie. But, it's not luck, it's all about the skills," Achilles joked as Angela shook her head.

Achilles smiled and looked at his baby sister grinning like a fool. His mom was placing an old pair of his dad's hunting earmuffs on Anna's head to help drown out the loud noises that would erupt from the crowds.

"Come here and give me a good luck kiss," he cooed as he scooped Annalyse out of his mom's arms.

Annalyse gave a squeal of delight as Achilles loudly kissed her rosy cheeks. "I thought you just said it was about skills and not luck," Brennan remarked.

"It is about skills. But you know, a kiss from my baby sister wont hurt either," Achilles replied as he gave Annalyse one more kiss and handed her back to his mom.

"Have a good game son," Brennan smiled and kissed his forehead.

"Thanks mom," Achilles blushed as his teammates began to playfully rib him after witnessing the exchange.

Achilles jumped back down to the field and jogged back to the benches shouting. "Hey! Don't hate on me just because your moms don't love you!"

The guys just laughed as they turned back and waved at Brennan. Brennan shook her head with a smile and waved back at them. Achilles had grown increasingly close to his football teammates since moving to DC. It wasn't uncommon to see a few or more of them walking in and out of their house during the week after school and practice. They have become quite the regular fixtures at their home. So much so that a few of them even kept over night bags just in case they decided to stay.

Achilles' teammates started constantly coming over right about when the new school year began. Brennan observed that they had a kind of after school ritual during the week. They went to study hall to do homework from 1:00-2:00. From 2:30 to 4:00 they went to football practice. At exactly 4:30 on the dot, Achilles and his friends came sweeping into the front door talking and joking. After making their presence known to Brennan, the boys raided the fridge or pantry for something to eat.

Brennan chuckled as she thought about the frequent visits to the market she would make to stock up on food; the boys definitely had insatiable appetites. Most of the time she went on her own and sometimes they like to tag along. The looks she received from other patrons always made them laugh. Shopping with a baby and five or six teenaged boys in tow definitely turned some heads.

As soon as they had their fill, they would grab Annalyse and brought her out to the backyard with them. When they weren't arguing who got to lounge in the hammock first, they laid in the grass talking. Anna would go about on a blanket the boys brought out for her. The boys were really great with Anna and she had taken quite the liking to them as well. Sometimes they would fight over who got to play with her first. But despite all of their little arguments, Achilles went first. He was Anna's big brother after all, and they knew that she meant the world to him.

They spent most of the late afternoon lounging in the backyard talking about their day and giving Annalyse advice about anything and everything, even dating. They would tell Anna what guys looked for in a girl and the proper way on how guys should treat a lady. The boys also promised that on the day Anna's interest in boys piqued, all seven of them would be there to see if that boy was worthy of her.

Once their advice giving session was over, the boys regaled her with silly stories of mythological fairy tale creatures and anthropomorphic animals. Sometimes they would act it out and invited Brennan out to watch with Anna. Annalyse may not have understood what happened most of the time, but that didn't stop her laughter from filling the early evening air. Brennan found it amusing that all these teenaged boys who claim to be 'tough guys,' loved to act silly and turn into absolute mush around Annalyse.

When night fell, they all made their way back into the house. If they were staying for dinner then they would shower and get cleaned up in the guest bathrooms. After dinner, they cleaned the kitchen while Brennan gave Anna her bath. Brennan would call them upstairs afterwards so they could say goodnight to her. Once Anna was tucked in, the boys quietly made their way back downstairs to the family room to play video games. And when they left for the night, she reminded them to call as soon as they got home.

Brennan deeply cared for the boys as if they were her own sons. She was grateful that Achilles had made such wonderful friends.

AN: I'm not sure if they have these where you folks live, but where I'm from we have a Lab School. Lab Schools are schools on the property of the universities that kids from K-12 can attend. Their curriculum is college prep based and is created by the university professors who also teach the classes. It is considered a public school, but it very hard to get into. I imagine that Brennan's kids would go a school like that.