Chapter 26. The Goop On the Girl.
"it's beautiful isn't it?" Max asked smiling as he moved the Christmas tree into place. "I, uh, got the employee discount. Good tips too. …should I get some tinsel?" he asked smiling.
"Wha- you can do whatever you want, it's your tree."
"it's ours, Honey, as in you and me."
"dad. I'm going to do volunteer work in El Salvador." Brennan reminded him. "remember I told you last week."
"what?... that means I'm going to be alone for Christmas." He said sadly sitting in the armchair.
"what about Russ and Amy and the girls aren't they coming up?" Brennan asked confused.
"your brother is going to Orlando to spend the holiday with his in-laws" Max sneered bitterly. "and I will be alone and it will be pitiful."
"but if I stay it'll be just the two of us alone and wont that just be twice as pitiful." Brennan pointed out.
"well that's interesting math. … what if I could get someone else to share Christmas with us? That'd make it a real Christmas right?" he asked.
"Dad some reformed criminal pals of yours won't make a real Christmas." She said honestly leaning against the doorjamb.
Max shakes his head. "no, no I'm talking about real blood relatives. An aunt or one of your cousins from Minnesota." He suggested.
"you have contact with them?" Brennan asked surprised.
"…we're myspace buddies… look the point is i can get ahold of them if I really want to." Brennan gave him an unwilling look. "come on honey please?" he asked hopeful to change her mind.
Brennan sighed. "why do people hate to spend Christmas alone?"
"because it makes them feel like nobody loves them."
Brennan gave him a helpless look and Max knew he'd won.
Brennan's phone rings. It's Cam. "Brennan…" She answered pushing off the wall. "he what?... yeah. Ok. Does Booth know? …he was there?" she asked surprised. "is he ok?... yeah I'll be right there." She hung up and turned to her dad. "I've got to go. Santa blew himself up while robbing a bank."
Max nodded. "just think about it ok?"
Brennan gave a small nod and left.
20 minutes later Brennan and Cam stood examining Booth as he leaned against the hood of his SUV.
"can we please hurry this up? I have a witness over there that I need to talk to."
"well are you sure you didn't throw your back out?" Brennan asked concerned.
"no I didn't. I'm fine." He insisted.
"okay, do you have a medical degree?" Cam asked attempting, unsuccessfully to check his pupil dilation.
"no." he sighed annoyed.
"then we'll tell you when you're fine. Now sit still." She said trying again.
"fine." He gave in and let her finish.
"you're responses are normal. …you're fine." Cam said stepping back.
"ok. Well, see, there you go." Booth said standing "I'm gonna go talk to my witness now" he nodded heading in the direction of his witness.
"Booth!" Brennan called after him.
"what!? Bones I'm fine I swear."
"No." she hurried over to him. "spinous process."
"What? Where?" he looked over his shoulder, seeing nothing.
"oh yeah that is definitely a chunk of Santa." Hodgins nodded, amused.
"I'm sorry Booth but you're evidence now." Brennan apologized.
"but… my witness." He sighed giving her a kicked puppy dog look.
"Don't bother. We have to pack her up too. You can talk to her back at the lab." Cam said joining them and picking off the large chunks of Santa and bagging them.
"right now?"
"yes right now." Cam nodded.
Booth turned to the witness. "I know this is really hard for you and you're freaking out but what you have on you is evidence. Evidence that we need to get off of you." Booth said in as calming a voice as possible.
She nodded and they proceeded to prepare her to be taken to the Jeffersonian.
Back at the Jeffersonian. Booth is sitting on the Ookie room table while Brennan pulled the smaller bits out of Booth's jacket.
"…so, uh, have you heard anything back on the cabdriver?" he asked mildly curious, but mostly uncomfortable.
"…no but Cam is in touch with the hospital. When he's out of surgery we'll know." Brennan said carefully examining the jacket for more pieces. "…ok. That seems to be all of the larger pieces."
"great." Booth said moving to hop off but Brennan stops him.
"I have to remove your clothes now." She said taking his jacket by both sides of the collar and Booth straightened way up.
"why?"
"there may be particulates." She said pulling it off gently.
"…particulates?"
"evidence for Hodgins and flesh for Cam." She said simply and walked around to the front of him.
