Title: A Time to Grow
Author: Megan Faye
Rated: PG-13
Disclaimer: I don't own Bones.
NOTE: Okay, here's where we stand. I have only been watching the show for about 3 weeks. Thanks to Netflix, and the one site that shows season 5 streaming, I've seen every episode, and even found a few mistakes (Season 1, Episode: Man in the Fallout shelter. Hodgins is following Brennan and says "Goodman can't see his family, Zach can't see his kids, Booth can't see his son." It should have been "Goodman can't see his kids, Zach can't see his family, Booth can't see his son.")
ANYWAY, I'm still a little new to the show. I love it, but I'm still new. Some of this fanfic is very OOC. Sry. (But so are the Brennan/Zach pairings. I LOVE those, but they are WAY out of character. :)
Also, can you find the TV show reference?
Brennan grimaced at the food in the pan in front of her. She'd given up meat years ago, and tried to avoid smelling it when possible. Parker wanted steak for his birthday dinner, and Brennan said she would cook the foods he liked. He liked meats. Sausage and bacon in the morning, beef whenever it was available, and occasionally, fried chicken. The music from the living room was practiced and interesting. The piano lessons three afternoons a week were paying off. He was doing very well. He had a talent, and a love for music.
As he finished, the Squints, Max and Jared clapped.
"Dad," she called. "I am not sure if this is edible." Max rolled his eyes and went to check the steaks.
"They look perfect."
"They are still pink, and bleeding."
"Like I said, perfect. Dinner's ready, everyone." The group gathered at the table and Parker and Jared both silently blessed the food. Brennan didn't agree or like it, but she had also promised to honor his religion, even if she chose not to participate.
"This looks fantastic, Tempe," Max said, passing the mashed potato dish around.
"The steaks are not thoroughly cooked."
"Rare. The term is rare. Its how they're supposed to be," Hodgins informed his boss. "So, what are your birthday party plans?"
"I rented out the arcade for the day. His friends from his old and current school will be in attendance, as well and my brother's step-daughters."
"You know you didn't have to rent the whole place, they allow parties to be hosted in small rooms-"
"78 children will be attending, and I asked them to make the games unlimited for the party. The only way to accomplish that was to rent out the whole place. It has a laser tag arena, miniture golf, a climbing wall, and 10 different games with the title Dance Dance Revolution."
"We're inviting ourselves," Hodgins said, grinning. "Sweets, too."
"Totally. I mean, I am the master of DDR," Sweets said, grinning. "You're in trouble, good sir." Parker laughed, mouth full of steak.
"What do you want for your birthday, Kid?" Max asked.
"More steak," he said, in all seriousness, and passed his plate to Max.
"Tempe, are you feeding him enough?"
"He is hitting a 12-year-old growth spurt, as well as teething while his molars are growing in. I feed him 6 times a day, and yet he still manages to be hungry at 11:30 at night." Max smiled and roughed Parker's shaggy hair.
"I remember that phase with Russ. I'm not sure if he ever outgrew it. As far as I know, he still eats like his stomach has no end. You did that, too, Temperance. Around 13, you went on this 'must eat every hour' kick. If the baby has his brother's or uncle's stomach, you're in trouble." Brennan rolled her eyes and took another bite of corn and potatoes. "Did you name him yet?"
"We've got a few. I'm letting Parker help, because he said the name I picked out originally would get him in trouble at school."
"What name?"
"Samuel Owen."
"Sam O. Brennan. Tempe, his initials would be S. O. B."
"Is that a problem?" The table tried to hold in laughter. Parker whispered in her ear what it meant, and she turned bright red. "Point taken."
"Sam is a good name, but he needs a middle name is all. Samuel Booth Brennan is good," Parker said. Brennan shook her head.
"I like Owen."
"I dated a guy in San Francisco, Charlie, who had a baby brother named Owen. He was 3, and for some reason, attached himself to me. Charlie was a good guy; parents in car accident, so he was raising his siblings."
"What happened?" Michelle asked.
