AN- Thanks so much for your amazing support of this story! Keep reviewing… I love to hear from you.

Based on the comments on the last chapter, I've got a couple of things I'd like to address: first, yes… I do realize that the blue of Parker's room would in fact, NOT lend itself to a Flyers theme. That was an oversight that I don't normally make and it's been corrected (Go, Phils! ;-) ) Thanks for pointing it out.

I was surprised by all the feedback regarding the gaming tables…. A lot of thought went in to this, and I stand by my choice. I think that there are levels of addictive behavior… For example, Booth, as the child of an alcoholic who has addiction issues of his own, probably shouldn't drink—but he does. Being in Las Vegas casinos didn't freak him out. Following this line of thinking, I don't see it being a problem to give him a perfectly appointed "man room." Just because he has tables in his house doesn't mean he's going to turn into some out-of-control degenerate gambler. I don't see him making Parker plop down his allowance in order to shoot a game of pool. So, I hope you understand where I'm coming from- but in any case, I still stand by the decision.

On with this week's chapter- your reviews will be considered and appreciated! :-)

Chapter 26

The Next Step

Tuesday morning found Booth and Brennan getting a leisurely start to the day. Since only one of them had to rush off to work, it seemed that the morning routine was a bit less hectic. While Brennan took her time showering and dressing, Booth went downstairs to make breakfast for her. He busied himself about, thoroughly enjoying the size of the gourmet kitchen. The pantry was about the size of the kitchen in his old apartment. He began thinking about what it would be like to prepare holiday dinners here for his family, and made a mental note to talk to his wife about them hosting a dinner for everyone this year.

"Something smells great," she said, walking in to the kitchen and going straight for the coffee pot.

"Scrambled tofu and fakin' bacon for you, eggs and the real thing for me," he said, leaning over for a quick kiss as she walked past.

"I can't believe Angela actually stocked the groceries," she said, sitting down on a counter stool as he set a plate in front of her.

"She definitely doesn't do anything halfway," he said, sitting down next to her with his own plate.

"What are you going to do today?" she asked, hoping to sound casual.

He smiled, knowing she was worried about setting him off with the question.

"I thought I'd go downstairs and start unpacking some of my sports stuff. I can set up the basement by myself, but most of the other stuff I figure we're gonna want to do together," he said.

"We can do a room or two each evening," she offered.

"And then finish up this weekend when Parker's here," he agreed. "Sounds like a plan. I've also got an appointment with Benson this afternoon."

"Do you want to meet for lunch?" she asked, sipping her coffee.

"Sounds great," he said. "But let's not meet. I want to pick you up."

"Are you sure?" she asked.

"Yep," he answered just as he filled his mouth with a forkful of eggs.

BnBnBnBnBnB

"Damn, Seeley," Jared said, following his brother down the stairs. "This is awesome. Maybe I need to dump Padme and get a rich wife."

"Not funny," Booth replied sternly.

"Nah, I'm just givin' you hell," Jared said. "You know I adore Tempe, and I don't think you're a kept man."

"Shut up," Booth said, as his brother laughed.

"Seriously, Seel. This place is great." He nodded toward the blank wall behind the bar. "What are you gonna do over there?"

"Angela's gonna paint a mural for me," he said, smiling and his eyes sparkling with mischief. "The Steelers logo."

"Asshole."

Booth laughed out loud.

"I'm kidding, it's gonna be the Flyers logo," Booth said. "You know hockey's my game. And baseball. I'm not really a huge football fan, and I mostly just do the Steelers thing to piss you off."

"It works," Jared said. "You're from Philly, you should be an Eagles fan. End of story."

"All right, all right," Booth said, laughing. "Grab that box over there. I think that one has DVDs and video games. They'll go in the recessed shelving around the TV. I'm gonna start on the sports stuff…"

"You're buying me lunch for this, right?"

"Actually, I'm having lunch with my wife before I go to meet with my shrink," he said. "But why don't you and Padme come out for dinner on Sunday? Parks is gonna be here this weekend. It will be fun."

"Sounds good," Jared said. He walked over to the stereo and turned on the satellite radio on to the 90s station.

"Do we really have to listen to that crap?"

"Yes," Jared said. "You dragged me out here first thing in the morning to help you unload your boxes and you're not even gonna give me lunch, so yeah… we're listening to my music."

BnBnBnBnBnB

Booth felt a slight skip in his step as he entered the Jeffersonian. His heart rate seemed to speed up a bit as he got closer to the doors leading to the Medico-Legal lab. He was happy to be taking his wife to lunch, and he was looking forward to the day when he'd be coming in with a case file in hand.

He waved a hello toward the squints on the platform as he made his way to Bones' office. When he reached the open door, he found her intent on whatever she was reading on her laptop. He stood for a moment and watched her… he found her earnest dedication to her work- to their work- to be quite heartwarming. He rapped lightly on the doorframe as he walked in to the room.

"Hi," she said, looking up.

"Hi," he answered.

"How was your morning?" she asked, looking back at the computer.

"Good," he answered. He walked around behind her desk and leaned against it. "Jared and I unpacked all the boxes in the basement."

