Spoilers: Nope!
Disclaimer: Yeah, yeah, yeah...
Author's Note: I think I have a couch fetish...Everything happens on the couches in my stories! Ha! Or does it?! Ooh, intrigue! Okay, I'm done. I see another chapter story in the making, because Parker's so damn adorable I can't help myself!
Brennan was startled out of her writing by the brrp! of her cell phone. Sighing, she took her hands off the keys, annoyed. The caller ID alerted her that it was 'Booth: Home'. A little less annoyed, she answered the phone.
"You know, I'm really hoping this is something important, because, really, I haven't had nearly enough time with Kathy recently, and my editor wants the next chapter by Monday, and you interrupted a very serious train of thought!" she said in one long breath, feeling slightly relieved once she had aired her displeasure.
There was dead air on the line for a second, then, "Um, Doctor Brennan?" A woman's voice. Against her better judgment, Brennan winced slightly. Who was at Booth's apartment at midnight? Her jealousy subdued her embarrassment at having ranted discomfort to a complete stranger.
"Yes, who is this?" She knew that she sounded defensive, but she didn't really care. She could make up an excuse for that later. Right now, she just wanted to figure out why this woman was at Booth's house so late. Because God knows, you don't already know, Brennan, she scolded herself.
"Oh, I'm glad I caught you. It's Rebecca...Parker's mother," she added, as if she didn't expect Brennan to remember. Brennan's confusion only deepened. He'd sworn that their...'physical' relationship was over, but Brennan wasn't too sure anymore. She didn't bother with politeness.
"Why are you calling me from Booth's apartment at midnight?" she asked bluntly. Rebecca seemed slightly taken aback as she let a silence hang for a second.
"It isn't like that, Doctor Brennan. I mean, that's totally over; Seeley and I both agreed on that," she spat out sounding slightly desperate to explain herself.
"You didn't answer my question. Where's Booth?" she asked. "And why are you calling me?" She now sounded more curious than irritated. She heard Rebecca sigh and mumble something about 'Seeley said you were...'.
"Well, that's just why I'm calling you. Have you seen him? I've been by his office, but he wasn't there, so I came here..." She let the sentence trail off, the rest obvious. Brennan sighed. But why is she calling me?
"No, Rebecca, I haven't seen him, sorry. He left here early today; he said he had to pick Parker up from school, that it was his weekend with him," Brennan stated, struggling to hold back from adding a 'finally'. She heard Rebecca sigh exasperatedly.
"Okay, well, thanks anyway," she said, defeated. But Brennan wasn't quite done.
"You're welcome. Wait, why do you want to find him? And at midnight..." Brennan asked curiously, honestly wanting to know.
"No offence, Doctor Brennan, but that's really none of your business. Thank you for your help," she said curtly. And with that she hung up. Brennan sighed and hung up, turning back to her computer screen, all thoughts of Kathy now dissipated. Grunting in annoyance, she shut her laptop down and headed home.
--
Brennan reached into her pocket as she stepped out of the elevator and grabbed her key. Approaching her door, she stopped abruptly; there was something taped to her door. A note. She approached it carefully, half way through donning a pair of latex gloves, when she came close enough to read the front.
'Bones' it called in neat, masculine handwriting. She breathed a sigh of relief as she read it, taking it off the door and opening it.
-'Hey, don't freak out, but I'm inside with Parker. I picked your lock, sorry. Please don't shoot me. I'll explain everything when you come inside. Sorry, again,
Booth'-
Brennan couldn't help the mixed feelings of annoyance, confusion, worry and pleasure that coursed through her simultaneously at his words; written or no.
She let out a huge breath, readying herself to enter her apartment...and see Booth there, waiting for her. The involuntary thrill passed through her again, and she mentally kicked herself for being so pathetic.
"Booth?" she called as she opened the door. "Booth?" A little louder this time. She heard a loud shushing sound coming from her in front of her, then heard someone shuffle closer in polite, measured steps.
She flicked the lights on to find Booth standing about three feet away from her in jeans, a Three Stooges t-shirt, and a pair of black socks sporting a glow-in-the-dark skeletal foot and ankle. She chuckled at his appearance, momentarily forgetting the fact that he was in her apartment in the middle of the night with his son, and she had no idea why.
She looked at him, still smiling. "I need a better lock, or I'll have some loon pick it in the middle of the night and leave notes on my door, explaining absolutely nothing." Booth knew she was kidding, but there was a hint of irritancy in her voice. He laughed softly.
"Where's Parker?" she asked suddenly, remembering the note.
"Parker's asleep...I hope you don't mind; I...put him on your bed..." Booth said, unsure of what her reaction would be like. He laughed nervously.
