29
It was Saturday and Booth and Daniel were home while Brennan was at the lab helping a grad student with their dissertation before they worked themselves into a panic attack.
Booth was in the shared home office working on paperwork and Daniel was playing in his room. Booth was on his last stack when he heard glass break; he hurried to the living room. "Daniel Eli Booth don't you move! " Booth avoided most of the glass but a few stray shards crunched under his shoes as he picked Daniel up and wordlessly took him to his room," stay here until I come get you."
Daniel nodded as Booth went to the kitchen and got the dustpan, broom, and a paper bag before returning to the living room and cleaned up the glass. a half hour later after mopping the floor Booth went to Daniel's room with the soccer ball in his hand that was the cause of the broken glass.
"Daniel, how did you break mommy's dolphin statue?"
Daniel got very interested in the hem of his shirt. "Daniel look at me and answer." Booth wasn't yelling, but his tone told Daniel that he'd better answer."The ball bounced up and hit it. I didn't mean to, it was an accident!"
"What have mommy and I told you about playing sports inside the house?"
"Not to do it because I might break something."
"Right so why did you?"
"I was board; I can't play outside because mommy says I'm still sick."
Booth felt bad for the four and a half year old; for the past week he, Daniel and Parker had been fighting a nasty cold. While Booth was pretty sure Daniel was over his cold Brennan wanted him to stay inside another day.
"Am I in trouble?"
"What do you think?"
"Yes."
"You'd be right, but it's up to mommy to decide how much. I don't think you'll be watching TV anytime soon. You also have to tell mommy what you did."
"Do I have to?"
"Yes. Go play in your room until mommy gets home."
Booth hugged Daniel before he went to his room, "it won't be so bad bud."
Two hours later Brennan found Booth in kitchen stirring a pot. "Hey Bones how was your day?"
"It was good, I got Kayla calmed down enough so she shouldn't hyperventilate in front of the dissertation committee next week. What are you making?"
"Chicken tacos, I got some of the soy chicken stuff thawing for you."
"Thank you. How was Daniel?"
"Good for the most part."
"What did he do?"
"I'll let him tell you." Booth called Daniel from his room and waited until he came into the kitchen."Bud, isn't there something you need to tell mommy?"
Daniel nodded, "I love you, mommy."
Brennan smiled, "I love you too, Daniel."
Booth chucked,"Besides that, bud."
"I broke your dolphin statue."
"Which one?"
"The one daddy got you for your anniversary. "
"Oh Daniel." the handmade crystal dolphin was her favorite.
"I'm sorry. The ball bounced up and hit it. I didn't mean to, it was an accident!"
"Were you playing soccer in the house again?"
"Yes."
"What's the rule?"
"No playing sports in the house because I might break something."
"Correct. You know you're in trouble don't you?"
"Yeah, daddy said you have to decide how much."
Brennan smiled a little, "Okay, no TV for two weeks. No sports outside or inside for one month."
"But-"
"No. Go in your room until dinner."
"Yes ma'am." Brennan watched Daniel go to his room, before turning to Booth. "How broken is it?"
"Bones it shattered on impact. I don't think the ball did the most damage I think the fall from the top from of the bookcase onto the hardwood floor did it in." Booth handed Brennan the bag, she looked inside.
"I called the store; they can make you another one in about a month."
"You don't have to do that."
"I know but I want to." Booth went back to his Spanish rice.
"Thank you."
"You're welcome. I think Daniel was afraid to tell you."
"Aww why?"
"I think he thought you'd be more upset with him than you are."
"Booth did see how sad he looked? It was all I could do not to hold him and tell him it was okay."
"I know it was really hard to be upset with him this morning."
Twenty minutes later Brennan sat on Daniel's bed and picked him up."Daniel you know that even though I am upset with you I still love you, right?"
"Uh-huh."
"I'm disappointed that even though you knew that you weren't supposed to play sports in the house, you did it anyway. Why did you?"
"I was board; I can't play outside because you said I'm still sick."
Brennan smiled a little, "maybe tomorrow you can go outside and play on the swing set or something. And maybe if you are good and do everything do everything daddy and I tell you, I'll let you go outside and play soccer with Daddy and Parker when he comes back in two weeks."
"Okay."
"I'll still read to you and tuck you in tonight and every night while you're on your punishment."
"You will?"
"Yes always." Brennan hugged Daniel and kissed the top of his head. "Go wash your hands, dinner is ready."
"Okay."
A/N One more to go.
