Created April 2013 - I don't own these characters as made famous by the TV show, Bones. Love them anyway. All the rest that follows is my feeble attempt to keep time in between broadcasts and Razztaztic, Threesquares, and Covalent Bond postings.
09/15/2013 A/N: Here's part two of three of the Whale chapter. While editing, I've been binge-watching Season 1 - again. What a surprise to recognize Aaron Paul in Superhero. Geez, the entire male supporting cast of Breaking Bad was plucked from Bones. Guess it feeds the layers of Six Degrees of Buffy, huh?
Speaking of Breaking Bad, I have noted that many of my recent chapters have a similar circuitous route found in the Vince Gilligan series. Having written the chapters prior to my recent Breaking Bad immersion, the similarity is merely coincidental. At some point, I'm going to try and write a straight path again. Just not now. Sorry for the aside! Please enjoy!
BTW - in the US...Just one more day! Yay! (Arms flailing like Kermit's)
"Whoa!" Booth exclaimed, being the first to see the man in the doorway.
All eyes in the dining room turned first towards Booth, and then to his sight line. The gasps and clinks of utensils dropping around the table was exacerbated by deafening silence that the sight of the person standing next to Chloe.
Chloe looked concerned at the group's reaction to the expected guest that she had escorted into the residence. She directed her face to Drs. Brennan and Saroyan, but neither was able to take their gaze off of the young man in the door.
Slowly and quietly, Parker asked his father "Dad? Is that…Vincent?"
Booth swallowed, more than a little spooked by the sight of the intern, whose last breath he had witnessed just days ago. "Uh, um, Bub. That's….It's…"
"Victor!" Daisy exclaimed, jumping up to greet him. Victor and Daisy embraced like schoolgirls at graduation. "It's so wonderful to meet you in person finally!"
Recovering from her initial surprise, Brennan stood up, acknowledging to Chloe that she could excuse herself. She moved towards Victor. "Victor? You are Vincent's cousin, Victor?"
Victor released from Daisy's embrace. Not more than a year younger than Vincent, Victor Nigel Murray had learn to expect this exact reaction when introduced to friends of Vincent's (as was also the case reflexively), but given the circumstances, he was a little nervous about meeting Vincent's American mates. Upon Brennan's question, he smiled a shy grin.
Vincent's grin.
Brennan looked briefly at her partner, wondering if Victor's resemblance to Vincent was one of those signals from the universe that he and Micah were often mentioning. Booth watched his partner, recognizing the rare flash of fear in her eyes, present only when she had uncertainty. Uncharacteristically, Brennan advanced swiftly and embraced Victor in a bear hug.
"Ooof!" Victor chuckled.
"Whoa!" Sweets and Wendell breathed out simultaneously as Brennan hugged the stranger. Hodgins snickered. Having known Brennan longer than anyone, he was the most used to her awkward outbursts of affection. The hug brought him back to a heartfelt embrace that he had received from Brennan, more than six feet underground, years ago.
"Yes! I am Vincent's cousin." He mumbled through the smothering. Finally, the forensic anthropologist let him go. "I take it that you are Dr. Brennan?"
Vincent's voice.
"Yes!" she exclaimed breathily, turning towards the amazed group of people around the table. Composing herself, she turned back to Victor. "Thank you for coming, Victor. I am truly sorry for your loss. Let me introduce you to everyone." Peering at her only female intern, standing on the opposite side of Victor. "I see you already know Miss Wick…"
"Oh yes! Daisy and I are Skype buddies!" Victor exclaimed. "Vincent introduced me to the Delightful Daisy a few years back."
Everyone was in awe. Victor's mannerisms were so similar to Vincent's. The only outward differences to note were his trendy attire and haircut.
And, something else….
Daisy slipped her arm around Victor's as Brennan turned to introduce the rest of Vincent's friends and colleagues. Before speaking, she eyed Victor with fascination. The scientist in her could not help but to examine the incredible physical similarities between Victor and Vincent. She mumbled, more to herself than to Victor "Your physiognomy is extremely reminiscent of your cousin's."
Cam - still seated, mouth parted in disbelief – found her voice again. "The resemblance is uncanny."
