Birthday Suits in a Suite
(AKA Booth in a Loincloth)
Chapter Nine
Susan H.
That evening, Foster chose a lonely table, where he could see everyone entering the restaurant.
"Just water, I'm waiting for my niece," He told the waitress when she asked for his drink order. At 6:10, he wondered if she would show. He knew he had taken a chance, but he believed he had a sense about these things. Then he saw her, and gave himself an invisible pat on the back.
"Hi Uncle Willie," she said and kissed his cheek when he stood, "I can't even start to tell you how happy I am to see you."
Foster saw desperation in her eyes.
"Well here we are now Susie, I'm pretty happy to see you too. Let's order our drinks, and start catching up," he said because the waitress was already standing at their table.
"So I heard about the scare little Pauly had up in the woods. How is your brother handling that?"
"Oh, he is such a boy. He wears it like a badge of honor, telling everyone who will listen about the dead body he found. Some of the kids tease him and say he made it up, but he is not backing down."
"Well, I was a boy once, long ago, and a find like that would have given me nightmares."
Susie laughed and said, "Yeah, well Uncle Willie, you weren't raised on a diet of video games and Elm Street movies."
Foster genuinely laughed.
"Susie, you are delightful," he said. The waitress had returned with drinks, and ready to take the rest of their order. They both ordered, and the waitress strode away again.
"So, your mother told your Aunt Mildred that some people believed it was an FBI agent your brother found."
"Yeah, of course, there is no way to prove it since the body disappeared."
"Wow. So, he was investigating a robbery at the
bank you work for?"
"Well, robbery makes it sound so exciting. Actually, Roger, I mean Agent Simon was a forensic accountant. He was investigating some missing funds."
The waitress brought their order.
"Thank you. My niece and I have everything we need for now, and we have a lot of catching up to do. I'll just signal you if we need you. I promise, it won't hurt your tip."
The waitress smiled, and left them to their corner.
"So were you and Roger seeing each other?"
"No. I mean, there was definitely an attraction, but he was "by the book". I believe that things would have changed after the investigation was finished. But, then he didn't show up anymore. No explanation. I had his card, and I tried to call a few times. Then Pauly found that body, and the bank president called a meeting. He and Sheriff Hamill told us that we should not talk to anyone about the case, and if asked, we should refer them to the Sheriff. Then I heard the Sheriff claimed there was no body in the woods. Right after that, I called the alternate number on Roger's card. I told someone at the DC FBI office what happened, but to my knowledge, nothing was done, until now."
"So you never met another agent and his partner, a woman?"
"No."
"Tell me then, do you think Pauly really saw a body, and it disappeared, or do you think he saw something else?"
"Oh, Uncle Willie, he saw a body. I've heard a detailed description of it more times than my stomach can stand. Especially because I believe it was probably, well, Roger. He saw a body. Someone moved it."
They finished eating.
"Well, Susie, Aunt Mildred will be so interested to hear about our visit. Let me walk you to your car. Do you carry pepper spray?"
"No."
Foster pulled his keys out, and detached a fresh can of pepper spray, "Well then, this will fix that," he handed it to her. "I keep it for mean dogs."
"Oh, Thank you."
Foster stayed with her until she was safely buckled in with her motor running. He waved as she pulled away.
***
That night, Booth showered in pitch-blackness. Brennan walked into the bathroom.
"Bones!"
"What?"
"I'm in the shower."
"I'm aware of that."
"Privacy!"
"Booth, I can't see my hand in front of my face, there is no moon. How much more privacy do you need?"
"I need a closed door with you on the other side."
Bones pulled open the shower curtain.
"Bones!"
"I think I remembered something. I think the remains went missing."
"That could have waited. Or, I would have heard you just fine through the shower curtain."
"Hey," Brennan interrupted him.
"What?"
"Do you want me to wash your back?"
Booth was going to strongly protest, but then he thought about 2 days of plaster dust, a sheet less mattress, and an extremely rough blanket, without a shirt.
"Actually, that sounds good. Are you going to be good?"
"Define good."
"Back only."
"Of course." He handed her a soapy rag.
She started at the back of his neck and worked down to the top of his shoulder. Booth folded his arms against the tile, and rested his forehead on them. He enjoyed the backrub as Brennan continued her downward path. Then he stiffened, "Okay Bones. Far enough. Stop there." She stopped, but then softly pressed on a tender spot on his back. She gently massaged, gradually increasing pressure as the muscles loosed. She firmly pushed with both thumbs, and Booth felt a pop. He groaned. "Oh, that's perfect now Bones. Thanks."
"Okay." She left the bathroom, and Booth turned to rinse his back.
***
Brennan sat on the bed waiting for Booth to finish. Her hands felt each product to make sure she had what she needed. She hated trying to dry her body and hair with one little face towel, but was grateful that they had the luxury of soap and water. Things could be much worse, she reasoned. Booth exited the bathroom.
"Your turn," he said.
She ran a bath and poured shampoo under the running water. Grit covered her body, and she wanted a good long soak. She climbed in and leaned back and willed her muscles to relax.
"So do you want me to wash your back?"
Brennan jumped and splashed water.
"Booth, you startled me. I didn't hear you come in."
"Well, if you had closed the door, you would have heard it open.
"It's cooler in here, leaving the door open allows more heat in."
"Of course. So, do you want me to wash you back?"
"Yes, that would be very relaxing."
She soaped up her rag, and handed it to Booth. She pulled up her knees, and rested her forehead on them, while holding her hair on top of her head. Booth started at her neck, and followed the same path Brennan had taken to the top of the shoulders and down her back. Then he gently massaged the ever-present knot in her neck. He worked her neck, and slid his fingers under her shoulder blade. She felt a tender spot there, and his thumb rubbed it in circular motions until it didn't hurt anymore. She moaned.
"Thanks Booth. That feels much better now."
"Enjoy your soak," he said and left the bathroom.
When she finished, she crawled into bed, and Booth instinctively put an arm around her.
"So tomorrow, we should be through the paneling?" she asked.
"That's what I hope. Let's just worry about it tomorrow."
"So this may be our last night here."
"Yes."
She turned to face him, and curled up against his chest. She was asleep in minutes.
A Note from the Author Susan: Hello again. Thanks so much for the reviews! They are encouraging. But as always, sincere reviews are wonderful to receive after each chapter, so if you could, please take the extra minute to leave a review. Also, I was new to the forum, and posted my first three stories very quickly. I would like to remind my readers that this is the fourth story in a series. The first three are: 1. The Memory in the Amneisia, 2. Booths R us, 3. The Death in the vow. If you haven't had the chance, and would like, I think you will enjoy these stories, and they contain backround information for this story. Thanks again!!----Susan H.