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"Where is he Elmo?" Parker tugged at Brennan's shirt, using his nickname for her to get her attention.
"I don't know. C'mere, lets check the arrivals board." Brennan led Parker over to the large flight information board.
Brennan gripped Parker's hand tightly, afraid of losing him in amongst the busy airports' haggard travelers. She'd barely been able to talk Rebecca into allowing Parker to accompany her when she went to pick up Booth at the airport in the first place, there was no telling what she'd do if Brennan lost him while there. That is to say nothing of how Booth would react.
It had been a week and a half since Booth left on his mysterious mission/case, but when he called the night before to ask for a ride from the airport, Brennan couldn't help but notice he sounded as if he'd aged years in that short time. She'd been hesitant to agree, nervous, though the reason why eluded her That was why she decided to take Parker with her, his presence seemed to ease her anxiety.
"I can't see Elmo." Parker whined, so she leaned over and hoisted him up onto her hip, surprised to find how comfortable it seemed to have him there. Even after her weekend with him, Parker never ceased to amaze her. She wondered if he was aware just how like his father he was becoming.
"Here it is. Flight 8454 in from Oregon." She pointed at a highlighted row of numbers and information that Parker didn't even bother trying to comprehend.
"Will he be here soon?"
"Yes Parker, very soon."
He grinned and Brennan felt a small place somewhere inside her swell with pride at being responsible for bringing that smile to the his face.
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Booth took slow methodic breaths, the only evidence of his breathing at all was the small violet next to his mouth tthat trembled slightly when he exhaled. He looked through the scope on his rifle and found the target within his sights.
He hadn't moved in hours, his legs and arms were numb from physical exhaustion, his heart was numb by choice. He'd been waiting for the right moment.
It had finally come. Inhale.
Exhale, squeeze the trigger. Inhale.
The sound like a clap of thunder rang out through the dense forest on the clear November morning. Booth didn't even flinch. He stared unblinking through the scope and seconds after the noise he watched the target fall to the ground 532yrds away.
Booth opened his eyes and took a deep breath of recycled air. It hadn't been a flashback. Booth had triggered the memory on purpose, replaying what he'd done over and over.
He always did. He had to be sure he'd done the right thing, at the right moment, for the right reason.
He'd always done that, and it usually brought him some peace, being able to justify his actions as necessary and appropriate. But this time was different. This time there was something nagging at him and he couldn't put his finger on it.
Booth pushed the snoring man next to him off his shoulder, and was reminded again of how annoyed he was with having to fly coach. The man's head lolled over to the other side and Booth inspected his Grateful Dead shirt for drool.
Thankfully, there was none.
"This is you're captain speaking," A muffled voice came from above, "please fasten your seatbelts and prepare for decent into DC."
Booth took another deep breath and fastened his seatbelt, suddenly wishing he'd ordered a drink from the flight attendant when she offered it.
It was time to return to his life. And while that was exactly what he wanted, it was easier said than done.
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Booth entered the airport forty minutes later, feeling a little overwhelmed at all the activity around him after spending so many days in solitude. He searched the blur of faces around him for one that looked familiar.
He just wanted to see her, hear her voice. He wished he could hold her and never let go. Of course he knew she would never allow it. But still, he wished.
Booth was walking away from the terminal, his eyes still scanning for Brennen's face, when suddenly he stopped short.
It couldn't be her…could it? The woman he was looking at stood with all her weight on her left foot as a little boy sat perched on her right hip. The boy leaned in to her ear and whispered something, causing the woman to throw back her head and laugh, blue-gray eyes sparkling.
Booth felt his heart stop.
She was beautiful, her hair flowing down her back and around her shoulders, framing the striking features of her face. But the most gorgeous thing about her was that she was with Parker. His Bones was standing there, holding Parker as if he were her own, looking completely natural and at ease.
Booth took a few moments to watch them, allowing himself to stay blended in amongst the airport life. He couldn't see what Parker was saying, but a look of confusion had just passed over her face, a look Booth had grown to know and love. Then she wore that concentrated look that widened her eyes and pouted her lips as she struggled to understand whatever it was Parker was saying. Finally she smiled, a true, genuine, easy smile that Booth found was contagious.
When Brennan finally looked up and saw him, he was starting to feel like his old self again. He straightend his shoulders and flashed a 'charm smile' at her.
She looked at Parker, said something softly too him, and the boy whipped his head around toward Booth.
"Daddy!" Parker squirmed in Bones' arms and she quickly placed him on the floor and he took off running to his father.
Booth knelt down and opened his arms just as Parker launched himself into the air, doubt that his father would catch him never crossing his mind. Booth's strong arms wrapped around his son's puffy jacket as he snatched him from the air and held him close. He spun around in a circle and made Parker squeal.
"Oh, Parker. I missed you buddy." Booth squeezed his eyes shut and he breathed in the smell of sand and baby shampoo on Parker's hair. The smell of childhood innocence.
"Missed you too Daddy." Parker buried his head in his father's shoulder and gripped him tightly with short chubby fingers.
Brennan stood at the arrival board, her hands in her pockets, smiling as she watched the scene play out before her. She loved the way Booth's eyes lit up when he saw Parker, as if the small child was the source of all Booth's joy and life force. She turned and looked outside, allowing the two some privacy.
She watched as planes took off and landed out on the runway and tried to make herself believe that bringing Parker had been a purely plutonic gesture. A natural reaction to how sad and hollow he'd sounded on the phone. That it had been a logical way to calm her own nerves and also bring a smile to Booth's face. She shook her head silently at the thought that it could be something more.
"Hey Bones." Brennan was startled to find Booth's voice immediately behind her, she was so wrapped up in her thoughts she didn't hear him approach.
"Hi Booth…" She said as she turned around, but stopped when he suddenly grabbed her arms and pulled her into a hug.
She stood stiff for a moment, and then slowly relaxed and wrapped her arms around him. She wasn't sure why they were in this embrace, but as much as she hated to admit it, even to herself, she really liked getting hugs from Booth.
"Thanks." He said softly, pulling away from her, "that's exactly what I needed."
She just shrugged and looked at the ground. "I just thought you'd like to see him after having to miss your weekend together."
Booth nodded appreciatively and turned his attention to his son who was tugging on the bottom of his leather jacket.
"Yeah Bub?" he stroked the child's hair softly.
"Daddy are we gonna get somethin' to eat?" Parker asked hopefully.
Booth opened his mouth to answer but Brennen cut in.
"I'm sorry Parker but I don't think we have time. I told your mom I was just going to bring you with me to the airport and then take you home. I don't want her to be upset."
She immediately regretted her words when she saw a look of disappointment and despair pass over his face, then looking up and seeing the same look mirrored in his father she felt her heart hit the floor.
"But…" She began slowly, chewing on her bottom lip. "I suppose planes get delayed…right?"
Both their faces brightened, causing Brennen to smile in annoyance at how easily Booth men seemed to manipulate her.
"Let me make a quick phone call and then we'll head someplace for a burger. How does that sound?"
"Great!" "Awesome!" Came the excited reply.
Brennen turned away, pulled out her cell phone and dialed Rebecca, trying desperately to ignore the silly looking victory dance father and son were performing behind her.
You know what to do...