What I Wish I Could've Said

Rated: T

Disclaimer: I own nothing... Obviously. Just playing in someone else's sandbox for a bit.

Summary: Hindsight is always 20/20. Everyone has a single moment that they wish they could have said something better than what they actually did. A completely random series of what-if vignettes.

A/N: I suppose, in a way, this might be considered a sequel to Vignette/Chapter #3 - "That Time Booth Got Asked That Question." It's not necessary to read that to understand this one, but there is a certain resonance if you've read both. I've always wanted to put Max and Hank in a situation to torment Booth, and this seems like the closest - realistically - I'll be able to come to it for a while.

On that note, I still have a few prior suggestions that people have made in the pipe line, but I'm starting to run a bit short. So, if anyone has a bit of dialog they want to toss out in hopes the muse will latch onto it, I'd be grateful. It really doesn't matter what episode it's from or which season, although six is a bit harder to do since I don't have complete transcripts for a lot of those episodes. Sometimes, the best bits of inspiration sometimes come from the less well-known bits of dialog, so don't be afraid to throw something out there to see if I might get the muse to catch it. Thanks in advance.

Ch 10: That Time Booth Got Asked That Question… Again

Although he wasn't able to concentrate fully on his grandfather, as he focused on driving the black SUV down on the road, Booth was doing his best to give Hank Booth as much attention as he could spare while operating the motor vehicle. Smiling, Booth said, "I'm glad you're here, Pops."

Hank nodded at his grandson and said, "Yeah, well...so am I. But, don't worry...if you ever need a little privacy with the bone doctor, I'll make myself scarce."

At this, Booth chuckled. "Okay, thanks, Pops. But, there's nothing going on between us."

Sensing his grandfather's gaze weighing on him, Booth managed to steal a look quickly at the passenger's side of the SUV. Booth almost wished he hadn't when saw a very nervous look on his grandfather's face, soon to be accompanied by two simple words. Booth knew what was coming next, even as Hank opened his mouth to speak, and Booth had an eerie sense of déjà vu settle over him.

"You gay?"

Booth sighed in exasperation. Quickly, he glanced at his grandfather's eyes again and shook his head in several rapid movements.

"No!" Booth returned his eyes to the road and then said, "Why does everyone keep asking me that?"

"What do you mean 'why does everyone keep asking you that', Shrimp?" Hank asked, his own forehead furrowing in suspicious contemplation.

Booth waved his grandfather off. "It's nothing-"

"Seeley," Hank almost growled.

Recognizing the tone for what it was, Booth sighed and reluctantly answered. "It just that not so long ago, I was having a very similar conversation with Bones' father, and he asked me the same question you just did."

"Wait," Hank said. "You're not gay, but you were talking to the bone doctor's father, and, yet, you're still telling me that there's nothing going on between you two?"

"Yes," Booth said, as he turned on the SUV's signal. "That's what I'm telling you exactly."

"Boy," Hank said, shaking his head in disbelief. "I must not have raised you right. I guess I screwed up somewhere along the way."

"Pops," Booth immediately replied. "Now, you know that's not true. Why would you go and say something stupid like that? You know I think the world of you, and you did a great job with Jared and me-"

"Apparently, not a good enough job if you haven't locked a lady like Temperance down yet, Seeley," Hank said. He stopped and then said, "Wait. Why did her father ask you if you were gay?"

"Because," Booth said, turning red a bit as he bit his lip before he muttered. "Max asked me if I was sleeping with his daughter, and I told him no. Then, he asked me the same question you just did."

"And, what'd he say when you told him you weren't gay?" Hank inquired.

"He asked me if Bones wasn't my type," Booth admitted.

Nodding, Hank said, "And, you told him…?"

Sighing again, Booth reluctantly replied, "I told him that I thought Bones is beautiful. She's gorgeous, and she's smart and funny and very much my type, but we're just not like that because we're partners."

"And, he actually bought that load of crap?" Hank asked curiously.

Shaking his head, as he maneuvered the SUV, Booth replied wearily, "Nope. Not really."

"And, if the bone lady's father didn't buy it, why you still trying to pedal that load of garbage to me, Shrimp?" Hank asked.

"Because, Pops," Booth sighed. "It's the truth."

"No, no it's not," Hank corrected Booth. Turning in his seat so that he fully faced his grandson, Hank then promptly jabbed his finger into Booth's arm.

"What?" Booth said. "Hey, Pops! Owww, that hurt."

"Stop being such a big baby," Hank said. "Now, listen up, Seeley. Here's what we're going to do."

Booth arched an eyebrow as he looked at his grandfather, but remained silent.

"We're going to take a little detour, you and I. Right now," Hank began.

Shaking his head again, Booth stupidly interrupted his grandfather, "Look, Pops, I don't think that's a good idea. We've got a lot to do-"

"Stuff it, Seeley," Hank muttered. "Now, like I was saying, Shrimp- you and I are going to take a little detour."

"Where?" Booth sighed.

"To wherever the bones lady is right now," Hank said with a firm nod of his head. "And, we're not leaving until you do the right thing, man up, and kiss her senseless."

Incredulity clear on his face, Booth said, "I'm not doing that."

"Yes, yes, you are, Seeley," Hank said. Shaking his head, he then added, "I'm too old to see you waste anymore time, Shrimp. So, since it's clear you can't close this deal yourself, I'm gonna help you do what should have been done a long time ago. Understand?"

Slowly, Booth turned his head so that he was looking at Hank. As he did so, Booth immediately wondered what it was that everyone else seemed to be seem but him and Brennan. First, Max. Now, Pops? What are we missing here? Booth thought. Staring at his grandfather, who was watching him with an expectant look, a bit of a militant gleam in his eyes, Booth wondered, Maybe he's right. Maybe I just need to kiss her and see what happens-

Nodding his head slowly, Booth thought about what the best way was to navigate back to the Jeffersonian. Turning on the Sequoia's blinkers, Booth maneuvered the car into another lane and said, "Yes, sir. I understand."

"So, what are we gonna do then?" Hank repeated, just to make sure his dearly loved, but very thick-skulled grandson was on the same page with him.

Meeting his grandfather's gaze, Booth said evenly, "We're going to go to the Jeffersonian, and I'm going to kiss, Bones. That's the plan, right?"

His face breaking out into a charming smile of his own, Hank nodded happily, "Damn straight."

-TBC-