Chapter Three

I haven't updated in forever! Until now, that is. Thanks to all the readers and reviewers so far though! Oh, and I gave Booth's parents names. I don't know if they are called anything in the series, but these are the names I gave them.

Brennan was jolted awake as the car swung round a hedge and into a very long drive. They slowed right down and eventually came to a halt outside a huge house. Booth's parents were obviously rich. He switched the engine off and removed the keys, turning in his seat to look at his two sleeping passengers, one of which was not sleeping anymore.

"Hey, you ok?"

Brennan stretched and yawned.

"Yeah, how long was I asleep?"

"You were out for about half an hour."

"Feels like ages."

There was a small groan as Parker sat up and stretched too.

"Hey junior, you alright?"

Parker's face lit up.

"We're here!"

He sat up on his knees, his seat belt stretching right around him and restraining him.

"Whoa, hang on,"

Brennan untangled him and opened the door so he could leap out. He disappeared around the corner of the house.

"I guess he likes his grandparents, then."

Booth smiled and opened his door.

"Well, it's debatable. There's the food, and the pool, and the presents he always gets, and…..holy crap."

He closed the door again with a loud bang as two people emerged around the corner.

"Booth? Is that your parents?"

Booth gulped.

"Yep."

"Well, aren't you going to get out and say hi?" Brennan was confused.

He shook his head. He leant back in his seat as a woman tapped hard on the window. Brennan watched in amazement as he wound down the window very slowly and smiled weakly.

"Hey mom."

He looked thoroughly terrified.

"Seeley Booth you get out of this car right now!"

"Yes ma'am."

He wound the window back up, took a deep breath and got out of the car, letting the door swing shut.

"Boy, have you got no manners? Let the lassie out! And don't slam the door!"

Brennan couldn't help but smile as Booth opened the car door on her side and turned to face her. He offered her a hand to get out of the car, which she took.

"Why hello there missy." Brennan guessed from their accents that Booth's parents were from Texas. His father had a kind face and was quite tall, like his son.

"Hi," Brennan shook his hand and smiled.

He stood back slightly, as though he was afraid of his wife. Brennan could see why.

Booth's mother was short, but somehow you didn't notice that because she made up for it in noise.

"Eddie, aren't you gonna help your son with the cases?"

He smiled and shuffled over to the back of the car where his son was standing, visibly quivering.

Brennan moved to help them, but was cornered by Booth's mother.

"No, not you, sweetie, that's a man's job. You come on into the house with me and we'll get some coffee. Where's that grandson of mine got to?"

Brennan shot a pleading look at Booth and his father as she was steered away by Mrs. Booth. Their voices faded into the house.

"So, how was your drive son?" Edward Booth smiled as he helped his son lift the cases from the trunk of the car.

"It was great. Parker and Brennan slept for a lot of it. Well, Parker more than Booth."

"She seems like a nice young lady." His father grinned knowingly, glancing sideways at his son.

"She is. But she works way too hard. I thought we both needed a break."

"Well you came to the right place. I just hope your mother hasn't frightened the poor girl to death."

………………………………………………………………………………………………

Inside the house, Parker was running wild with some cousins, and Brennan was seated at a huge oak table in the old, farmhouse style kitchen. Sitting next to her was Booth's adopted sister and her sixteen year old daughter.

"Now, missy, will you have a cup of coffee?"

Brennan pulled her chair in.

"Err, yes please."

Booth's mother bustled around the kitchen collecting pots and mugs.

"Hi there. You must be Bones."

Brennan smiled as the woman next to her shook her hand.

"Parker's told us a lot about you- you got a real admirer there. I'm Sophie, Seeley's adopted sister, and this is Hannah, my daughter."

Brennan shook the younger girl's hand too, amazed at how nice Booth's family were. A cup of steaming coffee was plonked down in front of her and two more in front of Sophie and Hannah.

"Oh, err, thank you ... Mrs. Booth…"

"Oh come now, you can call me Jeanie."

