Chapter 17. The Santa in the Slush.
A few days before Christmas. Brennan was visiting her father in jail.
"Jails not too bad. I get meals with your brother. We go out on these work details together. …You haven't asked me why I'm strapped in these chains."
"Well, you're in jail."
"No. I'm in dress rehearsal for A Christmas Carol."
"You're Jacob Marley?" Brennan said smiling.
"I wanted to be Scrooge, but some triple homicide in cell block H got the part. You don't want to know how." Brennan laughed. "What are you gonna do for Christmas?"
"I'm doing what I always do. I'm going on a trip."
"New York?" he asked curiously.
"Peru. National Geographic found a new step pyramid, an ancient ceremonial site known as El Bruho. 1500 year old skeletons. Part of a very mysterious culture called The Moche." She informed him.
"Well, unless they're elves, that's not very Christmas-y."
"No. They aren't elves." She said shaking her head.
"You know what I'd like? I'd like to spend another Christmas with my kids. With a family, with a tree."
"You're in jail, dad. So is Russ. Mom's dead." She said pointing out the flaw in his plan.
"Yeah. Yeah. And … and Christmas is overrated anyway. People expect it to be so perfect, it never is." He said growing depressed.
"I'm really looking forward to the skeletons in El Bruho."
"Yeah, but Christmas and skeletons … they do not go together." He said shaking his head.
"I remember the Christmas you and mom gave me the toolbox. That was great." She said smiling.
"Yeah. Except that the toolbox was for Russ but you decided that it was yours and he let you have it."
"He did? Oh." They laugh as Brennan's phone beeped, and she checked her text messages.
"I hope someday that, uh, we can all have Christmas together again." Max said knowing she was going to have to leave.
"I doubt it, Dad." She said shaking her head.
"Well, lie to me! I – I can pretend. Can't I?"
"I've gotta go look at a dead person." She said standing.
"Well, you never were good at sugar coating anything." Max said shrugging.
"I'll see you later dad." She said kissing him on the cheek and leaving.
A half hour later. They were headed to the crime scene.
"You got that sad little girl look on your face after you've been with your dad."
"No I don't..." she whined and Booth gave her a knowing look. "He wishes we could spend Christmas together with Russ." She said giving in and telling him the truth.
"Well, do it." Booth said simply.
"They're both in jail. It's impossible. What are your plans?" she asked hoping he was having a better holiday than her.
"I'm thinking about driving the truck right off the bridge." He nodded getting a dirty look. "I'm being melodramatic and self pitying." He sighed.
"You love Christmas." She said smiling.
"I love it – you know – when I have Parker. But this year he's going skiing in Vermont with Rebecca and Captain Fantastic." He sneered.
"Who's Captain Fantastic?"
"…it's Rebecca's boyfriend. Commands a Coastguard cutter."
"His last name isn't literally 'Fantastic', is it?" she asked genuinely curious.
"Might as well be. …You know they have a trailer at the jail, mostly for conjugal visits… You can give your dad what he wants for Christmas. Pull a few strings set it up for Christmas."
"I'm not a string puller." She shook her head looking out the window.
"I've seen you pull some strings."
"My father is a murder and a thief." She pointed out. "besides I have other plans."
"Well, whatever they are, skeletons and Christmas do not mix."
"…That's exactly what my father said. Where are we going?" she asked changing the subject.
"Early Christmas present for you, Bones. Dead guy in a sewer." He said turning into the mall.
The next evening Brennan went to the prison to talk to Russ about the Christmas plans.
"Dad wants to spend Christmas with family." Brennan said as he sat down.
"So how you gonna arrange it? Bust me and dad out?" he shot sarcastically.
"There are trailers for conjugal visits … you might be able to use one of those. And I talked to Amy and she said she could bring the girls down to see you." Brennan suggested.
Russ leans back, upset with is sister. "You shouldn't have done that."
"Amy said the girls have been asking about you..." Brennan said honestly.
"I lied to them, Tempe. The girls don't even know I'm in here. They think I went overseas to work."
"You're deserting them, just like dad." She accused.
