Disclaimer: All characters portrayed here are fictional. No infringement of rights intended. Bones & its characters are a product of Fox Inc. & not mine. No financial gain is received from this work of fiction.
Summary: Pelant is free, but the net is closing around him. Remember: "Nothing is what it seems…" - Seeley Booth.
Rating: M (nearly)
Thanks: to everyone that has left reviews and encouragements for me. For your patience and loyalty I'm posting two chapters in quick succession this week. Enjoy. Tembo: Wow. U humble me. Thx SVM. Thrilled UR enjoying this one! XX (PM not working) Guest (7/9/12): LOL! Breathe, just breathe. Major Thx BTW. Hugs. Long Beach State: Yep, U got it. Thx VM4 popping in. Jsboneslover: LOL Careful what U wish 4... XX
Pelant
Chapter XI
Booth & Bones' Home
… Booth edged closer to Parker until he could see who was at the door. Parker stepped back, saying, 'Its only Doctor Saroyan, Dad…' Booth's heart started again, seeing her on the door step, but his stomach wrenched when he saw she was, and had been crying. That was probably why Parker had paled; he didn't know what to do with a weeping, clearly distressed woman, he surmised. However Booth thought something disastrous had happened either to her or Bones.
'It's ok, Park, go put the kettle on,' Booth relieved him softly. Parker hurried off, happy to leave his Dad to it. Cam lifted her head slightly to look at, an almost naked, Booth, then stepped over the threshold, and snapped her arms around him. Immediately he cuddled her back hard, whispering in her ear, 'What's happened?' Booth flicked the door closed with his finger tips, as she nuzzled into the crook of his neck, shaking her head slightly: not ready to answer him yet. Out of the corner of his eye, Parker watched Booth tenderly consoling her, while slowly eating his toast.
Cam felt guilty for her breakdown and for disturbing him and Parker but after what she'd done, Booth was the only one she knew that would understand. 'Come on, we can talk in the garden,' he offered, smiling, lifting her head gently to look at him. Cam sniffed, then dropped her bleary eyes downwards, noting he was now completely naked. The towel had dropped from between them during their embrace.
Wiping her cheeks, Cam half smiled, whispering, 'I feel a lot better now…' Booth looked down, then chuckled. He picked up the towel, and covered himself back up. 'Forgive me - I'm sorry for intruding. I just wanted to give you this…' Cam ferreted out a slip of paper, and handed it to him. Booth took it, realising it was her visitor slip to see Bones this afternoon, which completely confused him. Cam rattled on, trying to bite back her tears, and began to explain, 'I can't go - you go instead of me. Caroline has arranged it with someone she knows at the prison - Tony or something.' Then Cam went to leave, but Booth grabbed her hand, and held her fast.
'Cam, hey, Bones will be expecting you, she wants to see you,' Booth reminded, but saw Cam's eyes glaze again.
'I know, Seeley, but I can't, not today,' she hedged softly, dropping her eyes. Booth's gut was lurching which signalled there was much more going on with Cam than she was willing to divulge. Booth took control, and pulled her inside, saying, 'Come on - lets take a walk 'round the yard.' Cam stared into his eyes for a seconds, deliberating, then followed. Parker threw her a sweet smile as they walked out into the back yard to talk privately.
The sun was already promising a bleaching hot day ahead and singeing the lawns into near submission as they walked over them towards a large beech tree. Underneath, in its dappled shade, they sat on the warm wooden bench. 'What's going on with you, Cam - something's up? You're drinking too much and crying, you look like you've seen a fucking ghost and now you don't wanna see Bones - you're scaring me.'
'I'm sorry, Seeley -,' Cam bleated, taking out a Kleenex from her clutch, and wiped her eyes and nose, 'you're right - I'm losing it.'
'You can't, we need you - Bones needs you,' he insisted passionately.
She nodded, and took a deep breath, before she admitted, 'I did something yesterday - I took a huge risk.' Cam swallowed, stared him in the eye, as she confessed, 'I nearly murdered someone - literally, deliberately.'
Booth's eyes widened in shock, and challenged, 'What? Why?'
'To get evidence. I can't tell you the ins and outs, because I made someone a promise. But what scares the crap out of me is that I nearly allowed them die. I wanted them to suffer and die,' she sneered, recalling the moment of absolute power and wrath she felt watching Claudette struggle to breathe. Then Cam lost those emotions, replacing them with an anguished, 'Now I know what I'm capable of - its terrifying. I held their miserable life in my hands, Seeley,' she said, staring at her palms. 'But I very nearly walked away.'
