Chapter 21. Never Lonely With You Around

Booth takes a shower to wash off all the airplane, restaurant, and hockey stadium residue. He puts on the tee shirt and the boxers he brought as sleepwear, and can't help looking at his phone. I wonder how things are going at home with Bones and Parker, he thinks to himself. Looking at the clock, he makes the decision to call, even at this late hour. Bones will be up trying to sedate Parker most likely, maybe she'd appreciate a little company, even if just over the phone line.

He dials her number and listens to it ring, then has second thoughts and hangs up. What if Parker has finally fallen asleep and the call wakes him up? He knows how torturous that can be on an exhausted adult. While he's standing there, one hand on his hip, the other holding the closed phone against his chin, he's startled by Brennan's singing voice.

"The phone rings in the middle of the night, my father yells what you gonna do with you life? Oh daddy dear you know you're still number one, but girls they wanna have fu-un. Yeah, girls just wanna have fun …"

Angela had helped Brennan record this as a ring tone for Booth's phone under the guise of being a thank you for the "Hot Blooded" ring tone he'd made for her. Angela was tickled to help the two of them surprise each other with this sweet gesture. Brennan pretended she was doing it because of her competitive nature – she didn't want to be outdone by Booth. Angela knew otherwise. She thought it was one of the most romantic gestures she'd ever witnessed, especially for a couple who weren't officially dating.

"Bones! What are you doing calling me so late at night?" he says after depressing the TALK button on his cell.

"You called me, Booth," she says sounding groggy. She plops down on his bed, grabs one of his pillows and buries her face in it, breathing in the Boothy scent still lingering there.

"What?" Booth feigns confusion.

"Booth … what time is it?" asks Brennan, yawning.

"Its quarter past midnight and all's well on the Eastern front. Did I wake you?"

"So you admit you called me?" She asks skipping over the question she didn't want to answer.

"You caught me. I thought I'd see how you were faring with the human jumping bean. How's it going? He still awake"

"Oh no, he fell asleep half an hour after I called you. It must have been the crash after the sugar high. He's asleep now in his bedroom," she says, yawning again and sitting back against the headboard, an arm hugging the pillow in her lap.

"What happened to the tent idea?" asks Booth.

"We did assemble it and play around in it for a while, but the floor out there is not as soft as a mattress. I don't know how you guys sleep there as much as you seem to."

"We have inflatable sleeping mats – makes you sleep like a baby. Don't be surprised if he crawls in with you during the night, by the way."

"Hunh?" says Brennan.

"Where are you sleeping, by the way?" he asks, closing his eyes and laying back diagonally on his hotel room mattress, feet up by the pillows, head at the foot of the bed. He scratches his chest with his free hand, then runs his hand through his hair, eventually slipping his free hand behind his neck and crossing his legs. Not really a phone person, he actually doesn't mind chatting for a while after such a relaxing evening.

"Well …," Brennan begins. Where did he think I was going to sleep? She thinks. "Yours is the only other bed in the apartment, Booth … I'll sleep in your bed. Unless …"

Booth closes his eyes and, taking his free hand from behind his neck, lays that arm over his forehead, and across his eyes. He lets out a lengthy sigh.

I'll be over in five minutes, thinks Booth, loud enough that he's not sure if it WAS just in his head or if he said it out loud.

"What?" Brennan sounds confused.

"What?" replies Booth, thinking, "Crap!"

"Did you say something?"

"What, when?" he says playing dumb.

"Just then. You said something I couldn't understand or maybe you just … were making a noise. Or was that your digestive system - maybe you need to eat, Booth. Surely they have pie in Philadelphia?" She chuckles, goading him.

Relieved, Booth says, "Very funny, little miss double serving of Bananas Foster right before bed," he teases her back. "So how'd the night go in general? Does my place look like a tornado hit?"

"Your place is fine – or it will be, by the time you get back," she says. "The tv guy called …"

"Called? He was supposed to show up. They didn't deliver it?" He asks, exasperated.

"Booth – no need to get cranky – I negotiated a second pair of 3D glasses for you."

"But it's the principle of the thing …" argues Booth.

"Simmer down, Booth, you can't watch it while you're in Philadelphia anyway. It will be here by the time you get back," she says. "Pinky swear."

"Pinky swear, huh? You're being trained in the vernacular of a third grade boy. By next week you won't even recognize yourself."

"Booth, VERNACULAR? Was that the word of the day on your cell phone dictionary app?"

"I take it where I can get it … I'm a busy guy. Got things to do. Places to go."

"Speaking of the vernacular of nine-year-olds, did you know that every preadolescent grade level has its own unique culture? The rituals, rules, and customs of these miniature societies are dictated by a leader who has proven his stamina, skill, and creativity in the arena of denigrating the mothers of the other members."

"Yes, Bones, I was aware of that though I've never heard it put so succinctly. "Yesterday's word, succinctly?"

"Last Thursday's. I'm on a self-improvement kick. So, have you corrupted my son?"

"No Booth," she begins. "Oh, you're joking. That was a joke, right?"

"Yes, that was a joke."

"Hey, I did learn something that might interest you."

"And what might that be, Bones? Did Parker teach you the fine art of hocking a loogie?"

"No – although that does sound interesting. Is that a competitive skill?"

"It has to do with spitting a snot projectile at increasing distances, preferably toward an enemy or someone who has better toys than you do."

"What a useful skill," she comments, "Did you see how I said exactly the opposite of what I meant? It was an ironic statement. I really do not see how HOCKING A LOOGIE could be a useful skill unless you are a member of the Tse-Tsemili military tribe of Caliguay, Macedonia." She pauses briefly, then adopts a more serious tone. "Booth, Parker is lonely."

"I thought you said he was asleep."

