A/N: Have spent all day in bed (yeah, I finally took a sick day) so I'm not sure how much this chapter makes sense seeing as I can barely focus on the screen right now. This chapter actually turned in to a bit of a beast so I've had to split it in to two. The next one should be up relatively soon as long as my stomach contents stay down long enough... Yeah, I'm having a really fun day... Thanks to everyone who's reviewed so far. I would send you all big sloppy kisses but I doubt you guys really want my mucky mucus... Oh, and Goldpiece, you were right as usual! Stop mind-reading!

"The graves have passed, the moments don't last…
Don't look away,
If you do, then I may…
Your stare is like a spot on the sun,
I'm blind, but the only one
Who knows what to say to you,
I say it today to you…
Don't look away. If you do, then I may.
Don't look away anymore."

'Don't Look Away', Joshua Radin

oo00oo

Booth tidied up the living room, putting away the numerous toys that had been thrown about during the afternoon. His arms full of multicoloured plastic, his eyes were constantly drawn back to his son, sleeping peacefully in a curled up ball on the sofa.

Dropping the toys in to their box, the hurried knock at the door made him jump. Checking Parker was still asleep, he crossed to the entrance. Taking a quick look through the peephole, he couldn't see anyone.

That's not good…

Slowly and carefully, he pulled the door open with a frown. As an FBI agent, he was wary of people just turning up on his doorstep, especially if they were people he helped put in jail. He swallowed hard, his eyes patrolling the corridor.

Nothing. That's really not good…

Finally, his eyes settled on the cardboard tube resting against the doorframe. As he crouched down, deeply suspicious of what his mystery caller might have left for him, he spotted the little toy pig resting on top.

He straightened up, his fingers grasping Jasper as he felt his heart sink.

So not only does she reject me, she returns the gifts too. How can it hurt so much to go through a break-up when I haven't even technically been with her?

He stared down at the pig in his hands and swallowed hard. He grabbed the cardboard tube and went back inside, kicking the door closed behind him. Whatever might be in the tube, he just didn't care anymore.

She's made her feelings perfectly clear already.

Dumping both the tube and Jasper in the recliner chair, Booth settled on the sofa, gently stroking Parker's blonde hair out of his face. Even with his beautiful son right in front of him, his gaze kept pulling back to the tube.

Eventually, he gave up, curiosity getting the best of him. Crossing the living room silently, he picked up the tube and went over to the dining table. Sitting himself down, he paused.

What if she's just returning something else that reminds her of me? What if it's just more rejection? I don't think I can take anymore, not from her.

Shaking his head at himself, Booth popped the lid off and gently pulled the large sheet of rolled up paper out with shaking fingers. Unfurling it, he spread it out in front of him and couldn't keep the smile from his lips.

Good old Angela…

Their resident artist had drawn a beautiful pencil portrait. In it, Booth stood with his arm around Brennan's shoulders with Parker stood between them, looking up with his blonde curls tousled in the breeze. All three of them were laughing, their eyes sparkling with happiness.

Booth dropped his chin in to the palm of his hand as he stared down at the portrait.

It's beautiful. But it's just a picture. It's not real. No matter how much I want this to be true, it's just not real. Angela can meddle all she wants, it doesn't change the fact that I have to leave tomorrow.

His frustration began to grow and even as he crossed over to the sofa to retrieve his phone, he knew directing his anger at Angela was both out of line and completely pointless.

She's not done anything wrong, not really. She's just trying to help. Even so…

He fished his cell phone from down the side of the couch and noticed he had messages waiting. Absently flicking his phone open, he dialled his voicemail.

"Booth, it's me, it's Temperance. I… I need to talk to you. Could you please give me a call when you get this? It's urgent. Thanks."

His heart skipped a beat at the sound of her voice but something was different, something in her tone. She sounded almost…

She's scared.

Booth stared at the phone in his hand.

Did I do that? Did me walking out scare her, or is it just because I'm shipping out to Iraq tomorrow?

He began pacing up and down the living room, his mind racing with possibilities.

