3 – Road Trip

After leaving the Jeffersonian they went to her apartment so she could pack. She didn't know how long this case would take, so she pack for a week, thinking that she could always use the laundry service at the hotel. Booth, always the boy scout, was already packed and ready to go. She was still puzzled about the reason she found him, that early in her office, but she reckoned she would soon find out.

There had been a lot of pregnant pauses between them lately, and more uncomfortable silences than in the whole history of their partnership. She really didn't know what had changed, but she could pinpoint exactly when it happened. His surgery was undoubtedly a changing point for both of them. They never discussed it, not after the "who are you" fiasco. She still didn't know what he had meant with his question; neither was she particularly inclined to ask. She was completely petrified with the answer, as she was when he actually said it, only to be followed by an unsure "Bones".

"So, what do you know about this case?"

"Not much actually, not much more than what I already told you. I know that a body was found in the Longwood Gardens, and I know we were called there because of someone's power trip, which ended in us being shipped off to Philadelphia."

"But, Booth, I thought we were driving, and technically it would take us much longer to arrive, since we would have to sail down the….."

"Bones, Bones, Bones, stop. It's an expression, meaning that we are going to be sent there, that's all."

"Then why didn't you say just that? I really don't see the point of that expression, since it induces people to conclude we are taking a different means of transportation than the one we are actually using."

He couldn't stand it anymore and started laughing. It was nice to bicker again, to correct her pop culture references, and to see her all flustered and bothered by something she did not understand. She was really not used to not understanding.

Brennan was torn. She was trying to decide whether to kiss or kill him. On one hand was the sense of normalcy she was missing. They were acting like themselves again, which was a good thing. Plus he hadn't been smiling much as of lately, she had yet failed to grasp the reason why, though. On the other hand there was that feeling of inadequacy again, as if she had been living in a world of her own her whole life. But who was she trying to kid. She liked when we took the time to explain all those things to her. It made her feel cared for, which was something she had not felt in fifteen years.

So, even before her mind decided, her lips were twitching upwards and she was smiling too. And she realized that she rather liked it.

As they were heading up north, she ended up falling asleep. It was not a long trip per se, but she had had very little sleep the night before, and the rocking of the car, plus the company made it easy to dose off. Her head was resting in the window, and to his eyes she never looked more beautiful. She had a little smile on her lips, and looks like the girl he met through her parents' folder. He reckoned that she would still be much more like this girl if she hadn't been left. But she had been, and she wasn't, and he cared deeply for her none the less. She was perfect.

He thought back to the last time he had driven this same road to go home. It had been more than six years ago, and the reason was bittersweet.

He was walking steadily, as it would be expected of an ex-sniper, and an FBI agent. He hadn't been home in a while. When he decided he wanted to join the burrow, he never thought it would be just as hard work as the army had been. But he felt fulfilled, and he was making amends for the lives he took back in the way. His personal life however was a messier. He had a girlfriend who he was in love with, and who he wanted to spend the rest of his life with. And now a little boy was on the way. He was happy actually. He didn't adore the fact that he was going to be a father before learning to be a husband, but he already loved his baby boy, and he wouldn't change the fact that Rebecca was pregnant for all the marriages in the world.

So there he was, back in his hometown, thinking of how to break the news to his very traditional parents. They wouldn't be happy with him, of that he was sure. But he hoped that the prospect of a little grandson would make them forget the rest of the details. So he reached for the door knob.

The house smelled like alcohol, has if it hadn't been clean for months. He knew better though, his mother was a very clean woman. Apparently his father was still drinking.

"Mom. It's me, Seeley. I'm home. Where are you?"

"Seeley?" Her voice was barely a whisper, and it intrigued him, because in the absence of his father, she always had been a very enthusiastic woman. His father was in the house then. Good. He would only have to tell his news once.

"Yes Mom, it's me. Where are you?"

"Up here, in the attic" what the hell was his mother doing in the attic? It had been closed for years. When he was growing up, it used to be called the dungeon, except it wasn't underground. It was old, dusty, and full of spider webs (and spiders themselves, he supposed). So he climbed through the bathroom's ceiling hole, to reach his mother.

Well, it had not changed much. It was still old, dusty, and full of spider webs. The difference was lying on the floor where a tiny mattress was placed, with a pile of books on each side. His mother was sitting in the old rocking chair that had belonged to her father, looking out through a small window. She looked exactly as the attic, old and dusty, as if she was actually part of the furniture. She had a full head of white hair which was pulled up in a loose pony tail and her skin was pale white, which enhanced the bags under her eyes and, he noticed, the bruises all over her exposed flesh. With every move of the chair she winced, and he assumed she had even more bruises under her clothes, which too look dusty and well worn.

" Mom, what are you doing here?" He knew better than to question her. She would tell him all he wanted to know, but on her own pace, as if she knew he could only take so much information at a time.

"Hello there, how are you? You look thinner, have you been eating properly? It has been so long since you came home, Seeley." Yes, there was his mother, as motherly as it could be. It made him smile a sad smile. Sad because he knew the life she led and how much it clashed with the life she deserved.

