A/N: this chapter is a little longer than I originally intended but there's a lot going on. The 3 words I used were: Blackmailing, camaraderie, and birdwatching.

The bird facts and bird names in this story are real.

I hope you will forgive Booth being perhaps slightly out of character, but grumpy Booth makes me laugh...

Early one Thursday morning, Booth was hard at work on his monthly budget report when Brennan suddenly showed up at his office at the Hoover. "Booth…I'd like you to go birdwatching with me Saturday morning."

"Hello to you, too. I'm fine, thanks. Nice weather we've been having…" Rolling his eyes, Booth sighed softly, knowing the sarcasm would be lost on his partner. "So why would I want to ruin a perfectly good day off by walking around looking at some random birds? I mean, all I have to do is look out the window here and I can see hundreds of pigeons, right? No way I'd deliberately go watch birds somewhere else, okay? Now…if you don't mind, I'm really busy here. I've gotta get this stupid report submitted by noon. Maybe we can have lunch later…"

Undeterred, she sat down in the chair facing his desk. "But it'll be fun! You could bring Parker along and we could enjoy a day at the park together. I'll pack a picnic lunch for us, too. He likes learning about animals, correct? And don't forget…he found a human finger because he was looking at a bird's nest, so we know he's interested in birds."

"Of course it was a human finger…" Seeing her confusion at his statement, he shook his head. "Never mind. The point is that watching birds is a waste of time…and I don't have time to waste at the moment…"

"So you believe spending a day at the park with your son is a waste of time?" Ignoring his glare, she continued in her 'teacher' voice. "Birdwatching is an excellent educational activity for children. It helps them become observant and detail oriented, and it allows them the opportunity to appreciate natural history. Besides, spending a day outdoors together is a great way for you to build camaraderie with Parker."

Booth frowned as he looked up from his computer. "We already have a good relationship, okay? We go do stuff together all the time…we watch hockey on TV…we play games together…and yeah, we even toss the football around in the park…"

"But this would be a different kind of camaraderie. Since it appears that you don't know much about birdwatching, you'd be demonstrating for him how important it is to learn new skills. You'd show him that you're not afraid to try something different."

Her reasoning was sound, but Booth was not about to give in so easily. "I suppose you know all there is to know about birdwatching, right? You just want to show off that big brain of yours…"

"Actually, I don't know much about it at all, other than the names of a few common bird species." She grinned sheepishly as she fidgeted with a pencil. "You see, I need to do some research for my latest book. The antagonist is smuggling drugs into the country via cages holding exotic birds, so I contacted the area's Audubon Society to get some information on what sort of birds would be considered exotic and their countries of origin. In the course of our conversation, the director told me that they're having a field day this Saturday, and she invited me to join them. I was quick to accept the invitation, because it'll help me set the stage for my novel if I know how birdwatching really works. However, I don't know anyone else in the club, so I thought maybe you'd come with me…you know, for moral support. That way I'd avoid a rather awkward situation…"

It was a plausible explanation, but Booth refused to be swayed. "I don't think we can make it. I guess you're gonna have to tough it out and make some new nerdy friends all on your own."

Ignoring his snide remark, Brennan smirked as a thought popped into her head. "Booth…are you afraid of birds? Is that why you don't want to go look for them in the park on Saturday?"

"What? NO! Of course not!" Annoyed with her provocation, he shrugged off that idea as he turned back to his computer monitor. "I just don't like them, okay? I don't trust them. I mean, they're just…weird, okay? They're so…I don't know…birdish. They've got those little beady eyes staring at you like they're waiting to attack you, and they flap their wings at you…and their feathers make me sneeze…and don't get me started on how ugly their knobby feet are…with those nasty long toenails…"

"Right. So you're not afraid of them at all. I understand completely." She pretended to pout as she twisted a strand of auburn hair around her finger. "Fine. I'll go birdwatching by myself Saturday morning. However…" She frowned slightly as she looked up at him. "...because I'll most likely spend the majority of the day watching birds, I'll be too exhausted to go to Director Palestrina's cocktail party with you on Saturday evening. I'm afraid you'll have to find someone else to accompany you."

He was shocked at her statement. "Wait…so you're breaking our date…because you'll be too tired from watching birds flying around the park…"

She raised an eyebrow at him. "It was a date?"

"Well…um…no, not really." Cringing slightly, he tried to explain. "It was more like you were doing me a favor.," Booth mumbled. "The point is that now you're refusing to go with me to the Director's party with me because I won't go birdwatching with you, right?"

"You said the only reason I needed to go to the party with you was because you wouldn't know many people who were attending, since they're in a different department than yours. Anyway, I suppose you'll just have to tough it out and make some new FBI friends, since you'll be there by yourself."

