I don't own Bones, I know I have 206 in my body, but the Bones from Fox isn't mine.
State Finals
Bones was concerned with the information she heard from the judge at the science fair, but she also knew not to bring it up in front of Parker. If the Jeffersonian was judging the state level science fair, how much did that implicate her team? Granted she can recuse herself, but many employees of the Jeffersonian knew Booth and Parker. How could she think that the employees would be impartial?
They were all going to the Diner after the science fair, to get snacks and to get Parker a milkshake, chocolate of course. As they made their way out to the car, she knew she had to talk to Booth about the situation later that night.
"Bones, you're awful quiet, is everything ok?"
"Yes, I'm just tired."
Since it was Parker's weekend, he went home with Booth and Bones. Later that night she talked about the situation.
"I wouldn't really worry about it yet Bones; maybe it is in a completely different area of the building. I'm sure they must have made arrangements before this, if your department was involved, you would have heard about it by now."
"Yes, that's true, I don't think my department is involved, but it is the thought of how many of the staff knows both you and Parker. I hope some people don't see it as unfair."
"I think they can be impartial, it's not like I work with them. I never really see anyone except you and the squints."
"Well, I hope so. I guess we will have to wait and see."
When Bones went to work on Monday, she discovered that although the Science Fair was being held at the Jeffersonian, the judges were from local universities. Various professors had volunteered to judge the event, so Bones wasn't worried about Parker.
.
Time passed and the day before the Science Fair, Parker was again at her house going over the details of his project. As they discussed what would happen the following day, she told him that she was not going to remain at the table with him during the evening, but Booth would stay be there for support.
"Why, don't you want to stay with me? Are you mad at me? Did I do something wrong?"
"No Parker, you haven't done anything wrong, but my contacts at the local universities, may prevent the judges from making an impartial decision."
"What does that mean?"
"I have both presented and taught many times at the universities that will be attending and judging this event, and I don't want them to select you because they know me."
"Oh, I get it; you think it will be like cheating if they choose me."
"Well, I don't think they would do it intentionally, but sometimes people see familiarity in others and it creates an unambiguous response."
"Mom, you're talking weird again, can't you just tell me normal?"
"Parker, I am worried that if they see me they will think that I expect them to choose you."
"Oh, ok, in that case I understand. Will you be able to go on the stage when I get my award?"
"Parker, you know these are the best student's experiments from every school in Washington DC?"
"I know, but if I wasn't optimistic then it would be too heartbreaking."
"Parker, you know that your heart can't really break?"
"I know that. The heart is made of muscle, and you can't break a muscle, but you do know that it is a saying?"
"Yes, I know that. But on the other hand, I do hope you win."
"Me too."
They continued to finalize small parts of the experiment.
"Is it possible to create this experiment in people, because it doesn't seem real when done with rats?"
"If you want you can write a paper presenting that hypothesis, and hand it out to the people at the event."
"Hey, that's a great idea; can I use your computer?"
"Yes."
She set him up at the computer, and he started to write out his idea to present it at the State finals tomorrow. He was still working when Booth came home.
"Ok, Bones what do you have him doing now?"
"He decided to present a paper on how his experiment could be applied to the general population at the State finals tomorrow."
"You're kidding right?"
"No, he thought of it."
"Oh, boy, I really do have a squint for a kid."
"Is that a bad thing Booth?"
"No, I have one for a wife; I might as well have one for a kid."
Brennan laughed. "Are you ready to find out whether or not the baby is a boy or girl Monday?"
He pulled her close to him, "Yes. Then we can pick out names."
He felt the baby move. "He's kicking me again."
"He does that a lot."
"It's because he knows I'm his Daddy."
"Booth..." he kissed her. "Don't say it."
"How do you know what I was saying?"
He kissed her again. "I know."
"Again, guys? Come on, can't you control it at least a little?"
They broke apart to see Parker standing and looking at them.
"Sorry, Parks, but I love her and it's hard not to show her."
"Can you read my paper, Mom?" Booth went to make dinner.
"Sure Parker." She took the paper from him.
"Parker, when did you learn to write like this?" As she read the paper, she realized that he presented his topic with both examples and a detailed explanation of how to execute the experiment on the general populace. Although the idea would be difficult to achieve, she thought he presented it well.
"Parker this is very good. There are some grammatical errors, but overall it is quite good. Let's go correct the errors and you can print it out."
As they finished printing out the final draft of his paper, Booth announced that dinner was ready. Parker was again over excited about the Science Fair, and he had a difficult time falling asleep.
The State Finals went to same as the school science fair, and Bones again found herself walking around talking to the children as they presented their experiments. She knew that these were the best representatives of each school, and she could see it in their work. Parker would have more competition this time, and she hoped he wouldn't be disappointed if he didn't win.
Soon the judges stepped onto platform to present the winners.
"In third place, Arnold Steinwright for his experiment on Enzymes and Grease Traps."
"In second place, Parker Booth for his experiment on the Effects of Music on Learning."
"And our State finals winner, Emily Thompson for her experiment on the Efficacy of Bioethanol Fuel."
Bones looked over at Parker, and noticed that he looked very disappointed.
"We would like both the runners up and the winner to please come forward with their parents, to take the stage."
As they went forward, they noticed how much smaller Parker was compared to the other children. "Bones, why are these kids so big."
"Booth you need to remember Parker is being judged with kids from grade six through twelve. Some of these children are in high school."
"Wow, but he's only in fifth grade."
"He is taking Science with the sixth grade class, that means he is with the middle school, and for the State finals they include both the middle and high schools." She stopped talking as they walked onto the platform.
The judge handed them each a trophy, and then spoke to Parker.
"Parker, I would like to tell you that your paper on the possibility of using this experiment on the general population was very well written. Did you have help with it?"
"No, Sir that would be cheating." He shook Parker's hand and handed him the trophy.
"Well, if you want to present that experiment to me at the university, I would love participate in it."
"Ok, Sir I will think about it." He laughed as he handed Parker an envelope. They left the stage and walked back to the table.
"Parker, we are very proud of you, you did a great job on this."
"Thanks, Dad, but I wish I won."
Bones stopped cleaning up the table turned him toward her, and looked at him. "Parker, this is an incredible achievement, you should be very proud of yourself."
"I am, but it still would have been incredible to have won. Can you imagine we would have been able to go to the National Science fair in California?"
Booth stepped in and looked at Parker. "Parker, winning isn't important; did you do your best?"
"Yes." He knew his Dad was upset.
"Then that's all that matters. Now I want you to go over to the other contestants and congratulate them."
"Yes, sir." Parker left and walked over to the other winners. He approached the second place winner first. After talking to him for a while, he slowly walked up to the winner. Booth noticed a faint smile on his lips. He nudged Bones and pointed toward them. "Watch this." She watched as Parker took her hand and shook it. She noticed that the girl was quite beautiful, and she could tell Parker was smitten. They talked for a while, and when done he noticed that everyone was gone. He walked back to his Dad, with a sheepish grin on his face.
"Dad, she's real smart. She said she liked my experiment and wanted to know if I was going to try it on human trials. She said she would like to participate in it." He continued to rattle on about the young woman, and Booth smiled at the way he was so easily distracted. Bones looked at him with a questioning look on her face.
"Later, Bones."
