CHAPTER 12

The return flight to D.C. was long and anxiety ridden for Seeley Booth. Many a times he had managed to sit for hours awaiting a target, with patience that matched those of a Saint, but today was different. He knew what he had to do when he returned home and it brought out every ounce of anxiety he had in him. He was sad they had to leave Aruba, the island they came to love. Tempe and Danique exchanged numbers and agreed to get together in the near future. Parker wasn't happy he had to say goodbye to Josh but was excited to be going back on an airplane.

Rosa and Walter were going to try a long distance relationship which Seeley thought was cool but first he would secretly check out the guy to make sure he was on the up and up despite the fact that his son was a lieutenant in the NYC police department.

Rosa's house was the first stop. Seeley got out and helped her with her bags and as she waved to Tempe and Parker, she quietly reminded Seeley of what he needed to do. He smiled in acknowledgement, gave her a kiss on the cheek and said he would see her Monday.

It was Saturday so they would all have a night and day to recuperate from their vacation and Rebecca would pick Parker up before dinner Sunday.

"Home sweet home," Tempe announced as they all dropped their bags on the living room floor. "We can deal with these tomorrow."

"OK," Seeley said as he plopped down on the couch and Parker right beside him.

"Daddy, I'm hungry."
Tempe and Seeley agreed in unison.

"Can we go see Sid for some cheese noodles, daddy?"

Without needing to think about it, Seeley tossed Parker the car keys and said, "Sure, you driving?"

"Daddy, I can reach the pedals, remember?"

"Oh yeah, I better drive then."

"Better yet, I will drive," claimed Tempe as she scooped the keys out of Parker's hands and opened the door for them.

Later on that evening they all showered and changed into warm clothes. It felt strange after being in shorts, t-shirts and bathing suits all week but welcomed the familiarness of their home and beds.

"He's asleep," Seeley whispered as he came out of Parker's room and met Tempe in the hall.

"I'm not tired," she whispered back.

They crawled into bed and slowly undressed each other, savouring each movement.

"It has been four days Seeley", Tempe uttered.

"Uh huh, four days," he said, as he caressed her shoulder with his mouth.

"Do that thing you did at the lighthouse," Tempe requested as they both simultaneously turned to meet each other's mouths.

While his tongue was playing with hers and his fingers moved with momentum in and outside of her, he softly whispered, "This".

A gasping moan escaped her mouth into his causing his protruding tongue to retract.
"Yeah, that," she managed to get out between moans and gasps for air.

Seeley was awake before Tempe and Parker the next morning, which surprised him as it was 8:32 am and usually Parker has been up for at least an hour by now. He quietly made his way to the kitchen, started a pot of coffee and looked around for the ingredients to make pancakes. Tempe woke and noticed Seeley not beside her so she went downstairs to find him unpacking the suitcases.

"Good Morning" she said as she gave him a kiss and hug.

"Good morning."

"Everything needs to be washed AND de-sanded," he said as he turned Parker's shorts up side down, pulled out the pockets and watch a mound of sand fall into the suitcase.

"Parker must be exhausted, he is still asleep." Tempe mentioned as she made her way into the kitchen to get some coffee trying to ignore the three suitcases lying on the floor.

"Yeah, yesterday was a long day, but I'm sure once he wakes up he will be bouncing around in no time," Seeley said with a smile and twinkle in his eyes.

"I checked messages and Rebecca said she would be here by 4:00 pm."

"OK, I need to go to the lab for a few hours to get caught up, but I will be back by then. But first we have to get those suitcases un-packed and off the floor, it is really bothering me," Tempe announced as Parker made an appearance in the doorway.

"Morning daddy," he said, still showing signs of sleepiness.

"Good morning buddy", and he scooped him up and held him in his arms. He was growing up so fast that he knew one day he would be too big for this or even worse: He would SAY he didn't want to be scooped up anymore.

They ate breakfast, tackled the suitcases, started the first of too many loads of laundry, got Parker's things ready for when he mom came to pick him up. Tempe and Seeley moved in slow motion while Parker bounced around helping do this and that.

Rebecca arrived at 4:00pm and although he had done this a few times already, Seeley found it difficult to say goodbye to his son and Tempe noticed it when his voice became hoarse and his eyes started to well with tears. He tried to keep his emotions hidden but this was his son. Parker and Rebecca waved and drove off down the road.

"Please tell me it will get easier," he asked as he closed the door and sat on the couch and then buried his hands in his face.

Tempe sat down beside him and put her arm around him and at that moment, he could no longer hold back the tears. He turned and put his face into her chest and let them flow.
Somehow, it had been easier to say good-bye when he saw his son every other weekend.

Tempe didn't know what to say as she had never been in this type of situation so she just held him tight letting her tears flow onto the back of his shirt. She did not like saying goodbye either. The majority of her sadness came from seeing the man she loved in so much pain, and not being able to do a single thing about it.

Thirty minutes went by and slowly Seeley raised his head from the warmth of Tempe's chest. He had never been one to show his emotions in front of other people but with Tempe, he could show any emotion and knew she would not hesitate to help him through them.

"How about some steaks on the BBQ for dinner?" he asked as he stood up and ran his hands through his hair.

"With baked potatoes and sour cream and those carrots you do on the BBQ?"

"I will get started", and he strode into the kitchen.

Tempe knew he didn't expect her to say anything about the last thirty minutes but she felt she needed to I order to help him move on for the week. She followed him onto the deck and wrapped her arms around his waist as he stood waiting for the BBQ to heat up. She spun him around and their eyes met.

"I miss him too."

He knew what she was trying to do and deep down he appreciated it. "Thank you Temperance." He only used her full name when he wanted to say something but was not sure what words to use.

"You're welcome Seeley", and she gave him a soft kiss using just her lips.

Monday morning was early as they both needed to catch up on the past week's work waiting for them.

"I have a few errands to do after work," he said as he kissed her goodbye. I will call you about dinner."

As he drove towards the Hoover Building, he called Angela.

"Hi Angela, it's Booth."

"How was your trip?"

"Great but good to be back home. Listen, I need your help. Can you meet me at 10th and Belamy, in the Starbucks after work, say 6 pm?"

"Sure, I will be there. You have peaked my curiosity Agent Booth."