When You Come Around
Disclaimer- All property of Fox and company. Not me.
A/N—That was pretty sick… I was reading over the last chapter… So! Hope you're not too sickened to read this one. It's far less gory. I promise. Still 'M' for my safety.
Chapter Four: Five Card Stud
Temperance obtained several random items from the scene. The saw, a tire iron, and she made a request that the forensic team package up any tools that looks like a drill, or a drill press. She informed a coroner and investigator of what she was taking, and whom it would be sent to for further investigation.
Booth watched her work. Seemingly undisturbed by the horror that she was investigating. He admired her for that. She had a job to do, and nothing would stand in the way of that. She exchanged a few words with Gene before shaking his hand and politely smiling. She looked back at the SUV where Booth was leaning against the front of the car. Legs and arms crossed, sunglasses on. He looked like a poker player…. Difficult to read. She knew by his earlier actions, he was bothered by what he saw. She wandered over to him.
"I can't do anything else until tomorrow at the earliest." She stated.
"Why not?" Booth questioned.
"The crime scene is apparently so overwhelming, that everything has to be investigated and photographed before I can send anything back to the lab." She explained.
"What about some of the evidence you took?"
"I made it first priority. It's already good to go." She answered.
"Does this mean we're stuck here for a few more days?"
"Possibly. I might not even be able to get back tomorrow. So don't hold your breath." She said.
"I didn't plan on it." He quipped, "Wanna go for something to eat?"
"Not overly." She glanced up at him, "I've lost my appetite for a few months."
"I can relate." He smiled, "Let's just go check in."
The sky was a dark grey colour, and it was starting to release droplets of water. Instead of driving an hour to their original destination, they drove into the tiny, quaint town of Dixon. The hotel they chose was not a hotel at all. It was several small roadside cabins with a main office building. They simultaneously exited the vehicle and ran for the main office. The woman behind the desk was heavy and had large, thick glasses. Her hair was a light blonde colour, short and it was loosely curled. Her extra chin wobbled when she spoke.
"What can I get for a handsome young couple like you?" she asked. Brennan laughed.
"We're not a couple." She corrected. Booth looked at Brennan, irritated.
"Have you got two single rooms available for a few nights?" he asked.
"Nope." The clerk said bluntly, "We've got damaged pipes, and all but one of our cabins has water leaks."
Booth and Brennan looked at each other uneasily.
"You two don't mind sharing? We've got one double." She explained. Both let out a breath of air.
"What do you say Brennan?" Booth asked.
"I'm fine with that." She stated. He smiled.
"We'll take it." He paid, and the chubby woman handed him a key. Wind blew violently, lightning crashed, and rain cascaded from the night sky.
8:57. The cabin had no operating television. Wind must have knocked out the satellite. The place was cozy. A small log cabin with two rooms, and one washroom. A small kitchenette, and a living area with a fireplace accompanied. The pair found some towels and dried off. Booth sat on the couch reading a New York Times from 1985. Brennan made herself some tea and sat a the small dining room table looking over various files from this case. Booth looked at her hunched over the files she had already read a thousand times.
"Bones, for the sake of your health, and my sanity, please put the files away." She looked over at him.
"There is so much we don't know yet Booth." She answered.
"And we won't find out more until we can look at some evidence." He reasoned. She sighed and closed the folder. Without glancing up from the yellowed newspaper, he said,
"While looking for something to read, I came across a deck of cards…." He let his sentence dangle for a moment.
"You say you can play poker huh?" He lowered the newspaper and smiled at her.
"We don't have any chips." She said flatly. He pondered a moment…
"I know what'll work." He stood, and went into the small kitchen. He grabbed the tray of cutlery from the drawer. She began to laugh.
"You're quite resourceful." She stated.
"You don't spend time in the Rangers and not learn how to be resourceful." He chuckled. He retrieved the deck of cards from the same drawer he found the newspaper. Thunder roared. The lamp flickered. Once. Twice. Then the power went out.
"Power's out." Booth stated. Dumb and obvious. Way to go Seeley!
"Uh…. I know." Brennan replied.
"I'll light a fire. Bones, my keys are on the end table. There is a small penlight on them, bring it over here." He instructed. She shined the small light in the fire pit while he stacked kindling and paper.
"That's not going to work." She simply stated.
"And what makes you the expert?" He asked.
"Five years in the girl scouts." She replied.
"Are you kidding me? Girl Scouts? I'm not going to believe some crap that you learned when you were nine. I can light a fire." He said. His manly-overbearing-dominating streak showing its ugly face.
"Move over!" She demanded. He laughed, as she tried to push his sturdy frame over. Both were on all fours.
"Booth! I want to light the fire!" she exclaimed. He bumped her back with his body, knocking her to the floor. She looked up at him, grin on her face.
"That was mean."
"You were treading on my turf Bones… I had to do what I had to do." He smiled.
"You know, you are such an alpha-male." She laughed, "At least let me make some adjustments to this pitiful sight that you hope will create a blazing fire."
He slid over a little to allow her to readjust his paper and kindling. He lit it with the lighter that was between a small stack of wood and the mantle. The wood caught fire instantly.
Booth shuffled the cards and divided the cutlery. "Five card stud, no limit." He said. He dealt the cards and the game commenced.
"I see your fork, and I'll raise you two spoons." She said tossing the utensils into the pile
"Risky…. Are you sure you want to do that?" he asked.
"I know your method Booth, and frankly, I think it's quite juvenile. Besides, it's a dead giveaway of what your hand is." She said.
"Okay smarty-pants, what's my hand?"
"Lousy." She answered. She glanced down at her full-house.
"I'll call your raise." He said simply.
"That's the worst playing I have ever seen. Horrible method Booth. I figured you'd be smarter than that. At least raise to try and scare me away from the pot." She complained. He grinned wickedly at her.
"I'll call." She said.
"All in." he said.
"Me too." She revealed her full-house and grinned. Ready to collect her winnings, he said,
"Not so fast." He lowered his hand. She winced. Four of a kind. He chuckled., "Never underestimate." He pulled the pile towards him. Brennan shook her head.
"The odds are slim of getting that. It was pure chance."
"Same with your full-house." He replied. She stood, and as she walked by him to go to the kitchen, she swatted the back of his head. He grabbed her leg, pulling her to the floor. He rolled on top of Brennan.
"Come on Bones, don't be such a sore loser." He half whispered. Something stirred in his belly when her crystal blue eyes were fixed directly into his, a serious expression on her face.
"I can handle losing. Just not to you." She said.
"Why's that." He questioned. Grin plastered on his face.
"I don't need to give your already huge ego more of a boost." Brennan answered. With that, he rolled off her, and let her go to the kitchen. This would be an interesting few days with Temperance Brennan.
A/N - - Sorry for taking a while. On vacation before school starts. Hope you enjoyed.