"you know back there Santa said something about 'answering the call'" he said changing the subject. "what do you think that means?" he asked as Brennan began carefully untying his tie.
"many terrorists feel their acting upon divine instruction." Brennan said matter-of-factly.
"I don't think he was a terrorist Bones. I think he was just a …a bank robber." He said watching her fingers work as she pulled the tie over his head.
"…there's spatter on the collar of your shirt." Brennan said placing his tie on the table next to his coat.
"spatter?" Brennan nodded. "…okay." Brennan reached up to the buttons of his shirt. "no, uh I can take it off." He said awkwardly reaching up to do it himself.
"no! don't." she took his hands placing them by his sides.. "…you'll… Compromise the evidence." She said taking a deep breath as she remembered all the times they'd been here before.
"….right." he took a deep breath watching her hands.
"I'm … having Christmas dinner at my place this year… with my Dad." She said awkwardly feeling his gaze on her. "considering you've been shunted by your family I'd like to invite you." She met his eyes for a moment and then focused on his buttons and keeping her hands from trembling.
"that's a sweet invitation." He said smiling as she peeled his button down off over his shoulders.
"so …will you come?" Brennan asked almost hopeful as she placed the shirt next to the tie and jacket.
"I don't know, I was thinking about going up to Quebec to see Parker."
"wont that cause problems with Rebecca?" She asked, grateful that he couldn't see the disappointment on her face.
He sighed. "yeah… but I really don't care what Rebecca thinks."
"wont she reciprocate by insisting on coming to all of your special times with Parker?"
"Well yeah." He nodded.
"have I ever told you that you have a perfect acromion." Brennan said impressed and running her fingers along his shoulder and around to the front.
Booth smiled. "…um thanks."
"Stand up" she said smiling lightly.
"ok." He said sliding off the table.
"wait." Brennan said grabbing the forceps again.
"oh. What…what? Is there stuff on my pants?" he asked looking down as Brennan knelt and began unbuckling his belt.
"yes. There's vascular tissue on your cocky belt buckle."
"oh right." He said looking straight ahead and trying to focus on something else as she worked at his belt. "whoa. Slides right off then." He said as he felt her pull it right off causing another stir below the belt. "And we're done." he said taking a deep breath relieved and looking down at her.
"no." she said placing the belt on the table too.
"huh? Wha-what do you mean 'no'?" he sputtered nervously.
"I have to …remove your pants." She said clearing her throat.
"…alright... um I'm-I'm just going to, you know, start reciting some saints now." He felt her fingers move to his pants. "Saint Joseph… Saint Paul…" he heard his zipper. "Saint John, Saint Peter." She pulls his pants down and he begins muttering quicker.
Cam opens the door to the Ookie room her jaw dropping.
Booth looked between Cam and Brennan and the awkward position they were in and struggles to find something to say.
"Anyone for mistletoe?" Cam asked smiling now.
"I-I'm recovering evidence" Brennan said looking up at Cam, her hands still on his pants.
"Just evidence." Booth clarified. "that's all."
"interesting evidence." Cam nodded.
"listen, I, uh, Bones I really gotta go… question the other witnesses, so uh, are we done here?" He asked stepping out of his pants and looking down at her.
"No. sit down" She said standing and pushing him down by his shoulders, a small smile on her face.
"there's something in your hair." Cam pointed out.
"where?" he asked again trying to look over his shoulder.
"oh." Brennan said examining to fragments.
"what?" he asked his hands instinctually reaching up to get it out.
"don't touch." She said swatting his hand. "its organic residue… I'll cut it out." She said reaching for the scissors.
"what do you mean 'cut it out' no. no scissors." He said blocking Brennan from getting to his head. "not the hair."
Cam laughed. "tox results show that out bomber had propranol in his bloodstream. It's a beta blocker common in soldiers, performers… and suicide bombers." Cam said matter-of-factly, watching Brennan pull at the fragment stuck in his hair.
"snipers also use it to calm their nerves." Booth pointed out. "ow." He complained.
"Don't be a baby." Brennan chastised smiling.
"alright. I'm gonna go. …don't make me come back in here." She joked walking out.
"Bones I really gotta go talk to my witnesses." Booth protested and Brennan pushed him back down.
"what are you afraid to be alone with me?" She joked smiling.
"no. its just… I'm sitting here in my underwear… and the way you're pushing me down like that… its gonna cause some… issues."
