"I know this is sort of last minute and all, but I was wondering if Christmas day you'd like to join me at my parent's house."
"David, are you introducing me to your family?"
"I'd like to. We have been dating for about nine months, and they're curious about you." David reached across the table and took her hand. Tempe looked at it suddenly uncomfortable. Their relationship was becoming more serious, and she didn't feel as if she were keeping up with him.
"I don't know. I mean Russ was thinking of driving up…"
"Tempe, it's okay if you don't want to go." David sounded hurt. She gave him a smile and squeezed his hand to assure him she wasn't going to balk.
"Just let me find out if he's coming first, then I'll let you know, okay?"
"Fair enough. For now, I want to know if you'd like your Christmas present early."
"You got me a present? You didn't have to do that."
"I know I didn't have to, but this is very special." The intensity with which he looked at her was unnerving. Her heart beat a little faster, but not in fear. She was a little uncomfortable with his gaze.
"Then save it. That would make it even more special." She smiled at him, glad to have diverted the situation. He seemed a little disappointed, but she said nothing about his rapid change in moods.
"Of course. Anything for you Tempe." David brought her hand to his lips and kissed it, his eyes reflecting the emotions he felt for her. Temperance offered him another small smile before pulling her hand away. Something in the action bothered her. She felt, even in that simple gesture that he worshipped her in an almost unhealthy way, as if he held her up a on a pedestal. It scared her, because she didn't know what would happen if she slipped off.
XxXxX
As Booth stood outside the terminals at Dulles International Airport, his temples pounded with the might of a thousand elephants. Matthew Brennan stood next to him, arms crossed and still not speaking. The five hours of the flight were the longest either of the two had ever experienced, with tension between them skyrocketing by the minute. Booth was still mad that Matthew had abandoned his daughter, and Matthew was mad that he was being 'abducted' and taken to Washington. That had started a fight between the two that resulted in the Stewardess threatening to have the captain land the plane and remove the two from the flight.
As he spotted Angela's car, Booth let out a sigh of relief. The long day was almost over, and Booth just wanted to get some sleep. Hopefully Russ' arrival tomorrow would dissipate some of the tension, and the rest of the holiday would be more comfortable.
"Hi Sweetie, how was California?" Angela chirped as Booth climbed into the passenger seat. Booth flashed her an annoyed look as Matthew got into the back seat of the car.
"Angela Montenegro, meet Matthew Brennan." He said curtly. She raised her eyebrows at him, and then turned to offer Matthew a smile. The man's face mirrored Booth's, which took her by surprise.
"It's a pleasure to meet you Miss Montenegro." Matthew said peasant enough.
"Okay, what exactly happened out there."
"Mr. Brennan has made it abundantly clear that he would like to remain anonymous." Booth snarked.
"I never said that. I said I didn't appreciate being abducted." Matthew replied, equally annoyed. Angela began following the argument with as much interest as she did when Tempe and Booth fought.
"Which only means that you still want to hide from your daughter."
"It was never my kids I was hiding from."
"Oh please. Why else wouldn't you have contacted them after all this time. They're grown adults."
"We aren't going to get into that again, are we?"
"I don't see why not. You've never given a satisfactory answer as to why you stayed away."
Angela began to laugh, hard. Booth and Matthew stopped arguing and looked at her, incredulous.
"What's so funny?" Booth asked. Angela kept laughing and had to wipe tears away form her eyes as she drove. Both men were looking at her like she was crazy.
"Booth, you two argue like you and Bren argue, except the tension isn't of a sexual nature."
"Angela, don't be ridiculous." Even as Booth said it, he knew Angela was right. His arguments with Brennan followed in much the same vein as his fights with her father.
"Oh, this is just too good." She was gasping for air now. Booth threw a dirty look in her direction and began to mutter under his breath. Angela caught a word here and there as the two men lapsed into silence again. Things like 'insufferable' and 'pain in the…' floated around the car. The rest of the way, Angela would burst into spontaneous fits of laughter, which only earned her disgruntled glares from the two men.
When they finally got to his house, Seeley was quite happy to be out of the car. At least in his house, he could have a room to retreat to if needed. He hefted Matthew's suitcase from the car and carried it inside while the older man followed close behind.
"You aren't going to try to run are you?" Seeley said as he set down the heavy luggage.
"Agent Booth, let me assure you, if I wanted to get away, I would have been able to do it. No. I'm here. I'll see this whole thing through."
"Fine. There's a guest bedroom at the end of the hall, and the bathroom's the first door on the left. If you don't mind, I'm tired and I'm going to bed." Seeley quickly walked to his front door, locked it and set the alarm on his house. With one last look at Matthew, he stomped off to his room, the door shutting loudly behind him. The absence of Seeley Booth was like a lifted weight to Matthew. He wasn't planning on making a run, just like he said, but the arguments with the dynamic special agent were beginning to grate on his nerves.
He took the time alone to get a feel for the agent, as opposed to using words and tone of voice to go on alone. The house was neat and tidy, with a large display of trophies on one side of the family room. Matthew walked over to the various trophies and awards, looking at each one in turn. The man's obviously proud of his achievements. He was impressed with the medals for sharp shooting, as well as the folded American flag that was displayed with a plaque dedicating it to a Michael Booth. That must be his father. Matthew moved on and began to examine the pictures that were on the wall. There were several of a little boy, some which featured him with the special agent, and others where the boy was alone. One picture, however struck a chord with Matthew. The photo featured Booth, Temperance, Angela, and two men that Matthew was unfamiliar with. What drew his attention was the way his daughter was looking in the picture. She looked happy, and was leaning intimately close to Booth as he whispered something in her ear. It was obvious that no one knew the picture was being taken, which is why the body language had so much more meaning to it.
Matthew smiled, and then turned away from the wall. Seeley Booth was going through a lot of effort for Temperance, and if she did take after her father as much as she seemed to, then the effort would be rewarded. With that thought, Matthew sighed, picked up his suitcase and headed for the guest bedroom. It was only right that he should cut the agent a little slack, instead of countering him at every move. They could, after all end up as family.
