Has anyone ever tried putting lemon on Salt & Vin chips? It's unbelievable! (Hey - At least I don't have vegemite and honey mixed together...Mother...)

A big pat on the head for R. for nagging on me.

This chapter is also A LOT less dramatic, almost not gloomy! 'Cause sometimes you need a short break from angst.

Chapter Nine – A Step After Forgetting

It was the insistent beeping that roused him from his slumber. Booth groaned in his state of half sleep and turned over onto his back, his hands finding their way to his cheeks where they scratched at the stubble that had cultivated there countless days ago.

The beeping noise still ringing loudly in his ear, he reached his hand and swiped at the alarm clock, realizing after many whacks that the noise was not his alarm, but the phone.

Feeling slightly foolish, he sat up on his elbow and reached for the phone, the ringing instantly stopping.

"Hello?" He mumbled into the receiver, lying back down once again.

His room was bathed in the early morning shadows, his curtains barely containing the sunlight that threatened to pour in through the cracks.

"Seeley, this is Rebecca." His eyes popped open at her voice. Oh Shit.

He tried to decipher her tone, was she pissed? Mad? Was something wrong?

"Uh yeah--" He started, only to be cut off.

"Where are you? You were supposed to pick Parker up an hour ago!"

Pissed.

Booth mentally groaned. He had forgotten. They had arranged for him to pick Parker up at ten the last time Parker had stayed with him.

He glanced at the clock, its luminous red numbers glowing against the black background: 11:06.

Shit.

"Look, Rebecca, something's come up--"

"Oh no you don't Booth! I have plans! I'm going away this week!" She said, her voice short and curt.

Booth sighed. He wanted to see his son, yes, but now was probably the worst time for him. He couldn't exactly expect a four-year-old kid to spend hours and hours at the hospital with him. Especially hours of silence. And he really wanted to be there when she snapped out of her shock.

"Rebecca--"

"See you in half an hour, Booth."

He placed the phone back on its base.

Groaning, he heaved his legs over the side of the bed, leaning down onto his knees to rest for a few minutes.

Resisting the urge to grab the phone and dial the hospital, he quickly got up and made his way to the bathroom, but not before stubbing his big toe and shooting off profanities to the offending side table that stood between him and the door way.

He sighed.

Half an hour later, Booth stood outside the modest two storied white colonial, his finger an inch away from the door bell. Letting out a long breath, he pushed it and waited. He could hear her heels on the solid wood floors, making her way down the hall to open the door. Even her steps were sharp.

He stood straighter upon the door opening, revealing an attractive blonde woman. "Seeley" she said through gritted teeth, "Nice of you to finally show up."

Ignoring her sarcasm, he simply nodded and moved his head around her, "Where's Parker?"

"BOO!" Booth feigned surprise when Parker popped out behind the door, his blonde locks swaying about his face.

Booth placed his hand on his heart and gasped, "Parker! You little monster!"

He quickly pulled his son to him and began his assault of tickles on the little boy.

"Daddy, noo!" He squealed between giggles. He looked up at Booth, his big brown eyes a mirror image of his father's.

Booth released Parker, "You ready to go big guy?"

Parker nodded enthusiastically. "Daddy can we go to the park?"

"Sure we can bub. Say goodbye to your mom." Booth answered, grabbing Parkers weekend bag by the door and turning towards the black SUV to wait.

Parker didn't need telling twice. He turned to his mother and yelled a hasty goodbye and was off in the direction of his father.

The trip to the park was passed in animated conversation as Parker relayed every event that happened to him during the week. Booth remained mostly quiet, nodding and agreeing every now and then to show his interest in what his son was saying, but never really taking in anything being said. His mind felt overloaded and he couldn't quite find the energy to engage in this conversation. Hopefully, he thought, Parker wouldn't pick up on his solemn mood and ask awkward questions.

"Daddy?" Parker called from his car seat.

"Yes Parker?" He held his breath.

"Can we get ice cream too?" He asked, the expression on his face expectant.

Relieved, Booth replied, "Sounds like a good idea."

A pause. "Can the bone lady come too?" He asked innocently.

Booths breath caught. "You...Ah - you only met her once, why do you want her to come?" He felt his body tense up as Brennan entered the conversation.

Parker squirmed in his seat. "Please Daddy?"

"She can't, Parker." He said softly, his knuckles tightening around the steering wheel.

"Why not? Doesn't she like ice cream?" His eyes were wide with the idea that anyone wouldn't like the rich dairy.

Booth was quiet while he thought about what to say. Should he lie and by pass all the questions he knew his son would ask if he told him she was sick, or should he tell him the truth and endure Parkers childhood curiosity?

"No, Parker, she doesn't." He mentally kicked himself for taking the easy road out.

"Oh."

Feeling the oppression start to weigh down the air in the car, Booth made a half-hearted attempt to lighten the mood. "Why don't we build a fort tonight, huh? Sounds like fun, what did you think?"

Parker instantly perked up. "Yeah!"

Angela opened her eyes slowly, adjusting to the bright light shining through the raised blinds at the window. She had fallen asleep the night before leaning over the side of Bren's bed, her head nestled between her arms. She sat up and stretched out the kinks in her neck and shoulders and froze when she saw Brennan awake and looking at her.

This was the first time she had acknowledged anyone's presence in nearly a month.

If you review I will give you all my super swell, special edition glow-in-the dark fairy stickers! And if you don't want the stickers you can have the pimple on my chin, I no longer want it.