You know how bad she is at expressing her emotions, Seeley, and you didn't exactly help the situation. You just swooped in for a kiss, no warning, no nothing. No wonder she got scared. Plus, it's not like you gave her much time to adjust to the idea of you not being around anymore. Maybe she just wants to apologise, to sort things out before you leave. You both hate loose ends.

His eyes were drawn to the portrait still lying on the table before his gaze rested on Parker.

I'm not going anywhere. I'm not leaving him, and I'm sure as hell not giving him back to Rebecca. I want to say a proper goodbye to my son.

He sat back down on the couch, carefully moving Parker so his head now rested on Booth's legs as he stroked his hair.

No matter what else I might want, my son comes first.

oo00oo

Angela rummaged through the wardrobe, pleasantly surprised at what she was finding. Behind her, Brennan was pacing up and down, tapping her cell phone against the palm of her hand.

Suddenly, she stopped and Angela could feel her friend's eyes boring in to her back.

"Should I try calling him again? I mean, he normally rings me back straight away."

Angela rolled her eyes as she pulled out a little black dress and laid it on the bed with the rest of her selections.

"Sweetie, there could be a thousand reasons why he hasn't called. Stop worrying. You'll see him soon enough."

Brennan was obviously not satisfied with that answer as she renewed her pacing. Angela just turned back to the rails of clothing and unzipped a long cover. What she found inside caused a grin to spread right across her face.

She spun round, removing the cover and holding it up to her friend, squinting as she admired the effect.

"Perfect!"

Brennan looked down at the dress with a frown.

"Don't you think that's a little over the top, Ange?"

The artist gave her a cheeky grin as she steered her friend over to the dressing table and sat her down on the stool, talking over the anthropologist's shoulder to the reflection that stared back at her with a worried look in her eye.

"Not at all. Booth will go weak at the knees when he sees this. Now let's make a start on the hair."

Pulling out the hair band, Angela brushed her friend's hair and began to style it as carefully as she could. Brennan just stared in to the mirror, her mind obviously elsewhere. Angela sighed heavily.

This had all better work. Those two belong together and if it takes a little meddling from me, so be it.

Forty five minutes later, Brennan's hair and make up was done. Angela couldn't keep the grin from her face.

"You look absolutely beautiful, Bren."

She passed the dress to the anthropologist.

"You slip in to that and I'm just going to nip to the toilet."

Angela padded out of the bedroom and into the bathroom, locking the door behind her as she pulled her cell phone from her pocket and called Hodgins.

"Hey Hodgy, is everything ready?"

"Yeah, no problem. He loved the idea. But what time do you think Booth will show up?"

Angela sighed, shaking her head to herself as she checked her watch.

"Well, it's 4:15pm now and I said 5pm in the message. I can stall Bren for a bit here before we set off but you're gonna have to go to Booth's place and drag him out if need be."

Hodgins cleared his throat uncomfortably at the other end of the line.

"Er, Ange? You do realise that he's a hell of a lot bigger than me right?"

She smiled in to the phone.

"Please, Hodgy? Do it for me?"

"You know I will."

Her heart fluttering, she said her goodbyes and made her way back to the bedroom where Brennan was staring at her reflection in the full length mirror. She turned to Angela, her nerves obvious as she ran an almost shaking hand through her hair.

"And you're sure this isn't too much? I mean, I'm only going to his apartment. I feel a little overdressed."

Angela just smiled as she leaned on the doorframe, watching as Brennan spun round to get a better look at herself, the dress flowing out around her.

"You look amazing. And don't be nervous. I'll drive you there and be giving you moral support all the way."

Brennan let out a long, shaky breath as she nodded.

"Yeah, ok. Thank you Angela."

She turned her eyes on to her best friend, a smile pulling at her mouth.

"I really mean it. Thank you."

Angela just grinned back, and pulled Brennan in to an enormous hug.

"You're more than welcome, sweetie."

Standing back to admire the anthropologist, Angela felt the bundle of nerves in her stomach tighten up.

