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Chapter Nine: The Dates
Booth stood in front of his mirror, looking himself in the eye. "You are a good person. You deserve this. You deserve her. You should not beat yourself up about what happened. That is the past. She is the future." Booth nodded and took a deep breath.
"It's true, you know." A voice said from behind him. Booth turned around at once, blushing. His grandfather, Hank Booth, or Pops, as he was called, was standing there, smiling at him. "You are a good person, Squirt. And whoever she is is sure to see that as well."
Booth looked away. "I dunno, Pops. That's what I keep telling myself, but I can't seem to believe it." Booth turned away from the mirror and plopped down on his bed.
"Shrimp, you know it's not your fault he did what he did and it's definitely not your fault he left. He left on his own terms. Remember that." Pops said, sitting down beside Booth and patting his shoulder.
"But, Dad said-"
"Forget what your goddamned father said! He was by all means an ass, and not the boy I raised. If it was anybody's fault, it was mine." Hank looked away, ashamedly at this.
"What? Pops, no. Jared and I-"
"You and Jared are just kids, Shrimp. You did nothing wrong. Your father was a nasty old drunk who didn't know how to deal with his problems other than to hit you and your mother..." He trailed off at the mention of Booth's mother, who'd recently died of Leukaemia. Booth looked away.
It hurt him greatly to think about his mother. She was the woman who'd protected him all throughout his childhood, when his father first started to drink heavily after Booth's Grandmother passed. Booth shook his head. He didn't want to think about that right now.
Standing up, he checked his hair in the mirror and grinned, winking at himself. "Whatever, Pops." He said, nonchalantly, grabbing his keys and heading out the door.
Hank chuckled and called after him. "Shrimp! I think you forgot something!"
Booth returned, blushing. "Yeah, I guess I did." He replied as he grabbed a pair of jeans from his dresser, pulling them on as Hank boomed with laughter.
Still blushing, Booth scurried out the door after making sure he didn't forget anything else of importance.
"You forgot your pants?" Brennan laughed throatily as Booth guided her into the stadium where the concert was being held, his hand placed firmly on her lower back.
Booth blushed. "Yeah. I guess I might have been a little over excited for this date." He cursed the words as soon as they were out of his mouth. Real smooth, Booth.He thought.
Brennan looked at him, smiling widely. "You were excited?" she asked.
Booth looked down, blushing even deeper. "Yeah, I guess. I mean I asked you out over a week ago and you said no, then you said yes. So...I guess I couldn't believe my luck."
It was Brennan's turn to blush now. "That's very nice of you. I was quite excited for tonight as well."
"I know," Booth said, smiling, "Pink is your favorite singer."
"That's not the only reason." Brennan said, smiling coyly at him.
Booth's grin widened and he took a chance, sliding his arm completely around Brennan's waist. Instead of shrugging him of like he was expecting her to, she leaned into his touch, smiling as they handed their tickets over to the usher.
The usher whistled. "These are some pretty sweet seats, man. Orchestra, second row. Enjoy!" He said, handing back the tickets.
Booth led Brennan into the stadium, laughing at her shocked face. "They were second row?"
"Yeah, I thought you looked at them." Booth said.
"Yeah, but I didn't seat what section. I thought we were in the Front Mezzanine section. I never would've thought...Just how did you get those with only $200?" Brennan asked, crossing her arms over her chest.
"It's a little complicated." Booth said, looking away.
Brennan stopped walking. "You didn't steal them, did you?"
Booth frowned at her. "Do I look like a thief to you?" He asked.
Brennan shrugged. "Well..." She said, a grin appearing on her face.
"Hey!" Booth poked her softly in the ribs and she giggled.
"But, seriously, where did you get the tickets?" Brennan asked, turning to him.
"I got them from a friend. They were supposed to be about four hundred-each- but I told him I'd babysit his little sisters for free for the next month or so."
"And you did all that to go out with me?" Brennan asked, grinning.
Booth nodded. "I told you, I really wanted this date. I would've gone to any lengths to get what I want."
"Oh, really?" Brennan asked, smiling.
Booth grinned back. "Definitely." They stood there, just smiling at each other for a moment when a rude voice broke through their moment. "Can you two please hurry it up already!"
Booth and Brennan both turned to glare at the scantily clad teenage girl standing behind them, with her hands on her hips. Brennan scoffed at the girl and Booth rolled his eyes, placing his arm around her waist and leading her to their seats.
"Wow..." Daisy breathed as Hacker lead her into the small dimly lit restaurant. "This place is..."
"I know." Hacker said, cockily. "Best place in town. The food is amazing."
"Great!" Daisy replied, excitedly. "I'm starved!"
Hacker's face seemed to drop a second, but Daisy thought she may have been imagining it.
A Host greeted them and set them up at a table, taking their drink orders before leaving them to decide their dinner orders.
"So, what are you gonna have? Caesar Salad?" Hacker asked, looking over the menu.
Daisy shook her head. "No, I'm not much of a salad girl. I think I'll have the Filet Mignon. I heard it's good hear. Oh, and a baked potato on the side." Daisy's face lit up in delight at the prospect of her meal.
Hacker, though, seemed distraught by her decision.
"What?" Daisy asked. "Do I have something on my face?"
Hacker shook his head. "No, you look perfect. It's just...I just spent a lot of money on something, so I don't have much cash on me at the moment. So..."
"Oh! You think it would be better if I got a salad because it's cheaper?" Hacker nodded. "Okay, then. Do you mind if I still get the baked potato on the side."
"Not at all. But, between you and me, you really don't need the extra carbs." He winked at her.
