Once again I'm in total shock by the reviews y'all left on the last chapter. THANK YOU!!!! Y'all are simply the best. Now, here's some disappointing news - this chapter is a little shorter than what I usually post and I apologize. The weekend is slowly but surely approaching and hopefully I will be able to update with a nice long chapter then. Hopefully this will tide you over. Enjoy!
Chapter 25
Seeing Brennan's immediate predicament, Booth offered reinforcements.
"Now Caroline," Booth intervened, "Don't you think that's a little extreme?"
"Extreme? No. Conniving? Maybe," she divulged.
"So what's it gonna be?" she probed.
"Tell ya what," Booth offered seeing that Brennan's condition had only improved to the point that her mouth was now closed, "how about you go ahead and work your magic so Ben here can go to daycare and then we'll see what kind of deal we can work out?"
"Nice try Agent Smiles Alot," Caroline mumbled, "but that's the deal I'm offerin. Take it or leave it."
"You do realize this is blackmail," Brennan finally put a coherent argument together.
"In its purest form," Caroline gloated.
"B-b-but what if I'm not ready to get married," Brennan sputtered.
"Are you, Dr. Temperance Brennan, saying that you would entertain the idea of marrying Special Agent Seeley Booth, because that might be enough to pacify my puckish inquiries," she pried.
"Maybe," Brennan mumbled.
"What was that, Cherie?" Caroline prompted.
"Fine!" Brennan shouted, "I want to marry Seeley Booth!"
The catcalls, whistles, and "way to go Booth" echoed down the hallway toward Booth's office. A smile of pure delight emerged from Booth's lips.
"Well now," Caroline stated tugging on her blazer, "this I can work with."
Reaching out toward Ben, Caroline coaxed, "Come on lil' Booth, let's see what we can do about all of this."
With a nod from Booth, Ben took Caroline's hand as she ushered him out into the hallway.
"Miss Caroline, what was that all about?" Ben titled his head in confusion.
"Honey, that is a very good example of two adults who want to go swimming, but are too afraid to go into the water," she explained. "So we're gonna give em a little push."
"What's gonna happen when they fall in?" he asked.
"Well," she sighed, "either the world will end or you'll have yourself an honest to goodness momma and daddy."
"That sure would be nice," his eyes filling with wonder. "I've never had a mommy and daddy before."
Caroline gave his little hand a squeeze as she blinked away the tears that watered her eyes. She couldn't have 'softie' added to her list of names.
Booth looked at Brennan in total amazement.
"You want to marry me?" he asked trying to suppress the hope rising in him.
"No," she retracted, "I just said that to get you listed as Ben's foster dad."
"Oh, so a means to an end?" he poked; knowing she was lying.
"Yes, that's it 'a means to an end'," she repeated.
"Kinda like the mistletoe kiss?" he continued.
"Yes, exactly," her eyes darting around the room to avoid his gaze.
"Because we both know that meant nothing, right?" his assault continued as he advanced in her direction.
"Right," her voice wavering.
"Right," he mocked crowding her personal space.
"I know you're lying," he whispered.
"I am…."
His lips interrupted any further correspondence.
"Okay, so maybe I was lying," she confessed.
"About?" he urged.
"Both," she stated.
He had to smile at her attempt to avoid saying any form of the word 'marry'.
"Want to talk about it?" he asked.
She shook her head, "Later. Right now I want to take our son to his first day at day care."
He gave a quick nod, "Sounds good."
Finding the elusive pair wasn't that difficult. Caroline's boisterous voice echoed down the hall from the conference room where she was making all the necessary phone calls. Booth and Brennan stepped in the room to find Caroline tapping a pen in aggravation and Ben spinning in one of the office conference chairs. With a sarcastic thank you, Caroline ended the conversation and turned her attention to the awaiting pair.
"Papers are being faxed," she smirked.
"Thank you Caroline," Booth and Brennan acknowledged.
"Well let's just say my reimbursement will be made in monthly payments," she flaunted. "Due dates are sporadic and subject to change."
With that she sauntered by the two and out of the room.
Not taking the time to dwell on the exact meaning of Caroline's statement, Booth swung Ben out of the chair tossing him into the air.
"Let's go check out this daycare, buddy!" Booth exclaimed.
"Alright!" Ben joined in.
Walking toward the elevator, Ben had situated himself between Booth and Temperance holding their hands. His eyes were still glowing at the thought of having a mommy and a daddy.
After completing the necessary paperwork and meeting with the curator concerning Ben's medical condition, it was time for Booth and Temperance to say good bye. Temperance found the task more overwhelming than expected, but took comfort in the fact that Booth would be close by if anything happened.
Exiting the daycare, Booth reached for Tempe's shoulder.
"He's gonna be just fine," he reassured.
"I know," she quietly admitted. "Just promise you'll let me know if anything happens."
"You know I will," he soothed rubbing his hands up and down her arms.
"I know," she confessed.
"Things have changed," he noted; their eyes still locked. "We've got to sort some of this out."
"You're right," she agreed. "What about lunch?"
"Say noon at the diner?" he offered.
"See you then," she added before turning to leave.
She mentally added Booth's discussion on her "to do" list which seemed to be growing by leaps and bounds. Reaching the doors of the Hoover Building, she realized that Booth had driven her and Ben that morning. She turned around to find Booth still planted in the same spot dangling his keys from his finger.
"Going for a walk, Bones?" he poked.
She walked back towards him tolerating his growing smile.
Flashing one of her own, she grabbed his keys and stated, "No, thought I'd take a government issued SUV out for a drive."
Turning on her heel, she strolled toward the door with his keys in hand and a flustered Booth in tow.
A review would surely help my rotten week. :) Hope you enjoyed.