Thanks so much for your wonderful reviews! This chapter was really fun to write, and to think, it took me forever to figure out what to write about… enjoy!
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"Good Morning Washington! Today on our program we are joined by forensic anthropologist and best selling author: Dr. Temperance Brennan; along with her partner from the FBI Special Agent Seeley Booth…" The happy peppy young blond woman whose name Brennan had already forgotten went on and on. She smiled a little at the camera; wondering what Booth was thinking behind his similarly fake grin.
"…and before we get to that…" Geeze, this woman had yet to breathe in her marathon speech. Bored and slightly nervous about being on TV for the first time, Booth looked over at his partner, whose plastic smile almost made him smile for real.
"…so here's Douglas with your weather forecast for the rest of the week." She finally took a breath. And then started in on the two of them.
"Dr. Brennan before we go back on air I'd just like to tell you that I'm one of your biggest fans Kathy Reichs is my favorite book character, like, ever and Agent Booth totally feel free to answer any questions that you'd like the interview isn't just for Dr. Brennan's book it's an awesome opportunity to spread goodwill from the FBI Of course if you feel more comfortable not answering any that's totally fine too."
Booth and Brennan both nodded at their enthusiastic interviewer, and then exchanged looks of incredulity, wondering how on earth she managed to get all those words out of her mouth in one breath. Brennan shrugged and picked up the Channel 5 mug from the table in front of her; marveling that it was, indeed, empty. Booth met her eyes and grinned, knowing exactly what she was thinking. His grin made her want to laugh, but before she could, a loud voice came from behind the cameras and blinding spotlights. "Thirty Seconds Charlotte!"
That was her name! Brennan repeated it a few times so she wouldn't forget. How did I get roped into another one of these silly interviews? My publicist is much too persuasive and manipulative. I'm no good at this. The red lights on the cameras flashed twice and remained steady as 'Charlotte Collins D.C. Channel 5' took another monumental breath in. Here we go again.
"Welcome Back Washington! Hope the weather was in your favor! Now, on to our special interview for the morning."
She turned to the partners and flashed a giant white smile.
"Good morning Dr. Brennan, Agent Booth. I'm so glad you could join us today."
Booth went into sappy 'talking to criminal's wives' voice. "It's our pleasure Charlotte. We're so happy to have this opportunity. And we just love your show." Brennan had to control her impulse to laugh, because only she knew what his voice actually meant.
"Well thanks Agent Booth! Now Dr. Brennan, can you tell us what exactly a forensic anthropologist does?"
Brennan obliged, happy that the question was straightforward. Booth watched her face as she talked about the job she loved. Her whole demeanor changed when she talked about the Jeffersonian and her work with him; her face light up with the passion she usually held so deep inside. When she had finished a short outline of her basic duties and her qualifications, she waited for the second question with bated breath, wondering if it would be so easy as the first. The woman picked up a pile of index cards, and Brennan shot Booth a sly grin, still trying not to laugh. He only smiled.
"So Dr. Brennan…" 'Charlotte Collins D.C. Channel 5' said consulting an index card with various questions on it; "…what person would you say has had the biggest impact on your career?"
She couldn't stand it anymore. Brennan burst out laughing and Booth began to chuckle, leaving their interviewer slightly bewildered. "What's so funny?"
The partners traded grins and Booth tried to explain. "Well you see…
…(14 Hours earlier)…
Bang! Bang! BangBangBang! Brennan knocked on his door furiously, praying to God (If she believed in him) that Booth was home. After the first string of knocks she waited a second, then went to begin another but her fist collided with another solid object, producing a muffled 'thump' instead of a loud echoing crack.
"Trying to break down my door, then beating me up when I open it eh? Is that any way to treat your partner?"
"I didn't mean to hit your chest Booth, you opened the door just as…"
He interrupted her with a smile. "Joke, Bones. That was a joke. So what's up?"
She nervously squirmed a little before answering him all in a rush. "My publicist is making me do another TV interview tomorrow morning, and I know that I'm no good at them so I was wondering if you maybe had any advice or could maybe, you know, …rehearse with me?" She shut her eyes tightly; anticipating the inevitable laugher, but it never came. She opened one eye slowly, and seeing nothing like laughter in his expression, she opened the other.
"Sure Bones. I'd love to help."
"Really? Thanks!"
He opened the door widely, allowing her to step in. "Course."
She walked over and sat down on his couch anxiously fingering the strings on the end of her red scarf. Booth noticed her apprehension and realized that he'd never seen that side of her.
"Bones, I don't think I've ever seen you nervous about anything." He said crossing the room and standing in front of her.
"That's because you never see me doing anything that I'm not good at. Everyone gets nervous, it just depends on what they're doing."
