Disclaimer: I don't own Bones or any of the characters. I'm not trying to infringe on any of Hart Hanson or Fox's rights. I'm just playing on their playground.
1956JohnDeere50: You're most welcome. =D
Angelbach: Ahh but they haven't actually DEFINED what they are. Are they a couple? Friends with benefits? A short term fling? =P I think this side of the story is fluffy and kind of balances out Espionage. I'm hoping that I can do the same with both sequels. If it works out that way I'll be posting one of each everyday so you get both perspectives at one time. You thought you were intrigued by yesterdays A/N just wait until you read today's. LOL
Nertooold54: I honestly wasn't sure how to do Legates in Victoria's secrets because there are two types of men in V.S the shy, oh my God it's women's underwear and the WOOHOOO it's women's underwear. So, I kinda put him in the middle =D. You know the whole I've only gone on one date with her and I'm not really comfortable buying her underwear deal.
ArielBrennan: I actually got that idea from my mom. She throws things when she's ticked (I do it too) and it was just something I could see her doing LOL!
Thank you guys for your reviews! You don't know how much I appreciate them.
Chapter 22 - Poor Perkins
A little over a thousand miles away, Michelle climbed into a Humvee very much like the one Legates had climbed into. She settled next to Techie who glanced in the mirror at the people in the back. He rolled his eyes at the CID members wondering why the Jeffersonian crew wasn't with him. Pulling out her phone, she checked her email and growled.
"Need to check my email faster, dammit," she growled in a pissy tone.
"Tut tut, such language from such a lovely young lady," Techie said in a teasing tone.
"My classes have been sitting in my email box since yesterday. I can see my email but can't retrieve the videos until they're approved," she snarked.
She mumbled and then grunted when she realized the guys would have fun with that one. She smirked and flicked through several before groaning again.
"What's wrong?" Techie asked, shooting her a worried look.
"Midterm prep tests," she muttered.
"Yay," he said sarcastically.
"Exactly. But again I don't know how difficult they are since I can't view them," she grumbled.
"You've been touchy last couple of days. Any particular reason?" Techie asked, with a knowing grin.
"You mean other than the fact that your unit has used me as a pillow, snorted, farted, and drooled on me?" Michelle asked in a rhetorical tone.
The two in the front forgot about the CID members until they burst into laughter.
"Aww, don't take offense it just means you're one of the guys," Techie said with a grin.
Michelle rolled her eyes and put her elbow on the door and propped her head on her hand.
"Just what I need, to be thought of as one of the guys," Michelle muttered.
"Okay, how about you're like a little sister to us all," Techie said.
"Not helping, Briggs," Rowan said, in a laughing tone from the back.
Techie sat chewing his lip for a second and shook his head. Looking at the road, he continued to chew on his lip. He wanted to assure her but felt it wasn't any of the people in the back business.
Michelle sat staring out the window. Legates had said he didn't feel that way about her. That he was interested in her, he kissed her. So where was this coming from? The whole unit? Really? She let out sigh and rubbed her forehead.
Why did this shit always happen to her? She liked a guy, was nice to him, got to know him, hung out with him and the next thing she knew she was his little sister. A frown pulled at her brow and she rubbed the bridge of her nose. Had she completely read this situation wrong? But that would be gross, most guys don't kiss their sisters like that.
Techie swallowed and hoped he hadn't screwed up something good for his friend. It had been a while since Legates had shown interest in a woman and the last one. Well, he wasn't sure about that whole thing, it stunk all the way around.
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Legates sat through breakfast amazed at how much Robertson could pack away in his small frame. After breakfast, they hustled to the court house and within ten minutes they were sitting in a packed courtroom. Legates' sniper training made him shift nervously.
He didn't like having rows and rows of people sitting behind him and his head in plain sight. It made him a sitting duck, an uncomfortable one but one none the less. He sat listening to testimony and tried to black it out but Booth's testimony about Brennan's abduction made him flinch. A few moments later, he was called to the stand. After being sworn in, he sat down.
"Now, you are Corporal Michael Joshua Legates of the 75th Regiment, 3rd Battalion correct?" Hammon asked Legates.
"Yes, Sir," Legates answered.
"And how do you know Agent Booth?" Hammon asked.
"He was my Sergeant Major in the US Army, Sir," Legates said.