"Ok, thanks Jeanie."

Jeanie Booth sat down heavily in a chair next to Brennan, sipping her own coffee.

"So, tell all! We want to know everything about you Bones."

The kitchen now had the strong aroma of coffee, and was bright and sunny. Brennan felt very relaxed as she leant back in her chair and began to tell the three women about herself.

………………………………………………………………………………………………

"Bones, are you coming out soon? Everyone is outside!" Booth tapped on the bathroom door again and waited for a response. The door opened very slowly and Brennan stepped out, wrapped in a towel.

"Finally!"

Brennan scooped her hair up into a bun and secured it there, observing Booth in his bright orange swimming trunks.

"What the……"

"My mother got them for me to keep here with the pool. If I don't wear them my life won't be worth living."

Brennan's towel had fallen down, revealing her black one piece swim suit.

She watched his face and smiled.

"I don't do bikinis. Had a nasty experience with one when I was little……"

Her face changed and her expression became vacant. She stood there for a minute, in a world of her own.

"Bones?"

Booth waved a hand in front of her face.

"You ok?"

She looked up at him, a little lost.

"What? Yeah, I'm…I'm good…."

They made their way outside, Brennan re-wrapped in her towel and Booth cringing in his orange shorts.

"Bones! You gotta come in! I saved you the whale!"

Brennan couldn't see Parker in the swimming pool because he was behind a huge inflatable whale.

"You can ride on his back you know!"

Brennan closed her eyes and gulped as she stepped up onto the patio to the edge of the pool. She took a deep breath and opened her eyes, staring down into the turquoise water. Then she ran. She didn't stop until she was back in the bathroom, the door locked behind her. She sat down on the edge of the bath and breathed in and out, trying to keep calm.

"Bones? You're not ok, are you?"

"Booth….I'm sorry… I just…."

"Look, whatever it is, you know you can tell me."

"Really?"

She listened to his slightly muffled voice outside of the bathroom door.

"Sure."

"It's…really embarrassing."

"Bones, since when does your hard-assed pride get dented? Come on, how bad can it be?"

"Ok, I……I'm scared of water."

There was a short silence. She waited for his response. Would he laugh? Make fun of her? Go tell everyone?

"Is that it?"

"Yeah. That's it."

"How come? Or don't you wanna say?"

She breathed in again, clutching the towel around her. She hadn't said before, to anyone.

"I was fifteen. I went down to the lake nearby where I lived with a few friends. It was supposed to be a laugh. We were just gonna swim…"

"Bones? You don't have to…"

"Then, my best friend jumped in. We all laughed, but she didn't come back up. It seemed like forever, so I jumped in after her. My…..my foot got caught in some weed and I couldn't get back up…."

She was crying now, remembering it.

"I was stuck, I drowned. I was pulled out by someone- I don't know who, all I can remember was waking up….they revived me…."

"Bones? Can you let me in so I can hug you? Please?"

She stumbled to the door and fumbled with the lock, letting him in. He sat down on the floor with her and cuddled her, squeezing her tight in the towel.

"She died Booth. She died and it was all my fault!"

"No it wasn't. You tried to save her! It wasn't your fault."

A few minutes passed. Booth tried his best to comfort her, and eventually she stopped crying. He crawled over to the bath and took a few tissues from the box on the shelf, mopping her face with them.

"Now. Do you want to go back outside? You don't have to go near the pool, or tell anyone. I'll handle Parker. You can sit with my mother…."

"No, I want to get in the pool."

"I agree she is scary yes, but you don't have to…."

"It's not that, I want to get over this, and I have you here to help me."

"Yes you do."

He hugged her again and pulled her to her feet.

"You sure about this?"

She nodded and attempted a smile.

"Ok, but you can stop at anytime, just don't assault me alright?"

She gave a little laugh and took the arm he was offering and together they made their way outside.

Aquatic fun in the next chapter……………………………….