Wow! This was a long chapter! Yay! I updated some of the other's too, to make them longer, but they don't really change much, It's like 100 more words or something for each, but no major plot changes.
I hope you enjoy this chapter and that it was worth the wait. (Sorry about that, I have been busy with schoolwork and chores).
---
Booth and Brennan were sitting in the diner, a plate of their usual food on the table in front of them. The conversation was light - Booth was sharing tales of Parkers exploits with his partner.
Brennan's phone rung in the middle of their conversation, and she excused herself to answer it. Booth watched her from were he sat, picking at his pie.
Brennan's face changed from pleasantry to shock, to anger to despair within moments of the conversation. Her eyes flicked to her partner, who gave her a questioning look, before they widened, and scanned the room. Fear shone in her actions as she hung up the phone, and carefully made her way back to the table, her vision darting around the room as she walked.
"What's up Bones?" Booth asked as she sat down. Brennan opened her mouth to answer, before quickly shutting it again, and shaking her head.
"Nothing Booth. I just wasn't expecting that call. What were you saying about Parker?" She said, her eyes not meeting with those of her partner. Booth knew she was lying, but he also knew better than to poke into Brennan's business.
"Bones, you like Parker, don't you?" He asked, out of the blue.
"Of course, Booth. He's your son," Brennan replied, not at all put off.
"Would you like him if he wasn't my son?"
"Booth, I highly doubt that Parker isn't your child!"
"That isn't what I meant." Booth sighed exasperated. "Bones, if something was to happen to Rebecca, and I … wasn't around to look after Parker… I would trust you to look after him my place. Would you do that for me?"
"Booth, you're not going anywhere… are you?" Brennan was growing more and more confused.
"No, but what if someday I do have to?" Brennan, tilted her head to one side, and contemplated the idea.
"Of course I would look after Parker for you Booth," She said eventually. "Although, I can't foresee an event that would make you unable to…"
"You never know Bones, you never know…" Booth replied, and threw some bills on the table to cover their meal. Brennan looked at the notes, sighed, and stood. At first, Booth expected her to comment on his alpha-male tendencies, or at least put down some of her own bills, but she made no move to do so.
Mentally shrugging, Booth decided to leave it be. He didn't mind being able to pay for Bones' meal, even though he knew she'd demand that she paid the next time. He placed his hand on the small of her back, and gently guided her towards the door…
- - -
"That's it?" Angela asked, sipping coffee from 'Joe's'. She had to admit that she didn't like the place anywhere near as much as the diner. "That's all that happened?"
"Yep. The next day, Bones was distant and didn't want to come out in the field with me," Booth said, glad that Angela now knew the story. He needed someone on his side.
"But I don't get it!" Ange exclaimed. "That day could have been any day for the two of you! There was nothing out of the ordinary… except the phone call. Do you think that had anything to do with it?"
"I've thought of it, Ange. I thought that maybe someone was threatening her, but she would have told me, wouldn't she?" Booth said, dropping his hands to his head.
"Booth, I understand, okay?" Angela reached across the table and grabbed one of Booth hands in her own. "Bren, we love her, we do, but you don't have to beat yourself up about this. You can't reverse time, and even if you could, it may not make a difference. You know how it goes, right?"
Booth shook his head, looking up to meet Angela's eyes.
"Yesterday is history. Tomorrow is a mystery. Today is a gift. That's why they call it the present." She grinned at Booth, who was laughing. "Booth, go see her. Talk to her. Who cares about tomorrow? You have today, alright?"
"Angela Montenegro, you give awful advice. I've tried talking," Booth said.
"Then forget her. She's yesterday. If she's messed up, then she's messed up," Ange paused. "Booth, she'll come back. I know it."
A single tear slipped down Booth's cheek as he whispered, "I hope so…"
- - -
"Dr Brennan, I presume," The voice on the other end of the line spoke smugly. "I believe you are a forensic anthropologist?"
"Yes…" Brennan replied, curiosity spiking in her mind.
"Ah, excellent," The voice said. "I believe you know a Seeley Booth? In fact, aren't you having coffee with him right now?"