"And what exactly did he do?" Hammon asked, looking at Legates.
"He was training our unit," Legates answered. Hammon nodded and looked at Francis.
"How do you know Private Francis?" Hammon asked,
"Prior to the altercation in the tent, I didn't, " Legates said truthfully.
"The first time you met Private Francis was when he entered Dr. Brennan's tent without permission?"
"Yes, Sir. He went past our unit and Sergeant Parks unit which were sitting outside the tent," Legates told him.
"And what happened?"
"He walked in yelling, wanting to know what was going on," Legates started.
"What was going on?"
Legates face turned a little pink.
"We were making fun of Sergeant Major Booth's boxers," Legates admitted. The jury snickered and several eyes shot to Booth.
"And what happened next?" Hammon asked Legates.
"Private Francis, at the time he was a Sergeant, called Dr. Brennan a broken hooch," Legates testified.
"What next," Hammon, half stated, half asked.
"My unit and I went into the tent. Dr. Brennan got out of the bed, which she probably wasn't supposed to do, and walked to where Sergeant Major Booth was. She wobbled a little bit and Private Francis said she was broke again," Legates told him.
He looked at Booth for approval to tell the next part. Booth gave an almost imperceptible nod.
"And what was Sergeant Major Booth's reaction to that statement?" Hammon asked.
"He clocked Private Francis and knocked him down," Legates said.
"What do you mean clocked?" Hammon asked for clarification.
"He used his fist and punched him in the face," Legates said, carefully biting back the 'are you stupid' voice.
"Now, I know you were there when Sergeant Major Booth got shot. Tell us about that," Hammon directed with a passive face.
"We'd been sitting, watching an known local insurgent. It had been about eight hours when the leader stepped out of the door. I pulled up my rifle to take aim when I heard a scuffle on the roof two buildings over. I looked over to see what was going on and saw Sergeant Major Booth and Private Francis fighting. Before I could do anything, I saw Private Francis push Sergeant Major Booth up into a kneeling position and then a shot rang out then two more. Scanning the area I saw the target down and Booth down as well. I made tracks-"
"What is made tracks," Hammon asked for clarification.
"I ran really fast jumping from building to building until I reached where Sergeant Major Booth was. I cold cocked Private Francis-"
"Which means?"
"I punched him so hard in the face he lost consciousness," Legates said.
"And then what happened?" Hammon asked, looking concerned even though Legates knew better.
"I checked to see if Sergeant Major Booth was alive. He had a weak pulse so I had Private Oaks who was right behind me, tie up Private Francis. Then I wrapped a cloth around Sergeant Major Booth's head. Whistled to let the unit know to bug out and I carried Sergeant Major Booth to the truck," Legates said.
"Bug out?" Hammon asked in a explain it tone.
Legates mentally groaned, the jury was military they knew what bug out was.
"It means to retreat, evacuate or leave an area," Legates explained. Hammon nodded.
"What happened next?"
Legates swallowed and Booth noticed that Legates had gone a shade or two paler.
"We rode back to camp," Legates said.
"With Sergeant Major Booth?" Hammon asked trying to get details.
Legates swallowed, licked his lips and repressed his emotions. Booth sat watching and shuddered as he saw Legates compartmentalize. Brennan reached over and squeezed his arm.
"Sergeant Major Booth rode laying in the back of the truck with his head in my lap. There was so much blood. It was pouring from the back of his head, he just got more and more pale," Legates said in a horrified whisper.
"What happened when you got to Camp Phoenix?" Hammon asked, trying to get the man back from that place that could cause the defense to doubt Legates' sanity.
"The medical team loaded Sergeant Major Booth onto a gurney and Sergeant Parks went to get Dr. Brennan," Legates said.
"Thank you, Corporal Legates. Your witness," Hammon said to the defense. Francis' weasley lawyer stood up and approached Legates.
"Now, you said you saw Private Francis and Sergeant Major Booth fighting. Is it possible that Sergeant Major Booth started the altercation on the rooftop? Over Dr. Brennan?" The lawyer asked Legates with smirk.
"Possible? Yes. Probable? No," Legates answered.
"I did not ask you if it was probable," the lawyer said, waving his arms.
"Corporal, you will answer the questions asked of you. That last comment will be stricken from the record and the jury will disregard," the judge intoned.
