Consolation Prize
By LizD
Chapter 3 - Week Three of Hannah (If Only in Spirit)
A/N: Hmm ... "The Body & The Bounty" ... Hmm ... Had it moments, true. A good solid Episodic Episode but did little to forward MY AGENDA (how rude of them - ha ha). But what was glaring for me (upon solo viewing) were the miss opportunities. First and foremost, total shortage of screen time between Booth/Brennan & total lack of screen time between Booth/Science Dude (that would have been funny). And where was Parker? Only one line of lip service about THE DUDE? Booth came back for Parker. Shouldn't Parker have been included at the taping of the Dude's show (particularly if he LOVED it)? Wouldn't this have been a perfect opportunity for Booth to spend some time with his son, enough for us to know what Parker thinks of Hannah? Maybe Brennan could overhear and be affected by Parker's like/dislike of this new woman in Booth's life? Has Hannah replaced Brennan in Booth's village or is the village big enough for both women in Booth's life? Or was this just a filler show only biding time unto November Sweeps? Decisions are about to be made. Will there be a Season 7 & 8 (my guess is yes)? What will the rest of Season 6 look like (no clue)? Shouldn't each show be treated like it is Sweeps Week? Why miss the little opportunities when they cost so little - a stray line here or there. Oh well. Another installment of the Consolation Prize for those of us who are wanting to turn the pages faster on these chapters.
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Parker sat at the diner counter with a large stack of pancakes in front of him with one bite taken. His right elbow on the counter, his chin sitting hard in his hand. With his left, he jabbed his fork at the flapjacks like he was trying to test for signs of life or to ensure their death. The poor kid hadn't looked so miserable since his mother said he couldn't have a puppy.
Brennan walked in and was surprised to see Parker; more surprised as it seemed that Booth was nowhere to be found. Brennan was meeting Angela for a late breakfast. They were going to go shopping for baby stuff. They had told Hodgins that it was for maternity clothes, but the women conspired on reconnaissance trip to Dawn Price Baby for baby clothes, furniture and toys. If Hodgins were involved, the whole store would have been bought out.
"Hey, Parker." Brennan slid into the stool one away from him. She noticed a half eaten bowl of fruit and a coffee cup. So Booth was somewhere around. "Where's Booth?" Booth & Parker were supposed to be in Philadelphia for a boys' weekend; Saturday was some big sporting event.
"Phone," the kid grumbled. "He's always on the phone."
Brennan looked around and noticed Booth across the street making an emphatic point to whomever he was talking to on his phone. He looked very angry. It was probably Rebecca. Booth always got animated when it came to Parker and Rebecca's demands and it would make sense that he would want to be out of Parker's earshot to have such a discussion.
"He's probably talking to HANNAH," Parker griped.
Apparently Parker didn't know that Hannah had left town. On the other hand, maybe Brennan didn't have the latest intel. "You don't like Hannah?" she observed skipping the list of clues that led her to that conclusion.
"She's alright." He shifted his position. "Talks to me like I'm a baby. And Dad get's weird around her. Always telling me to sit up, get my elbows off the table ... tie my shoes." He sat up. "He never did that before. He never did that with you." He slouched back down.
Brennan didn't know how to respond. Booth stormed in which saved her from finding something to say.
"Bones," he said slipping on to the stoop between Parker and Brennan. "What're you doing here?"
"Meeting Angela," she said. "What are you doing here? Shouldn't you be in Philadelphia?"
"Hendershod case got pushed to Monday at 9AM." He shot a look at Parker. "I'm the first witness. Didn't you get a call from Caroline?"
"No." She looked to the child. "Does that mean the whole weekend will be spent working?" Parker shifted his position away from Booth.
"Most of it anyway – the trip to Philadelphia is out – of course." Booth put his arm around his son. "I'm sorry Buddy. I'll make it up to you." Parker mumbled something. "You aren't eating. You want something else?"
"No," he grumbled.
Booth kept his arm on his son but looked back at Bones. "Looks like he is stuck with me at the office today." Rebecca is out of town, he mouthed silently to her. "But we will do a movie or something tonight, OK Bud?"
"Sure, whatever."
"Parker," Brennan called to him across Booth. "Do you want to spend the day with me and Angela?"
"No," Booth said quickly. "You two have plans."
"Plans for what?" Angela sat down next to Parker. "Hey kiddo, how's things?" They did the fist bump/explode handshake.
"OK." Parker showed very little enthusiasm in the explode portion of the greeting.
"Weekend plans got canceled," Booth explained. "I've got to prepare for court on Monday."
