Chapter 9 – The Santa in the Slush

Booth looked over at Brennan as he drove to the crime scene and finally said what he first saw when he had picked her up. "You got that sad little girl look on your face after you've been with your dad."

Brennan immediately began to deny it, "No I don't…" But then she saw that Booth was giving her a knowing look and sighed, "He wishes we could spend Christmas together with Russ."

Booth shrugged and said as if it was obvious, "Well, do it."

Brennan shot him a look now and told him, "They're both in jail. It's impossible. Plus, we already have plans."

Booth snorted and said solemnly, "Yeah, well I'm thinking about driving the truck right off the bridge. Oh, I'm being melodramatic and self pitying."

Brennan was a little shocked at that. "But you love Christmas."

Booth sighed as he explained, "I love it – you know – when we have Parker. But you know he's going skiing in Vermont with Rebecca and Captain Fantastic."

Brennan was confused by that. "Captain Fantastic?"

Booth looked at her sheepishly, "Ah, her boyfriend. Commands a Coastguard cutter."

Brennan gave him a deadpan look. "His last name isn't literally 'Fantastic', is it?"

He looked out the window and mumbled, "Might as well be." He then changed the topic, "You know they have a trailer at the jail, mostly for conjugal visits."

Brennan however didn't follow that change, "Captain Fantastic is in jail?"

Booth sighed in exasperation, "No. You're dad. You can give him what he wants for Christmas. Pull a few strings."

Brennan shook her head. "I'm not a string puller."

Booth snorted at that. Yeah she didn't pull strings. "I've seen you pull some strings."

Brennan tried a different tactic. "My father is a murderer and a thief."

Booth knew what she was doing and wasn't going to go along with that. "Well, murderers and thieves, they get Christmas too. In fact, it's kinda the point."

Brennan gave up trying to come up with excuses. "Well, we have other plans."

Booth pointed out what he had been telling her ever since they made their plans to go to Peru. "Well, skeletons and Christmas do not mix."

Brennan furrowed her brows. "That's exactly what my father said." She then realized that she didn't know where they were. "Where are we going?"

Booth smiled slightly as he joked, "Early Christmas present for you, Bones. Dead guy in a sewer."

~BONES~

Brennan walked into her office to find Booth asleep on the couch. She had had such a bad day and now with Russ refusing to help her… "Can't you sleep on your own couch?"

Booth jolted awake and looked at her half-asleep. "Sheesh. Just waiting for the squints to find out something." He sat up a bit and asked concerned, "How did it go with Russ?"

Brennan sighed as she ran her hand through her hair. "He says he doesn't want the girls to come."

Booth could see that she was getting frustrated but he couldn't help but point out, "Your dad, he wants the whole Christmas package. You know - the tree, the kids, the presents – the whole shebang."

Brennan just wanted to stuff a sock in the man's mouth. She knew what her dad wanted, but it just wasn't going to happen! "Well, the whole shebang isn't possible."

Booth tried to be positive. "Christmas – is about making the impossible happen."

Brennan spoke without thinking as she told him, "You mean like you spending Christmas with Parker." She immediately regretted those words, but she was tired and frustrated and just wanted to go to Peru.

Booth narrowed his eyes and told her stiffly, "Okay, you know what? That hurt." He took in a deep, calming breath through his nose and then said, "Wake me up when the, uh, squint squad finds out something." Booth turned back over onto his side and tried to go back to sleep.

~BONES~

Brennan and Caroline were in the kitchen area at the Hoover as Caroline was getting a cup of coffee. "I thought you guys were going to Brazil for Christmas."

Brennan corrected, "Peru."

Caroline waved that off. "Whatever. South of the equator. Doin' bone things with bone people."

They started to walk toward the elevators as Brennan told her, "I check with the jail and for my father to get the conjugal trailer, the prosecutor in charge of his case has to submit a written recommendation."

Caroline nodded, "Uh-huh."

Brennan stated the obvious, "You're the prosecutor in charge of his case."