Don't worry, Angela. It's all going to work out. It has to…

oo00oo

Booth ran a frustrated hand through his hair as he stared down at the portrait. Picking it up for a closer inspection, the light from the kitchen shone from behind, giving the characters an ethereal glow.

Wait a minute…

There was something behind the smiling faces. Turning the picture over, Booth scanned the familiar handwriting scrawled across the back.

Not every dream is unattainable, not every love is lost.

Don't lose yours.

Wong Foos. 5pm.

Booth glanced up at the clock.

4:30pm.

I can't go. I can't leave Parker on his own and Rebecca won't exactly approve if I hand him back to her. Not that I don't want him to stay, but I want to see Bones. I want to work things out with her, I just don't know if it's a good idea. I mean what would be the point? It doesn't change the fact that I'm leaving, it doesn't change the fact that she hurt me…

The loud knock at the door pulled Booth back to reality. Dropping the portrait back on to the table, he ran a weary hand across his face as he crossed to the door.

Swinging it open, he found Hodgins stood there, rocking back and forth on his heels with a cheeky grin on his face.

"Hey ho, soldier. What you still doing here?"

Booth rolled his eyes.

"So you're in on this too, huh?"

Hodgins' grin turned sheepish as he shrugged.

"Course I am. I'd do anything for Angela, just like you'd do anything for Doctor Brennan. And don't you dare deny it! So do you really want to leave without finding out if you could have that?"

He pointed past Booth at the portrait but he didn't turn around.

"Hodgins, I…"

The scientist held up a hand to silence the agent.

"Uh uh, no way dude. You ain't getting out of this one so easy. You can try and intimidate me all you want but to be honest, Angela scares me more. So what do ya say? You gonna help me have a quiet life or am I about to get my ass kicked by an artist?"

Hearing rustling behind him, Booth turned to see Parker staring up at him, rubbing his bleary eyes as he yawned.

"Daddy?"

He was clutching the portrait as he crossed to the entrance, wrapping an arm around Booth's knee as he leant against his father with another little yawn. Booth turned his gaze back to Hodgins.

"This is why I'm still here, or am I not meant to be spending time with my son?"

Hodgins shrugged.

"I can watch him, and once Angela drops off Doctor Brennan, she can come round here and give me a hand. Even if you don't trust me, you know she's good with kids."

Booth's expression made it clear he was more than a little dubious at the idea as Parker pulled on the sleeve of his sweatshirt, trying to get his father's attention.

"Daddy? Who drew the picture?"

"Angela did, bub."

"Doctor Benan looks real pretty. I like her. She smells nice too and she has dinosaurs in her office."

Hodgins gave Booth a quizzical look as the agent smiled.

"Bones gave him a tour of the Jeffersonian and Parker just loved the dinosaur skeletons."

Parker grinned at Hodgins.

"Daddy always calls Doctor Benan Bones. It's funny."

He passed the picture up to his father.

"Look daddy, Angela gave me a real big smile, just like you and Doctor Benan."

Seeing the wistful look crossing Booth's face, Hodgins decided to grab the moment and crouched down in front of his son.

"Hey Parker, would you mind if I hung out with you for a bit while your daddy goes to see Doctor Brennan?"

Parker frowned, staring at Hodgins. Hands on hips, he leaned forward with a serious expression.

"Do we get to play aeroplanes?"

Hodgins laughed as he nodded.

"Sure, we can play aeroplanes all you like."

Parker jumped up and down with glee, grabbing Hodgins hand and pulling him inside. Booth followed, still not sure what to do.

The scientist picked up Parker in a piggy back and the pair turned back to look at Booth. The little boy grinned, his blue eyes sparkling.

"Thought you were going to see Doctor Benan, daddy?"

Seeing the look in Hodgins eye, Booth nodded and ran in to his bedroom to change.

A/N: If I hadn't made such a pig's ear out of this chapter, it wouldn't have to end here. Ho hum... You'll be seeing the result of Angela's grand plan in the next installment, kiddos. Excuse me, I must go vomit profusely now...