Victor blushed. "Yes, we got that a lot growing up. We used it to our advantage as lads. Me mum and Vincent's mum are siblings, and so are our Dads."
"Brothers marrying sisters, and not in the creepy way." Muttered Wendell sheepishly as he shook Victor's hand. Victor smiled politely, a tad taken aback as each introduced forensic anthropologist – Wendell and Clark - had joined Brennan in whispered discussion as they studied Victor's physical features.
"That's enough" Cam warned her team, shooing them back to sit down, finding that playing the role of herder a distracting way to keep herself from being too emotional as she approached Victor. "I'm Camille Saroyan. I am very sorry for your loss. Vincent was such a sweet young man."
Victor grinned recognizing her name. "Oh! You're the Caramel Goddess!" Cam froze, recalling Vincent's many confessions during his twelve-step recovery. Victor was mortified. "Er, sorry! I promise, Dr. Saroyan, Vincent has...had spoken respectfully of you. It's just that you are as fetching as he described…"
"It's fine, Victor. It reminds me of Vincent" Cam smiled weakly, a bit embarrassed by the moniker.
Turning back toward the table, Arastoo offered Cam a supportive smile "you are very beautiful, Dr. Saroyan." He said quietly before introducing himself to Victor. Surprised by the unexpected compliment from an unexpected source, Cam resisted the puckering of her cheek dimple.
The introductions began to wrap up. "So was it you or Vincent who's only seen the sights a boy can see from Brooklyn Heights?" Fisher inquired as he introduced himself.
Victor looked at the others for an explanation of the very tall gentleman's question. "I don't know what that means." What he found were soft smiles and smirks only. But then finally, insight was offered by the last person who greeted him – Lance Sweets.
"Fisher's just referring to an old TV show in the states about identical cousins" Sweets held out his hand. "The show's theme song is actually more memorable than the show itself. That, and yet another American actor doing an bad Irish accent..." he mumbled. "Hi, I'm Lance Sweets. Everyone - well everyone but Daisy - calls me 'Sweets'. It's nice to meet you. I'm really sorry for your loss. Your cousin was a really good guy."
Victor's face brightened at his introduction to Sweets. "Oh, you're lovely!" he exclaimed, retaining his grip on Sweets' handshake. Staring at Sweets, he intimated to the room. "My cousin would talk ad nauseum about all of the beautiful women with whom he worked, but he never mentioned how handsome the blokes were that he knew. You're really lovely." He sighed to Sweets.
Sweets blushed at Victor's gushing, much to Booth's annoyance. "What? He's lovely?" he turned to Arastoo, in disbelief. Arastoo shrugged his shoulders, chuckling at Booth's obvious jealousy. "I'm Seeley Booth!" he crowed. Booth was used to being the hot one. In an afterthought, he acknowledged Arastoo's nickname. "Hell, you're Persian Booth! You and me are the GQ of the group! What gives with this guy?"
Daisy, felt vindicated by Victor's obvious attraction to her boyfriend. "I told you that Lance is very handsome…" she stated matter of factly to Victor. To the rest of the room, she bluntly offered "Victor's gay."
"You're like an American Andrew Ridgely" Victor whispered. Sweets shucked at the compliments. Clark, Fisher and Wendell could not hold back any longer, letting out a substantial laugh at the characterization of Sweets as the other guy from Wham!.
Victor realized that he was being overly attentive and blushed. "Oh, I'm sorry! Here I am, coming over to welcome you to the better side of the pond, and the first thing I do is to make a big flirt of myself."
"Not a problem, Man." Hodgins replied, his blue eyes twinkling with mirth. "The flirting reminds us of Vincent, it's very comforting."
Finally, Victor let go of Sweets' hand. Sweets – amused by the attention, offered his seat to Victor as well as gesturing to prepare a plate for him, which he declined. Victor smiled appreciatively at Sweets, completely smitten.
"Cheers! Well thank you!" Looking around the table, Victor offered "I can't say that I can pepper you with as many abstract facts as could my cousin, but I'm a wicked clever ethnomusicologist."
"What's an ethnomusicologist?" Parker asked his father.