Caroline gave her a vacant look, "I'm aware of that. Thank you, Dr. Brennan."

She then took a sip of coffee and realized it was missing something, so she headed back towards the kitchen again to adjust it. Brennan followed behind her as she asked, "So, will you?"

Caroline raised her brow and said, "You going to Brazil and all, what's the use of Max being in that conjugal trailer all by himself."

Brennan shrugged, "Well, I'm trying to persuade my brother to celebrate Christmas with his family in there too."

Caroline would have laughed at that image, "A Yule tide gathering of the Brennan criminal element. What do you mean, 'trying'."

Brennan sighed a little in frustration, "Russ doesn't want his step-daughters to know that he's in jail."

That piqued Caroline's interest. "How do you persuade them otherwise if they're actually having Christmas in the jail?"

They headed back towards the elevators again as Brennan told her, "One other thing. The Warden says no Christmas tree."

Caroline nodded, "That's right. Three years ago, somebody made a shank out of the star. Now no trees or ornaments of any kind."

Brennan said skeptically, "Isn't' that a little dreary."

Caroline told her drily, "Hey. Don't kill people, don't get sent to prison, have a Christmas pageant in your own home every year."

Brennan asked hopefully, "So, will you?"

Caroline took a sip of her coffee and grimaced. She started to walk back to the break room as she told Brennan, "I will."

Brennan said in surprised, "You will? Thank you."

Caroline nodded as she stipulated, "On one condition."

Brennan sighed. She knew it was too good to be true. "Booth said you'd say that."

Caroline smirked as she told her, "Did he say I'd ask you to kiss him?"

Brennan thought she was joking so laughed. "No." She then realized that Caroline wasn't joking. "Well, are you?"

Caroline nodded as she told them her rules. "No cheeks. No noses. Right on the lips."

Brennan furrowed her brow as she tried to think of that image. "People kiss people on the nose?"

Caroline ignored that question and told her, "I want you to kiss him - under some mistletoe."

Brennan couldn't believe her offer. "Kiss Booth?"

Caroline nodded as she smiled, "That's right, cherie."

Brennan still didn't understand, "Why?"

Caroline smiled sweetly at her as she told her, "Because it will amuse me."

Brennan didn't understand that either, "Why?"

Caroline shrugged, "Because you're all 'Dr. Brennan' and 'Special Agent Seeley Booth' and it's Christmas and I have a puckish side that will not be denied."

Brennan couldn't believe that. "Puckish?"

Caroline shot her a look, "What's the matter? You don't think I can be puckish?"

Brennan thought about it and said slowly, "Well, I never thought about it until now."

Caroline started to walk back to the elevators as she told her, "You want me to write that letter, you kiss Booth, on the lips, for no less than - one steamboat, two steamboats… five steamboats."

Brennan laughed slightly. "That's blackmail."

Caroline smiled and nodded, "That's correct."

Brennan shook her head as she told her, "That's unethical."

Caroline shrugged, "That's the deal, take it or leave it."

Brennan sighed, "What about a tree?"

Caroline shook her head, "No Christmas tree. No way. Not even if you squeeze his buttocks."

They arrived at the elevator as Brennan said, "Well, I don't know. Can I just - take you out to dinner sometime?"

Caroline shook her head as she said, "You kiss Seeley Booth, on the lips, and I'll make sure your daddy has his dream Christmas – no tree mind you – but otherwise as good as an accused murder can expect." She then took another sip of her coffee and then handed it over to Brennan at the bitter taste. This is exactly what she had been wanting. She hadn't seen them in a real relationship in a long time. She wanted to see some sugar!

~BONES~

Booth was sitting at a table with Parker with Brennan right next to Booth as he told Parker, "Vermont is gonna be great, buddy. Snowboarding – just like when we went to Liberty."

Parker nodded as he mumbled, "Mom says it's better than Liberty."

Booth smiled as he said, "Well, she's right."

Parker was silent for a few seconds and then asked softly, "Can't you come?"

