Consolation Prize
By LizD
Chapter 6 –
A/N: Posted early for reasons noted at the end.
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Booth was seated on the bench outside the courthouse. Brennan hurried up the steps checking her watch. She was late, but late for what she wasn't sure.
"Booth," she exclaimed breathlessly as she slid down onto the bench next to him. "Why are we here so early? The hearing is not for another two hours."
"Caroline wants to review," he said casually with an impish smile edging his lips. "Coffee?"
She took the offered cup. "We reviewed until midnight, what else is there to go over?"
"I'm sure Caroline will think of something." Again the smile edged his lips.
"You seem very pleased with yourself?"
"Aren't you?"
"Pleased with you?"
"Pleased with us."
"We did some very fine work ... all of us," she acknowledged. "But we usually do. Why are you grinning?" She sat back not really interested in his answer. She had gotten barely six hours of sleep in the past four nights prepping for the evidentiary hearing and was a bit overtired.
"Grinning?" He grinned. "I'm not grinning." Booth had the same sleep deprivation issue, but it had made him giddy rather than cranky.
"All evidence to the contrary."
"Do you know what today is?" He half turned toward her.
She thought for a moment. "Thursday ... no Friday."
"The date?"
"May 20th ... I assume you know the year."
"I do." His smile broadened. "Do you know what today is?"
She looked back down at the files in her hands pretending to read them. She knew. She had known for days this was coming. She wondered if Booth had remembered. Guess so. "One year ago you and I took a leave from our partnership to pursue other opportunities," she said flatly.
Interesting way of phrasing that. He would have said she ran away and he did the same, but 'leave' is good too. He wasn't in the mood to open old wounds. He was happy. "And look at us now? Back at it as if nothing has changed. Closing our first serial killer case ... working together ... very symbiotic."
"You use that word a lot," she stated. "Does it have some special meaning for you?"
"It might come as a surprise to you, but I don't like a lot of people and there are even fewer people with whom I can work ... really work, case work, day in and day out. Someone who helps me, challenges me, notices things I don't, someone who works hard and makes me work harder."
She liked his assessment of her as his partner. "Is that why you didn't have a partner when we met? Because you didn't like anyone?"
"Among other reasons."
"You didn't like working with me for many years."
"That's not true ... you pushed me ... most of the time you pushed my buttons, but you pushed me and - I think we work well together, even from the beginning."
"There is no denying that we close cases and I assume that is the evidence of a good working partnership."
"There is other evidence."
"Such as?"
"We know each other's strengths."
"And weaknesses."
"We both have the same dedication to finding the bad guys and putting them away."
"I appreciate your moral compass ... knowing what lines you will not cross."
"Ditto."
There was a moment of pause as Booth continued to look into her eyes. Brennan became uncomfortable and looked down.
"I'm sorry, Booth."
"Sorry?" That was the last thing he wanted to hear. She had nothing to be sorry for.
"A year ago I was in a very different place. I was scared all the time. Terrified of losing ... of losing people ... people that I relied on, who relied on me. Before I met you and Angela I was satisfied being alone and doing my work. Then almost at the same time you two entered my life and it changed my focus, changed my purpose. I started using my skills to solve current mysteries rather than ancient ones. I learned to work with other people - Hodgins, Cam, Angela ... you. We became a unit."
"A family," he corrected.
"Yes," she agreed quickly but reluctantly. "I started writing. Now I am financially secure not that money had ever been of interest to me. I have changed over these past years."
"I can see it." He wanted to add how much she had changed in just the last year, but didn't.
"I'm not sure how I would have gotten through some of my own family issues in the past several years if it weren't for the people around me. I wouldn't have a relationship with my brother or my father if it weren't for you." She paused again. "So again, I'm sorry."
"Sorry?" He turned toward her.
"A year ago I nearly destroyed us ... all of us." Cam's words still echoed in her ear. "I should never have gone to Maluku. Not only was the science a bust -."
"A bust?" He smiled at her using that term.
"I should never have sought or accepted that position."
He cocked his head not wanting to ask why she had left. He knew the answer - or thought he knew.
She was compelled to speak a truth that she hadn't given voice to before. "I was so caught up in what would happen if I lost you, I had to step away. I just needed some perspective."