Brennan smiled getting another idea. "…ok you want to talk to your witness?"
"oh no. I know that look. That's a bad look. What are you thinking?"
"Come on." Brennan unlocked the table and began wheeling him onto the other room.
"oh man." He sighed pulling his legs up onto the table.
"hey are we experimenting on Booth? Because if we are I'd like to help." Angela said smiling and following.
"sure make fun of the naked guy. Why not." Booth rolled his eyes.
"your not naked." Angela pointed out. "…unfortunately." She smiled widely.
"Angela." Brennan shot her a look.
"sorry. I couldn't help myself." She smiled turning and walking back to her office.
The next day. Brennan is having dinner with her father and her cousin Margaret at the diner.
"this is fun. Isn't it fun to meet new relatives, girls?"
"…so you're my cousin, Margaret?"
"my mother is your mother's cousin. …according to uncle Max."
"it's an uncanny resemblance, you two could be sisters." Max said smiling.
Brennan turned to Margaret. "why aren't you home for Christmas?"
"this time of year I prefer to be in Philadelphia, away from my family and all those kids." She explained simply.
"you don't have any children?" Brennan asked curiously.
"'keep your eyes wide open before marriage, and half shut afterward.'" Margaret quoted. "I never got to the half shut part." She shrugged. "what's your excuse?"
"for not being married? I-I don't have an excuse. I just have a very good reason."
"like what?" Margaret asked flipping through her little book.
"…I think that marriage is something you need to have a reason to enter… I just haven't found that reason."
She nodded. "mmm. I totally agree. 'Experience keeps a dear school, but fools learn in no other.'"
"you see Margaret is a big fan of Benjamin Franklin." Max said proud of his work.
"yes. He's the smartest man who ever lived. His advice has… never failed me."
"Actually the person with the highest recorded IQ is Marilyn Von Savant."
"ooh. 'Tim was so learned that he could name a horse in nine languages. But so ignorant that he bought a cow to ride on.'"
"I don't think this is going to work." Brennan said looking to her father.
"listen, family reunions are always awkward." He said trying to level with her.
"what? Do you think this is going well?" Brennan asked turning to Margaret.
"not really. You seem like a bit of a know it all." Margaret said not even caring to look up from her little book of Franklin.
"nice to meet you but I'm going to El Salvador for Christmas." Brennan said standing. "you both are welcome to use my place over the holidays." She said walking out.
Brennan's phone rang as she reached the corner. "Brennan." She answered with a sigh.
"hey how's dinner going? Because if its not going well you could always use this as an emergency call to get away." He said with a smile. "you can ditch 'em and come have drinks with me." He suggested.
Brennan couldn't help but smile too. "Thanks but it's already over."
"ooh. That bad?"
She nodded. "Oh yeah. It was a disaster."
"well all the more reason to join me for drinks. I'm at the founding fathers right now. Say you'll join me? I'm buying."
"…ok. …but only one drink." She said sternly.
"deal." He said with a small laugh and he hung up.
30 minutes later they were seated at the bar and Booth looks up at her.
"I've decided to take you up on your offer."
"what offer?"
"Christmas dinner. …oh God don't tell me you forgot you invited me." He sighed.
"no it's not that… it's just… my dad and… her are going to be in town for the holidays and … I really don't like her."
Booth nodded. "well that makes sense."
"…um, h-how does that make sense?" Brennan asked confused.
"because she's family Bones, and 90% of the time, family just gets under your skin. That's the difference between family and friends."
"she lives her entire life based on quotations of Benjamin Franklin."
"…yeah that's weird." He nodded. "but… she probably feels the same about your mania for logic."
"mania?" Brennan asked giving him a look.
"…ok enthusiasm." He gave in. "but the point is… she's your family and the fact that she's driving you crazy … that's the whole big family package." He said smiling. "it just goes with the territory."
"that's true." Brennan nodded. "you and Jared can barely be in the same room together."
"well that a whole other can of worms, we really don't wanna open right now." He said smiling up at her.
"…thank you Booth….you're a good friend."
"friend? Oh come on Tempe that hurts." He said with a laugh.
She cracked a small smile. "fine you're a good whatever-the-Hell-you-are." she said kissing him on the cheek lightly. Then moving to his lips, unable to resist.