Booth hated this part. He would love to have Parks with him, but… "Parker."

Parker jumped in and tried something else, "If you tell mom that I don't wanna go, then we could spend Christmas together, like we always do."

Brennan looked at Booth a little sadly. Booth sighed as he looked at Brennan and hated this Christmas even more. "It's not gonna happen this year, buddy. When you get back, me, Bones, and you will have our own Christmas – just the three of us."

Parker folded his arms and said sullenly, "Without Captain Fantastic."

Booth tried to bite back his smile and said seriously, "You know, we shouldn't call Brent, Captain Fantastic anymore."

Parker scrunched his brow and asked, "Why? You do."

Booth smiled and told him, "Well, I won't anymore."

Parker laughed a little. "But it's funny."

Booth tried not to laugh. "No. It's disrespectful and if your mom likes someone, then we should respect that and like them too."

Brennan nearly choked on her water. "Is that true?"

Parker asked in shock, "You like Brent?"

Booth nodded slowly, "Yeah, I do..."

Brennan scoffed at that lie. "Wow."

Booth looked at Brennan in warning, "Bones!"

Parker as quietly, "Are you gonna be all alone at Christmas?"

Booth told him, "Me? Nah, I'm not gonna be alone. I'll be with Bones and all of our friends."

Brennan nodded at least at that truth, "We're going to Peru."

Booth smiled at Parks and said, "See, we're all going to Peru."

Parker asked in amazement, "You're having Christmas in Africa?"

Brennan started to correct him, "No, actually Peru is…"

Booth however cut her off as he said, "Is Africa. Isn't that right, Bones? Okay. I'm gonna be just fine so come on. Go wash up before your mom gets here to pick you up, alright? Come here, buddy."

Parker got up and hugged his dad as he told him, "I love you."

Brennan looked at Booth in disbelief as he hugged Parker back and told him, "I love you too buddy. Go ahead."

Brennan watched Parker walk to the bathroom and told Booth, "You lied A LOT to him."

Booth sighed. He didn't want to explain this to her again. So he lied to his son, it was to protect him. He dragged his hand across his face, "It's the magic of Christmas, Bones."

~BONES~

Brennan was in her office hanging a mistletoe when Booth arrived. "Bones. Pay Pass Check Cashing confirms cashing Moussa's paycheck. The teller gave him $900. All crisp new 50's."

Brennan put a string on the mistletoe as she said, "And Kringle had new $50's in his dresser."

Booth nodded, "Yup and the serial numbers match."

Brennan deduced, "Suggesting Kringle is our pick pocket."

Booth nodded as he watched his wife play with the mistletoe. "Mhm. So we're getting a warrant to analyze Moussa's clothing. If there's any Bird Soup goop on them, we'll know he's our killer..." He then couldn't help but to ask, "What is with the mistletoe?"

Brennan sighed nervously while getting down off the chair, "I was gonna talk to you about this. Caroline wants us to kiss under the mistletoe."

Booth didn't know whether to laugh or be shocked. He went somewhere in between, "What?"

Brennan looked at him with pleading eyes, "It's the only way she'll make Christmas for my family."

Booth still couldn't believe it – and this time he laughed, slightly, "What? By having us kiss?"

Brennan nodded her head, "Yes."

Booth still couldn't believe Caroline. "Why?"

Brennan shrugged, "Because she's feeling puckish."

Booth looked at her confused, "Puckish? What's that mean?"

Brennan rolled her eyes, "Listen, Booth! She's going to be here any second. Do you want some gum?"

Booth could have laughed at how his wife was acting, "No, my breath is just fine. Alright, look. I'll have a - talk with Caroline."

Brennan said, almost vehemently, "No."

Booth jumped back slightly in shock, "No?"

Brennan walked up to him and said, "I'm only telling you out of courtesy."

Booth looked at her even more confused, "What?"

Brennan explained, "So that you won't be surprised and freak out about us kissing so publicly at work."