Before Booth could even begin a sentence, Daisy had blurted "it's the study of music from a cultural perspective. Musical anthropology, if you will."
Victor leaned toward Parker, "I am well-versed in the music of both eastern and western cultures. And on the weekends, I'm a deejay." He grinned proudly.
Booth caught Brennan's eye, as both simultaneously recalled the role of Vincent's character in Brennan's erased story. Weird.
Addressing his hostesses, Victor began "Drs. Brennan and Saroyan, and oh! Dr. Hodgins as well! I want to thank you all for your efforts to get everyone here to celebrate Vincent.! I feel like I know you all, already!" Turning to Booth, he continued "it is my understanding that you were responsible for capturing his killer?"
Booth nodded solemnly. Victor nodded in return "Thank you, Sir for your valor. On behalf of myself, and my family, we are so appreciative of your efforts." Parker looked admirably at his father. Brennan placed her arm around Booth's son, her own pride in her partner obvious.
"Vincent was a good kid, a good man. He didn't deserve what happened to him." Booth stared intently at Victor. All other people in the room seemed to have vanished as Booth spoke to Victor. Victor's physical similarity to Vincent made his statement feel like an apology.
Victor shook his head. "Thanks for that. But please, short though his time may have been, my cousin lived an incredible life, and he knew it." To emphasize his point, Victor smirked to various faces around the room. "I joined Vincent in Thailand on the last leg of his around the world excursion, I should know." A few chuckles were shared. Parker looked between Bones and his Dad for explanation. Neither were offering.
Brennan did however added with a sigh "Nevertheless, losing him in such an unfortunate way is a tragedy. Vincent had so much still to give to the world."
Victor stared fondly at Brennan. "He will live on through all of us." Sighing at Brennan, he continued. "He loved you. I mean, he loved every woman that he came into contact with…" again the room filled with snickers. "But he spoke of you with such fondness, admiration; such regard. He respected you, really. He had learned so much from you – and you as well" Victor gestured to Drs. Saroyan and Hodgins. "He knew what a privilege it was to work with you all."
Nods of heads around the room were shared as each of the interns silently agreed with the words they may never have the chance to express to Drs. Saroyan, Hodgins, and Brennan. Modestly, each expert in their respective fields accepted the gracious words and non-words in the room.
Lightening the mood, Victor added "and it didn't hurt that he fancied all of the ladies that he worked with." Looking at Hodgins, he continued "Me Uncle was a little disappointed to hear that Ms. Montenegro would not be able to make it here. Vincent always teased his Mum that his dad would leave her for Ms. Montenegro…."
Laughter filled the room as Hodgins beamed proudly.
Victor had come to the Connaught to debrief everyone on the schedule of activities for Vincent's funeral, and to invite the blokes out for a family tradition.
"The night before a funeral, the gents all gather to get pissed…er, sorry Mate!" he offered apologetically to Booth, remembering Parker's presence "…drunk. This ensures that we all look good, solemn and green at the services." Looking at Parker again, "I have to apologize again, Mate. Adult males only."
Booth ran his hand through Parker's hair "No worries, I'll stay here with my son."
Victor looked alarmed. "No, but you can't! If I don't show up with the chap who avenged my cousin, I'll be ripped to shreds!"
Brennan interceded. "It's fine, Booth. I'm happy to stay with Parker. We females can remain here, soberly and patiently waiting for your return. Perhaps will knit you something…."
Victor reddened, recognizing what Vincent called 'the Brennan Bite.' "Dr. Brennan, I do apologize, but it is a family tradition, you must understand."
Dr. Brennan understood the need for tradition, especially when it came to acts of mourning, however unusual. "I do, Victor. Besides, I am expecting a friend to visit this evening…."
"Uh, are you sure, Bones?" Booth scratched the back of his neck at the thought of Pritch and Bones visiting with each other – unchaperoned. There were certain conversations that he had yet to have with his partner.
Brennan frowned at Booth. "Of course, I love spending time with Parker, Booth". Turning to Parker. "Do you mind, Parker?"
Parker shrugged his shoulders. He liked the idea of having all the ladies to himself, especially ladies who he guessed wouldn't be so restrictive on late-night snacks. "Nope! Not at all."
