Again, thanks for the reviews. Sorry for the delay in posting this. Next part should be up soon.


some events on vacation are eagerly anticipated...

Friday afternoon

When it was finally time to go, Brennan took Parker by the hand and led him firmly out of the room, ignoring his protests. Once again she had kissed Booth without being prompted, then realised what she had done and felt embarrassed. But Booth seemed to take it as natural, so she forced herself to shrug it off. After all, Angela hugged people a lot. Some people were like that; it didn't mean they were declaring eternal love by doing so.

Parker was in an obstinate mood that evening, arguing and complaining. He was really bad-tempered with his toys, and ended up throwing one across the floor. Brennan thought of the coffee stain on the kitchen wall and wondered briefly. She could not blame the child though; she herself felt stretched out thin, desperately waiting for the next morning when Booth could finally come home.

Eventually she managed to get Parker into bed. She had noticed the little boy was yawning and rubbing his eyes, and worked hard to get him to settle to sleep, but it took several stories. She had settled him into Booth's bed; since he would be sleeping there for the rest of the weekend, it had seemed pointless to insist on him starting the night in his own bed as she had done previously.

She sat with her laptop, trying to do some writing, but it was hard to concentrate, and in the end she put it to one side and picked up Booth's book again. When she found she had read three pages without taking anything in, she decided it was time to head for bed.

Brennan did not sleep well that night; she lay awake wondering what the hell she was doing. This stupid crush she had on Booth; she should be doing all she could to get rid of it, not encourage it. The last thing Booth wanted was someone hovering over him and imagining they were in love with him. She tried to think of some way of getting through the weekend without embarrassing them both.

Then she remembered Parker's words; "cos you love Dr. Bones, don't you, Daddy?" What did that mean? Could it be true that Booth had feelings for her as well? She found it hard to imagine that Booth had told Parker he loved her; but then she hadn't told Parker she loved Booth either, but the boy had still guessed at her feelings.

Her thoughts merged to dreams, and her dreams into the beeping of the alarm clock; on this day of all days she did not want to sleep in.

Saturday morning

That morning Parker was still being awkward. He woke up demanding breakfast. Then he refused to get dressed. Then he insisted he wanted to ride his bike instead of going to the hospital.

Finally they were on their way to the hospital to collect Booth.

When they got there Brennan had a few nervous moments imagining that the hospital had decided not to discharge him, but he was pacing up and down the corridor waiting for them, wearing his left arm in a sling. He wore his jacket slung over his bad shoulder, his left sleeve hanging empty. When he saw them coming, he went back into his room and grabbed his bag, then joined them.

"Daddy!" cried Parker happily, and Booth crouched down to hug him. On another occasion, he would have scooped him up in his arms, Brennan thought; the fact that he made no attempt to do so even one-handed showed how much his shoulder was still bothering him. They walked together to the car. Was Booth walking slower than he usually did, or was it her imagination? Parker had turned shy around his father, and walked holding tightly to Brennan's hand.

Booth automatically moved to the driver's side, then remembered himself and opened the door for Brennan instead. She smiled her thanks, noticing how pale he looked. "Are you sure you're okay?" she asked, concerned.

He nodded and went round to help Parker strap himself in, fumbling one-handedly with the straps. In the end Brennan leaned through to help him. He jumped slightly at the touch of her hand, then held the strap while she fastened it. Then he climbed into the car and sat leaning his head back against the headrest. Brennan sat looking at him for a few moments before she started the engine.

Booth was silent on the way back home, and Brennan found herself wondering just how fully recovered he was. She opened the front door for him, and he headed straight for the comfy chair, almost collapsing into it. "It's okay, I'm fine," he assured her, as she hovered over him. "I'm just a little tired, that's all. I've been in bed for three days, remember." He stretched his legs out in front of him and crossed his ankles, adjusting his position in the chair to be a little more comfortable.

"Coffee?" she offered. He nodded, and she made it in the Jeffersonian mug. He raised his eyebrows when she placed it on the coffee table in front of him.

"I did pay for it," he assured her, with the ghost of a grin.

She grinned back. "You didn't have to; I could have got you one."

"No problem."

Parker had gone straight to his bedroom, and now produced his latest lego model for his dad to admire. Booth sat relaxed in the chair, talking softly to his son, and Brennan stood in the kitchen doorway watching them both, and wondering what the future held for them all.

Reviews always welcome, and might help me get the next part done a bit faster!