'I see,' Booth said thoughtfully, sitting back. 'But they didn't die.' Cam shook her hanging head to confirm. 'Did it work - did you get the evidence you wanted?' She nodded a fraction, clearly riddled with remorse, guilt and self-loathing. 'Well, then, it was for the greater good. You just skimmed the line then.'
Cam corrected sharply, 'No, I crossed it, Seeley. I've been spouting my mantra that we should do everything by the book and insisting on it, but this makes me an ugly, weak hypocrite, doesn't it?'
'Maybe - in your eyes, but not in mine…' Cam looked over her should to him, Booth leant forwards to mimic her position, as he added, 'Look - you know I've been where you are, Cam.' She nodded solemnly, and that was why she came to him and no one else because he would be able to sympathise. 'I understand what you're feeling and you're scared of what you're capable of given a set of circumstances. But you didn't let them die, did you?' Cam shook her head, feeling his empathetic palm gently rub her back. 'That's your saving grace and what you should cling on to. You have a heart of gold, Cam. You're a fierce and true friend, and Bones and me, we owe you so much - we all do. I don't want to know what you did but I can see the price you've paid is very high.' Cam nodded, wiping her brimming eyes again. 'Don't beat ya self up over this - move on. Get your head back in the game and walk the right side of the line again.' Booth eased her to sit back to the bench, hugging her to his flank. She sunk into his warm flesh, and took a few moments to enjoy the comfort he gave her.
'Thanks, Seeley. I just needed to tell someone.' Understanding that completely, he nodded, and smiled affectionately. 'You've been putting out fires everywhere this week - first Sweets and Tempe, now me. How are you holdin' up?'
'Ohh. Y'know - hanging in there,' he obfuscated professionally, treating her to a handsome smile this time. 'Here - take this back. Go see her.' Cam grinned, but shook her head.
'No. When I said I can't its not because I don't want to visit - its because it's too soon,' she said cryptically. Booth cocked an intrigued brow, but she refused to elaborate. Just then Parker came bounding into the garden, waving a postcard, while slopping coffee out of the cup.
'Its from New Zealand!' he bellowed excitedly, coming to a sliding halt, then handed Cam the mug with just a mouthful of coffee left in it. She snorted her amusement, looking into the virtually empty mug, then swigged the drabs. He sat down next to them, and showed them the picture of Milford Sound with snow capped peaks in the background.
'Where was it sent from, Park?'
He ummed, then peered at the postmark, reading, 'Southampton, England,' then screwed his nose up, not understanding. 'So does this mean Christine and Max aren't in New Zealand but in England now?'
Booth shrugged his shoulder, as he said brightly, 'My guess is as good as yours, Park...'
!_!_!_!_!_!_!_!_!_!_!_!_!_!_!_!_!_!_!_!_!_!
HQ of Choy P'ang Inc.
Beijing
China
… 'Hello, Angela. How's long has it been - twelve years?' she asked, scrutinizing Ange carefully.
'Eleven,' Ange corrected gently, but not wanting to dwell changed the subject quickly, 'You're looking well and that's a great view.' She wafted her hand towards it.
Her mother stood, stubbed out her cigarette, saying with a wry smile, 'Yes, that was an awkward question, wasn't it? You've always shied away from the tricky ones.' Ange dropped a hip just as she added perfunctorily, 'How's your father?'
'He's very well - on tour.' She saw her mother nod slowly, then amble around the desk towards a couch, elegantly inviting her towards it too. Ange settled herself, placing the briefcase on the small coffee table. 'He sends his regards.' Her mother laughed out loud, knowing that was very unlikely.
'I bet he does,' she remarked, loading her reply with heavy sarcasm once her chuckles had died down. 'And you're a mother yourself now. Are you enjoying being a mother?'
'Yes, Mom, I am,' she said curtly. 'Michael, his name is Michael and my husband's is Jack,' she reminded rudely, thinking she'd forgotten or couldn't be bothered to remember.
'Oh. Dear,' her mother sighed forlornly, crossing her perfectly toned legs. 'Are we going to start spitting venom before we've had tea?'
Ange wilted. 'I'm sorry. Mom, that was out of order.' She realised she'd let her anxiousness about seeing her again taint their overdue reunion. Not to mention her residual anger at her leaving her to return to China for her illustrious career.