"Brilliant!" Victor exclaimed. "And I promise you, Dr. Brennan, it's better that you, Dr. Saroyan and Daisy meet the men of the Nigel-Murray clan tomorrow. Were you to come out with us this evening, you ladies would spend most of the evening removing wandering hands from your bums."
Brennan chuckled at Victor's comment. Booth continued to worry about the impending gathering of three former lovers, while Victor eyed the bum of one Dr. Lance Sweets.
After Victor departed with a plan to meet everyone at the hotel later that evening, everyone had split up back to their rooms. Booth had quickly prepared a sleepover bag for Parker, and returned back to the Apartment with a goal to confer with his oldest friend.
Cam sat on the sofa, relaxing with legs up on the coffee table. She grinned smugly at her fidgeting pal, who was pacing back and forth in the living room while Brennan, Chloe and Parker set up the Wii in the parlor. Cam knew Seeley's tells as well as he knew hers. "What's on your mind, Seeley? Did you screw up already?"
Booth stopped pacing, hands on his hips as he pivoted toward Cam. "No. Camille…" her grin turned into a broad smile as she waited. In her mind, she counted down 'three, two, one….'
Moving her legs on an angle out of his way, Seeley slipped swiftly onto the coffee table to sit directly in front of Cam, poker chip in his hand. "Bones and me, we're good. Real good." He waggled his eyebrows at his friend, unable to restrain his grin. Cam rolled her eyes.
"So what did you do?" she sighed, nudging him with the side of her leg against his hip.
Booth searched for the fastest path to an explanation. Still sitting on the coffee table, Booth rocked back and forth on the balls of his feet. He then leaned toward Cam. "Uh, you know your special guest for the evening? Inspector Pritchard? Pritch?"
Cam shook her head in affirmation and then smiled broadly. "You slept with her didn't you?"
"What? No!" Booth straightened up, annoyed that Camille knew him so well.
Patiently, Cam waited.
"Well, yeah, okay. We slept together." he admitted. "A coupla times. Okay, well maybe more than a coupla times." Cam smiled.
Booth sighed, tossing the poker chip in the air. Catching it, he leaned back in. "The last time that Bones and I were here, Bones was all schoolgirl-nerdy-flirty with Wexler, and I- I…."
"Needed someone to do?" she smirked.
Booth winced. Her words were accurate, but they still stung.
Seeley loved Cam because she was a loyal and honest friend, and she had seen him at his worst. The depth of their friendship had made them easy lovers. He knew that Cam was a good woman. He always felt guilty that he couldn't love her more, the way he thought she deserved to be loved. Her last comment reminded him of that point. She was strong and cynical, yet behind her coolness, he knew there was a twinge of hurt.
"Uh, yeah." He chuckled nervously. "I was out of my element, on all fronts and, Pritch was good company while Bones went gallivanting off with Wexler on her speaking engagements." He leaned back, placing his palms face down on the coffee table. "Then, when Wexler was killed, I was…there for her." He grinned at a recollection, "she called me 'Sir Seeley' when we, uh, y'know…."
As close as they were, Cam really didn't want to go down that path with Booth. To correct his course, she asked "this was around the same time that I was sleeping with Angela's husband, right? Did I ever mention to you this thing that he did? It blows page 187 out of the water…."
Booth frowned at her. "I get your point, Camille." He leaned back in.
Cam leaned toward him, knowing that the time for their private conversation was running out. Whispering, she stated "I get it Seeley, Brennan doesn't know about your affair with Inspector Pritchard."
Annoyed with her word choice, he mused "Is it really an affair, if we were both single at the time?"
Cam rolled her eyes. "Trust me, you've been taken since I moved to DC." His eyes softened at her assertion. "Look, just tell her. She's going to care about it as much she cares about me, or Hannah."
Booth studied his friend. "Yeah…yeah! This is Bones! She won't be jealous of a past relationship." He smiled weakly. "Thanks Cam!"
Cam studied him right back. Something in his word choice bothered her. Her face knotted "Seeley, is there something else on your mind? It sounds – "
"Daddy!" Parker called as he entered the room. "Come play Wii tennis with me?"