"Alright, let's get down to it then. What makes you nervous about interviews?"
"I don't like the personal questions that they ask, I find them hard to answer on the spot like that. And I always say the wrong thing, making me sound like a moron."
His face softened a bit as he reassured her. "You're not a moron."
She smiled up at him a cloud still hanging in her expression. "I know that. But I can still sound like one from time to time."
"So you don't like answering the questions…hmmm…" he paused for a minute tapping his chin thoughtfully and then sprung into action. He bounded across the room and pushed an armchair up next to the sofa, and then went to the kitchen and brought back two empty mugs and some blank index cards, placing the mugs on the coffee table in front of them. He sat down in the armchair with the cards held in front of him. She gave him a bewildered look.
"What are you doing?"
"You said you didn't like answering the questions, so I'm going to ask you some common interview questions, and you can get answers ready for the real thing."
"Ok. But what is with moving the armchair, the mugs and the index cards?"
He chuckled " I'm setting the scene for ya Bones, these…" He explained motioning to the objects, "…are all essential TV interview things. The interviewer usually sits in a big armchair, and asks questions from index cards. And there are always random mugs on the coffee table."
"But there's nothing in the mugs."
"There never is."
"But that's ridiculous."
"Yup. You'll see tomorrow."
She raised her eyebrows, unconvinced but interested. "So ask me a question already."
Booth sat back and thought for a minute. Then, in his best interviewer voice, sounding a bit like Julia Child on meth, he asked his first question.
"Sooo Doc-tor Brrrrennan, what person would you say has had the biggest impact on your career?"
Her eyebrows went even farther up and her eyes lit up in amusement before she thought about his question and answered him seriously.
"Aristotle."
It was Booth's turn to raise his eyebrows. The drugged Julia Child voice disappeared as he repeated her.
"Aristotle?"
"Aristotle." She deadpanned in reply.
"Oook. Not exactly what we were going for. But first of all Bones, when you are on TV you've gotta expand a little on your answers, throw in a funny story or an explanation of why you answered like that. And second of all, Aristotle!?"
"I said Aristotle because he's the father of logic, and I use logic every day in my work. He's also been my favorite scientist since I was twelve, and mostly the reason I liked science class so much. Without Aristotle, I probably wouldn't be a forensic anthropologist. I'd say that's impactful. Wouldn't you?
"Yea… but it can't be a dead person Bones."
"Why not? You yourself said that most of my relationships are with dead people."
He immediately regretted ever saying that to her. "I did say that." He explained more gently; "But what this question is asking is a little different from what it sounds like. What the interviewer is fishing for is an inspirational story of the person who you base your life around: the person who keeps you going, and searching for answers. Someone like your best friend, one of your parents or something like that."
She contemplated this concept for a moment and then met his eyes with a grave stare.
"But that's you Booth."
"Me?"
"You. You're the person who keeps me going and looking for the evidence. I want to solve the murders for the victims of course, but it's also for you. You got me out of the lab and always push me to figure out what I don't know about the world. Sometimes I want to prove you wrong, and sometimes I have to prove you right. I can always come to you to argue or for help. You've helped make me who I am, Booth, but you're better than a best friend or a parent. You're my partner."
"And you're mine."
They shared a smile for a few moments longer until Booth spoke up in classic alpha-male fashion.
"And as your partner, I'm supposed to be here for you, so I guess I'll just have to be there for you too."
"Where for me?"
"At the interview. I can provide moral support, and field any questions that catch you off guard."
"Seriously?"
"Yea."
With that one word, he suddenly found himself in her arms. She hugged him tightly, so grateful to have such a good friend in Seeley Booth. He gave her a squeeze back and then let go.
"So you're gonna let me come without a fight?"
Her mouth quirked to the side for a minute before she responded; "On one condition." She began seriously, and then grinned as she filled him in on the terms. "You never ever use that creepy voice again."
"Done. And I'll come with you on one condition." He said giving her a charm smile.
"Ok. What is it?"
"That we go get some pie right now. I'm starved."
She gave him a look of reproving disbelief and stood up. "Sure Booth. We can go get some pie, as long as you keep interviewing me."
He followed her out the door locking it behind him, and then walked beside her into the elevator. He looked over at her as she pressed the 'L' button and just before the doors slid closed he shook his head and asked again, his voice more sarcastic than querying.
"Aristotle?"
She shot him an evil look.
"Shut up."
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Hehe. My Christmas wish is that you would review… and you wouldn't want to deny me my Christmas wish, now would you?
And if you didn't already, or you want to again, you can vote on your favorite few chapters to be included in a Christmas present for my cousins… everyone seems to agree on Lunate, Cerulean and Burgundy…
