The Baby in the Bond
Chapter 12:
"I'm sorry Parker, but that's what you get for getting sent to the principal's office."
"I don't want to stay with a psychologist! He's gonna tell me that's there's a bunch of things wrong with me even though they might not be true but he says them because it's his job!"
"I know!" Brennan replied with a satisfied and devious grin on her face. They were in the FBI elevator on their way to Sweets' office. Brennan chose him as a valid babysitter for her soon-to-be-step-son. They arrived at his office in a matter of seconds after disembarking the elevator. Brennan entered and Sweets didn't immediately acknowledge Parker's presence.
"Dr. Brennan! You don't have an appointment! Why do all of you Jeffersonian people think you can enter my office without a damn appointment?"
"Do you have an appointment right now Dr. Sweets?"
"Well, um, no but uh-"
"Good because it's not for me." Brennan pulled Parker from behind her and he looked at Sweets with fear in his brown eyes similar to his father's. "It's for him."
"This is Booth's kid right?"
"Parker, you remember Dr. Sweets. Sweets, you remember Parker. We've met, we've acquainted, now good-bye."
Brennan started to leave the child psychologist's office as Parker pulled her back in.
"Can't I come stay in your office?"
"Parker, my office is at the Jeffersonian, we're at the FBI building. Why go there when we're already here?"
"Because you're going there right now so why not take me?" Parker replied pointing out the obvious.
"Don't be such a smart guy."
"Wise guy, Dr. Brennan." Sweets interrupted.
"That's what I said. And I also said that you're punished for the incident at school and staying with him is your punishment."
"Should I be insulted that you think of staying with me a reasonable punishment or flattered enough to think you're letting him stay with me without thinking I'll turn him into some kind of freak because I KNOW that's what you're thinking! Don't deny it!"
Brennan had no answer. She just rolled her eyes and started walking out with Parker never releasing his grip on her hand. Finally, his grip subsided and he let her go to work in peace. Sweets pulled Parker back into his large office and sat him down on the soft couch across from where he usually sat. Parker eyed the room. He noticed several degrees and diplomas framed and hanging from the light colored wall. He noticed the computer behind Sweets' head with an FBI screen saver flashing. Parker returned his gaze to Sweets who was staring back in return.
"So I remember asking you this before, but I'll ask it again anyways. Are you my babysitter?"
"I remember my exact answer to your question and I will be willing to answer with the same response I previously had. Parker, that is exactly what I am."
oOo
"Got any threes?"
"Nope, go fish." Sweets had suggested playing cards with the young boy. After the third game they got quite bored but neither of them had any other suggestions, so they continued playing.
"I got a three. I win." Parker didn't sound so enthusiastic about winning.
"What would you like to do now Parker?"
"What do you do when my dad and Bones come?"
"We discuss their partnership and how it affects their personal life, in a manner of speaking, the sublimatingenergy they create between each other caused by compounds in the brain also known as-"
"So you talk about how they're in love?"
"Yes Parker, that is exactly what I do." He translated his psychological lingo into actual words.
It had only been an hour but each minute, it felt like the walls were closing in on them. It was getting crowded and quite frankly, very boring. He had two more hours to go until Brennan picked him up from the cage of doom. Until then, they had to find something they could both do together.
"Do you have any books to read?" Parker was so desperate even reading would suffice.
"As a matter of fact I do!" Sweets went to the dark brown wooden book shelf next to his desk and pulled off a book more mature than Parker should be reading. "I wrote it."
"You wrote it!"
"Yeah, it's about your dad and Dr. Brennan."
"Is it about them being in love?"
"Yes it is. It's about their first case and how that caused them to have feelings for each other."
"I'm reading it!" Parker opened to page one and started reading with his eyes wide open. He couldn't believe how one case with each other would turn into the relationship they have now. Engaged with a baby on the way. It was just amazing to him. The only sound in the room was the crisp turning of pages and both boys' deep breathing.
oOo
Brennan walked into the cold metal elevator of the FBI and tapped her foot against the tiled ground waiting for it to stop at her destination. Suddenly, the large doors spread apart like wings on a bird and opened up to a bright room. There were people sitting in cubicles and sounds of people talking, sipping their coffee, phones ringing, typing, printing and many more. Brennan walked right to Sweets' office and opened the door to see Sweets sitting in his seat watching Parker as he read a book.