"Again, Corporal Legates, was it possible that Sergeant Major Booth initiated the conflict?"
"Yes, it is possible," Legates answered in a flat tone.
He was growing irritated with the lawyer's attempt to make Booth out to be the bad guy. Whether it was the lawyer's job or not it was irritating.
"That's all thank you, Corporal," the lawyer said, making his way back to the table where Francis sat.
"You may step down," the judge told Legates.
Legates stood stiffly and made his way back to the benches and sat down. He sat staring into space as the trial continued. He tried to push back the memories of the sounds of the shots and the smell of the blood but for some reason this memory he couldn't ignore and it bothered him. There was only one other memory he couldn't ignore and he didn't like that one either.
He swallowed a few times and took a deep breath. Happy thoughts, he chanted mentally. Dark hair, dark eyes, lovely curves, pretty smile, yeah happy thoughts. Legates felt himself relaxing as he built a mental picture of Michelle one body part at a time. When he got to her hips his mind started pulling images of things from Victoria's Secrets.
Silently he cursed and pinched the bridge of his nose. He thought he was mentally naming monster stats but Brennan heard a soft whisper and leaned closer to him so she could hear. She'd have to ask Booth what a displacer beast was and what lawful evil meant.
Legates spent the next hour trying to remember his second edition Monsters Manual. He didn't pay attention to Brennan's testimony, he blinked when Hammon pointed to the video screen but for all intents and purposes he looked like he was made of stone. Brown's face scrunched slightly in worry at Legates stoney expression.
When recess for lunch was called Brown poked Legates. Legates stood up and exited the courtroom. His mind currently in the present but flashing back and forth between the here and now and eleven hundred miles away. As he stepped outside the courthouse, the here and now part of his mind registered the hair on his neck standing on end. His eyes began scanning.
•◊•◊•◊•◊•◊•◊•◊•◊•◊•
Michelle sat staring at her book. She really needed to focus but it wasn't happening. She looked down when her leg vibrated. Did every man in this unit snore? Or where they all snoring because they were tired? Picking up her phone she googled it. She was reading about snoring when Techie walked in and sat down.
Michelle looked down at Perkins and flicked her finger across the screen. She looked down and poked Perkins in the neck. Techie bit back a laugh and watched as she poked him again. Snorting, Perkins rolled on his side and jammed his arm between the calves of her legs and snuggled up to her leg. She frowned and went back to her phone then nodded and flicked the screen. Techie was sitting with his legs crossed at the ankles and his fingers laced together.
"Now what were you doing to poor Perkins?" He asked with a smirk on his face.
"Trying to determine why he was snoring. It would seem that Perkins snores when he lays on his back. Which indicates his tongue falling over his airway passage," Michelle said.
"Aren't you supposed to be studying?" Techie asked, raising his eyebrow at her.
"No, big brother. I'm already theoretically ahead in physics and actually ahead in Anatomy," Michelle grumbled.
"Are those the only two classes you have this semester? And we'll discuss that big brother comment in a minute," Techie said.
"No, I also have Spanish and English. Spanish, I studied last night. I now know the definitions of forty verbs and can conjugate them into three tenses. English, well I have a paper to do but limited resources so that will be my priority when I get the hell out of here. There's nothing to say about the big brother comment. You've already said that you guys think of me as a little sister. I just figured I'd return the favor," she said, clicking through the games on her phone.
Techie smirked at her attitude and wiggled his foot.
"Reaahhheeeaaalllllyyyy?" Techie said, laughing at her even blank stare.
Michelle stuck her nose in the air slightly and started a game of Angry Birds.
"Because see you looked a little upset this morning when I told you that the unit thinks of you like a little sister," Techie said.
He uncrossed his ankles, bent his legs, leaned forward and put his elbows on his knees. His thumbs rotated one over the other as he looked at her with smirk on his face.
"Why would I be upset. It's kinda nice having a large family," Michelle said, raising an eyebrow.
Techie let a slow grin spread across his face. Then he rubbed his hand down his face with his elbows still on his knees.
"There's only one problem with your thought process. See there is a guy in the unit well he'd be thought of as a big pervert if he thought of you as a sister then did the things he wanted to you. That would be incestuous," Techie said, raising his eyebrows at her. She screwed her face up in disgust.
