Chapter 4 Conversation

Booth paced by Cullen's Pathfinder; checking his watch again. He did say five minutes. It's been five minutes. What is going on??? The car beside him beeped and he looked up to see Cullen rapidly striding toward him.

"Get in. We're going for a ride, away from here, to talk." Both men got in the SUV. Turning the key Cullen threw the car into reverse angrily and sped out of the parking lot. Silence filled the car, neither wanted to speak for fear of what the other was thinking. Cullen could see how livid Booth was over the treatment of his partnership, and his partner, his whole body was tense and his hands were closed in tight fists he looked like he might punch the dashboard.

Booth glanced over at Cullen and then focused his attention out the window. His knuckles are white from gripping the steering wheel and he looks like he may have broken one…Slammed his fist into the desk? Remembering how Cullen had sat at his desk silently shuffling papers with his left hand Booth was pretty sure his boss had punched something, hard.

He opened his mouth to speak, Cullen responded immediately by putting his hand up for silence. Okay, what's going on? I need to get to Bones. I need to make sure she's okay, did she see the interview? Crap I need to talk to her before she sees the interview. I want to watch it with her. Will she be mad that I didn't play up all of her strengths? All the praise I could have given her. But all I wanted to emphasize was that she's my partner. Not some Barbie doll for display, my partner. My Bones. My intelligent, dangerous, loyal, grr yes beautiful, genius, independent, Partner. He smiled for the first time since she had stormed away from him. Nah she won't be mad about what I said. She's. My. Partner.

Cullen pulled into the parking lot of the park. "Out," he said gesturing to Booth as he exited the car and walked away toward the middle of the playground. "What are you smiling about? You have nothing to be smiling about."

Booth pulled a straight face, "Sorry Sir."

Cullen sighed and sat down a bench by the jungle-gym. "I'm not mad at you Booth. I'm proud of the way you stood up for your partner." Booth relaxed. He's on my side. "I may not always treat Dr. Brennan as nicely as I should a woman but part of the reason I don't is because I respect her; as your partner, NOT as a woman. I try to keep it separate. And I know I come off like I hate her, but I don't." He sighed again. "She helped my daughter. Her team – your team – helped my daughter. Amy at least enjoyed her last month on earth. And it's because of your team and their compassion as people. Not scientists, not analysts, not 'squints', but as people who saw someone weak and they responded with such loyalty…" He choked. "I think your artist must have come to visit her every day to draw with her and show her things. I know that even though she would never say anything Dr. Brennan checked in on her, I saw her sneak in late at night when she thought I had gone and argue with the Doctor so that she could just sit and hold Amy's hand so she wasn't alone. Zach may be weird, but he called a couple times and emailed her jokes to make her laugh. And Hodgins, well he offered to have her taken care of at home. I couldn't let him do that, but he offered. Your team is special Booth. They're not FBI, and you know what, I'm thankful for that. They can be away from the department and do things we can't always get to right away."

Booth sat silently listening to Cullen ramble, knowing that this wasn't the point of their having to leave the building and the car. Something else is up. He'll get there, right now he's justifying in his head why he's doing this.

Cullen drew a deep breath. "Something stinks with this case Booth. Something stinks about that interview this morning and your suspension. I'm going to need you and your team to work on the side and not report everything. Damn I can't believe I just said that!" He ran his hand over his head and down his face. "I made some calls, I have trustworthy people checking some things. You're suspended, do you need anything? A gun? Any extras?" He laughed sardonically. "I'm asking my best agent if he needs anything. The ex-sniper if he needs a gun. God! What am I thinking! You're good right?" Booth nodded solemnly, still not sure what Cullen was getting at.

"I may be on probation for my behavior this morning but he is over his head. I'm going home to work from my private computer and send some emails, make some more calls. I need you to go to the Jeffersonian and your Team. Dick doesn't know your team at all. He's assigned Smith & Wesson to take over the truck stop case with Dr. Addy. Those blundering idiots, hopefully they won't break anything. There's a reason we don't usually let them out in the field. Anyway, stay with Dr. Brennan have Zach make copies of everything on a memory stick so she can work on things from home or wherever. I want everything to appear to go through Addy, but Dr. Brennan is still head. Do you understand?" Taking that as a dismissal, Booth rose and again nodded his head. Cullen placed a hand on Booth's arm. "And Booth, take care of your team; especially your partner. She's one special lady." He chuckled to himself as he walked away. "I'll be in touch."

Getting in the SUV he pulled away leaving Booth standing by the jungle gym.