"Was he sufficiently jealous?" she asked, looking with a sly smile.

"He was," Booth replied, nodding as a wide grin spread across his face. "You ready to go?"

"Almost," she answered. "Just let me finish this up. Are we going to the diner?"

"Up to you," he said. "I was thinking either there or Sid's place."

"Oh," she said, "Let's go to Wong Fu's. We haven't been there in a while."

"That works for me. What are you working on?"

"An authentication for the Alaska Museum of Natural History," she answered. "Their research team has unearthed a rather significant find which may turn out to be an as yet undiscovered Native American tribe."

"Wow," he replied, genuinely interested. "That's really cool. Are you going to have to go up there?"

"They're sending most of what I need here," she answered. "But I would like the chance to examine the dig site myself."

"You should," he said, surprising himself.

"Really?" she replied, looking up. "You wouldn't mind?"

"Of course not," he said, reaching out to take her hand. "But are you ready to go back to a dig site so soon?"

"I think so," she told him. "And if I did go, it would only be for a few days. Perhaps you could go with me?"

"That's probably do-able," he said, happy she'd suggested it.

They both laughed as his stomach rumbled.

"It sounds like we need to get you fed," she said, closing down her computer.

"Yep, let's get going," he said. "I'm starving and I have to meet with Benson when we're finished."

"You're hardly starving, Booth," she told him as she stood up and he followed her out of the office. "You ate a rather hardy breakfast this morning, and I'm sure you've had something else since then. You would have to be deprived of nourishment for several weeks to consider yourself starving…"

"I wasn't being literal, babe," he said, following her with his hand on the small of her back. "I know I'm not gonna starve. But I am hungry and you know how I get when I'm hungry."

"You do tend to get quite cranky," she said. "And it probably wouldn't be a good idea to arrive at your session with Dr. Benson with that attitude…"

"You're right," he said, smiling. "So let's go feed me, Bones."

BnBnBnBnBnB

Booth sat on a stool in Benson's workshop. Today's project was rebuilding the transmission.

"How was the trip to the beach?" Benson asked,

"Great," Booth answered, picking up the torque converter.

"You're talkative today," Benson said with out looking up from the gear box in his hand.

"Yeah, sorry," his patient answered. "I guess I just don't know where to start. I know you want to know about what we talked about… but it just feels like that was such a personal moment with my wife… I don't really feel comfortable sharing."

"I get that," Benson said. "And it's a natural reaction. Can you at least tell me which option you chose?"

"Both, actually," Booth admitted.

Benson smiled as if this was the answer he'd hoped for.

"Oh?" he said casually, his focus seeming to be on the mechanism he held in his hands.

"Yeah, I started out with a story about my childhood," he said. "And it actually felt pretty good to tell her… I mean, it didn't feel good to remember… but I've never told anyone about that day before. My brother and I have never even talked about it."

"So it helped," Benson said, "opening up to Temperance?"

Booth sighed and smiled.

"Yeah, it did. But you knew that it would."

Benson laughed.

"Yes, I did. Look Seeley," he said. "What we're doing here… it isn't exactly traditional therapy. You already have a psychologist, that's not why you came here. Yeah, sure, I've got the credentials and the diplomas on the wall… but you came to me because I've been there. I've been where you are and I know how to help you out of it… no bullshit and no clinical mumbo jumbo…"

"I appreciate that," Booth said with a smile.

"I know," Benson replied. "So, what we're doing is finding you and outlet and teaching you to use it…"

"But that's not gonna be my wife," Booth said, interrupting. "I don't want to take anything out on her."

"You're not taking it out, Seeley," Benson said. "You're letting it out. There's a difference. You bottle things up inside and they fester and grow until you build up this raging monster that becomes your temper. By sharing things with someone that you trust, like your wife, you let it out a little at a time and it doesn't get the chance to build up and create that pressure. Bottom line is that you have to understand that you're not alone. Whether it's Temperance, or Hank, or your brother… your other friends… even me, you always have someone you can turn to. Now, I know you've found these things too painful to talk about in the past and that is why your wife is probably going to be the best person for you to share with…"

"…and that's what the assignment this weekend was all about. By telling Bones about what my dad did, I was able to let go of it a little. And it made me want to open up to her about my fears for her and the loss of the baby, too."

"Exactly," Benson said. "And how did that go?"

"Really well, actually. We got through everything, there was a lot of guilt being unnecessarily held on to. I think we were able to move past that. She actually told me she's ready to try again."

"And how do you feel about that?"

"I think it's great. I'd love to have a baby with her, but I think we have some other stuff to deal with first. We just moved in to our new house, and I'd like to get through this phase of therapy and my suspension. I want to be back at work and know where I stand before we start adding to our family."

"I think that's a wise decision. How did Temperance react when you told her?"

"How do you know I told her?"

"Because you want this to work," Benson replied.

"She agreed to wait until I get back to work," he said. "And that's only another couple of weeks, if you and Sweets agree to let me go back."

"I don't see that being an issue," the psychologist replied. "I think you're right on track."