"I'm not-"
"Give it up, Michelle. Legates has a thing for you, you got a thing for him. It's all good. I just wanted you to know he does not think of you as a little sister," Techie said. Michelle snorted and flung another bird.
"He's right. He's been sniffing after you like you were a bitch in heat," Perkins mumbled sleepily against her leg. Michelle reached over and plucked his ear making him wince.
"If you're awake let go of my leg," Michelle said, wiggling her leg. Perkins snorted, buried his face and fell back asleep.
"How the hell do you guys do that?" Michelle said, glaring at Perkins.
"Part of the training. When you may be forced to go days or longer without sleep you learn to force your body to sleep," Techie said with a grin.
Michelle shook her head and went back to flinging birds. She and Legates would be having a conversation to define what they had. She didn't like being in that unsure place, it usually ended up with her having another male friend.
Although, he'd said that wasn't what he was interested in but then he didn't really say what he was interested in. He could be interested in a friends with benefits package like Cam and Booth had in the past. But she couldn't really see Legates doing that, but then how well did she really know him?
•◊•◊•◊•◊•◊•◊•◊•◊•◊•
Legates eyes shot around the steps and he picked up his steps to catch up to Booth and Brennan.
"You feel it too?" Booth asked as he noticed Legates pace pick up.
"Yeah, my neck is crawling," Legates muttered.
They reached the Humvee and Booth practically pushed Brennan in the vehicle. Brown climbed in behind Booth and Brennan, slamming the door behind himself. Legates climbed in and closed the door. His eyes shooting around, searching but seeing nothing. Robertson got in, closed the door and looked around.
"You guys ran out of there like your asses were on fire," Robertson said, looking in the mirror at the two men in the back.
"Drive," Legates said quickly.
Robertson hit the gas and pulled out towards a local Italian Restaurant. Booth took a deep breath and Legates kept looking in the mirror.
"Okay, you guys are making me nervous," Robertson said, turning into the parking lot.
"We were being watched. Drop us off at the door," Legates said.
Robertson pulled up at the door and the back seat occupants climbed out. Legates got out and ran around the front of the Humvee. He walked into the restaurant. Robertson joined them moments later. When Hammon finally arrived the hostess sat them down.
Legates flicked through the menu and tried not to think bad thoughts. Then he spotted burgers. Letting out a sigh, he perused his choices. He felt a sharp kick and looked up. Brown was looking at him with a raised eyebrow.
"What?" He asked and Brown pointed at the waitress with in his index finger.
"What can I get you?" She asked him, snapping her gum.
"Bacon cheeseburger with fries and a Coke," he ordered.
Brown shook his head and muttered under his breath. While waiting for their food to arrive, Legates listened as the conversation flowed around him. He didn't really have any input so he kept quiet. The waitress stopped by the table and dropped off salads and appetizers. After hearing Booth's very scientific explanation of alpha pairs and admitting to doing research, Legates burst into laughter.
"I'm so telling the guys. You are a squint," Legates said, pointing at Booth.
"You, young man, had better learn not to use that as an insult or Michelle will box your ears," Booth said, smirking.
Legates snorted and Booth looked at him with a knowing look. Hammon cleared his throat and their attention was drawn back to him.
"I am expecting that this will end today as there was only one expert witness. Mostly it is character witnesses. Most of the information is in a packet that they will be given before deliberation," Hammon said.
Thank God, ran through Legates mind at Hammon's statement. He just wanted to get back to the East Coast, to ACU's and to Michelle. Woah, where had that last one come from? Fantasizing about her was one thing but thinking of her as home that was a bit sudden.
"So, the verdict today and sentencing later?" Brown said, taking a bite of his salad.
"More than likely. You guys should be on a flight home by 4ish I'd say. Unless the jury argues about the verdict," Hammon said.
When their food arrived everyone got quiet while they ate. Legates saw Brennan pull her laptop from the messenger bag and he shook his head. That woman was constantly working, he wondered how the hell she managed to have time to sleep, wash, or eat.
"Is she always like that?" Hammon asked, jerking his thumb at Brennan.
Booth chewed and swallowed while glaring at Hammon. Legates rolled his eyes at Hammon. Did he not listen to the whole alpha conversation? He was being rude and the alpha male sitting next to Brennan would definitely take offense.
