A/N: Okay, first off, I hate making excuses, but it's been so long I think you guys deserve an explanation. Pretty much, I had a really hectic summer. My dad had to get heart surgery, and then he was in a rehab center for a few weeks afterward. Between that and visiting colleges, it was very hard to find time to write. On the plus side, it's kind of interesting to note that this chapter was written in many different places within Ithaca, NY(where DB went to college); Los Angeles, and San Francisco, CA.

Anyway, this happens to be my longest and fluffiest chapter yet, and I hope it will be enough to make it up to you. I'm hoping to begin winding this story down, as I'll be posting a new(and much better researched) story with a Halloween theme, called Sanguinarius.

ATTENTION FANFIC WRITERS: The first semi-annual Pudding Awards are going on right now, and we're extending the deadline to October 15. We need more submissions in order to make this work. And don't worry if you don't think your fic is 'good' enough. Above all these awards are meant to be fun and a celebration of creativity. If you know anyone who might like to submit, please tell them!

For more info/awards/submission guidelines look in my profile.

Read on: )

Chapter 12

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The car ride to Parker's day-care was a quiet one. Booth glanced at Brennan to find that she had fallen asleep, her head leaning on the window. She looked almost peaceful, and Booth was glad that she might at least be finding some relief from this whole mess while she slept. This entire case had been hard on her; on both of them - but today had been especially difficult.

By the time Booth had parked in front of the school and taken the key from the ignition Brennan still dozed softly in her seat. He figured he'd leave her be, and left the door open, not wanting to slam it. The children were playing in the yard out front and it would only take a minute to find Parker.

Back in the SUV Brennan woke with a start, realizing that they had obviously reached their destination. Her disorientation passed however, and she smiled at the sight of Booth picking his way carefully through the gaggle of playing kids to Parker, who seemed to be animatedly 'presenting' a bug of some kind to a group of decidedly squeamish little girls that looked as though they stayed against their better judgement. Must be that Booth charm. Brennan smiled fondly and watched as Booth scooped Parker up and onto his shoulders. Parker waved to the girls as Booth walked back to the car.

Booth set Parker down and opened the door for him. "Hi Bones!" Parker exclaimed enthusiastically as he climbed into his car seat. Booth finished strapping him into his seat as he looked at Brennan and the corner of his mouth turned up, his look seemingly apologetic, but really he couldn't get over how cute it was (no matter how many times he had called her that); that Parker had picked up his nickname for Brennan.

Brennan smiled helplessly, her attempt at a glare ineffectual and turned to address Parker. "You know Parker, I think we know each other well enough - if you want you could call me Tempe." She smiled smugly at Booth as Parker considered her offer, but the smile was banished as Parker came up with his answer.

"That's okay, I like Bones better." He smiled happily and picked up his Game Boy from the back seat, completely oblivious to Booth's look of triumph as he climbed into the front seat, and Brennan's replying scowl.

On the way to Wong Foo's Brennan and Booth were spared any dark thoughts as they were drowned out by the various sounds emitting from Parker's Game Boy, as well as squeals or groans signifying the boy's success or lack thereof.

When they pulled up in front of the restaurant, Parker was up and out of his seat before either Booth or Brennan could reach for their seatbelts. "Daddy, can I go tell Sid we're here?"

Booth chuckled. "Yeah bud - Bones and I'll be in a minute."

Parker slammed the car door and ran happily into the building in search of its owner. He found him behind the bar drying a few glasses and replacing them behind the counter. "Hi Sid!" he called, waving.

Sid looked up and smiled welcomingly. "Hey little man, you here with your dad?"

Parker climbed up onto a barstool before replying. "Yep, and he brought his Bones, she's gonna have dinner with us."

Sid nodded. "His Bones, huh?" Sid asked, smiling knowingly.

"Ahuh." Parker absentmindedly rolled a stray peanut around on the counter. "She's really nice. The other day she babysat me and we got to have cocoa and Fluff'nutter sandwiches; she said they always make you feel better no matter what. I really like her - almost as much as daddy does."

Sid dropped the dishcloth on the counter. "Well, I'll be sure to cook you guys up something extra special then." Sid winked just as Booth and Brennan came in.