Booth nodded, "Yeah. When you say kiss, you mean like kiss-kiss, like on both cheeks."

Brennan shook her head, "No, the lips. Pretend like we're brother and sister or just colleagues. French people meeting on the street. It's not like Caroline doesn't know about us anyways."

Booth did need a little something to bring up his mood that day. He started to smile slightly, "Caroline's feeling puckish, eh?"

Brennan smiled back and said, "It means playful and impish."

Caroline walked up to the two and said to Booth, "Congratulations. I hear you have a suspect in the Santa slaying."

Booth tried to hide his excitement over being able to finally kiss Bones in her office and not worried about being caught, "Yeah. Well, it looks like the Easter Bunny has nothing to worry about."

Brennan jumped right into it though, "Did you talk to the judge about the trailer?"

Caroline smiled slightly and said, "Yes, I did. What about your end?" Brennan pointed at the mistletoe. Caroline was ready to jump up and down in glee but reserved herself, "Well, look at that. Mistletoe. You take a step to your right and you'll be right under the cute little sprig."

Caroline watched them and raised an eyebrow, waiting for Brennan to follow through on her end of the deal. Booth incoherently tried to make it look like he was protesting but Brennan didn't give him much time before she leaned in and kissed him. She tried to make it as little contact as possible, but this was her and Booth. And nothing between them was just as little as possible. Soon everything faded away as she grabbed the lapels on his jacket.

Caroline continued watching them with a smile growing on her face. Now this is what she missed seeing between those two.

Booth completely forgot where he was and deepened the kiss by touching Bones' bottom lip with the tip of his tongue, asking for entrance. She immediately responded and the kiss lasted longer and became more passionate than she had expected. Booth deepened the kiss even more so being weaving his fingers into her hair. At the sound of a soft moan leaving Brennan's mouth, Booth slowed down their kiss and that's when Brennan pulled back. Both of them dazed by the kiss – wanting to do it again, in a much more private setting. Brennan tried to regain her composure while she said, "Was that enough steamboats?"

Caroline looked at the two and nodded slowly in shock at how much she saw. "Plenty. A whole flotilla."

Booth looked between the two of them as he tried to get control of his lower body again and said gruffly, "I don't know what that means, but, um, Merry Christmas."

Brennan looked behind Caroline in time just to see Angela standing in the background with her mouth agape. She added hastily with wide eyes, "It was like – kissing my brother."

Caroline followed her line of view – since she knew that it was nothing like kissing her brother – and then saw the artist. She smirked slightly as she added, "You sure must like your brother."

Booth too saw Angela and nodded his head. "She does."

Brennan rubbed a hand over her lips as she said again, "I do."

Booth cleared his throat, trying to rid some of the huskiness. "She does."

Caroline smiled at them as she told Brennan, "The trailers all arranged. You're good to go, cherie. Merry Christmas."

She left Booth and Brennan standing in the same place, not really able to look out the windows to see what Angela was doing. Brennan cleared her throat and said, "I think it's time to tell Angela now."

Booth nodded slowly, still not knowing what Angela was going to do. "Yeah." He however knew that it was best to get out of there to leave Brennan to explain it to her best friend. "Well, hey. I, um, I really should - I should get back and – see if, uh, the forensic guy has got – anything yet on Moussa's clothes…"

Brennan nodded as she started to walk toward her desk, "That's a good idea. Yeah, I got – stuff – to do too. Yeah."

Booth nodded again as he watched her sit down. "Yeah."

Brennan was so tongue-tied over what she was going to do about Angela that she stumbled out, "That - for – with bones."

Booth then realized that he had a piece of gum in his mouth, "I – I understand completely." He took the piece of gum out and joked to break some of the tension, "Thanks for the gum." As he placed it back in his mouth, he saw a smile grace her face.

Booth walked out of her office and saw Angela move in like a hawk to Brennan's office. That was going to be awkward.

Brennan knew immediately when Angela came in but tried to ignore her for the longest until Angela finally broke. "Did I see what I think I just saw?"