"Ya know," cajoled Angela still looking at Parker. "I know someone who is sitting at home with nothing to do. He has got a ton of toys ... video games, ATVs, a pool ... all kinds of stuff. He even has a new scooter that he would be putting together today IF he had a trusted assistant. Interested?" Parker started to cheer up.
"Angela," Booth interjected. "I can't let you -."
"Don't be silly, Booth. It'd be good practice." She brushed the hair back on Parker's head. "What do you think? Should we give Dr. Jack a call?"
Parker looked at his dad, smiling for the first time that morning. Booth shrugged a nod. Parker turned back to Angela and nodded emphatically. They both scooted off the counter stools and went to make a phone call.
Booth watched him as Angela handed him the phone and his eyes and smile brightened. Booth's did not. He looked as miserable as a ten year old kid who was just told that his plans for a weekend with Dad were canceled. "It was the first weekend we had all alone since I got back. We had three whole days together."
"It won't take all weekend to prepare for your testimony on Monday. You can still have tonight and Sunday with him."
Booth turned back to the counter. "I haven't told him about Hannah," he said more to himself than to her.
"Is there something I can do to help?"
"If Caroline hasn't called you -." It was at that moment that Brennan's phone rang. "Maybe your plans are canceled too."
Brennan checked the caller ID. It was Caroline. She started speaking before Brennan could get her greeting out. "… Yes … Yes … Yes … I will be there." She ended the call.
"So?" Booth asked.
"I will be the second witness on Monday, if they get to a second witness."
"So you too, huh?"
"However, I am already prepared," she stated. Of course she was caught up on all her case work, and was prepared for several trials that were impending. She had thrown herself into her work a lot since returning from Maluku. Hendershod was one of their first cases since they had been back. She was ready. She had been since the day after he was arrested. There was nothing distracting Brennan. Booth couldn't say the same.
Booth had let a number of things slide in those first weeks, and hadn't really decided to catch up since he had more free time. They used to do the case work and finishing the files together, but Hannah had thrown a wet blanket on that little post-case party. Sadly Booth was paying the price for that procrastination and so was Parker.
Parker came blasting into the diner excited to go 'play' with Dr. Jack for the day; was going on about riding motorcycles and playing some new video game. Booth was envious but hid it well for his son's sake.
Angela touched Booth's arm. "Jack is on his way over to pick him up. There is a trip to the scooter shop – missing parts. Something about a turbo fuel injector." She flashed him a delightful grin.
"Angela, I don't think -."
"Booth, I'm kidding." She touched his arm reassuringly. "Not to worry. Helmets, knee and elbow pads, nothing off the grounds. He will be safe."
"You have grounds?" Booth shook his head. "Ok." He put his hands on Parker's shoulders. "Have fun. I'll pick you up later." He shot a glance at Angela. "Need to see these grounds." He turned back to his son. "You got your phone? You got money? Eat your breakfast." He kissed him on the head, tossed some money on the counter and scooted out himself hoping to get what he needed done quickly.
"Thanks Angela," Parker said. "He probably would have left me with HANNAH if Dr. Jack wasn't around."
Brennan and Angela shared a look. They really didn't know what it meant, but it was clear Parker didn't like Hannah. Brennan shook her head to let Angela know that Booth hadn't told Parker yet and that somehow she needed to tell Hodgins not to spill the beans.
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About 4:30, Brennan entered Booth's office. He was buried in paperwork. A half eaten sandwich sat on a paper plate to his side and there were three Red Bull cans on his desk.
"Booth?"
"Bones, glad you're here. I forget where we found the gun; was it in his car or was it the boat? It's not in my notes."
"The gun was in his hand," she said flatly. "You disarmed him."
"Right, right." He smiled. "Yeah, I remember. You distracted him and I got the gun. We are a hell of a team." He made a quick note. "What are you doing here? What time is it?" He checked his watch. "Damn, I didn't think it was that late."
"Booth, why haven't you told Parker that Hannah left?" Booth was stunned by the question; not that Brennan would ask – she was great at pointed questions, but he wasn't expecting it. "Are you expecting her to come back and don't want to confuse the child?"
"No," he said quickly. "I just haven't gotten around to it. OK, Bones?" He was trying to dismiss the subjected. He went back to the file in front of him.
"No," she countered. "Often in the past you have avoided topics with Parker to protect him or yourself from uncomfortable topics, but you are usually honest and direct with him. I just want to understand."
"Bones, I really don't want to talk about this now."
"I feel I need to make an observation that you will not enjoy hearing."
"Then you should keep it to yourself."
"As your partner and friend, I cannot. Your work is suffering and your relationship with Parker is suffering. You were different when you were with Hannah- understandably. But you continue to be different: distracted, unfocused, disinterested in things that used to consume your attention. I am beginning to believe that it was not Hannah's influence, but maybe something that happened in Afghanistan. Maybe PTSD."