"mmmm… we should stop." He said smiling.
"Why?" Brennan asked confused and kissing him.
"because you're with… y'know."
Brennan laughed. "we broke up over a month ago."
"mmmm… I guess one more time couldn't hurt then." He said smiling and taking her hand then leading her outside to his SUV.
His phone rang as he kissed down her neck. He growled frustrated as he grabbed for his phone under the seat. "Booth." He sighed. "seriously? …now? … ok we'll be right there." He hung up.
Brennan sighed sitting up and pulling on her shirt. "We have to go in?"
Booth ran his fingers through his messed up hair leaning his head back over the seat and nodded. "yeah. Angela's drawing that was released to the media was apparently pretty accurate, Santa's mother is in my office now."
"…probably for the best anyways." Brennan said pulling her hair back. "…we don't wanna… confuse things."
"…right." he sighed again buttoning his shirt then climbing into the front seat followed by Brennan. "because that would be bad."
The next morning. Brennan is talking to Margaret.
"so you're …not going to El Salvador for Christmas?"
Brennan nodded. "yes."
"you don't strike me as the kind of person who's flexible about their schedule." She observed sipping her tea.
"well… I took some advice from a friend who has much more experience with families than I do." She explained.
"'he that raises a large family does stand a broader mark for sorrow, but then stands a broader mark for pleasure as well.'" Margaret quoted.
Brennan stood, hearing a knock on the door. "that's sort of what he said… except without the pleasure part." Brennan said opening the door. "Booth. … hi."
He smiled at her walking in. "so an explosives unit checked out Holden Chevaleer's garage and there was nothing. And this guy's name doesn't pop up anywhere in the system. Not even a parking ticket." he said turning to her as she closed the door.
"th-that's very interesting but i—"
"but this just confirms that we have to find this accomplice Bones." He noticed the look on her face and realized they weren't alone and turned around.
Margaret waved awkwardly. "hi."
"oh wow. Who is this, your sister?" he asked stepping closer.
"no. uh… my second cousin."
"I'm Margaret." She nodded.
"there's… no resemblance." Brennan said awkwardly joining them by the couch.
"what do you mean? You're both very beautiful." Booth said smiling at her then looking back to Margaret.
"'beauty and folly are old companions'" she quoted.
"told you… Benjamin Franklin." Brennan said giving him a look.
"right… right." he looked back to Margaret again. "hey. Good ol' Ben, you know, he invented electricity and the hundred dollar bill."
"neither of those things are true." She said humorlessly.
"you're right. there's no resemblance, whatsoever." Booth said sarcastically. "nice meeting you, Maggie." He turned gesturing to Brennan.
"…I'll be right back." She said excusing herself and following him out the door. "you came all the way down here to tell me that instead of calling." She said smiling.
He laughed. "well I didn't think you'd have company at 7 in the morning, I thought you'd still be in your nightie." He joked his hands on her hips.
Brennan gasped in realization smiling. "you came for a booty call." She accused.
"what? No… I would never." He lied with a wide smile.
"yeah. Okay." She rolled her eyes. "I thought yesterday was the last time?" she smiled looking down at his hands as they pulled her closer slowly.
"yeah but we didn't get anything done. …so it doesn't count." He said giving her a Boothy grin.
She smiled stepping back. "nice try."
"worth a shot." He shrugged.
She rolled her eyes. "dinner is at 5 on Friday by the way."
"oh so you decided to stay." He said smiling triumphantly.
She sighed. "yes. I decided you were right. so you better not be late." She said smiling widely.
"damn now I have to find you a present before new years. " she smacked him in the arm. "Ow. I was kidding. I've had your present since October… you're gonna love it." He said softly.
"I better…. And thank you Booth… for everything." She kissed him on the cheek.
He laughed pulling her in for a real kiss. "see you at work."
"bye." She laughed turning and walking back in.
"is he your boyfriend?" Margaret asked with mild interest.
"who? Booth? No. …he's just my partner."
"hmmmm. His eyes are too small for him to be really handsome."
"well… I have to admit I find him… very pleasing to look at."
December 23. Brennan and Booth are in the car right after arresting the couple in charge of blowing up Santa.
Brennan looked to Booth who was looking out at the road. "people are terrible."
He looked at her then back with a sigh. "yeah. I know."