"You think it would be better for them to find out that the guy they think is so wonderful, is actually a criminal?" he asked angrily.
"When I found out that dad was not dead I was happy, even though it turned out that he was –"
"A murderer." Russ said finishing her sentence.
"You're not a murderer, Russ." She reminded him.
"It doesn't sound like a good Christmas present to me." He said shaking his head.
"You could explain it-"
"No, Tempe. It's not gonna happen." He said refusing.
Brennan stands and leaves.
Brennan enters her office to find Booth asleep on her couch.
"Can't you sleep on your own couch?" she asked annoyed.
"Sheesh. Just waiting for the squints to find out something." He sat up seeing the look on her face. "it didn't go well with Russ?" he guessed.
"He says he doesn't want the girls to come." She said sitting on the edge of her desk.
"Your dad, he wants the whole Christmas package. You know - the tree, the kids, the presents – the whole shebang."
"the whole shebang isn't possible." She said crossing her arms, hopelessly.
"Christmas – is about making the impossible happen." Booth said smiling.
"You mean like you spending Christmas with Parker." She asked raising an eyebrow.
"Okay, you know what? That hurt. Wake me up when the squint squad finds out something." He said laying back down and facing the back of the couch.
Brennan sighed. "I'm sorry you can't be with Parker, Booth." She said honestly sorry for the comment.
"What are ya gonna do, right? He's gotta face the facts sometimes—"
"doesn't matter she shouldn't take him away. Not at Christmas. Not the way he feels about you." Brennan said shaking her head. "It's not right."
"thanks Bones" he said accepting her apology.
The next morning Booth and Brennan are on their way back to the FBI.
Brennan looked over to Booth seeing the look on his face. "…thinking of Parker?"
"No. …Thinking about your dad?" he asked looking at her.
"No. Russ." She sighed.
"Well, you can't blame him for not wanting those girls to know the truth." Booth said honestly.
"He's living a lie. You'd never do that."
"Well, not never. I mean, I – I lie to Parker – especially this time of year."
"What about?" she asked curiously.
"You know, I tell him that Santa's coming"
"The Santa myth is based on blackmail… Be good or you won't get any presents."
"It's not a LIE-lie, Bones. It's more like everybody agreeing that up to a certain age, kids deserve to live a different kind of truth." He rationalized.
"Okay, by that reasoning, what we should do is figure out a lie Russ could tell the girls so they wouldn't know he's in jail." Brennan scoffed.
"That is a brilliant Christmas idea." Booth said smiling.
"It was intended to be a scathing and incisive comment." She said rolling her eyes.
"Look we give Russ civvies and the girls think he's flown in specially to visit his father in jail at Christmas. It's perfect." He explained simply.
"Where would you say he's been?" she asked trying to find a flaw in his plan.
"Building a bridge in …Addis Ababa." He said shrugging.
"Addis Ababa is the land locked capital of Ethiopia." Brennan pointed out smiling.
"Fine, Bones. You know what? Just make up your own lie." He said giving up.
"I don't believe in lying to children." She said being difficult.
"You just want to go to Peru without feeling guilty" he accused.
"You need to accept that you won't have Parker this Christmas." She shot back offended.
"I'm not enjoying this holiday season, at all."
"Yeah, well, neither am I." she sighed.
They were silent for a long moment.
"And if you don't mind, I have a meeting with Caroline Julian at your office in ten minutes."
"Is this about the trailer for your dad's Christmas?"
"You think she'll help?" she asked hopefully.
"Well, you know. Caroline's a lawyer, she'll help but she'll ask you to do something in return." He said turning into the parking lot.
"That's fair." She said with a nod.
"Yeah… hold that thought." He said getting out.
15 minutes later Brennan and Caroline are in the kitchen area talking as she makes a cup of coffee.
"I thought you were going to Brazil for Christmas." She asked pouring the coffee.
"Peru." Brennan corrected.
'Whatever. South of the equator. Doin' bone things with bone people." She said as they start towards the elevator.