"Hey Sid," Booth greeted him, picking Parker up off the stool on his way past. The three of them headed over to a table in the back and sat down. Parker insisted on sitting next to Brennan, and Booth sat across from them. A few minutes later Sid came with drinks; chocolate milk for Parker, Sprite for Brennan, and Rootbeer for Booth. "So, is anyone planning on going against my better judgement and ordering?"

Booth smiled. "Nah, do your thing Sid."

"Right - I've got just the thing." As he left, Sid winked at Parker, who started giggling.

Booth narrowed his eyes. "What's up Bub?"

"Nothing," Parker said innocently. Booth looked at Brennan and shrugged.

Parker got up and took a pen from Booth's jacket pocket before sitting back down to draw on a napkin. "Look Bones! I drew you and Daddy," he said, passing her the napkin. Booth leaned over to get a better view as Brennan slid it in front of herself. Three stick figures had been drawn on the napkin in what was no doubt an intense action scene; most likely Brennan and Booth apprehending a criminal. Booth and Brennan locked eyes across the table. Parker handed Brennan the pen. "Draw something Bones!"

Brennan smiled shyly. "Um, I don't know what to draw - " but was saved by Sid's presence at the table with their food. He placed the first dish in front of Parker; a simple cheeseburger with a smiley face made of ketchup with pickles for eyes and spiky mustard hair. "Cool!" Parker exclaimed; barely hesitating before pressing the top bun down and watching as the condiments squirted out the sides. Next, Sid revealed what he had made for Booth and Brennan, pulling a single dish from behind his back and placing it on the table. Sid laughed at their confused expressions and winked at Parker, who dissolved into another fit of giggles. "It's my own creation - made special for my favorite G-man and his bone lady." On the plate sat four mini Fluffernutter sandwiches cut out from the center of the bread into various shapes. Beside them rested a pile of sweet potato fries with a cup of extra marshmallow dipping sauce.

"Sid, you really didn't have to do this..." Booth chuckled and looked across the table at Brennan.

"Thank you Sid, this really is exactly what I wanted. How'd you know?" Sid laughed good naturedly at Brennan's somewhat troubled expression, no doubt wondering how he knew that the peanut butter and marshmallow concoction was her favorite comfort food. "I had a hunch that someone needed some cheering up. Just...have fun with it," he said before returning to his place behind the bar.

Booth glanced at Brennan with a raised eyebrow and a lopsided smile. "Okay, Bones - let's have fun." She looked back and tilted her head to the side inquisitively, a look that Booth had grown to love. "How?" she asked, a disbelieving smile adorning her face. Booth grinned mischievously, taking a bit of Fluff on his finger and leaning over the table to wipe it on the end of her nose.

"Hey!" her eyes widened in shock and anger before narrowing as she smirked and threw a sweet potato fry at him. It bounced off his shoulder, but he caught it, popping it in his mouth and smiling back at her. "You're gonna have to do better than that Bones." She crossed her arms, trying to look menacing. "You know I'm perfectly capable of flipping you over my shoulder."

Booth picked up another couple of fries, dipping them in marshmallow before eating them. "Yeah, but then I'd be perfectly capable of arresting you for the assault of a Federal Agent," he replied smugly. "Not if you were incapacitated," her mouth settled in an impish grin. Booth did a double take, the hand with the sandwich he had been about to take a bite from pausing halfway to his mouth, as he wondered briefly if she was flirting with him. He put the sandwich back down on the plate before matching her smug smile from earlier. "You still want that gun don't you?"

Brennan pursed her lips, biting back whatever scathing comeback she had in mind, as it was probably not suitable for Parker's ears. Instead she threw another fry at Booth. He ate this one too, and Parker watched the exchange happily while taking large bites out of his burger. Booth was about to reach for another bright orange fry, but had his hand slapped away by Brennan. "I didn't get any of those yet!" She took one for herself, dipping it and bringing it out with a large gob of Fluff on the end. Booth laughed, "It's not my fault - you were throwing them at me!"

The banter continued as they fought over the different shaped sandwiches. Soon the plate was cleared, while Parker had made a good-sized dent in his own meal. His face was covered in ketchup and mustard, and Booth grimaced as he wiped his mouth on his sleeve. Looking at his watch Booth saw that it was later than he had anticipated. He stood, putting a few bills on the table. "Come here Bub, I'll help you get your jacket on." Parker obeyed sleepily, rubbing a heavy-lidded eye as he put one arm in the jacket.