"Cam says that the victim's mother is going to bury him on Christmas Eve."
"I heard that." He nodded solemnly.
"it was just him and his mom right?"
"yeah, the guy worked alone. He never had any time for friends." Brennan nodded sadly looking out her window. "what's wrong?" Booth asked looking to her.
"… Max told me that being alone at Christmas means that nobody loves you." They looked at each other for a moment. "she's burying her son. Alone. The day before Christmas. … I think that's heartbreaking."
"you know when I say something is 'heartbreaking' you say the heart is a muscle… it can't break. It can only get crushed." He said in an effort to lift her spirits a little.
"then don't you think that's 'heartcrushing'?"
He looked at her seeing she really was serious. "do you want to go to his funeral?"
"yes. Then… she won't be all alone."
"you know Bones. Sometimes I think your heart muscle is bigger than people give you credit for." Booth said with a small smile.
December 24.
"A man died this week. By all accounts he was a good man. …Loved his mother, worked hard, shouldered his responsibilities. He was a man that anyone of us would be proud to call 'friend'. I killed him with this microphone. …I killed him by going on these airwaves and sharing my rage with you. spreading my rage. Now you could say that it wasn't my fault… that it was a coincidence. I thought about that. Thought about it a lot. But the fact is…the fact is, if it weren't for me, he might still be alive. I'm so sorry for that…. And I remembered something that I forgot over the past few years, that god is not only a god of anger and vengeance. Now my religious beliefs tell me that Christ did not die in vein. That he died to redeem us all. And I intend to show that this good simple man also did not die in vein. That he redeemed one angry, shouting man. So these are the last word I will ever broadcast. And I hope they're the words you remember best. …peace on earth." He closed and the line went quiet.
Booth and Brennan approached the snow-gathering casket, bundled in coats and scarves. They placed a bouquet of white roses on the grave, white for his innocence and roses because of Christ and God's protection.
Brennan feels a chill as they stand there and listen to the preacher speak about his life and Booth wraps his arm around her shoulder, her head leaning into him as the fresh snow melted on their warm bodies, and he leads her away, slowly. Silently. Grateful for the family they had waiting for them at home.
Back at Brennan's apartment. Cam, Michelle, Sweets and Daisy are standing around the Christmas tree.
"what happened to the 'down with Christmas, lets hump like bunnies' thing?" Cam asked with a smile.
"I'm not here for baby Jesus, I'm here for agent Booth." Sweets explained the bells on his Antler jingling.
"well that explains the antlers then." She nodded stifling a laugh.
"they look good on you Dr. Sweets." Michelle complimented sweetly.
"thank you." He nodded jingling again.
Hodgins walked up to Angela who was leaning in the doorway looking on at the group at the tree.
"hey." He smiled handing her some eggnog.
"hey" she smiled back at him taking it.
"so what's up?"
"working on my evil plan" she laughed.
"ooh. Care to share?" he asked curiously.
She pointed to the mistletoe above them. "Brennan's Christmas present."
"you are persistent aren't you?"
"oh yeah. I will make it happen."
They laughed as Max and Margaret walked into the apartment and began making the rounds.
"hey! Everyone's here." Max said smiling and patting Sweets on the shoulder then hugging Cam.
"well except Booth and Brennan." Angela pointed out getting her hug.
"where are they?" Max asked smiling.
"…not really sure actually." Hodgins shrugged.
"you must be Margaret." Angela said smiling and offering a hand.
"yes." She said looking at her hand.
"she's kinda…" Max gave her a look.
"…ok" Angela retracted it awkwardly.
Everyone looked to the door as it opened and they walked in.
"…I feel like me missed something." Booth whispered as they walked in.
"yeah. Me too." Brennan whispered back.
"wine anyone?" Booth asked holding up the bag.
"Welcome back!" Cam said raising her glass and everyone laughed.
"Merry Christmas Darling." Max said hugging her with a kiss on the cheek.
"merry Christmas Dad." She said smiling back.
"hey you two. I got a present for ya." Angela said smiling and pulling them towards the mistletoe.
"Angela!"
"oh come on Angie." They protested.
"shut up. It's just a little mistletoe." She said giving Brennan the last shove under the sprig.
They look at each other for a minute and Booth shrugs and gives her a small peck on the lips.
"Booo!" Angela laughs.