Brennan spun around, hoping to see whomever it was that was calling her. When she saw no one else on the phone, she frowned. "What do you want?"
"What do I want? Well, Dr Brennan, I want a lot of things. But what you are going to do for me is terminate your partnership with Agent Booth," Brennan's eyes widened, and she once again looked around the diner.
"Why do want that?" She asked, dreading the answer. She didn't want to give up her partnership for anything.
"Again, the question is actually why are you going to terminate the partnership. I believe you've met Parker Booth?"
"No! You wouldn't dare touch him!" Brennan hissed.
"Of course not! Not unless you refuse to terminate the partnership," There was a chuckle. "You have 24 hours to make up your mind. Don't call me, I'll call you. Goodbye, Dr Brennan."
Brennan held the silent phone to her ear for a few more minutes, before shutting it, and returning to her seat, looking for the caller as she walked. Booth smiled at her when she sat down, and she was immediately torn in two. She waved off Booth's questions and returned to her salad, until Booth spoke again.
"Bones, you like Parker, don't you?" He asked, out of the blue.
"Of course, Booth. He's your son," Brennan replied, her heart aching as she thought of the decision she had to make.
"Would you like him if he wasn't my son?"
"Booth, I highly doubt that Parker isn't your child!"
"That isn't what I meant." Booth sighed exasperated. "Bones, if something was to happen to Rebecca, and I … wasn't around to look after Parker… I would trust you to look after him my place. Would you do that for me?"
"Booth, you're not going anywhere… are you?" Brennan was scared about where the conversation was heading, but knew she'd agree.
"No, but what if someday I do have to?" Booth's eyes were pleading with Brennan, and she had no choice.
"Of course I would look after Parker for you Booth," She said her heart breaking. "Although, I can't foresee an event that would make you unable to…"
"You never know Bones, you never know…" Booth replied. Brennan watched as he threw down some bills. She felt tempted to make a comment on his alpha male tendencies, but didn't know that this could be their last meal at the diner together.
- - -
Brennan's phone was ringing. She knew who it was, and yet terror still flooded through her body. What if he hurt Parker?
"Brennan." She answered.
"Dr Brennan," was the curt reply. "I heard that you finally terminated the partnership permanently. Congratulations. It only took you four months. Or was it my last package that convinced you?"
"Go to hell, 'D'," Brennan said. She had received the package, which contained photographs of Parker, and more threats towards him.
"But my good doctor, you don't believe in hell!" The voice whom was known only as 'D' remarked snidely.
"No, but there must be some where for you to rot forever!" She spat back. She heard the sinister chuckle once again, and knew it would plague her nightmares.
"I have something else for you to consider, dearest Temperance,' 'D' said. "Do not have any contact with Booth, or Parker's life will be in just as must danger. Goodbye." The call was disconnected, and Brennan breathed out.
She sat back down on her couch, and loaded her computer. She typed up a brief resignation letter and emailed it to Cam. She closed the laptop, and sat back. Tears began streaming down her cheeks as she thought of everything she had lost.
She had lost a job she loved, a partner, a friend, a rock, a support system and the only person she could ever really love. Yet she knew if she was given the choice again, she would make the same decisions. Booth could live without her, but if something were to happen to Parker, she knew he would be distraught. She wouldn't break her promise.
Drying her eyes, she walked to her bedroom and grabbed a suitcase. She packed as many clothes into it as possible, and placed it by the door. Silently, she walked around the room, picking up various photos and trinkets along the way. Among these were photographs of her and Booth, her and Angela, her and her team and the two gifts Booth had given her –Jasper and Brainy Smurf. She carefully placed them into a rucksack and placed them on top of the suitcase.
Brennan walked into the kitchen, grabbed a bottle of vodka, and poured herself a glass. She swallowed it, and collapsed to the ground, sobbing. She was ready to leave everything behind her. If only she could.
- - -
Next Chapter… Well, you'll just have to wait, won't you?
Hehehe, nah, I'll be nice. 'D' returns and Booth goes to see Brennan.