Brennan had just finished donning her own jacket when Booth stood from the slightly crouched position he had been in while helping Parker, and nearly smacked heads with her, not realizing she had been standing so close. Their eyes met, and Booth noticed that she did look happier than when they had first gotten there.

Brennan watched a slow smile spread across her partner's face. "What?" she asked, feeling her cheeks grow hot as he maintained his gaze.

"You've got marshmallow on your nose." He laughed as she rubbed at the end of her nose in vain. "Did I get it?" she asked, scrunching her nose as she inspected her fingers for residue of the offending fluff. Booth shook his head, "Let me." He reached up and cupped her cheek, wiping the marshmallow off with his thumb. He made no move to take his hand away, and Brennan felt her breath catch in her throat.

A sharp ringing broke the moment and Booth fished in his pocket for his cell.

"Booth."

Brennan watched anxiously, trying to discern what the message was from Booth's facial expressions. The fun Sid had helped them conjure up had served to almost make her forget the earlier events of the day. Now, as she listened to Booth's end of the conversation, all the emotions came rushing back.

"Yeah, thanks," Booth wrapped up the conversation and closed his phone with a snap. Not meeting Brennan's eyes, he picked up Parker and led them from the restaurant, Parker waving at Sid over his shoulder. Brennan followed behind them, her nerves threatening to overwhelm her.

Booth strapped Parker into his seat and shut the door before turning to Brennan. He was leaning his shoulder on the diver's side door, arms crossed, chewing his lip nervously, but Brennan couldn't take it anymore. "What did they find?" she asked. Trying, but failing to mask the anxiety in her voice. Booth sighed.

"In addition to the bodies of Sydney, the Pearsons, and the two skeletons you found, they've uncovered two more sets of remains. Besides the Pearsons and Sydney, everything's being sent to the Jeffersonian for identification. "Well, let's go," Brennan said urgently, turning abruptly to walk around to the other side of the car.

"Bones - " Just as quickly Booth wrapped a hand around her arm and turned her around to face him. Brennan looked at him incredulously. "What? I want to be there when they arrive."

Booth's expression was placating. "They aren't going to get there for another couple of hours -"

"But -"

"and the squints can handle it."

"Booth -"

"I'm taking you home you're going to get some rest." His tone left no room for argument, but Brennan recognized the genuine concern in his eyes and found herself sighing and nodding before walking around to the passenger side and getting in.

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The SUV pulled to a stop outside Brennan's apartment building, both passengers fast asleep in their respective seats. Booth turned in his seat and placed his hand on Brennan's shoulder. "Bones," he squeezed her shoulder gently and her eyes fluttered open. Her eyes met his and lingered for a moment before she cleared her throat and sat up straight. "Um, thanks," she said, unbuckling before exiting the car. A few seconds later Booth returned to his usual spot beside her, resting his hand on the small of her back as they walked.

When they reached her door, Brennan stopped and turned toward Booth. "Thank you Booth - for everything." Booth looked as though he was about to wave it off, and Brennan shook her head. "I mean it. I realize I probably don't show it often -" she paused to take a deep breath. "I once asked you why you're nice to me, and you said it's because I make criminals unsafe - but I think it goes deeper than that. You're my friend Booth, and - I guess, I just want you to know that I am grateful; for everything." She felt her cheeks flush slightly when she reached the end of her declaration, and wanted nothing more than to disappear into her apartment.

The next thing she new she was being pulled in for a hug. "You're welcome," he whispered, before pulling away again. "Good night Bones." He smiled again and started walking away, but turned back a moment later, his patented charm smile in place. "Oh, and I'll pick you up...What? Say 10?" He turned around abruptly and walked away, not waiting for a reply. Brennan groaned, but was unable to stop the smile from appearing on her face, realizing that he had intentionally made sure she didn't go back to the Jeffersonian to pick up her car, and was therefore unable to return to the lab. She opened the door to her apartment, smiling and shaking her head as she closed it behind her.

Comments? Questions? Ideas? If you don't have anything particular to say, just drop me a note so I know you're still interested in the story. I only got 2 reviews last time, so let me know if I should continue. : )