"You know I would love to come more often, but I'm working really hard to get my Special Agent status, and now with the… oh well, I have some news to tell you, that's actually why I came, but I would like to tell both you and Dad at the same time, if you don't mind." At the mention of his father he measured her mother's reaction. It betrayed nothing just as always. He lowered his voice. "How are you Mom, and why are you up here? You look like you have been up here for days".

She sighted. "That's because I have been, except occasional trips downstairs at night, so that I can eat and go to the bathroom. Your father was in one of his moods, and this is the safest way to ride through it. It should be over by now, I was thinking of making him dinner tonight, to see how he was doing."

So that was why the house smelled like that.

"Your father is not as strong as he used to be, and with the alcohol, it is impossible for him to climb the hatch. So I'm safe upstairs, and I can still watch out for him, and leave him his meals. It was actually a very clever idea don't you think?" She smiled. She was proud of herself.

"Why do you still care?" He always asked this particular question, every time he returned, every time he saw her, because it puzzled him why such a lively and intelligent woman would stand to have this done to her.

"Nonsense, honey. This is where I belong, beside my husband, in my own home, waiting for my children to visit, and make me proud. This is where I want to be. So, you say you have news for us. Are you finally bringing your girl home? "

He smiled in spite of himself. His mother had known about Rebecca, they were together a long time, but he had yet to bring her home. He didn't want to do it for less than the sure thing, so he was waiting to propose.

"Well Mom the news are about my girl." He grinned, his charm smile full force. "But I would really rather tell you both at the same time."

"Let's make dinner then"

Two hours later, his father arrived, not as drunk as he used to be. His mood was better, so he believed he was lucky.

"Seeley, my boy, what are you doing here? Decided to drop by to see the old folks?"

He sat at the dinner table, waiting for his wife to serve him dinner. Even half the man he used to be, Michael Booth was still a big man. But the alcohol abuse had taken its toll, and the liver problems made him loose most of his muscle mass, and caused heart problems. He has kind of yellowish, and had trouble breathing. He looked much older than he really was.

"Yes, that and I have some news for you guys. You know Rebecca, right?" At their nod, he proceeded. " Well, I realize that these are not the best circumstances, but we are going to have a baby."

"What?" It was the same response, but the tones were complete opposites. His mother, in spite of being a little shocked had long ago accepted that her kids had an active sex life, so in her eyes, past a superficial disappointment he could see joy, and curiosity to meet her new grandson. His father, on the contrary, just started laughing.

"So you got to fuck that whore of yours and were fool enough to impregnate her? Does she realize that she ain't gonna get any kind of money from us right? Because bastards have no rights, including the right to our name."

"Do you seriously believe that I'm not naming and fathering my child? I love his mother, and I will marry her someday, and even if I didn't, I would still love him. He is my responsibility, and I will care for him for as long as I shall live. As for his mother, don't even start on her. I love her, she loves me, and the fact that we are not married doesn't change that."

"If she let you impregnate her, more than a whore, she is stupid. How many men has she fucked before you, huh? How many men as she fucked while she was fucking you? Do you know? Of course not. You are nothing but a pussy-sucker, gold mine to her. Do you believe that she will ever say yes, even if you proposed? Why would she? She will get what she wants from you and go suck the next dick. That's what all the whores do. So don't even bother to invite us to the wedding, or bring the little bastard by, because neither he nor his mother will ever be welcome in this household. This house only allows serious people."

Booth was appalled. He knew his father wasn't going to be thrilled, but forbid his grandson to ever come to his house was something he was not expected. Not that he would ever bring him here alone, he wasn't going to let his son suffer what he suffered, but he wanted the baby to meet his grandmother.

"It's ok Dad. I wasn't planning on invite you, or even bring my baby here. I'm sorry Mom"

And he left.

A month later he did propose to Rebecca, and has his father predicted she did reject him. It felt like he was eight all over again, and was seeing his mother being abused.

And the opportunity not to invite him to his wedding never arose.

Brennan was watching him closely. She had woken up an hour before reaching their final destination. His knuckles were white and he was almost shocking the steering wheel. His brow was furrowed, and his expression somber. Whatever he was reminding wasn't a very pleasant memory. She pondered calling him to bring him back to the real world, when he looked at her and smiled, as if she was the most precious thing he had ever behold. sending shivers down her vertebrae that she did not recognize. She wasn't cold. And then he got the dreamy look on his eyes again and said:

"Bones, welcome to Philadelphia"

Hello again!! Here's the 3rd chapter.

Thank you so much to those of you who took the time to review, and to the ones who put my story on alert.. Makes me want to write more...

Goldpiece: The ideia of making the dead women Booth's mother is not bad at all, but, no, it's not what i'm going with here... eheh.. thank you for your kind review

Guys, be Jelous.. I'm going to the beach with a couple of friends, so, when I come back please let me find my email full of review.. Pweeease?? With a cherry on top?

Muifilipa