'On the contrary, it was a perfectly legitimate comment to make - I'm notorious for forgetting names.' Ange heard a door being knocked to her right, and looked to see who had entered. An immaculately dressed, strikingly good looking man in a white coat with brass buttons wheeled in the trolley, and began to set up tea and cake on the table ahead of them; which put their difficult conversation on pause. 'Thank you, Leo - that'll be all.' Leo left with bow and a humble smile, practically backing out of the room as if her mother was royalty. Her mother began to pour, as she offered an olive branch, flicking her eyes to Ange's, 'Shall we start again on another riff?' Ange grinned at the musical reference, nodded to accept her branch, and relaxed. 'Good. Now, firstly - motherhood suits you, Angela. You look healthy, happy and as beautiful as ever,' she offered generously. 'Jack is wealthy and a very intelligent man, I understand.'
'He is. Jack's a wonderful father and husband. But you already knew that - you've done you homework.'
Her mother grinned slightly. 'Of course,' she confirmed, handing her the cup and saucer. Ange took it, and put in directly on the table beside her briefcase. 'And Michael, he flourishes - excels at anything in particular?' she asked, then sipped her tea.
'Ha! Mom, he's not two yet.'
'You showed a flare for art at one, Angela.'
'Finger painting, Mom.'
Her mother brushed away her belittling of her talents with a wave of her manicured hand. 'Nonetheless…' she said knowledgably. 'So, pleasantries out of the way - let's get to the reason for your surprise visit.' Ange opened her mouth, and was about to explain when her mother put her on pause with, 'You have a dear friend in very serious trouble, a murdering genius psychopath on the loose and you need a way into a particular factory here in China.' Ange snapped her mouth shut. 'You wish to purchase two macro chips that they produce and take them back to the US. However, you've already contacted the factory in question and been refused access to them.' Stunned by her uncanny insight, Ange nodded. 'So you've come here to see if your Mother, if only in name, can assist you in procuring them.'
'Exactly, yes. Can you?'
'Have you lost your fear of heights by any chance?' Ange snagged her head back, utterly confused by her out-of-the-blue, irrelevant question.
'Yes, sort of - why?' Carefully replacing her tea cup on the saucer, Angela's mother stood. Ange didn't know why but she stood too, picking up her briefcase.
'Follow me,' she instructed coolly, then walked towards the elevator again. Moments later the gold doors opened to an electric blue helicopter on the helipad. Ange was buffeted by the hurricane of wind and noise churned up by spinning rotor blades, and looked astounded at her mother. She smiled brightly, holding her hand out to help her towards the open door of the helicopter. Getting her answer, Ange cracked an overdue smile back, and took hold of her hand tightly as any nervous child would…
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Municipal Hospital
Lucknow
Uttar Pradesh
Northern India
Maria watched nervously with Christine in her arms from the control room as Max was slowly fed through the MRI machine on his back. She saw him flinch as the thudding drone of magnets in the old MRI scanner began to accelerate. She noted she flinched too, as scared as he was. 'Hold as still as you can, Mr Johnson,' one of the techs instructed through the intercom. Maria changed her weight from one foot to the other, just as eager for it to be over as Max clearly was.
The technicians stared at the dissected images of Max's lower abdomen as they came up on the screens, and muttered to themselves, occasionally pointing to the images, and circling highlighted sections with pen tips. She twitched, looking to Max with his eyes closed, rigid, then back to the screens. Noting her anxiousness, the white-coated consultant turned to her with a smile. 'Do you see here?' She stepped forwards, and nodded to where he was pointing. 'This looks very good, Mrs Johnson. From the previous MRI results you supplied I can see vast improvements.'
'That's a huge relief. Thank you. I need you to send these scans to this address - now. Can you do that from here?' She handed him a piece of paper with her clinics email address on. He nodded solemnly, and pocketed the piece of paper. She saw him put the paper away, but insisted by taking his forearm, and narrowed her eyes at him, as she said, 'No, now. Mr Vichventa.'
'Now?' he asked for clarification, looking confused by her insistence.
'Yes, right now.' He waggled his head, and sat down at a computer screen, then began to type in the address. As soon as he had Maria took the paper back, and tucked it away again. She looked back to Max as the, seemingly endless and noisy, scan finished, and a nurse re-entered the chamber to assist him. As Max stood, he looked up to her, and tentatively put his thumb up. Maria knew he was asking her a question, so she replied with a solid smile, and a thumbs-up of her own. She saw him visibly relax his shoulders, then make his way into the viewing room. Meanwhile Mr Vichventa continued to upload the scans to the address he'd been given. The techs left the room after Mr Vichventa waved them out officiously. They were surprised to be dismissed but didn't comment. Max came in with a bounce in his step a few moments later. Immediately as he did, Maria pecked his cheek with a muwha sound, then asked, 'Ok?'