"Bones, stop."
"Booth, you could have been killed in Afghanistan, and you would never have been there if I hadn't gone to Maluku."
"You are probably right ... that I wouldn't have gone to Afghanistan, but I could get killed walking across the street ... or being a little too slow on the draw." He really didn't want to rehash this ancient history but it was too late to turn back.
"I know. I'm sorry."
"Bones, don't ... don't take this on yourself. It wasn't all about you and Maluku. I have some responsibility here."
"No." She denied.
"It do ... After we talked to Sweets about his book, I made an offer to you that was ... unfair and probably out of left field as far as you were concerned. A game changer for us."
"No."
"Yes, we have never talked about this ... not really ... and I think we should." He chuckled. "It wasn't why I called you here this morning."
"I thought Caroline called us here this morning." Grateful for the ability to change the subject.
He shook his head. "No, it was me. I wanted to celebrate."
"Celebrate?"
The grin back. "We are back, baby." He raised a fist for her to bump; she did. "And I am happy about that."
"Me too." Her eyes shined. "How shall we celebrate?"
"Let's go to Disneyland!"
"Excuse me?"
"Well, Disneyworld, to be more precise. I have Parker this weekend ... all weekend and Monday too. And it's his birthday. I told him that we could do whatever he wanted to do, and he said Disneyworld with his friend Bobby."
"And you would like me to join you?"
"I would ... you are my village." He flashed a grin but then got serious. "More than my village. Would you join us?"
A slow smile crept across her face. "I would enjoy that very much."
Caroline came blasting up the steps. "I don't know what you two are looking so happy about ... this case just go blown to hell. Better get your people back together."
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As usual, Caroline was overreacting. The hearing was enough to bind over for trial. Bail was denied and the court date set for two weeks hence. Booth and Brennan did not have to work that weekend and arrangements for Disneyworld were made much to the obvious joy of Parker and his friend. Less obvious was the joy for Booth and Brennan, but it was there just the same. A nonworking weekend out of town - together - even if they had ten-year-olds as chaperons was a step in the NEXT direction.
They were checked in by Friday evening in time for a late dinner and to explore the hotel. The boys were done exploring when they found the game room and had to be pulled out of there at 10:00PM. Saturday was spent at the park and the four had a ball. Booth had never seen Parker so happy and Parker clearly enjoyed having his dad and Dr. Bones there. Brennan cut out around four to head back to the hotel. Brennan was not big on the Magic Kingdom nor did she typically do the pamper thing, but after the last couple of weeks, she deserved it. She had a deep tissue massage, a seaweed wrap of some kind, a facial, manicure and pedicure. She was about to shower quickly and head back to the park to meet them for dinner and fireworks, but there was a message from Booth. The boys wanted to watch the outdoor movie on the beach and do the fireworks from there.
Booth stopped by her room when he got the boys situated (which involved a Booth-esque interrogation of the babysitter designed to impress, intimidate and terrify and it would have if the babysitter wasn't on the football team at his University, had about thirty pounds on Booth and someone who survived the inquisition like process of getting hired to work with children at Disney Parks). She answered the door in the oversized Goofy T-shirt that Parker insisted Booth get for her. He scanned her up and down. Her hair was wet from the shower and her legs were bare under the shirt hem. She did look ... refreshed. "New look for you."
"Heading to the gym?"
"Yeah, need to work off that corn dog."
"And the two ice cream cones, funnel cake, peanuts, popcorn -."
"Ok ... Ok ... I need to work out." He patted his stomach. "So, dinner?"
"Sure." It was unexpected that they would have a chance to have dinner by themselves. She was delighted.
"Give me an hour .. hour and a half."
"I'll be ready."
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True to his word he was knocking on her door in seventy-five minutes. He looked good. A little tanned from the day in the park. Black jeans which hugged in all the right places and a button down shirt sans tie. It looked silk and it too showed off his form. She had opted out of the Goofy shirt and into a too summer dress. The weather wasn't warm enough for her naked arms, but it flattered her figure so well she wanted to wear it. He seemed pleased with her appearance as well. Neither one put voice to their opinions.