Brennan didn't look up as she acted obtuse, "I don't know what you think you saw since I can't read your mind Ange."

She huffed loudly, "You and stud-muffin making out under the mistletoe."

Brennan answered in her most neutral voice, "Booth and I did kiss yes. However, it was only because Caroline blackmailed me."

She heard a slight squeal and looked up to see Angela smiling widely at her. "How good was it?"

Brennan told her what she told Caroline, "It was like kissing my husband, but I was blackmailed and had to kiss him so my father could have his Christmas." Angela sent her a glare then her face changes. Brennan shrugged her shoulders smiling faintly, "What?" Angela said with a confused tone in her voice

"I was blackmailed and had to kiss him so my father could have his Christmas."

Amused a little but stayed serious "No, the other thing."

"Oh... It was like kissing my husband."

Angela narrowed her eyes before she said, "What, husband."

Brennan says innocently "Booth."

"Whaa...you and Booth…I want all the details." With that she sat down on Brennan's couch.

Brennan told Angela everything from the day they met to now. "Sooo...Why are you telling me now."

"It was time well everyone knows but Cam, Sweets, and the Bureau."

She furrowed her eyebrows "So Hodgins knows."

"I kind of told him when we were buried alive" she says whole looking at Angela trying to figure out what Angela was thinking."

"What is it like being married to the G-man" she says quickly.

"It's wonderful he loves me so much, and I just can't believe how lucky I am to have" and they talked for hours on end.

~BONES~

Brennan had just left the Jeffersonian when she texted Booth that she wanted to stay for Christmas after all. He texted her back that she had perfect timing. He explained to her that Parker had shown up and was probably going to be spending Christmas with them after all. He just needed to call Rebecca to tell her everything. Brennan smiled at that, hoping that they could have Parker, before she slipped her phone back in the pocket and headed toward her car.

~BONES~

Brennan answered her phone just as she took a sip of the drink her father gave her. It was disgusting. "Oh my god."

Booth asked worriedly, "What's wrong?"

Brennan ignored him and asked her dad with a grimace, "What is this?"

Max smiled as he told her, "Just a little good cheer I made under the mattress."

Brennan shook her head. "Ugh." She then remembered that she was on the phone, "Booth?"

Booth – having heard what Max said – smiled and said cheerfully, "Bones, hey! Good news. We got Parker for Christmas after all."

Brennan smiled. She was happy about that. She always loved having Parker over for Christmas. "Christmas magic, right?"

Booth laughed as he told her, "Hey, so we figured we call and uh, wish you a little, uh, Yuletide cheer."

He then brought the phone down to Parker's ear as Parker said, "Merry Christmas, Bones!"

Brennan smiled even wider as she heard his excitement. "Thanks, Parker!"

Max told Brennan, "Hey, if that's Booth you wish him Merry Christmas from me, will ya?"

Brennan nodded and then told her husband, "My dad says 'Merry Christmas'."

Booth chuckled a little at the image of his father-in-law wishing him Merry Christmas. "Hey, listen, Bones – uh – I got a little something for ya."

Brennan was surprised by that since they had already exchanged most of their gifts. But she had also gotten something else for him a few days ago. "Oh, I got you something too. We can, uh, exchange gifts we I get home."

Booth smiled as he looked at the tree and told her, "Go to the window and open up the blinds, now."

Brennan's brow furrowed as she stood up. "What?" She went to the window and opened the blinds. She saw Booth and Parker, standing by his car with a Christmas tree – all lit up. They waved at her and she waved back as she called out to her family, "Hey! Everybody, it looks like we got our tree, after all."

She heard Emma and Hayley gush over the tree as Parker yelled, "Merry Christmas!"

Brennan smiled at her husband and whispered into the phone, "I love my gift, Booth."

Booth smiled back at her as he told her with a happy voice, "Merry Christmas, Bones." And a merry one it was.

A/N: I hope you liked the little part with Angela I may have messed it up please tell me if I did.

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