He ran a hand over his face in frustration. While not knowing anyone was his excuse for asking her to go to the party with him, the truth was that he wanted to spend time with her away from work…and of course, as she'd be sure to remind him at some point along the way, his status among his peers would be greatly increased by escorting a beautiful woman to the director's home that evening. Clearing his throat, he glared at her. "Bones…are you blackmailing me to get what you want?"

She gave him an innocent smile. "Of course not, because blackmailing a federal law enforcement officer is illegal, as I'm sure you're aware. I prefer to think of it as quid pro quo…you do a favor for me, and then I do a favor for you. That way we'll both be happy, and neither of us will have to go by ourselves to a social function where we don't know any of the other participants."

Booth sighed, knowing he'd already lost the argument. There was no reason to resist any further. "Fine. We'll go birdwatching. Where and when?"

"You and Parker should meet me at the main entrance of Rock Creek Park at 8:30 AM, rain or shine. Bring some binoculars. I'll bring lunch." Smiling happily, she rose from the chair. "I'll see you then…unless we have a case, of course, in which case I'll see you sooner…"

"Okay." He watched her leave before turning back to the budget report on his computer. "Now what have I gotten myself into? I hate birds…and now I'm gonna spend part of my day off watching them…"

Oooooooooo

Saturday morning was bright and sunny as the Booth men approached the place where they were to meet Brennan. Parker was bouncing around gleefully, chattering nonstop to his father, who was trudging along with all the enthusiasm that normally accompanied a 25 mile hike in full combat gear through the deserts of Afghanistan.

"Dad! Dad! This is so cool!" Parker jogged along, his binoculars flapping against his chest. "I can't wait! I hope we see a big bald eagle! Or maybe we can see a hawk catch a mouse! Or maybe some baby birds in a nest!"

"Yeah…great. Or maybe we'll see a pigeon poop on my truck.," Booth grumbled as he lagged behind a bit. "Alright…let's get this over with…"

His comment trailed off as he caught sight of Brennan waiting for them to arrive. In her little khaki shorts and her snug camo t-shirt, she was simply too cute for words. "Um…you know what, Parker? This might be fun after all." He waved to get her attention. "Hey…Bones!"

She gave them a radiant smile as she flipped her ponytail over her shoulder. "You made it! Parker, I'm so happy to see you!"

"I'm happy to see you, too! Thanks for asking me to come." His voice dropped to a loud whisper. "I don't think my dad wants to be here, though…"

Brennan shrugged as she winked at Booth. "I think he's afraid we're going to run into a clown with a large parrot sitting on his shoulder."

Booth was not amused. "Very funny, Bones."

She laughed loudly at her own joke. "I know you don't like birds, Booth, so it's very brave of you to come to the park to look at them. Now…" She gave them each a small notebook and a pencil. "...this is where you record the birds you see and hear." She pulled a thick book from her backpack. "I can look in this field guide if we aren't sure of the species' name." Shading her eyes with her hand, she nodded. "The other birders have already started their activities but they said we can go at our own pace. Are we ready?"

"Yeah!" Parker put his pencil behind his ear and jammed his notebook in his pocket. "What do we do first?"

"The first thing we do after we enter the park is to be very, very quiet…," Brennan explained.

"Because I'm hunting wabbits…," Booth joked, but his companions didn't seem to understand. "Come on…Bugs Bunny? Elmer Fudd? Never mind…"

Rolling her eyes, Brennan continued. "The male birds sing to advertise their willingness to find a mate."

Parker's nose scrunched up. "That's weird. Does that mean Dad should sing if he wants a girlfriend?"

"Well, your father does sing well, but human males do other things to attract girlfriends…like buying expensive sports cars." She held up her hand to call attention to noise from the surrounding trees. "Listen carefully, Parker. What bird sounds do you hear?"

The boy listened carefully for a few minutes. " There's Look here, look here….fee bee, fee bee… chick a dee dee dee…and Caw caw caw…"

Pleased with his answer, Brennan beamed happily. "Very good! 'Look here' is from a cardinal, 'fee bee' is a flycatcher called a phoebe, caws come from members of the Corvidae family, and 'chick a dee' is…"

"A chickadee! Cool! Isn't that cool, Dad? Those birds say their own names."

"Yeah…real cool." Booth looked around nervously as a flock of sparrows landed next to them. "Can we go home now?"

Brennan scowled at her partner. "Behave yourself, Booth. Parker and I are having fun. There's no reason for you to be such a spoilsport…"

Parker interrupted her by tugging on her elbow. "What's that little gray bird over there in that tree?"

Brennan raised her binoculars to get a better look. "Hmm…let me see…oh yes, that's a tufted titmouse…"

"Bones!." Booth hissed. "I cannot believe you said 'tit' in front of my kid…"

"That's a funny name.," Parker laughed. "That bird doesn't even look like a mouse…"

"Perhaps the ornithologist who named it thought it was a similar color to a mouse…," Brennan mused.

