"The Object of My Affection" - Chapter 16: Part 2
Title: Object of my Affection
Author: Shannon - shannyfish
Disclaimer: I do not own “Bones” or its characters, Fox does. This is merely for entertainment purposes only.
Rating: PG-13
Summary: Booth and Brennan must struggle with not only the Grad Students trying to take Zack’s old position, but also help get through a tragic end.
Warning: Post Season Three - “Pain in the Heart”. Would take place during Season Four, probably mid to late. Warning! Do not start reading this unless you plan on reading all…like…one hundred chapters (it might be that many…might not…). This will be an epic/saga-type fic and shall include all kinds of fun plot twists. The rating of this story will most likely fluctuate, FYI.
Chapter 16 - “Making an Effort”
PART TWO
Jeffersonian
Booth had nervously taken Parker to his first day of second grade. It was Friday, but Booth figured that that way Parker could get his feet wet without jumping in head first. Rebecca’s funeral was tomorrow and Booth had already explained to Parker’s teachers in case there was a need to keep him out of school on Monday. He figured that he’d ask the brain trust what they thought about extracurricular activities he should try to get Parker interested in.
“How are you doing, Seeley?” Cam asked. She’d seen Booth and had hurried to catch up with him to check on him and to warm him.
“Hanging in there,” Booth told her honestly.
“Parker?”
“He’s excited about school,” Booth responded with a proud smile. “I think you guys may have inspired him while he was hanging out here.”
“I think it’s actually going to be odd without him here today,” Cam admitted. “He’s a good kid.” She stopped and made sure that he stopped with her. “Look, do you feel up to dealing with Sweets today?”
“Why? He here?” Booth asked surveying the area.
“He’s been pestering Brennan in her office,” Cam explained.
“Why?”
“He’s asking her all kinds of questions about Parker and taking care of him and how you are, but I believe Angela was going to try to intervene. Though, he did start out with why she weeded out her grad students down to Kensington Hart.”
Booth sighed, “I’m sure she loved that.”
“She can handle herself, Booth,” Cam told him.
“I know, but she’s having a hard time adjusting to having to choose a grad assistant.”
“You’re having a hard time, too,” Cam said. “Although for different reasons. Maybe you both need more time off.”
“Maybe,” Booth agreed as he shoved his hands into his pockets.
“So?”
“Thanks, Cam, but I should go in and run into Sweets. He can put in a good word for me at the F.B.I. that I’m sane and it’ll count towards grief counseling,” Booth told her. “It’s time Parker and I start to move on… I think that putting a murderer behind bars will help.”
“Just don’t push yourself too much, Seeley.”
Booth smiled a bit at her concern, “I won’t, Cam. Thanks.” With that, he headed towards Brennan’s office and hoped that Sweets was up for being helpful rather than annoying. He intended to ask him what he thought about how much stress Parker was going through and if putting him in extracurricular activities would be beneficial to him. Booth came to a halt when he noticed Brennan slamming her office door shut and Angela trying to get Sweets obviously away from Brennan. He frowned, there was something wrong.
“Just let it go,” Angela encouraged Sweets. “You know she doesn’t like psychology, especially when you’re trying to shrink her with it.”
“I was merely-” Sweets tried to explain before he was interrupted.
“What did you do to Bones, Sweets?” Booth asked.
“I didn’t do anything,” Sweets defended.
“She’s obviously upset,” Booth said and pointed in the direction of his partner’s office.
“Sweets didn’t do it, he just stirred up Brennan’s current frustrations with life. He almost got himself decked…which would have been fun to watch,” Angela mused with a smile. “I’d suggest unless you have two X chromosomes to stay away from her for the rest of the day.”
*~*~*
Rebecca’s Funeral
To Booth, the Priest’s words were like background noise. It was blurred and curved around him. It was easier not to hear the words. He’d thought that he’d grieved and started to move on, but he’d been wrong. Rebecca’s death felt fresh and stabbed at his heart like a dagger. Rebecca’s parents had requested a full detailed autopsy, so it had gone slowly. Mourning renewed, but Booth knew that everyone needed to mourn and in their own way.
“She leaves behind a son.”
The Priest’s words stabbed through the muddled wall and Booth couldn’t hold back the tears. He heard the sobs of Lydia and Murray and Parker’s sniffling. Booth let his head fall forward and down a bit, to his right his hand that was being held for support before was now being moved around to his back in an awkward hug. Lydia had Parker in her arms; he knew that her pain was greater than his. No parent should outlive their child.
After everyone had paid their respects, Lydia and Murray made their way with Parker. Booth and Brennan slowly followed them. As they waited a few feet behind Rebecca’s parents, Booth looked over to Brennan. “Thank you for coming with us,” Booth said quietly.
“Of course,” Brennan responded in kind.