"Oh, we're not going there. How about we hear about Brennan's new book? This is number 3, right?"
"Yes. It is due for release in a week, and pre-orders are completely sold out. My first two are being reprinted to release as a set."
"Nice," Parker said, fist-bumping her.
"Dr. B., if you are so loaded, why not buy the kid a Toys R Us for his birthday?" Max laughed.
"Well, he gets the things he needs, and some of what he wants if it is reasonable. Example; he wanted a tv for his bedroom, so he could play games in the morning without waking me. I got him one for Christmas, but not the biggest in the store. I found one that would serve the purpose of video games, eduactional and recreation, and a PlayStation 3. However, he also received clothes, new shoes, a microscope he needs for school, and a book on dog care. When he finishes the book, we're going to discuss a dog. One that can be in the lab with me during the day, and in the park with Parker on the weekends, as form of protection." Sweets opened his mouth to say something, but Angela stuffed a piece of bread into it.
"I'd like a yellow lab," Parker said. "But a golden retriever would be better with a small kid in the house."
"Don't underestimate the golden retriever, my friend," Hodgins grinned. "I had one as a kid, and he was the best dog in the world."
"He may have been a very good dog, but you haven't possibly come into contact with every dog," Brennan reasoned. The table rolled their eyes. "Figure of speech?"
"Yeah, sweetie. Do you want a dog, Jack?" Angela asked, smiling at him gently.
"Nah, we're rarely home, and I'd like to travel more. Its hard to take a dog when we go back to France."
"Wait. France?" Angela closed her eyes.
"After the baby is born, we're going back to France for a few months." Brennan's cell rang. She flipped it open and read the message.
"We need to go to the lab," she whispered. "The army believes they found Agent Booth's body."
"Oh, God," Cam said.
They were just bones. Nothing that showed them Seeley Booth was there, except the missing fragment from the dog tags, that had been cleaned and returned to Parker 8 months ago. He studied the people working in front of him. They looked terrified. He felt sick to his stomach.
"I don't want it to be him," Hodgins said. "Just don't draw him."
"If the tissue markers show me Booth, they show me Booth." Angela swallowed hard and began drawing.
"Its not him," Brennan said, looking at the skull. "Parker, come look at this. It can not possibly be your father," she whispered. "Remember when I told you I cracked three of his teeth? He had to have caps on them, because of that. These have never been drilled or capped. Its not Booth, Angela. He may still be alive."
"Dr. Brennan, are you absolutely certain these are not the remains of Seeley Booth?" an Army officer asked.
"With absolute certainty. I punched Booth and he had to have these three teeth capped. I took him to the dentist when he had the root canals done. I still have the X-Rays in my office. Also, he had major brain surgery a few years back. There's no marks in the scull where they drilled in to remove the tumor. There is no way this is Booth." Angela put the skull into the computer 3-D scanner. The image that came up looked similar to Booth in jaw line, but the eyes and nose were very different.
"They have the same jaw, but it isn't Booth."
"If its not Dad, but he had Dad's tags, then Dad could still be alive somewhere?" Parker asked weakly.
"Maybe. He might be alive, still."
BONES BONES BONES
"Parker, its time to eat," the nurse said, lifting the man up to sit. His head wound, and mostly catatonic state made everything a little harder. He came in with no ID, badly wounded. Months later as he regained his ability to speak, he could say one thing.
"Parker."
"Yes, that's you," she said gently. The man looked annoyed. He knew he wasn't Parker. He just didn't have the words to tell this nurse that.
"N...not Parker."
"You aren't Parker." Finally, understanding. He smiled. "Is Parker someone else?"
"PARKER!" He said again. The nurse handed him a paper and pen. The man scribbled a large stick figure and a small one. It was very messy, but it was obvious to the nurse he was drawing people. He pointed to the big one, then to himself.
"This is you, and that is Parker."
"Parker," he repeated.
"Is Parker your son?" Tears filled the man's eyes.
"Parker."
Hi! I'm Evil! Nice to meet you.