"come on man you can do better than that!" Hodgins heckled.
"kiss her!" Cam called.
"alright, alright. calm down." Booth laughed and Brennan gave him a smile and a small nod. He pulled her in giving her a real kiss.
Everyone cheered. "whooo!"
"easy tiger." Brennan mouthed as they pulled apart. "happy now Angela?" she asked shooting her a dirty look.
"ecstatic." Angela smiled pulling Brennan away into the kitchen. "so?" she asked hopping onto the counter as Brennan checked the turkey.
"what?" Brennan asked confused.
"where did you guys go?" Angela asked a wide smile on her face, loaded with a deeper meaning.
"to help Booth pick out some wine. He's clueless when it comes to that stuff." She lied expertly, glad that Angela can't see her face.
"yeah, okay." She laughed disbelievingly. "and what about that kiss? That sure was something."
"yeah? What about it?" Booth asked leaning against the doorway.
"I've had better." Brennan shrugged looking at him with a smile.
"really? Like who?" he asked pushing off and walking over to them.
"…ok that's my cue to leave." Angela said hopping down and walking out.
"well, Andrew was pretty good." She said smiling.
"ooh. You're hitting me where it hurts. …I like that." He said smiling and pulling her in by the hips.
"…I'm not interrupting anything… am I?" Cam asked raising an eyebrow.
They stepped back. "no. of course not." Brennan laughed.
"uh huh… I came in search of a corkscrew. …kinda hard to drink the wine if you can't open it."
"right." Brennan said handing it to her.
"let me help you." Booth offered following her out and shooting Brennan a wink.
She laughed lightly pulling the turkey out.
9:30 pm. The place had emptied out.
"merry Christmas baby." Max said kissing Brennan on the cheek as he and Margaret were leaving.
"Night Dad." She said smiling.
"watch yourself under the mistletoe Seeley." He warned Booth smiling.
"yes sir." Booth laughed.
"Goodnight Dad." He nodded amused and walked out with Margaret behind him.
Brennan sat down on the couch with a sigh and Booth moved from his seat next to Brennan. "hey baby."
Brennan laughed. "Don't. …Call me baby."
"Why? Could it be because your dad calls you 'baby'?" Booth hinted a wide smile on his face.
"maybe." She said with another laugh.
"well how about, 'darling'?" He asked inching closer, causing her to laugh harder. "'sweetheart'?" A little bit closer. "ooh I got it. 'Honey'."
"no!" Brennan laughed smacking his chest.
"…how about… 'sugar britches'?" he asked leaning in close.
"he definitely doesn't call me that." She said shaking her head.
"'sweet buns'?" she shook her head leaning back as he leaned over her. "…what about sugartits?"
she shook her head again kissing him. "Please don't call me sugartits?" She asked with a laugh.
"we'll talk." He laughed and she smiled kissing him again.
His phone began to ring from the pocket of his coat and he threw a pillow at it to muffle the sound. Brennan laughed pulling him back in.
Christmas day. 8:45 am.
They awoke to the sun shining off the newly fallen snow.
"morning." Booth said smiling.
"morning" Brennan said looking up at him. "…did we…?"
"oh yeah." He nodded.
"so much for not confusing things." She sighed. "…did you call me… sugartits by any chance?" she asked a hand on her throbbing head.
He laughed. "uh… yeah. …sorry."
She shook her head with a laugh. "it's ok."
"all in the holiday spirit huh?" he said with a Boothy grin and checking his messages.
"yeah. Merry Christmas." She said pulling her dress on over her head.
"…oh my God. …it is Christmas day."
"…yeah. so?" she said confused as he jumped up and pulled his jeans on.
"so… that call I got last night was from Rebecca. Their flight got cancelled because of the storm and I have to get home because Rebecca is dropping parker off at 9 and its…" he checks his watch and sighed. "10 of." He pulled on his shirt and headed for the door, stopping for a moment to kiss her on the cheek. "call you later."
"okay." She said watching as he walked out.
2 minutes later he reached his car to find a flat tire.
"that's great. Frickin' great" he said kicking the car and pulling out his phone.
Brennan unzipped her dress, about to get into the shower when her phone rang. She grabbed her phone looking at the ID and smiling. "you know you can wait a few hours before calling Seeley."