It was his turn, Booth took a couple steps forward and placed a rose on the coffin and placed his hand on the cool wood. “Don’t worry,” he barely whispered. “We’re going to take good care of Parker.” He joined Parker, Lydia, and Murray after a moment. He could hear the quiet steps of Brennan behind him.
Lydia had her arms around Parker’s shoulders and looked up at Booth as he joined them. Tears were still falling down her cheeks as she made a heart felt request. “Do you think Parker could spend the weekend with us?”
“We would really appreciate it,” Murray added.
“Do you want to Parker?” Booth asked his son.
Parker shrugged.
“You don’t have to go back to school on Monday,” Booth reminded. “Remember? We talked to your teacher.”
“But I want to go,” Parker spoke up.
“Well, we’ll have you back Sunday early evening,” Lydia promised both Booth and Parker.
“I guess so,” Parker said quietly.
Brennan moved around Booth towards Parker. She crouched down and took his hand in hers. “I bet they’d love to meet your dinosaur,” she told Parker with a small encouraging smile.
“He still needs a name,” Parker said quietly.
“I’m sure your grandfather can help you think of some,” she said.
“Sure,” Murray spoke up.
“And we could make cookies,” Lydia tried to slightly bribe. She just desperately wanted to spend time with her grandson.
“Can we make dinosaur cookies?” Parker asked slightly interested.
Lydia smiled, “I’m sure we can find some dinosaur cookie cutters.”
Parker looked up at his dad for the okay.
Booth noticed Brennan straightening out and made a note to thank her for being completely the best friend ever later. “How about you pick up Parker in a couple hours at my place? That way he can settle and pack a bag.”
“And my dinosaur,” Parker piped up.
“And the dinosaur,” Booth repeated.
*~*~*
Booth Residence
Brennan sat with Parker on the couch reading Where the Wild Things Are. Parker laughed and Brennan continued to read. Booth had gone to pack a bag for Parker, but would occasionally spy on them. It was amazing to him at how wonderful his sometimes unsocial partner was with his son. He heard the knock at his door and quickly stuffed the last thing into the backpack for Parker. “I’ll get it,” Booth called and hurried, so that Parker and Brennan could continue reading.
Lydia and Murray Stinson walked into the living room a few seconds later. Lydia stopped, “Oh, I didn’t mean for us to interrupt.”
Brennan smiled, “It’s okay. It’s a good stopping point,” she told Parker and handed him the book. “I’m sure your grandparents will finish reading it to you later,” she told him.
“Okay,” Parker agreed and went to slip the book into the front empty pocket of the backpack.
“You know you’ve never officially met my partner,” Booth spoke up. “Lydia and Murray Stinson,” he said. “Meet Doctor Temperance Brennan.” He turned to Brennan, “Bones, meet Lydia and Murray Stinson.”
“It’s nice to meet you,” Lydia said with a nod.
“Nice to meet you,” Brennan said with a small smile.
“Bye Bones,” Parker said hugging his dinosaur.
“Have fun,” she told him.
Booth hugged his son tightly and kissed the side of his head. “I love you. You be good, okay?”
“I will,” Parker promised before leaving with his grandparents.
Once Parker and his grandparents were gone, Brennan had started to immediately clean up where she and Parker had been reading. “I should go,” she said after the couch was tidied up.
“Stay for a while,” Booth said.
“It’s been a long day,” she told him with her back to him.
“I didn’t thank you for everything you did today,” Booth said.
“You’re welcome,” she told quietly.
“What’s wrong?” Booth finally asked.
“Nothing,” Brennan told him as she turned to face him.
“You never told me what was going on yesterday,” Booth reminded her. He thought there was a connection. “When you kicked Sweets out.”
“It wasn’t anything important,” Brennan said. “He was just using psychology-”
“I know you don’t like it, but you seem really upset.”
“Maybe I am,” Brennan said quietly and walked past Booth to pick up her coat and purse.
“Why aren’t you talking to me?” Booth asked her.
“Because it’s illogical to get all emotional over a decision that’s already been made,” Brennan said getting worked up.
“Wait,” Booth said trying to keep up. “What decision?” He was truly confused and he honestly wanted to understand.
“Not today, Booth,” she said quietly.
“Bones-”
She shrugged a bit, “I think you’ve changed me more than I thought possible. Maybe I just need to check myself back into the lab on a more permanent basis.”
“Are you breaking up our partnership?” Booth asked.
“I think I just need more time in the lab,” Brennan told him.
“How is this related to a decision?” Booth asked confused at why he was losing his partner.
“You made it,” Brennan told him.
“Do I get a clue?”
Brennan sighed, she hadn’t wanted to leave Booth there feeling horrible. He’d lost the mother of his child, a woman he had once wanted to spend the rest of his life with. Parker was with his maternal grandparents. “I love you,” she said calmly.
“I love you, too,” Booth said feeling like their confusing fight had ended, though he wasn’t sure if that was true yet.
*~*~*
TBC…