Disclaimer: I don't own Bones or Fox. Sad, but true.
Note: I'm interested in looking for a beta to edit my stories before I post them. If you're free, or would like to beta my stories, drop me a note or a review
On with the chapter!
Parker was really, really excited today. Because today Daddy had promised to take him to his workplace, the FBI.
Parker always bragged to his classmates at school that his Daddy was a top-secret special agent at the FBI.
Parker watched as Daddy swiped his card, showed his shiny badge, and then led Parker into the big building. Parker looked at the huge ceiling with awe. It was even bigger than his house!
Daddy went and led Parker towards a large platform in the center of the floor. Parker stared at it quizzically, before deciding to ask Daddy. Daddy knew the answers to everything. Except that one time when Parker was six, and he wanted to know how babies were made. He never understood why his Daddy had turned a really ugly shade of red and told him to ask that question again when he was older.
"Daddy, why is there that big thing in the middle of the building?"
"That's the platform where Tempe and her team works," his daddy told him.
"Oh." Parker said, wondering how cool it would be to work on a platform and watch everybody walk by you.
To go onto the platform, Daddy swiped another card, and then beckoned for Parker to come in. Once stepping onto it, Parker immediately saw Tempe.
"Tempe!" he yelled and raced towards her. Tempe laughed that sweet laugh of hers, and stripping off her gloves, proceeded to hug Parker.
She turned to his Daddy, amusement sparkling in her eyes. "So you brought him after all," she murmured softly, although not so soft that Parker couldn't overhear.
"What?" his daddy grumbled back. "I couldn't get a moment's peace after I raised the question of whether or not he wanted to visit my workplace or not. He was so bursting with excitement today, he could barely eat his breakfast."
The sensor gave a beep as someone else walked onto the platform, followed by two others. The first was an Asian woman with dark brown hair pulled into a messy bun. She carried a sketchbook with half a drawing on it and several pencils. She was followed by a man with curly hair and blue eyes, and a younger man who looked rather worried as he fidgeted behind the other two.
"Meet the squints," his daddy muttered. Parker wondered what a "squint" was.
Tempe took this opportunity to make introductions. "Angela, Hodgins, Zack—meet Parker, Booth's kid. Parker, meet Angela, Hodgins, and Zack. Angela is the person we ask to help us if we need to draw a face onto the bones, and she's a very talented artist. Hodgins is an intelligent scientist, necessary to determine where the bones came from, and to identify mysterious substances on the bone fragments. Zack is my personal assistant, and he helps run tests on the bones and also helps me to identify how and when the victim died."
Parker just nodded as Tempe talked, rather dazed at how fast she talked and the massive amount of information.
"Squints," his daddy said, "Parker wants to see where Tempe and I work, so I brought him here today. I hope you don't mind if he asks questions. He's very curious."
And that was Parker's cue to give a beaming smile to all of the "squints".
"Are those real human bones?" Parker asked, wide-eyed, as he followed Tempe on a tour through her lab and the Jeffersonian.
"Yes," Tempe replied with a smile. "But don't touch. We need to know how this person was killed."
Parker gave no reply, just watched and consumed as much information as he could.
After a lunch at Parker's favorite restaurant, Wong Foo's, Parker was all but ready to go home and take a nap. Except that his Daddy couldn't leave yet, so Tempe let Parker doze off on the big couch in her office.
Parker pretended to sleep so he wouldn't disturb Tempe, whom looked like she was doing something really important at her desk. But his mind was really buzzing with how awesome it would be to grow up just like his daddy or Tempe.
A long time later, when Parker was just about to fall asleep, the door swung open and the woman Parker recognized as Angela strolled into the office.
Her eyes fell on Parker, who tried to stay as still as possible and fake sleep. "You really like him, don't you?" she asked.
Parker nearly woke up to smile at Angela and ask how she knew he wasn't asleep, before Tempe answered. Parker mentally scolded himself for thinking that she was talking to him.
Anyways, if he pretended to sleep, Parker could work on his eavesdropping skills. Because apparently Angela and Tempe thought he was asleep, and his eavesdropping skills were something that Parker was unconditionally proud of.
Parker cracked open the slit of one eye to see Tempe look up from her work and smile at his "sleeping" form. "Yeah. He's so sweet and curious. I wish I had a kid like that."
"You could--" Angela started, but was cut off by Tempe.
"No, Angela. Booth is still unstable after his relationship with Tess, and I don't want to hamper him right now. I may have feelings for him, and an adoring love for Parker, but I don't want to disturb this fragile beginning he's built again for him and Parker."
"But Tempe, what if he really likes you too?"
"Angela, we're work partners. Imagine how dating would affect this work relationship we've established."
"But he could have feelings…"
Tempe put down her papers and rubbed her eyes. "If he does, then he does. I don't have any say in the matter."
"Tempe, you should make the first move. He just might be woman-shy from his last relationship."
Tempe sighed. "Angela, I don't know. I just don't know."
Angela gave a soothing smile at Tempe and patted her arm before leaving the room.
Parker silently watched as Tempe switched off the light and locked the door before following Angela out.
Sitting up in the dim light, Parker wondered what it all meant.
A/N: So, what does it all mean? And for those who might be confused, yes, Tempe has feelings for Booth, as explicitly stated in this chapter. Maybe we'll find out next chapter if Booth has feelings or not.. ;) Remember, reviews are love! -peppermint-kiss234