Dinner was great. Parker interrupted twice for permission to do something or other but didn't interrupt the mood. The boys would not be back for an hour, so they opted for a walk around the grounds after dinner.
"Thank you for inviting me," she said after many minutes of comfortable silence.
"Thank you for coming."
She shivered in the cool night air. Booth noticed but didn't have anything to give her. Frankly he didn't want to cover her up.
"Let's go back," he said wrapping a friendly arm around her shoulders. "You can buy me a drink."
The bar was over crowded so they went back to her room and raided the minibar. She grabbed something to wrap around her shoulders and joined him on the patio. She kicked her shoes off and put her feet up on the railing next to where Booth was standing. It was amazing the change in her. She was relaxed. She was calm. She was comfortable. She didn't need to fill the silence with useless babble. Booth too was relaxed.
"Nice color." He nodded toward the bright bronze polish on her toes.
"They insisted." She wiggled them. "But I like it."
Booth turned toward her, put a hand on her foot. It sent a surge through both of them. He quickly took the chair next to her and raised his glass.
"Here's to us."
"To us." She drank thoughtfully. "Is this the right time to continue the conversation from yesterday morning." She looked over at him. He was staring at her but no expression could be read. "Or not." She looked away.
He chuckled. Would he ever get used to her pointed questions? "We can." He had been thinking about it on and off since Friday morning. What he would say and how he would say it; he had been thinking about IT for a lot longer than that. He still hadn't come up with words that were right, but since she asked he needed to say something. He came out with the first thing that came to mind. "I'm sorry." There needed to be more. "Sorry about the way it went down ... that thing ... you know ... when I pressured you ... after Sweets challenged me ... that night ... well you know what I am talking about ... It was just that it had been on my mind so long ... and I convinced myself that you didn't ... that's why I didn't say anything before ... it didn't occur to me that you had thought about it and opted against for some other reason ... all I heard was NO ... and I reacted badly ... it's not your fault ... it's mine ... well anyway ... I'm sorry."
She watched him for a long moment unclear as to how to respond. He became uncomfortable under her gaze.
"But it doesn't matter now, right?" he said hopefully.
"It does matter," she said sorrowfully. "It was not, nor has it ever been my intention to hurt you."
"I know." He shifted his position. "There's no need to Monday morning quarterback this, right? I mean we are here, things are better than they ever were."
"You said yesterday that we were back ... nothing had changed."
"Is that what you what?'
"What?"
"Nothing to change?"
"You also said things had to change."
"And you agreed."
"I did." She sat back in her chair. "So we are agreed."
Booth shook his head. "On what?"
"That things need to change."
He took a deep breath and let it out slowly. "Look, all I really want to say ... what I wanted to say was ... was that if I had a chance to do it ... that night ... all over again, I would do it differently."
"Agreed."
"Agreed?"
"Yes, however preposterous it is to consider - going back in time to a single event to make a different choice - I too would relish the opportunity to do it ... that night ... differently."
Booth sat up. "Really?"
"Yes."
Booth stood up and reached for her hand to help her up. He studied her eyes for a long moment with both her hands in his. "I want to give us a chance ... a chance at more than a partnership."
She smiled. "I do as well."
He drew her toward him, into his arms - her eyes locked with his - he brushed his lips against the side of her mouth. She wrapped her arms around him and pulled herself tightly against his chest. He nestled into her neck and inhaled the moment. He whispered something that she did not her. Turning his head, he kissed her neck, her ear, her jaw, her check and finally her lips.
"I love you," he said.
Her eyes lit up. "I love you too."
They kissed. As if on cue, the fireworks over the Magic Castle burst in the air. With arms wrapped around each other they watched them from her balcony happy in their closeness, happy in their prospects, happy that they had put that year behind them and come out stronger. Change is good.
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A/N: Pixie dust was in the air, I guess.
So without further ado, I am ending Consolation Prize here. Please use your imaginations from here on out or read some of the other fantastic fan-fiction out there. You may wonder why? I am returning to passive viewership. The spoilers, the sneaks and the interviews (and I am talking solely about the ones that have been released by Fox) have caused this action - convinced me to be an anti-shipper. Can't be an anti-shipper and write this kind of fanfix. So, thanks for reading. Enjoy the show.