He couldn't help the smile that spread across his face. "you busy?"
"about to take a shower why?"
"… I need a ride."
"sure. Be right down." She hung up and pulled on clean jeans and a t shirt.
"thanks a lot Tempe." Booth said pushing off of Brennan's car as she reached him.
"it's nothing." She said smiling and unlocking the doors.
They reach Booth's apartment and he gets out leaning in Brennan's window with a smile.
"you're the best Brennan." He said kissing her.
"just go …before Rebecca gets here." She said smiling.
"ok." He said turning as Rebecca pulled in.
"or not." Brennan said getting out of the car.
"Daaaaaady" Parker said jumping out of the car and hugging him.
"hey Buddy." Booth said laughing.
"hey Seeley, …hi Dr. Brennan." Rebecca said smiling and handing Parker his backpack.
"hey Rebecca I was-"
"I… don't want to know." she said shaking her head. "Merry Christmas Seeley. Our rescheduled flight is at 3, so I'll be back tomorrow at noon. …Bye parker." She said kissing him on the cheek. "nice seeing you again Temperance."
"you too Rebecca." Brennan nodded, her arms crossed.
"alright have a great day buddy."
"Bye mom." He said smiling as she got in the car and left. He turned to Brennan. "hey Bones have you seen the Christmas tree? It's AWESOME!" he asked excited.
Brennan laughed. "no. I haven't."
"you should see it it's HUGE."
"uh, Parker I think Bones has stuff she has to do." Booth said getting down to his level.
"oh." He said sounding bummed.
"you know what Parker I'm all yours." Brennan said smiling. "how about you show me that amazing tree?" she suggested.
"Dad can I?" he asked excited again.
"of course." Booth said smiling and standing up straight.
"COOL!" he said running ahead of them.
"don't you have to pack for your trip?"
"I've got some time." She said smiling.
"you really are the best." He said as they started towards the elevator and Parker jumped hyperly.
"I know."
"dad can we open presents now?" Parker asked as they entered the apartment.
"yeah. Let's go." Booth said smiling as Parker ran into the living room. Brennan laughed following behind them.
6 pm. Parker was passed out on the couch after a long sugar-filled day.
"so… I realized I never gave you my present." Booth said sitting in the arm chair next to Brennan and handing her a small box.
"that's not fair I don't have my gift for you." Brennan said caught off guard.
He shrugged. "so you'll give it to me later. … open it."
Brennan looked up at him then back at the box, slowly opening it to find a silver charm bracelet. "oh my god….this is amazing." She said looking at the little silver skull and 5 little letters that spelt ou S.
"glad you like it." Booth said smiling. "…and, uh, I'm sorry you missed your flight."
Brennan smiled up at him. "I'm not." She said kissing him.
"ooooooooooh!" they hear from the couch and pull apart.
Booth chuckles and Brennan turns red. "I should go." Brennan said standing.
"stay." Booth said giving Parker a look and he smiled, as Booth followed Brennan out. "sorry about that. I thought he was asleep." Booth said smiling.
"don't be." Brennan said smiling. "I kissed you remember. …how about you come over tomorrow for lunch and I give you my present."
"sounds perfect." He said smiling.
"good" she said kissing him quickly then walking away with a smile.
The next afternoon. 3 pm.
"so are you ready for your present?" Brennan asked sitting across his lap.
"hmmm …is it you?" Booth asked smiling widely.
"…maybe." She said smiling coyly. "if you play your cards right. "
"ooh. Is that a challenge?" he asked kissing her.
She laughed. "shut up and open your present." She said handing him an envelope.
he opened it curiously and pulled out 2 rink-side, season tickets, to the flyers. "wow. Season tickets to the flyers." He said impressed. "how did you get these? they're soo hard to get."
"I pulled a few strings. …sent the manager an advanced signed copy of my next book." She shrugged.
"…you realize that this means you have to come with me, right?" he asked seriously.
"oh I'll take them back then" she said smiling and grabbing for them.
He pulled them away. "nice try. You're stuck with me." He laughed kissing her.
"I can deal with that." She pulled him back in for a long slow kiss. "And since I missed my flight you get to entertain me. …no strings attached of course." She said smiling.
"2 weeks. Me and you. alone. No strings …yeah no objections here." He shook his head smiling.
"I'll bet." She said pulling him back in.