"Mr. Hammon, normally Bones would be talking. So instead of staring at us while we ate, she found something else to occupy her time. She has a lot of things on her plate and not a lot of time. This is the second court date this week, we have a current investigation, her publisher probably wants two chapters, she gets close to thirty emails a day with questions and offers, she has student theses to grade and correct, she has duties at the Jeffersonian on top of all that. And that is all that I know about there is probably more," Booth said.
Legates looked over at Brennan his mouth hanging open slightly. Yep, that woman had exactly zero free time. He couldn't even imagine trying to do that everyday. Brennan picked up her magna doodle and scribbled.
Three chapters not two, revisions and I have to schedule my classes for next semester.
She showed the magna doodle to Hammon.
"Well, I guess she uses every opportunity she gets to work," Hammon said.
"You have no idea," Booth snorted.
"Don't even try that, Sarge. We ALL heard you in the desert," Brown said, pointing his finger at Booth. Booth's face flushed red and he looked down at the table.
"Okay, maybe not EVERY opportunity," Booth muttered. Legates smirked at Booth and tried not to laugh.
The men finished their meals to the sound of the keys on Brennan's laptop clicking. Suddenly, Legates noticed her mouthing what looked to be curses. His eyebrow lowered as he tried to figure out what she was saying. He saw her put her chin in her hand and gently tap her cheekbone with her index finger. She grabbed a wine list and handed it to Booth.
Legates saw her point to the grapes in the upper corner. Shaking his head, Legates wondered if this going to be one of those Booth and Brennan things he heard about constantly. His eyes got wide when Brennan put her hand on her head. He heard Booth guess and her gesturing for more. Then he heard.
"He's not? Please tell me he's not," Booth said, sighing.
Legates wondered who He was and what he wasn't doing. Legates hated being in the dark but with those two he stayed there constantly. He was glad he didn't have to work with them on a daily basis or he'd go bonkers.
"Do you feel like you have no idea what just happened?" Hammon said, echoing Legates' thoughts after having watched the exchange.
"All the time," Legates said with a smile.
They left the restaurant with some time to spare. Robertson dropped them off at the front of the building and then went to park the large vehicle. Legates got that spine tingling chill again and started searching. He saw Brennan pause on the steps and almost growled.
He couldn't believe she didn't feel that. He knew Booth felt it too when he started pushing Brennan up the steps and into the courthouse. When they got inside Brennan rounded on Booth with scowl. Legates wanted to smirk but he had Booth's back on this one, it wasn't about dominance it was about her safety.
"Bones, my neck is prickling," Booth warned her. She glanced at him in confusion. Booth could hear her in his head saying 'I don't know what that means'.
"It means someone is watching us in a not so nice way," Booth explained. Brennan put her hand over her stomach.
"Yes, it's a gut feeling," Booth affirmed. Brennan nodded and turned back around.
"Did your logical scientist just accept your gut feeling?" Legates teased, smiling at Brennan.
Brennan nodded again and began walking towards the courtroom. They entered the courtroom and sat in the same places they had occupied earlier. Ten minutes later, the court was back in session and they sat through Francis' questioning and his character witnesses which were few.
The judge excused the jury and dismissed the court until the verdict was in. Legates stood next to the bench where Booth and Brennan were sitting. He knew that someone couldn't get into a federal courthouse with a weapon without a big hoopla but it still made him nervous. Booth didn't seem to be worried but Legates didn't like the feeling he was on the other end of a sniper rifle.
He had to wonder if that was what was going on. And if so who was the sniper after, Booth or Brennan and why? He spent the next forty minutes trying not to scratch his butt and wondering about people he'd sniped in the past.
Did they have that tickling feeling? Or where they oblivious until they died? The bailiff came out and called everyone into the courtroom. They took their seats and waited as the jury filed into the courtroom. The bailiff delivered the verdict to the judge.
"Private Francis, stand to receive your verdict," the judge commanded. Francis stood and looked straight at the judge.
"On the charge of assault on a non commissioned officer-guilty. On the charge of attempted murder of a non commissioned officer-guilty. You are confined to Leavenworth Penitentiary until your sentencing in three weeks," the judge said then banged his gavel.
"Court is adjourned," the judge said, banging the gavel again.
Everyone in the courtroom stood and began filing out. Legates was ready to leave Kansas and head back to where things were a little more relaxed.
