A/N: Thanks to everyone for their kind reviews...and apologies for another lengthy delay. Things have been a bit crazy on the home front lately. But here we go, the next installment of Special Agent Parker Returns, with the next to follow as well. It picks up a few months after Brennan's visit to Sid's. Hope you enjoy! -AnaG
A slight breeze moves through the open window, lifting and parting white curtains to make way for sunlight to enter the bedroom. The woman rests on her side, one hand between her cheek and the pillow, the other absently tracing circles over the swell of her stomach. She's watching the path of the yellow-white beams as they cross the floor, her slight smile revealing her contentment with this simplest of moments.
The little boy runs through the hallway, excitement and anticipation on his face. He slows as he nears the doorway, and stops completely before entering the room. He watches her with soft brown eyes, unable to understand why he suddenly doesn't want to disturb her.
Sensing another presence in the room, she turns her face towards the doorway. When she sees Parker standing at the entrance to the room, she props herself up on one arm and motions him into the room.
"Hey, Parker…"
He walks slowly, stopping at the foot of the bed, his eyes wandering around the room. "Hey, Bones."
She raises an eyebrow at the subdued tone of his greeting. "Now, don't tell me my best secret agent is getting shy. I know that I look like an inflated, ugly old troll these days, but…"
His eyes snap back to hers, "You don't look like a troll, Bones. They are ugly and green and have warts….and you are kinda…." He pauses, biting his lip as he tries to find the perfect word, "…you look…glowy."
She looks upward, as if considering the merits of the description. "Glowy….I like that. Yeah…I'm glowy."
Her eyes fall to the small book that he is holding in one hand. "Oh, I almost forgot. It's our reading time isn't it?"
Nodding, he holds up the book proudly. "I picked this one out for today. It's about goin' to the zoo."
"The zoo? That sounds perfect, Parker." She moves over slightly, patting the space on the bed beside her.
Excitement back now, he clambers onto the bed, snuggling as close to her as possible before opening the book in his lap. He looks down at the colorful images, and with a giggle, turns the book so that it is facing in the correct direction. He runs his hands over the surface of the pages, flattening them, then gives a sigh of satisfaction. Now, everything is in its proper place.
Leaning forward, a serious expression on his face, he talks directly to her belly. "Okay, Baby. We're gonna read you a story now. It's all about the aminals…"
Smothering her smile, she places an encouraging arm around him. "I know that I can't wait…" Pointing at one of the drawings in the book, she continues, "I think you should start with this one…"
"Yep. Thatsa good one, Bones." He turns the book so that the bright yellow and brown illustration is facing her stomach. " 'Kay, Baby. This is a lion, and they are the kings of the jungle. They go like this…."
Watching as Parker becomes completely enveloped in his narration, imitations of animal noises provided at regular intervals, her sense of contentment grows. She knows how lucky her baby is going to be to have a brother like….
She feels a small movement….
"Parker….I think the baby is really enjoying your story."
He turns to her, eyes wide. "Really? Can you hear him?"
"Well, no, but….." Taking his little hand, she places it flat against the curve of her stomach, and then watches as the wonder cross his face.
"Ooooh….I can feel him!" He carefully holds his hand in place, mesmerized by the movement, until a look of concern crosses his face, "It doesn't hurt you does it, Bones?"
Touched by his concern for her, she brushes the curls from his forehead and smiles at him.
"No…not all."
"Whew….that's good."
He closes the book, tracing the letters of the title with one finger. "Um, Bones….?"
"Yeah, Parker…?"
"Can I ask you somethin'?"
Oh, boy…
"Sure…."
"How much longer before my little brother gets here? He's been growin' in there a loooong time"
Thinking back over the months of morning sickness, of the many trips to Costco that poor Booth had made for economy-size jars of pickles and cartons of banana fudge ripple, of the toes that she knows are still there but that she has not been able to see in ages….she can't help but agree with him.
"Yeah, I'm ready too…the doctor said that it will be any day now…"
"Good, 'cause I'm ready. I been wanting a brother foreeeever."
"I know, Parker…but remember what Daddy and I talked about with you…"
He sighs heavily, "I 'member. We don't know if itsa a brother or a sister." Then, as an idea occurs to him, he turns to her.
"I know, we can take you to the lab and Dr. Zach can use the giant micra-scope on your tummy, then we'd know for sure, right?"
Laughing softly, she looks down, taking in the size at her stomach, "Sorry, Parker…but I don't think a microscope is quite big enough for that. Besides, your father really wants it to be a surprise."
He nods reluctantly "I guess a su'prise is alright….But I sure hope itsa a brother."
"I don't think it will be too much longer until we all find out…"