'Nothin' to it,' he beamed, dismissing how anxious he'd been. But she knew he'd been terrified of the scan and more so by its conclusions. Max immediately took Christine from her arms, and sat down next to the Mr Vichventa. He shot him a smile, then turned on the stool to face him properly.
'It all looks very good, Mr Johnson - big improvements,' he confirmed.
While Max cooed and snuffled into Christine's chest, making her chuckle, he said, 'I'd like you to erase that scan from your records and the email - do you understand?' Mr Vichventa nodded, seeing Mrs Johnson flicking off notes from a huge wad of cash. 'One more thing - I need to use your cell phone.' Without question, he handed it directly to Max, still watching Maria thumb the notes as she counted out the agreed amount for his silence and discretion. Max tapped in a number with his index finger, then passed it to him. Mr Vichventa picked it up, and listened to the voice at the other end.
'Ok. Yes. I agree fully… Of course.' Mr Vichventa scribbled down a few long words on a pad, and underlined them. 'No problem. Yes, ok. Thank you,' he answered, then handed the phone to Maria, then put his bribe away. Max grinned charmingly, as she stared into his eyes, as she too listened now. Max saw her nod, then she started to chatter away in her soft Mexican accent. Max brightened further when she stepped closer, and rubbed affectionately across his shoulders with her palm. Maria ended the call with a sweet smile dripping from her lips, then deleted the record of the call from Vichventa's cell. She handed it back to him, with a thank you.
Maria put on her best smile, as she said to Max, 'He wants you to have one more round of chemo - just to make absolutely sure.' Max nodded, but was hugely disappointed. She saw his shoulders sag, so came down to his level, and stroked his face tenderly, knowing he'd been praying he didn't have to go through that again. 'Please don't be disheartened, Darling. He was really, really pleased with the results,' she reassured sweetly, resting her brow on his. 'He wants us to wait another two weeks though. But in the mean time Mr Vichventa is going to get you pills to take daily.' She nodded towards him to go off and get the prescription filled. Vichventa took the hint, and left them alone.
'Will it make me sick? You know I hate being sick,' he reminded, grimacing at the thought.
'I know,' she said compassionately. 'No - there are very few side effects.' She brushed her lips across his cheek again, as she whispered, 'You were so scared in there weren't you?' Max nodded against her brow, feeling his eyes brim with her empathy. 'I was scared for you too,' she admitted. Placing soft, hesitant kisses over his cheek at tiny intervals, she reached his lips, where she breathed, 'I want you well, Max.'
'I'm tryin',' he said softly, feeling the gentle heat of her lips a fraction from his, but resisted the open invitation and temptation. She smiled at his humour, knowing he was confused and conflicted about what to do. He clearly wanted to kiss her but something was holding him back from it. Although she was disappointed, she didn't want to put anymore pressure on him than he was already under.
'He wants you to rest though - really rest. We need to rethink our travel plans to the next destination. We should get there quickly.' He nodded slowly, agreeing with her instruction and the clinical advice. Pleased he was agreeing, she smiled again, then leant back, to look into his sparkling eyes. Max swallowed hard, mirroring her smile nervously, wondering if he would get another opportunity to kiss her. He didn't have much time to ponder that because Vichventa came it, rattling the pills. Maria stood as he handed them to her to take care of them.
'That's an extra four hundred,' he informed with a confident smile. Maria looked to Max who nodded imperceptibly, while tickling Christine's belly. She chuckled wildly again, kicking her legs which caught Vichventa's attention. 'She's very pretty and strong. How old is she?' Vichventa was no fool, he knew these people were not the child's parents but wasn't going to spoil his deal by causing a scene or accusing them of kidnap.
'Three months - nearly four.'
'Oh. Must be time for her injections then.' Maria and Max looked at each other, suddenly losing their smiles. Seeing their expressions, he reminded, 'You know, mumps, measles and rubella - MMR? I can administer them if you'd like, tetanus and polio too…'
'How much?' Maria asked, suspicious of his exorbitant price list already. Vichventa made a quick calculation with yet another waggle of his head.
'Two hundred.'
'One fifty,' Maria shot back, making Max grin harder at Christine. Vichventa smiled, then put his hand out to receive the cash...