"I checked with the jail and for my father to get the conjugal trailer, the prosecutor in charge of his case has to submit a written recommendation." She said getting to the point.
"Uh, huh." she said taking a sip then heading back to the kitchen area.
"You're the prosecutor in charge of his case."
"I'm aware of that. Thank you, Dr. Brennan." She said rolling her eyes and adding some more sugar.
"So, will you?" Brennan asked hopeful.
"You going to Brazil and all, what's the use of Max being in that conjugal trailer all by himself?" She said as they headed back towards the kitchen area.
"I'm trying to persuade my brother to celebrate Christmas with his family in there too." Brennan explained.
"A Yule tide gathering of the Brennan criminal element." She sighed. "…What do you mean, 'trying'." She asked turning back to her.
"Russ doesn't want his step-daughters to know that he's in jail."
"How do you persuade them otherwise if they're actually having Christmas in the jail." Caroline pointed out. She said taking another sip and heading back once more.
"One other thing. The Warden says no Christmas Tree."
'That's right. Three years ago, somebody made a shiv out of the star. Now no trees or ornaments of any kind." She said putting the coffee in the microwave.
"Isn't that a little… dreary."
"Hey. Don't kill people, don't get sent to prison, have a Christmas pageant in your own home every year." She said as they walked back to the elevator once more.
"So, will you?"
"I will." She said taking another sip of the coffee.
"You will? Thank you." Brennan said smiling.
"On one condition."
"Booth said you'd say that." Brennan said her face falling.
"Did he say I'd ask you to kiss him?" Caroline asked eyebrows raised.
Brennan laughs thinking she's kidding. "No." she's not. "What? Are you?"
"No cheeks. No noses. Right on the lips." She confirmed.
"People kiss people on the nose?" Brennan asked confused.
"I want you to kiss him - under some mistletoe." She continued.
"You want me to kiss Booth?" she asked surprised a knot forming in the pit of her stomach.
"That's right, Cherie." She said smiling evilly.
"Why?"
"Because it will amuse me." She said honestly.
"Why?" Brennan asked growing more confused with each passing moment.
"Because you're all 'Dr. Brennan' and 'Special Agent Seeley Booth' and it's Christmas and I have a puckish side that will not be denied."
"Puckish?" Brennan said surprised.
"What's the matter? You don't think I can be puckish?"
"Well, …I never thought about it until now."
"You want me to write that letter, you kiss Booth, on the lips, for no less than…five steamboats."
"That's blackmail." Brennan said her stomach doing flips.
"That's correct."
"That's unethical."
"That's the deal, take it or leave it."
"What about a tree?"
"No Christmas tree. No way. Not even if you squeeze his buttocks."Caroline said serious on that issue.
Brennan pushes the elevator button. "Well, I don't know. Can't I just …take you out to dinner sometime?" she asked hopefully.
"You kiss Seeley Booth, on the lips, and I'll make sure your daddy has his dream Christmas, no tree mind you, but otherwise as good as an accused murder can expect." She promised taking another sip of coffee and making a face and hands it to Brennan before getting into the elevator, Leaving Brennan to contemplate her offer.
4:30 pm. Brennan stands on a chair and attaches the mistletoe to the ceiling when Booth walked in.
"...What's up with the mistletoe?" he asked curiously.
Brennan sighed hopping off the chair. "I was going to tell you earlier but…you were busy so... Caroline wants us to kiss under the mistletoe."
"What?!" he laughed surprised.
"It's the only way she'll make Christmas for my family." Brennan admitted.
"Why? That doesn't make any sense."
Brennan shrugged. "I don't know she said she was feeling puckish and thought it would be entertaining because we're always so professional."
Booth laughed. "…that's the reason we're professional." Booth pointed out.
"I know. But she said it's the only way she'll do it for us and I owe you a big favor for this." Brennan promised.
Booth smiled. "Of course I'll help you Bones. I mean one little kiss can't hurt it'll be just like old times."
'…that's what I'm afraid of.' Brennan thought to herself unwrapping a piece of gum. "Want one?"
He shook his head. "I'm good thanks."
