Disclaimer: I do not own Bones, but I am obsessed!
Chapter 24: Give It Away
July 27, 2006 Duck, North Carolina
"How much longer, Mom?" Lucy shouted down to her mother.
"Just a few more minutes, Lucy. Look, you can already see the pink in the sky."
Lucy settled back into the lifeguard chair that she and her "cousins" had commandeered while the beach was empty. Parker was snuggled into her side, but the early morning had proved to be too much and small boy had fallen back asleep. The adults of the group were settled on a blanket next to the stand, Russ cradling Amy and Booth next to Brennan. Booth longed to place his arms around Brennan and hold her tight against him as the morning still had a bit of chill in the air. But he had caught knowing glances from Russ and Amy so many times in the past few days that he didn't want to risk it. Of course his partner bringing him and his son on vacation did nothing to convince others that they were not, in fact, dating. His slack-jawed staring at Brennan when she was in a bathing suit had also not helped stop the teasing from Brennan's brother.
Booth looked out over the Atlantic and thought back on the past year. A year ago today he had helped rescue Lucy, a year ago today his partner had first kissed him, and a year ago today he had first realized how deeply and truly he cared for his partner and her daughter. It hadn't been an easy year. There had been fire, injuries, more kidnapping, and funerals, but he didn't think about those things now. He thought instead about sharing coffee while reading the paper at Brennan's apartment and he thought about how her hand had fit perfectly in his own. He thought about sitting in a hospital room and eating pudding together. He thought about pizza and sitting on the couch watching a movie with Parker and Lucy snuggled between them.
Without realizing it, his arm had reached around Brennan's shoulder and pulled her tight. Russ smirked over in their direction and Booth merely shrugged. He wasn't going to hide how he felt anymore, he couldn't if he tried. The sun was beginning to rise. There were a few clouds in the sky that reflected the light, and the sky was already a pale blue. It was going to be a wonderful day. Two joggers ran by along the surf and waved at the family. The children on the tower called hello as they watched the day begin.
Hayley began to cough a bit, which earned a concerned glance from all of the adults, but it stopped quickly and they relaxed as she began to giggle with Emma and Lucy about birthday plans. Parker was starting to stir, now ready to welcome the day. He yawned and stretched and joined his friends in their scheming. Stomachs rumbled and Brennan and Amy began to pull out the bagels, cream cheese and fruit that they had packed. The children reluctantly climbed down from the lifeguard tower, but cheerily joined in the eating of breakfast.
The beach steadily became more crowded as resort workers set out umbrellas and chairs along the stretch of sand. A few more joggers passed by and some families started to arrive laden with inner tubes, boogie boards, and tools for making sandcastles. Amy packed up the remnants of breakfast while Russ shook out the blanket. They were headed back to the house to change into swimsuits, sunscreen up and prepare for another day in the surf and sun.
Lucy's sharp eyes took one last look over the ocean. They would be back shortly, but it always hurt her heart to leave this place. She noticed some fins peeking out of the water and a spout of water. "Look! Mom, Parker, everyone! There are dolphins out there." She pointed out in the direction of the pod. They were out in the distance, but there were at least ten dolphins in the water. Hayley and Emma cooed in pleasure, and Parker asked his Dad to pick him up so that he could have a better look at the majestic mammals.
The group stayed and watched the dolphins swim and play in the distance. They never came close to shore, but still it was exciting to see. Lucy stood beside her Mom and hugged her. "Its going to be a good birthday, isn't it, Mom?"
Brennan smiled at her daughter and placed a hand on her daughter's shoulder. "Yes, Lucy, I think it will be."
The group walked slowly back to the large house that Brennan had rented. She had gotten beach-front property, so the trip was short. The children ran ahead and clamored into their room where clothes were quickly changed and sunscreen was rubbed into backs and faces. The adults also changed and chatted as they heard their children giggling on the floor below them.
Booth settled himself on a counter stool. "Bones, I think this was the best idea we've ever had."
Brennan smirked, "We?" Booth said nothing and Brennan spoke again, "I am glad that Cullen was able to give you the time off and that Rebecca relented and allowed Parker to accompany us."
Russ rubbed sunscreen onto Amy's back as he agreed, "Yep, it wouldn't have been the same trip without you, Booth. It's nice to see my sister so happy and relaxed."
Brennan didn't appreciate the teasing tone in her brother's voice and stuck her tongue out at him. The children thundered up the stairs at that moment, disrupting any further talk of the adults.
Booth clapped his hands together, "OK, Squirt. It's your birthday, and you already got your sunrise on the beach. What's next on your day of fun?"
"Back to the beach, where we build the best sandcastle ever. I've got the blue-prints drawn. And then some time playing the waves. Then the resort for lunch. And then to the Currituck Lighthouse. We've got the jet-ski rentals at four and then dinner. I'm going with the crabcakes tonight. And then back here for cake and ice cream."
Booth pretended to pout, "No pie tonight? What kind of birthday party is this?" Lucy giggled, as Brennan told him that there was also an apple pie on the menu. Booth grinned. "OK, then I'm in. It's going to be a busy day. Let's head out."
The children chorused their assent, and Emma and Hayley each grabbed on to one of Booth's arms. They had become instant fans of the agent and his jovial personality. Parker took the opportunity to approach Brennan while Lucy took one hand of her uncle and the other reached across to Amy, not wanting anyone to feel left out on this special day. The group made their way downstairs where they gathered everything that they needed for the day at the beach. The mud room on the ground floor was soon emptied as each person grabbed a different item. Lucy was the first one to open the door, ready to head back to the beach. She wasn't looking at her feet and tripped over a package as she entered into the sunshine.
"What is that?" Lucy dropped the inner tube that she was carrying in favor of picking up the strange package.
Instantly Booth was at her side. "Drop it, Lucy. You don't know what's in there." Lucy looked confused, but did as asked.
Brennan had joined them while the rest of the group wondered what the delay was. "Booth, what's going on?"
"Someone put an unmarked package outside the house of a formidable crime solving duo. You don't know what's inside." Brennan reached for the package, to find what was inside someone simply had to open it. Booth pulled her away as she tried to reach for the box on the ground. "Bones, we have a lot of enemies. And don't forget about who we arrested a year ago today." Two memories warred for top billing in Booth's mind. Thinking back to Kenton's refrigerator bomb and how bad things can be placed in the most innocent of places, Booth toed the package with his foot. Miller was safely locked away for the foreseeable future, but still it's possible that he could have connections that were bent on revenge.
Brennan's sharp eye caught something taped to the side of the package. "Booth, there is something taped there." Ignoring Booth's protest, she peeled the card from the package and opened it. "It says, 'Happy Birthday, Lucy! Sorry, I can't be there in person. Have a wonderful day. Love, Grandpa.'"
Booth whispered in Brennan's ear. "Is this from who I think it's from?"
Brennan's eyes were crystal clear as she stared at her partner, "Yes, this is from my father."