Thank you for all of the reviews.... this may not be any good either, but I'm trying:) Happy holidays!
The climbing went well. The zip line rides were fast and fantastic. More than one person wanted to go again, but the lure of the boats and the lake drew almost everyone back to camp quickly.
"Angela, where's Dr. Bones? She promised we'd go out in the paddleboat."
"Well, she stayed to help Ranger Tom put away the safety lines for the rock wall. Why don't you take your dad? He needs a partner."
"I guess... Do you think her hand still hurts?"
"Whose hand, Bub?"
"Hey Daddy. Wanna go for a boat ride?"
"Sure thing. Who hurt their hand?"
"No one Booth, everyone is fine," came the artist's reply; coupled with a don't-go-there look.
"Dr. Bones had a bandage on her hand a few weeks ago. She said 'ow' when she caught me off the zippy line."
Booth looked at Angela while Parker was trying to drag him to the shore.
"Why...?"
If looks could pierce a heart, his would be shredded.
~One more thing to ask about. I don't remember a bandage. Let's see; a few weeks ago... we were in between cases. But I know I stopped in to see her. I never noticed any bandage... I wonder what she meant by later...~
He and Parker had a blast. They were in a paddleboat, which has bicycle pedals for moving. His son's feet were just long enough to help.
"Parks, before we go back, Daddy wants to tell you something."
"Yeah Dad?"
"Bub... Daddy broke up with Denise today. Do you know what that means?"
"That I never have to see her again?" Hope was plainly evident.
Booth closed his eyes... what had he been thinking. His own son couldn't wait to be rid of her.
"Yeah. We don't have to see her again."
"That's good Daddy. Cuz I didn't like her."
"I noticed that Parker."
They paddled in silence for a few seconds.
"So you and Dr. Bones are boyfriend and girlfriend again, right?"
"We never... why do you think we are... were dating?"
"How dumb do you think I am Daddy? You spend all your time with her, even at work. You call her all the time. We gave her that tree for Christmas. Duh..."
"Parks, Bones is my partner. We work together, we find bad guys and make sure they go to jail. That's it."
"Daddy, I'm seven. And you talk in your sleep."
"What? I do not... What do I say?"
"Sometimes I can't understand."
"What about when you can?"
~Oh God. What do I say with no control over my dreams? It could be nightmares from the military ops, or from being captures and tortured... Parker doesn't need to... wait, we were talking about Bones. Those are definitely not nightmares. They feel almost real... her hair...skin... that damn mouth of hers...~
"Earth to Daddy... You have a silly look on your face."
"Sorry, Bub. I was thinking. Now, what do I supposedly say?"
"It's never the same. The last time I heard you was the night that lady came to eat with us. You kept saying 'Bones', and that you were sorry, and you'd never leave."
He couldn't even remember that dream sequence.
"Anything else, Parker?"
"You say you love her."
"So that's why you think we are dating?"
"No. You guys are always together. Angela and Mommy say you compament each other."
"Ok, I'll talk to them about saying things like that to you."
They were headed back to shore. Booth suddenly remembered a question he wanted to ask Parker. And this was a perfect alone moment. No one was around to keep his son quiet.
"Hey Bub, remember you said that Bones hurt her hand?"
"Not her hand. It was her arm... no her wrist."
"She had a bandage on it?"
"Yep. It looked like that bandage we see people wearing at the bowling alley. She couldn't bend it."
"Did anyone tell you what happened?"
"No. But Dr. Bones said it was just an accident, and the cut just needed time to heal."
~What? What cut? Bones isn't like that! She's never been like that. How in the hell could a cut wrist be an accident? Why didn't I notice a bandage like that?~
Their boat slid onto the shallow beach. They both started to climb out and drag it out of the waves.
"Dr. Bones! There you are! Daddy and I went in the boat. It was fun!"
"So you are all paddled out? I was ready to go too."
"Right now I am, but I'll be ready later. Can we go then?"
"Of course we can Parker."
The little boy ran and gave her a hug. Then bolted off to play with his friends. She walked over to the boat and began pushing it back into the water in her water shoes and rolled up cargo pants.
"What are you doing Bones?"
"I want to go out in the boat Booth. One person can handle it, I've done it before."
She had climbed in and was starting to back peddle it into the deeper water.
~Perfect opportunity knocking here Seel. There is no where she can go to, there is no running when you are in open water~
"Hang on a sec. I wanna go too."
"You just got back, and Parker..."
"He'll be fine."
Another infuriating eyebrow lift.
~They should really patent that look~
"Fine, I'll take care of..." He kept a hand on the boat and turned to look for the artist in charge. "Hey! Angela! Keep an eye on Parker, ok? We're going out in the boat."
He saw a nod, and a worried, but relieved smile on her face.
They pedaled in silence. Getting away from shore, and people. Much further out than Booth had gone with Parker. Eventually, they stopped. Peace emitting from the rocking motion of the boat in the middle of the small lake, the woods all around. Blue sky, puffy clouds. It was perfect.
"So, here we are... all alone Bones." He turned his head to look at her. Her knuckles were turning white from gripping the plexi-glass boat seat.
"I guess this means you want to talk?"
"You said later, and it is later Bones."