"Good because here she comes." Brennan said mentally preparing herself.
Caroline walks in with a smile. "Congratulations. I hear you have a suspect in the Santa slaying."
"Yeah. Well, it looks like the Easter Bunny has nothing to worry about." Booth joked.
'Did you talk to the judge about the trailer?" Brennan asked getting straight to business.
"Yes, I did. What about… your end?" she asked eying Booth and Brennan points at the mistletoe above their heads. "Well, look at that. Mistletoe." She said smiling as Booth began to protest. "You take a step to your right and you'll be right under the cute little sprig." She said nudging him back.
"…but…" he looked at Brennan trying to calm the butterflies in his stomach.
Caroline watches them and raises an eyebrow, waiting for Brennan to follow through on her end of the deal. They slowly step in closer to each other and Brennan leans in kissing him slowly. She picks up speed as the memories flood back and the familiar action causes her to react. Her lips part and as he begins to pull away she grabs his lapels and pulls him closer. Caroline continues watching, stunned at the unexpected passion of the kiss.
Brennan finally realized what had happened and pulled away trying to regain her composure. "Was that enough steamboats?" she asked Caroline.
"Plenty. A whole flotilla." She said flabbergasted.
"I don't know what that means, but, um, Merry Christmas." Booth said with a sheepish smile.
"It was like – kissing my brother." Brennan said awkwardly.
"You sure must like your brother."
"She does." Booth nodded.
"I do." She agreed.
"She does."
"…The trailers all arranged. You're good to go, Cherie. Merry Christmas." she leaves, still flabbergasted.
Booth and Brennan stand there a minute unable to look at each other knowing what the consequences would be.
"….that was more than I expected." Brennan said looking at her feet.
Booth nodded. "Me too."
"It was good though." Brennan said sneaking a look at him.
"yeah." He nodded with a deep breath. "…oh yeah." He looked up meeting her gaze. "Well, I, um, I really should y'know get back and – see if, uh, the forensic guy has got – anything yet on Moussa's clothes-" Booth said awkwardly.
"That's a good idea. Yeah, I got – stuff – to do too. Yeah." Brennan said walking over to her desk.
"Yeah."
"y'know… with bones… and stuff." She said her head swimming.
"I – I understand completely." Booth said with a nod chewing his gum but stopping after a moment, realizing it wasn't his. "…thanks for the gum." He said awkwardly and leaves.
6:30 pm. The royal diner. Booth and Brennan sit across from Sweets at their usual table.
"What's up with the hat Sweets?" Booth asked curiously gesturing to the elf hat with huge ears he was wearing.
"nothing." He said changing the subject. "… I don't understand why I'm here. Has there been some kind of crisis?"
"Yes. I have a crisis." Brennan said with a nod.
"Bones, it was just mistletoe." Booth said touchy on the subject.
"Not the kiss. That was nothing." She lied in a half whisper to Booth.
"You kissed?" Sweets asked surprised.
"It was Mistletoe." Booth clarified with a look.
"That's not the crisis." Brennan shook her head.
"Was there tongue?" Sweets asked more concerned with the kiss.
"Alright, you know what? Get your own sex life, alright Sweets." Booth said warningly.
"Well, that has nothing to do with sex." Brennan said seriously.
"Nothing." Booth agreed.
"No."
"There was no se- it was - mistletoe." He said looking back and forth between Brennan and Sweets.
"Totally sex less." Brennan nodded.
"I'm all ears." Sweets said ready to hear Brennan's problem. Getting a dirty look from the both of them.
That night. Booth's office
"Okay, buddy, here's the deal we get to spend Christmas day together, then I gotta take you to Vermont. Understand?" he asked helping Parker into his coat.
"Okay." He nodded. "Will you miss Africa?"
"Africa? …No. I rather spend time with you." He said giving Parker a hug.
"Do we got a tree?" he asked smiling.
"We got two trees!"
"Two trees?" he asked excited.
"Two!" he said smiling and they bump fists.
"Why?" Parker asked curiously.
"Come on. I'll show you." He said taking parkers hand and they walk out.