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MIT
Cambridge
Massachusetts
'Professor Liskov?' Shaw called out, rushing to catch up with her as she power walked towards the lecture hall. 'Professor Liskov?'
'Can't stop - I'm late!' she shouted over her shoulder, not slowing down. Shaw started to run, bouncing off a sea of meandering people that filled the corridor and every available space. 'Please, just one minute of your time!' Liskov ignored her completely this time.
Shaw yelled over everyone's heads, in a last desperate attempt to get her to stop, knowing she wasn't going to get to her before she disappeared, 'Its about Christopher!' Liskov came to an abrupt standstill, the students all parted as she turned, with narrowed eyes. Panting, Shaw slowed down, then made her way through the partially curious throngs that were watching the Turin Award winner closely.
'Who are you?'
'I'd rather not say out here. But I need to talk to you privately.' Liskov looked at her bulky watch with a sigh, quirking her lips.
'This way,' she instructed bluntly, and started powering off again, bouncing along the corridor in her leopard skin Crocs. Shaw kept close to her this time, and saw the people part like the Red Sea for her. Liskov suddenly opened a door to their right, looked around the room, to find three people studying. 'Get out - I need this room!' she barked at them. Instantly they grabbed their books, and left the room without protest. Shaw smiled pleasantly at them as they were wafted out of the room by Liskov as if they were annoying gnats. She slammed the door behind them, and spun on Shaw, saying, 'Who are you?'
Shaw shook her head, not going to reveal that. 'Christopher Pelant was one of your students, I believe?' She noted the professor had only put make up on her left eye today and a single stud in her right lobe.
'Yes. My best student ever - well, to date anyway,' she confirmed, sitting up on a desk, then started swinging her legs freely like a five year old would. 'He turned out a bit of a disappointment actually. Does he owe you money - are you pregnant or one of his cyber victims?'
'No, no, and no. I want to know if you were aware of his mistrust of our government, and had any idea where that could have stemmed from?'
'There's a fine line between genius and madness. Christopher, although exceptionally gifted and remarkably logical, became increasingly paranoid and distrustful of anyone with power or influence. He had a girlfriend he was very keen on who dispatched him for another hipper student in his third year here. Maybe that was a catalyst. I can only speculate.'
'Do you recall her name?' Liskov, snorted, and shook her head.
'I think she may have been an overseas student, blonde, pretty, bright - like most here. I believe she was studying chemical engineering. That's as much as I recall. Ask Professor Wong, he might remember her.'
'Excellent - I will, thank you. One last question, this is a long shot but - did Pelant have any private transport you can recall?'
Liskov closed one eye as she rattled off, 'BAN898641.'
'Excuse me?'
'I remember strings of numbers, lines of code, it's a gift - curse,' she explained flippantly, waving her hand over the top of her unkempt hair. Shaw quickly wrote that down on her note pad. 'He used to ride a motorcycle with that plate. I saw him out on it a couple of times. Don't ask me the make, colour or model - but that was the licence plate,' she confirmed resolutely. 'Now, I must go.' She slipped off the table, and shot out the door before thank you had left Shaw's lips.
!_!_!_!_!_!_!_!_!_!_!_!_!_!_!_!_!_!_!_!_!
Private Medical Facility
Tasmin opened her eyes, hearing her door open, expecting a nurse to come in but it was two suited men, with pleasant smiles for her.
'Hello, Tasmin. I'm Temperance Brennan's lawyer Mr…'
Tasmin interrupted, 'Mr Trope?' He nodded, taking a seat beside her bed. She part smiled as she tried to sit up, but winced as her stitches pulled.
'Relax, Tasmin. Lay back.' She did gingerly. 'This is one of her close friends too.'
Sweets stepped forward, and shook her hand gently. 'I'm Lance Sweets.' Tasmin lost her smile for a compassionate pout.
'Oooh. Temps told me your girlfriend got blown up and died. She was really sad about that - she cried a lot.' Sweets nodded, gritting his jaw. 'I'm sorry too.'
'Thank you, Tasmin.' Sweets sat down in the chair by the window, quietly observing Tasmin as Trope opened his briefcase to retrieve Bones' letter. He already realised she was too trusting of strangers and hadn't asked to see ID to confirm who they were.
'Temps has written you a letter and asked if I would read it to you - is that ok?' Tasmin nodded, relieved he was going to, and excited to receive mail.
'Before you do, can I ask a question?'
Sweets sat forwards, and encouraged her to with, 'Of course, Tasmin.'