Daisy's eyes widened. Did he just call me fat? She thought to herself.
When the waiter came by with the drinks, he also took their meal orders. Hacker ordered the lobster with a side of caviar, a full fifty dollar meal, while Daisy settled for a Cobb Salad and a baked potato, less than half the price of Hacker's lobster.
When the food came, they were having an in-depth conversation about whether Hacker looked better in black-and-white photos or color. Daisy couldn't really care less but it seemed to be a big issue to Hacker, who wanted to be a male model someday.
Daisy was grateful for the chance to stop talking about such a mundane, boring subject, and actually eat.
The salad turned out to be quite good, but not as good as the lobster looked. But when she asked for a piece, he said he didn't share his food. Something about it being unhealthy.
Daisy didn't understand his logic but didn't comment on it, not quite wanting to hear him go on about another boring subject.
Finally, when they were done eating and had paid the bill, Hacker asked her if she wanted to take a long ride in his Corvette.
Daisy declined, claiming she had a headache. Really, her head felt fine. And she like Hacker's car very much, but Hacker was too much of a self-centered bore for her to even stand so much as another minute with him, though she'd have to endure it to get home.
Hacker seemed upset at her refusal, but didn't push it. Instead, he drove her home and kissed her good night before driving off.
Daisy walked through the front door, feeling pretty upset at how horribly her very first date had gone. And she couldn't even call Camille since they were still fighting.
Max Brennan was just setting down to eat a late dinner after his shift at the hospital when his younger daughter came in. "Hi, Sweetie. How was your...date?" Max hated the sound of that word coming from his mouth about his little Daisy, but he tried his best to ignore the feeling it gave him since it seemed her date hadn't gone too well.
Daisy sighed. "It was okay, Daddy. I just have a little headache. I'm gonna take something for it and go to bed. Good night."
"Good night, Sweetheart." Max called after his daughter, smiling to himself. On one hand, he felt bad that she didn't feel well, but on the other...Well he was glad she came home as early as she did, without that Andrew Hacker that had crushed his dear Temperance's heart so long ago.
Where was Temperance, anyway?
"So, raise you glass if you are wrong,
In all the right ways!"
Booth and Brennan sang along to Pink, pumping their fists up in the air, laughing like idiots with the rest of the crowd.
When the song was over, Pink said goodnight to all her fans and jumped off the stage, walking through the crowd with a bodyguard on either side of her, sticking her hands out for people to grab. Brennan and Booth each shook hands with her and, after she was gone, Brennan turned to Booth and threw her arms around his neck.
Booth was surprised by the gesture, but placed his arms around her anyway. "What's this for?" He said, right in her hear so she could hear him.
"For taking me on the best date I've ever been on in my life!" Brennan said, squeezing him.
Booth smiled. "No problem. Don't get used to it, though. I have a feeling my weekends for the next month will be pretty booked up between games of Barbie and story time with two special little girls."
Brennan smiled at him and, on impulse, reached up to place a chaste kiss on his cheek. "You're really very sweet. Do you know that?" She asked, jokingly.
Booth grinned. "I sorta figured I might have a heart, but do me a favour? Don't tell anyone. Okay? My rep at school would be ruined."
Brennan giggled. "Deal." She said, before grabbing his hand and leading him out of the stadium, whose exits were already filled by people trying to get out.
"Where are we going now?" Booth yelled over the dull roar of the crowd's voices.
"Bowling. I still have yet to kick your ass. Loser pays for the next date." She challenged.
Booth grinned. "You're on."
"I can't believe I lost by two points!" Booth whined, walking Brennan to her front door.
Brennan chuckled. "Believe it, Toots." She said, laughing at the horrified expression he gave her.
"Did you just call me Toots?" he asked.
Brennan chuckled. "Isn't that what you called me nearly every time I went up to take my turn?"
"That was once and I was just joking!" Booth said, getting flustered.
Brennan chuckled and placed a hand on his arm. "Booth, relax. It's just a joke."
Booth scowled at her. "That's not funny."
Brennan giggled and squeezed his arm, sending electricity up it and down his spine. "I think it is."
Booth pouted and Brennan giggled again. "You're very childish...but in a sort of appealing way."
"You mean...cute?" Booth asked, grinning cockily.
"Yes, I think that's the right term." Brennan nodded in agreement.
"Cute enough to kiss good night?" Booth asked, hopefully.
Brennan laughed at his childlike expression of mild embarrassment and excitement. She nodded. "I suppose so, but I think it's only fair you meet me halfway."
Booth smiled softly. "Wouldn't want it any other way." He leaned down a bit so that their lips were only a breath apart, waiting for her to meet him halfway.
When she did, it was like fireworks had gone off in his brain, and his heart began to beat erratically. Brennan's arms came to wrap around his neck as his wrapped around her waist as his tongue asked permission for entrance into her mouth. She accepted and he deepened the kiss, only to have it end abruptly when the door opened, suddenly.
Booth and Brennan moved away from each other as if burned as Max Brennan stood there, glaring at them. "Tempe, I think it's time you said goodbye to Mr. Booth and come in for bed."
Brennan nodded and kissed Booth once more, chastely, on the lips, before running inside past her father. Booth waved goodbye to her as she ran, before turning to Max. "Goodnight, sir." He said, politely.
Max snorted. "Yeah, right! Sir!" he mimicked with a scoff, slamming the door shut in Booth's face.
"Nice to meet you." Booth said, sarcastically as he turned and walked down the path to his motorcycle, a smile permanently etched on his face.
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