"Parker? You ready to go home?"
He didn't even look up. He just waved his hand in a 'fleeing' manner and shushed her.
"Parker, we're leaving. Let's go."
"But Bones, I'm reading!"
Brennan walked over to him and lifted the book a little bit in his hands so she could see the title. Brennan read out loud.
"Bones-The Heart of the Matter written by Lance Sweets. Why are you reading this?"
"Dr. Sweets let me."
Brennan turned to Sweets looking furious. "I leave him alone with you for a few hours and he's already changed? I should've known better!"
"A few hours is enough to change him into a mini-me." Sweets said with a smirk. "Have a nice day."
Brennan pulled Parker out of the room taking the book from his hands.
"But I was only up to chapter 11!"
"And chapter 11 is the chapter you will stay on until further noticed."
They drove home to their apartment and Brennan started making mac-and-cheese for him to eat for dinner. As she was mixing the pasta in the boiling hot pot, Parker sat at the table resting his chin on his hand.
"That was a really good book. Lance seems to know a lot about you."
"That's because he sticks his nose where it doesn't belong and then writes a bestseller on it. He's just lucky it didn't beat my book on the bestseller's list."
"No seriously, he knows a lot about you. He says that you're stubborn, you don't like sharing memories from your childhood, you don't like to open up and a lot more."
Brennan stood there a moment wondering, still stirring up the pasta until it was limp enough to drain. Was she really that self-conscious? Is Booth really the only one she opens up to? No, it couldn't be true she thought.
"What he says is not true. He's a psychologist and psychology has been misdirected to be proven meaningless."
"Oh yeah? Then tell me a story about your childhood." Gotcha. Parker had caught her in a trap. She decided she would tell the story she told Booth and Sweets when she discovered he had scars on his back. She told it exactly the way she told them.
"My foster parents locked me in the trunk of a car for two days when I broke a dish. I was a very clumsy child. They told me it would happen but the water was so hot and the soap was so slippery. I still don't think it was fair even though they gave me fair warning. The water was so hot." She started to tear up.
Parker even started tearing up seeing the sadness from many years ago unfold in her eyes.
"That's so mean! For two days, no food or water or even light?"
"Yes." Was all she could get out without bursting into tears.
"I'm so sorry, Bones. I didn't know. You didn't have to share with me if it was that sad. No wonder you don't tell people anything. What they did to you was horrible and you'll never have to go through it again because you'll always have me and dad to protect you.
"Thank you Parker." She pulled him in for a hug letting her tears seep through his blond curls. Booth walked in to see his girlfriend crying and his son hugging her trying to comfort her.
"Hey guys, something smells good! I wonder if- what the heck happened?"
"Bones had a tough childhood and she's upset."
"I'm ok! Really, I'm ok."
Booth came over and took the love of his life in his arms and hugged her.
"I know it's hard, I know you had a tough past but we're all going to have an amazing future."
"I know, because I'll have you."
Booth pulled her in for a passionate kiss forgetting that his son was watching the whole time.
"I'll leave you two lovebirds alone. Call me when dinner's ready." Parker said smirking. He walked to his room to give his parents some privacy. Brennan pulled away from Booth with her arms still hung around his neck.
"Lovebirds? Where does he learn these things, Bones?"
"I left him with Sweets today. Does that answer your question?"
"Enough said. But why?"
"That was his punishment for causing a fight at school."
Booth couldn't believe his ears. His eyes widened and his mouth dropped as low as it could go. He knew his son had gotten sent to the principal's office but he did not know the reason why. Now that he heard it, he could not believe his ears.
"He started a fight? Parker? My son?"
"He was happy about the baby and he was telling his friends about it when this bully came up to him and started making fun of him about it. Then he started making fun of me and Parker threw a punch. He stood up for what he believes in. He did it to protect me. Although he didn't handle it in the best way, you should be proud of him. He is an exceptional child, Booth. The only reason I brought him to Sweets' office for the day was to give him some sort of punishment for handling his situation the wrong way. I felt there had to be some sort of consequence for punching."
"You're motherly instincts are already kicking in." Booth pointed out with his charming grin. "I like it."
"I love you Booth."
"I love you too Bones."
They both leaned in touching noses and came a little bit further and interlocked their lips together. It lasted so long that they forgot to tell Parker that dinner was ready.