'I was really out of it when they brought me here,' she said, then whispered, 'Its really lovely in here, the foods great and everything. The nurses are really gentle but, but I can't pay for it,' she wined, obviously very worried. Sweets grinned, flicking his eyes to Trope.
Trope patted her hand, explaining, 'Don't worry about that - your medical bills are covered. Just relax and get well, ok?' She looked to Sweets for confirmation, he gave it with a delicate nod. Tasmin relaxed completely now.
'That's fucking amazing - but I have to go back to jail when I'm better.'
'Well, lets see what we can do about that. Let me read you this letter.' Tasmin smiled, flaring her eyes at Trope. He cleared his throat, and began to read Bones' letter.
!_!_!_!_!_!_!_!_!_!_!_!_!_!_!_!_!_!_!_!_!
Pelant's Street
A Neighbours Residence Opposite
Bedroom
Surveillance Team II
Finally seeing something, and choking on his mouthful of last nights cold pizza, Agent Franks informed with some excitement, 'Hey, Strand, we've got movement - Pelant-shaped heat source.' He stared hard through his infra-red binoculars trained on the house across the street. 'He's back…'
'Where did it originate?'
'Kitchen - he just appeared out of thin air. Trap door - cellar?' he proffered. Strand nodded, thinking that was the most plausible explanation. 'Are we still recording?'
'Yeah. Time, nine forty seven AM,' Strand said aloud, writing that fact down in their log. 'What's he doing now?'
'Making toast, by the look of it. Second heat source detected - kettle. And coffee…'
!_!_!_!_!_!_!_!_!_!_!_!_!_!_!_!_!_!_!_!_!
Pelant's Residence
10.32AM
Pelant, fresh from his shower, murder, late brunch and with another coffee steaming beside the Washington Post laid open on his lounge table, scanned the upcoming charity events section. In red felt tip he precisely circled the name Assistant Director Thomas. Then he turned the large page to read the classified ads. He rung two ads before his paused when his doorbell chimed.
Getting up, he opened the door with a smile. 'Morning,' the UPS man greeted, handing him a long roll tube, which he took, and tucked under his armpit. 'Sign here, please.'
Pelant took his faux pen, and while signing his name in the box in the little screen, looked around the street. He saw one of his biographers, sitting directly opposite in his Lexus across the street. 'Arr. I've been expecting these,' Pelant purred, handing back the digital mail recorder to the UPS man.
'Have a good day!' He smiled pleasantly, returning to his van. His biographer looked over to him, and smiled casually. Pelant acknowledged him with his own brash smile, and a wave of the tube that had just been delivered, then closed the door. Opening the tube with a pop, he slid out the rolls of building plans, and spread them out over the table with a sense of mounting excitement broiling in his stomach.
'Humm,' Pelant purred. 'Excellent. The Lever Bros. Estate. I do love the Public Records Office…'
!_!_!_!_!_!_!_!_!_!_!_!_!_!_!_!_!_!
Correctional Facility & Remand Centre
3PM
It didn't surprise Bones when she saw Booth through the glass in the visitor room waiting for her and not Cam. She was disappointed but grew ever more concerned for her friend because she'd backed out from coming to see her. Which confirmed her suspicions about what Cam had done to Claudette. But what did surprise her was that Booth wasn't alone. He'd brought Parker with him and suddenly felt deep conflicting emotions about that. She didn't think it right that Booth had brought him to such a place or to see her this way. She couldn't imagine either that Rebecca would've agreed to allow him to come to visit her. However, she was delighted to see him with Booth, as despite the circumstances, Booth was trying to keep his life as normal as possible. She remembered Booth saying once, not so long ago, that he didn't want their lives to change and she thought this was one way he was ensuring that.
At the last door before entering the room, Bones made a gentle plea to her guard, 'Please, could you remove my handcuffs before I enter. There's a young man in there I don't want to upset any further.' The guard looked into the room, then back into her eyes, then compassionately removed her cuffs, before opening the door. 'Thank you,' she said, and walked in.
Booth was on his feet immediately, shortly followed by a beaming Parker, who didn't looked phased by his surrounding at all. Bones smiled at the him, feeling her eyes blister. To her joy Parker snapped himself around her, and squeezed her tight. All thoughts that this was a bad idea drifted off into the ether, feeling his deeply affectionate embrace swell her heart to bursting. 'I've missed you,' he mumbled into her chest.
