This chap is kind of short...but I rather like it.

Booth took another long sip of his beer, but left his burger mostly untouched. He ignored the looks of concern he was getting from his partner and tried to pay attention to what his son was telling him about school that week.

"And then we also learned the names of all the months and seasons and days of the week. And Ms. Brown says that next week she's going to start teaching us to read books! Real Books! We get to go to the library and everything!" Parker bounced happily in his seat next to Brennan and grinned.

"Do you like to read Parker?" Brennan questioned, stealing a fry from Booth's plate, just to let him know that she wasn't giving him special treatment even thought he was acting strange.

"He's four and a half Bones," He swatted her hand away, "he can't read, he likes to be read to."

"Oh," Brennan's cheeks colored up a bit, and Booth smiled gently, realizing he'd embarrassed her.

"But thank you for thinking my son's so smart." His version of an apology, which Brennan chose to accept.

"Well he is smart, though I'm sure he gets that from his mother." Brennan smirked and Booth pretended to look hurt, before reaching across the table and stealing on of her onion rings.

"Hey!"

"Hey yourself. Turnabout's fair play." He grinned.

They continued to eat for a few moments before Parker's head suddenly shot up, flipping blonde curls out of his eyes, that immediately fell back into them. "Elmo?"

"Yes Parker?"

"Do you and Daddy have sleepovers? Like Mommy and Drew?" He studied his reflection in his spoon, completely ignorant of how much Brennan suddenly looked like Elmo as her face turned bright red.

Booth on the other hand was choking on a bite of burger, he wasn't sure he'd heard right. He used his beer to wash the meat down his throat and stared at his son.

"Excuse me?"

Parker looked up, surprised by the tense tone in his father's voice. He glanced at Brennen on his right who had suddenly found something very interesting to look at outside.

"I asked if you and Elmo have sleepovers because…"

"Stop that right now." This time both Brennan and Parker looked at him, shocked at the harshness in Booth's voice. "Why don't you head out to the car, I'll meet you in a minute."

Parker's eyes got shiny and his chin shook ever so slightly, but he didn't move.

"But Daddy…" He started, his voice two octaves higher than normal.

"Now." Booth cut him off and gave him a 'don't try me' glare.

Brennan saw that the child was about to break and laid a reassuring hand on his shoulder.

"Go Parker, I'll be out in a minute." She said softly. Parker glanced at her and nodded, rising slowly from his seat and heading for the door.

"What's the matter with you?" She hissed as soon as Parker was out of earshot.

"Nothing! He was being…"

"He was being a child, nothing more. You snapped at him for no reason Booth." She gathered her napkin angrily and threw it on her plate.

"Don't stick your nose into things you don't understand Brennan." Booth muttered as he began to rise from his seat, staring so intently at the table that he didn't see the hurt pass over her face before her frown rebuilt itself.

She stood quickly and pushed his shoulder so he sat back down abruptly.

"You're right I don't understand." She turned and started toward the door.

"Where are you going?"

She whipped around to smack him with an icy glare. "I'm taking Parker home. You are staying here and we are going to talk when I get back."

Booth glared at her back as he watched her walk outside and meet Parker by the car, who was sitting on the curb with his head hung low.

Just like at the airport he watched them interact. Only this time he couldn't see Brennen but he could see Parker. His son shook his head at a couple things Brennen asked him and then looked up at her. Booth caught his breath.

His son's cheeks were tearstained and his eye's red and puffy.

I made him cry? Booth thought in disbelief. Suddenly he wanted desperatly to run outside, clutch Parker with his arms, and beg his small son for forgiveness. He never meant to hurt him.

But his legs wouldn't move, they were cemented to the floor, and he could only watch as Brennen bent over and picked Parker up, carrying him to her car as he rested his head on her shoulder.

Neither of them looked back.

Booth felt his heart being crushed under it's own weight.

So obviously the stress is getting to our guy...how much more of this can he take?