Okay, this chapter's a little longer than the last one! Enjoy!
"So, are you going to let me drive today, Booth?"
"No, Bones, you can't drive. You don't even know where we're going."
"Good point."
Brennan watched him as he drove. He was much quieter than usual. She was really getting worried about him. This wasn't like Booth at all. He had seemed all right back at the lab, talking about a surprise, but now he seemed to be deep in thought.
"I thought you had Parker this weekend?"
"I took him back this morning."
She heard something in his voice when he said that. She didn't know what it was, but whatever was wrong had something to do with Parker.
"Look, Booth..." She wasn't sure what to say. She wasn't good with living people. This was more his territory. Booth was the one who always knew what to say, what to do. He had helped her so much in this last year. She didn't know what she would have done without him. But this time he was the one who needed help, and she just didn't know what to do.
He looked over at her. He knew what she was trying to do. She knew he was upset, and wanted to find out what was wrong. He needed to snap out of it. He didn't want to burden her with his problems. She helped him just by being with him. That was all he needed. He gave her his charm smile. "We're here."
"Where is here? I don't even know what we're doing." The sign said 'Verizon Center', but that didn't mean anything to her.
He took her hand, and pulled her out of the SUV. "What do you like to do to relax, Bones?"
"I read, or listen to music. Or, I study bones."
"Well, I'm going to share with you the one thing I do to relax, to take my mind off of everything."
She didn't know why, but those words sent her heart racing. Don't be ridiculous, Brennan. We're in a public building. Besides, Booth was just a friend. She didn't think of him like that, did she?
He led her through the building, through crowds of people, and into the stands, where they found their seats. She looked out over the ice. "This is some kind of sporting event, right?"
He looked at her, and groaned. "Bones, this is hockey. The best sporting event there is."
"Isn't hockey just alpha males asserting their dominance by fighting while on skates?"
"Bones, come on, just give it a chance, will ya?"
He looked at her with such a wistful expression in his eyes. He really seemed to want her to like his surprise.
"Okay, but I really don't know anything about this game."
"That's okay. I'll teach you."
They sat down, and she turned to look at him. "Booth, you seem to have a lot on your mind. Are you sure you're okay?"
He looked at her for a long moment. "I am now."
BBBBBB
Brennan had to admit that she was enjoying this. Between Booth trying to explain everything, and her trying to follow the game, it was impossible to think about anything else.
"THIS is how you relax?"
He looked at her, his brown eyes smiling. "It doesn't necessarily need to be quiet to be relaxing."
"That's good, because I can't hear much of anything in here."
He laughed at her. She looked so different, watching the players on the ice, frowning in concentration at the program on her lap, trying to follow the rules of the game. She was so out of her element here, but she was trying. And she looked like she was actually having fun.
The day couldn't have been better, unless Parker had been with them. Parker loved spending time with Bones. And Booth liked watching them together. No matter what she said, she was pretty good with kids. Much better, in fact, than with most adults. Live adults, that was. Once, when he took Parker to the lab, he had spent a whole hour just watching Bones piece together a skull. Then, he had sat on her lap, and she'd told him the story of that particular set of bones. If Booth wasn't careful, she was going to turn his son into a squint.
"Booth? Hello?"
He had been so wrapped up in the picture of the three of them together, he hadn't realized that the game was over. He looked at the scoreboard. Washington 4, Philadelphia 3. Despite the bad start, it was definately turning into a great day.
When they got to the car, Booth took out his keys, and handed them to Brennan.
"You're letting me drive?"
"Well, I figure you earned it, putting up with me and going to the game."
"Actually, I enjoyed it. It wasn't anything like I thought it would be. Anthropologically speaking..." She saw the look in his eye. "It was fun."
She was glad to see that he seemed almost back to normal. She didn't want the day to end just yet. "Do you want to get something to eat?"
"Sure, Bones, whatever you want. You're driving."
For once she thought. Actually what she wanted was him to trust her enough to tell her what was wrong. Maybe tonight. Maybe she could find the words to say that would get him to open up to her. Maybe...
Okay, just so you know, in case you couldn't tell by my screen name, I'm a HUGE hockey fan, and it about killed me to write that score! lol!