"No, not at all." She smiled softly. "So, why are you here?" She moved over to the couch, dropping her things as she went. Booth followed.
"Oh, that," Booth said as if he'd forgotten. "Yeah, well, this weekend's my weekend with Parker, finally, and, well...Rebecca wants to take him with her and Drew to California tomorrow morning to visit her aunt and uncle," he said, basically spitting out the name. Brennan stared at him incredulously.
"She can't do that!" Brennan exclaimed.
"Well, she kinda can, which is why I'm here...hiding..." His brows knitted as he looked at her from under his lashes hopefully. "So...I was thinking...wondering, if we could, well..." Brennan laughed at Booth's speechlessness; it wasn't very often that Booth stuttered.
"Stay here," Brennan finished simply. She wasn't sure of how she felt about it just yet, so she changed the subject. "Rebecca called me about half an hour ago, looking for you." Booth looked at her worriedly.
"You didn't tell her where I was, did you?" he exclaimed. Brennan rolled her eyes, grabbing Booth's hand to shut him up, quickly letting it go.
"Booth, I didn't know where you were, remember?" she said slowly. He stopped dead, looking at her again.
"Ah," was all he could think to say. "So, can we stay?" he asked after a few seconds of silence. Brennan shook her head in defeat, laughing quietly.
"Yes, Booth, you and Parker can stay," she said, melodramatically sighing. Booth's eyes widened, and he grinned, pulling her into a tight hug.
"Thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you!" he said, sounding disturbingly like a teenage girl. "You won't regret this, Bones. Really, you won't even notice we're here!" he said, still excited, but releasing her from his arms. Brennan rolled her eyes again, smiling at him.
"I somehow doubt that very much, Booth," she said, not bothering to contain her sarcasm. He motioned her to follow him as he got up, and she watched him leave the room. His jeans fit him too well. I doubt that very, very much, she said inwardly, defeated.
"Booth?" she whispered unsurely as they approached her bedroom door, then sighed with relief when she remembered that Parker was in her room. Booth shot her a strange look.
"What? You don't want him there? I can move him-"
"No! It's nothing. It's just..." she looked at Parker, then back to Booth. "He's gorgeous, Booth, really." She noticed then that he was on top of the blankets as Booth smiled proudly.
"No doubt it comes from his old man," Booth said, puffing out his chest. Brennan rolled her eyes, swatting at his arm.
"No doubt," she muttered sarcastically as she entered the room. Booth watched her with curiosity, starting after her when she picked Parker up, motioning for him to pull back the covers. Booth obliged and watched in awe as Brennan set him down carefully, pulling the covers up under his chin, moving a stray curl from his face.
Parker stirred. "Mommy?" Brennan was taken aback completely, and immediately removed her hand.
"No, Parker, it's Temperance; go back to sleep, Daddy's right here," she said softly. Booth could hear the tremor in her voice; she sounded a little scared. He moved over to her and placed a hand on her shoulder, smiling down at her as she crouched by the bed, nodding.
"Hey, Buddy. We're at Bones' house, remember? It's okay, baby, sleep," Booth continued, saving Brennan. Parker frowned, then nodded sleepily.
"Okay," he mumbled, then "G'night, Daddy. Love you."
Booth grinned, and sat down on the bed next to Parker, stroking his hair softly. He kissed his forehead then whispered, "G'night, Parker. I love you, too." Brennan could hear the affection in Booth's voice; hell, she could almost see it. But here was also a little of what sounded like pain and Brennan forced herself not to take Booth's free hand.
Instead, she smiled softly at them, and stood up, placing a hand on Booth's shoulder, motioning that she was leaving. Booth nodded, then turned back to Parker.
As Brennan proceeded to get ready for 'bed', she realized that she didn't know where she and Booth were going to sleep. She forced all the images that came with that wondering out of her head at she picked up her toothbrush. Grow up, Temperance, she chided.
Booth smiled as he watched his son sleep, remembering Brennan's reaction to Parker's earlier 'slip-up'. Mommy, Booth thought over and over again, unable to get the picture out of his head. His mind ran through scenario after scenario involving himself, Bones, Parker and the word 'mommy', each terrifyingly more appealing than the next. He shut his eyes, shaking his head, compelling the images away; they weren't safe. Grow up, Seeley! She doesn't want to play 'house' with you, he scolded.
He took a deep breath, kissing Parker one more time as he left the room, shutting the door half way as he did. He and Bones still had a few things to talk about.
So. Comments? Queries? Should I continue? No? Yes?
What do you think? All opinions are welcomed almost as warmly as George Clooney naked on a white sand beach!