'And I you, Parker.' She kissed the top of his head, holding her lips to him, and squeezed a little tighter. Flicking her eyes to Booth, who was grinning like the cat that got the cream, and twitching, anxious to get his turn, she laughed. She waved him closer, realising Parker wasn't going to let go of her anytime soon. Booth embraced all of them in one enormous soul-ascending crush. Bones slowly rubbed her cheek against his, closing her eyes to wonderful sensation of being with most of her family.
'Can't breathe, Dad,' Parker muffled into Bones' chest in a sandwich between them. That made them all chuckle, and release one another. Booth smooched her lips, just before he stepped back. But Parker held her hand now, and waited till she sat down, then propped himself comfortably on her lap. She slipped her arms around his waist from behind, unable to lose her smile as they all glanced to one another.
'No school today, Parker?'
He shook his head, smiling cheerfully. 'It's the summer vacation now, Bones. I've got ten days with you and Dad remember - then the rest with Mom?'
'Yes, of course.' Bones recalled the plans they'd made for his vacation visit but now she was incarcerated those plans were scuppered. She just hoped Booth would make the best it for him.
Booth pulled a chair up to sit close, and caressed her shoulders, as he explained, 'Cam was busy today. She sends her apologies but gave us her pass.' Bones lost her smile a little, staring into his eyes, and nodded slowly. Booth saw in them that she must have known why, which surprised him but he didn't comment.
'I'll catch up with her another time, no doubt,' she said, then, 'Could you give her this letter,' handing it to Booth from her pocket. He tucked it away safe in his leather jacket, promising he would. Bones looked back to Parker who was staring at her marked, but healing, face.
'Dad says you've had a rough time in here. I hope they look a lot worse than you.' Bones sniggered, glancing to Booth, and flushing.
'They do, Parker,' she assured, kissing his cheek. Parker flared his impressed eyes at Booth, blushing at receiving another sweet kiss. Then Bones quickly changed the subject, seeing a bag they'd brought with them on the table, 'What's in the bag?'
Parker practically vibrated, and ripped the bag from the table, and dived into it, whipping out the items, announcing proudly, 'Dad brought things you need, like phone cards; tobacco, soft toilet roll, writing paper, stamps,' he droned the boring things, then brightened, as he gushed excitedly, 'I brought you the good stuff, Chocolate, the family picture I made of all of us from Christine's mobile…' As he said that, and placed it on the table along with the other items, Bones glanced to Booth, feeling her eyes water again. She was deeply touched and moved by his thoughtfulness, she barely held herself together. Biting her bottom lip, she looked to Booth who was as proud as punch with his son. Behind Parker's back they kissed tenderly several precious times. 'Plums and a couple of mandarins, bag of fizzing sour candy,' Parker blustered on, missing their loving exchange. Bones knew that last item was for him though but didn't comment, only snorted her amusement. 'A Spiderman comic, pack of cards, aaand this…'
'Oh! Another postcard,' Bones said jubilantly. Parker nodded fast, handing it to her. 'Milford Sound, New Zealand.' Bones looked over the card with a critical eye, and smiled at Booth who still hadn't lost his.
Parker ripped open the bag of sour candy, and stuffed a few in his mouth, mumbling, 'It came this morning. Granddad Max is pretty cool looking after Christine for us. But I'm a bit annoyed really.' Bones cocked a brow at that remark. 'Well, she's jet-setting all over the world - she's major lucky.'
'That's true but what would you say if I promise you when I get out of here we all take a trip somewhere?'
'I'd say, righteous!' Parker gushed, wiggling on her lap, chomping down more sour jellies. 'Can we, Dad?' Booth nodded, while idly massaging Bones' nape just in her hairline, knowing she loved it when he did that. 'You must miss her so bad, Bones,' Parker said with a cute sticky-lipped pout. She felt Booth stop caressing suddenly at his statement, and knew he was concerned for her emotional control. 'I miss hearing her giggle - she does love to giggle.'
Bones rested her chin on Parker's shoulder, and nodded, saying reflectively, 'Yes, I do, Parker, and her sweet scent, holding her - breast feeding her - I'm starting to fear she'll forget me - all of us…' Sometimes her honesty was too much for Booth to bare, and his heart tore right down the middle hearing her soft laments.
Parker thought quickly. 'But not the diaper changing though, I bet.'
'Yes, Parker, believe it or not, even changing her soiled diapers,' she said with a watery smile for him. Seeing and feeling that he'd made her unhappy, Parker popped a sour fizzing candy in her mouth without warning, hoping to cheer her back up. 'G'urgh. Oh. My. God. That's re-volting!' she gagged, making Parker laugh hard and long. Booth snorted his amusement too, seeing her look for somewhere to spit it out. 'Is this candy toxic - safe to ingest?'