"He is. I don't mean he's lonely this minute, Booth. He's lonely in general. I know that is not an easy thing to hear, but I really thought you should know."

"What do you mean, lonely? Is he having trouble making friends at school? Is he getting into fights? Because his school is usually very good at keeping us informed if there are …"

"No Booth. He's doing fine at school. Has a couple of friends he identifies with. He says he misses him mom. And he misses you."

"What does that mean?" Booth sits up, concerned.

"He says you and Rebecca are the best parents a kid could have. You both deserve happiness, he says. He wants you to have that – and he thinks he gets in the way sometimes."

"Gets in the way – what is that supposed to mean? He's never in the way. Everything else is in the way," he says confused. "He is exactly where he should be."

"Okay Booth, I'm not going to interpret this, we both know that is not my strength. This is exactly what he said, I actually made a bunch of notes after he passed out – so I could get it right." Booth can hear the rustling of a piece of paper and lies back on the bed, shoving a pillow under his head.

"He misses his mom," begins Brennan.

"But he's with her all the time," counters Booth.

"Booth I am just telling you what he said without alterations so you can figure this out. Personally, I'm at a loss."

"Sorry, go on."

"Okay – He misses crawling into bed with her. He misses having her all to himself. He knows she loves him – that is not the problem. He says when California is there, California gets a lot of her attention. When Hannah was with you, she got a lot of the attention. Its not, he said, that he feels left out, its just that he's not the center of attention. And he misses that."

"That's part of growing up, Bones. He's never going to be a baby again."

"I know that, Booth, but children, preadolescents especially, are miniature people whose job it is to figure out how to become adults. Part of that is creating distance between themselves and their parents through any number of paradoxical proclamations and behaviors which place them in opposition to anyone or thing that represents authority. In any culture, it is a confusing and stressful time for both parents and children."

"Did he say anything about when he's with you and me?"

"Yes, he did, though it isn't consistent so I have no theories as to the implications. He said when the three of us are together – Parker, you, and me – that you don't have to work at paying attention to me, and so he gets to be the center of attention," she explains as if reading straight from her notes, which she is. "He says that it doesn't look to him like you are ignoring me – or like I ignore you – its just that its not work, whatever that means. I told you, its inconsistent."

"Maybe what he's saying is that we are comfortable enough with each other that we don't feel the need to … I don't know … make things happen. We just let things happen naturally. That's gotta be good, right?"

"I would think so – but I am not a parent, or a child psychologist. Maybe you should have Sweets have a talk with him."

"You really think so?"

"Look, he doesn't seem depressed. I think he's going through a normal growth period and its confusing for him. But again, I'm not a psychologist or pediatrician."

"Hmmmm."

Brennan pauses to let all this sink in. "Should I not have told you? I just thought you would want to know."

"No, Bones," he says thoughtfully. "I am glad you did. I am impressed that you two had a conversation like this. Sometimes it's a challenge to get him to tell me when something is bothering him."

"That has been the case in all cultures, in all countries, in all generations, since the beginning of time. It is an anthropological certainty. "

"For someone who's not sure it's a good idea to bring kids into this world, you seem to be enjoying your time with one," comments Booth.

"Yes, I am," she agrees. "I find that I'm experiencing and identification with Parker. I experienced many of the same feelings he's going through. When it was just Russ and me, he was constantly distracted with finding ways to earn money and provide for my physical needs at the same time – and in foster care, you are never the center of anyone's attention."

"I'm sorry you had to experience that, Bones."

"But it has given me access to being able to identify with Parker."

"Bones, that's all being a loving parent is – being able to identify with your child. Seeing yourself in this tiny human being and aching to give them all you didn't have. Its almost like trying to love the child version of yourself – a better version of yourself – because this time you get to be the parent."

"Hmmmm. I never looked at it that way …."

"Many times we end up screwing it up in other ways. But all we can do is try. And love them. And hope they have good medical insurance and can afford lots of therapy when they finally become adults!"

Quite a while and several conversation topics later, as the conversation begins to wind down, Brennan remembers she had taken a photograph, with her cell, of Parker slurping up the Bananas Foster syrup.

"One more thing before we hang up," she says, not for the first time during this conversation. "I am sending you a picture of Parker. I took it on my cell. You should get it in a moment." She pushes a bunch of buttons on her phone. "After we hang up, you should be able to download it. Keep in mind that he has been thoroughly wiped clean since that photo was taken. He will not wake up with a twin-sized sheet attached to his face – I promise."

"I can barely see at this point. Or keep my eyes open. But I will look at that photo before passing out. what time is it anyway?"

"You're not going to believe this – it's 2:30 in the morning!"

"What?" exclaims Booth.

"Its 2:30 in the morning. No wonder I feel hung over –and I haven't had anything to drink. Must be dehydrated from all the talking – and laughing."

"This was fun, Bones. When was the last time we talked for more than ten minutes on the phone?"

"Never, in all likelihood."

"Right. I should go out of town more often."

"Don't you dare. I need my sleep!"

"And I have to be bright-eyed and bushy-tailed at 7:30 tomorrow morning to be picked up by Dr. Larrinaga for the ground-breaking ceremony at the college."

"Good luck with that. I'll see you at the airport?"

"Yep. I'll be the one who looks like he's had a great vacation – but no sleep the night before."

"You really enjoyed yourself this evening with the Larrinaga's, didn't you?"

"Yes, and you enjoyed yourself with Parker."

"Indubitably. And on the phone with you."

"Good word, indubitably."

"Know what it means?"

"Nope," admits Booth.

"Look it up," replies Brennan. They both chuckle and yawn at the same time.

After hanging up, Booth downloads the photo of Parker. He's pleasantly surprised by how happy Parker looks. And why wouldn't he be, he says to himself. He spent the evening with my partner.