•◊•◊•◊•◊•◊•◊•◊•◊•◊•
Techie eyed Michelle as he walked by. She needed to relax, she was way too anal. He paused and watched her sorting a huge stack of papers. She was scribbling in the margins, highlighting, stacking and setting up piles.
It was way too organized in his opinion. Cam approached from the steps and turned to see what Techie was looking at. She chuckled causing Techie to turn and look at her.
"Something she got from her father. He taught her good note taking and organization methods. They seem to work as good for her as they did for him. Which is a good thing since he was one of the best in his field," Cam said, smiling sadly.
"Why is she so maniacal about it? She's been here studying for almost a week and she's just suddenly doing this," Techie said, nodding his head towards Michelle.
"My guess would be that some of the time she usually spends doing that," Cam said, gesturing to Michelle, "she's spent being pillows or hiding."
"Sacrifices that have to be made for a social life," Techie muttered.
"She'll rearrange her schedule to accommodate. It's been awhile since her last boyfriend so it may take a while but she'll figure it out. She always does," Cam said, her voice tinged with pride. Techie grinned, gave a quick two fingered salute and headed back to his patrol.
Cam walked into the lounge, got her coffee and quietly headed back to her office. When she sat down her computer beeped with results. She let out a thankful sigh. The search on the fingerprints had come in. She double clicked and opened the results. Cam's mouth fell open and her eyes widened in surprise.
Minimizing that screen, she opened the other one and her eyes narrowed, the results were the same. Hissing, she hit print, printed out the results then picked up her phone, and dialed Booth. The phone rang to voicemail, Cam's eyes narrowed and her lips pursed. She glanced at her phone and then she shot a text message to Brennan's phone.
Have Booth call me. He's not answering his phone-Cam
A moment later her phone rang.
"Dr. Saroyan," Cam answered.
"Hey, Cam. What's up?" Booth said. Cam could hear the rattle of paper in the background.
"We got a hit on the fingerprint. Hannah Burley's fingerprint was on the elevator button from when Dr. Brennan was attacked. We also got a hit for the hair that was found at the scene of the explosion. Again, it was Hannah Burley," Cam said, looking at her notes on the desk. She heard Booth suck on his teeth and she could picture him nodding to himself.
"Okay, so now we need motive. I mean I know I'm sexy but I doubt she'd blow up an Intelligence Building for me," Booth said, jokingly. Cam grinned at his joke and the sound of Legates and Browns' laughter.
"Legates, stop spitting on Bones," Booth said with fake anger.
"Excuse me? Did Corporal Legates just spit on Dr. Brennan?" Cam asked Booth with her best boss voice.
"Yes, Cam, he did. I made him laugh and he snarfed Pepsi all over her," Booth said, grinning.
Cam could hear the grin in Booth's voice and shook her head. She was sure Brennan didn't find this funny at all. Cam almost felt sorry for Legates, almost.
"Well, when are you going to get back here?" Cam asked, tapping her nails on the desk. She could hear Booth thinking before he answered.
"We should be there in two maybe two and a half hours. Depending on if we hit traffic on the beltway," Booth told her.
Cam nodded then ended the call.
•◊•◊•◊•◊•◊•◊•◊•◊•◊•
Booth set the phone down and finished his sub with a look of concentration on his face.
The men threw out their trash and headed to the Humvee. Legates pulled out onto route 8 and headed west. He flipped on the blinker and pulled into a WaWa parking lot. He watched as Booth and Brennan got out and headed into the store. His brain went to wandering as it often did when he wasn't doing something.
He wondered did Michelle like salty or sweet snacks? If she liked sweet, what kind? Maybe she liked salty and sweet at the same time. Like chocolate covered pretzels. He pursed his lips as he thought about these things. So much to learn, a smirk crossed his face as he imagined ways to discover the answers to those two questions.
Brown watched the expressions cross Legates face and shook his head. Wherever Legates was in his head, he was happy. Feeling the need to irritate him, Brown poked Legates. Legates scowled at Brown.
"What?" Legates snapped at him.
"Nothing, just wanted to wipe that cheesy smirk that means you're thinking dirty thoughts off your face," Brown said, laughing. Legates shot him another scowl and looked towards the back when the doors opened.
"Typical woman. Ice cream," Brown snorted when he saw Brennan pull out a pint of Ben and Jerry's. Brennan shot him a glare and took a spoonful of her ice cream.
