A.N. I do not own Bones
Brennan was finally back at work and Tara was able to start daycare at the Jeffersonian. Tara had taken to it well but it was probably due to the fact that she can be around kids. "Aunt Tempe, I can't wait. They have reading group. I hope it's something good."
Brennan picked up her goddaughter and kissed her on the cheek. "Be nice to everyone and try to enjoy it and see if I need to provide you with any educational material." She made arrangements for Tara to be there while at work. She also made a list of who can pick her up from daycare if she is not available and Booth is at the top. He knew and there was no problem just like Rebecca agreed to have her for backup for Parker which Brennan was needed once. Parker had come down with a stomach bug midday. Rebecca had jury duty and Booth was stuck in a meeting.
The first case back involved a woman that was partially digested by cats. Booth saw the cats "Please tell me Hodgins does not want the cats?"
Hodgins was going to be a few minutes late to arrive to the scene but in just enough time to hear Booth. "I will need them back at the lab, the ate evidence. Dr. B, how's Tara?"
"She is excited. I did ask her to look around to see if I need to provide her with any supplementary educational material."
Booth groaned "Bones, she is two. Priorities involve napping, coloring, story time, and playing with toys." He had plans with Bones over the weekend. Tara was ready for the ice. He was right about the helmet, elbow pads, and shin guards. They are top of the line. Bones even bought her skates because she did not want the bacteria of the rental skates on her. There are apparently skates that you can adjust the size. He would have bought that when Parker was little. Though there is a device you can attach to helmets that let you detect high impacts, he bought one for Parker's helmet. It was going to be his weekend with Parker but the off season and he was going to help him.
"Victim is male, late 40s to mid 50s. Race is unknown. I can't tell with the amount of damage. Victim shows signs of sharp force trauma through the cranium and cervical vertebrae. It would be most likely be the cause of death."
Hodgins and Cam were snickering as quietly as they could because Booth was going to be needed to make sure Tara does stuff that normal kids her age do. Brennan was looking into the Etham School. It is an elementary school that she can start next year and take her through sixth grade. It is a school for the gifted. Tara's IQ was tested and it is the same as Brennan's, genius. The Jeffersonian preschool may not be challenging enough.
On the way back, Booth was in a discussion over the school that costs 25K a year in tuition. It was not the money that he was making an argument over but not letting her do stuff like other kids and that school does not seem like the best in socialization. Something he had read about is Asperger's. He suspected Bones has it and there is no way in hell she would agree to being tested. The one who even mentioned it was agent Perotta and that is because her younger sister has it and acts similarly to Bones.
"Booth, Tara needs an environment where she can be challenged and the preschool at the Jeffersonian may challenging, it may not be enough. She will have opportunities to socialize with kids. They have recess, they have physical education, they go on field trips. The Etham School also has after school programs like sports, school band, chorus, different academic clubs for each grade level. She is going there."
Booth knew how much Brennan was teased as a kid. "Bones,my concern is she will not learn how to interact with other types of kids that are not like her. I have no problem with the Jeffersonian pre-school since it is on site but I just don't think that school is the right place there for her."
Tara had her lunch and was napping. There were no problems. Pick up time would be 4:30. Booth was disgusted when he heard what Tara's lunch is,marinated tofu wrap with chocolate Chia seed pudding and a fruit and vegetable juice that is green. "
"Bones, what happened to normal kid foods like peanut butter and jelly or grilled cheese?"
"Booth, studies have shown that kids do not get the recommended vitamins and nutrients. Jelly,while tasty is full of processed sugar. She is getting all of her protein, calcium, essential vitamins and minerals from her lunch. She still consumes dairy though her favorite is yogurt. I gave her Greek yogurt with fruit for snack today." He had no problem with the yogurt and fruit. Yogurt is something normal kids eat.
They got a match, Lars Andersson. He is a missing diplomat from Sweden. He was beaten with a claw hammer. The state department and the Swedish government was all over it. It was his wife which she was having an affair. Due to the fact that she had diplomatic immunity, she was being deported to Sweden to face charges there.
"Well Bones, adultery. It's one of the oldest motives in the book."
Brennan made her way over to daycare and Tara was jumping up and down. "Aunt Tempe, you are here. The books here are no fun. The coloring books are easy."
Michelle, the woman in the daycare rolled her eyes. She may not be Dr. Brennan's biological daughter but she is mini me."Tara was an angel."
"Thank you Michelle."
The weekend was what everyone needed. Brennan had Tara dressed in a pair of leggings, a t-shirt, and a sweatshirt. She met Booth at the rink. While Tara was having her lesson, she would partially be researching new cars because there is not enough in the Prius being a two door and navigating a car seat is tough.
Brennan saw Tara move in baby steps with lots of falling. She was getting back up and her doctor said it is OK so she was not worried. She saw Booth and Parker give her examples.
On the ice Tara was starting to pick up speed. "Tara slow down, you are not a crash dummy and Bones will kill me if you get hurt especially after you have just gotten out of that cast."
Tara looked up at Booth "Why would Aunt Tempe want to kill you, you are her friend."
Booth now laughed at the toddler as did Parker. They had Bones jr. On their hands and she is quite adorable.
"No Tara, what she means is she will be upset at me for letting you get hurt."
Tara seemed to calm down and the buzzer went off signaling that ice time was over. Tara took baby steps to the edge of the ice and got out.
"Booth, how did she do for her first time in the ice?"
Booth smiled "She did very well, with more work she should be ready for youth league when she turns four. Now I am hungry, I bet you too are Parks?"
"I am".
In the diner, they had veggie wraps with tomato soup. Booth saw Tara eat it. He had no problems with no soda, in fact Parker should be drinking less of it.
"Dr. Bones,are you trying to turn Tara into a rabbit?"
Booth could not hold it in and began laughing. Tara had an indignant look on her face. "I am a toddler, not a rabbit." Tara even had the "I don't know what the means" look on her face.
Lunch was finished and Booth wanted pie. Tara turned her nose up at it. "Cooked fruit loses its nutrients and taste."
Now Booth was convinced she was brainwashed. "Bones, what you are doing to her is just not American. Kids are supposed to love hot dogs, burgers made of actual meat, and pie."
Brennan could go battle of the wits with him "Just because you do not like certain foods does not make you un eating those foods will have health benefits for her in the long run so I do not see any problem with it."
Parker was smirking because his father and Dr. Bones argue like an old married couple. He had been out with the two of them when people have asked "How long have you been married." Truth be told, he honestly wanted Bones as a stepmother. He liked her a lot better than his father's other girlfriends.
They had to go home because Tara needed a nap and a Tara who has not had her nap is not a good thing to deal with. Booth understudy it exactly because when Parker was little, when he did not have his nap he turned into Parker the Grouch.
Tomorrow, Brennan was going to go car shopping but Angela and Hodgins agreed to watch Tara. Even Angela agreed the Prius had to go. "Your Prius served it's purpose but I think it is time to move on. So what are you getting?
"Subaru XV Crosstrek, I have done my research and I believe it is the best car for what I need right now."
Angela could not fault her logic. Even she had to get a bigger car with the baby on the way. A two door is a very bad idea not to mention hard to get out of when you are due in two weeks.