"What are you talking about?"
"You procrastinate, you take short cuts in the interrogation room and make wild intuitive leaps, your memory is faulty. Before you left for Afghanistan you would never let your paper work go unfinished. You never forgot a detail. You didn't miss obvious clues."
"I'm just a little ... " He had no idea how to defend himself. It was not something he had noticed before she mentioned it, but as usual, she was correct in her assessment.
"And you never lied to Parker."
"I haven't lied," he defended. "I just haven't told him the whole truth."
"Regardless of how well Parked liked Hannah, -
"He's ten, Bones. Who knows what he is going to like from minute to minute."
Brennan wondered if that changed with age for the males of the species, but her experience said it didn't. "Regardless, won't he be hurt when you tell him she has been gone for weeks?"
"I'll deal with it."
"Booth, maybe you should talk to Sweets."
Booth stood up. "I don't have PTSD," he protested. "Look Bones, I appreciate your concern, but I'm fine."
"You are not … and I understand why you may not want to talk to me about it. I think you should talk to Sweets." She turned to leave.
"I made a mistake, Bones," he blurted out before he could check himself. "I made a mistake," he repeated with less anxiety.
"And you think Parker won't understand that?"
"I'm not sure I understand it." He slumped back down into his chair. "And I don't want to talk to you about it for the same reason I don't want to talk to Parker."
"You're embarrassed." He didn't want to admit that but he had to. "I understand that," she said gently.
"I wish I did."
"I don't know what mistake you think you made, but I really think you need to be honest with Parker. He is confused. And he sees the change in you too." She turned again to leave.
"What about you?" he asked standing up.
"I have stated that I have seen a change in you," she stated cuing on his literal meaning.
"No," he corrected. "Shouldn't I be honest with you?"
"Of course, but I am not ten years old. I am not your son."
"You're my partner." He stepped out from behind his desk. "I should be more honest with you than with anyone else."
"I would hope that that would be true." She stepped toward him. "We have been partners for many years and have seen each other through some pretty dire circumstances."
Booth took a deep breath and let it out slowly. He was still not sure what to say. "Bones, I heard what you said the other night; the night that Hannah left?" She nodded. "I know you meant it, but –." He didn't have the words. How was he supposed to explain that Hannah was a mistake? Bringing her into his life so quickly and as completely as he did was a mistake. Their relationship was built on the intensity they shared under fire. Their 'love' wasn't battle tested; it was born in battle - entirely different situations. There was no guarantee how they would work out of a war zone. As it turned out, not well enough. That relationship (however short lived) and her hasty departure got him to think, to reevaluate, to consider the choices he had made in life particularly about women. And yes, his feelings for Brennan which he first recognized and acknowledged in a dream were all caught up in that. Could he be sure that he loved Brennan as a life partner rather than a work partner? Or did he just want a life partner so bad that Brennan seemed like the logical choice? Hannah was still in his head but not their history, it was the future he was missing. So far there was only one thing he was sure of, the most profound relationship he had ever had in his life (and probably would ever have) was with Dr. Temperance Brennan of the Jeffersonian Institution - and he knew it would be the day they met. But did that mean they should be together-together or did it mean they should be lifelong friends? He was still confused about that. "What I am trying to say is ..."
Her face washed with sadness. "Booth, you don't need to say anything to me."
"No, I do."
"No," she stated a little too harshly convinced that she had missed her opportunity. "You should go pick up your son, salvage what you can of the weekend and I will call Caroline and have her put me on the stand first." She started to leave his office.
"Bones." She turned back to him, but her expression said the topic was closed. "Thanks, Bones." Her look softened. "Want to join Parker and me for pizza tonight?"
She really wanted to accept. It was written in her eyes, but she was too far away for him to see. "No, spend some time with your son. Talk to him." She left.
Booth stood a long time watching the door. He wanted so much in life, was it really right there for the taking? Or was it something he would never have? Who said Bones was the right choice either? Maybe she was right way back when, maybe if they crossed that line, they would lose it all.
He slumped down into his chair more confused than ever except on one point. His son was more important now. He needed to get the focus off himself and be a dad - be a better dad.
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A/N: Hadn't anticipated weeks without Bones in our trek to see Hannah off on her merry way (oh no, what if she sticks around for the whole season?). Should there be installments over the next two weeks cause we know she is just hanging around the fringes? Or should we all just watch Baseball, eat hotdogs and drink beer and wait with our hands folded for the next Chapter of the Booth/Brennan saga and consequently another Chapter of Consolation Prize?