"There is nothing typical about Bones," Booth shot at Brown.
"So, what was with the whole grapes and brains thing at lunch?" Legates asked, smoothly pulling back onto route 8 and heading towards D.C.
He'd been wondering about it since the restaurant but there hadn't been a time where it would have been appropriate to ask. Booth sighed and looked over at Brennan who just nodded her head.
"Bones and I had a discussion about having to be bad to be good. I described it as if young men weren't bad their frontal lobes would be the size of raisins. While deciding whether to go to India with Jared, she pointed out that unless he went alone his frontal lobe would continue to be the size of a raisin," Booth explained.
"But what does that have to do with grapes and brains?" Brown repeated, rubbing his forehead in confusion. Brennan shot Booth a 'is he serious' look. Legates shot the same look at Brown that Brennan shot to Booth.
"Brown, what are raisins?"
"Dried fruit," Brown replied. Booth rolled his eyes at Brown's answer.
"What kind of dried fruit?"
"Ohhhhh a grape," Brown made the connection.
"Where the hell did they find you?" Booth asked sarcastically.
"So, your brother is returning from where ever it was that he disappeared to," Legates stated in a questioning manner.
He was still wondering why Booth's brother disappeared in the first place and when it had happened. He was trying to piece a puzzle together, there were large gaps from the missing picture.
"It would appear so," Booth said noncommittally.
Legates turned his attention to the road and wished these vehicles had radios. He saw a light glow in the mirror and then heard the click of keys. Brennan must be working on something. Rolling his eyes, he turned back to the road as he got on 301.
"Aww, come on, Bones. Let me read it," Booth whined from the back. Legates rolled his eyes towards Brown who was smirking at the pair in the back.
"Am I going to have to separate the two of you?" Legates said in that tone the parents use on long trips.
Booth glared at Legates who just smirked at Booth. The vehicle settled into a comfortable silence as they rode. Legates almost jumped in surprise when Angela's voice came from behind him. There were times when technology was annoying, like now.
"Sweetie, we're going home now. You'll meet us there. Right?" Angela said in a demanding tone. Brennan nodded an affirmative.
"Okay, we'll see you then," Angela said, wiggling her fingers in a farewell gesture.
Brown turned and glanced at Legates. Legates shook his head and turned his full attention back to the road. His eyes jerked to the rearview mirror when he heard Booth strangle out a sentence.
"Bones, that's...that's...that's, porn. Your normal books are not that racy, raunchy," he said the last word in a strangled gasp.
Mental images of Brennan's sex scenes from her books made more racy flashed through Legates' mind. Shaking his head, he turned his attention back to the road. That's all he needed was to wreck the Humvee. He saw Brown whip his head around and look at the pair in the back. Brown laughed at the look on the faces of the two in the back.
"Can we do that?" Booth said, pointing to a paragraph. Brennan pursed her lips and shrugged her shoulders.
Legates wanted to close his eyes and groan, mental pictures that were as bad as his parents having sex flashed across his mind. Ungghh, he thought, ick. Thankfully, the rest of the trip was made in silence. He pulled up to the gates and hit the call button at the gate.
"Helloooooo," Hodgins said.
"Dr. Hodgins, please let us in," Legates said in a semi tired voice. Right now all he wanted to do was get the heck out of this vehicle.
"What's the password?" Hodgins asked in a laughing voice.
"If you don't open this gate I'll shoot you?" Legates asked in a growling tone. The gate slid open as the sound of Hodgins laughter came from the box.
"I'm going to start killing your squints, Sarge," Legates threatened.
"Not suggested," Booth said, laughing at Legates irritation.
Legates drove up the long driveway and parked in front of the mansion.
A/N: So let's talk about chapter 23... Nakedness, paybacks, being larger than life, dragons, reactions, peep shows, definitions, challenges, secrets, cold feet, faking it, foot writing, appendages, attachments, moonlight, beer, junk food, busted, patrol, Achmed, payment, promises, calling oneself a jackass, Starship Enterprise, pushing buttons, calculations, discussion of nerdiness, and something is burning.
A/N2: Okay so yeah lol I had a hard time finding a name for this chapter. It seemed to me to be very Booth and Brennan centric which is not necessarily a bad thing but makes finding a name in the Michelle and Legates line of though difficult. Did that make any sense? LOL I need more coffee.
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