"But you still said 'tit'!," Booth fumed. "He's not supposed to use words like that…"

"It's the bird's name!," Brennan argued. "I can't change it just because you don't like it…"

"Look…" Parker darted off a few yards. "A robin red breast…"

Booth was scandalized. "Tits and breasts? I thought birdwatching was supposed to be good for kids…"

"Really, Booth…they're just words! Your Puritan ethos is amazingly ludicrous…" Brennan held up the field guide so Parker could see it. "Perhaps we should pacify your father by using the robin's scientific name: Turdus migratorius…"

Booth threw up his hands in aggravation. "So now you're gonna teach my kid to say 'turd' in public? I don't believe this! Birdwatching should be an adults only activity!"

"Dad…you say 'turd' all the time, and you said it wasn't that bad…not like the S word…"

"I can say it because I'm an adult, okay, Parker? You don't need to go around saying that word until you get hair under your arms." Booth was irate as he turned to Brennan. "Seriously? Turd birds?"

Brennan was beyond frustrated with Booth's tirade. "It's not my fault that the robin is a thrush in the family of birds called Turdidae."

"No, it's science's fault…as usual!" Ensconcing himself on a park bench, Booth crossed his arms over his chest. "I tell you what…I've had enough 'fun' for one day. You two go look at all the birds you want, but I'm staying right here."

Brennan stood with her hands on her hips. "Fine. We'll be back in a couple of hours."

"Fine!"

"Come along, Parker." Brennan tousled his hair as they walked away. "It's too bad we're not on the Pacific Coast of South America. Perhaps then we'd see a blue-footed booby…"

Parker chuckled in surprise. "Is that a real bird?"

"Yes…it really has blue feet, and it's really called a booby…and a pair of them would be called boobies…"

"I heard that!," Booth bellowed loudly. Laughing merrily, Brennan and Parker continued to point out different birds as they walked away. "Hmmph…well, I'll just make myself comfortable here while they go chasing who knows what! Maybe I can get a nap in…"

Brennan and Parker hadn't wandered too far from Booth's bench when suddenly he heard a shrill, angry squawk. "What the hell? Get away from me!" He waved his arms wildly, trying to fend off the angry mockingbird that was attacking him. "Bones? Hey, Bones! What's up with this crazy bird?"

"He's probably defending his nesting area. Mockingbirds are fiercely territorial. I suggest moving away from the bench…"

Sighing noisily, Booth jogged over to where they stood. "I guess I'm going with you to look at some more birds…if that's okay with you…"

Parker grinned up at his father. "Don't worry, Dad…me and Bones will protect you from the scary birds."

"Thanks a lot, son…"

Oooooooooo

It had been an eventful day at the park, and after a nap and a shower, Booth was ready for Brennan to fulfill her end of their bargain. After adjusting his jacket and smoothing his tie, he knocked at her apartment's door. "Bones?"

"Coming…" She opened the door and nodded in approval. "You look very handsome! That gray suit is my favorite…"

Booth was almost speechless. "Wow…you look…spectacular, Bones. Is that a new dress?'

"Yes. Do you like it?"

Like it? OH MY GOD…

It was a navy blue halter dress, made from some sort of slinky fabric that clung to her curves like a second skin. The deep vee-shaped neckline showed off her ample cleavage to great advantage…so much so that Booth wondered how he'd keep his eyes anywhere else that evening…

…until he saw that the hem of her skirt landed well above her knees…and the spiky navy blue heels she wore made it look as if those long legs went on forever.

He choked out an answer. "Yeah…it's very nice. Well…um…we should get going…"

"Let me get my wrap…"

As he watched her move around her apartment, he soon realized his eyes were focused on her breasts, and suddenly memories of that morning intruded into his mind. Boobies…blue shoes…blue footed boobies…Jesus…it's gonna be a long night, isn't it?

He smiled when she linked her arm with his as they left her apartment. Admiring the beautiful woman standing beside him, his thoughts began to wander.

Maybe I need to learn more about birds from Bones…and then maybe we can talk about the birds and the bees later this evening…that's definitely be more interesting than your average cocktail party conversation...

Hmm…and instead of birdwatching being an educational activity for kids, it could turn out to be a good thing for adults to do as well…maybe we could study the mating displays of birds…and talk about nesting…

He smiled as they got into the car. "You know what, Bones? I think we need to go back to the park tomorrow to see some more birds."

"Really?" She was obviously surprised. "But you hate birds…"

"Yeah, but I'm willing to learn more about them…if you'd be willing to teach me, that is…"

She gave him a coy smile. "I think that can be arranged…"

"Excellent." He sighed in contentment as he pulled his SUV out of the parking lot.. And maybe if I'm lucky…someday, one way or the other, I'll get to see a genuine blue footed booby up close and personal…and I'm looking forward to that.

Thanks for reading. If you have time to review, I'd appreciate it. Laura