Meanwhile. Brennan is with her father with Russ Amy, and the girls. Watching as they open their presents.
"Here" Max said sitting next to her on the couch. "I want you to try this, honey." He said handing her a cup.
"Are they having fun?" she asked nodding towards the kids.
"What are you talking about? Of course they are. And by the way, this is the best Christmas that I've had in sixteen years." He said smiling.
"Me too." She said smiling back.
Brennan's phone rings and she takes a sip from the cup as she answers it.
"Oh my god." She said disgusted and making a face.
"What's wrong?" Booth asked semi worried.
"What is this?" she asked looking at her father.
"Just a little good cheer I made under the mattress." He said smiling.
"ugh." She said then focused on the call. "Booth?"
"Bones, hey! Good news. Turns out I got Parker for Christmas after all." He said smiling and mussing up his hair.
"Christmas magic, right?" she said happy for him.
Booth laughed. "Yeah. …we figured we call and uh, wish you a little Yuletide cheer." He said putting the phone to Parkers ear.
"Merry Christmas, Bones!" he said obviously happy with the arrangement.
"Thanks, Parker!" she said smiling wider.
"Hey, if that's Booth you wish him Merry Christmas from me, will ya?" Max said looking at Brennan.
"My dad says 'Merry Christmas'."
"Hey, listen, Bones… I got a little something for ya."
"Oh, I got you something too. We can, uh, exchange gifts in a couple days." She said quietly.
"Go to the window and open up the blinds"
"What? Why?" she asked confused.
"Trust me Bones."
Brennan goes to the window and opens the blinds looking out and seeing Booth & Parker, standing by Booth's car, with a Christmas tree, all lit up.
They wave at her and she waves back. "Hey! Everybody, it looks like we got our tree, after all." She said smiling at Booth.
"What? A tree?"
"Oh my gosh. So exciting!" the girls smile running to the window.
"Merry Christmas!" Parker calls waving.
"I love my gift, Booth."
"Merry Christmas, Bones." He said giving her his Boothy grin.
"Merry Christmas Seeley."
Just before midnight. New Years Eve. Booth walked into Wong Fu's, smiling as he saw Brennan sitting at the bar.
He walked over sitting next to her. "What are you doing here?" he asked smiling as Brennan looked up at him.
She smiled. "I… thought… you'd be here." She admitted with a small laugh.
"Me too." He confessed with a Boothy grin. "Or at least I hoped you would be."
She laughed. "What are the odds?" they looked into each other's eyes for a long moment. "I have something for you." She said reaching into her bag and pulling out a small rectangular box and handing it to him.
"What is this?" he asked opening it to find a nice watch inside. "Wow. … You didn't have to do this Tempe." He said smiling at her.
She nodded. "I know. I wanted to. …merry Christmas, Seeley."
"I've got something for you too." He confessed pulling out a box thinner than the one she gave him but longer.
"You already gave me a present." She said surprised.
"That was nothing." He shrugged. "I would've done it any day of the year. I wanted to get you something nice. …open it."
She did, her breath catching in her throat when she saw the beautiful locket. "Oh my god." She said looking up into his eyes. "It's beautiful….thank you."
"…I saw it and I thought of you." He said smiling and helping her put it on as people began to count down the last minute to the New Year.
They leaned in completely unaware of the world around them, kissing as the clock struck 12 and Cam walked in, stopping dead when she saw them.
"Oh my god" she said turning and walking out.
Brennan pulled away slowly, smiling. "Happy new year." She said standing and walking out, kissing him on the cheek.
He smiled turning to Sid. "Can I get a drink Sid?"
"Aren't you gonna go after her?" He asked passing him a beer.
Booth shook his head taking a sip of his beer. "nah. I'm good."
Cam walked up to the counter. "Hey Sid. My order ready?"
"Yeah. One sec." he said going to get it.
"Hey Seeley." She said smiling at him.
"Hello Camille."
"Having a good night?"
He shrugged. "Not bad. You?"
"same." She said taking her food from Sid. "See ya Monday." She said kissing him on the cheek and walking out.