Shhh...it's a secret...


After spending most of the next day with Hank, it was time for Booth and Parker to leave for the basketball game. "We'll see you tomorrow morning, okay, Pops? Let's plan on going to brunch at that diner down the street from where you used to live...about eleven, okay?"

"That'll be fine. You boys have a good time." Hank walked with them to the parking lot, letting loose a low whistle when he saw the rental car...a shiny red Mustang. "Wow...that's a beaut…fast, too, I bet."

"Yeah, it is, although after driving that huge SUV of mine, it feels tiny. Oh well...might as well have fun while I can, right?'' Booth winked at grandfather. "We better be going...I don't want you to be late to bingo this evening. Some of your lady friends might not like that."

"Nah, it's okay if I'm fashionably late. Mamie won't care. She'll save me a seat." Hank smirked as he ran his hand over his chin. "I guess I need a shave, though. I'll see you guys later…"

Thoroughly enjoying the fancy rental car, Booth adjusted his mirrors and played with all the knobs and controls before pulling out of the parking lot. He hadn't driven very far when he realized that Parker was being unusually quiet.

"Hey, buddy...is something wrong? I thought you wanted to go to the basketball game with me."

"I do." Parker nodded as he gazed out the passenger window. "I like basketball a lot."

Something's up… Booth sang a few bars with the song on the radio before continuing. "You know, Parker, if there's anything you want to talk about, I'll be glad to listen. Is everything alright at school? Are you having trouble with your homework?"

"No...it's nothing like that." Watching the scenery go by, Parker continued to avoid his father's gaze. "It's nothing, really…"

"I'm not so sure it's nothing, okay? I mean, before I went to pick up the car you were talking a mile a minute about what you wanted for Christmas, and now you've got nothing to say, so...what's going on?"

"Well, it probably is nothing, but…" Parker sighed sadly. "...I'm kinda worried about Pops. I'm not sure he's okay."

So that's it. Understandable. "Listen, I know Pops is old, but his health is still pretty good.," Booth began. "It's just hard for him to live by himself, that's all. Besides, you heard him. He has lots of friends at the retirement center, and he seems happy."

"That's not what I mean." Turning to his father, the boy shrugged slightly. "Ricky said that his grandfather got real sick, and the way they knew he was sick is that he started forgetting a lot of things and then he'd tell them crazy stories...you know, about things that weren't there and stuff. It got so bad that he couldn't remember Ricky's mom's name."

Booth nodded in understanding. "I know. It's sad that Mr. Davila has Alzheimer's Disease, but…"

Parker quickly interrupted. "Just listen, okay, Dad? While you were gone to get the car, Pops started talking about Santa Claus as if he was a real guy. He said that Santa was gonna bring me lots of cool stuff for Christmas, and then he asked me if I knew how Santa got into the retirement center since there isn't a chimney. He said the night security guard is one of Santa's elves and lets Santa into the building when he shows up on Christmas Eve." Sniffling, Parker rubbed his eyes. "Pops should know that I'm too old to believe in Santa, Dad. Did he forget how old I am? Why else would he tell me that crazy story? I think he may have gotten sick like Ricky's grandfather did..."

"Oh, Parker…" Booth reached over to rub his son's shoulder. "Pops was just trying to spread a little Christmas cheer, okay?" Seeing that Parker was unconvinced, Booth smiled. "Listen, my Nana used to say that if you quit believing in Santa Claus, all you get for Christmas is socks and underwear. That's always been the way it is, even after Nana was gone...we Booths have always believed in Santa Claus."

Parker couldn't believe his ears. "But, Dad! Ricky said Santa Claus isn't real…"

"You'd better not let Father Keeling hear you say that! St. Nicholas was a real person!," Booth teased. "And anyway, Ricky is just plain wrong. St. Nicholas was a bishop who did a lot of good things for the poor in a town called Myra. Because of historical records, we know he actually existed, and he was the inspiration for the character we know today as Santa Claus. So see? Pops was just trying to let you in on the Booth family secret, which is that we all know Santa Claus is real."

"Really?" Parker was obviously surprised. "I didn't know he was really a saint. Wow! Wait 'til I tell Ricky that there's proof Santa Claus is real!"

"You can't tell Ricky!" Booth pretended to be horrified. "It's our family's secret, okay? You have to keep it to yourself until you have kids of your own, alright? Gotta keep it hush-hush, you know? If you tell everyone else, it's not a secret anymore."

"Yeah, okay...it's a secret. Hush-hush until I have kids" Smiling at his father proudly, Parker nodded. "You know, when you explained that stuff about St. Nicholas, you sounded really smart, just like Bones…"

"Thanks. I'll take that as a compliment." Exhaling slowly, Booth chewed his lip a bit. "You know, it's true that Pops may be getting a little forgetful, but when you think about how long he's lived, that's only natural, right? I mean, he's seen a lot of stuff in his long lifetime, and so it'd be hard to remember it all, but I don't think he's as ill as Ricky's grandfather is, okay?"

"Okay. Thanks, Dad." Smiling happily, Parker sat back in his seat. "Are you ready for some 'Nova basketball?"

Booth offered a fist bump to his son. "Wildcats for the win, right, Buddy?"

"Right, Dad!"

Staring into the darkness as he drove them to the game, Booth repeated Parker's words to himself. I sounded smart...I sounded like Bones….

...and he felt like it was the best compliment he could ever receive...


If you have time to leave a review, I'd appreciate it. Laura.