'Haa! Wait, it gets better when you get to the sweet bit.'
'I'd rather not.' Politely Bones picked it out of her mouth, handing it to Booth to do something with. He grinned charmingly, as he popped it into his mouth, and chewed it. She rolled her eyes at him, reaching for one of the chocolate bars, and snapped some off, changing the subject, 'The Governor came to see me this morning. The cell is my own from now on - she insisted. And she's replaced Tasmin's bed with a desk and chair.' Booth's brows shot up to his hairline, clearly thrilled about that. Parker flicked open the comic, and began to read, getting engrossed quickly. 'And I slept extremely well last night.' Booth knew why too, and began again to caress her nape. Popping a cube of chocolate into her mouth, she let it melt on her tongue, while staring into Booth's eyes, knowing exactly what he was thinking and probably recalling. With Parker distracted, Bones nuzzled her cryptic question into Booth's ear, remembering he hadn't found relief during that fretful encounter, 'You didn't sleep as well as me, did you?'
Booth kissed her cheek, and again towards her lips, purring sultrily against them, 'Don't worry - I did sleep, knowing you were gonna be out like a light.'
Bones gently tickled the tip of her nose around his cheek, breathing him in indulgently, then suddenly she snapped her head back. 'Have you been using my shower foam?' she accused, clearly affronted.
Booth laughed, seeing the near outrage on her face, and when Parker confirmed it with, 'Yep - tons of it, Bones!' barely looking up from the comic, turning a page.
She bristled, 'W'hell, really...' Sniggering, Booth nuzzled her neck, peppering her throat with more soft kisses, hoping for forgiveness.
'I like the way it makes me smell of you, and, feel my skin, its sooo soft,' he awed, offering her his forearm to test. Parker turned his head slowly to look at his Dad, while Bones' jaw hung slightly. They both thought he had clearly crossed a line into madness. Booth hid his arm again, and twitched, clearing his throat. 'Hey, it's not like I'm wearing your underwear or something - it just a bit of shower cream,' he defended. Bones began to laugh hard with the image of him walking around in her underwear prancing about in her brain. It was the men's turn to look at her as if she'd gone insane.
Just then, as they realised why she was laughing and began to themselves, the door behind them opened. The guard said, 'Time to go.' Their laughter seeped away, as did their smiles, knowing they were going to be separated yet again. That half an hour had been so short and ended so abruptly, it felt unbelievably cruel.
Parker quickly got up, and began to fill her bag of treats again, while Booth held her tight, whispering, 'I love you. I'll see you next week, ok?' She nodded, holding onto him for as long as she could.
'I love you too,' she said back, trying to smile, and releasing him slowly. 'Thanks for coming. I'll call when I can,' she assured, having her cuffs put back on. Parker handed her the bag, seeing her cuffed, and slipped his eyes north to meet her smile coming down. 'I love you too, Parker.' She lent down, and kissed his cheek. 'Give my best wishes to your Mom. And tell her thank you for letting you come.' Booth hadn't told Rebecca and had sworn Parker to secrecy about their visit, knowing she would have refused his request even though Parker insisted on coming.
'It was such a treat to see you. Enjoy your holidays together.' Nodding, Parker's chin started to waggle, so Booth slipped his arm over his shoulder, and held him close to his side. Parker tried to stave off his tears, but one escaped. Bones tilted her head in sympathy for him. 'Bye.' With one last aching look into Booth's eyes, she was lead away.
Parker looked up to Booth, pining sadly, 'Oooh. Dad…' Then he hugged him close, not only to comfort himself but his father too.
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Chengdu International Airport
China
Maria rolled her head on the headrest to look at Max as they hurtled down the runway at full reverse throttle. The plane slowed, the engines relaxed, then they began to sedately taxi to the terminal. Offering her his hand, he grinned hard, still with his eyes closed, and said, 'Marco.'
'Polo,' Maria retorted, taking his offered hand, and squeezed it...
!_!_!_!_!_!_!_!_!_!_!_!_!_!_!_!_!_!
A/N: What's the beast up to now? Will AD Thomas be Pelant's next target or will it be Hodgins? Another postcard - what's all that about? Will Ange's Mom turn out to be a help or a hindrance? How long will it be until Booth cracks under the strain? Find out in the next instalments of, Pelant - coming very soon. All reviews humbly received. Hugs, Lebxeb. XX