Booth popped up, relieved at his son's excuse for an escape. Cam winced at her friend's dodge. Something was bugging him. She just hoped that he'd deal with it sooner than later.
Members of the team began reappearing back in the Apartment in preparation for the boys' night out. Everyone had gathered into the parlor for a Wii golf tournament. Sweets' claim of being the master gamer was quickly usurped by the previously unrevealed skills of Clark Edison.
While everyone was preoccupied with the competition, Brennan took the opportunity to steal away with her partner for some light 'snogging'. Playfully, she pulled Booth into her bedroom, and pressed him up against the closed door.
Grinning at his girl, he watched as she pressed her hands into his chest, down his waist, to his groin, and then back up toward his shoulders and into his hair. She watched her hands travel over her partner admiringly before peering up to meet and match his grin.
"I don't have to go out tonight, Bones." He smirked, placing one hand on her hip, one to cup her face. "I'll hide out in here. The guys can take off without me... I'll stay in here - naked, in your bedroom - during your girls' night. You guys can gossip and drink your wine, play the Wii with Parker. And, every now and then, you come back here and let me kiss and touch on you, hmmm?"
Brennan laughed quietly at Booth's suggestion.
Booth leaned in to capture her soft lips. She sighed languidly as her whole body pressed into his. He pulled her tightly into him. Once their mouths parted, Brennan's bottom lip outlined Booth's jaw, down his neck, against his Adam's apple before she nuzzled her head under his chin.
"You should go, Booth. Vincent's male relatives want to show their appreciation for your bravery by giving you alcohol poisoning."
Brennan smiled at the feel of Booth's laugh vibrating his entire body, as well as her own. He kissed into her hair. "God, Bones. Now that we've been together, I don't want to miss any opportunity to hold you this close." He slid his hand up her torso to find her chin, tilting her mouth up to his. "And closer." He waggled his eyebrows.
"Even though it was only a few hours ago, Booth - I find that I too have been distracted by recollections of your able hands administering pleasure to me. And your talented do wop trio" she smirked. "I am impatient with the want of our next encounter." She began to caress her hand firmly against his emerging erection.
He grunted "Oh Bones, Baby, please tell me we have time." His legs buckled at the pressure that she was applying. He tugged her top out her jeans, hands frantically seeking out the soft flesh of her breasts as she unzipped his jeans, and then hers. Urgently, their mouths met in a desperate kiss.
"Mmmm, Booth…" she sighed, feeling the incredible pressure of his fingers against her sex. The friction of his hands moving into her heat was delicious. She needed him inside her. "I'm sorry Booth." She mumbled against his mouth.
"What Baby? What's wrong?" his soft voice inquired.
Abruptly she shoved down his pants, eyes alit watching him spring free. They both laughed as she danced her legs out of her jeans. "We are going to have to have unprotected sex again. I can't wait." She gasped as she angled her leg to line herself up with him. "Quickie, Booth. Now. Please" she urged.
He groaned happily as he pushed into her.
Certain that they hadn't been missed, Booth and Brennan emerged from her bedroom at the same time. Walking down the long hallway, both struggled to maintain some measure of distance from each other. However - Bones had a strand of hair that needed tending. There was an imaginary twist in Booth's belt loop that needed straightening. Booth's favorite spot at the small of her back had relocated a few dangerous inches lower.
Stealing glances at each other, both were convinced: it was going to be impossible for them to keep their hands off each other.
In classic Booth and Brennan fashion, it was evident that the pair had tuned out all other activities surrounding them, including the chime announcing the arrival of two more guests.
Evident…as evidenced by the two year old toddler that Booth's son was rocking in his arms coming towards Booth.
"Dad!" Parker exclaimed. "This is Liam. Dontcha think he kinda looks like me?"
Booth stood frozen at the sight of Parker holding a miniature version of himself. Mouth agape, he turned to see Bones eyeing him curiously. Turning back towards his son, he noticed a familiar form standing behind him.
His throat had become very dry as he tried to swallow. Weakly, he smiled, "Hello, Pritch! Is this your kid?"
